The storyline each week seems to center on an SEC or Pac-12 matchup, but both of those conferences will be taking a backseat this weekend. The top two games of the weekend involve Kansas State and TCU from the Big 12, and Ohio State and Michigan State from the Big Ten.
With that being said, there are tons of marquee matchups all across the country to hone in on. Keep reading for updated notes on the top prospects to watch and be sure to enjoy another Sunday-player filled Saturday of college football.
By: Alex Brown
No. 12 Baylor at No. 15 Oklahoma, FOX Sports 1, 12:00 PM EST
The scouting matchup to watch here will be the Oklahoma senior tackles versus Baylor edge rusher Shawn Oakman. Oklahoma LT Tyrus Thompson can be very streaky in one-on-one pass sets due to his tendency to lunge for contact, but he does showcase surprising foot quicks for a 6’5, 336 pound. On the other end of the line, RT Daryl Williams wins by overpowering opponents with upper body strength. His combination of long, powerful arms and a wide-body enable him to create consistent movement in the run game. Going back to Shawn Oakman, I want to see him be a more active presence. It’s all about reading and reacting faster with Oakman, and he’ll be facing his toughest set of offensive tackles this season.
The next set of matchups show up on the perimeter for both offensive units. Oklahoma hopes to have junior receiver Sterling Shepard back from a groin injury sustained in last week’s victory over Iowa State. If Shepard is able to go, it’ll make for an excellent battle between he and Baylor redshirt sophomore Xavien Howard. Howard owns the length advantage, but Shepard is one of the more controlled route runners in the country. He’s fun to watch on the outside but will be a game-time decision. When Baylor has the football, look for Oklahoma junior CB Zack Sanchez to shadow senior WR Antwan Goodley. Sanchez plays very aggressively in off-man coverage and will squat on underneath patterns. His recovery speed remains suspect and his turn-and-run ability should be tested against Baylor’s vertical based passing game. For me, I’ll be looking to see how Antwan Goodley handles Sanchez physical, aggressive cover style.
No. 10 Notre Dame at No. 9 Arizona State, ABC, 3:30 PM EST
For Notre Dame, junior QB Everett Golson has taken impressive strides as a pro prospect. While undersized, Golson does not lack in passing skills or athleticism. He’s got one of the quickest releases among draft eligible passers and can make all the throws. His blindside protector is junior Ronnie Stanley, an emerging junior talent to keep an eye on as a potential top-40 overall selection. Stanley will be facing off against Arizona State DE Marcus Hadison, a 6’4, 200 pounder who looks the part of an NFL 5-technique. Hardison wasn’t particularly productive in the early part of the year, but has come on lately with 11 tackles and 3 sacks in the previous two games (Washington, Utah).
The top prospect to evaluate for Arizona State’s offense is easy to find. Junior WR Jaelen Strong is a long, physical weapon down the field with plus body control to win in-route, at the catch point and after the catch. His one-on-ones should be fun to watch for Arizona State fans, as I don’t see corner on Notre Dame’s roster that matches up well in terms of size, length and athletic ability. Senior DB Cody Riggs has played admirably in his first season as a “Golden Domer” but gives up quite a bit in terms of height. Riggs 2014 tape won’t lack in number of quality opposing receivers, as he faces another Sunday player in Jaelen Strong. Another prospect to watch is Notre Dame junior DT Sheldon Day. Day has been the most disruptive player on Notre Dame’s defense, and projects favorably to a 3-technique, slanting DT position at the next level. He’ll be getting after senior Arizona State QB Taylor Kelly, who’s finally returned from a foot injury suffered early this season.
No. 7 Kansas State at No. 6 TCU, FOX, 7:30 PM EST
Back in August, most would have pegged the Oklahoma-Baylor matchup as the most pivotal Big 12 game of the season. With Kansas State and TCU standing as the top one-loss teams in the conference, this weekend’s showdown is basically an elimination game from playoff contention. Kansas State’s top defensive prospect is junior CB Danzel McDaniel. McDaniel is a physical, press corner that excels at stopping the run; however, he’ll draw a tough individual matchup versus a speedster from TCU. Putting down the fastest 100-meter time (10.12, wind-aided) among FBS football players competing in track, junior WR Kolby Listanbee has translated his elite track speed onto the football playing field. His ability to stack the cornerback through his release and track vertically impressed me on tape, so I will be looking to see how well K-State’s Danzel McDaniel can position downfield.
On the flipside, Kansas State has a speedy receiver that draws an intriguing matchup versus a talented defensive back. TCU senior CB Kevin White is fresh off a strong outing versus West Virginia’s Kevin White, and will be shadowing K-State senior target Tyler Lockett. Looking at the positives, Lockett is a skilled, controlled and savvy route runner that showcases the quickness to create a good deal of separation through his route. Additionally, he’s able to elude tacklers after the catch and has been productive in the punt return game. Working against Lockett is the combination of minimal length and shaky hands, both of which further expose his primary weakness as an undersized guy. Both players are undersized for their respective positions, but bring enough specialized traits (Lockett as a slot and punt returner, White as a nickel corner) to potentially land a day three draft pick.
No. 5 Alabama at No. 16 LSU, CBS, 8:00 PM EST
Just a few years ago we were talking about Alabama and LSU as the “Game of the Century.” What happened? Well, there’s still a ton of plus matchups and none better than junior WR Amari Cooper battling sophomore CB Tre’Davious White. Considered the top cornerback out of the 2013 recruiting class, Tre’Davious has the foot speed and body control to stay in phase with Cooper. Still, that will be a tall task for the LSU corner and there’s a good chance Cooper works on both sides of the formation and some in the slot. In addition to White needing to be at his best, LSU junior SAF Jalen Mills has been playing more nickel back in recent weeks and could draw a few one-on-ones with Cooper should he line up in the slot. The Alabama receiver is so precise with his steps, attacking the defensive back’s leverage off the line to put the defender in a recovery position. On top of knowing how to setup the route break, he also happens to be a plus athlete and natural hands catcher.
The top two players to watch when LSU is on offense happen to have the same last name –Collins. Alabama junior SAF Landon Collins is one of the more versatile safety prospects in this draft class in that he has experience playing from single-high, two-shell, in the box and in the slot alignments. A consistent impact on the field, Collins earned his playing time on special teams as an underclassman and still contributes on punt coverage as a gunner. For LSU, their LT La’el Collins is a dominant blocking presence. La’el began his LSU career at offensive guard but transitioned to LT as a junior, and appears to be thriving in his second season at the position. He’s not an elite athlete by any stretch, but his heavy hands, plus length and improving footwork enable him to win one-on-one blocking assignments. La’el is gap clearer in the run game, so be sure to watch the left side of LSU’s o-line. The main pass rusher Collins will be dealing with is senior OLB Xzavier Dickson. Dickson plays a standup OLB position on Alabama’s odd-front package, but does his best work as a DE on four-man fronts.
No. 14 Ohio State at No. 8 Michigan State, ABC, 8:00 PM EST
And finally the Big Ten has the primetime spotlight. Much like the Big 12’s Kansas State-TCU game, the loser of the Ohio State-Michigan State game will be effectively eliminated from playoff contention. The number one thing I want to watch is how junior QB Connor Cook performs. Cook has shown steady improvements over the past two seasons and I believe he has a chance to be a first round prospect, but he still needs to clean up his reset mechanics when moved off his spot. How he handles pressure and extends the play will be critical to Michigan State’s success, as Ohio State has a couple of impact defensive linemen to watch in senior DT Michael Bennett and sophomore Joey Bosa. At Cook’s disposal, senior WR Tony Lippett has upped his draft stock into the day two range as a size-speed target. Ohio State CB Doran Grant, who will be tasked with guarding Lippett, is another senior prospect to watch closely.
The top prospects to watch on Michigan State’s defense come from the secondary with senior SAF Kurtis Drummond and junior CB Trae Waynes. Ohio State’s Jeff Heuerman ranks as Optimum Scouting’s top rated senior TE while Drummond grades out as second on the safety board, making for an excellent scouting opportunity on Saturday night. It’ll be interesting to see who Trae Waynes is tasked with covering in this contest, as Ohio State has a pair of receiving threats in sophomore Michael Thomas and senior Devin Smith. Also, be sure to watch the bouts between Michigan State DE Shilique Calhoun and Ohio State LT Taylor Decker. Shilique Calhoun struggled earlier this season in a spotlight matchup versus Oregon LT Jake Fisher, and will have to flip the switch from being dormant to dominant. Given his length, strength and flexibility as an edge rusher, Calhoun looks the part of a top-40 pick but will need to play up to that ability.
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