Draft Quack: Selection Saturday Edition

* denotes a Senior Bowl acceptance

** denotes a Shrine Game acceptance

#11 Florida at Missouri 9 AM PT / NOON CBS

• The Gators and Tigers do battle as the winner gets sole possession in the SEC East behind Georgia. Florida QB Kyle Trask has been impressive this season, filling in for an injured Feleipe Franks. Will the Tigers catch the Gators looking ahead to its date with rival Florida State? Missouri is under a bowl ban for NCAA infractions.

Florida prospects to watch

1. Jabari Zuniga 6’3 257 EDGE RS Senior *

• Has a lot of athleticism in a herky jerky way. A pass rush talent that go up the field in a hurry. Lateral agility isn’t the greatest but he hasn’t been asked to do that much. One of the best EDGE rushers in the country. Has been injured here and there this season.

2. C.J. Henderson 6’1 182 CB Junior

• He’s one of the best corners in the country when engaged. The problem is that either he doesn’t have a strong frame or an unwillingness to tackle.

3. Johnathan Greenard 6’3 260 RS Senior

• A transfer from Louisville that has been blowing up this season. Very good athlete that can move around in the phone booth. Can play both EDGE and defensive tackle. Greenard has been injured for parts of this season so the medical can be a concern.

Missouri prospects to watch

1. Larry Rountree III 5’10 210 RB Junior

• The Tigers leading rusher from last season returns for another go. Runs with good burst and athleticism. Pad level is a question, however as he tends to run high. Usable in the pass game.

2. Albert Okwuegbunam 6’5 255 TE RS Junior

• An athletic freak that can make something happen on quick passes. He has a medical history though so that knocks him down a bit. Vertical threat as well. One of the best tight end prospects in the class.

3. DeMarkus Acy 6’2 195 CB Senior **

• He’s one of the bigger cornerbacks in the class that no one really talks about. A solid athlete that can tackle unlike Mr. Henderson. He has accepted an invite to the East-West Shrine Game.

2019 vs South Carolina

Michigan State at #15 Michigan 9 AM PT / NOON FOX

“Paul Bunyan Trophy”

• The Wolverines and Spartans meet on BIG NUDE SATURDAY to decide the winner of the Paul Bunyan Trophy. Michigan has shown flashes of having a decent offense but Sparty has not. Michigan needs to win in order to have a chance at pulling off the Big Ten East division.

Michigan State prospects to watch

1. Brian Lewerke 6’3 213 QB RS Senior

• He had a ton of health issues in 2018, which led to sloppy play mechanically. Above average athlete that can run when necessary. Arm talent is a plus. Consistency has been huge issue. One play, he can look like Joe Montana, the next he looks like Joe Mantegna.

2019 vs Wisconsin

2. Kenny Willekes 6’4 239 EDGE RS Senior

• The Spartans’ best pass rusher has increased his production every year in his career. A plus athlete with an equal work ethic to match. Has developed into a fearsome pass rusher as a junior. Run defense is good. He reportedly lost some weight and he looks significantly quicker this season when I watched him. One of the best EDGE prospects in this class. He looks like he hasn’t lost a step since his unfortunate leg injury against the Ducks.

2019 vs Arizona State

Michigan prospects to watch

1. Donovan Peoples-Jones 6’2 193 WR Junior

• The former five star recruit is finally a draft eligible junior. He’s an ATHLETE. Strong hands and a good catch radius allows him to catch anything in sight. A well built receiver that turns into a running back with the ball in his hands. Willing run blocker who does the dirty work even for a receiver for his caliber.

2. Ben Bredeson 6’5 310 OL Senior

• Bredeson has a lot of experience at guard for the Wolverines. He’s a typical Big Ten lineman i.e. country strong and a brutal finisher. Footwork is a plus along with his anchor in pass pro. Can fly on pull blocks, relatively speaking.

3. Jon Runyan 6’4 304 OT RS Senior

• The son of longtime Philadelphia Eagles tackle and current NFL executive Jon Runyan, Sr. He’s been the starter at left tackle since last season after being on the right side before that. Fundamentally sound as he’s been taught well by his father. Hand usage is very good. Athleticism is a question.

4. Khaleke Hudson 6’0 220 LB Senior

• Big hitter who can get a touch too aggressive and get called for targeting. Athleticism is an issue. Can play safety or linebacker at the next level. Football IQ is a plus. Projects as a two down special teams linebacker in the pros.

#4 Georgia at #12 Auburn 12:30 PT / 3:30 ET CBS

“The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry”

• Georgia and Auburn match wits once again with nearly everything on the line. Georgia needs to win to keep itself in the playoff discussion while Auburn needs to win as playoff spoilers this month. A two loss Georgia is definitely out of the playoffs while Auburn needs to win out for Oregon’s playoff chances. The home team has taken the last two of the series. Can the Tigers keep up the trend and keep Oregon’s playoff hopes alive?

Georgia prospects to watch

1. Andrew Thomas 6’5 320 OT Junior

• Thomas is the best left tackle in the college game that’s draft eligible. He has an excellent anchor, great footwork, plus hands. Elite of the elite among tackle prospects over the past several years. Experienced in the rigors of the SEC. Should be a top ten selection if he declares (he most likely will)

2. D’Andre Swift 5’9 215 RB Junior

• Swift is...well, swift. One of the best running backs in the nation that sat behind a ton of NFL talent and finally got his shot this year being the man. Great vision and instincts for a running back on top of the speed and lateral agility. Likely to declare for the draft.

3. Jake Fromm 6’2 225 QB Junior

• The man who processed two FIVE STAR QB recruits from Athens. He doesn’t have enough arm talent to make a lot of the deeper throws but his mental processing of reads is excellent. It will be his calling card in the NFL. Looks the part minus the arm. Great football IQ. Think of a poor man’s Andy Dalton or Kirk Cousins and you get Fromm. He seemingly doesn’t have the it factor to take control of games (the Georgia offense is tremendously predictable and stale.)

4. Richard Lecounte III 5’11 180 S Junior

• He has a ton of power in a little frame. I love his hard hitting but he’s a bit of a gambler in the run game. Coverage is his strong suit. Ball skills are a plus. As mentioned earlier, play strength can be a concern for the next level.

5. J.R. Reed 6’1 194 S RS Senior

• A strong safety type to Lecounte’s free safety game. Like Lecounte, Reed is a gambler at times when tackling. Sturdy frame that’s built for the pro game. Should get an invite from the Senior Bowl in the coming weeks. Leader of Georgia’s secondary.

Auburn prospects to watch

1. Derrick Brown 6’5 318 DT Senior *

• Brute strength is the name of his game but his athleticism is nothing to sneeze at. Has a bevy of pass rush moves in his arsenal. High motor that won’t stop until the play is over. Quick burst off the snap.

2. Prince Tega Wanogho 6’7 305 OT RS Senior *

• One of the nation’s best tackle prospects. He has the size and length to stay at tackle at the next level. Physical at the point of attack. Hand usage is a great. Still learning the technical points of the game as he started playing football in high school. Footwork is a plus.

3. Nick Coe 6’5 291 EDGE Junior

• Position versatile athlete that played both end and tackle. Holds up well at the POA and is very strong against the interior. Needs to develop a counter move as he solely relies on the bull rush move to get by.

4. Marlon Davidson 6’3 278 EDGE Senior *

• A solid run defender that can hold up at the POA. Not the best athlete but he gets by on limited reps. Footwork isn’t the greatest either. Needs more development for the next level.

#8 Minnesota at #20 Iowa 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET FOX

“Floyd of Rosedale Trophy”

• The coolest trophy in all of sports meets the best new tradition in college football. It’s a bronze pig statue after the winning team got a live pig for years. Minnesota has to win out in order to keep its playoff hopes alive until the likely showdown with Ohio State in December. Iowa is just playing for a better bowl bid. Can the Golden Gophers keep it going? Will the Kinnick Wave help the Hawkeyes pull the upset?

Minnesota prospects to watch

1. Tyler Johnson 6’2 205 WR Senior

• One of the best receivers in the nation for a surging Minnesota team. He’s got great hands and excellent ball skills for the next level. Really good at running his routes and varying the depth of them.

2. Antoine Winfield, Jr 5’10 205 Sophomore

• The son of longtime Minnesota Vikings DB Antoine Winfield is a good prospect in his own right. Only a sophomore, he’s one of the better safeties in the country. Has dad’s skillset and talents along with NFL level coaching. He leads the nation in interceptions with seven and leads the team in tackles.

Iowa prospects to watch

1. Tristan Wirfs 6’5 315 OT Junior

• Wirfs is one of the best tackles in the nation. Unreal athleticism for a tackle. Strength is a plus as well. Footwork is a major plus as he knows how to anchor in base and move quickly very adeptly. He should dominate the Combine drills should he go pro.

2. A.J. Epenesa 6’6 280 EDGE Junior

• It can be argued that he is the best EDGE prospect in the nation. Some have erroneously compared him to J.J. Watt. While not on Watt’s level, he’s a very strong edge prospect. Power is the name of his game, not athleticism. Position and scheme versatile.

3. Alaric Jackson 6’7 320 OT RS Junior

• The Hawkeyes’ other bookend tackle is a good prospect in his own right. OL IQ is above average. He’s an underrated athlete that can move to the second level with pace. A mountain at 6’7. Could play inside at guard or move to right tackle at the next level after being the left tackle in college.

#10 Oklahoma at #13 Baylor 4:30 PT / 7:30 ET ABC

• Oklahoma was duly punished for its failure to properly dispatch a game Iowa State squad by the playoff committee. Can the Bears keep up its undefeated ways against a potent Sooners offense? Baylor’s finishing stretch is brutal with Texas lurking next week. The Sooners have reverted to being a defensive disaster after a hot start to the season.

Oklahoma prospects to watch

1. Jalen Hurts 6’2 219 QB RS Senior

• Another year, another Heisman contender for Lincoln Riley. Hurts has improved immensely as a passer over the past couple of years. He has enough arm talent to make all the throws in the NFL. Athlete in every sense of the word. Built for the power run game like Cam Newton. Footwork and pocket awareness are pluses. Workout warrior.

2. CeeDee Lamb 6’3 190 WR Junior

• The main man now that Hollywood Brown has gone to the NFL and doing quite nicely. Speed is something to behold. Route running has improved a ton this year. He’s one of the fastest players in the nation. Should test well at the Combine. Really blew up last season. A stronger Stefon Diggs but faster if you will.

3. Creed Humphrey 6’4 312 C/G RS Sophomore

• He’s a legitimate contender for both the Outland and Rimington Trophy. The unquestioned leader of the Sooners’ line. Can play guard but starts at center. Footwork is a plus. Hand usage is another.

4. Neville Gallimore 6’3 321 DL RS Senior

• He’s been a monster this season as a defensive tackle. A native of Canada. One of the best interior linemen in the entire class. He should be a high first round pick in April 2020. Hand usage is some of the best I’ve seen. Footwork and lateral agility are pluses as well. High motor.

Baylor prospect to watch

1. Denzel Mims 6’3 215 WR Senior *

• Mims has been one of the more underrated receivers in the nation. He should be a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award. A big time athlete that has immense catch radius and pretty much the only weapon for the Bears.