NFL Draft Prospects to Watch in College Football Week 10

Let the debate begin, as the first College Football Playoff Rankings are finally here. While the top two were not exactly a shocker in Georgia and Alabama, the rest of the top nine was a bit shocking.

Yes, Michigan State and Oregon have the two best wins of the rest of the bunch. Their victories over Michigan and Ohio State are impressive, and I understand their rationale. From there, the committee put Ohio State’s destiny in their own hands at five, knowing a win over the Spartans in a few weeks will earn them a spot in the top four.

Despite beating Notre Dame, Cincinnati got little respect from the committee thanks to an otherwise easy schedule. While Oklahoma should be even more insulted, the committee did draw out a path for them, ranking Oklahoma State at eleven and Baylor at 12.

I think the winner of the Big 12 still needs Oregon to lose to get in or Georgia to beat Alabama in the SEC Championship. Meanwhile, the Bearcats need the same and an Oklahoma loss if they have any chance at reaching the top four.

What happened on the field

As far as what is happening on the field, this Georgia defense is competing at an incredibly high level. While the Bulldogs’ offense couldn’t find any rhythm in the first half against the Gators, the defense wrapped up the second quarter with three turnovers that took the game from 3-0 to 24-0.

In my highlighted college football games, Sam Howell came up with his best performance of the year to push Notre Dame until the very end. One performance isn’t going to single-handedly save his draft stock, but it could be the beginning of a climb for the junior.

Meanwhile, Matt Corral had one of his least-inspiring showings of the year, and it allowed Bo Nix and Auburn to swoop in and get the victory. In Death Valley, Xavier Thomas and Jermaine Johnson each recorded sacks in a game with nine total, and five turnovers.

Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker had a Heisman-altering performance against the Wolverines, while Iowa, Kentucky, Pittsburgh, SMU, and Iowa State fell to unranked opponents. Let’s take a look at the top matchups for this week.

Game of the Week: USC vs Arizona State

Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona, Saturday, November 6, 9:30 p.m. (CT) on ESPN

USC Football:

This season has not panned out the way the Trojans had hoped, at 4-4, but with the college football program’s future up in the air, USC still has a lot to play for in 2021. Unfortunately, the season is over for wide receiver Drake London, who has a broken ankle. He’s my second-best receiver and 15th-ranked player.

However, other players on this offense haven’t had the season they were hoping for. Coming into the year, Kedon Slovis was my third-ranked quarterback, but health and inconsistency have plagued him this fall. If he plans to declare for the 2022 draft, he needs to start stacking up strong performances. He played well in a rotation with Jaxson Dart against Arizona, and I’d be shocked if the Trojans didn’t do something similar in this one. Still, he’s one of the more accurate quarterbacks in the nation at his best, and he needs to continue to prove that with his anticipation and ball placement.

Another guy that has been stacking up good performances is running back Keontay Ingram. The former Longhorn has eclipsed 100 yards in three of the last four games, including 204 last week against Arizona. He’s a versatile, high-energy runner that displays good patience, balance, and vision.

On the other side, Drake Jackson is my ninth-ranked prospect on defense. After rotating throughout the defensive front seven a year ago, Jackson is back on the edge and having a terrific campaign. His speed off the edge and in pursuit can make him a difference-maker against a dangerous offense from Arizona State. In addition, the Trojans have several players to keep an eye on in the secondary.

Safety Isaiah Palo-Mao is currently 99 on my board, while cornerbacks Chris Steele and Isaac Taylor-Stuart have borderline draftable grades despite tremendous physical gifts.

Arizona State Football:

The Arizona State offense is led by quarterback Jayden Daniels. He’s a terrific athlete for the position, and his feet make him a constant threat. Still, there is a lot to be desired with him as a passer, and his shortcomings center around the fact that the game gets a little too fast for him at times.

Running back Rachaad White’s numbers aren’t impressive, but Arizona likes to rotate their backs. White is a tall, slender back that is built like a receiver, and he plays like one too. However, he does have physical nature that can keep him in the backfield, and teams will love his versatility to line up at multiple spots. In front of these two are a pair of day-two candidates on the offensive line.

Dhonovan West is my third-ranked center and 74th overall prospect, while tackle Kellen Diesch just narrowly missed out on my top 100. Both are tremendous athletes for their positions, but strength will be an issue entering the league. However, even with the added power, a zone-blocking scheme is likely their best fit. On defense, interior lineman Jermayne Lole has yet to play this season because of a triceps injury. He had a breakout season in 2019, but the injury puts his draft decision up in the air.

D.J. Davidson is another talented defensive tackle for Arizona State and one of my biggest sleepers for the 2022 NFL Draft. He’s one of the strongest players in the country, and his straight-line speed for 325 pounds is impressive. Davidson can be a starter as a run-stuffing nose.

Linebacker Merlin Robertson is another player to watch. He’s an athletic linebacker who hasn’t taken the next step after a tremendous freshman season in 2018. Still, he’s got a day-three grade on my board.

My Two Cents on the College Football Game:

Both teams have been inconsistent, making this a challenging game to predict. Still, I think it comes down to the quarterback play. USC’s quarterback rotation worked a week ago, but not allowing players to get in a rhythm may come back to bite them.

Daniels is a playmaker at quarterback, and with USC having lost their top playmaker, London, I think Arizona State gets the win. It was a close game last year, with USC pulling off the comeback.

I think this Arizona State offense gets a decent lead early, and the Trojans struggle to dig out of that hole. However, Ingram has a chance to be the difference-maker. The best defense to this Sun Devils’ offense is to keep them on the sideline, and a good running game can do that.

Matchup of the Week: San Jose State’s Viliami Fehoko and Noah Wright against Nevada’s Carson Strong and Romeo Doubs

Mackay Stadium, Reno, Nevada, Saturday, November 6, 9 p.m. (CT) on FS2

Viliami Fehoko DE, San Jose State, Fourth-Year Sophomore 6’4”, 263 | Noah Wright, DT, San Jose State, Fifth-Year Senior, 6’5”, 315

I doubled up for each of these teams because they’ve got several players that were too good to leave out. For the Spartans, their defensive line has a pair of talented prospects.

Fehoko and Wright have borderline draftable grades thanks to their inconsistency. However, when they are on, the pair are terrific football players. Fehoko is a versatile player that has lined up all over the defensive front.

He leads the team with six sacks, and his explosive athleticism makes him a good fit as a strong-side linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. He’s more than adequate at setting the edge and can be a heck of a pass rusher with more consistent technique.

Wright is a load in the middle of that defense, and when the effort is there, he has the power and quickness to create negative plays. I just wish the effort were consistently there. He is a big man at 315 pounds, but the coaches do a good job spelling him. However, if someone can unlock his motor, he could be a steal at the next level.

Carson Strong, QB, Nevada, Fourth-Year Junior 6’4”, 215

While the pair of San Jose State college football players may not be on every football enthusiast’s radar, Nevada’s pass-catch connection should. Strong is my 64th-ranked player and my sixth-overall passer.

He’s a tall, strong-armed quarterback that can make special throws in tight windows. However, I grade him a bit harsher than others because of his mobility. For years, the prototypical quarterback started with size and arm strength, but the NFL has changed. Edge rushers clock sub-4.5 forties, and primarily throwing from the pocket just isn’t feasible.

Athleticism has never been more vital for a signal-caller, even if it’s just being able to quickly maneuver in the pocket to buy time or create a throwing lane. Strong is a bit of a statue, and while that may fit in some offensive systems, there will be some who drop him down their board as I have. I’d go as far as saying that Strong reminds me a lot of Joe Flacco, both the positive and negative aspects. Doubs ranks two spots higher than Strong and is my eighth-overall receiver.

Romeo Doubs, WR, Nevada, Fourth-Year Senior, 6’2”, 200

The senior pass-catcher is one of the fastest players in the country, and that, mixed with his height, makes him an incredible deep threat. I mentioned Strong has his similarities to Flacco, and Doubs is Flacco’s version of Torrey Smith as somewhat of a one-trick pony on the perimeter.

Still, that trick is his speed, and it’s enough to make him a star at the next level. However, if I were truly comparing Doubs to anyone, it may be Will Fuller. There are occasional lapses in focus, and in general, I’m not sure he has the best ball skills.

However, he’s still one of the most dangerous college football players in this class, whether it’s with the ball in the air or in his hands.

Player of the Week: Liberty’s Malik Willis vs. Ole Miss

Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, Mississippi, Saturday, November 6, 11 a.m. (CT) on SEC Network

Malik Willis, QB, Liberty, Fourth-Year Junior, 6’1”, 225:

When these two teams agreed to play in 2021, I don’t think they knew they’d be pairing the top two quarterbacks in the 2022 class. However, that is what Matt Corral and Malik Willis are. Corral, who I highlighted a week ago, edges Willis on my big board simply because I think Willis still has more to develop.

However, Willis is one of the most physically gifted draft-eligible college football quarterbacks in the country, and on Saturday, he will get his chance to take on an SEC opponent. While Willis and the Flames took on Syracuse earlier this year, that defense wasn’t exactly at the same level as in 2020 when they had three future NFL defensive backs.

Ole Miss’s defense may not be full of stars either, but the guy teams will debate drafting ahead of Willis will be on the opposite sideline. You can bet scouts will watch these two passers go at it, and for Willis, this is the first tape most scouts will pick up. He’s a dual-threat player that is more than just a speedy runner. He’s got some power in his game as well, and Willis isn’t afraid to make plays with his feet.

The former Auburn Tiger has a strong arm, too, though I labeled him as more of a thrower than a passer heading into this season. However, we’ve seen improvement with both his ball placement and touch in 2021, and while there is still plenty of development left, improvement was all many scouts wanted to see from him.

Any team drafting him needs to take a similar approach to what San Francisco is doing with Trey Lance. Willis’ upside may not be as high as Lance’s, but he’s still a talented college football quarterback.