September 9, 2025 • 32 mins
John Schmeelk and Tony Pauline recap all of the college football games over the weekend, Tony gives his preseason rankings on offense, and they preview this weekend’s big matchups.
:00 - Illinois vs Duke
3:45 - Michigan vs Oklahoma
7:30 - Arizona State vs Mississippi State
9:40 - Quarterbacks
14:30 - Running backs
18:10 - Tight ends
20:00 - Wide receivers
22:40 - Offensive line
28:40 - Week 3 preview
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
It is now officially open.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
This is Draft Season presented by Moodie's, a proud partner
of the New York Giants. I am John Schmelk. Welcome everybody,
joined by Tony Pauline. As we headed through college football week,
I guess what it's like two and a half? Is
it a week zero, whatever you want to call it, Tony,
But not quite as exciting as Week one. So we
will review some of those games. But today we're gonna
do Tony's preseason rankings on the offensive side of the
(00:32):
ball for all the offensive line and the skill position
players and the quarterbacks.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
Tony, how'd you enjoy your weekend? My friend?
Speaker 3 (00:38):
It was good.
Speaker 4 (00:39):
I mean, it was kind of a spotty Saturday schedule
on the college football slate. Not too many really good games,
not too many good matchups. I guess starting in week
three or this Saturday, we'll start to get more interconference
matchups games which will make things a little bit more exciting.
We'll start to see teams really pair off, or so
(01:00):
top teams play one another, compared to what we saw
at least this pass out of it.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Yeah, we had some upsets.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Florida with the big loss last week they take on
LSU this week, so we'll keep an eye on that
moving forward as we start to heading down into these
conference schedules for the SEC and obviously the Big Ten
and the Big Twelve and the ACC. All right, Tony,
let's talk about some of the games that happened this
week first, and you want to start with the matchup.
I was surprised by Illinois and Duke. What has you
(01:27):
pumped up about what happened in that game?
Speaker 4 (01:29):
You know, I mean the score is not really indicative
of the game in the sense that it was a
very close game. Really through the third quarter Duke, the
receivers could not make plays. They were dropping passes through
a couple of bad interceptions. But there are some really
good pro prospects to watch, surprisingly on Duke, who lost
the game by more than three touchdowns. Ryan Parker, their
right tackle, who is everybody's favorite offensive lineman or one
(01:53):
of the favorite offensive linemen right now in the scouting community.
You know, we know Duke, we see their history. They
put a lot of good offense of lineman into the league.
Brian Parker is going to be next. He's a fundamentally sound,
smart right tackle. He projects to guard or at least
I have him as a guard. Some people have him
at center right now. You talk to people in the
(02:13):
league who will talk about him are scouts. They're talking
third round for Brian Parker, and there's a lot of
upside in his game. So keep an eye on Brian Parker.
The right tackle for Duke moving forward. Vincent Anthony, the
edge rusher, had two and a half sacks two and
a half tackles for loss against the left tackle Case
(02:33):
Davis of Illinois. He's a taller, thin edge rusher, more
of a stand up guy, but he's athletic, he can
bend the edge. He's kind of got late round grades
from scouts right now because they're not too sure of
his speed, but he's football fast and he makes a
lot of plays. And finally from Illinois, Xavier Scott the
defensive back. Didn't have great stats, but he's constantly around
(02:54):
the ball. Played cornerback last year where I had him
as a third round pick, moved to safety. He's really
done well transitioning to the safety position. Terrific ball skills.
And you know, with the way we talk about Duke
with offensive lineman, Illinois had a lot of really good
defensive backs come out of that program the past couple
of drafts, and I think Xavier Scott's the next one.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Yeah, Devin Witherspoon one of them. They've had a couple
of safeties comeouts. They've had some pretty good corners and safeties. Absolutely, Tony.
It will only remind me they have a good edge rusher.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
If I'm not mistaken, Tony coming out of correct gay Jackis.
He's a good pass rusher. He's like sixty three and
seventy pounds. Is he a defensive end?
Speaker 3 (03:33):
Is he is? He got it?
Speaker 4 (03:34):
You're gonna stick and side on a four man line?
Is he like a three technique tackle? He's a real
good football player. Actually caused the fumble. I'll cause the
turnover late in the game, I'm sorry. Towards the end
of the first half after he was kind of non
existent and he was basically being held at bay by
Brian Parker.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
They didn't have a lot of pass rush.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
But Gabe Jackis is the guy who could be a
late Day two pick as of right now.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
Another big game this week was Michigan and Oklahoma.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Tony front of the program, Jim Naggy now basically the
general manager, for that Oklahoma program. Big win against Michigan,
who made a little bit of a run late in
that game, but Oklahoma managed to hold them off thanks
in part to the player, their quarterback, John Mattier.
Speaker 4 (04:12):
Very impressed with Mattier twenty seven to thirty four, two
hundred and seventy yards passing, one interception, one touchdown. But
he was smart, He made good decisions. He shows terrific
mobility with.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
He can move Tony, That's what got me. His pocket
mobility is really impressive.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
Makes a lot of place in and outside the pocket,
and you like the fact when he's outside the pocket,
he's keeping his eyes downfield looking for receivers, can pick
up yardage with his legs. Made a lot of difficult throws.
I think the one thing about Matier that's kind of
a red flag for me is the accuracy the pass placer.
His passes are sailing high receivers. Sometimes he's throwing behind
(04:49):
wide outs. That's got to be fixed. That has a
lot to do with footwork sometimes. But again, Mattier, who
was one of the more high profile transfers you know
in the off season in the college off season. For
his first game in the national spotlight, you know, against
a big program like Michigan at home in Norman, Oklahoma.
I thought he did a really good job.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
And then he impressed and then and then one of
his wide receivers, Dion Burk's also impressed here, right Tony.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
I impressed scouts as well. I mean, Deon Burks came
into the season with mid date two grades. He's a
little bit of a smaller guy, five to nine and
a half one hundred and eighty two pounds, but he
is explosive. He's quick, he's got a great first step.
Seven receptions one hundred and one yards one TV. I
think he only played like five games last year if
you want to go back and look, because it was
an injury. He's a shorter guy, but he catches the
(05:36):
ball well. He plays big football. He doesn't play like
a smaller receiver. He fights to come away with that
those contested grabs, and he's just incredibly explosive. And I mean,
you know, now he's gonna be Mateer's favorite receiver.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
So this is a good combo.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
Look, you know, moving forward through the twenty twenty five
college seasons and Dion Burks saud be shocked if he's
not into it, it doesn't enter the draft, and there's
a lot to like it. I'm sort of a slot
receiver return specialist for the next level.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
And Tony, I'm not sure how good Michigan is going
to be this year, but they always have some players
upfront that in pressed scouts.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
Evan Link the left tackle, number seventy one, just keep
an eye on them for game purposes. Oklahoma's got a
couple of really good pass rushers. They had one sack.
Each guy had a half a sack. He's a big guy,
he's mobile, he plays with tremendous fundamentals. If you read
my preview of Michigan the Michigan prospects over the summer
(06:30):
at sports Skida, I talked about him as being the
next top rated offensive lineman for Michigan. I gave him
a second round grade. What I saw Saturday is a
guy that could sneak into the late part of round one.
So Evan Link the next really good offensive lineman to
come from Michigan. Only a red shirt sophomore, So keep
an eye on him, the left tackle there.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
Yeah, and Tony, Look, Michigan's got have to figure out
that quarterback situation. They have a young player there that
they're trying to bring along. He's a good athlete, but
as a passer. You know, Michigan can challenge for national
championships when they have good quarterbacks. It's no surprising they
won their national title when they JJ McCarthy ended up
being a first round pick. But they just had I
think a lot of trouble finding guys to fill that
(07:11):
spot consistently, which has really held the program back.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
I mean, and it's two years now, right, it's been
since McCarthy graduated, because they had problems at the quarterback
last year. And you know, to your point, McCarthy was
a starter from its freshman year and just got better
and better and better, had that offensive line in front him.
A good coach at Jim Harbaugh. But yeah, you're exactly right,
and you know there was a lot of hullabaloo about
this freshman quarterback. You got to give them time. Of course,
(07:36):
we'll see what happens.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
All right.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
And I want to talk a little bit about the
Arizona State Mississippi State game. Arizona State had an unbelievable
drive at the end of that game.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
They run it. I think it was like a nine
or ten minute drive.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
They just pounded in for a touchdown that the Mississippi State
gets the ball back. They make one deep play, big,
big play down the field in the winner of the
game late to win that game at home against Arizona State.
But I think two players will talk a lot about
this year. Tony is the Arizona State quarterback Sam Levitt.
He did not play well in that game, just ten
of twenty two eighty two yards. As they mentioned, one touchdown,
(08:08):
two picks. They ended up running the ball a lot
to get that late score in that game. But I
more want to focus here Tony on Jordan Tyson, his
main targeted wide receiver. He had a monster week two
weeks ago. This week he was six for sixty eight
and one touchdown. He's double with some injuries in his career,
but I was really impressed with his tape over the summer.
I think he has a chance to elevate himself into
(08:31):
wide receiver. One conversation in this year's draft class, which
I think is pretty wide open.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
To be honest with you, I look at him as
like a Brandon Eyeu type in a sense that he's
not really big. Yep, he's not super fast, but he's smart,
he runs out standing rounds. He consistently separates from defenders,
especially in underneath coverage, and he catches everything. And if
you remember last year, you know when Arizona State made
that run, he wasn't there for the playoff game against
(08:57):
Texas where Arizona State almost when he was on the
sides with an injury. And if he was in that game,
there's a good chance that Arizona State would have beaten
Texas in that quarterfinal playoff game. But yeah, he's very
consistent wide receiver one. I think that's also a symptom
of the fact that this isn't a look on paper
anyway like a great receiver class yep. But he's very good.
(09:18):
I definitely can see him with decent testing numbers at
least squeezing into the late part of round one.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Yeah, that's something that we need to track, especially again
with with with a good quarterback like Levit, who we're
now going to talk about Tony in your quarterback rankings.
But first I don't remind everybody that draft season is
presented by Moody's a proud partner of the New York
Football Giants, uniting the brightest minds to turn today's risks
(09:44):
into tomorrow's opportunities. Learn more at Moody's dot com. All right, Tony,
let's turn to the quarterbacks. It's a high volume quarterback class.
I think you got a couple of players with high
end upside if they can get there.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
I don't think.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
They're there yet, but a lot of players to talk
about here that I think we'll be talking about as
potentially Day two draft.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
Picks or even Day one. I mean, listen, late day one.
I like the potential in this year's quarterback class. Now.
Speaker 4 (10:13):
I also said that about last year's quarterback class, which
didn't turn out good for the draft, although it looks
pretty good right now. You know, you look at Jalen Millroll,
Jackson's Arts, cam Wards, etcetera. I mean, everyone talked about
arch Manning at the end of the twenty twenty five draft.
We talked about that last week when I watched the
film over the summer, I said, if I had the
first pick of the draft and I needed a quarterback,
(10:34):
I'm taking Leonora Sellers of South Carolina. There's no question
in my mind. It's not the tallest guy, but he's
got a big, strong build. He's got a tremendous arm.
He can make all the throws. He can throw himself
out of trouble because of his arm strength. He's incredibly athletic.
He shows the ability to create grange, he shows the
ability to run over defenders, and.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
For the most part, he's smart. He doesn't make bad decisions.
Speaker 4 (10:58):
Leonardo Sells is a good passer, he's not a good
athlete trying to play the quarterback position. He needs to
improve his past placement a bit, needs to improve his accuracy,
sort of what I talked about with John McTeer of
Oklahoma earlier.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
But I love his upside.
Speaker 4 (11:10):
I like his game a lot right now, and I think,
you know, if you need a quarterback at the top
of the draft and the draft was held right now,
I'm going with Lenora Sellers. After that, I've got Drew Laar,
and people are gonna, you know, basically turn the show off.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
There.
Speaker 4 (11:24):
I said Drew Laar at number two. But when you
talk about the physical tools, Drew Lars got them all.
I mean, he makes some incredible pass passes. He's big,
he's a terrific pocket passer. He could throw the ball.
The problem is alar Is his best season was his
freshman season. He's sort of taking that Christian Hackenberg, if
you will, trajectory, and that he doesn't seem to progress
(11:46):
and say, in fact, he seems to regress at some
points and times. We talked about this before junior declaration
there a year ago. He made the best decision going
back to college. Whether he made the best decision to
go back to Penn State remains to be seen. They
should be in the national title and a lot is
riding not only on Penn State's national title shoulders on
(12:07):
for Jewel r but his NFL draft stock. I mean,
if he has the same sort of he's good and spurts,
he's gonna drop like a rock. But if he plays
to his potential, I mean he will rise with draft
boards because he's got all the physical tools. Then I
got Garrett, Garrett Nissemeyer of LSU, who from an intangible
point of view, from the point of view of seeing
(12:29):
the field, reading defenses, making proper choices, is a lot better.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
Than Jewel Lar.
Speaker 4 (12:33):
But he's small, he's not even six one two and
four pounds, doesn't have a great arm, doesn't have those
natural tools, those natural physical tools, but he's got it
going on between the ears.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Yeah, and then you go down.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
You we talked about Kay Clubnick and arch Manning last year.
Those are two guys, you know. Club Nick good athlete,
you know, has to worry about his pocket presence a
little bit. He airmailed a couple of balls last week.
Not the biggest guy, not the biggest arm but I
think he to me, Club Nicks, to me is a
guy that'll be a really good you know, backup, er
low and starter for a long time. And then even
after that Tony. A couple of guys we talked about today.
(13:07):
You have the transmitter of UCLA from Tennessee, Nico. You
have John Mattier. Fernando Mendoza is another big transfer of
people are big fans. But I mentioned Sam Levitt so
and then Carson Beck who we were talking about as
a first round pick before last year. So a lot
of it's a very deep class, a lot of quarterbacks
to talk about.
Speaker 4 (13:23):
Yeah, you mentioned Clubnick. I think my red flag for
Club Nick, who I liked a lot coming into the year,
was he showed great progress from twenty twenty three to
twenty twenty four, he kind of seems to have flat lined,
even regress a little bit the first couple of games.
And I know it's only a couple of games in
twenty twenty five, but that really is something that has
(13:43):
to be watched. Two guys to keep an eye on
Fernando Mendoza of Indiana transfer for how big guy, athletic guy,
strong on passer who can also make yardage, pick up
yordage with his legs, makes a lot of difficult throws.
Kind of got I asked people in that at the
Cal situation, at Cal program, what happened? They said he
(14:05):
had there was a constant change in the coaching staff,
offensive coordinators. He never really got settled. Well, now he's
with one of the best coaches in football in Indiana,
not just one of the best college because the best
coaches overall in football, and Kurt Signetti his game can
take off. Another name to keep an eye on, Taylor
(14:27):
Green of Arkansas six five and a half two and
twenty two pounds, runs in the four sixes, has the
arm strength to match next level arm that.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
Can make all the throws.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
If this guy can put it all together and really
go from athletes to passer, Tyland Green of Arkansas, I
believe we'll shoot up draft.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
Boards all right, Tony, I want to jump that over
to the running back group, which I think we're having
a second consecutive year with a very strong running back
class here, Tony, and you have a surprising name at
the top.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
Well, CJ.
Speaker 4 (14:58):
Baxter, who was injured in twenty twenty four, or you
watch him in that House State game. He was a
dominant interior runner who has the ability to turn the corner.
He's a terrific pass catcher out of the backfield, he's
an outstanding blocker.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
I think he's just a well rounded complete back.
Speaker 4 (15:13):
Now I'm basing it off of a little bit of
film from twenty twenty three and when I saw early
in twenty twenty five, so it's a bit of a risk.
But when you look at his size, you look at
his tools, you look at the versatility of his game.
I really like Baxter a lot. And then I have
him ranked slightly higher than Jeremiah Love of Notre Dame,
who everybody loves Jeremiah Love. And when Jeremiah Love is
(15:36):
on his game, he is a terrific running back. There's
no doubt about it. We saw it in the India
against Indiana in the playoffs. You know, he breaks the
long runs. He breaks games wide open.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
The problem with.
Speaker 4 (15:48):
Love is he's not a real feature back. He's not
a consistent back. If you look at the stats, he
carries the ball maybe twelve thirteen times, and he's up
and down. There's not a lot of say Ashton genty
a year ago, where Ashton genty basically carried Boise State.
You don't really you don't see that at all with
Jeremiah Love, which it's not a good thing, and I
(16:08):
don't know think it's a bettering, but it's not really
a good thing. It's not something that you're going to
take a quarterback really early, a running back really early
in round one. And then after that you got guys
like Penn State's got basically a thunder and lightning in
Nick Singleton, who is basically the lightning, a guy who
can turn the corner to past catch out of the backfield.
Kate tron Allen, who's more of the interior shortyard his
(16:28):
ball carrier. Those guys are Day two picks. Makai Hughes
of orc On, who's actually outplayed this weekend by Noah Whittington,
but Kai Hughes the Delane transfer a smaller creative runner,
multi cup ball carrier who strings multiple moves over the
course of a single run. Garius Taylor of Minnesota. Guy,
I really like I've got a third round great on
(16:49):
him right now, someone who has got the size to
run on the inside, but also has the quickness and
the agility to turn the corner and make defenders miss.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Just to give people an idea, I'm sorry, Tony, you're
do you want do you want to go?
Speaker 1 (17:00):
Come more?
Speaker 3 (17:01):
Guys? Go ahead now.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
I was go to say just a note, and you know,
Tony's pretty tough on his grades. Usually you have ten
players at the running back position with Day one or
two grades, and.
Speaker 4 (17:15):
They're all there's a versatility. Jim Miller, who's hurt from Alabama.
He's the guy that could go Day two. He's a
good and chier runner who catches the ball well. Demon
Clayborne of wake Forest will see him this week. I
believe Friday night, Wake Forest has got a big ball
game against North Carolina State. Really a quick, explosive guy
who could beat defenders into the open field. Justin Haynes
(17:35):
of Michigan more upside than actual guy. That's uh that
has added a lot of production. I talked about CJ. Baxter,
his teammate, conturbing Wisner. He's the home run threat. Wiser
is the guy that you know, if there's a bit
of room, he'll run the He'll beat defenders into the
open field and run the daylight. They're all different backs
to all backs that bring different skills and versatility to
(17:58):
the game. So if you want your third down back,
you'll be able to get it in a guy like
Makay Hughes. If you want your feature on it, you
can get it in a guy like CJ.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
Baxter.
Speaker 4 (18:06):
You know, if you want your guy that is a
situational spot starter, maybe Darius Taylor of Minnesota.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
So again, a very deep running back class. I think
we'll keep an eye on as we move forward here.
All right, Tony, let's shift our attention over to the
tight end spot.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Well.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
I don't think we're going to get a bunch of
first round tight ends like we've got the last couple
of years, but still some good players.
Speaker 4 (18:27):
I'd be shocked if you have a first tight end
go in the first round. I mean, maybe it's Max
Claire of Ohio State, who scouts really like a lot.
The transfer from Perdue, you saw I'm in that first
game against Texas a real good pass catcher, more of
a moved type of tight end, but he would have
to really pick up this game Elevators game to be
a first round pick. T We touched on Jack Injuries
(18:47):
of Texas to Cal transfer last week when we did
our review of the Texas Ohio State game. A guy
who I think is gonna be one of Arch Manning's
favorite targets. An athletic tight end that can get down
the field catches the ball well has done so for
three years the prior to years a Cal before moving
to Texas. Eli Stowers of Vanderbilt, the New Mexico State transfer,
(19:08):
has had a really good year at Mexico State New
Mexico State before transferring to Vanderbilt catches the bowwell doesn't
have great production, but I mean, he's the guy that
goes six two and a half two and forty pounds,
runs in the four sixes. Just needs to pick up
the production. Those are the only guys I have right
now that are greaded. His day two picks the rest
(19:28):
or the third day selections. Terrence Carter of Texas Tech
transferred from Louisiana, which basically ran the ball.
Speaker 3 (19:35):
He's an athletic guy. And now he goes to Texas Tech,
which likes to throw the ball around the field. A
lot wind there.
Speaker 4 (19:41):
Tight ends up in the slot, keep an eye on him,
Ken John si Dieke of Oregon. A lot of people
like him. I want to see him take over for
Terrence Ferguson. He's more of a move down the field
tight end. Later on, Garret Oakley of Kansas State, Joe
Royer Cincinnati, Tanner Cozill of Houston. A lot of good
tight ends from the Big twelve. But we're really talking
(20:02):
more Day three picks right now.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
All right, don't forget.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
Draft season is presented by Moody's, a proud partner of
the New York Giants. Decode Risk, Unlock Opportunity. Learn more
in Moody's dot com. All right, Tony, let's now take
a look at the wide receiver spot, which, as we
mentioned earlier, this wide receiver class, Tony, is wide open.
That wide receiver one spot is there to be taken,
and there's a lot of guys in the mix to
do it. And as we both know, a wide receiver
(20:27):
always seems to emerge every year that we don't expect.
Speaker 4 (20:30):
Yeah, I think right now it could be Antonio Williams,
although he's dealing with that hamstring issue, which we saw
the first game when Clemson the lost to LSU and
we saw what a big dent it made in that
Clemson offense. I don't think he even played last week
against Troy, and Clemson's offense really had a tough time
getting off the snide there. But I think he's not big.
(20:50):
He's not really big. He's probably gonna measure ten and
a half five, five foot eleven. But he's quick, he's explosive,
he catches the ball incredibly well, terrific route runner, shows
some deep beat steep speed. Carnell Tait of Ohio State,
who you spoke about you like? I know you like
a lot. A guy who's a bigger guy, big play
receiver came through for Ohio State, not only the game
(21:12):
against Texas, but last year down the stretch in the
college football playoffs. We've seen a lot of really good
receivers come out of Ohio State. Recently, you saw a
Mecca Abuca on Sunday, really helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
win that game. I think Carnell Tate is in that
same sort of mold potential late first round pick. I've
got Evan Stewart of Oregon on my list as number three.
(21:34):
Although he's not playing this year because he suffered a
significant knee injury. People are gonna go back and ask
should he have entered the twenty twenty five draft. I
don't know, but Evan Stewart at Texas A and M,
and even last year at Oregon, when he's on his game,
he is unstoppable. Now he's got a big hill of
the client coming back from that knee injury. Denzel Boston
a bigger, more possession type receiver who can sneak it downfield.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
Jordan Tyson. We already spoke about Dion Bark.
Speaker 4 (22:00):
We spoke about two guys I like Eric Singleton of Auburn, smaller, speedier,
faster guy. And Harrison Wallace of Mississippi by way of
Henn State. Keep an eye on this guy. He was
a riser for me this week. He is a one
man show. He's got decent size, he's got good speed,
and he's.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
Got very reliable hands.
Speaker 4 (22:19):
But like you said, I mean, which of these guys
is going to pop up out of nowhere because there
is deaf There is no number white wide receiver number
one right now, and there were no guys that are battling,
say to be the top pick in the draft, top
picket at the position in the top ten to the
way way we did with Marvin Harrison and Eliite Neighbors
(22:39):
just a few years ago.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
Yeah, so we'll see which one of those wide receivers
at a very pass heavy college football might be able
to emerge. And Tony, this could be another good offensive
tackle draft class. We talked about that for a couple
of years now. We had the one two years ago
we wt six or seven offensive tackles go in the
first round. I don't know if we're gonna get that
high this year, but certainly a lot of very good
offensive tackles in this year's class.
Speaker 4 (23:03):
I think the only reason we won't have seven the
way it looks right now, six to seven offensive tackles
taken in the first round of the twenty twenty sixth
draft is because the needs not there from teams.
Speaker 3 (23:14):
I think the talent is there.
Speaker 4 (23:16):
I did a mock draft at the sportskeata dot com
last weekend before the first week of the NFL season,
and I had seven offensive tackles go in the first round,
and I think Evan Lank of Michigan, who I just
spoke about, could actually be the eighth offensive tackle.
Speaker 3 (23:31):
A guy who I.
Speaker 4 (23:32):
Like at the top and no one's talking about him
right now, but they will is Xavier Chaplin of Warburt
Transfer from Virginia Tech. This guy super athletic, he's mobile.
He is a tremendous past protecting left tackle who shows
ability on the second level.
Speaker 3 (23:46):
People I spoken too in.
Speaker 4 (23:47):
The scouting community believe he's going to be a top
top ten pick. He was my first tackle on the
board in my recent mock draft. Cayden Proctor of Alabama,
the big, huge, Crimson tide left tackle who I think,
like a lot of big, huge crimson left tackles, is
probably better off on the right side. Fundamentally sound, he's
(24:08):
not an arm wrestler. He's a leverage blocker who uses
good body positioning the fundamentals to block. Francisamwago, who he
spoke about last week from Miami, a big, strong, athletic
right tackle who's got the versatility to maybe be used
on the left side. But you know, you see the
way the Philadelphia Eagles that have had success with Lane
Johnson h so many years and athletic right Tacklewaga's like that.
(24:34):
Utah's got a pair of guys who I like a lot.
Spencer Fando who is their right tackle, A big, strong,
fundamentally sound guy. Caleb Lamou who is the younger guy.
He's a left tackle, not as strong as Spencer Fano,
but he's fundamentally sound. He moves incredibly well. He's a
terrific pass detector who can also block on the second level.
To Shelton of Penn State, you know, standing a left tackle.
(24:57):
Athletically gifted left tackle prospect Ryan Baar of Pittsburgh of
a reach of fourth year junior told is very likely
to enter the draft. Keep an eye on him. Spoke
about Evan Link, but the list goes on after that.
I mean, I can speak for the next half hour.
Isaiah World, the Nevada transfer who's now playing a left
tackle of Arizona State you talked about now playing left
(25:20):
tackle for Oregon.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
You talked about Arizona State before.
Speaker 4 (25:23):
Watch their right tackle Mike max iron Anchor, who was
given fourth round grades last season. He comes into this
year with second round grades. Jude Bowery of Boston College.
I mean, these are all guys that you know, if
there's room, could all be top fifty picks in next
year's draft. They are that talented.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
And we know how NFL teams are desperate for offensive tackles,
always a position of need that teams are trying to
shore up that position. I wish I could say to
say about the interior offensive lineman Tony. We had Tyler
Brooker go in the first round last year. I don't
think we're going to see that happen in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 4 (26:01):
It's probably gonna be a stretch to get a lot
of interior offensive lineman. In day two of the drift,
I have Jaden Roberts, the big, strong guard from Alabama,
as my number one interior offensive lineman. He's strictly, in
my opinion, a power gap type of blocker. Has been
dealing with some injuries at the beginning of the season.
A lot of people are in love with Connor Loo,
(26:23):
the center from Auburn. A lot of people think he's
gonna be a first round pick. I don't I like
his game. I don't love his game. He's more of
his own blocking lineman in fact, I think he's only
his own blocking lineman because oftentimes when you watch the film,
he's getting obliterated at the point of attack by being
how big.
Speaker 1 (26:37):
How big is he?
Speaker 4 (26:38):
I mean, he's listed right now at six three, three
hundred pounds. He's only a junior, so we don't have
any small measurement. So if he's sixty three, if they're
listing him at sixty three three hundred pounds, probably means
he's more like sixty two to ninety, which is why
when you watch the film. Yeah, he's good at motion,
he's good when he gets a running start, but when
he has to go up against a three hundred and
thirty pound the defensive tackle, he has his problems. Ryan
(27:00):
Parker of Duke, who I spoke about at the top
of the show, DJ Chester, who's from another red shirt
sophomore from LSU who's dealing with injuries, has lost his
starting job. But you go back and you watch twenty
twenty four film, he looked like he was going to
be a start of the making a lot of smaller linemen.
Logan Jones, the center from Iowa six two and a
(27:23):
half ninety nine pounds, Parker Brelsford from Alabama, a smaller
interior lineman. These guys are more Day three guys. So
to your point when you started the position, I don't
think there's gonna be any first round picks. We knew
Tyler Booker was going to be a first round there
going into the twenty twenty five draft. I don't know
that we thought Dallas would take him as early. But
(27:43):
from where we sit right now, I don't see any
of these interior offensive lineman being taken in the first round.
Maybe you can get a guy like Ryan Parker who
has a knockout year, who plays who plays right tackle
for Duke. Maybe he's a guy who could be projected
to squeeze into the late part of round one as
an interior off defensive lineman if he continues to play
(28:04):
at the level he's shown so far.
Speaker 1 (28:06):
Yeah, you mentioned Logan Jones.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
He was one of the guys on du Bruce Feldman's
freak list, So that's something to keep an eye on,
a really good athlete.
Speaker 1 (28:14):
So yeah, just you know, not a lot of big
guys and Tony.
Speaker 2 (28:18):
That's kind of where college football is going, right They
want offensive one that can move. They don't want necessarily
want these road graders. I want guys that can pass, protect.
Speaker 4 (28:24):
And that that always you know, moves will basically transition
to the next level.
Speaker 3 (28:29):
I mean, we've seen, you know.
Speaker 4 (28:31):
A passing game with colleges lining up four receivers and
then you get this lefthor of receivers into the into
the NFL because the schools are developing so many receivers
and you go away from the traditional tight end. I mean,
when was the last time the teams drafted a flowback.
You don't see fullbacks anymore. You don't see flowbacks on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (28:51):
All right, Tony, real quick, this week's matchups, like we
talked about last week, not a ton So next week
we'll do our defensive or your defensive preseason rankings and
see where at I'm just gonna roll through a couple
of the big ones here.
Speaker 1 (29:02):
You tell me if anything catches your eye, Alabama will
have a chance.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
I'm not you know, last week they're not playing a
real opponent, so they got Wisconsin this week. I want
to see how they do after that disappointing Week one loss.
Auburn again, they ran the ball. I think they over
two hundre yards rushing last week that's a team to
keep an eye.
Speaker 1 (29:20):
They're playing South Alabama, not a big matchup.
Speaker 2 (29:22):
Georgia Tennessee is probably the most competitive game we're gonna see.
Georgia rank sixth, Tennessee ranked fifteenth. And then Miami in
South Florida. You know, South Florida had that big win
last week and Miami has started off hot. They're two
to zero. Those to me are the games that I'm
most excited about. Then LSU Florida and Florida. Ben's back
after that really tough loss last week.
Speaker 3 (29:43):
Yeah, I mean.
Speaker 4 (29:46):
Give credit to South Florida. I mean they've almost beaten
Alabama in the past two years. They beat an interestate
rival in Florida. Florida could be Floria's coach could be
in a bit of trouble. The Tennessee cornerback McCoy Jermad
McCoy is not playing this weekend because of an injury.
(30:06):
That would have been a nice matchup to see him
play against Noah Thomas and Colby Young.
Speaker 3 (30:12):
The receivers from Georgia good games. I don't you know
who do?
Speaker 4 (30:17):
The LSU is playing Florida, right, I mean Flarway's got
a big offensive tackle that a lot of people, like
in Austin Barber, A lot of people outside of the
scouting community, like a lot of people outside of the
scouting community think he's the first round Picky talked to scouts,
scuts have a much lower grade on But I think
he's a good I think he's a legitimate NFL prospect.
Against that as of right now, no name LSU defensive
(30:41):
front which basically handled Clemson, who.
Speaker 3 (30:44):
Has two good offensive tackles.
Speaker 2 (30:46):
And then finally, one game I didn't mention is two
top twenty teams Notre Dame in Texas A and M.
I know Texas A and M probably thinks Tony that
they deserve to be a top ten team with all
the money they've thrown around, and they have some talented
players there and Notre Dame.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
They would to bounce back here. You know, I want
to start on two of your Notre Dame.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
You're coming off a very successful season last year, obviously
a new quarterback. So I think a really big game
for Notre Dame that try to bounce back against a
very talented and frankly at Texas A and N team
that might have better athletes than.
Speaker 4 (31:12):
They do, and they absolutely do But the thing is
is these guys got to be more consistent on the
football field.
Speaker 3 (31:17):
You look at will Leave, a cornerback six.
Speaker 4 (31:21):
A lot of scouts like him as a Day two pick,
and he shows a lot of flash on the field,
but there's not a lot of consistent consistency. Leveon Moss
a home run hitter like the kid that plays from
Miami that came out of Texas A and M a.
Speaker 3 (31:33):
Couple of years ago.
Speaker 4 (31:34):
Again, a guy who doesn't spurts, but doesn't do it
on a consistent basis. Keep an eye on Texas A
and M's left tackle trays on wide range of opinions
on him in the scouting community. Some people think he's
a Day two pick. Some people think he's a mid
mid day three pick. He's a left tackle who may
project to guard who may some people think he's even
(31:54):
a center. I like him as a red shirt freshman
when I watch him, but his game is kind of
leveled off. I haven't seen a lot of improvement in
this game because he's sort of an undersized athlete, but
does get some love. Trayson of Texas A and M
the left tackle in the scouting community.
Speaker 2 (32:09):
Tony always a pleasure, my friend. Let's catch up next week.
Speaker 3 (32:13):
Look forward to it, John.
Speaker 2 (32:14):
That's Tony Pollin from sports Key to check out all
his work there. I am John Schmelck. This has been
Draft Season, presented by Moody. He's a proud partner of
the New York Giants. We'll see you next week for
another episode of Draft Season.
It is now officially open.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
This is Draft Season presented by Moodie's, a proud partner
of the New York Giants. I am John Schmelk. Welcome everybody,
joined by Tony Pauline. As we headed through college football week,
I guess what it's like two and a half? Is
it a week zero, whatever you want to call it, Tony,
But not quite as exciting as Week one. So we
will review some of those games. But today we're gonna
do Tony's preseason rankings on the offensive side of the
(00:32):
ball for all the offensive line and the skill position
players and the quarterbacks.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
Tony, how'd you enjoy your weekend? My friend?
Speaker 3 (00:38):
It was good.
Speaker 4 (00:39):
I mean, it was kind of a spotty Saturday schedule
on the college football slate. Not too many really good games,
not too many good matchups. I guess starting in week
three or this Saturday, we'll start to get more interconference
matchups games which will make things a little bit more exciting.
We'll start to see teams really pair off, or so
(01:00):
top teams play one another, compared to what we saw
at least this pass out of it.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Yeah, we had some upsets.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Florida with the big loss last week they take on
LSU this week, so we'll keep an eye on that
moving forward as we start to heading down into these
conference schedules for the SEC and obviously the Big Ten
and the Big Twelve and the ACC. All right, Tony,
let's talk about some of the games that happened this
week first, and you want to start with the matchup.
I was surprised by Illinois and Duke. What has you
(01:27):
pumped up about what happened in that game?
Speaker 4 (01:29):
You know, I mean the score is not really indicative
of the game in the sense that it was a
very close game. Really through the third quarter Duke, the
receivers could not make plays. They were dropping passes through
a couple of bad interceptions. But there are some really
good pro prospects to watch, surprisingly on Duke, who lost
the game by more than three touchdowns. Ryan Parker, their
right tackle, who is everybody's favorite offensive lineman or one
(01:53):
of the favorite offensive linemen right now in the scouting community.
You know, we know Duke, we see their history. They
put a lot of good offense of lineman into the league.
Brian Parker is going to be next. He's a fundamentally sound,
smart right tackle. He projects to guard or at least
I have him as a guard. Some people have him
at center right now. You talk to people in the
(02:13):
league who will talk about him are scouts. They're talking
third round for Brian Parker, and there's a lot of
upside in his game. So keep an eye on Brian Parker.
The right tackle for Duke moving forward. Vincent Anthony, the
edge rusher, had two and a half sacks two and
a half tackles for loss against the left tackle Case
(02:33):
Davis of Illinois. He's a taller, thin edge rusher, more
of a stand up guy, but he's athletic, he can
bend the edge. He's kind of got late round grades
from scouts right now because they're not too sure of
his speed, but he's football fast and he makes a
lot of plays. And finally from Illinois, Xavier Scott the
defensive back. Didn't have great stats, but he's constantly around
(02:54):
the ball. Played cornerback last year where I had him
as a third round pick, moved to safety. He's really
done well transitioning to the safety position. Terrific ball skills.
And you know, with the way we talk about Duke
with offensive lineman, Illinois had a lot of really good
defensive backs come out of that program the past couple
of drafts, and I think Xavier Scott's the next one.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Yeah, Devin Witherspoon one of them. They've had a couple
of safeties comeouts. They've had some pretty good corners and safeties. Absolutely, Tony.
It will only remind me they have a good edge rusher.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
If I'm not mistaken, Tony coming out of correct gay Jackis.
He's a good pass rusher. He's like sixty three and
seventy pounds. Is he a defensive end?
Speaker 3 (03:33):
Is he is? He got it?
Speaker 4 (03:34):
You're gonna stick and side on a four man line?
Is he like a three technique tackle? He's a real
good football player. Actually caused the fumble. I'll cause the
turnover late in the game, I'm sorry. Towards the end
of the first half after he was kind of non
existent and he was basically being held at bay by
Brian Parker.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
They didn't have a lot of pass rush.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
But Gabe Jackis is the guy who could be a
late Day two pick as of right now.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
Another big game this week was Michigan and Oklahoma.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Tony front of the program, Jim Naggy now basically the
general manager, for that Oklahoma program. Big win against Michigan,
who made a little bit of a run late in
that game, but Oklahoma managed to hold them off thanks
in part to the player, their quarterback, John Mattier.
Speaker 4 (04:12):
Very impressed with Mattier twenty seven to thirty four, two
hundred and seventy yards passing, one interception, one touchdown. But
he was smart, He made good decisions. He shows terrific
mobility with.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
He can move Tony, That's what got me. His pocket
mobility is really impressive.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
Makes a lot of place in and outside the pocket,
and you like the fact when he's outside the pocket,
he's keeping his eyes downfield looking for receivers, can pick
up yardage with his legs. Made a lot of difficult throws.
I think the one thing about Matier that's kind of
a red flag for me is the accuracy the pass placer.
His passes are sailing high receivers. Sometimes he's throwing behind
(04:49):
wide outs. That's got to be fixed. That has a
lot to do with footwork sometimes. But again, Mattier, who
was one of the more high profile transfers you know
in the off season in the college off season. For
his first game in the national spotlight, you know, against
a big program like Michigan at home in Norman, Oklahoma.
I thought he did a really good job.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
And then he impressed and then and then one of
his wide receivers, Dion Burk's also impressed here, right Tony.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
I impressed scouts as well. I mean, Deon Burks came
into the season with mid date two grades. He's a
little bit of a smaller guy, five to nine and
a half one hundred and eighty two pounds, but he
is explosive. He's quick, he's got a great first step.
Seven receptions one hundred and one yards one TV. I
think he only played like five games last year if
you want to go back and look, because it was
an injury. He's a shorter guy, but he catches the
(05:36):
ball well. He plays big football. He doesn't play like
a smaller receiver. He fights to come away with that
those contested grabs, and he's just incredibly explosive. And I mean,
you know, now he's gonna be Mateer's favorite receiver.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
So this is a good combo.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
Look, you know, moving forward through the twenty twenty five
college seasons and Dion Burks saud be shocked if he's
not into it, it doesn't enter the draft, and there's
a lot to like it. I'm sort of a slot
receiver return specialist for the next level.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
And Tony, I'm not sure how good Michigan is going
to be this year, but they always have some players
upfront that in pressed scouts.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
Evan Link the left tackle, number seventy one, just keep
an eye on them for game purposes. Oklahoma's got a
couple of really good pass rushers. They had one sack.
Each guy had a half a sack. He's a big guy,
he's mobile, he plays with tremendous fundamentals. If you read
my preview of Michigan the Michigan prospects over the summer
(06:30):
at sports Skida, I talked about him as being the
next top rated offensive lineman for Michigan. I gave him
a second round grade. What I saw Saturday is a
guy that could sneak into the late part of round one.
So Evan Link the next really good offensive lineman to
come from Michigan. Only a red shirt sophomore, So keep
an eye on him, the left tackle there.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
Yeah, and Tony, Look, Michigan's got have to figure out
that quarterback situation. They have a young player there that
they're trying to bring along. He's a good athlete, but
as a passer. You know, Michigan can challenge for national
championships when they have good quarterbacks. It's no surprising they
won their national title when they JJ McCarthy ended up
being a first round pick. But they just had I
think a lot of trouble finding guys to fill that
(07:11):
spot consistently, which has really held the program back.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
I mean, and it's two years now, right, it's been
since McCarthy graduated, because they had problems at the quarterback
last year. And you know, to your point, McCarthy was
a starter from its freshman year and just got better
and better and better, had that offensive line in front him.
A good coach at Jim Harbaugh. But yeah, you're exactly right,
and you know there was a lot of hullabaloo about
this freshman quarterback. You got to give them time. Of course,
(07:36):
we'll see what happens.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
All right.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
And I want to talk a little bit about the
Arizona State Mississippi State game. Arizona State had an unbelievable
drive at the end of that game.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
They run it. I think it was like a nine
or ten minute drive.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
They just pounded in for a touchdown that the Mississippi State
gets the ball back. They make one deep play, big,
big play down the field in the winner of the
game late to win that game at home against Arizona State.
But I think two players will talk a lot about
this year. Tony is the Arizona State quarterback Sam Levitt.
He did not play well in that game, just ten
of twenty two eighty two yards. As they mentioned, one touchdown,
(08:08):
two picks. They ended up running the ball a lot
to get that late score in that game. But I
more want to focus here Tony on Jordan Tyson, his
main targeted wide receiver. He had a monster week two
weeks ago. This week he was six for sixty eight
and one touchdown. He's double with some injuries in his career,
but I was really impressed with his tape over the summer.
I think he has a chance to elevate himself into
(08:31):
wide receiver. One conversation in this year's draft class, which
I think is pretty wide open.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
To be honest with you, I look at him as
like a Brandon Eyeu type in a sense that he's
not really big. Yep, he's not super fast, but he's smart,
he runs out standing rounds. He consistently separates from defenders,
especially in underneath coverage, and he catches everything. And if
you remember last year, you know when Arizona State made
that run, he wasn't there for the playoff game against
(08:57):
Texas where Arizona State almost when he was on the
sides with an injury. And if he was in that game,
there's a good chance that Arizona State would have beaten
Texas in that quarterfinal playoff game. But yeah, he's very
consistent wide receiver one. I think that's also a symptom
of the fact that this isn't a look on paper
anyway like a great receiver class yep. But he's very good.
(09:18):
I definitely can see him with decent testing numbers at
least squeezing into the late part of round one.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Yeah, that's something that we need to track, especially again
with with with a good quarterback like Levit, who we're
now going to talk about Tony in your quarterback rankings.
But first I don't remind everybody that draft season is
presented by Moody's a proud partner of the New York
Football Giants, uniting the brightest minds to turn today's risks
(09:44):
into tomorrow's opportunities. Learn more at Moody's dot com. All right, Tony,
let's turn to the quarterbacks. It's a high volume quarterback class.
I think you got a couple of players with high
end upside if they can get there.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
I don't think.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
They're there yet, but a lot of players to talk
about here that I think we'll be talking about as
potentially Day two draft.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
Picks or even Day one. I mean, listen, late day one.
I like the potential in this year's quarterback class. Now.
Speaker 4 (10:13):
I also said that about last year's quarterback class, which
didn't turn out good for the draft, although it looks
pretty good right now. You know, you look at Jalen Millroll,
Jackson's Arts, cam Wards, etcetera. I mean, everyone talked about
arch Manning at the end of the twenty twenty five draft.
We talked about that last week when I watched the
film over the summer, I said, if I had the
first pick of the draft and I needed a quarterback,
(10:34):
I'm taking Leonora Sellers of South Carolina. There's no question
in my mind. It's not the tallest guy, but he's
got a big, strong build. He's got a tremendous arm.
He can make all the throws. He can throw himself
out of trouble because of his arm strength. He's incredibly athletic.
He shows the ability to create grange, he shows the
ability to run over defenders, and.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
For the most part, he's smart. He doesn't make bad decisions.
Speaker 4 (10:58):
Leonardo Sells is a good passer, he's not a good
athlete trying to play the quarterback position. He needs to
improve his past placement a bit, needs to improve his accuracy,
sort of what I talked about with John McTeer of
Oklahoma earlier.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
But I love his upside.
Speaker 4 (11:10):
I like his game a lot right now, and I think,
you know, if you need a quarterback at the top
of the draft and the draft was held right now,
I'm going with Lenora Sellers. After that, I've got Drew Laar,
and people are gonna, you know, basically turn the show off.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
There.
Speaker 4 (11:24):
I said Drew Laar at number two. But when you
talk about the physical tools, Drew Lars got them all.
I mean, he makes some incredible pass passes. He's big,
he's a terrific pocket passer. He could throw the ball.
The problem is alar Is his best season was his
freshman season. He's sort of taking that Christian Hackenberg, if
you will, trajectory, and that he doesn't seem to progress
(11:46):
and say, in fact, he seems to regress at some
points and times. We talked about this before junior declaration
there a year ago. He made the best decision going
back to college. Whether he made the best decision to
go back to Penn State remains to be seen. They
should be in the national title and a lot is
riding not only on Penn State's national title shoulders on
(12:07):
for Jewel r but his NFL draft stock. I mean,
if he has the same sort of he's good and spurts,
he's gonna drop like a rock. But if he plays
to his potential, I mean he will rise with draft
boards because he's got all the physical tools. Then I
got Garrett, Garrett Nissemeyer of LSU, who from an intangible
point of view, from the point of view of seeing
(12:29):
the field, reading defenses, making proper choices, is a lot better.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
Than Jewel Lar.
Speaker 4 (12:33):
But he's small, he's not even six one two and
four pounds, doesn't have a great arm, doesn't have those
natural tools, those natural physical tools, but he's got it
going on between the ears.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Yeah, and then you go down.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
You we talked about Kay Clubnick and arch Manning last year.
Those are two guys, you know. Club Nick good athlete,
you know, has to worry about his pocket presence a
little bit. He airmailed a couple of balls last week.
Not the biggest guy, not the biggest arm but I
think he to me, Club Nicks, to me is a
guy that'll be a really good you know, backup, er
low and starter for a long time. And then even
after that Tony. A couple of guys we talked about today.
(13:07):
You have the transmitter of UCLA from Tennessee, Nico. You
have John Mattier. Fernando Mendoza is another big transfer of
people are big fans. But I mentioned Sam Levitt so
and then Carson Beck who we were talking about as
a first round pick before last year. So a lot
of it's a very deep class, a lot of quarterbacks
to talk about.
Speaker 4 (13:23):
Yeah, you mentioned Clubnick. I think my red flag for
Club Nick, who I liked a lot coming into the year,
was he showed great progress from twenty twenty three to
twenty twenty four, he kind of seems to have flat lined,
even regress a little bit the first couple of games.
And I know it's only a couple of games in
twenty twenty five, but that really is something that has
(13:43):
to be watched. Two guys to keep an eye on
Fernando Mendoza of Indiana transfer for how big guy, athletic guy,
strong on passer who can also make yardage, pick up
yordage with his legs, makes a lot of difficult throws.
Kind of got I asked people in that at the
Cal situation, at Cal program, what happened? They said he
(14:05):
had there was a constant change in the coaching staff,
offensive coordinators. He never really got settled. Well, now he's
with one of the best coaches in football in Indiana,
not just one of the best college because the best
coaches overall in football, and Kurt Signetti his game can
take off. Another name to keep an eye on, Taylor
(14:27):
Green of Arkansas six five and a half two and
twenty two pounds, runs in the four sixes, has the
arm strength to match next level arm that.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
Can make all the throws.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
If this guy can put it all together and really
go from athletes to passer, Tyland Green of Arkansas, I
believe we'll shoot up draft.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
Boards all right, Tony, I want to jump that over
to the running back group, which I think we're having
a second consecutive year with a very strong running back
class here, Tony, and you have a surprising name at
the top.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
Well, CJ.
Speaker 4 (14:58):
Baxter, who was injured in twenty twenty four, or you
watch him in that House State game. He was a
dominant interior runner who has the ability to turn the corner.
He's a terrific pass catcher out of the backfield, he's
an outstanding blocker.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
I think he's just a well rounded complete back.
Speaker 4 (15:13):
Now I'm basing it off of a little bit of
film from twenty twenty three and when I saw early
in twenty twenty five, so it's a bit of a risk.
But when you look at his size, you look at
his tools, you look at the versatility of his game.
I really like Baxter a lot. And then I have
him ranked slightly higher than Jeremiah Love of Notre Dame,
who everybody loves Jeremiah Love. And when Jeremiah Love is
(15:36):
on his game, he is a terrific running back. There's
no doubt about it. We saw it in the India
against Indiana in the playoffs. You know, he breaks the
long runs. He breaks games wide open.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
The problem with.
Speaker 4 (15:48):
Love is he's not a real feature back. He's not
a consistent back. If you look at the stats, he
carries the ball maybe twelve thirteen times, and he's up
and down. There's not a lot of say Ashton genty
a year ago, where Ashton genty basically carried Boise State.
You don't really you don't see that at all with
Jeremiah Love, which it's not a good thing, and I
(16:08):
don't know think it's a bettering, but it's not really
a good thing. It's not something that you're going to
take a quarterback really early, a running back really early
in round one. And then after that you got guys
like Penn State's got basically a thunder and lightning in
Nick Singleton, who is basically the lightning, a guy who
can turn the corner to past catch out of the backfield.
Kate tron Allen, who's more of the interior shortyard his
(16:28):
ball carrier. Those guys are Day two picks. Makai Hughes
of orc On, who's actually outplayed this weekend by Noah Whittington,
but Kai Hughes the Delane transfer a smaller creative runner,
multi cup ball carrier who strings multiple moves over the
course of a single run. Garius Taylor of Minnesota. Guy,
I really like I've got a third round great on
(16:49):
him right now, someone who has got the size to
run on the inside, but also has the quickness and
the agility to turn the corner and make defenders miss.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Just to give people an idea, I'm sorry, Tony, you're
do you want do you want to go?
Speaker 1 (17:00):
Come more?
Speaker 3 (17:01):
Guys? Go ahead now.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
I was go to say just a note, and you know,
Tony's pretty tough on his grades. Usually you have ten
players at the running back position with Day one or
two grades, and.
Speaker 4 (17:15):
They're all there's a versatility. Jim Miller, who's hurt from Alabama.
He's the guy that could go Day two. He's a
good and chier runner who catches the ball well. Demon
Clayborne of wake Forest will see him this week. I
believe Friday night, Wake Forest has got a big ball
game against North Carolina State. Really a quick, explosive guy
who could beat defenders into the open field. Justin Haynes
(17:35):
of Michigan more upside than actual guy. That's uh that
has added a lot of production. I talked about CJ. Baxter,
his teammate, conturbing Wisner. He's the home run threat. Wiser
is the guy that you know, if there's a bit
of room, he'll run the He'll beat defenders into the
open field and run the daylight. They're all different backs
to all backs that bring different skills and versatility to
(17:58):
the game. So if you want your third down back,
you'll be able to get it in a guy like
Makay Hughes. If you want your feature on it, you
can get it in a guy like CJ.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
Baxter.
Speaker 4 (18:06):
You know, if you want your guy that is a
situational spot starter, maybe Darius Taylor of Minnesota.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
So again, a very deep running back class. I think
we'll keep an eye on as we move forward here.
All right, Tony, let's shift our attention over to the
tight end spot.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Well.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
I don't think we're going to get a bunch of
first round tight ends like we've got the last couple
of years, but still some good players.
Speaker 4 (18:27):
I'd be shocked if you have a first tight end
go in the first round. I mean, maybe it's Max
Claire of Ohio State, who scouts really like a lot.
The transfer from Perdue, you saw I'm in that first
game against Texas a real good pass catcher, more of
a moved type of tight end, but he would have
to really pick up this game Elevators game to be
a first round pick. T We touched on Jack Injuries
(18:47):
of Texas to Cal transfer last week when we did
our review of the Texas Ohio State game. A guy
who I think is gonna be one of Arch Manning's
favorite targets. An athletic tight end that can get down
the field catches the ball well has done so for
three years the prior to years a Cal before moving
to Texas. Eli Stowers of Vanderbilt, the New Mexico State transfer,
(19:08):
has had a really good year at Mexico State New
Mexico State before transferring to Vanderbilt catches the bowwell doesn't
have great production, but I mean, he's the guy that
goes six two and a half two and forty pounds,
runs in the four sixes. Just needs to pick up
the production. Those are the only guys I have right
now that are greaded. His day two picks the rest
(19:28):
or the third day selections. Terrence Carter of Texas Tech
transferred from Louisiana, which basically ran the ball.
Speaker 3 (19:35):
He's an athletic guy. And now he goes to Texas Tech,
which likes to throw the ball around the field. A
lot wind there.
Speaker 4 (19:41):
Tight ends up in the slot, keep an eye on him,
Ken John si Dieke of Oregon. A lot of people
like him. I want to see him take over for
Terrence Ferguson. He's more of a move down the field
tight end. Later on, Garret Oakley of Kansas State, Joe
Royer Cincinnati, Tanner Cozill of Houston. A lot of good
tight ends from the Big twelve. But we're really talking
(20:02):
more Day three picks right now.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
All right, don't forget.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
Draft season is presented by Moody's, a proud partner of
the New York Giants. Decode Risk, Unlock Opportunity. Learn more
in Moody's dot com. All right, Tony, let's now take
a look at the wide receiver spot, which, as we
mentioned earlier, this wide receiver class, Tony, is wide open.
That wide receiver one spot is there to be taken,
and there's a lot of guys in the mix to
do it. And as we both know, a wide receiver
(20:27):
always seems to emerge every year that we don't expect.
Speaker 4 (20:30):
Yeah, I think right now it could be Antonio Williams,
although he's dealing with that hamstring issue, which we saw
the first game when Clemson the lost to LSU and
we saw what a big dent it made in that
Clemson offense. I don't think he even played last week
against Troy, and Clemson's offense really had a tough time
getting off the snide there. But I think he's not big.
(20:50):
He's not really big. He's probably gonna measure ten and
a half five, five foot eleven. But he's quick, he's explosive,
he catches the ball incredibly well, terrific route runner, shows
some deep beat steep speed. Carnell Tait of Ohio State,
who you spoke about you like? I know you like
a lot. A guy who's a bigger guy, big play
receiver came through for Ohio State, not only the game
(21:12):
against Texas, but last year down the stretch in the
college football playoffs. We've seen a lot of really good
receivers come out of Ohio State. Recently, you saw a
Mecca Abuca on Sunday, really helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
win that game. I think Carnell Tate is in that
same sort of mold potential late first round pick. I've
got Evan Stewart of Oregon on my list as number three.
(21:34):
Although he's not playing this year because he suffered a
significant knee injury. People are gonna go back and ask
should he have entered the twenty twenty five draft. I
don't know, but Evan Stewart at Texas A and M,
and even last year at Oregon, when he's on his game,
he is unstoppable. Now he's got a big hill of
the client coming back from that knee injury. Denzel Boston
a bigger, more possession type receiver who can sneak it downfield.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
Jordan Tyson. We already spoke about Dion Bark.
Speaker 4 (22:00):
We spoke about two guys I like Eric Singleton of Auburn, smaller, speedier,
faster guy. And Harrison Wallace of Mississippi by way of
Henn State. Keep an eye on this guy. He was
a riser for me this week. He is a one
man show. He's got decent size, he's got good speed,
and he's.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
Got very reliable hands.
Speaker 4 (22:19):
But like you said, I mean, which of these guys
is going to pop up out of nowhere because there
is deaf There is no number white wide receiver number
one right now, and there were no guys that are battling,
say to be the top pick in the draft, top
picket at the position in the top ten to the
way way we did with Marvin Harrison and Eliite Neighbors
(22:39):
just a few years ago.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
Yeah, so we'll see which one of those wide receivers
at a very pass heavy college football might be able
to emerge. And Tony, this could be another good offensive
tackle draft class. We talked about that for a couple
of years now. We had the one two years ago
we wt six or seven offensive tackles go in the
first round. I don't know if we're gonna get that
high this year, but certainly a lot of very good
offensive tackles in this year's class.
Speaker 4 (23:03):
I think the only reason we won't have seven the
way it looks right now, six to seven offensive tackles
taken in the first round of the twenty twenty sixth
draft is because the needs not there from teams.
Speaker 3 (23:14):
I think the talent is there.
Speaker 4 (23:16):
I did a mock draft at the sportskeata dot com
last weekend before the first week of the NFL season,
and I had seven offensive tackles go in the first round,
and I think Evan Lank of Michigan, who I just
spoke about, could actually be the eighth offensive tackle.
Speaker 3 (23:31):
A guy who I.
Speaker 4 (23:32):
Like at the top and no one's talking about him
right now, but they will is Xavier Chaplin of Warburt
Transfer from Virginia Tech. This guy super athletic, he's mobile.
He is a tremendous past protecting left tackle who shows
ability on the second level.
Speaker 3 (23:46):
People I spoken too in.
Speaker 4 (23:47):
The scouting community believe he's going to be a top
top ten pick. He was my first tackle on the
board in my recent mock draft. Cayden Proctor of Alabama,
the big, huge, Crimson tide left tackle who I think,
like a lot of big, huge crimson left tackles, is
probably better off on the right side. Fundamentally sound, he's
(24:08):
not an arm wrestler. He's a leverage blocker who uses
good body positioning the fundamentals to block. Francisamwago, who he
spoke about last week from Miami, a big, strong, athletic
right tackle who's got the versatility to maybe be used
on the left side. But you know, you see the
way the Philadelphia Eagles that have had success with Lane
Johnson h so many years and athletic right Tacklewaga's like that.
(24:34):
Utah's got a pair of guys who I like a lot.
Spencer Fando who is their right tackle, A big, strong,
fundamentally sound guy. Caleb Lamou who is the younger guy.
He's a left tackle, not as strong as Spencer Fano,
but he's fundamentally sound. He moves incredibly well. He's a
terrific pass detector who can also block on the second level.
To Shelton of Penn State, you know, standing a left tackle.
(24:57):
Athletically gifted left tackle prospect Ryan Baar of Pittsburgh of
a reach of fourth year junior told is very likely
to enter the draft. Keep an eye on him. Spoke
about Evan Link, but the list goes on after that.
I mean, I can speak for the next half hour.
Isaiah World, the Nevada transfer who's now playing a left
tackle of Arizona State you talked about now playing left
(25:20):
tackle for Oregon.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
You talked about Arizona State before.
Speaker 4 (25:23):
Watch their right tackle Mike max iron Anchor, who was
given fourth round grades last season. He comes into this
year with second round grades. Jude Bowery of Boston College.
I mean, these are all guys that you know, if
there's room, could all be top fifty picks in next
year's draft. They are that talented.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
And we know how NFL teams are desperate for offensive tackles,
always a position of need that teams are trying to
shore up that position. I wish I could say to
say about the interior offensive lineman Tony. We had Tyler
Brooker go in the first round last year. I don't
think we're going to see that happen in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 4 (26:01):
It's probably gonna be a stretch to get a lot
of interior offensive lineman. In day two of the drift,
I have Jaden Roberts, the big, strong guard from Alabama,
as my number one interior offensive lineman. He's strictly, in
my opinion, a power gap type of blocker. Has been
dealing with some injuries at the beginning of the season.
A lot of people are in love with Connor Loo,
(26:23):
the center from Auburn. A lot of people think he's
gonna be a first round pick. I don't I like
his game. I don't love his game. He's more of
his own blocking lineman in fact, I think he's only
his own blocking lineman because oftentimes when you watch the film,
he's getting obliterated at the point of attack by being
how big.
Speaker 1 (26:37):
How big is he?
Speaker 4 (26:38):
I mean, he's listed right now at six three, three
hundred pounds. He's only a junior, so we don't have
any small measurement. So if he's sixty three, if they're
listing him at sixty three three hundred pounds, probably means
he's more like sixty two to ninety, which is why
when you watch the film. Yeah, he's good at motion,
he's good when he gets a running start, but when
he has to go up against a three hundred and
thirty pound the defensive tackle, he has his problems. Ryan
(27:00):
Parker of Duke, who I spoke about at the top
of the show, DJ Chester, who's from another red shirt
sophomore from LSU who's dealing with injuries, has lost his
starting job. But you go back and you watch twenty
twenty four film, he looked like he was going to
be a start of the making a lot of smaller linemen.
Logan Jones, the center from Iowa six two and a
(27:23):
half ninety nine pounds, Parker Brelsford from Alabama, a smaller
interior lineman. These guys are more Day three guys. So
to your point when you started the position, I don't
think there's gonna be any first round picks. We knew
Tyler Booker was going to be a first round there
going into the twenty twenty five draft. I don't know
that we thought Dallas would take him as early. But
(27:43):
from where we sit right now, I don't see any
of these interior offensive lineman being taken in the first round.
Maybe you can get a guy like Ryan Parker who
has a knockout year, who plays who plays right tackle
for Duke. Maybe he's a guy who could be projected
to squeeze into the late part of round one as
an interior off defensive lineman if he continues to play
(28:04):
at the level he's shown so far.
Speaker 1 (28:06):
Yeah, you mentioned Logan Jones.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
He was one of the guys on du Bruce Feldman's
freak list, So that's something to keep an eye on,
a really good athlete.
Speaker 1 (28:14):
So yeah, just you know, not a lot of big
guys and Tony.
Speaker 2 (28:18):
That's kind of where college football is going, right They
want offensive one that can move. They don't want necessarily
want these road graders. I want guys that can pass, protect.
Speaker 4 (28:24):
And that that always you know, moves will basically transition
to the next level.
Speaker 3 (28:29):
I mean, we've seen, you know.
Speaker 4 (28:31):
A passing game with colleges lining up four receivers and
then you get this lefthor of receivers into the into
the NFL because the schools are developing so many receivers
and you go away from the traditional tight end. I mean,
when was the last time the teams drafted a flowback.
You don't see fullbacks anymore. You don't see flowbacks on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (28:51):
All right, Tony, real quick, this week's matchups, like we
talked about last week, not a ton So next week
we'll do our defensive or your defensive preseason rankings and
see where at I'm just gonna roll through a couple
of the big ones here.
Speaker 1 (29:02):
You tell me if anything catches your eye, Alabama will
have a chance.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
I'm not you know, last week they're not playing a
real opponent, so they got Wisconsin this week. I want
to see how they do after that disappointing Week one loss.
Auburn again, they ran the ball. I think they over
two hundre yards rushing last week that's a team to
keep an eye.
Speaker 1 (29:20):
They're playing South Alabama, not a big matchup.
Speaker 2 (29:22):
Georgia Tennessee is probably the most competitive game we're gonna see.
Georgia rank sixth, Tennessee ranked fifteenth. And then Miami in
South Florida. You know, South Florida had that big win
last week and Miami has started off hot. They're two
to zero. Those to me are the games that I'm
most excited about. Then LSU Florida and Florida. Ben's back
after that really tough loss last week.
Speaker 3 (29:43):
Yeah, I mean.
Speaker 4 (29:46):
Give credit to South Florida. I mean they've almost beaten
Alabama in the past two years. They beat an interestate
rival in Florida. Florida could be Floria's coach could be
in a bit of trouble. The Tennessee cornerback McCoy Jermad
McCoy is not playing this weekend because of an injury.
(30:06):
That would have been a nice matchup to see him
play against Noah Thomas and Colby Young.
Speaker 3 (30:12):
The receivers from Georgia good games. I don't you know
who do?
Speaker 4 (30:17):
The LSU is playing Florida, right, I mean Flarway's got
a big offensive tackle that a lot of people, like
in Austin Barber, A lot of people outside of the
scouting community, like a lot of people outside of the
scouting community think he's the first round Picky talked to scouts,
scuts have a much lower grade on But I think
he's a good I think he's a legitimate NFL prospect.
Against that as of right now, no name LSU defensive
(30:41):
front which basically handled Clemson, who.
Speaker 3 (30:44):
Has two good offensive tackles.
Speaker 2 (30:46):
And then finally, one game I didn't mention is two
top twenty teams Notre Dame in Texas A and M.
I know Texas A and M probably thinks Tony that
they deserve to be a top ten team with all
the money they've thrown around, and they have some talented
players there and Notre Dame.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
They would to bounce back here. You know, I want
to start on two of your Notre Dame.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
You're coming off a very successful season last year, obviously
a new quarterback. So I think a really big game
for Notre Dame that try to bounce back against a
very talented and frankly at Texas A and N team
that might have better athletes than.
Speaker 4 (31:12):
They do, and they absolutely do But the thing is
is these guys got to be more consistent on the
football field.
Speaker 3 (31:17):
You look at will Leave, a cornerback six.
Speaker 4 (31:21):
A lot of scouts like him as a Day two pick,
and he shows a lot of flash on the field,
but there's not a lot of consistent consistency. Leveon Moss
a home run hitter like the kid that plays from
Miami that came out of Texas A and M a.
Speaker 3 (31:33):
Couple of years ago.
Speaker 4 (31:34):
Again, a guy who doesn't spurts, but doesn't do it
on a consistent basis. Keep an eye on Texas A
and M's left tackle trays on wide range of opinions
on him in the scouting community. Some people think he's
a Day two pick. Some people think he's a mid
mid day three pick. He's a left tackle who may
project to guard who may some people think he's even
(31:54):
a center. I like him as a red shirt freshman
when I watch him, but his game is kind of
leveled off. I haven't seen a lot of improvement in
this game because he's sort of an undersized athlete, but
does get some love. Trayson of Texas A and M
the left tackle in the scouting community.
Speaker 2 (32:09):
Tony always a pleasure, my friend. Let's catch up next week.
Speaker 3 (32:13):
Look forward to it, John.
Speaker 2 (32:14):
That's Tony Pollin from sports Key to check out all
his work there. I am John Schmelck. This has been
Draft Season, presented by Moody. He's a proud partner of
the New York Giants. We'll see you next week for
another episode of Draft Season.
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