We are completely diving into the conference schedule and have plenty of great league match-ups in week five. This week consists of five ranked versus ranked team match-ups, meaning there is plenty of NFL draft talent to go around. To kickoff Saturday, the first top 25 battle consists of West Virginia and Oklahoma with some fun player clashes to watch on the perimeter. Following back-to-back conference wins, Chad Kelly and Ole Miss head into the swamp and will have their work cut out versus a strong Florida defense, headlined by Vernon Hargreaves and Jonathan Bullard. The Crimson Tide look to wipe off their 0-1 conference record when traveling to Sanford Stadium to take on a loaded Georgia team. Here are some players to watch and match-ups to highlight this weekend with a focus on draft-eligible players.
By: Christian Page
Saturday: No. 23 West Virginia at No. 15 Oklahoma, 12:00 EST on Fox Sports 1
Undoubtedly flying under the radar this season (though having a fairly easy strength of schedule so far), the West Virginia Mountaineers head into Norman with a 3-0 record and a defense that ranks first in total defense (7.7 points per game!) and an offense that ranks 12th (543 yards per game). Karl Joseph (#8) is a player to focus on this weekend when playing a high-powered Oklahoma offense that runs and passes effectively. The senior strong safety plays with a chip on his shoulder and embraces his role as a hard-hitting safety with composure and technique. Rated as one of the top safeties in the 2016 NFL Draft this preseason, Joseph’s strength is in run defense but could still use some coverage work in the pass game. Playing against productive Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield (#6) on the other end will give a good indication of how much Joseph has improved against the pass game (Joseph already intercepted four passes this season).
If it wasn’t for Sterling Shepard (#3), the Sooners may have not escaped Knoxville with a résumé-boosting win over the Vols a couple of weeks ago, as he was highly effective down the stretch. Shepard’s speed and electricity after the catch doesn’t go unnoticed and has been huge so far for Oklahoma’s offensive success this season. Shepard makes playing the position look simple, as he is a good route runner and a technician when making plays when the ball is in the air. He adjusts routes and is incredible at gaining separation to get the best out of every play. Look for Shepard to get a high volume of touches Saturday, as he is one of the best weapons in all of college football.
Other players to keep an eye on
West Virginia: DB K.J. Dillon (#9), RB/WR Wendell Smallwood (#4), OLB Nick Kwiatkowski (#35)
Oklahoma: C Ty Darlington (#56), DE Eric Striker (#19), ILB Dominique Alexander (#1)
Saturday: No. 13 Alabama at No. 8 Georgia, 3:30 EST on CBS
With the last regular season meeting coming in 2008, SEC fans have been awaiting this match-up for quite some time now. To stray away from the obvious choices this week, I’m going to focus in some other key contributors that have the potential to be hot names come draft season.
Senior prospect Jarran Reed (#90) has made the best of being a tackle-end hybrid in Alabama’s 3-4 defensive scheme. Reed has slowly become a very effective player in the SEC, exercising his elite play against some of the top-tier opponents, making him a player to watch this weekend. Reed doesn’t take a back seat to the other big names of A’Shawn Robinson (#86) and Jonathan Allen (#93). He takes on double teams and executes them with ease. Reed has played well so far, displaying a consistent motor and some sneaky pass moves to give Alabama a pass rush that doesn’t come from the explosive linebacking corp.
Having a string of running backs that consistently perform at a high level has become a trend in Athens. The names are known as all-conference performers, but an overlooked position that helps pave way for runners is fullback. Quayvon Hicks (#48) has been dominant since arriving on campus at Georgia. Hicks has similar athleticism, if not better, as 2015 fullback/H-back prospect Jalston Fowler and has a bright future ahead of him. While primarily being used as a blocking back in the run game, Hicks can also be utilized as a sneaky receiving threat flexed out or out of the backfield. As you watch this weekend, remember to take note on who helps Nick Chubb and Sony Michel create big plays besides the men upfront.
Other players to keep an eye on
Alabama: TE O.J. Howard (#88), WR Richard Mullaney (#16), FS Geno Smith (#24)
Georgia: LT John Theus (#71), NT Chris Mayes (#93), Jake Ganus (#51)
Saturday: No. 6 Notre Dame at No. 12 Clemson, 8:00 EST on ABC
Plenty of NFL scouts will be on hand for this attractive non-conference battle between two playoff-threatening teams. Both teams have already faced adversity and lost quality starters to injury, most notably Notre Dame’s Malik Zaire (out for the season with a fractured ankle) and Clemson’s Mike Williams (out since week 1 with a fracture in his neck).
The intriguing match-up in this game consists of Notre Dame receiver Will Fuller (#7) going up against Clemson’s best cover corner Mackensie Alexander (#2). Fuller has continued to be productive after last year’s 1,000-yard season, putting together a top-ten receiving year so far in 2015. Fuller’s quickness and yards after the catch make him a key asset in this Irish offense, which makes Alexander’s role vital in Saturday’s match-up. Alexander has a string of tools, being a physical disrupter at the line and quick enough to gain ground in and out of the receiver’s break. Both players are tremendous talents, so get your popcorn and Coke ready to watch the showdown between these two.
Other players to keep an eye on
Clemson: WR Charone Peake (#19), RT Joe Gore (#73), ILB B.J. Goodson (#44)
Notre Dame (excluding the obvious three): C Nick Martin (#72), DE Romero Okwara (#45), SS Eljah Shumate (#22)
Saturday: No. 3 Ole Miss at No. 25 Florida, 7:00 EST on ESPN
Not many saw this game in the preseason being a match-up between two undefeated teams at this point in the season. With both teams having signature wins to kick off their seasons, another one is in store to create possibly a new pecking order in the conference.
Defeating Alabama in Tuscaloosa increased junior Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly’s (#10) draft stock significantly. With off-the-field baggage that may or may not be overlooked, Kelly’s play will need to continue to speak volumes to future organizations. Kelly is still a junior, so there is plenty of time for him to make corrections to his lifestyle and game. Sticking to his game, Kelly has an excellent chance to receive even more recognition if he can manage to cut into the stingy Florida secondary with top-rated cornerback Vernon Hargreaves (#1) complementing with Jalen Tabor (#31).
Florida defensive end Jonathan Bullard (#90) may be the best lineman in the country no one is talking about. Already having four sacks and eight tackles for loss in four games, Bullard is a forced to be reckoned with on the outside of this strong Florida Gator defensive line. As his size indicates (6’3 277), he is a bullish rusher with a strong anchor to hold up at the point of attack against the top talent in the SEC. He will continue to gain better technique, as he lacks some pass rush moves along with run stuffing ability, but he manages to be effective often with his continuous motor on every snap.
Other players to keep an eye on
Florida: TE Jake McGee (#83), LG Trip Thurman (#63), ILB Antonio Morrison (#3)
Ole Miss: WR Cody Core (#88), OT Fahn Cooper (#74), FS Trae Elston (#7)
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