NFL Draft 2013: What College Players to Watch Today
Skipped this exercise last week because the slate was so poor. This week, we’re going to highlight all three games between undefeated teams. If you missed the other September posts on the subject: the first week; week two and week three.
LSU at Florida, 3:30 pm, CBS
We’ve covered both teams before. You’ll want to keep an eye on LSU’s terrible defensive line twosome, Sam Montgomery & Barkevious Mingo. The latter – who I said reminds me of LT, and was profiled by SI.com this week – could go first overall in the the draft. Toss in DT Bennie Logan – who feels like a 2nd or 3rd round pick in a deep class; Mel Kiper loves him – and the LSU line should be the difference in this one. I don’t see Florida being able to run, so I took the Tigers -2.5.
LSU defensive back Eric Reid, who right now looks like the 1st safety that will be taken in the draft, has the skills and size (6-2, 210) to go in the late first round. If you get through the title game against Alabama – not his best performance – there’s plenty good on this tape:
Safe to say all the Mettenberger preseason hype was just that. He’s nowhere near ready for the pros. Hell, it isn’t out of the realm that if LSU struggles here and in the on the month ahead – the schedule is rough – Les Miles could turn to a backup.
Georgia at South Carolina, 7 pm, ESPN
Jarvis Jones, probably the best LB who will be in the 2013 draft, will be meeting another star, SC RB Marcus Lattimore, in the running lanes all night. Lattimore will probably be the best running back in the draft, but he’s still not 100 percent after last year’s injury. (Also of concern: His workload as a freshman.)
The other two Georgia defenders to keep an eye on: 360-pound John Jenkins on the interior – he’s off to a great start – and Alec Ogletree, a linebacker who has an arrest under his belt, and broke his foot last year, but looked very good against Tennessee last week with 14 tackles. Jenkins (along with Jones) had a monster game against Missouri:
Why no mention of South Carolina star Jadeveon Clowney? Sure, he might be the best defensive player in college football, but he’s only a sophomore. But yes, If I did a 2014 mock draft, he’d be No. 1, maybe followed by two WRs – Sammy Watkins of Clemson and Marquise Lee of USC.
West Virginia at Texas, 7 pm, FOX
Geno, Geno, Geno. It’s all about Geno Smith. The Heisman leader has been clinical through the first month of the season putting up astronomical numbers. Not to be the pump-the-brakes guy, but can we at least see him against a real defense this year? (Yes, I know what he did vs. LSU – 38-of-64, 463 yards, but it wasn’t a dominant performance.) Smith is going to be facing two Top 60 picks in next year’s draft – DEs Jackson Jeffcoat and Alex Okafor. The Texas defense, as chronicled here, hasn’t been impressive this year, so sure, Smith could blow up for another 400 yards and five TDs. Are we seeing another meteoric QB rise, like RG3 last year, or just another B12 QB putting up Arena League numbers? There isn’t another real defense on the schedule. Would love to see Smith vs. Alabama/LSU in the title game. Mel Kiper put Geno Smith 14th on his big board this week; Todd McShay 2nd.
Smith’s top target will be 5-foot-9 Tavon Austin, who caught 11 passes for 187 yards in last year’s game, including a 72-yarder that led to a score. This year, he’s 3rd in the country in receptions (48), 7th in yards (560), and tied for 2nd in TDs (7). It’ll be interesting to see where Austin goes in the draft. What’s the market for 5-foot-9, 175-pound receivers?

- LeBron James’ Game-Winning Lay Up at the Buzzer in Overtime While Roy Hibbert Sat on the Bench [Video]
- Paul George Hit a Ridiculous 3 to Send it Into Overtime After Throwing the Ball Away Moments Earlier [Video]
- Paul George Wore Aqua Pants and a Green, Amoeba-Pattered Dress Shirt to Game 1 in Miami
- Shane Battier Kneed Roy Hibbert in the Balls [Video]
- Chuck Norris Wants a NFL Team to Sign Tim Tebow Because He is a Winner Like Chuck Norris

- knifeyspoony on Paul George Wore Aqua Pants and a Green, Amoeba-Pattered Dress Shirt to Game 1 in Miami
- wildcat1144 on LeBron James' Game-Winning Lay Up at the Buzzer in Overtime While Roy Hibbert Sat on the Bench [Video]
- resolutedefense on Paul George Wore Aqua Pants and a Green, Amoeba-Pattered Dress Shirt to Game 1 in Miami
- resolutedefense on Paul George Wore Aqua Pants and a Green, Amoeba-Pattered Dress Shirt to Game 1 in Miami
- A.P. on Paul George Wore Aqua Pants and a Green, Amoeba-Pattered Dress Shirt to Game 1 in Miami
17 Responses to “NFL Draft 2013: What College Players to Watch Today”
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October 6th, 2012 at 3:42 PM
You may have mentioned him in a previous post like this, but keep an eye out for Devin Taylor with SC. He will be going against a true freshman RT and could have a big game. As a Dawg fan he concerns me more than Clowney.
October 6th, 2012 at 3:46 PM
So is this the afternoon post or are you going to put up 50 others.
PSU scored the final 22 points, ballin. Best team in the B1G.
October 6th, 2012 at 4:09 PM
put up highlights/interesting things as they happen.
Lions have turned things around, indeed. How about Army over BC?
October 6th, 2012 at 4:14 PM
So is this the afternoon post or are you going to put up 50 others.
put up highlights/interesting things as they happen.
I was wondering the same. Not a criticism, just that it is very noticeable. Hard for us lazy commenters to congregate in one post and mock each other’s teams.
How about Army over BC?
I read that here earlier in the week. Was that Ty or you? Either way, nice pick.
UT/WVa is going to be interesting. T. Tech isn’t shying away from Bummer Sooner.
October 6th, 2012 at 4:34 PM
Florida and LSU have some terrible offensive lines
October 6th, 2012 at 4:59 PM
BC was the most public play of the day. Wish I had played army. I took Indiana + a lot
October 6th, 2012 at 5:06 PM
Guessing thats the beginning of the end for Spaziani.
SEC is tough to watch, these qb’s are terrible.
October 6th, 2012 at 5:08 PM
LSU take over inside the 10, burns 2 TOs, has to settle for a FG. Geez that’s depressing
October 6th, 2012 at 5:21 PM
You don’t understand Les Miles. This is the guy who threw away the title game against Bama rather than turn to a backup QB. LSU’s season will go down in flames due to its lack of a QB and lack of a head coach who understands that the QB position is essential to an offense.
October 6th, 2012 at 5:25 PM
Let’s ask Steve Smith.
October 6th, 2012 at 5:45 PM
These teams are an embarrassment
October 6th, 2012 at 5:52 PM
Arizona-Stanford is by far the most entertaining game of the afternoon. 34-33 heading into the fourth.
October 6th, 2012 at 5:54 PM
I understand great defenses but these offenses are unwatchable
October 6th, 2012 at 5:58 PM
I love the announcer on the Arizona-Stanford game:
“If Arizona wants to win this game, it’s gonna have to outscore Stanford.”
Really? Is that how this game works?! Wow, what insight.
October 6th, 2012 at 6:00 PM
“If Arizona wants to win this game, it’s gonna have to outscore Stanford.”
Learned from the
greatest andfattest, Madden.October 6th, 2012 at 6:16 PM
1-0 Oakland, top 1. Leadoff homer by coco crisp
October 6th, 2012 at 6:56 PM
LSUs defense highly overrated. Can’t tackle anyone.
And that qb, yuck.