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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Alabama 29, LSU 0
Williams fired off the snap in the opening quarter to get upfield and shed the block of the left guard and running back to peel back to the middle and sack Joe Burrow. Williams then met a teammate at the quarterback to almost get a safety, as they took down Burrow with authority.
Williams used his speed to charge down the pocket past the left guard and get a sack of Burrow to open the third quarter. Williams then lined up as the zero-technique and bulled through the center to get penetration before taking down Burrow for another sack as he stepped up in the pocket. To end that series, Williams tripped up a scrambling Burrow for no gain on a third-down play.
Williams beat a double team between the left guard and center to get another sack of Burrow to start the fourth quarter. He used power and speed to work through them and drop the quarterback again. He later showed his crazy speed by getting in on a tackle of a back along the sideline. The official scoring was not available immediately after the game, but Williams could have had a total of 4.5 sacks.
This was one of the most impressive performances I’ve seen by a defensive lineman in years – probably since Myles Garrett (2015) or Jadeveon Clowney (2012) during their amazing sophomore seasons. 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 of pass-rushing moves. With a sawed-off body, Williams has natural pad level and leverage.
NFL sources say 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 on Saturday night. 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.
Harris showed impressive speed to hit the hole and accelerate downfield. He ran with power to get yards after contact and showed fresh legs that gained steam as the game progressed. He totaled 107 yards on 19 carries with a touchdown. This tape will help Harris to be a first-round pick next April.
Williams was beaten on a slant for a 14-yard gain to start the game, and that set the tone for the night. Alabama then went after Williams again as he had tight coverage, but Henry Ruggs III made a tremendous leaping grab over Williams. Ruggs beat Williams for a touchdown to end the drive. Ruggs got a step on Williams at the line of scrimmage to get separation and cut on a slant that caused Williams to fall down leaving Ruggs wide open for a 15-yard touchdown. Alabama tested Williams deep late in the opening quarter, but he ran with Ruggs to prevent a separation and force an incompletion.
Williams bounced back to a degree in the third quarter. He made a nice play to stay with his receiver on an inside break and then time his contact well to break up the pass. Williams then got a pressure on a corner blitz to force another incompletion. In the fourth quarter, Williams had an ugly play as Alabama sophomore wide receiver Jerry Jeudy torched him on a crossing route and darted down the field for a 30-yard gain. Jeudy illustrated that his speed is at another level than Williams.
Williams is safe as a first-rounder, but this tape illustrates that he needs work for the NFL. That isn’t surprising, considering he is only a redshirt sophomore. On top of improving technique, Williams needs to get stronger and fill out his frame. He is thin, and NFL receivers are going to push him around. The lack of weight could also hurt his durability.
Notre Dame 31, Northwestern 21
Thorson had some well-placed passes in the second quarter to move the ball into the red zone. Thorson eventually pushed over the goal line on a quarterback sneak for a touchdown. Thorson later made a great play by moving the safety to his left with his eyes to get the safety away from his receiver. He climbed the pocket to avoid a sack, turned his head back to his right, and then he lofted in a well-placed 27-yard touchdown pass.
Thorson made a nice pass to set up another goal-line situation, and on fourth-and-goal, Northwestern went to their big quarterback again on a sneak for his second rushing touchdown. Thorson finished completing 16-of-29 passes for 141 yards with one passing score and two rushing touchdowns.
Thorson played better than the numbers illustrate. He did not turn the ball over and showed his strong arm with some accurate throws. He has played some good defenses tough in losing outcomes to Notre Dame and Michigan. While they came up short, Thorson kept his team in the game and elevated the play of those around him. This tape should not hurt or help Thorson’s draft grade significantly, and he could be a second-day pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
At the start of the year, Tillery was playing like his hair was on fire. He was dominating at the point of attack with speed and physicality. Tillery has cooled down, however. His motor has slowed, and he does not seem to have the same sense of urgency. It gives the appearance that he could be protecting himself and trying not to get hurt to protect his NFL status. Tillery has the reputation of not being a great guy or a good teammate, so if he adds another negative attribute as a player who turns it on and off, that could really hurt his chances of being a first-round pick in a loaded class of defensive line talent.
Missouri 38, Florida 17
Lock was throwing the ball well on Florida in the early going. Lock found his tight end Albert Okwuegbunam wide open down the seam for a 22-yard touchdown in the second quarter, as Florida had busted coverage with Okwuegbunam being left uncovered. Lock then made a beautiful throw on a third-down conversion, finding Emanuel Hall open downfield along the sideline for a 41-yard gain.
Lock climbed the pocket in the third quarter and threw a perfect pass for a 41-yard touchdown strike to an open receiver running a deep post route. He then fired an accurate strike to Hall for a 4-yard touchdown on a slant. Lock had an 8-yard scramble in the fourth quarter to convert a critical third down that was huge in helping Missouri to prevent a comeback from the Gators. Lock finished completing 24-of-32 for 250 yards and three touchdowns.
This was an excellent performance from Lock. He fired the ball accurately to all levels and threw receivers open while also displaying timing, anticipation and patience. He also used his legs and athleticism to move around while showing an improved ability to climb the pocket to avoid pass rushers. This tape will definitely help Lock’s draft grade as he ripped up a Florida defense that has a lot of future NFL players on it. If Lock is able to rise into being a first-round pick, this tape is going to be a catalyst.
Joseph had some nice tackles, but he struggled overall in run defense. He avoided taking on a block on a touchdown run, and that led to the back having a good look to get downfield. Joseph later got pushed out of his gap on a touchdown run. Joseph is a fast Will (weak side) linebacker and a seek-and-destroy defender, but he has to get stronger and tougher in the ground game for the NFL.
Both Polite and Joseph should return to Florida to get better before going pro. However, they both are potential early-round picks in the 2019 NFL Draft, so it would be a surprise if they went back to school.
Georgia 34, Kentucky 17
Georgia was about to open a 14-point lead late in the opening quarter, but a bad snap put the ball on the ground and Allen showed his speed beating Jake Fromm to the loose ball even though Fromm was closer to it. That was a huge fumble recovery for Allen. Just before halftime, Allen once again was “Johnny-on-the-spot,” as Georgia was in field goal range, but they fumbled a handoff and Allen dived on the ball to steal some points from Georgia.
Aside from those plays, this was a quiet game from Allen. The Bulldogs ran the ball all over Kentucky and kept Allen from making any big plays in the pass rush. Allen had tackles in run defense, but there were also a number plays where he got covered up by blockers. Allen is stronger and more physical than he was last year, but he still could stand to improve as a run defender. This tape should not hurt Allen’s draft grade.
South Carolina 48, Ole Miss 44
Brown got the game started getting open on some underneath routes to move the chains before running a vertical route, and he had the cornerback beat but a pass interference led to an incompletion, although the flag was correctly called. Brown then got open running a deep post and had to slow up for the football, but hauled it in for a 46-yard reception. That set up a short rushing touchdown. To start the third quarter Brown got open on an out route to move the chains.
Brown totaled 115 yards on six receptions. He showed his quickness to get open with physicality to push around defensive backs. Brown also impressed as a blocker, as he got after a number of Gamecock defenders to help his teammates. This tape will only serve to confirm Brown as a first-round pick.
Little showed his athleticism and quick feet to mirror speed rushes. He kept all of them from getting near the quarterback. Little has more problems with strong bull rushes and cuts to the inside. In the ground game, Little is not a bull but he is quick to get to spots, but he does not pack a punch and struggles to sustain.
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.
Auburn 28, Texas A&M 24
Brown was stout at the point of attack all game, holding his ground in run defense and getting some push in the pocket. Brown had a very nice play in the third quarter, bulling the right guard into the backfield before swimming off him and ripping down the running back for a loss of a few yards. In the fourth quarter with about two and half minutes remaining and Auburn down by three, Brown had a tremendous bull rush through the backup center to get a strip-sack of Kelly Mond. The Aggies were lucky that they recovered the fumble.
Brown showed tremendous awareness shortly later. He rocked the right guard back, but rather than going for the sack he saw a screen was being set up so he darted toward the flat and then batted down the pass. Brown then had the right tackle beaten with speed to the inside and the tackle had to grab Brown from getting a sack. The officials saw it and correctly threw the flag. The way Brown closed this game out it illustrated why he is a top-10 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft and one of the top prospects at any position.
Brown will be chosen early in the 2019 NFL Draft. He is a freaky athlete with shocking speed, athleticism and strength in the form of a 6-foot-5, 315-pound defensive tackle. Brown is versatile to be a three technique, nose tackle, or a five technique in a 3-4. Brown is a young player who has a ton of upside once he gets some good coaching and development.
Brown knocked McCoy back on the goal line in the third quarter, but there was enough commotion on the ground to let Williams dive into the end zone. McCoy then made another nice block on a screen pass getting to the sideline and downfield to pave the way for Williams. On some plays, McCoy anchored pretty well against Brown, and McCoy did a solid job of holding his ground. In pass protection, McCoy was excellent not allowing pressure in this game.
This was an excellent tape from McCoy. He 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. Scouts tell me that he is getting second-round grades and they see him as having plug-and-play starting potential in the NFL.
Stidham had a slow start to the game. He was unimpressive in the first half as he was holding onto the ball too long and took multiple unnecessary coverage sacks. Stidham did not seem to be seeing the field well, and he his internal clock was off.
Stidham made a beautiful throw, showing legit arm talent in the second quarter. He dropped in a perfect pass about 60 yards downfield, but his wideout dropped the great throw for an incompletion. Stidham came back to make some pretty throws with well-placed passes along the sideline. To finish a scoring drive, Stidham threw a strike to the corner of the end zone to get an 11-yard touchdown.
Stidham got hot and started moving the ball through the Aggies defense midway through the second half. Stidham set up another touchdown with a 21-yard pass to the front corner of the end zone, but his receiver was pushed out of bounds just shy of the goal line. Stidham later made a money throw to the back corner of the end zone, lofting in an 11-yard score. Stidham was on the far hash and was blitzed, but he remained calm to drop in a perfect throw that ended up being the game winning score. Stidham completed 18-of-29 passes for 239 yards with two touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Stidham played better in this contest than he has of late. There is no doubt that Stidham has a good arm and athletic ability, and he can throw some accurate touch passes downfield. While Stidham has the skill set to be a NFL starter, he should return to Auburn as he would probably be a second-day pick at best in the 2019 NFL Draft. If Stidham goes back to school and has a big senior year, he could push himself into the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
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