Each week it seems like another top ranked team drops a game, and this is exactly the reason why we love college football. Every week matters. The top game for Week 13 will be the Battle for Los Angeles. UCLA versus USC should be a fun game to watch from a scouting perspective, while also having an impact on in-state recruiting.
So while we don’t have a matchup with major College Football Playoff implications like last week’s game between Mississippi State and Alabama, there are plenty of NFL prospect matchups to watch. Keep reading for all of the top prospects to circle and evaluate in the games listed below.
By: Alex Brown
No. 8 Ole Miss at Arkansas, CBS, 3:30 PM EST
Arkansas finally broke their 17-game losing streak in SEC play with a 17-0 victory over LSU last week. Owning a decisive size advantage against Ole Miss’ athletic, explosive front seven, it’ll be interesting to see if Arkansas can control the line of scrimmage and run the football effectively. Senior RT Brey Cook is the only draft eligible prospect on the unit, and he projects best to offensive guard with his size, strength and lack of plus foot speed. Running behind that offensive line, junior RB Jonathan Williams continues to impress with plus instincts and contact balance between the tackles. Ole Miss senior SAF Cody Prewitt not only will have his hands full with Williams and Arkansas’ running game, but also has to deal with two very good TE prospects. Sophomore TE Hunter Henry isn’t draft-eligible but ranks 2nd in receiving for the Razorbacks, while senior QB-convert A.J. Derby is tied for the team lead in TD receptions.
When Ole Miss has the football, I want to see how senior QB Bo Wallace operates against the pressure of the Arkansas Razorback defensive line unit. Thankfully for Bo, he’ll be getting his starting LT back. Sophomore Laremy Tunsil is another underclassman lacking 2015 draft eligibility, but is a prospect already on NFL radars. Tunsil will battle a Senior Bowl-bound DE in Arkansas’ Trey Flowers. Flowers wins on the edge with his combination of powerful arms and developed hand usage. Look for Ole Miss to key Flowers in their read option game and use the screen game to limit his pass rush. Senior ILB Martrell Spaight, is another prospect to keep an eye on. According to Trey Flowers’ Twitter account, Spaight also received an invite to the Senior Bowl.
No. 16 Wisconsin at Iowa, ABC/ESPN 2, 3:30 PM EST
Wisconsin junior RB Melvin Gordon set the single-game, FBS rushing record with his 408-yard rushing performance against Nebraska a week ago. Gordon has natural balance and can quickly open up into full stride once he locates a running lane. He’s the early favorite to be the top RB prospect in the 2015 class, owing a good deal of his production to the work of his offensive line. Senior RT Rob Havenstein lacks the movement skill or foot speed to be a LT, but he’s adequate in pass pro and very physical in the running game with his length-strength skill set. Iowa’s defense is led by a pair of senior DT that will both be heading to Mobile, AL next January for the Senior Bowl. Carl Davis plays as the 1-technique for the Hawkeyes, showing violent hands and a nonstop motor. Davis’ running mate doesn’t receive the same hype, but 3-technique Louis Trinca-Pasa is very much on NFL radars.
There’s basically one prospect to keep an eye on when Iowa has the football and that’s senior LT Brandon Scherff. Last month, our Big Ten scout Ian Wharton wrote an in-depth piece on why Scherff shouldn’t be considered an elite LT prospect. NFL teams will likely be split on his next level position, but Scherff looks like he would be best served by a move to offensive guard. Defensively, the Wisconsin Badgers are one of only five teams in the FBS to give up fewer than 100 yards rushing per game to opponents. Wisconsin employs an odd-front, but their defensive line is surprisingly undersized (average height and weight on 2-deep is 6’3, 274 pounds.) Senior DT Warren Herring returned to action in October after suffering a knee injury in the opener against LSU. He’s a day three prospect but a rotational DT prospect that will receive NFL looks. At OLB, redshirt sophomore Vince Beigel is the top playmaker on Wisconsin’s defense. According to Wharton, “[Beigel] is very disruptive despite limited snaps. Good speed and burst.”
No. 24 Louisville at Notre Dame, NBC, 3:30 PM EST
Louisville’s senior WR Devante Parker is the premiere offensive prospect in this contest, and Notre Dame will have a tough time matching up. Parker is a strong-handed receiver that wins at the catch point, but can still improve on setting up routes by attacking the leverage of man defenders more aggressively off the line. On the left side of the line, Louisville has two senior prospects that grade out as solid mid round prospects in LT Jamon Brown and LG John Miller. They’ll have their attention occupied by Notre Dame junior DT Sheldon Day, who is a disruptive force for the Fighting Irish. Day shows the versatility to kick out to DE, but does his best work at the 3-technique spot. The Cardinals leading rusher is senior Michael Dyer, who’s experiencing a breakout senior campaign after struggling to make an impact last season. Dyer’s quickness is up, he is far more confident in his cuts, and he shows the explosive element that made him an exciting prospect back at Auburn.
In addition to having the top offensive prospect in this game, Louisville’s top two defensive prospects also make for exciting NFL prospects. Redshirt sophomore Gerod Holliman leads the nation in interceptions. Holliman routinely showcases a plus trigger out of deep field coverage, along with the range and ball skills to finish the play. He’ll look to capitalize on any mistakes made by Notre Dame junior QB Everett Golson, who has struggled with turnovers this season. On the defensive line, senior Lorenzo Mauldin projects as edge rush specialist and day two prospect. Opposing Mauldin, Notre Dame’s junior LT Ronnie Stanley is arguably the top draft-eligible offensive tackle. Stanley maximizes his length advantage in pass pro without overextending or lunging and looks the part. Also be sure to check out Notre Dame senior TE Ben Koyack, who currently ranks 3rd on our senior TE board as a 3rd round projection.
Oklahoma State at No. 7 Baylor, FOX, 7:30 PM EST
Senior QB Bryce Petty bounced back in a big way versus Oklahoma in Baylor’s last victory, completing a season-high 76% of his passes for 387 yards and one TD. He made the most of his one-on-one opportunities and delivered accurately in the vertical game. Scouts will be looking to see if he can build off this strong outing and finish the season on a high note, particularly after completing fewer than 50% of his passes in a three-game stretch of struggles against Texas, TCU and West Virginia. Versus Oklahoma State, he’ll be pressured heavily by the likes of redshirt sophomore Emmanuel Ogbah. Ogbah is very agile for his size, possesses a condor-like wingspan and leads the Big 12 in tackles for loss and sacks. Senior WR Antwan Goodley grades out as a potential day two draft pick and serves as Bryce Petty’s go-to target. Oklahoma State junior corners Kevin Peterson and Ashton Lampkin will likely get their turns guarding Goodley on the perimeter.
While not nearly as productive as Ogbah, Baylor junior DE Shawn Oakman is a plus physical specimen with the upside to be a star at the next level. He disappears far too often in games, but should produce against an Oklahoma State offensive line that leads the Big 12 in sacks allowed this season. His sophomore teammate, Andrew Billings is a talented DT prospect that will be draft eligible in 2016. Billings has the explosive lower half and powerful frame to hold the point, discard blocks and close on the football. For Oklahoma State’s offense, junior RB Tyreek Hill has an NFL future with his track athlete speed and electrifying open field running skills. He’s not built to handle RB duties at the next level or developed enough as a pass catcher to make the jump to WR just yet, so we expect him to return for his final season of eligibility. Hill doubles in the return game and that will be his immediate role at the next level, as he can be a homerun hitter on special teams.
No. 19 USC at No. 9 UCLA, ABC, 8:00 PM EST
Arguably the top-rated prospect in the country, USC DL Leonard Williams can be whatever you want him to be. Williams is strong enough to play the point as a 5-technique and explosive enough to disrupt at the 3-technique. Even though he battled through a nagging ankle injury early this year, the junior DL prospect still performed at a high level. Now he’s healthy and ready to show more. UCLA’s offensive line has been a turnstile over the years in terms of allowing sacks, but some of the blame does fall on junior QB Brett Hundley. Hundley hasn’t progressed in terms of sensing pressure and seeing the field (I.E. maintaining eye level downfield and working through progressions.) As a pure thrower and athlete, Hundley has the tools NFL teams vie for at the QB position. But while he shows positive traits in spurts, Hundley still hasn’t shown the consistency to warrant a first or even a second round grade in my opinion. A welcome addition to the USC secondary will be senior CB Josh Shaw, who infamously lied about an offseason ankle injury. Shaw projects as a very good utility defensive back at the next level, having experience at safety, outside corner and nickel corner.
Be sure to watch the following two senior ILB prospects –Eric Kendricks for UCLA and Hayes Pullard for USC. Pullard is our third rated ILB and projects as a 4th round prospect, while Eric Kendricks, brother of current Philadelphia Eagles starting Mike linebacker Mychal Kendricks, ranks 2nd on our ILB board and slates as a high day two selection. Scouts will want to watch the matchup between Kendricks and USC junior RB Javorius “Buck” Allen. Allen brings a well-rounded skill set to the table with good enough speed, confident feet in the open field and ideal contact balance to finish runs on a consistent basis. One anonymous NFL scout interviewed by the Los Angeles Times described “Buck” Allen as, “More of a singles and doubles hitter than a home-run guy.” When USC has the football, scouts will also be paying close attention to redshirt sophomore RT Zach Banner as hesquares off with UCLA senior DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa. Odighizuwa carries a chiseled frame and vine-like arms to control blockers, while Banner is reportedly considering the idea of declaring for the 2015 draft. At receiver, junior Nelson Agholor has cut down on focus drops and continued his development from a skills standpoint. Agholor always showed elite burst after the catch as a former high school RB, but is beginning to look more and more like an NFL wide receiver. He’ll be a slot-type at the next level and fit in immediately as a no. 3 option.
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