It has been a great college football season so far this year with a ton of ups and downs for players and teams. Many players continue to rise, some are just now bursting onto the scene, others are falling down draft boards, and we once again have match-ups this weekend of some very high draft prospects.
Draft Risers:
1. Will Grier, QB, WVU:
Will Grier is the first player this season to be on my Draft Risers for the second time, but he deserves it. He shredded the Texas Tech defense on Saturday throwing for 370 yards, a 66% completion percentage, 3 touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Grier has looked good all season, showing confidence and poise in the pocket, along with strong and accurate arm. He reads the field very well and usually finds the open man with a great throw. Grier just gets into a rhythm and the further along the game gets, the better he looks. The guy looks like an NFL quarterback with so many good traits that will translate to the next level. As of now, Grier is no doubt a potentially first-round quarterback.
2. Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma:
Brown has been dominant this season and has been one of the biggest risers on my board week after week. He has 24 catches, 544 yards, and 5 touchdowns on the season, after a 5 reception, 132 yard, and 2 touchdown performance against Baylor on Saturday. Brown is first and foremost a speedster, and he’s shown that this season with averaging over 22 yards per catch. He is also very quick which allows him to get open easily and often down the field and across the middle. Brown’s speed and quickness will translate very well to the NFL (see: Tyreek Hill), and has launched himself into talks of being the first receiver taken in the 2019 draft.
3. Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon:
Herbert hasn’t risen very much for me, due to him being my #1 quarterback and #7 overall player in my preseason big board, but he has turned doubters into believers this year. Herbert has been dealing all season and looking very comfortable while doing so. Oregon suffered a tough loss in week 4 to Stanford, but Herbert still played lights out. He has thrown for 1,411 yards, 65% completion percentage, 15 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions.
DAHHerbert certainly looks the part of an NFL quarterback, standing at 6’6” and 233 pounds, but he also has great footwork and is athletic enough to move around in the pocket and can also get outside and run if a play breaks down. Herbert scans the field well and has a strong arm, but he had accuracy concerns coming into the year; he’s improved upon his accuracy, including his weak deep ball. Herbert is still my top quarterback, and he’s starting to widen that gap.
Draft Fallers:
1. Greg Little, OT, Ole Miss:
Little is a big man at 6’6” and 325 pounds, but that is part of his problem. He has yet to show he can keep up with edge defenders on a consistent basis due to a lack of agility. Little also struggles with leverage and his technique, and worries me a lot about his abilities as a potential NFL left tackle. His athleticism and technique as a pass blocker worried me going into this season, but I was hopeful he would’ve come into this season looking better. Little still needs a lot of work, and I would project him as more of a right tackle in the NFL at this point, but I would not take him in the first round of this draft.
2. Deebo Samuel, WR, South Carolina:
Samuel’s stats this year look like he shouldn’t be falling down draft boards, but traits are what scouting is about, not stats. I was hoping going into this year that Samuel would be able to challenge for the number one receiver spot for the 2019 draft due to a lot of raw potential; but Samuel has been disappointing. He has great speed and quickness, but he still lacks in route running and he’s dropped some easy catches this year. Samuel has dropped out of the first round for me, and if he doesn’t make some progress soon, he might keep falling.
3. Ryan Finley, QB, NC State:
Just like Deebo Samuel, don’t look at the stats to scout Ryan Finley. He looked like a fringe round one quarterback entering this season, but he hasn’t improved in any areas. Finley majorly struggles with arm strength and accuracy, and his medium-range to deep balls are nowhere near where a first-round quarterback should have them. He processes plays slowly, often missing open targets or throwing the ball late leading to bad throws. Finley should not go in the first round, and I would make the argument he shouldn’t be drafted before the third round at this point.
Small School Prospect Spotlight:
Oli Udoh, OT, Elon:
Udoh is a massive (6’6” and 356 pounds) but nimble right tackle and is potentially the top small school offensive lineman prospect in the nation. He is powerful and athletic and can probably make it in the NFL as a right tackle, but I would consider moving him inside to guard. He has strong hands that latch onto defenders and can drive them downfield. His technique is okay, but he has a lot of potential to vastly improve his technique across the board. He projects as a late-round prospect as of now, but can move up boards with a strong second half of the season and growth in the offseason leading up to the draft in April.
Big Match-Ups This Weekend:
1. Auburn vs. Mississippi State:
Stidham needs to have a good game in a big way this Saturday against a top-notch defense. Stidham’s last big game against a tough defense did not go well for him, throwing for 198 yards, 57% completion percentage, two interceptions, and one touchdown. He confirmed my biggest concern about him throughout the game, constantly abandoning his technique and rushing throws and making poor decisions. He needs to play well and play consistent in this game to turn his draft stock around. It won’t be easy as he’ll be facing defensive linemen Jeffery Simmons and Montez Sweat (both currently in my top 25), safety Johnathan Abrams, and cornerback Jamal Peters.
2. Oklahoma vs. Texas:
This is obviously a huge game for rivalry reasons, but it will also showcase a lot of NFL talent on both sides. Oklahoma features wide receiver Marquise Brown, one of the biggest risers in this year’s draft in most scouting circles. Also keep your eye on offensive tackle Bobby Evans and guard Ben Powers for Oklahoma. Texas’ big prospects are cornerbacks Kris Boyd and Davante Davis, linebacker Anthony Wheeler, defensive end Breckyn Hager, and wide receiver Collin Johnson. The most interesting match-up in this game will be Brown vs. Boyd. Boyd did not play well last week, often getting beat deep and struggling to flip his hips. Brown is a speedster and can have a big game against Boyd.
3. Kentucky vs Texas A&M:
Kentucky has been the big surprise team this season, with big wins against a couple of ranked teams in Florida and Mississippi State on their way to a 5-0 start. Running back Benny Snell Jr. has been a huge part of that (I featured him in last week’s article), rushing for 639 yards and 8 touchdowns already. Other draft eligible Kentucky players include linebackers Josh Allen and Jordan Jones, along with safety Mike Edwards. Texas A&M is led by defensive tackle Kingsley Keke who has progressed tremendously since last season and continues to rise. A&M also has safety Donovan Wilson, defensive end Landis Durham, running back Trayveon Williams, and linebacker Otaro Alaka.