Want to get to know the draft prospects for the 2019 NFL Draft? This weekly column breaks down the best matchups to watch each week in college football.
By Charlie Campbell.
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Mississippi State vs. Ole Miss; Thursday, Nov. 22, 7:30 PM ET ESPN
The Egg Bowl leads off rivalry weekend on Thanksgiving night, and there is an excellent draft matchup in this game. Ole Miss left tackle Greg Little is the top offensive line prospect for the 2019 NFL Draft, and he will he see a potential first-round pick in Mississippi State defensive end Montez Sweat. Sweat is a fast speed rusher with length, and he will be a challenge for the inconsistent Little. Ole Miss won’t be playing in a bowl game this year, so this will be Little’s last collegiate game if he declares for the 2019 NFL Draft.
Depending on how Mississippi State lines up, Little could also see Bulldogs defensive tackle Jeff Simmons. Simmons could be a first-round pick if he declares for the 2019 NFL Draft, and he is a quick, athletic, and naturally strong defensive lineman.
Ole Miss has a future first-rounder in wide receiver A.J. Brown. Fellow Rebels wideout Damarkus Lodge could be a second-day pick, and both are big receivers with dangerous run-after-the-catch skills. They will be good challenges for Mississippi State safety Johnathan Abram. Abram is one of the better safety prospects for the 2019 NFL Draft and could be a second-day pick.
Bulldogs center Elgton Jenkins is one of the top center prospects for the 2019 NFL Draft, and he is worth watching as well.
Oklahoma vs. West Virginia; Friday, Nov. 23, 8:00 PM ET ESPN
This game will be a high-scoring track meet as the most potent offenses in college football’s version of the arena football league go head-to-head. The top prospect from either team for the 2019 NFL Draft is Oklahoma right tackle Cody Ford. Ford will probably kick inside to guard in the NFL, but he has first-round potential.
Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise Brown is a small receiver with elite speed. He could be a second-day pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
West Virginia quarterback Will Grier and wide receiver David Sills also could be picks on Day 2. They should continue to put up a lot of points despite facing one of the more talented defenses in the Big XII.
Washington vs. Washington State; Friday, Nov. 23, 8:30 PM ET FOX
The Apple Cup is a huge game for Washington State and its hopes for the postseason. Cougars left tackle Andre Dillard could be a second-day pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, and he will see some good talent with the Huskies’ edge defenders.
Mike Leach’s potent passing attack will also be a challenge for a Washington secondary comprised of future NFL talent. Safety Taylor Rapp, safety JoJo McIntosh, cornerback Jordan Miller and cornerback Byron Murphy are all pro prospects who could be early-round picks.
Other prospects to watch include Washington defensive tackle Greg Gaines, Washington State safety Jalen Thompson, Washington running back Myles Gaskin and Washington right tackle Kaleb McGary.
Florida vs. Florida State; Saturday, Nov. 24, 12:00 PM ET ABC
This game used to be among the best of the year for college football and carry huge national championship implications, but this contest unfortunately does not have the elite talent that it used to. Still, there are a few quality prospects for the NFL from both the Gators and Seminoles.
The top prospect in this game is Florida edge rusher Jachai Polite. He has had an excellent season, putting a lot of heat on the quarterback. Polite has drawn extra blocking attention, and that has opened things up for edge rusher Jabari Zuniga.
Seminoles edge rusher Brian Burns is a skilled quarterback hunter who will be a huge challenge for Florida left tackle Martez Ivey. Ivey has early-round hype, but he plays like an undrafted free agent. Ivey was abused this year by Kentucky’s Josh Allen and Mississippi State’s Montez Sweat. This could be a shot at redemption for Ivey in the penultimate game of his collegiate career. Florida junior right tackle Jawaan Taylor is a better player, but Burns typically lines up over the left tackle and that is the best matchup for Florida State.
Other prospects to watch include Seminoles defensive tackle Demarcus Christmas, Florida safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Florida linebacker Vosean Joseph and Florida linebacker David Reese. All of them could be second-day picks in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Michigan vs. Ohio State; Saturday, Nov. 24, 12:00 PM ET FOX
There will be a lot of NFL talent on display when these two rivals square off. Both teams have quarterback prospects with good skill sets in Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins and Michigan’s Shea Patterson. Haskins has gotten a lot of media hype, with some draft analysts projecting him as a first-round pick, but in speaking with team sources, they weren’t as enthusiastic. Patterson has improved after a rough start to the season. Both quarterbacks need good games if they are going to declare for the 2019 NFL Draft, but both should return to school.
The best prospects for the 2019 NFL Draft are on the defensive line for each team. Ohio State defensive tackle Dre’Mont Jones has had an excellent season and should be a first-round pick next April. Michigan defensive end Rashan Gary could be a top-20 pick, while the other end, Chase Winovich, has played well this year and could be a second-day selection as well.
Other prospects to watch include Michigan linebacker Devin Bush, Michigan running back Karan Higdon, Ohio State right tackle Isaiah Prince, Ohio State center Michael Jordan, Ohio State cornerback Kendall Sheffield and Ohio State cornerback Damon Arnette.
Auburn vs. Alabama; Saturday, Nov. 24, 3:30 PM ET CBS
The 2018 Iron Bowl has a ton of NFL talent. The top prospect in this game is Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. WalterFootball.com was first to report that NFL teams were viewing Williams as a high first-round talent, and he has been dominant this season. Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown could go as a top-10 pick next April, and in most drafts, he would be the top defensive tackle. Auburn needs Brown to dominate to have a shot at knocking off the No. 1 team in the nation.
Those two aren’t alone in this game as future early-round defensive linemen. Alabama defensive tackle Raekwon Davis is a top-20 talent, while Alabama’s third tackle, Isaiah Buggs, could go in the early rounds of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Behind the Crimson Tide’s star-studded line are early-round prospects at linebacker in Mack Wilson and Anfernee Jennings. Things continue in the secondary too, with Alabama safety Deionte Thompson being the top safety prospect for the 2019 NFL Draft. Crimson Tide cornerback Trevon Diggs could be the first corner selected, but he will miss this game due to a broken foot.
Auburn cornerback Jamel Dean is an early-round prospect, and he could have the challenge of covering Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy. Jeudy would possbily be the first receiver selected in the 2019 NFL Draft, but he isn’t eligible. In the 2020 NFL Draft, however, Jeudy should have no shortage of teams hoping to land him. Dean could also be called on to help defend Alabama tight end Irv Smith Jr., who could be a first-round pick in 2019 or 2020.
Alabama left tackle Jonah Williams gets a lot of media hype with high first-round projections, but team sources have not been as high on him. He will get tested by some talented young Auburn edge rushers.
Alabama running back Damien Harris is one of the top tailback prospects for the 2019 NFL Draft, and he could be a Thursday night selection next April.
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