Auburn avoided a letdown loss on the road versus Kansas State on Thursday. Still, they won’t be the only top-10 ranked team facing potential upsets this week. Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma and Florida State all have tough opponents, but lucked out with home field advantage.
The team needing to be on the highest upset alert is LSU. Mississippi State has the horses on their defensive line to counter LSU’s rush attack and powerful front five, while QB Dak Prescott simply is a difficult player to defend or tackle. Keep on reading to familiarize yourself with all of the top prospects and matchups on tap in week four.
By: Alex Brown
Florida at No. 3 Alabama, CBS, 3:30 PM EST
Coming to Alabama from USC, Offensive Coordinator Lane Kiffin has made it a primary focus to get junior WR Amari Cooper the football and for good reason. Cooper shows textbook footwork to burn press defenders at the line of scrimmage and is a playmaker after the catch. His matchup against Florida true sophomore Vernon Hargreaves will be one scouts pinpoint, as Hargreaves is one of the top cover corners in the country. Junior DE Dante Fowler is also one of the best at his position. Fowler is a natural athlete off the edge that can speed rush or counter back inside with elite lateral quickness.
Much has been made of Alabama junior SAF Landon Collins facing his younger brother (Gerald Willis), but Collins’ focus will be on stopping a talented WR group led by another star sophomore for Florida in Demarcus Robinson. On the offensive line, Florida senior OC Max Garcia serves as the pivot man for a rushing attack that heavily features the power-o concept. Garcia grades out higher as an OG, but shows the lower half girth and firm punch to consistently execute blocks. Alabama senior ILB Trey Depriest should thrive in this game with his ability to take on and defeat lead blockers in the hole. He’ll have plenty of opportunities to fill downhill and address pulling guards or fullbacks.
Mississippi State at No. 8 LSU, ESPN, 7:00 PM EST
LSU LT La’El Collins has proven to be a dominant inside zone and power run blocker for the Tigers. He’ll be teeing off against Mississippi State’s breakout senior DE Preston Smith. With Preston Smith’s length and movement skills, La’El Collins faces his first test of the season. At RB, Kenny Hilliard leads the LSU Tigers as the downhill, between-the-tackles bruiser. For Mississippi State, junior LB Bernardrick McKinney is the top draft eligible prospect and a potential first rounder. He shows the rare explosiveness and plus frame to fit into a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme at the NFL level.
Offensively for Mississippi State, it’s the Dak Prescott show. The junior shows impressive contact balance and bruising power as a ball carrier, along with a rifle arm to attack downfield. Prescott has to improve his lower half mechanics moving forward, though, needing to cut down his front leg stride length in order for more consistent ball flight. LSU junior SAF Jalen Mills and junior CB Jalen Mills are the two playmakers for the defense, and they’ll be focused on stopping Mississippi State’s dynamic senior WR Jameon Lewis. Lewis impacts the game with his ability as a returner, ball carrier on jet sweeps or screens and pass catcher in the slot.
No. 4 Oklahoma at West Virginia, Fox, 7:30 PM EST
Oklahoma senior CB Julian Wilson was up to the task last week vs. Tennessee’s talented WR corps, but won’t get a break in week four against West Virginia’s breakout senior WR Kevin White. When it comes to size, length and speed, you won’t find a more intriguing WR vs. CB matchup than Julian Wilson (6’2, 201 lbs) vs. Kevin White (6’3, 210 lbs). Up front, the Oklahoma front seven should give West Virginia QB Clint Trickett all the pressure he can handle. Oklahoma junior NT Jordan Phillips really impressed me a week ago with his ability to stone double teams at the line of scrimmage and collapse the pocket as a pass rusher. On the interior for West Virginia, senior OG Quinton Spain is a massive, overpowering blocker that struggles with his base setup and punch placement. He will have to be a consistent force to keep Phillips in check.
The best defenders for West Virginia are junior SAF Karl Joseph and senior LB Brandon Golson. Heavily involved in run support, Karl Joseph had a ridiculous 18 tackles in the team’s opener versus Alabama. His scheme versatility will really appeal to NFL teams, as he’s shown the range to operate as a single-high safety and the physicality to live in the box. As for Golson, the senior is a bit of a tweener with WLB size and 3-4 OLB pass rushing skills but an active presence nonetheless. Dealing with that speed off the edge will be Oklahoma’s massive LT Tyrus Thompson. Although he lacks the quickest feet, Thompson’s combination of length and strength make him a promising RT prospect for NFL teams. On the other side of the offensive line, senior RT Daryl Williams has the heavy punch and upper half strength overwhelm defenders. Look for Oklahoma to lean hard on their running game with these two tackle prospects against a smaller, faster West Virginia front seven.
No. 22 Clemson at No. 1 Florida State, ABC, 8:00 PM EST
Florida State junior QB Jameis Winston earned himself a first half suspension for a vulgar statement made at a student union meeting, adding another questionable event to his resume. Despite his absence for one half, Florida State still has an offensive skill player that’s become a must-watch prospect in senior WR Rashad Greene. Greene displays the foot speed and burst out of cuts to draw Antonio Brown comparisons. Clemson may not have the answer in a single defender, but will mix coverage looks to try and force the football elsewhere.
Going into what matchups to watch, the attention should be on the trench battles. Florida State’s senior LG Josue Matias is arguably the country’s best drive blocker at the position. He’ll have Clemson senior DT Grady Jarrett lined up over him throughout the evening. While Jarrett doesn’t have ideal size, he’s a well-put together shade DT that plays with a nonstop motor, great leverage and a keen eye for the football. On the edge for Clemson senior Vic Beasley will face off with senior LT Cam Erving, another length-strength blocker. Beasley’s production is down (0 sacks through 3 games) but will still grade highly thanks to his explosive first step and athleticism as a pass rusher.
Miami (FL) at No. 24 Nebraska, ESPN 2, 8:00 PM EST
This game brings exciting scouting matchups on both sides of the football. Nebraska junior DE Randy Gregory has plenty of first step explosiveness, body control and closing to fit the bill as an NFL pass rusher. Opposing him will be Miami’s behemoth junior LT Ereck Flowers, who showcases impressive feet for his size (6’6 324 lbs). Flowers held Louisville’s top edge rusher Lorenzo Mauldin in check, and will look to do the same versus an even more gifted prospect in Randy Gregory. At WR, the Canes have a legit burner in senior WR Phillip Dorsett (4.3 speed and 35.5 ypc). Dorsett’s ability to take the top off the secondary should earn the respect of senior Nebraska SAF Corey Cooper. Cooper doesn’t often operate in single-high looks, but he’s a heavy hitter that works best in a two-deep zone.
When the Cornhuskers have the football, senior RB Ameer Abdullah is the stud prospect to focus on. He runs with elite pad height and contact balance for a smaller back, and maximizes each run with clean plant-and-go footwork to access cutback lanes. Miami senior ILB Denzel Perryman similarly stands out on defense, despite his lack of ideal height. Perryman’s ability to anticipate, diagnose and aggressively fill downhill should remind Hurricane fans of alum Ray Lewis. In the passing game, senior WR Kenny Bell can win in slot or outside. He has to improve his hand use versus bump-and-run coverage, but stands out with plus athleticism to adjust at the catch point.
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