This section breaks down many college football games each week and highlights how 2015 NFL Draft Prospects have performed. Or look at the 2015 NFL Draft Stock page (link coming soon).
By Charlie Campbell.
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Baylor 38, Kansas State 27
Oakman chipped on a couple of run tackles later on in the first half, but was quiet otherwise. That sack was really the only highlight of the game as he was credited with only two tackles. Oakman flashes strength to shed blocks with quickness to close, but he needs a lot of development with his technique to shed blocks and not play as high. Oakman looks like a second- or third-round developmental-type prospect; similar to the Bengals’ Margus Hunt from a couple of years ago.
Petty threw an interception on a goal-to-go play during the first half with an inaccurate pass. He was rolling to his right and throwing back toward the middle, and sailed the ball directly to the defensive back.
In the third quarter, Goodley burned coverage on a go route for a 58-yard touchdown reception. It was a good throw by Petty to hit Goodley in stride. The Kansas State defense was late getting lined up, which the Baylor duo was able to take advantage of.
Petty completed 34-of-40 passes for 412 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Goodley had nine receptions for 116 yards and a score. Both of them are third-day prospects. Goodley (5-11, 220) is a wide receiver in a running back’s body, while Petty is a system quarterback who has to become a more accurate and consistent pocket passer.
Oklahoma State 38, Oklahoma 35
Thompson and Williams were getting movement in the ground game to start the game. Oklahoma went behind Thompson as he paved the way for a touchdown inside the 10-yard line. In the second quarter, Thompson gave up a pressure on a speed rush as the defender got leverage on him. An end powered through Williams in the second half to almost get a tackle for no gain and Thompson gave up a pressure while being lucky not to be flagged for a hold.
On the final play of the third quarter, Williams was beaten off the edge and lucky he didn’t give up a sack. Thompson had to hold on against some speed rushes and was lucky he wasn’t flagged a few times. Thompson wasn’t giving up sacks, but he was having some issues keep his ends from getting pressure in the pocket. Thompson blasted open a huge hole in the fourth quarter to help his back rip off a run of about 50 yards. To end the drive, Thompson sealed a running lane for a short touchdown run. Ogbah beat Thompsonin overtime with speed to the outside, and Thompson had to hold Ogbah to prevent a sack. This time the referees called it.
Overall, this game illustrated that both Thompson and Williams are better run-blockers than pass-protectors. They both need to improve their technique, but in the NFL, they look like better prospects as right tackles rather than for manning the blind side. Thompson and Williams look more like second-day prospects than first-rounders.
For the NFL, Striker looks like a tweener. He has the body of a strong safety and needs to add weight to play outside linebacker, but his best attributes would fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker – if he were big enough, which he isn’t. If Striker does enter the 2015 NFL Draft, he looks like a mid-round developmental prospect.
Ohio State 59, Wisconsin 0
Bennett used his speed in the first quarter to fire by some blockers and make a run stuff for no gain on a third-and-4. He broke to the right side early in the second quarter and cut to the inside of right tackle Ron Havenstein to sack quarterback Joel Stave.
In the final minute before halftime, Bennett dove and punched the ball out from Gordon. Buckeyes defensive end Joey Bosa scooped it up and returned it for a touchdown. The normally dominant Gordon had 43 yards on 14 carries by the end of the first two quarters.
The trend continued in the second half. Midway through the fourth quarter, Bennett fired by the center and right guard to get a strip-sack of Stave. Bennett showed his speed as he charged down the pocket and closed on the quarterback in a heartbeat. This tape will definitely help Bennett’s draft grade.
Gordon ran for 76 yards on 26 carries. The Badgers’ star runner didn’t have good running lanes as the Buckeyes sold out to stop him and dared Wisconsins to move the ball through the air. The Badgers were incapable of getting any passing game going to loosen up the defense and give Gordon some fronts he could run against. The fumble hurts him, but this tape shouldn’t keep Gordon from being a first-round pick.
Florida State 37, Georgia Tech 35
Winston made two long pass plays to tight end Nick O’Leary in the first quarter. The first one was a great leaping catch by the tight end for 22 yards, and the second one was a 46-yard touchdown after Georgia Tech had busted coverage to let O’Leary get wide open.
After the running game provided a touchdown, the Yellow Jackets took a 21-14 lead, but Winston stepped up to keep the Seminoles in the game. He dropped back and surveyed the field before finding Greene wide open along the far side for a 44-yard touchdown. It was a good job of scanning the field by Winston as Greene wasn’t his primary receiver. Just before the half, Winston hit Greene for a nine-yard score on an out route from the slot. Winston was very sharp in the first half with his field vision, decision-making, anticipation and accuracy.
Winston continued that trend in the second half, leading three field goal drives. He had a good read and pass that was well placed in the end zone, but for some reason Greene cut his route short rather than continuing to run. Winson totaled 21-of-30 for 309 yards with three scores.
As he has done repeatedly in his collegiate career, Winston pushed his team to a win. He was locked in with accuracy, anticipation, field vision and decision-making all night. It looked like the version of Winston who won the Heisman Trophy last year. This was a nice bounce-back performance that will help his draft stock.
After struggling for most of the first half, Edwards finally got off a block and stuffed a run on a third down. In the third quarter, Edwards was biting on some option fakes and losing gap integrity. That allowed the Yellow Jackets to bust some runs to the outside for good gains.
Edwards was very underwhelming in terms of awareness and getting off blocks. He lost his gap too often, and all three things will hurt his draft stock. Mason is a mobile blocker who has some strength to him. For the NFL, it would be interesting if Mason could be cross-trained at center to be a versatile interior offensive lineman.
Alabama 42, Missouri 13
In the early going, Cooper was moving around the formation and using his speed and route-running to get open. He moved the chains with some nice runs after the catches. Cooper dropped a second-quarter pass that would have been a good gain. Cooper had 10 receptions for 61 yards, by halftime.
Missouri did a better job of keeping Cooper from getting open in the second half, as he had only two more catches. Alabama also leaned on the ground game to run the clock out. Cooper hauled in 12 passes for 83 yards in the SEC Championship Game. This tape will only serve to help his high first-round grade.
In the NFL, Ray would have just landed a penalty and a fine; maybe a suspension. However, it was a dumb play, and Ray should know better. Thus this tape won�t help his draft stock, and it could hurt it because a lack of discipline.
Yeldon finished with 47 yards on 14 carries. He�s been dealing with some injuries in the second half of the season, and after a hard game against Auburn (19-127), Henry appeared to be the fresher runner. Yeldon looks like a late first-round round or early second-round talent.
Oregon 51, Arizona 7
Mariota unnecessarily ran out of a clean pocket on the first drive, but later threw a strike as he dropped back in the pocket and fired a bullet into a tight window for a completion of over 20 yards. On the next drive, Mariota made an impressive play after seeing nothing open downfield, he was pressured out of the pocket and threw a strike on the run to convert a third-and-14. Mariota then had a short touchdown throw on a second-and-goal, but was inaccurate. Oregon settled for their second field goal.
Mariota had another inaccurate throw from the pocket to miss a receiver open downfield that would have converted a third-and-15. It was an open window and a pass he needs to hit. On his next drive, Mariota had an interception dropped as he laid out a floater deep down the middle of the field. The safety flew under the pass but couldn�t hold onto the ball.
Mariota executed a nice play-fake in the second quarter to get the defense to bite, and he darted to the other corner of the end zone for a touchdown. He came back to step up in the pocket and deliver a laser on a deep out. He made another accurate throw to hit an open receiver running down the middle seam. It came off a play-action and was a route that he is superb at throwing. To finish that drive, he had another short touchdown run.
Mariota showed his escapability in the middle of the third quarter by avoiding a sack and rolled out to toss a bomb up for his receiver, who outfought the corner for the reception. Mariota finished the drive on the next play rolling out and throwing a perfect strike with an accurate pass to beat tight coverage from a defensive back. A little bit later, he had another short touchdown run. That ended his night, as Oregon emptied the bench.
Mariota completed 24-of-38 passes for 303 yards with two touchdowns. He ran for 33 yards on 10 carries with three scores. This performance was consistent with Mariota�s other games this year. He flashes the potential to be a pocket passer, but isn�t there yet and needs work for the NFL. With his skill set, he is worthy of an early first-round pick in the hopes that he can develop like Cam Newton.
Throughout the night, Ekpre-Olomu had tight coverage and wasn�t beaten for any big plays. Ekpre-Olomu, however, was beaten on a quick out for a short third down conversion. He had close coverage and made a tackle in the open field.
Ekpre-Olomu isn�t a big corner, but he�s good at running with receivers and not allowing separation. This tape will help his draft grade.
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