2021 NFL Draft Prospect Matchup Preview – Week 5

Want to get to know the draft prospects for the 2021 NFL Draft? This weekly column breaks down the best matchups to watch each week in college football.

By Charlie Campbell.
Send Charlie an e-mail here: [email protected]
Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell for updates.

TCU vs. Texas; Saturday, Oct. 3, 12:00 PM ET – Check Listings

The Prospects:

TCU S Trevon Moehrig, No. 7
TCU S Ar’Darius Washington, No. 24

Texas S Caden Sterns, No. 7
Texas DB Josh Thompson, No. 9
Texas C Derek Kerstetter, No. 68
Texas QB Sam Ehlinger, No. 11
Texas OT Sam Cosmi, No. 52

The Matchups: The best matchup in this game will be Moehrig and Washington being challenged by Ehlinger. The dual-threat quarterback challenges defense with his running ability and play-action passing. It will be important for Moehrig and Washington to stay disciplined while also showing tackling ability on Ehlinger when he does run. Cosmi is likely to be the first player drafted from either team, as he could be a top-20 choice in the 2021 NFL Draft.

South Carolina vs. Florida; Saturday, Oct. 3, 12:00 PM ET ESPN

The Prospects:

Florida QB Kyle Trask, No. 11
Florida TE Kyle Pitts, No. 84
Florida WR Kadarius Toney, No. 1
Florida WR Jacob Copeland, No. 15
Florida WR Trevon Grimes, No. 8
Florida LT Stone Forsythe, No. 72
Florida DE Brenton Cox, No. 1
Florida DT Tedarrell Slaton, No. 56
Florida LB Ventrell Miller, No. 51
Florida S Shawn Davis, No. 6

South Carolina LB Sherrod Greene, No. 44
South Carolina CB Israel Mukuamu, No. 24
South Carolina CB Jaycee Horn, No. 1

The Matchups: This is going to be a tough test for South Carolina’s cornerback tandem of Mukuamu and Horn. Pitts is one of the most dangerous receiving weapons in college football, while Trask could be the best quarterback they face all year. Toney is an early-round talent as well will test the speed of both corners with his explosivity.

Texas A&M vs. Alabama; Saturday, Oct. 3, 3:30 PM ET ESPN

The Prospects:

Alabama WR DeVonta Smith, No. 6
Alabama WR Jaylen Waddle, No. 17
Alabama OT Alex Leatherwood, No. 70
Alabama C Landon Dickerson, No. 69
Alabama RB Najee Harris, No. 22
Alabama DL LaBryan Ray, No. 18
Alabama DT Christian Barmore, No. 58
Alabama ILB Dylan Moses, No. 32
Alabama CB Patrick Surtain II, No. 2
Alabama CB Josh Jobe, No. 28

Texas A&M QB Kellen Mond, No. 11
Texas A&M OT Carson Green, No. 54
Texas A&M OT Dan Moore, No. 65
Texas A&M ILB Buddy Johnson, No. 1
Texas A&M CB Myles Jones, No. 0
Texas A&M DT Bobby Brown III, No. 5

The Matchups: This is a huge game for Mond. He was inconsistent last season, and he needs to play well against good opponents during 2020 in order to be an early-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Alabama has a loaded defense of NFL talent, so Mond will be tested and watched closely. Another good matchup will be in the passing game, as Alabama linebacker Dylan Moses is going to see a dynamic receiving tight end Jalen Wydermyer. Wydermyer is an early-round talent for the 2022 NFL Draft, and he could be the best receiving tight end who Moses will see in the regular season.

Auburn vs. Georgia; Saturday, Oct. 3, 7:30 PM ET ESPN

The Prospects:

Auburn S Jamien Sherwood, No. 20
Auburn WR Seth Williams, No. 18
Auburn WR Anthony Schwartz, No. 1
Auburn ILB K.J. Britt, No. 33

Georgia LB Monty Rice, No. 32
Georgia LB Azeez Ojulari, No. 13
Georgia DT Jordan Davis, No. 99
Georgia S Richard LeCounte, No. 2
Georgia CB Tyson Campbell, No. 3
Georgia CB D.J. Daniel, No. 14
Georgia CB Eric Stokes, No. 27

The Matchups: The best matchup in this game will be the Georgia defensive backs on the Auburn receiving duo of Williams and Schwartz. Williams had an excellent start to the year against Kentucky, and the big wideout will test Campbell, Daniel, Stokes and LeCounte. Williams is a big receiver, so it would help him to show the speed and suddenness to separate from these defensive backs.

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