2021 NFL Draft Prospect Matchup Preview – Week 13

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.

Iowa State vs. Texas; Friday, Nov. 27, 12:00 PM ET ABC
The Prospects:

Iowa State QB Brock Purdy, No. 15
Iowa State TE Charlie Kolar, No. 88

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
Texas OLB Joseph Ossai, No. 46

The Matchups: This game features two quarterbacks who could be mid-round or third-day picks in the 2021 NFL Draft, Purdy and Ehlinger. Purdy has more passing ability and could sneak into Day 2 of the 2021 NFL Draft. Texas is one of the better defenses he will see in 2020, and Ossai is having a very good year for the Longhorns. Ossai is a dangers pass rusher who will test Purdy’s ability to handle pressure.

Notre Dame vs. North Carolina; Friday, Nov. 27, 3:30 PM ET ABC
The Prospects:

Notre Dame OT Liam Eichenberg, No.74
Notre Dame G Tommy Kraemer, No.78
Notre Dame OLB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, No.6
Notre Dame OLB Daelin Hayes, No.9
Notre Dame DE Adetokunbo Ogundeji, No.91
Notre Dame QB Ian Book, No.12

North Carolina RB Javonte Williams, No. 25
North Carolina WR Dazz Newsome, No. 5
North Carolina LB Chazz Surratt, No. 21
North Carolina LB Tomon Fox, No. 12

The Matchups: NFL teams in need of linebacker help will be very interested in this game, as there are at least three draft-able linebackers between these two teams. Owusu-Koramoah could be a late first-round or early second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and he will be tested by a good running back in Javonte Williams. Chazz Surratt could be a second-day pick thanks to his good skill set, but he misses a lot of tackles. Notre Dame’s tough rushing offense will give Surratt an opportunity to impress – or to sour – evaluators.

Kentucky vs. Florida; Saturday, Nov. 28, 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

Kentucky DE Joshua Paschal, No. 4
Kentucky DT Quinton Bohanna, No. 95
Kentucky S Yusuf Corker, No. 29
Kentucky CB Brandin Echols, No. 26
Kentucky OT Landon Young, No. 67
Kentucky RT Darian Kinnard, No. 70
Kentucky RB Asim Rose, No. 10

The Matchups: Trask has been incredible this season, amassing better production through seven games than Joe Burrow, Kyler Murray and Baker Mayfield, the last three Heisman Trophy winners. To make that even more impressive, Trask has only played SEC games rather than being able to pad his stats with early-season cup cakes like those three could. Trask will continue to see quality talent against Kentucky, which fields a defense featuring a number of future NFL competitors.

Pitts has been out of the lineup due to a concussion suffered against Georgia, but even if he doesn’t play in this game, Florida’s receivers, including Toney, Grimes and Copeland, will be a tough test for the Kentucky defensive back prospects.

There will be some good battles in the trenches as well here. Wildcats offensive tackles Darian Kinnard and Landon Young will see their toughest test with Gators edge rusher Brenton Cox. Kentucky’s center Drake Jackson will be facing Tedarrell Slaton, a good nose tackle.

Pittsburgh vs. Clemson; Saturday, Nov. 28, 3:30 PM ET ESPN
The Prospects:

Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, No. 16
Clemson running back Travis Etienne, No. 9
Clemson wide receiver Amari Rodgers, No. 3
Clemson guard Jackson Carman, No. 79
Clemson defensive end Xavier Thomas, No. 3
Clemson cornerback Deion Kendrick, No. 1

Pittsburgh defensive end Rashad Weaver, No. 17
Pittsburgh defensive end Patrick Jones, No. 91
Pittsburgh safety Damar Hamlin, No. 3
Pittsburgh center Jimmy Morrissey, No. 91

The Matchups: Unfortunately, Pittsburgh safety Paris Ford decided to sit out the rest of the season; it would have been great to see him face Lawrence and Etienne. Lawrence will see a good test from Pittsburgh’s edge rushers, while Clemson’s rushing offense will be a test for Weaver and Jones. It will be interesting to see how Lawrence plays after missing two games due to COVID-19 and having the Florida State game canceled. Lawrence is almost a complete lock to be the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Auburn vs. Alabama; Saturday, Nov. 28, 3:30 PM ET SEC
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

Alabama QB Mac Jones, No. 10
Alabama WR DeVonta Smith, No. 6
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

The Matchups: Auburn wide receiver Seth Williams has had a very disappointing 2020 season, and he badly needs some big games in order to help his grade if he enters the 2021 NFL Draft. Williams could boost his draft stock if he can get the better of Surtain. Alabama offensive stars Jones, Harris, Leatherwood, Dickerson and Smith should roll help their team over Auburn. Alabama linebacker Dylan Moses needs a good game to help himself, and the Auburn offense should give him plenty of tackle opportunities.

LSU vs. Texas A&M; Saturday, Nov. 28, 7:00 PM ET ESPN
The Prospects:

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
Texas A&M DE Tyree Johnson, No. 3
Texas A&M DE Michael Clemons, No. 2

LSU WR Terrace Marshall Jr., No. 6
LSU G Ed Ingram, No. 70
LSU FS/LB JaCoby Stevens, No. 7
LSU LB Damone Clark, No. 18
LSU LB Jabril Cox, No. 19

The Matchups: Mond has a good skill set, and some NFL teams have given him second-day grades for the 2021 NFL Draft. The LSU defense has been abused all year, so Mond should produce a big game versus the Tigers. If he doesn’t, he will look bad in comparison to others.

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