WHO TO WATCH IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL THIS WEEKEND

November 22, 2008

Are you ready for some football!!! It’s rivalry week in college football and that means the usual great slate of games. And the biggest ‘rivalry’ game of the weekend features unbeaten and second-ranked Texas Tech playing once-beaten and 5th ranked Oklahoma in a game with huge national implications. Indeed, a win by the Sooners will almost by definition set of an earthquake of a debate as to who should be the new #2 team in the country with the likes of Florida, USC, Penn State, Texas and Oklahoma all lining up to present their cases. Who needs a playoff indeed!!! The debate aside, many of this year’s top potential draft prospects will be on display this weekend so keep those clickers handy. Here‘s a quick preview of the top prospects to watch in this weekend’s key games.

Texas Tech at Oklahoma; 8 PM ET; ABC… This weekend’s feature game also features at least a couple of top 5 prospects for the 2009 draft in red shirt sophomores Sam Bradford (#14, 6-4, 220) of Oklahoma and Texas Tech WR Michael Crabtree (#5, 6-2, 210). Both are arguably the best players at their respective in college football. In fact, this game could come down to a dual between QBs Bradford and Tech senior Graham Harrell (#6, 6-3, 205), who like his OU counterpart has put up Heisman type numbers this fall, although he lacks the prototype arm strength of an elite prospect at the position.

The Sooners’ Bradford, though, is hardly a one-man team and Oklahoma should be one of the major players at the 2009 draft starting with a huge, experienced offensive line anchored by OT Phil Loadholt (#79, 6-7, 340) and OG Duke Robinson (#72, 6-4, 340), a pair of legitimate first round prospects for the upcoming draft. Both are massive road graders, although Loadholt may lack the agility to play LT at the next level; indeed, Robinson, who has great feet and a solid work ethic, may ultimately be the better prospect. The Sooners also have plenty of talent at the skill positions including emerging junior TE Jermaine Gresham (#18, 6-5, 265), a huge target with WR speed and quickness. Gresham combines with veteran WRs Manuel Johnson (#1, 5-11, 185) and Juaquin Iglesias (#9, 5-11, 205) to give the Sooners a true big-play receiver corps. On the other side of the ball, Oklahoma is led by rugged SS Nic Harris (#5, 6-2, 230) yet another big who can run, along with an emerging pass-rush star in junior DE Auston English (#33, 6-2, 255). Meanwhile, Texas Tech isn’t quite as talented, but has a number of quality prospects of its own the best of whom are OG Louis Vasquez (#65, 6-5, 335) and DB Darcel McBath (#7, 6-1, 200).

The third Saturday in November used to be the preserve of Michigan-Ohio State, however, with the collapse of the Wolverines this fall this game has become something of an afterthought. It is still on national TV (Noon ET; ABC) so check out Michigan DT Terrance Taylor (#67, 6-0, 340), a potential first day pick this year, along with CB Morgan Trent (#14, 6-0, 190), DE Tim Jamison (#90, 6-3, 265), and DT Will Johnson (#97, 6-4, 290). Meanwhile, the Buckeyes are loaded with first-round talent including CB Malcolm Jenkins (#2, 6-0, 200), LB James Laurinaitis (#33, 6-2, 240), junior RB Chris ‘Beanie‘ Wells (#28, 6-0, 240) and LB Marcus Freeman (#1, 6-1, 240), while OT Alex Boone (#75, 6-7, 312) and WR Brian Robiskie (#80, 6-2, 200) are later first day prospects.

In fact, the key game in the Big Ten isn’t Michigan-Ohio State, but Michigan State at Penn State (3:30 PM ET; ABC) where the Nittany Lions can clinch the conference title and a spot in the Rose Bowl with a victory over the Spartans, who also have hopes of at least grabbing a share of the league championship. The top PSU players to watch in this game include junior DE Maurice Evans (#48, 6-2, 270), a tough edge rusher who still might get some first-round consideration this coming April despite some off-field legal troubles; and WR Derrick Williams (#2, 6-0, 195), a speedy receiver and KR who put three pedestrian years behind him with a solid senior campaign. Meanwhile, WR Deon Butler (#3, 5-9, 170), C A.Q, Shipley (#57, 6-1, 300), OT Gerald Cadogan (#76, 6-5, 315), OG Rich Ohrnberger (#64, 6-2, 295), LB Tyrell Sales (#46, 6-2, 233), CB Lydell Sargeant (#10, 5-9, 190) and S Anthony Scirrotto (#7, 5-11, 195) are solid second tier types. Meanwhile, Michigan State scatback Javon Ringer (#23, 5-9, 200) is arguably the top senior RB prospect this year, while S Otis Wiley (#21, 6-1, 210), CB Kendall Davis-Clark (#38, 5-10, 200), and OG Roland Miller (#73, 6-5, 335) are each all solid.

Other than the Oklahoma-Texas Tech match-up, this week’s game with the biggest BCS implications could very well be in Utah where the unbeaten Utes host intra-state rival BYU. Unfortunately, though, the game only appears to be on the Mountain West Sports Network at 6 PM ET which means a lot of people are likely to miss a great game. Despite some squeakers in recent weeks, Utah is ranked 7th in the country and is on track to get an invitation to the BCS with a win over the Cougars. BYU which is ranked 14th themselves, though, aren’t going to go lightly. Indeed, BYU actually has a stronger draft class than Utah. Junior TE Dennis Pitta (#32, 6-4, 250) is one of the top prospects at the position in the nation, while OT Dallas Reynolds (#65, 6-4, 335) and OGs Ray Feinga (#68, 6-4, 330) and Travis Bright (#74, 6-4, 330) all have NFL size. In addition to Pitta, BYU has three other juniors with NFL potential in QB Max Hall (#15, 6-1, 200), WR Austin Collie (#9, 6-1, 205) and DE Jan Jorgensen (#84, 6-2, 255). Utah is led by athletic, veteran QB Brian Johnson (#3, 6-1, 200) who has finally been healthy this fall, although he still looks more like a prototype Canadian league QB rather than a true NFL prospect. In fact, Utah’s best pro prospect could be PK/P Louie Sakoda who hasn’t missed a FG under 48 yards this fall, while CB Brice McCain (#1, 59, 190) has 4.3 speed.

Have a great weekend!

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