Want to get to know the draft prospects for the 2015 NFL Draft? This weekly column breaks down the best matchups to watch on Saturday and what players to watch.
By Charlie Campbell.
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Texas vs. Oklahoma Thursday, 12:00 ET ABC
The Red River Rivalry isn’t as high-powered as it used to be, but there still are a number of quality prospects for the 2015 NFL Draft going head to head in this game. If your NFL teams needs help in the front seven on defense, this is a good game to get familiar with some players who could be upgrades.
Oklahoma speedy linebacker Eric Striker is a dangerous edge rusher who has improved his overall game this year. The junior is undersized, but he still contributes in run defense and covers ground in pass coverage. Striker is a dangerous edge rusher and enters the game with 3.5 sacks on the season. He could interest 3-4 and 4-3 teams. The Seffner, Florida product could be a real weapon for a creative defensive coordinator. Striker has early-round potential.
On the other side from Striker is outside linebacker Geno Grissom. He could interest 3-4 teams in the mid-rounds while nose tackle Jordan Philips has early-round potential. Philips has flashed, but he needs to stay healthy and consistent.
Perhaps the headliner of the defensive line prospects in this game is Texas defensive tackle Malcom Brown (3.5 sacks). He’s shown pass-rush ability and has been very disruptive this season. Brown looks like a potential three-technique for a 4-3 defense. Other Longhorn defenders to watch include senior defensive end Cedric Reed and junior Hassan Ridgeway (3 sacks).
Lastly, keep an eye on Texas senior cornerback Quandre Diggs. He could have second-day potential in the 2015 NFL Draft.
Georgia vs. Missouri 12:00 ET CBS
It’s been a trend in recent years for Missouri to feature some talented defensive linemen, and this season is no different. Junior defensive end Shane Ray (8 sacks) is second in the nation in sacks, while senior defensive end Markus Golden (4 sacks) looks like an even better pro prospect than Ray. Golden has been hampered with injuries lately, but he’s bigger and stronger than Ray.
Golden’s strength will be needed as the talented edge rushers will take on the most physical back in college football in Todd Gurley. Run defense looks like it could be a weakness for both of Missouri’s defensive linemen, so showing they can hold their own against Gurley and Georgia would be huge for each defender’s draft stock.
One prospect trying to stop Golden and Ray from making game-changing plays in the pass rush is Bulldogs left tackle John Theus. He’s had an up-and-down season, but if he can shut out those pass-rushers that would be huge for Theus’ draft stock.
Baylor vs. TCU 3:30 PM ABC
Baylor senior signal-caller Bryce Petty will face a TCU led by safety Sam Carter. Petty struggled to complete passes against Texas’ defense last week, and if he doesn’t play better, the Bears could lose to the Horned Frogs. Carter has second-day potential, while Petty has to improve his accuracy and consistency to be more than a Day-3 pick. Carter figures to be tested by Baylor’s deep group of play-makers, including wide receiver Antwan Goodley. If Carter plays well against Baylor, that could really benefit his rating.
The top prospect in this game is Baylor defensive end Shawn Oakman. He’s been excellent in 2014 with five sacks. The Bears will need him to make some big plays going against a TCU team that was just lit up Oklahoma.
Auburn vs. Mississippi State 3:30 PM CBS
Mississippi State junior quarterback Dak Prescott is a hot draft prospect who has been enjoying a superb season. He’ll see a nice test in an improving Auburn defense led by defensive tackle Gabe Wright.
The best draft matchup for this game will occur on the other side of the ball. Mississippi State middle linebacker Bernardrick McKinney has early-round potential, and the Auburn rushing offense will be a real test for him. With the Tigers’ misdirection and option runs, McKinney will get the opportunity to show NFL scouts that he can stay disciplined, read his keys and has the speed to get to the ball. Sources have told WalterFootball.com they view McKinney as a future three-down starter, and how he performs against Auburn will have an impact on how high McKinney goes on draft day.
Oregon vs. UCLA 3:30 PM NBC
Both teams have quarterback prospects in the Ducks’ Marcus Mariota and Bruins’ Brett Hundley. Mariota is in contention to be the first quarterback selected in the 2015 NFL Draft, while Hundley, who isn’t held in as high of regard by NFL teams, still has early-round potential. Both signal-callers need to show more pocket-passing potential for the next level.
One player who Hundley will need to be cognizant of is Oregon cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu. The senior defensive back is one of the best corners in the nation and a potential first-round pick. He has ball skills, so Hundley will have to be careful about his placement when throwing Ekpre-Olomu’s direction.
Mariota and the Oregon ground offense figure to be a nice test for UCLA senior linebacker Erik Kendricks. The speedy Kendricks has sideline-to-sideline speed and is good in pass coverage. If the senior can limit Mariota on the ground and play well at defending passes, this tape could help Kendricks to achieve a first-round grade.
Florida vs. LSU 7:30 ET SEC Network
It’s sad that this game now has two unranked teams trying to right their seasons and programs, but there still is a marquee matchup in this bout that will be watched closely by NFL evaluators. Florida outside linebacker Dante Fowler is a potential first-round pick and could go in the top 25. He’ll be going against another possible top-25 pick in LSU junior left tackle La’el Collins. Collins just had an excellent game against Auburn, while Fowler has been a play-making pass-rusher all year.
Fowler lines up over the left tackle, but also moves around, so he should have some good battles with Collins. The strong Collins has an advantage over Fowler in the ground game, so Fowler needs to show improved run defense compared to how he played against Alabama.
Even when Fowler is lining up over the right tackle or on the inside, Collins will see some talented young edge rushers in Neiron Ball and Bryan Cox, Jr. Both have had multi-sack games this year with speed off the edge. Florida’s defense and its waves of edge rushers could be Collins’ toughest test of the season. A dominant game from Collins could send his draft stock through the roof.
Texas A&M vs. Ole Miss 9:00 ET ESPN
Coming off their huge upset against Alabama, the Ole Miss Rebels can’t afford a let down or Texas A&M will rebound against them. Aggies senior left tackle Cedric Ogbuehi was beaten for three sacks in Texas A&M’s loss versus Mississippi State. Ogbuehi will be challenged by a scrappy young defensive line from the Rebels, and he needs to show that his performance against the Bulldogs was an aberration.
The Aggies’ offense has talent, and Ole Miss safety Cody Prewitt must have good eye discipline against some of the misdirection plays that Texas A&M runs. This tape will be a good game to gauge Prewitt.
Ole Miss senior quarterback Bo Wallace had a huge performance against Alabama, but has struggled with consistency in his college career. He could prove that is a thing of the past by leading the Rebels to another critical win over Texas A&M.
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