This section breaks down many college football games each week and highlights how 2014 NFL Draft Prospects have performed. Or look at the 2014 NFL Draft Stock page.
By Charlie Campbell.
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Auburn 34, Alabama 28
Alabama has some elite defensive prospects with inside linebacker C.J. Mosley and safety HaHa Clinton-Dix, both the top-ranked players at their position. They had the tough task of defending Alabama dual-threat quarterback Nick Marshall and running back Tre Mason. The Auburn read-option fast-paced offense puts a lot of pressure on interior defenders.
Mosley had a nice run fill to get his game started. Later in the first quarter, Mosley bit on a fake to Mason, and Marshall took advantage by keeping it himself for a 45-yard touchdown run. Clinton-Dix also took some false steps to open the secondary for Marshall to run free.
In the second quarter, Mason was being tackled by Mosley and had the ball ripped out by safety Landon Collins. Mason bounced back as he had a great run where he broke multiple tackles to get a gain of 40. He charged ahead for another 15 yards and finished the drive with a short touchdown run. Mosley was getting blocked on those plays.
Early after halftime, Clinton-Dix was late coming over to a tight end in the front of the end zone, and Auburn was able to complete the throw to tie the game at 21. Mosley was having some issues as well. He made a few good run tackles, but Auburn’s misdirection runs were giving him some problems, and the offensive line did a decent job of getting a hat on Mosley. Neither player helped their draft stock against Auburn as the Tigers racked up a big game on the ground.
Conversely, Mason ran for 165 yards on 29 carries with a touchdown. The fumble was spoiler, but he ran really well against a defense comprised of NFL talent. This performance should help Mason to be a mid-rounder and maybe a second-day pick.
In the trenches, Alabama junior left tackle Cyrus Kouandjio had the challenge of taking on Auburn’s group of speed rushers. Kouandjio had a good game overall. Aside from a play where Kouandjio was pushed into the backfield to blow up a run, Alabama had success running behind him. He didn’t allow a sack, but did have a few pressures from his man. He generally was able to give McCarron time to throw, and Alabama’s protection issues came from the inside. Kouandjio’s stock should be neutral from this outing.
Ford was going against the right tackle mostly. He had a bad mental mistake when he jumped offsides on a fourth-and-7. Ford got a few pressures but generally was held in check.
Alabama senior quarterback A.J. McCarron had a good game statistically, but from an NFL perspective, he didn’t execute all that well. McCarron had an early bad throw to a wide open receiver that led to an incompletion on third down. Throughout the first quarter, McCarron was missing on throws with a lot of balls high and poorly placed. He later got going, hitting some passes in the flat to his tight end and fullback Jalston Fowler for a touchdown.
McCarron threw his second touchdown to Kevin Norwood who got open running into the end zone. McCarron then hit Amari Cooper for a gain of 55 yards. Cooper had to stop and wait for the pass. If it had been a better throw Cooper could have gone the distance.
Alabama went back to that from their end zone when Cooper ran an out and up route. Again, Cooper had to wait on McCarron’s throw, but he caught it and broke the tackle from the safety to explode down the field for a 99-yard touchdown.
McCarron was 17-of-29 for 276 yards with three touchdowns. He doesn’t have elite arm strength and has thrived off receivers being more open in college than they are in the NFL. This illustrates why McCarron belongs in the mid-rounds rather than the first.
The final prospect worth mentioning is Alabama outside linebacker Adrian Hubbard. He came up with some huge plays for the Crimson Tide. He had a sack on an ankle tackle and a stuff for no gain on a fourth-down run in the final quarter. It would be surprising if Hubbard skipped his senior year, and if he enters the 2014 NFL Draft he could be a second-day pick. He’s slotted to the Ravens in Walt’s 2014 NFL Mock Draft.
Washington 27, Washington State 17
There was a great draft-related matchup in the Apple Cup. Washington junior tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins was going against Washington State senior safety Deone Bucannon. The latter is one of the top safeties in the nation and is a one of the leaders in the country in interceptions. Bucannon was set to really help his draft stock if he showed the ability to defend an elite tight end like Seferian-Jenkins. Washington senior quarterback Keith Price and running back Bishop Sankey also figured to be a good test for Bucannon.
On the first drive of the game, Price threw a ball up for grabs and Seferian-Jenkins boxed out the other Cougar safety to make a leaping catch for 34 yards. That set up a field goal. Sankey then had a nice hole to run through after Seferian-Jenkins sealed the defensive end to let Sankey get a gain of five.
Seferian-Jenkins had another nice seal block on a linebacker in the second level, but a miscommunication between Price and Seferian-Jenkins led to an interception. Price thought Seferian-Jenkins would sit down after a cut but the big tight end kept running into the end zone.
Sankey got going with a 40-yard pick up on a screen in the third quarter. Price put the ball up for Seferian-Jenkins, and the big tight end went over three defenders to make an 18-yard touchdown catch. He held on despite a hard hit in the air from the safety.
Sankey ran over the Washington State defense on the next drive with a number of runs for good yardage, including a seven-yard touchdown. He showed some great moves to spin away from defenders and zig-zag his way through the defense.
Price and wide receiver Kevin Smith beat Bucannon on an out and up for a gain of about 25. Bucannon came back to destroy a wide receiver screen for a loss of a few yards. Sankey broke off a long run, but Bucannon saved a touchdown by pushing Sankey out of bounds after he ran for 30 yards. Overall, Bucannon had a solid, but unspectacular performance.
Sankey finished with 200 yards on 34 carries. It was another excellent performance from the junior as he showed quickness, vision, balance and cutting ability. If Sankey enters the 2014 NFL Draft, he could be a nice value pick on the second day.
Seferian-Jenkins had two receptions for 52 yards with a score. He made big plays down the middle of the field and did a good job in the ground game to help Sankey find running lanes. This tape illustrates that Seferian-Jenkins is worthy of an early-round pick.
Price was miserable in the first half. He missed an open receiver along the sideline as the corner was beat off the ball and Bucannon was late coming over the top, but an inaccurate pass led to an incompletion and a punt. It got worse for Price as he showed poor awareness. He scrambled around and had a defensive lineman charging toward him. Price should have seen him coming but didn’t and fumbled the ball away when he was hit.
The tough day continued as Price threw an interception. He had another sack-fumble, but recovered the loose ball. There were numerous plays where Price was holding on to the ball too long and looked confused by the Cougars defense. He played better in the final two quarters and ran in a touchdown with a couple minutes remaining. He completed 15-of-20 passes for 181 yards with a score and an interception. This performance could harm Price’s draft grade.
Texas 41, Texas Tech 16
Texas Tech junior tight end Jace Amaro has been one of the best receiving weapons in college football in 2013. Amaro wasn’t chosen as a finalist for the Mackey Award, given to the best tight end in the nation, but he is a leader to be the first tight end selected in the 2014 NFL Draft (Walt has him going to the Packers in his 2014 NFL Mock Draft). Amaro had a mixed outing against Texas.
Amaro’s night started poorly as he ran down the slot. He juggled an over-the-shoulder catch, and Texas intercepted the deflection. It wasn’t an easy catch but one that Amaro should make. Later in the first half, Amaro dropped an easy reception on a third down that may have gone for first-down yardage. Normally, Amaro is a reliable, sure-handed receiver.
In the third quarter, Amaro converted a third�and�10 when he ran a nice route on a dig to make the catch and stretch out for the first down. His next reception was a five-yarder, but he broke a tackle and charged down the field. He carried a defender for a few yards for a gain of close to 20.
With Texas Tech trailing by a lot in the fourth quarter, Amaro got open running an inside crossing route in the front of the end zone. Amaro was between a corner and safety to record his seventh touchdown of the season. On his final reception of the night, Amaro took a swing pass for a gain of about 10 yards. Amaro caught six receptions for 83 yards with a score. He has 98 receptions for 1,240 yards this season. This tape won’t help or hurt Amaro significantly. He showed his receiving ability but didn’t make a real impact as a blocker and had two painful drops. With Amaro’s (-5 260) dynamic receiving ability, he should be a first-round pick.
Texas senior linebacker/defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat had to play his senior day while dealing with a flu. Texas was using Jeffcoat in a different manner against the Red Raiders. Typically, Jeffcoat has played defensive end or a stand up rush linebacker. In this game, Jeffcoat lined up as a middle linebacker often in running downs. In passing situations, Jeffcoat would go back to the edge. Coming from the middle, he had had a nice run fill and got some pressure on inside blitzes in the first quarter.
Jeffcoat recorded his first sack standing up over the right guard. Jeffcoat came on a stunt up the middle to get to quarterback Baker Mayfield. A couple minutes later, Jeffcoat started as a middle linebacker and used his speed to run around the left tackle and chase down Mayfield from behind for a sack. Jeffcoat started another team sack as the Longhorns’ defensive line dominated the line of scrimmage. Jeffcoat had seven tackles with three sacks.
This was great tape for Jeffcoat, as he showed a lot of versatility. Jeffcoat is undersized to be a defensive end in the NFL, so playing linebacker in a 3-4 would be his best fit. He showed the ability to move inside and rush off the edge. This tape will help Jeffcoat, especially with coaches from a 3�4 scheme.
There is another prospect worth mentioning. Texas senior wide receiver Mike Davis had an impressive night. He got the game started with a 47-yard touchdown catch on a post running down the field. Later in the first half, Davis got open on a gadget play for a catch downfield. Davis got a step on two defenders for a 43�yard gain. Davis then caught a short slant for his second touchdown in the fourth quarter. Davis logged four receptions for 112 yards and two scores. Davis (6�2, 195) has some size to him, but it will be interesting to see if he can get separation from good defensive backs. He’s a sleeper prospect to keep an eye on during the All-Star games.
Mississippi State 17, Mississippi 10
Mississippi State guard Gabe Jackson is the running to be the first guard selected in the 2014 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-4, 340- pounder is a road-grading run blocker who has done well as a pass protector. Jackson had the challenge of going against Ole Miss star freshman Robert Nkemdiche.
Nkemdiche (6�4, 297) was the nation’s No. 1 recruit last year and has a rare combination of size and speed. Jackson played some right guard and left guard with the majority of snaps coming on the left side. Jackson had a good start in pass protection and was very good in the ground game. Late in the second quarter, Jackson blasted open a hole on the goal line for a touchdown run. The Bulldogs then went behind Jackson for the game-winning touchdown in overtime.
Jackson was rock solid as a run blocker and pass protector overall. This tape will help him in his draft grade. However, Jackson looks like a better fit at right guard as a pro. Typically in the NFL, offenses have their quicker and more athletic guard on the left side. They are charged with pulling and hitting blocks on the move as they come behind the heavy right side. Jackson did decently as a puller against Mississippi, but he is a heavy offensive lineman who isn’t all that fast to get to defenders. He lumbers and packs a punch, but for the next level he doesn’t look athletic or quick enough to play left guard. Jackson looks like a second-round pick.
Before the season Ole Miss junior wide receiver Donte Moncrief hinted that this would be his last year of college football. He’s had a quality season, but not a dominant year. He had three receptions for 24 yards against Mississippi State. He also had a defensive back get position on him to record a leaping interception on a jump ball.
Moncrief has 53 catches for 825 yards and five touchdowns this year. He’s not had the kind of season to be a definite first�round pick. Moncrief (6-3, 215) looks like a second�day selection if he enters the draft. He has size and some quickness, but may not be fast enough to be a No. 1 receiver in the NFL.
The final prospect worth mentioning is Bulldog senior free safety Nickoe Whitley. He recorded his 15th career interception in the first quarter. It was a great one-handed catch to control an inaccurate pass by Bo Wallace. Whitley was the victim of a terrible call on a late hit when the offensive player started the contact on the sideline. Whitley had a good game for Mississippi State. He was sound in pass coverage and contributed to run defense.
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