This section breaks down many college football games each week and highlights how 2019 NFL Draft Prospects have performed. Or look at the 2019 NFL Draft Stock page.
By Charlie Campbell.
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Clemson 27, Boston College 7
Allen had two good rushes late in the opening quarter, with one being negated as he jumped offsides, but a few plays later, he burned the right tackle with speed to cause an incompletion while also drawing a holding penalty. Allen later made a great play to leap and bat a pass. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence caught the deflection and then Allen ripped him down for a loss of nine yards on the play. Allen then used speed to fire by the right tackle to the inside. He bounced off the right guard, and he got his hand up in the air to bat down a third-down pass. Allen came close to a few sacks with pressures and none of the Clemson offensive linemen were able to sustain blocks on him.
This was a phenomenal tape from Allen. He showed so much for NFL teams to fall in love with. He is quick at the point of attack with a burst out of his stance. He can use speed around the edge or to the inside to fly by blockers with functional strength to shed blocks. Allen has a thick build and is very sound in run defense to hold his ground while being able to make tackles outside of his gap. On top of his excellent skill set, Allen has a tremendous motor and gives relentless effort. This tape made him look like a worthy top-10 pick next April.
Nose tackle Dexter Lawrence put his great skill set on display using his big size and surprising speed to get the better of the Boston College offensive line. Lawrence split a double team at the very end of the opening quarter to make a tackle for no gain on a third-and-1. Lawrence later bull rushed through the center and knocked him flat on his butt before taking down the running back for a loss of a yard.
Defensive end Clelin Ferrell was quiet in the early going, but then he helped the Tigers close out the game. Ferrell had a run tackle and a pass pressure to force an incompletion just prior to halftime. Ferrell later came on a stunt to the inside and dipped low to drag down the quarterback by his ankles for a sack.
All three of these defensive lineman should be selected on the opening night of the 2019 NFL Draft. It could be that all three go in the top 20. Lawrence and Wilkins might slip into the 20s, but all three are excellent prospects who should be very good NFL defensive linemen.
Georgia 27, Auburn 10
In another instance, Brown was spying on quarterback Jake Fromm on a third-and-goal in the second quarter. After fighting off a double team, Brown swallowed up Fromm for a tackle to force a field goal for Georgia. He made some other run stuffs and knifed into the backfield on other plays. This tape won’t hurt or help Brown’s draft grade.
There were a few lowlights for Baker against Auburn. In the first quarter, Baker made a tackle on a screen, but he was flagged for a horse collar. Baker was then beaten on a dig route for a gain of about 15 yards. Baker got lucky in the third quarter, as he fell down in coverage to leave his receiver wide open, but Stidham had a poor throw fall incomplete. Baker was later flagged for a pass interference that could have been a non-call, and later on the drive he was whistled again but the ball was ruled to be uncatchable, so it was a negated.
Baker is one of the top cornerback prospects for the 2019 NFL Draft. He is a gritty and physical corner who could be a starter quickly in his NFL career. One major point of improvement for Baker will be to grab less at the pro level. Baker can be a bit too physical at times, and he could have issues with getting flagged for holds and pass interference penalties. Baker looks like a safe first-rounder heading into the final games of his collegiate career.
This tape should help Dean’s draft grade. He may not have the speed to run well enough to be a first-round pick, but he could be a good second-day selection in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Northwestern 14, Iowa 10
Thorson threw an excellent deep ball deep down the field to lead his receiver open for an early touchdown, but the pass was a dropped. A pro receiver would have had more speed to get in better position to make the catch. However, a Northwestern penalty would have taken the play away even if Thorson’s receiver made the catch. Throughout the first half, Thorson struggled as his receivers were incapable of generating any separation, while his offensive line was getting overwhelmed by Iowa’s big defensive front. Thorson took a few sacks where he needed to get rid of the ball, but his teammates were giving him nothing to work with. He was only 5-of-10 for 41 yards at halftime.
Things got worse at the start of the third quarter, as Thorson was picked off. He threw a short pass off the mark and it fell into the arms of a defender. Thorson then had a deflected pass picked off. It was a bad decision by Thorson, as he threw the ball into traffic with a crowd of defenders and two receivers. He looked like he was playing tight and pressing, but after that interception, Thorson rallied.
Thorson made a brilliant throw in the fourth quarter with perfect ball placement to let his receiver in the end zone. The big wideout Bennett Skowronek made a diving grab past blanket coverage. It was a 32-yard strike that put Northwestern up 14-10 with nine-and-a-half minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The lead held, and Northwestern celebrated their divisional championship. Thorson finished 15-of-30 for 122 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
Thorson played better than the numbers illustrate. He showed his strong arm with some accurate throws and well-placed passes that were dropped. Thorson has played some good defenses tough in losing outcomes to Notre Dame and Michigan. Overall though, this tape should not help Thorson’s draft grade, and he could be a second-day pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Alabama 24, Mississippi State 0
Williams added to his impressive sack total with his fifth of the year late in the opening quarter. Williams used strength to shed the block of Jenkins, ripping up with his arms and then using speed to chase down Nick Fitzgerald for the sack. Williams later had a tackle for a loss with a ridiculous display of quickness as he swam around Jenkins and fired into the backfield to rip down the back. Williams was so fast that he almost blew up the hand-off. Williams did not play much longer, as Alabama pulled its starters partway through the second half.
There is no doubt that Williams is a freak athlete. He is extremely fast off the snap with the ability to fire his gap and close on the quarterback in a hurry. He has functional strength to bull rush through blockers, or grab them and toss them aside. On top of his great skill set, Williams shows impressive technique with his hand placement and variety in pass-rushing moves. With a sawed-off body, Williams has natural pad level and leverage.
According to NFL sources, Williams is grading out higher than Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver, Auburn’s Derrick Brown, teammate Raekwon Davis, Mississippi State’s Jeff Simmons, and the Clemson duo of Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence. None of those players have a tape from this season as impressive as how Williams dominated LSU last week. This performance should help him to be one of the first players drafted next April, and it could make him a strong contender to go No. 1 overall depending on how the team needs and quarterback prospects shake out.
Ohio State 26, Michigan State 6
Jones would fit best as a three-technique defensive tackle in a 4-3 NFL defense. Jones is a fast and athletic defender who can fire his gap and cause havoc in the backfield. It would help him to get stronger for the NFL, as he can have issues when runs come downhill straight at him. Jones gets covered up some and can have problems shedding blocks on those plays.
Jones has become a consistent pass rusher this season, and it is hard for NFL teams to find interior tackles who are capable of rushing the passer with consistency. Jones fits that need and thus he should be in high demand next April. With this impressive season, Jones could end up being a top-20 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Willekes looks like more of a 3-4 outside linebacker candidate for the NFL. He is listed at 6-foot-4, 260-pounds but looks smaller than that. Coming off the edge, Willekes has some quickness with active hands and the ability use his hands and feet at the same time. It would help Willekes if he returns for his senior year to get stronger for the NFL. Willekes might have second-day potential in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Sheffield gave up chunk completions on comeback routes and slants to the intermediate part of the field, and he was gave up a leaping reception on a 50-50 ball downfield. Sheffield does not look like an outside corner for the NFL, as size gives him problems. He would be a better fit as a slot corner, but he is going to have to improve on running the route to prevent separation as NFL slot receivers will give Sheffield problems with their route-running. This tape made Sheffield look more like a mid-rounder rather than an early-round pick.
Texas A&M 38, Ole Miss 24
Brown caught an intermediate crossing route in the second quarter and turned upfield to get 39 yards before he was wrestled down. Brown later made a big play to help get his team back in the game, as Brown was covered closely but used his size to make a catch with the defender all over him for a gain of about 40 yards. Brown had six catches for 127 yards.
Brown could fit best as a Z (flanker) receiver in the NFL. He does not look like a burner who will roast defenses downfield with speed. Thus, Brown is not the caliber of a Julio Jones, A.J. Green or DeAndre Hopkins. Brown is more of a possessional receiver to work the short to intermediate part of the field and hurt defenses with his run-after-the-catch skills. This tape will only serve to confirm Brown as a first-round pick.
Little has to get stronger for the NFL. He has the potential to dominate, but he has to become more consistent and get stronger to be a true franchise left tackle. Still, he will be a first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft and the top-rated offensive line prospect.
McCoy has strong hands and is able to control defenders when he latches on them. He has decent feel and awareness, plus he is athletic for a center. McCoy is not a powerful pile mover and does not generate a lot of movement in the run game, but he can sustain blocks and manipulate defenders. McCoy would fit best as a center in the NFL, but he has enough size to move to guard. If he becomes a starter at guard, he should definitely add more strength for taking on pro defensive tackles one-on-one. Scouts tell me that he is getting second-round grades, and they see him as having plug-and-play starting potential in the NFL.
Williams is a smaller back with some running instincts, but with his skill set, he is more of a late-rounder and potential backup in the NFL.
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