Thin one laid out today, but that means we're going to likely be on upset alert for most of the day...hopefully.
Up until last week, I've been going by the big games. Today, let's take it by position/prospect/matchup/whatever the hell I'm trying to do here.
Wide Receiver vs. Cornerback
So we talked about some of the major prospects on Turf Show Radio this week, and I noted that Ole Miss WR Laquon Treadwell is atop my WR board right now. He and the Rebels are facing Texas A&M this week, and while there's a prime NFL Draft level matchup there, it's not with Treadwell. The A&M secondary just isn't that great, though they don't have to be with their front. Same goes the other way with the A&M passing attack including standout RS sophomore Ricky Seals-Jones.
Ohio State-Rutgers has a nice pair in Buckeyes WR Michael Thomas and Scarlet Knights WR Leonte Caroo. Rutgers doesn't offer much opposition in the secondary, though tOSU does. Eli Apple, a redshirt sophomore, looks on track for an early draft selection whenever he decides to come out.
It's a thin weekend for matchups here, so I'm pegging the Tennessee-Alabama game for the WR spot to watch...even though it's not for the 2016 NFL Draft. Alabama's building up a young wide receiving corps in the wake of Julio Jones and Amari Cooper with guys likes RS sophomore ArDarius Stewart and budding superstar freshman Calvin Ridley. The Vols have CB Cameron Sutton who looks like a Day 2 corner option in the 2016 NFL Draft. That's about as good as we're going to do today.
Matchup to watch: Alabama WR Calvin Ridley vs. Tennessee CB Cameron Sutton
OT vs. DE
Tackle may not be the highest need on the board, but I wouldn't ignore it so let's work outside in.
We highlighted Ole Miss-A&M above, though if you're going to watch it, this is why. OT Laremy Tunsil may be the first tackle off the board in the 2016 NFL Draft. A&M true sophomore DE Myles Garrett has the makeup of a 2017 NFL Draft #1 overall selection, with the skill set, frame and production to boot with 8.5 sacks in the Aggies' six games thus far. Plus, you can catch A&M OT Germain Ifedi and Ole Miss DT Robert Nkemdiche when the Ags have the ball.
Fair argument though to be made for Indiana OT Jason Spriggs going up against Ohio State DE Joey Bosa.
Sleeper watch? Texas Tech OT Le'Raven Clark going up against Oklahoma DE Charles Tapper.
Matchup to watch: Ole Miss OT Laremy Tunsil vs. Texas A&M DE Myles Garrett
G/C vs. DT
I'm really liking this guard class for the 2016 NFL Draft. Sadly, today's not a great day for challenging matchups. LSU's Vadal Alexander, Kansas St.'s Cody Whitehair, Baylor's Spencer Drango, Ohio St.'s Pat Elflein and North Carolina's Landon Turner all should impress. Georgia G Greg Pyke has the week off with the Bulldogs on a bye as does Christian Westerman and Vi Teofilo with Arizona St.
At center, it's a top-heavy class. Wisconsin's Dan Voltz is going to likely command an early pick. Notre Dame C Nick Martin is in the mix with him for the first center off the board, though the Irish are off this week. Max Tuerk might be the most NFL-ready of the three, but he's injured for the rest of the season and will be a huge combine check. After that, there's a big dropoff.
I'll go deep for the matchup across both sides here.
Matchup to watch: Florida St. Seminoles G Kareem Are & C Ryan Hoefeld vs. Georgia Tech DT Adam Gotsis; Georgia Tech C Freddie Burden vs. Florida St. DTs Nile Lawrence-Stample, Derrick Mitchell, Jr. & Derrick Nnadi
Tight End vs. Themselves
Oh tight ends, you freaks you.
The strength of the position across the country is in the youth, so it may be a year or two before we see tight ends creeping up into the early rounds of the draft with any frequency. Still, there are options for the 2016 NFL Draft.
The question for me is whether the Rams need more blocking to support Todd Gurley and to hold up in pass pro or better receiving options for Nick Foles.
Looking for the former? Big Arkansas target Hunter Henry will likely turn your head. Alabama's O.J. Howard is no slouch. Ohio St.'s Nick Vannett is a classic plowhorse Big Ten tight end.
Need receiving yards and more than just a short yardage/redzone threat from your TE? Ole Miss Evan Engram works. South Carolina TE Jerell Adams is going to remind a lot of people of good Jared Cook. Michigan's Jake Butt can impress. And the redshirt sophomore class is stacked if you want to go deep on guys like Stanford's Austin Hooper or Virginia Tech's Bucky Hodges.
Matchup to watch: Arkansas TE Hunter Henry vs. Auburn LBs Cassanova McKinzy & Kris Frost
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