North Carolina State vs. Clemson 12PM EST
ESPN GP
A tough ACC contest from the league's Atlantic
Division. Some terrific match-ups on the line of scrimmage and in the
secondary. Both teams have linemen making
big moves up draft boards.
Possibly no senior defensive tackle has
improved his draft stock this season as much as North Carolina State's DeMarcus Tyler. A quick thumper on the inside, Tyler has been dominant displaying
the ability to take over games. And though not playing as well as his
teammate, DeMario Pressley also shows a great amount of ability. Tyler
is headed into the draft's initial 45 selections while Pressley, only a junior, has top 60 potential.
Clemson's Nathan Bennett has been
one of the top run blocking guards in the nation. A mauler in the middle,
Bennett has annihilated the opposition all season. Next to him Dustin Fry
is a workman like center with a terrific understanding of the position.
Bennett and Frye are middle round choices.
In the passing game Clemson's Chansi Stuckey
played well last week, only his second
game of the past five weeks. A solid receiver with ability as a return
specialist, Stuckey grades out as a middle round choice. Saturday he faces
A.J. Davis who struggled mightily last week against Calvin Johnson of Georgia Tech. Graded as a fourth rounder coming into the season, scouts have been disappointed
with Davis as of late but he now has a chance to redeem himself against Stuckey.
Michigan vs Indiana 3:30PM EST ESPN
A revived Hoosier football program needs just
one victory in the season's last two games to become bowl eligible. They
hope to rebound after the trouncing they took against Minnesota last week.
Wolverine cornerback Leon Hall is having a
sensational senior campaign and positioning himself as a top ten selection in
next April's draft.
Indiana's star receiver James Hardy has his
game back on track after missing two contests earlier this season with a
personnel problem. Offering outstanding size, Hardy is a terrific red zone
target and has posted eight touchdown's in the past four games.
South Carolina vs. Florida 3:30PM EST
CBS
Several outstanding match-ups in the secondary
to watch in this SEC showdown which marks Steve Spurrier's return to Gainesville.
Sidney Rice, South Carolina's dominant
sophomore receiver with first round ability, was hot and cold early in the
season yet has come on lately. A tall, gangly pass catcher, Rice is fluid
with natural receiving skills.
The Gators counter with a pair of top defensive
backs.
Junior safety Reggie Nelson is flying up draft
boards. A ball hawk in centerfield, Nelson possesses outstanding cover
skills and will get consideration at cornerback in the NFL. If Nelson
enters the draft he is a top 45 choice.
Teammate Reggie Lewis grades a few rounds later
but the cornerback has shown flashes of skill this season and has enough talent
to make an NFL roster.
Multi-talented Syvelle Newton, a
prospect with great athletic numbers, will be used at safety this week.
Newton, who was really coming into his own at receiver earlier this year, was
forced to play quarterback after the suspension of starter Blake Mitchell.
With Mitchell returning to the line-up and the Gamecocks stacked at receiver,
the multi-purpose Newton tries to fill another hole on the team.
All this moving around is not helping Newton's
draft stock. Considered a potential first day pick, he's fallen into the
middle rounds as he has not developed at one position.
Alabama vs LSU 7:45PM EST ESPN
A classic SEC battle with a history favoring
the visiting team. Alabama could redeem its' poor play the past few weeks
with a win.
LSU junior Glenn Dorsey is moving up draft
boards and presently ranks as a top 75 choice. Chase Pittman is a solid
pass rusher for the Tigers who holds a middle round grade. Both should
feast on a disappointing Alabama offensive line.
Offensive tackle Kyle Tatum
has been rotated throughout the season and this one-time middle round pick is
watching his draft stock plummet. Ken Darby, the running back who many
thought could fit into the draft's first round, is also dropping down draft
boards because of a disappointing senior campaign.
One player on the rise is quarterback JaMarcus Russell. LSU's fire-armed passer is having a terrific season, improving
all facets of his game. There are many in the scouting community who rank
Russell above Louisville's Brian Brohm at the nation's top junior
NFL-quarterback prospect.