Want to get to know the draft prospects for the 2020 NFL Draft? This weekly column breaks down the best matchups to watch each week in college football.
By Charlie Campbell.
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Utah vs. USC; Friday, Sep. 20, 12:00 PM ET FS1
There is a good draft matchup in this game with Utah cornerback Jaylon Johnson taking on USC wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. Both are physical players who play with an edge. It will be interesting to see if they line up head-to-head often and who gets the better of the matchup. Other prospects to watch include Utah defensive lineman Bradley Anae and USC defensive lineman Christian Rector.
Michigan vs. Wisconsin; Saturday, Sep. 21, 12:00 PM FOX
This will be a tough test for Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor and Wisconsin center Tyler Biadasz as they will see a talented Wolverines defense. Michigan’s defense is led by linebacker Josh Uche and safety Khaleke Hudson. Both of them received preseason projections of having the potential to be picks in the top half of the 2020 NFL Draft. One can be certain that the Wolverines will be selling out to stop Taylor. Other prospects to watch in this game include Michigan guard Ben Bredeson and Michigan cornerback Lavert Hill, who also had top-half projections. Prospects who back-half projections include five Wolverines, safety Josh Metellus, guard Michael Onwenu, running back Chris Evans, defensive end Mike Danna and quarterback Shea Patterson.
Tennessee vs. Florida; Saturday, Sep. 21, 12:00 PM ET ESPN
This game used to feature a ton of NFL talent going head-to-head, and now it has only a few good talent matchups. The Gators have more pro talent for the 2020 NFL Draft, led by cornerback C.J. Henderson. The cover corner is the top prospect in this game and is one of the top corner prospects for the next level. However, Henderson missed last week against Kentucky and may not play against Tennessee. If he plays, he will see some receiver talent led with Volunteers Jauan Jennings and Marquez Callaway.
The Gators also have some second-day-caliber prospects in running back Lamical Perine, defensive end Jon Greenard, wide receiver Kadarius Toney and edge rusher Jabari Zuniga. Toney could be out of this game with an injury. Wide receiver Van Jefferson is also on NFL teams’ preseason watch list for the 2020 NFL Draft. Other draft prospects to watch from the Gators include cornerback Marco Wilson and linebacker David Reese.
Miami has three players on NFL teams’ preseason watch list, led by a pair of linebackers in Shaq Quarterman and Michael Pinckney. Qquarterman has been a solid defender for the Hurricanes over the past few seasons. Defensive end Trevon Hill is another defender who NFL teams are scouting for next April’s draft.
Auburn vs. Texas A&M; Saturday, Sep. 21, 3:30 PM CBS
Texas A&M quarterback Kellen Mond has NFL potential, but he has been inconsistent thus far in 2019. Mond is going to get challenged by Auburn, which has one of the top prospects for the 2020 NFL Draft in defensive tackle Derrick Brown. Brown could have been a top-10 pick last April, but he decided to return to school. Auburn defensive end Nick Coe has a great skill set and sometimes lines up inside. On the other side, Tigers end Marlon Davidson is a good technician and tough player. Coe could be an early-rounder, while Davidson has mid-round potential. Thus, Mond is going to be tested by one of the best defensive lines in the nation.
Auburn has some future NFL offensive linemen in left tackle Prince Tega Wanogho and right tackle Jack Driscoll. Team sources have said that Wanogho could be this draft’s Greg Little as a player with a high first-round skill set but a lack of consistency could cause him to slide in his draft grade.
Other matchups to watch when the Aggies have the ball are wide receiver Quartney Davis and Kendrick Rogers taking on Tigers cornerback Javaris Davis. Hopefully, those future pro competitors line up against each other.
Auburn linebacker Big Kat Bryant and safety Jeremiah Dinson were also placed on NFL teams’ preseason watch list.
Oregon vs. Stanford; Saturday, Sep. 21, 7:00 PM ET ESPN
NFL teams like to see quarterback prospects going head-to-head because it can reveal which one has a killer instinct with the ability to push their team to a win. Thus, there will be plenty of eyes watching this game due to Oregon’s Justin Herbert and Stanford’s K.J. Costello being pro prospects. Herbert has high first-round potential, while Costello had some buzz entering the season. After a mediocre game against Auburn to open the season, Herbert needs some impressive performances against good competition.
Herbert is going to see one of the best defensive players in college football with Stanford cornerback Paulson Adebo. Adebo has top-10 potential and tremendous ball skills. Throwing his way is very dangerous, so it will be interesting to see how Herbert does if he targets Adebo.
Linebacker Troy Dye and offensive linemen Shane Lemieux and Calvin Throckmorton are other Ducks with early-round potential.
Colorado vs. Arizona State; Saturday, Sep. 21, 8:00 PM ET PAC 12
There will be some skill position players going head-to-head in this game with Colorado wide receiver Laviska Shenault taking on Arizona State cornerback Chase Lucas. Shenault could be a first-rounder next April, while Lucas might end up being a second-day prospect. Buffaloes senior quarterback Steven Montez could be a second-day pick, but if he gets hot to close out his college career with a strong leadup to the 2020 NFL Draft, he could end up rising to be a first-round candidate. Thus, every game is important for Montez.
When the Sun Devils have the ball, running back Eno Benjamin is worth watching because he could be a second-day pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Colorado defensive tackle Mustafa Johnson is an interesting prospect as well.
Notre Dame vs. Georgia; Saturday, Sep. 21, 8:00 PM ET CBS
There will be a lot of excellent NFL talent going head-to-head in this game. The Bulldogs have a lot of talent for the 2020 NFL Draft, including a trio of future first-rounders on their offense in quarterback Jake Fromm, left tackle Andrew Thomas and running back D’Andre Swift. Georgia guard Solomon Kinkley could also emerge as a first-rounder this season, and Georgia right guard Ben Cleveland could also get drafted. Defensively, the Bulldogs have two safeties to watch in J.R. Reed and Richard LeCounte.
Thomas is going to see some dangerous edge rushers with the Fighting Irish trio of Khalid Kareem, Julian Okwara and Darlin Hayes. Thomas is the best tackle they will face this season, so if they play well against him, that would be huge for their draft grades.
In the Notre Dame secondary, safety Alohi Gilman, cornerback Troy Pride and safety Jalen Elliott are pro prospects. Wide receivers Chase Claypool and Chris Finke were also on NFL teams’ preseason watch list.
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