Wild Card Preview…Another Common Cowboys L? – DraftID Podcast
5. Will Levis vs Will Rogers | Kentucky QB/Miss State QB
#22 Kentucky vs #16 Mississippi State | SECN 7:30 pm EST
Big Board: 22 vs 43
There’s no guarantee that Kentucky’s Will Levis will return this weekend from his mysterious left foot injury that held him out of last week’s game, but he has been an active participant in practice this week. Levis has been a breakout star in college football that has received hype from the media that has gone as far as saying he is in the running to be selected 1st overall. Regardless of the hype, Levis sits at 22 on my big board and QB4 in the class.
On the other side, Mississippi State QB Will Rogers has been a dark-horse favorite of mine that continues to boost his stock week after week. Rogers continues to make the hard throws look easy and leads the nation in passing yards (2,110) and is 2nd in TDs (22). Levis continues to be slept on likely due to his simplified air raid offense, but you can’t knock the QB who has been making NFL throws on all three levels. If you’re a fan of evaluating QBs, then this is the game for you.
4. O’Cyrus Torrence | Florida, IOL
LSU @ Florida | ESPN 7:00 pm EST
Big Board: 26
One of my favorite players to watch this season has been the road grater, O’Cyrus Torrence. The 6’5″ 347 lbs mauler has been one of the best run blockers in college football, but offers an incredibly blended and modern skillset that NFL scouts love. In his 1,318 career pass blocking snaps, Torrence has never allowed a sack and has allowed just 19 pressures. The ULL transfer has shined at the P5 level this year and currently ranks as my top rated interior lineman in the class. He will have his hands full this weekend, as he faces one of the best defensive lines in the country.
3. Joey Porter Jr. | Penn State, CB
#10 Penn State @ #5 Michigan | Fox 12:00pm EST
Big Board: 5
My top CB has been lockdown all season and continues to put out impressive tape, game after game. On 173 of his coverage snaps, Joey Porter Jr. has been targeted 22 times but has allowed just 89 yards, with 66 of those yards coming week 1 against Purdue. If you really want to nitpick, one glaring knock against Porter Jr.’s stats this season is the level of QB play that Penn State has faced. So far, the Nittany Lions have faced Purdue, Ohio, Auburn, Central Michigan and Northwestern. Outside of Purdue’s Aidan O’Connell, no other QB they have faced will have as much as a cup of coffee in the NFL. This week, things change as Penn State will travel to Ann Arbor to face breakout QB JJ McCarthy, who likely will be in the mix at the top of the 2024 QB class next year. Outside of watching Joey Porter Jr., I am looking forward to seeing how McCarthy handles Penn State’s extremely impressive pass rush, headlined by fellow 2024 big time prospect Edge Chop Robinson. Also keep an eye on Michigan RB Blake Corum, who should see one of his bigger tests of the season.
2. Quinten Johnston | TCU, WR
#8 Oklahoma State @ #13 TCU | ABC 3:30pm EST
Big Board: 42
Last week, it seemed that the traitsy WR had the breakout performance that we have all been waiting for this season. TCU handled business in their second straight game against a top 20 opponent, in which Johnston was heavily featured with 14 receptions for 206 yards and a TD. Big performances are no new thing for the Junior, as it was his 6th career game crossing the century mark. Johnston has been praised for his size, speed and athleticism, but one thing that has been missing is consistency. I am eager to see if Johnston can put together another big time performance against a top 10 opponent, which could vault him back into the conversation of being at the top of this class. However, I have seen far too many times where an NFL team falls in love with the upside of an inconsistent stud because they are a physical specimen.
1. CB Clark Phillips vs WR Jordan Addison | Utah & USC
#20 Utah vs #7 USC | 8:00pm EST FOX
Big Board: 34 vs 7
We are going to look back on this game in the spring and say it was the best 1v1 matchup of draft prospects all season. My top rated WR, Jordan Addison, travels to Utah this weekend to face my CB4 Clark Phillips III. Both prospects have had a tremendous start to their 2022 season and rank at the top of the nation statistically.
Jordan Addison has made a seamless transition following his transfer from Pittsburgh. Through half of the regular season, he has recorded 32 receptions for 479 yards and 6 TDs. Clark Phillips III leads the nation with 5 interceptions through just 6 games and has showcased some of the best ball skills in the country. He has graded out with a defensive grade of 90.7 on PFF, which ranks 1st among defensive backs in the entire country. This will be one of the best matchups of the season.
Game of the Week
#6 Tennessee vs #3 Alabama | 3:30pm EST CBS
This is going to be a fun one. We have been seeing poor Tennessee tossed around by the Crimson Tide for years, with the last Vols’ Victory happening in 2006. This year would extend the streak to 16 straight for Alabama and that is exactly what I predict will happen. (Semi) Hot Take…Alabama wins this one by double digits and the fun season Tennessee has pieced together will crumble. Regardless of the score or what side you stand on, you can absolutely appreciate the NFL talent that will be playing in this one.
Since 2011, Alabama has produced at least 7 NFL draft picks per season. This year should continue that trend, which is headlined by Heisman winning QB Bryce Young, who likely will return this week from injury. Other weapons to watch include RB Jahmyr Gibbs, WR Traeshon Holden and WR Jermaine Burton. The defensive side of the ball is headlined by our top overall prospect, Edge Will Anderson, but has plenty of depth as well. I am high on LB Henry To’oTo’o and S Jordan Battle, who both continue to impress me week after week. Nickel CB Brian Branch has been feisty this year and could earn a draftable grade. DT DJ Dale has been a steady force from the inside for several years now and may also hear his name called. A couple other young emerging studs to watch out for are 2024 prospects CB Kool-Aid McKinstry and OLB Dallas Turner.
Tennessee’s much improved offense has had several guys rise up draft boards this season. Veteran QB Hendon Hooker has outperformed any and all expectations this year, but will the soon-to-be 25 year old scare away teams with his late development? The Vols pair of WRs, Cedric Tillman and Jalin Hyatt, have both performed extremely well and worked themselves into top 100 grades. Lastly, RB Jabari Smalls continues to pound the rock and rise up my Big Board.
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