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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Texas Tech vs. Texas; Friday, Nov. 29, 12:00 PM FOX
Texas Tech linebacker Jordyn Brooks is headed to the Senior Bowl, and he could be a second- or third-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Brooks has been banged up lately, so his status bears watching. Red Raiders left tackle Terrance Steele also could be a second-day pick next April.
Texas has two quality prospects in offensive tackle Sam Cosmi and wide receiver Collin Johnson. Cosmi is a good athlete who needs to get stronger for the NFL, so going back to Texas for the 2020 season would be the best thing for his pro development. Johnson is a big receiver who presents a size mismatch but lacks physicality and could struggle to separate from pro receivers.
Michigan vs. Ohio State; Saturday, Nov. 30, 12:00 PM FOX
This game features two excellent defensive prospects for the NFL with Ohio State defensive end Chase Young and cornerback Jeff Okudah. Both of them should be top-10 picks next April, and they could be some of the first non-quarterbacks drafted. Young has been one of the best players in college football this season, with the fast edge rusher just setting Ohio State’s single-season sack record despite a two-game suspension.
Okudah, cornerback Damon Arnette, cornerback Shaun Wade, and safety Jordan Fuller will provide a tough test for Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson. Patterson needs to finish his collegiate career well to get drafted next April.
Ohio State has lot of other talent as well. Junior running back J.K. Dobbins could be a day-two pick, and wide receiver K.J. Hill could also go in the top half of the draft. Some other Buckeyes to watch for the next level are tight end Rashod Berry, wide receiver Austin Mack, guard Jonah Jackson and inside linebacker Malik Harrison.
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. Other prospects to watch in this game from Michigan include guard Ben Bredeson and cornerback Lavert Hill, who also had top half projections. Some Wolverines who received back-half projections for the 2020 NFL Draft include safety Josh Metellus, guard Michael Onwenu, running back Chris Evans and defensive end Mike Danna.
Alabama vs. Auburn; Saturday, Nov. 30, 3:30 PM CBS
There is a ton of good NFL talent on display in this rivalry game. Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown could be a top-10 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, and he will be a tough test for the Alabama offensive line led by left tackle Alex Leatherwood. Leatherwood will see a future pro defensive end in Marlon Davidson, who played well against Georgia’s all-star offensive line.
Crimson Tide cornerback Trevon Diggs and Crimson Tide safety Xavier McKinney could be first-round picks next April, and they will see a talented receiver in Auburn sophomore Seth Williams.
There is the potential for a really good draft matchup with Alabama’s star receiving corps going against Auburn cornerback Javaris Davis. Crimson Tide wide receiver Jerry Jeudy looks like a top-10 pick next April, while Henry Ruggs, Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith all are future early-rounders. A good tape for Davis against the Alabama wideouts would be huge for his draft stock.
The Tigers have some future draft picks on their offensive line as well. Left tackle Prince Tega Wanogho and right tackle Jack Driscoll are going to be tested by Alabama future first- or second-round edge rusher Terrell Lewis. Team sources have said that Wanogho could be this draft’s Greg Little, a player with high first-round skill set whose lack of consistency could cause him to slide in his draft grade. This will be an important outing for Wanogho.
Texas A&M vs. LSU; Saturday, Nov. 30, 7:00 PM ET ESPN
This game features two quarterback prospects going head-to-head with LSU’s Joe Burrow and Texas A&M’s Kellen Mond. After the injury to Tua Tagovailoa, Burrow is the favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft given his phenomenal season. He does not have a strong arm, but he is accurate, makes good decisions, has good field vision, and uses his functional mobility. Mond has a good skill set with arm strength, size, and running ability, but he has consistency issues with his accuracy, field vision, timing, precision, and decision-making. Mond could be a second-day pick in 2020, but he should return to Texas A&M for next year.
LSU safety Grant Delpit could go in the top 20 next April, while cornerback Kristian Fulton has early-round potential as well. Tigers wide receiver Justin Jefferson could be a first- or second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. LSU defensive tackle Rashard Lawrence is another prospect to watch.
Florida State vs. Florida; Saturday, Nov. 30, 7:30 PM SECN
There are some quality matchups in this game, but the best is Gators cornerback C.J. Henderson taking on Seminoles wide receiver Tamorrion Terry. Henderson has first-round ability, and Terry could join him as a Thursday night pick. It will be interesting to see if they match up against each other and who gets the better of those contests.
Florida has a potent pass rush led by future NFL edge rushers in Jon Greenard and Jabari Zuniga. Both Greenard and Zuniga should get selected on the first two days of the 2020 NFL Draft, so they should take advantage of a bad Florida State offensive line to pad their sack totals in the penultimate game of their collegiate careers.
This game has two running back prospects for the NFL with Florida’s Lamical Perine and Florida State’s Cam Akers. Both are tough runners who are good pass-receiving weapons out of the backfield. They also have been held back by their offensive lines this year, with the blocking fronts of both the Gators and the Seminoles having struggled.
Florida State defensive tackle Marvin Wilson is an early-round talent who should have his way with the Florida offensive line.
Other Gators prospects to watch are wide receiver Van Jefferson, wide receiver Kadarius Toney, cornerback Marco Wilson and linebacker David Reese.
Colorado vs Utah; Saturday, Nov. 30, 7:30 PM ET ABC
This game features some skill position talent for the NFL. The top prospect on either team could be Colorado wide receiver Laviska Shenault. He is a tough receiver who will see a future NFL cornerback in Utah’s Jaylon Johnson. Johnson is a talented cover corner, but he is thin and could have issues with the strength of pro receivers. Shenault is strong and physical, so he will be a good test for Johnson.
Shenault has had frustrating season in part from the inconsistent play of Colorado quarterback Steven Montez. Montez has a good skill set, but he is inconsistent with his accuracy, field vision, and decision-making. He needs to produce a good final tape to close out his collegiate career.
Utes running back Zack Moss could be a second-day pick next April, and he has been a powerful runner with receiving ability this season. Colorado linebacker Davion Taylor earned an invitation to the Senior Bowl and will be challenged by Moss.
Utah’s defense is loaded with mid- and late-round picks for future NFL drafts. Defensive end Bradley Anae and nose tackle Leki Foot could be mid-round selections in the 2020 NFL Draft. Anae is a dangerous edge rusher who would go higher if he had more physical skills for the next level.
Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State; Saturday, Nov. 30, 8:00 PM ET FOX
This year’s edition of the Bedlam Series features an excellent draft matchup with Oklahoma linebacker Kenneth Murray going against a talented back in Oklahoma State’s Chuba Hubbard. Murray could go in the top half of the first round next April, while Hubbard could be a second-rounder in the 2020 NFL Draft. It will be interesting to see if Murray is able to handle the contact balance of Hubbard and if Hubbard has enough speed and athleticism to make Murray miss.
Oklahoma wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is another first-rounder to watch, and he will see a quality college cornerback in A.J. Green.
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