Rob Rang
NFL Draft Analyst
The 9 convention championship video games scheduled for Friday and Saturday nights will present loads of expertise for the NFL Draft, however at this level within the season, scouts are focusing much less on established blue-chip prospects and extra on potential Day 2 and three wins.
So, with all due respect to Abdul Carter (the highest-rated prospect within the area this weekend) or the arms race within the SEC title recreation between Georgia’s Carson Beck and Texas’ Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning, let’s dig a bit of deeper. and establish some prospects who may actually catapult their inventory undertaking this weekend.
(Related: Pick the winners of every convention title recreation)
Here are my 5 favorites, listed within the order of their video games.
Jackson WoodardOLB, 6-3, 230, UNLV
It goes with out saying that almost all viewers of Friday night time’s Mountain West championship recreation (on FOX at 8 PM ET) between UNLV and Boise State might be targeted on Broncos’ projected first-round operating again Ashton Jeanty — and Woodard might be, too . The reigning Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year collected a season-high 14 tackles in opposition to Jeanty and the Broncos in a 29-24 loss on Oct. 25, and the stakes are even greater within the rematch.
Woodard is without doubt one of the few former Arkansas Razorbacks who selected to observe their former defensive coordinator Barry Odom to Las Vegas, shifting to the Rebels and instantly proving himself to be a star. Woodard was wasted on the bench in Fayetteville, recording simply 16 tackles in three seasons there. However, he as soon as thrived with the Rebels, incomes First Team All-Mountain West honors final season, ending second within the league with 117 complete tackles and main UNLV with 9 tackles for loss.
This season he has been even higher, recording 114 tackles in two fewer video games with a staggering 17 tackles for loss. Better but, he confirmed important enchancment in go protection, accumulating 9 passes defensed and 4 interceptions, in addition to recovering two fumbles, considered one of which he returned for a landing.
For a comparatively inexperienced participant, Woodard shows spectacular instincts. Attacks the road of scrimmage, exhibiting wonderful diagnostic expertise in addition to quickness, agility and consciousness of the massive our bodies round him, sliding blocks and securing tackles. His nice seasons in Las Vegas all however guarantee Woodard might be drafted subsequent spring, however he can enhance his inventory even greater with one other flashy efficiency within the shiny lights on Friday night time.
Jackson Woodard (7) has spectacular instincts for a comparatively inexperienced participant, recording 114 tackles with an eye-popping 17 tackles for loss this season. (Getty Images)
Darien PorterCB, 6-4, 200, Iowa State
NFL scouts are drawn to untapped potential like a moth to a flame, and Porter has actually confirmed that, rising as one of many Big 12’s finest cornerbacks after spending the primary half of his faculty profession as a large receiver and on particular groups. A 12 months in the past, Porter’s greatest declare to fame was the truth that he recorded three blocked kicks at Iowa State. This season, he is proven the identical playmaking expertise as a cornerback, hauling in three interceptions and already incomes an invite to the distinguished Senior Bowl.
As you would possibly suspect, given his large 6-foot-4 body, Porter is at his finest in shut quarters in press protection, utilizing his lengthy arms to corral receivers on the line of scrimmage. He’s surprisingly easy in reverse, turning his hips simply and operating step-for-step with receivers downfield. Porter’s agility additionally reveals in his downhill closing pace. Additionally, he may very effectively find yourself with the longest arms of any cornerback measured at this 12 months’s mix, demonstrating the power to guard receivers from the ball, even when in a deprived place. Opposing quarterbacks have discovered it almost not possible to finish passes in opposition to Porter this season. In reality, in accordance with Pro Football Focus, Porter allowed simply three first-down receptions all 12 months and didn’t enable a single landing.
Iowa State will face an explosive Arizona State offense on Saturday (midday ET); one who has scored not less than 30 factors in seven of 10 wins to this point this season. Scouts might be wanting to see if Porter can proceed his lockdown marketing campaign in 2024 in opposition to a proficient younger quarterback in Sam Leavitt, who has already thrown 21 touchdowns in opposition to simply 5 interceptions this season.
According to Pro Football Focus, Darien Porter has not allowed a single landing this season. (Getty Images)
Cameron WilliamsOT, 6-5, 335, Texas
Most of the gamers highlighted on this article are seniors with intensive enjoying expertise, however Williams, who entered the 2024 season with only one profession begin, is exclusive in additional methods than one.
Among essentially the most imposing gamers within the nation, the hulking Williams emerged as one of many nation’s finest offensive tackles, permitting simply three sacks on the quarterback on 449 passing performs. Now, a kind of sacks has been given as much as Georgia within the Bulldogs’ 30-15 rout of the Longhorns in Austin on Oct. 19, who will get their rematch on Saturday (4 p.m. ET) in opposition to arguably essentially the most dynamic go rush in faculty soccer. far more intriguing.
Williams might have the girth of a fridge, however he strikes like a person 50 kilos lighter. The Longhorns proper deal with is fast off the push and reveals spectacular lateral agility and steadiness. Like many taller tackles, Williams can rise barely through the slide, negating his energy and leaving him weak to counters. He must strengthen his method, however scouts are in love along with his optimistic aspect. Indeed, of all of the gamers talked about on this article, Williams is at the moment thought-about the No. 1 choose within the draft, exhibiting the shape that might earn the first-year starter a top-50 choice – or maybe even a first-round choose – if he had been to determine to go to the professionals a 12 months upfront.
Scouts are in love with the upside of Cameron Williams, who may work his means right into a first-round choice. (Getty Images)
Drew AllerQB, 6-5, 235, Pen State
As you’ve got absolutely realized by now, the 2025 quarterback class is missing in comparison with current bumper crops on the place. Allar is without doubt one of the few signal-callers with what it takes to excite scouts, and he is greater than “simply” a prototypical quarterback with a cannon for a proper arm. Allar’s 47-7 profession touchdown-to-interception ratio and large enchancment this season in completion proportion have caught the eye of even essentially the most conservative scouts.
Watch: Drew Allar throws a 59-yard TD go to Omari Evans
Allar signed with Penn State amid a lot fanfare, enjoying 10 video games as a real freshman. And whereas he earned loads of buzz a 12 months in the past by throwing 25 touchdowns in opposition to simply two interceptions, he accomplished simply 59.9 % of his passes and struggled in high-profile matchups in opposition to Ohio State, Michigan and Mississippi within the Peach Bowl , all Penn State Losses.
This season, nonetheless, Allar has made nice strides as a pocket passer, finishing 71.6 % of his passes. If the Nittany Lions need to have any probability of upsetting No. 1-ranked Oregon within the Big Ten Championship recreation (8 p.m. ET on Saturday), Allar should play like a future NFL starter. Quarterback-needy groups throughout the NFL are hoping he does precisely that.
Drew Allar has made nice strides as a pocket passer this season, finishing 71.6% of his passes. (Getty Images)
Elijah Roberts,DL, SMU6-4, 295
Even essentially the most informal soccer followers could also be acquainted with the aforementioned Allar, however except for scouts, few outdoors the ACC are doubtless acquainted with Roberts, a proficient rusher with 21 tackles for loss and 14 sacks recorded in his final two seasons.
Roberts signed along with his hometown Miami Hurricanes as a celebrated four-star recruit in 2020 however struggled to get constant enjoying time, transferring to SMU with 21 tackles and simply half a sack in three seasons on the U. He exploded for 37 stops, together with 13 for loss, and 10 sacks a 12 months in the past for the Mustangs, and has been considerably extra disruptive this 12 months than his admittedly mediocre stats (27 tackles, together with 10 for loss, and 4 sacks) he would counsel, commanding many doubles from his opponents.
The Mustangs enable Roberts to do some freelance work, permitting him to run from each the left and proper sides and sometimes from the two-point place. Regardless, he reveals a level of explosiveness that scouts will respect, demolishing potential blockers along with his leg drive and exhibiting an thrilling explosion to shut out. Opponents “really feel” Roberts as he performs with violence and craftiness, hitting blockers and ball carriers with lengthy, robust arms which have helped him document 4 pressured fumbles over the previous two seasons.
SMU enters the ACC Championship Game as a 2.5-point favourite, however many anticipate the extra acquainted Clemson to win on the line of scrimmage and provides coach Dabo Swinney his ninth ACC title. Roberts has proven a knack for taking part in his finest in SMU’s greatest video games so far. A breakout efficiency in opposition to the Tigers on Saturday night time (8 p.m. ET) may give him the momentum wanted to contend for a Top 100 choice subsequent spring.
Since transferring from Miami, Elijah Roberts has racked up 21 tackles for loss and 14 sacks over the previous two seasons at SMU. (Getty Images)
Rob Rang is an NFL Draft analyst for FOX Sports. He has been masking the NFL Draft for greater than 20 years, working at FOX, Sports Illustrated, CBSSports.com, USA Today, Yahoo, NFL.com and NFLDraftScout.com, amongst others. He additionally works as a scout with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. Follow him on Twitter @RobRang.
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