Draft Quack: Sunshine State Showdown Saturday

#8 Georgia vs. #6 Florida 12:30 PM PT CBS

“The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party”

• Georgia and Florida renew acquaintances with command of the SEC East on the line in Jacksonville. It’s not called the WLOCP any more over protests by certain alcohol prevention groups but it’s traditionally been called that. Can the Gators defense slow down the very stodgy and cumbersome Bulldogs offense? Can the Dawgs find anything other than Mr. Swift on offense? Jake Fromm will need to air it out. Both teams had bye weeks to prepare.

Score prediction: Florida 24 Georgia 14

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)

Highlights: AT vs Alabama 2018 SEC Championship

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.

Highlights: Swift vs Notre Dame 2019

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.)

Highlights: Jake Fromm vs 2019 Notre Dame

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.

Highlights: 2018 highlights

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 months. Leader of Georgia’s secondary.

Highlights: Reed vs Vanderbilt 2019

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.

Zuniga vs 2019 Miami

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.

Henderson vs 2019 Miami

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.

Greenard vs Miami 2019

Miami at Florida State 12:30 PT ABC

• These two eternal Sunshine State rivals meet with little more than bragging rights on the line since both programs are suffering through down years. A battle to decide which offensive line is the worst. This rivalry was THE rivalry of the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s. Which once proud program can rise up above its current state of mediocrity and win? Miami has a hot potato at QB and so does Florida State. WildAkers might be a thing.

Prediction: Miami 34 Florida State 27

Miami prospects to watch

1. Shaquille Quarterman 6’1 235 LB Senior

• The latest in a long line of standout Hurricanes LB surprisingly stayed in a school for a senior season. Versatile athlete that was used some as an edge rusher at times while primarily playing as an inside linebacker. Can cover sideline to sideline rapidly. Quick to diagnose plays and attack downhill.

2019 vs Florida

2. Johnathan Garvin 6’1 250 EDGE Junior

• A terror off the edge. Can disengage the blocker rather quickly but rather small for an EDGE prospect at just 6’1 250. Doesn’t possess an arsenal of pass rush moves just yet but is learning under great DC / HC Manny Diaz. Should be fun to watch in 2019.

2019 vs Florida

3. Jeff Thomas 5’10 180 WR Junior

• Simply put, he’s a burner. He can get going in a hurry. Deep speed is tremendous. Great ball skills. He could be one of the fastest receivers in the country. Entered the transfer portal only to come back to the Canes.

2019 vs Florida

Florida State prospects to watch

1. Marvin Wilson 6’5 323 DL Junior

• “Big Marv” is the latest in a long line of standout defensive tackles for the Seminoles. A former five star signee. He has a lot of power and athleticism even if it’s unrefined at times. Medical issues have knocked him out of practices. A big powerful athlete that can collapse the pocket in a hurry. Best suited as a 4’3 tackle but can play 3-4 tackle in a pinch. Has pretty good measureables for the next level.

2019 vs Virginia

2. Levonta Taylor 5’10 181 CB Senior

• A former five star and top ranked cornerback recruit. He hasn’t lived up to that level of hype due to injury but can turn it around for his senior season. He’s an athlete and very well schooled in the fundamentals. Quick burst and ball skills. Can turn and run on a dime. He’s the senior leader after playing next to some of the brightest secondary stars that college had to offer like Derwin James.

2018 vs Wake Forest

3. Hamsah Nasirildeen 6’4 211 S Junior

• More of an athlete than football player as he’s bounced around from safety to linebacker in certain plays. He’s an outstanding athlete for his position and has good ball skills. Very good moving downhill to attack the run game. He had a whopping 17 tackles against Syracuse last weekend.

2018 vs Boston College

4. Cam Akers 5’11 212 RB Junior

• The heir to Dalvin Cook’s throne is plenty good himself. An elite athlete that can make any defender miss at any given time. Very good burst off the snap. He’s one of the best running backs in the country. Former five star recruit from the state of Mississippi.

2019 Highlights

TCU vs Oklahoma State 12:30 PT ESPN

• The Horned Frogs, fresh off their upset of Texas, travel to Stillwater to take on a reeling Cowboys program. Both programs lost gigantic weapons on offense in the form of TCU OT Lucas Niang and Cowboys WR Tylan Wallace. Wallace was Okie State’s Dillon Mitchell. Which offense can offset their losses?

Prediction: TCU 40 OSU 35

TCU prospects to watch

1. Jalen Raegor 5’11 185 WR Junior

• He might be one of the fastest players in the country, regardless of position. He’s a devastating athlete can score from anywhere on the field and make defenders look foolish in the process. Limited route tree due to the system in Fort Worth. Development as a route runner will be needed for the next level.

2019 vs Iowa State

2. Sewo Olonilua 6’3 225 RB Senior

• He’s having a solid senior season thus far for an inconsistent Horned Frogs offense. A big power back with some lateral agility. Derrick Henry size but not the athleticism to go with it.

2019 vs Purdue

Oklahoma State prospects to watch

1. Chuba Hubbard 6’1 207 RB RS Sophomore

• He’s been a monster this season. Is in contention for the Daok Walker award. Outstanding athlete. He’s an electric runner both in and outside of the tackle box.

Vanderbilt at South Carolina 4:30 PM PT SEC NETWORK

The Commodores travel to Columbia to face Glasses McMuschamp? Expect a defensive struggle here with both offenses capable of messing things up horrifically.

Prediction: South Carolina 21 Vandy 10

Vanderbilt prospect to watch

1. Ke’Shawn Vaughn 5’10 215 RB RS Senior

• A tough runner inside the tackles with the vision and instincts to process the hole and go through it rapidly. Lateral agility is a plus. One of the more underrated backs in the SEC. He’s very good.

South Carolina prospects to watch

1. Javon Kinlaw 6’6 302 DL Senior

• A talented pass rusher on SC’s underrated defensive line. He has the prototypical H/W/L that NFL teams desire on linemen. Long arms allow him to keep blockers at bay. Work ethic and motor are pluses.

2019 vs Alabama

2. Bryan Edwards 6’3 215 WR Senior

The Robin to Deebo Samuel’s Batman is leading the receiving room on his own this season. He’s a big physical target at 6’3. Moves well for a guy his size. A deep ball specialist as well. The main man that the QB looks for. Owner of catch of the year possibly.

Bonus game to watch

Colorado at UCLA 6 PM PT Pac-12 Network

• Laviska Shenault vs Darnay Holmes should be entertaining.