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jreff22
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5 Matchups to Know
5. Martez Ivey (Guard, Florida) vs. Mo Hurst (Defensive Tackle, Michigan)
Power vs. power in this one. The Florida offensive line should be a strength, but the Michigan defensive line is the best unit on the team. Mo Hurst is a powerful, quick interior lineman and will likely see plenty of matchups against Martez Ivey. Ivey ranks as the top guard prospect for the 2018 draft on my early list.
4. Jonah Williams (Tackle, Alabama) vs. Josh Sweat (Defensive End, Florida State)
Left tackle Jonah Williams isn't 2018 draft eligible as a true sophomore, but that doesn't mean we can't focus on how he fares against the speedy Josh Sweat, who is draft eligible now. Sweat has the length and speed to test Williams as he makes his first start at left tackle after moving over from the right side to replace Cam Robinson.
3. Calvin Ridley (Wide Receiver, Alabama) vs. Tarvarus McFadden (Cornerback, Florida State)
The Alabama/FSU game is one I'll watch probably 15 times this season because of the talent on the field. The premier matchup of draft-eligible players will happen outside the hashes when Calvin Ridley and Tarvarus McFadden find themselves lined up across from each other. Ridley has game-changing skills, but McFadden was college football's best ball hawk at cornerback last year. This will be a great battle all night.
2. Josh Allen (Quarterback, Wyoming) vs. Josey Jewell (Linebacker, Iowa)
Josh Allen is the presumed No. 1 quarterback for the 2018 class, but to keep that spot he has to cut down on mistakes and improve his decision-making. Attempting to stop Allen will be an All-America candidate at linebacker in Josey Jewell. Allen is a tremendous athlete, so it will be interesting to watch Jewell and the Iow defense attempt to track him down.
1. Josh Rosen (Quarterback, UCLA) vs. Armani Watts (Safety, Texas A&M)
As mentioned above, Rosen makes his return to college football against a team that beat the hell out of him last year. Safety Armani Watts will be shadowing Rosen's eyes all game. How well Rosen looks throwing deep routes and bouncing back from big hits will tell us plenty about the state of his shoulder.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2730661-matt-millers-scouting-notebook-which-college-teams-have-the-most-nfl-talent
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jreff22
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Matt Miller's Scouting Notebook: Which College Teams Have the Most NFL Talent?
10. Georgia Bulldogs
Good luck finding a running back depth chart that's better than this one. The Bulldogs have two proven backs in Sony Michel and Nick Chubb behind a good young (non-draft eligible) quarterback in Jacob Eason. The talent on both lines is also solid, but it's senior pass-rusher Lorenzo Carter who might be the first Georgia player drafted.
Key Players: RB Nick Chubb, RB Sony Michel, LB Lorenzo Carter, DT Trenton Thompson, CB Aaron Davis, CB Malkom Parrish, DE Jonathan Ledbetter, LB Natrez Patrick, LB Davin Bellamy, G Isaiah Wynn, OT Kendall Baker, TE Jeb Blazevich
9. Auburn Tigers
Baylor transfer quarterback Jarrett Stidham has the scouting world talking. If he hits on his massive potential, the Tigers will have another first-rounder under center. It helps that Stidham has a potential All-American, Braden Smith, protecting him on a sound offensive line.
Key Players: QB Jarrett Stidham, OL Braden Smith, C Austin Golson, DE Byron Cowart, K Daniel Carlson, LB Tre' Williams, RB Kamryn Pettway, DB Jason Smith
8. LSU Tigers
When you scout LSU you pretty much know going in that you'll see a great running back, some good offensive linemen, a dominant pass-rusher or two and at least one NFL player in the secondary. That's what we get this year, too. LSU has two of the top 10 players in the nation in Derrius Guice and Arden Key.
Key Players: DE Arden Key, RB Derrius Guice, CB Kevin Toliver II, CB Ed Paris, DT Christian LaCouture, DT Frank Herron, FB J.D. Moore, G William Clapp, OT Toby Weathersby, RB Darrel Williams, WR D.J. Chark, TE Foster Moreau
7. Michigan Wolverines
Jim Harbaugh hasn't been able to secure a Big 10 title yet, but his Michigan teams are consistently churning out a high number of draft picks. Last year's group alone had 11 draft picks. This year could push double digits as well. Here's a reminder that star defensive lineman Rashan Gary isn't draft-eligible yet, and much of the starting lineup consists of freshmen and sophomores.
Key Players: DL Maurice Hurst, OT Mason Cole, C Patrick Kugler, FB Khalid Hill, LB Mike McCray, QB Wilton Speight, QB John O'Korn, RB Ty Isaac, TE Ian Bunting, LB Chase Winovich
6. USC Trojans
Quarterback Sam Darnold leads another explosive, talented group of Trojans into the 2018 draft. This is still a young roster with many key contributors not draft eligible under the three-year rule. Running back Ronald Jones might be my favorite under-the-radar player in the entire country.
Key Players: QB Sam Darnold, RB Ronald Jones II, DE Porter Gustin, LB Cameron Smith, C Toa Lobendahn, CB Iman Marshall, DT Rasheem Green, G Viane Talamaivao, S Chris Hawkins, S Marvell Tell III, TE Tyler Petite, WR Deontay Burnett, WR Steven Mitchell Jr.
5. Florida State Seminoles
The Seminoles are a young bunch full of talent and potential, but there is also a group of players—especially on defense—with legitimate Round 1 skills. There's a reason FSU is ranked No. 3 overall heading into the season.
Key Players: S Derwin James, CB Tarvarus McFadden, DE Josh Sweat, DT Derrick Nnadi, DE Jacob Pugh, OL Rick Leonard, DT Demarcus Christmas, LB Matthew Thomas, LB Ro'Derrick Hoskins, T Brock Ruble, RB Jacques Patrick, S Trey Marshall, TE Ryan Izzo
4. Clemson Tigers
The defending national champs lost key offensive playmakers in quarterback Deshaun Watson, receiver Mike Williams, running back Wayne Gallman and tight end Jordan Leggett. But they come back strong in 2017 with a defense that should terrify the ACC and an offensive line talented enough to carry the team early. It's worth noting that one of the most dominant players in the nation plays for Clemson but isn't draft-eligible. We'll talk plenty about defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence next season.
Key Players: DT Christian Wilkins, DE Clelin Ferrell, WR Deon Cain, CB Mark Fields, CB Marcus Edmond, CB Ryan Carter, DE Austin Bryant, DT Albert Huggins, LB Kendall Joseph, LB Dorian O'Daniel, OG Tyrone Crowder, OT Mitch Hyatt, S Van Smith
3. Washington Huskies
Despite losing talented secondary members Kevin King, Sidney Jones and Budda Baker to the NFL last season (as well as receiver John Ross and defensive tackle Elijah Qualls), U-Dub has another stacked roster on both sides of the ball. The college talent is better than the draft prospects of many, which could propel Washington to a College Football Playoff berth.
Key Players: DT Vita Vea, LB Azeem Victor, LB Keishawn Bierria, C Coleman Shelton, DT Greg Gaines, LB Connor O'Brien, OT Trey Adams, P Tristan Vizcaino, QB Jake Browning, RB Myles Gaskin, RB Lavon Coleman, S JoJo McIntosh, TE Drew Sample, WR Dante Pettis, WR Brayden Lenius
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama fell short in the national title game last season but still put 10 players into the 2017 NFL draft. That's an impressive number, but most impressive is that all were drafted in the first four rounds, and four were first-rounders. Nick Saban knows how to build a roster, and the Crimson Tide are once again loaded with NFL talent.
Key Players: S Minkah Fitzpatrick, S Ronnie Harrison, WR Calvin Ridley, CB Anthony Averett, DT Da'Ron Payne, C Bradley Bozeman, G J.C. Hassenauer, CB Tony Brown, DT Da'Shawn Hand, DT Joshua Frazier, LB Christian Miller, LB Shaun Dion Hamilton, LB Rashaan Evans, G Ross Pierschbacher, P JK Scott, RB Bo Scarbrough, RB Damien Harris, S Hootie Jones, WR Robert Foster, WR Cam Sims
1. Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State had seven players drafted last year—six of those in the first three rounds—but is once again loaded on both sides of the ball. Head coach Urban Meyer is an elite recruiter, schemer and developer. The Buckeyes are strong at defensive line, linebacker, cornerback and on the offensive line this season.
Key Players: LB Jerome Baker, CB Denzel Ward, DT Dre'Mont Jones, C Billy Price, DE Sam Hubbard, RB Mike Weber, CB Damon Arnette, CB Kendall Sheffield, DE Tyquan Lewis, DE Jalyn Holmes, DT Michael Hill, LB Dante Booker, LB Chris Worley, OT Jamarco Jones, QB J.T. Barrett, S Damon Webb, S Erick Smith, TE Marcus Baugh