September 2, 2025 • 35 mins
John Schmeelk and Tony Pauline recap all of the college football games over the weekend and highlight some of the top players of the week.
:00 - Texas vs Ohio State
10:15 - Alabama vs Florida State
13:35 - LSU vs Clemson
22:45 - Notre Dame vs Miami
27:25 - Auburn vs Baylor and Tennessee vs Syracuse
30:05 - Week two preview
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Now officially open. This is Draft Season, presented by Moody's.
I am John Schmoke. He is Tony Pauline. Thank you
so much for being with us. Episode three. Happy to
be rejoined by my partner, Tony here after going solo
with Drew Fabianic and Bruce Feldman in our first two episodes.
(00:24):
I suggest everyone go back and listen to those episodes.
Really some good nuggets on the draft class in general
and Bruce Feldman's freaks list, which also ends up being
a pretty good preview for the season. Tony, you're vacationed,
You're relaxed, You're refreshed.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
How are you.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
I'm great. I'm excited to be back. Hopefully we'll do
some butt kicking this year. I'm looking forward to the
next what eight months of shows, a lot of information,
a lot of film over the summer, as you can
see a lot of sun on my vacation as well.
But I'm glad.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
To be back, absolutely, and I'm glad to have you
with me.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
This is probably the biggest week one of college football
that I've ever seen, Tony. We had three games with
matchups between top ten teams, which is awesome. It was
a lot of fun, and I think there were some
lessons to be learned, and I think the first one
would be, without a lot of evidence, beware hypes of
(01:22):
names before our season starts, to see guys play a
lot of football, And I guess that would be a
good place to start with Texas Ohio State and look,
arch man it could end up being an awesome football player.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
But you know, people.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Were really making a lot out of one game last year,
and his tools are great. And again, this is nothing
negative about arch This is a negative about people covering
him and how they talked about him without seeing a
ton of evidence before they started blowing things out of proportion.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
And listen, I'm right there with you. And it started
at the end of the twenty twenty five draft. I mean,
go back and watch our post draft shows. Many mock
drafts for twenty twenty six had arch Manning out there
as the number one pick for the twenty twenty six draft,
and I said at the time, you.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
Know, it's insane.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
All it is is a continuation of the Shador Sanders
hype on the college football level.
Speaker 4 (02:14):
And you're absolutely right. I mean it was.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
It's nothing against arch Manning, but you know, the hype
is having people draw the mines, you know, the arch
manning lovers and the arch maning hitters. Just let the
guy play. And he didn't play well against Ohio State.
There's no doubt about it. You can't shake it out
any other way. He was what, five for ten for
twenty six yards in the first half. Obviously the physical
(02:37):
skills are there, but he was laid on throws, his
reads were poor, he was overthrowing receivers, he was missing
wide open receivers. The last three minutes of the game,
he played well, but you know, you're thrown caustion to
the win there because they had to score fourteen points
in the last three minutes just to tie the score up.
(02:57):
But yeah, you know, there was all this hype and
there was this massive letdown from people who believed in him.
And it's kind of funny because after the game I
was reading things and the height went the other way.
Oh he's no good, he's staying so his uncles were
so much better. Give it some time. The irony is
I was thinking about this. If you remember quinn Ewer's
(03:19):
first game as a redshirt freshman in Texas, he was
destroying Alabama. I mean He looked like the next coming.
He was incredible until he went down with.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
A collarbone injury.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
So you know, Arch Manning not only got paid, we
got outplayed by the Ohio State freshman quarterback. He also
got outplayed by quinn Ewers when Queen Ears was a
redher freshman. But it's just one game. Let's see what happens.
It wasn't a good game, but it was just one game.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
And by the way, against a great team, right, it's
not like it's not like this game was against some
you know, you know, a like money game against some
FCS team that's coming into Texas to to get a
million dollars to play him, you know. And look, Ohio,
they lost a lot of players, we know that, but
they have Caleb down Sunny Styles is still there.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
They have some very good players.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
And it's okay for in the first game of a
college season when teams are still getting their footing for
a quarterback not to be his sharpest in game number one.
And there's gonna be there could be a dozen more
of these games, Tony for Arch before this season is over.
If they go into the college football playoffs, and there
is going to be a lot more to go off
of this. To your point, you saw the athleticism, you
(04:27):
saw the arm creativity. On that one last drive, he
had that great hole shot between the safety and the
corner and the sideline. It was a fantastic throw. But look,
it was just really a slow start, and you know
it did It's not go well early, and that's fine.
And Arch said it after the game that he needs
to play better. But there's a long way to go
here for Texas too, and for Arch. Let's see how
(04:49):
the rest of this year goes. It's no crime to
lose to Ohio State. A lot of players and great
players and good teams have lost to Ohio State before.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
In Ohio State in the show with one hundred and seven,
and I've been there because my daughter graduated for that,
and it's so much fun if you're an Ohio State fan,
I mean, if you're a fan of the opposing team,
it's a very hostile environment off a team that just
won the national championship. So you know there's extra hype
there and Arch Manning is coming in, so yeah, I mean,
the cards were stacked against him. The deck was stacked
(05:21):
against him, and as you mentioned, you know, all the
offseason hype. Well, it wasn't on him. It wasn't you know,
he didn't you know kind of he wasn't blowing smoke.
It was everybody else on the outside. Let's see what happens.
Speaker 4 (05:32):
Listen.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Credit to Texas, Credit to LSU, which we'll get into.
Credit to Alabama for you know, for going into the
hornets nest of some of these places in Week one.
You know, when you know Penn State is playing in
you know, Kent State or whoever they were playing, going
in and playing this type of game.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Yep, absolutely, who else from Texas Tony stood out team
in this game.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
You gotta like both of their running backs. I mean CJ.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Baxter as a runner, as a pass catcher, as a blocker,
red shirt sophomore, he looked really good. Quin Travian Wisner
the other running back. I mean, they got the sort
of a what Ohio State had last year, you know,
with that one two punch with Jenkins and Henderson. Weisner's
more the game breaker, who can run, who can run
the daylight. He's got the home run hitting speed. Baxter's
(06:19):
more the more of the sure interior ball car, ballcarrier
who can also catch. He made some sensational blocks. During
that game, Avrol Reese of Ohio State nine tackles, one
tackle for a loss, one sack. He's taking over for
Cody Simon, who was the brains of that defense last year.
(06:40):
He's kind of a Jalen Walker type. Now, I don't
mean as a player. What I mean is when I
watched Reach last year, he was more of a situational
linebacker who was, you know, who came out of the
field and was good when he came on the field.
Now he's in the starting role. Now he's you know,
he's gonna be someone who's relied upon the way Jalen
Walker was from twenty twenty read in twenty twenty four.
(07:02):
Reese isn't the pass rusher. Oh, He's not displayed himself
as the pass rushing He's more of your off the
ball linebacker, which you know Ohio State uses because they
rely on that fore man front to get pressure. But
he's the guy he's already had came in the season
with fourth round grades from scouts. I think he's a
definite Day two player. And I think their cornerback Davidson,
(07:25):
a big Bogna son who was great two years ago,
was terrible last year. Showed a lot of good things,
still getting call for passing and france for p I penalties,
which he has got to got to really cut that down.
But I saw a lot of good things from him
compared to last year, which at times was a disaster.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
And then Tony, I want to talk to you a
little bit about the Ohio State passing game in this contest.
I thought the quarterback looked okay. You know, Jeremiah Smith
had a quiet game. He had a couple of drops early,
but you know he's not draft eligible anyway.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
How about Carnal Tate.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
You know, he had that really nice play down the field,
and I feel like he's gonna be another one of
these while state wide receivers that's going to try to
slide in here to the back end of the first round.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Of everything goes well this year.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
I have more as a Day two pick. And if
you remember Cardinal Tate just last year from the college
football playoffs, he was a guy that came up big
and important situations. He's more of a stouter, possession type
of timing receiver, more of an underneath guy, a very
reliable pass catcher. You know he's going to be relied
upon the way I talked about the linebacker ree. Cardinal
(08:36):
Tates to me, relied upon now that a mecha abuka
is in the NFL to play your bigger role. I
like Cardinal Tate. Could I see him as a late
first round pick. Possibly. I think a lot will depend
on his testing numbers. I think he's more early Day two,
but he's a legitimate NFL prospect. I would agree with you.
And you know you know you mentioned the pass catchers.
(08:57):
Let's see what happens with Max Clair. I mean Max
Clair coming in the season, the Perdue transfer, a dynamic
move type of tight end, plays the position like a
pass catcher, like a receiver more than a tight end.
Was one of the highest rated seniors tight ends coming
into the season. Had to drop on Saturday, but for
the most part it played relatively well. Whether they had
(09:17):
what one hundred and thirty or one hundred and forty
yards passing Ohio STATEA on Saturday. Let's see what happens
with these guys with tape with Max Clair as the
season progresses, as that freshman quarterbacks, that first year quarterback
really starts to get into the groove of things.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
I thought that big Texas tight end looked like he
had some promise to Tony.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
I think you could transfer right yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
Jack injuries. I tweeted about him before the game. You know,
he's a guy who he's been on my scouting radar
for two years now, since he was a sophomore at California.
You could see that big playability, that flash ability to
get down the field and make big plays.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
I tweeted about him myself.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
You know what this guy he is a Day two
prospect and he was arch Manny's leading receiver. I think
he's gonna build that rapport with arch Manning. He's not
gonna be the big play receiver that they have they
have on the depth chart right now, but he is
a terrific pass catcher. He looks like a good athlete.
He plays like a good athlete, not a bad blocker.
(10:20):
But I tweeted about energy before the game.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
I really like him absolutely. All right, let's go on
to the next game, Tony. Let's go to Alabama and
Florida State. Obviously a big upset here, Ty Simpson. Not
the best game for Alabama in that contest, and I
thought it was more telling is that Florida State ran
the ball really well against that Alabama defense, which you
don't often see your thoughts on the game.
Speaker 4 (10:42):
A good Alabama defense at that.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
I mean, they've got some good linebackers, they've got good safeties,
they've got a good defensive line. They're pretty they were
supposed to be pretty strong up the middle. You know,
Alabama offensively. No JM. Miller, who's a real good running back,
he's a middle round choice. No Jaden roberts Uh the
offensive guard, who's also a middle round choice, potentially a
(11:05):
Day two pick. I think that hurt their offense. That
hurt the quarterback.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
The wide receiver wasn't out there either, right there, their
their big sophomore wide receiver. He wasn't out there either, right.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
Williams right what I thought he was. But Jermaine Jermaine
Bernard had eight recepts for one hundred fourteen year. You
may be right, But then again, he's a speed receiver
and it was raining like heck that game, so that
that would have hurt him.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
I was. I agree with you.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
The way uh Florida State was able to push that
Alabama defense around the field, and the way Tommy Castellanos,
the Boston College transfer basically had his way throwing the
ball as well as running the ball. Wasn't you know,
was impressive if you're a Florida State fan and then
had to be impressive to scouts. I mean, Castellanos he's
(11:50):
an r PO quarterback, more r for me than than
I would usually like.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
But for him to come in a game like that, he's.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
A mauthedy guy. He's an outspoking guy. He wasn't boss
in college. You heard what he said about Alabama not
having Nick Saban the fallback on leading into this game,
which was bolton board locker room material that Alabama used.
Speaker 4 (12:09):
Uh and but he backed it up.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
I mean he backed it up. He beat Alabama with
his arm and with his legs. And if you're a scout,
Castellanos has kind of basically been ignored. You know, this
is the kind of guy that if he plays like
that for the rest of the season, gets an invite
to something like the Shrine Game. Now all of a sudden,
you're talking about a potential, you know, possible late round pick.
He's small, but he's very athletic. He mike plays in
(12:34):
her outside the pocket. He plays with his arms or
his legs, so it is really good on Saturday against Alabama.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
Absolutely, And I think Tony, just just a statement win
for Florida State. You know, they've given up and down
a little bit, and I think that's got to be
a win that that breeds some confidence in them moving forward.
Speaker 4 (12:49):
No, hands down.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
I mean, you know, you got you gotta think that
normal the coach had to get off the get get
out of the gate hot or his job was on
the line, and what better way to do it against
Alabama at home? I mean, you know, now you got
to think about the bore, the pressure that's on him
at Alabama. I think whether you're Tennessee, I'm sorry, whether
(13:11):
you're Texas, whether you're Alabama, we'll talk about Clemson. You know,
you're glad that there's a college football playoff because a
wind like a loss like this early in the season
would usually devastate the rest of your campaign. But now
with the twelve team college football playoffs, you still have
another chance.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
No, I, Tony, You're right.
Speaker 1 (13:30):
Ryan Williams five catches thirty yards in that game, so
you were correct about that. That was the one game
I did not get to over the weekend as they
went through, But it was raining, which kind of retigated
his speed absolutely.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
All right, let's shop over to LSU Clemson.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
Much like texall house that I watched this game front
the back here, Tony, and you got a lot of
notes here. I want to start with the quarterbacks though,
because these are two guys that have been the conversation
as potential first round picks. Kay Klebnick has been a
guy I've seen talked about his potential first overall pick
store and that's my first or Club Nick?
Speaker 2 (14:01):
Where do you want to go?
Speaker 4 (14:02):
Let's go with Club Nick? I think, well, let's go
with the game overall. The theme of the game. I
think number one.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
LSU's defensive line played much better than anybody expected, and
the pressure they were getting, they did run a lot
of blitzes and Clemson. Clemson's offensive line, with which has
three draftable players including their left and the right tackle.
Speaker 4 (14:22):
Just seemed lost.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
I mean that would that that shocked me to begin with.
The Next thing that shocked me is Clemson's defensive line
has got three early picks, alright, it two potential first
round picks, and they were non existent. I mean they
were basically non existent. They got no pressure on news
Myer and this myer was able to make plays.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
So I think and by the way, Tony real quick.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
This is behind the LSU offensive line that lost three
or four starters last year.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
Including the two tackles right, including both offensive tackles Emery Jones,
who was what a third round pick and Campbell who
was the fourth pick of the draft. So and they
replaced the center who I think is going to be
really good. I believe he got hurt. So yeah, I mean,
they were non existent and I kind of expected Clemson's
defensive line to control the game.
Speaker 4 (15:10):
Never happened.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
So I think when you talk about you know, you
talk about that. We talked about club Nick. He did
not look good. The thing about kay Clubnick is he's
a bit like Dylan Gabriel. He's smart, he seized the field.
He showed great progress in this game last year. But
he doesn't have the great physical skills. He's not the
biggest guy in the world. He doesn't have the strongest arm.
(15:32):
Moscalochy talked to great him as a mid day three
pick because of the lack of physical skills. But as
we saw with cam Ward and Jayden Daniels, sometimes those
mid day three picks or those quarterbacks that get get
that get midday three grades at the beginning of season
turned out to be early first rounders. I think there
was a lot of hype, which I bought into club
(15:54):
Nick based on the development that he saw last year.
But I think the fact that you know, the Clemson
offensive line could not slow down the LSU pass rush,
plus the fact that Klubnick's not a guy that can
rely on his great athleticism to elude defenders or rely
on a strong arm to make some difficult throws when
he's under the rush, really hurt him. And that's what
(16:17):
we saw. Excuse me, sorry, And I never mind the
fact that his number one receiver was injured early in
the game with the hamstring and really was was on
the field, but was not himself Williams, who's going to
be a first round pick.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
Yes, exactly.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
And by the way, that was that was my confusion
with the two wide receivers, that that was the Williams
that was out Clubnik.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
I was actually impressed with his mobility. He moved pretty well.
For me. I thought he showed some athleticism.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
Me that one really nice move on the sideline where
it kind of June the guy and guy out of bounds.
But when he threw on the move Tony a couple
of times he was high, especially over the middle of
the field early in that game. And for a guy
that's gonna have to rely on his accuracy, I think
in order to be a really effective quarterback.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
I thought he was a little inconsistent with that.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
Going to nuss Meyer very quickly, I you know, there's
something about him where, you know, the tools don't jump
off the page, where you're wowed by the arm strength,
you're wowed by, you know, his athleticism, but he has
some creativity. He's accurate, and he just kind of finds
a way to find receivers and make plays. And there's
something about the way he plays quarterbacks.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
That I like.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
He looked like he was always in control. Yeah, if
you remember cam Ward a year ago, that opening game
when Miami went in and just pounded Florida, you could
tell it was a different cam Ward because he was
in control of the poise. Now, thus Meyer was on
the was on the move a little bit, but you
never felt that he was always poised under the rush.
(17:46):
You always felt that he was in control. And the
vision was fantastic. I mean he would see you be
rolling outside the pocket. He'd find the receivers on crossing patterns.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
How about that bay where he rolled right through back
and left to the guy coming behind the play.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
Oh, it was a great throw.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
He's finding the underneath receivers, he's finding the safety valves.
He's not making bad throws. Going back to your point
about club Nick overthrowing receivers, I think that's also the
result of him trying to put extra speed on throws
because he doesn't have the big arm. But nuss Meyer
looked terrific against you know, a defense that on paper
(18:23):
has an outstanding defensive line, has some real good linebackers,
and has an outstanding secondary.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
So you never got once.
Speaker 3 (18:33):
LSU was able to tie the game, you just I
just got the feeling that ms Meyer was in control
of the situation.
Speaker 4 (18:39):
And it was going to be very tough for Clemson
to get back in it.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
I thought the LSU wide receivers, and again, you know,
they've lost a bunch of guys the last couple of years, Tony,
but I thought the LCU wide receivers look like those
guys could develop into some pretty explosive players. So I
guess isn't surprise, given how ls you knows how to
produce guys at that position.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
Right.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
Aaron Anderson is a highly rated guy by NFL scouts.
He's a smaller guy, but he's exceptionally quick. He separates
from defenders and as he saw Saturday night, he catches.
Speaker 4 (19:08):
The ball very very well.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
The other one to keep an eye on is Chris Hilton.
He's more of the downfield thread. He's the four to
three guy, but he's got to really learn to become
a pass catcher.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
He had a fumble in that game on on that
screen pass.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
And the that power forward they have playing at at
tight end. Trey Dad's green. He's only a sophomore, but
it'll be fun to see his development.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
I thought Wade wood has looked pretty good for Clemson's
defense the linebacker. I thought he got a couple of
nice plays, got inside the line of scrimmage.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
I thought he was very active. I was impressed by him.
Speaker 3 (19:41):
I love Wade woodez and if you read my Clemson
right up at sports Skeito over the summer about it,
scouts have a six round grade on him. I think
he's Day two material. He's got decent size, He's got
solid speed and he gets it between the head, between
the ears, he sells out of the blitz. He's a
good run defender. He also gets he also gets stepped
(20:01):
out of his pass drops. Really a complete three down defender.
I don't know why they graded him as a Day
three pick, but I think at the end, and this was,
there was talk that with Dodds was going to enter
the draft last year. So I got a head start
on him because I was doing my film work on
Clemson earlier this year getting ready for twenty twenty five draft.
(20:23):
I kept denying him in case he entered the draft. Yeah,
I really like him a lot.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
All right, Tony, anyone else in this game that that
really jumped out to you that you think is worth noting.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
I thought Monsieur Delayanne, the Virginia Tech cornerback h for
ls LSU, played exceptionally well. I mean he was shutting
down his Clemson opponents. I think when Antonio Williams went down,
the rest of the Clemson receivers really didn't step up
their game. But part of the reason was because Delaane
played exceptionally well. I've had him on my scouting radar
(20:55):
the past two years since his sophomore season of Virginia Tech.
I have him as a second third round pick. Scouts
have him a little rated, a little bit lower. I'm
told there may be concern about his forty times. He's
not a fast guy. I don't see it on film.
I don't see him getting beat downfield on film. But
de Lane is a guy to watch, especially as you
get through the SEC schedule.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
I also thought that a tony real quick I had
on my notes generally to your point, I thought LSU's
corners did not allow those Clemson wide receivers any breathing room,
and I think that was another reason why club thing.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
I think struggle a little bit. Sorry I didn't mean,
but you're right on.
Speaker 3 (21:30):
And I think Delane I was excited to see a
Clemson this year, was one of those who was one
of the main reasons. And Avian Terrell, younger and smaller
brother of A. J. Terrell, the cornerback from Clemson. I
thought he played exceptionally well. The other kid, the freshman's
getting called for penalty after penalty, they stayed away from Terrell,
but when they went in his direction, he answered the call.
(21:52):
I think he's a top forty five pick doesn't have
that six foot even or a taller measurement when he
gets on the scale.
Speaker 4 (22:00):
But he's smart, he's tough, and he's got terrific ball skills.
Speaker 2 (22:03):
Yeah, no question about it.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
And you know you mentioned that, you know, let's use
pass rushers then after howld Perkins, who could have came
out last year wasn't for the injury.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
He's back now and he was very active.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
Yeah, and it wasn't just a pass rush, and I
mean he did everything he was. They mentioned how he
was a spy on k Klubnik and how even Clemsing
game planned around him and Perkins, I'm glad you brought
him up. He was all over the place sideline to
sideline pursuit, doesn't show any any ill effects from that
injury from a year ago. He's a smaller guy, he's
not an edge rusher. I think he's someone that can
(22:34):
play three downs. You can use him in space, you
can use him in pursuit. But he's tough, he's intense,
and he's also smart and it was great to see
him play as well as he did coming off of
that injury from a year ago.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
Draft season is presented by Moody's a Pratt partner of
the New York Giants Dcode versus Unlock Opportunity. Learn more
at Moody's dot com. All right, Tony, let's jump to
Notre Dame Miami. Really an entertaining game on Sunday night,
much like the NFL jumps into Saturdays when college football
ends before the NFL starts college football, jumping into Sundays
(23:09):
before NFL starts running that day.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
But a fun game.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
Notre Dame trying to make a run late, they could
not quite come you know, complete that comeback, a big
field goal late for Miami to get them that victory.
And it was Carson Back's debut for the Hurricanes, and
they didn't put a ton on his plate.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
Tony, but he was pretty emotional in the interview after
the game.
Speaker 1 (23:33):
I think he hopes to have, you know, it probably
won't be to the same level, but have the same
type of success transferring to Miami that cam Ward had
last year.
Speaker 4 (23:41):
Listen.
Speaker 3 (23:41):
I mean, if he played all season last year the
way he played on against Notre Dame, he probably enters
the NFL's raft. I mean, he wasn't great, but it
was a major improvement from a year ago. He wasn't
throwing ridiculous interception sections early in the game which put
his team in the hole. He got Miami ahead. He
(24:04):
was efficient. I was impressed the way he would look
around the field. He'd go through his progressions a little
bit later than I would like to see. But he
wasn't locking onto one receiver as he had the prior
to years at Georgia. The receivers were holding onto the
football as they didn't do with Georgia. On which Teliga
you know, is there something the way he's delivering the
(24:25):
football or what the situations because the receivers in Miami
are good, but they weren't as talented as what he
had at Georgia last year. I mean, I think the
only disappointment with Beck was it kind of seemed to
take the pedal off, his foot off the pedal late
in the game and let Notre Dame get back into
the game. But then again, Miami seemed content on running
(24:47):
the football rather than leaving the ball in Carson Beck's hands.
I think overall, was it a spectacular performance, No, but
it would start. It was much more improved to what
we saw basically for most of the season last year
at Georgia, and.
Speaker 1 (25:01):
To me, the story here Tony especially late is the
Miami pass rush. And we're gonna be talking about Ubin
Bain a lot this year. He's a really good pass rush,
a really good player, and I thought that was one
of the big differences here that they could just not
block those two outside pass rushers for the Hurricanes.
Speaker 3 (25:17):
Yeah, you mentioned Ruben Bain, and he's well known in
the Twitter draft world. But a key Messidor, I mean
a key Messidor two years ago was highly rated by scouts.
He had some injury problems, he really didn't show a
lot of progress in his game. He played exceptionally well.
Bain is what number three in Messidor I believe is
number four, And Mezsador is quick, He's explosive up the field,
(25:40):
off the edge, he's got decent size. So Ruben Bain,
if he's gonna be a top forty two pick, which
I believe he will be, I think that a key
Mezsidor who was created as a fifth round pick, has
the ability to sneak into Day two. What you saw
from Messidor on Sunday night is not just a one
off type of thing that that's what he showed in
(26:00):
twenty twenty three when he was fully healthy. So that's
a good sign for Miami. It's a good sign for
teams that are looking for pass rushers in the twenty
twenty six draft.
Speaker 1 (26:09):
Absolutely, and then Jeremiah Love probably the highest rated player
in that game. Tony in terms of you know, grades
heading into the season, just had trouble getting going. And
I think that's a product of until teams start respecting
what Notre Dame's going to do in the passing game,
they're just going to stack the box against Jeremiah Love
all year.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
Yes and no, I mean Jeremiah Love is everybody's favorite
running back. You remember the game, the Indiana game when
he took in ninety six yards and he has the ability,
you know, to break big plays and to take over games.
Speaker 4 (26:40):
But I'm pulling it up now.
Speaker 3 (26:41):
If you watch, if you look at Mesador, he was
kind of hit or miss, you know, most of the
time he would have one hundred yards ninety one yards.
He's a twelve carry, fourteen carry. He's not the guy
that he's never been, the guy that carries the ball
twenty times and rushes for two hundred yard I'll Ashton
genty a year ago. He's got that home run hitting speed,
(27:05):
but it's kind of been up and down. I understand
what you're saying about, you know, loading up the box.
But even last year, if you look at him when
he was good, he was unstoppable. But there are times
with Jeremiah Love where he just disappears. Didn't Sean McDonough
talk about it late in the game when he said
when when they put the Love on the field, he goes, well,
he's finally come out of the witness protection plan because
(27:26):
he didn't see him for so long on the field.
Speaker 4 (27:29):
That's his game.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
That's got to change for NFL teams to fall in
love with him.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
All right, Tony, let's go on to the two other
games this week that you want to touch on. Auburn
Valor what kind of jumped out to you from that game.
Speaker 3 (27:40):
Yeah, everybody talks about Keldrick Keldrick falk Uh, the incredible
Auburn pass rusher who's going to be a top ten pick.
In fact, as we get into it during the season,
Auburn probably has two top ten picks, but Kron Crawford
great as a mid to mid day three pick.
Speaker 4 (27:57):
Fifth round the area.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (27:59):
He had seven times, one sack, one tackle of loss.
He's a real good pass rusher. Think Kyle Knard, you know,
goes about six three two and forty eight pounds four
point eight one in the forty doesn't have those great measurables,
but it's just an explosive, intense pass rusher.
Speaker 4 (28:15):
Keep Crawford on your on your scouting radar. It was
good to see Joey.
Speaker 3 (28:19):
Aguilar, the former Appalachian State quarterback, do what he did
at Tennessee or for Tennessee, i should say, against Syracuse.
You remember the whole off season saga which happened right
around draft time when Nico I'm a Lava was basically
dismissed from the Tennessee program. They didn't have a quarterback.
(28:39):
Late April, they bring Aguilar in from Appalachian State. Agilar,
in my opinion, is disrespected in the scouting community. He's
got decent size, he's always had a good arm. Now
he's got a real good quarterback coach. So let's see
what happens with him moving forward. Talked about Castellanos before
having a good year then going to something going something
like the Shrine Bowl.
Speaker 4 (29:00):
The new York season. I think Aglar fits that mold
me Tony.
Speaker 1 (29:04):
By the way, you you just know how great that
Tennessee offense is. I mean you can pull quarterbacks in
there and they are going to be productive. So absolutely
one hundred you.
Speaker 4 (29:13):
Want another pass rusher to watch.
Speaker 3 (29:16):
Josh Josephs of Tennessee basically played second fiddle to James
Pierce last year. Great it as a late day two
type of player from scouts. Absolutely deserves that great I
have a solid third round grand on him. Seven tackles,
one tackle for loss, one sack, went forced fumble against Syracuse.
A guy that's got a lot of ability, makes a
(29:37):
lot of plays on the football. Somebody to keep watch
moving forward. Two last guys I've mentioned real quick. Jalen
McMurray of Tennessee by way of Temple, now Tennessee's full
time starting nickelback, made a lot of positive plays on Saturday.
Got to mention one guy from Syracuse. California transfer David
Reese led the team with seven tackles one tackle for loss.
(29:58):
He was a terrific rusher California before moving to Syracuse.
Kind of gets the shoulder shrug from scouts. That's because
he's an eighth year senior. I mean, the guy's gonna
be pushing thirty soon. But he's a real good football
player who makes a lot of plays up front.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
Draft Season is presented by Moody's, a proud partner of
the New York Football Giants, on uniting the brightest minds
to turn today's risk into tomorrow's opportunities.
Speaker 2 (30:26):
Learn more in Moody's dot com. All Right, Tony.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
Unfortunately, as great as Week one on the college football
schedule was, weeks two and three not so great. So
the next two weeks, Tony's gonna go through his offensive
preseason rankings next week.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
We'll do defense to the following week.
Speaker 1 (30:42):
But there are a couple games that you want to
talk about coming up in week two, Tony, What do
you got?
Speaker 3 (30:46):
You just show a prospect point of view. Illinois versus Duke.
I mean two good mid tier programs. Illinois's got a
pass rusher by the Gabe Jackets. He's getting third fourth
round grades, thirteen tackle for lost, eight sacks, kind of
is the defensive end. Defensive tackle six three, two hundred
eighty pounds runs in the low four to sevens. But
(31:08):
a guy that's constantly making plays on the football. Watch
him versus Brian Parker, Duke's right tackle. A guy that
no one talks about, but if you talk to people
in the scouting community, they absolutely love Brian Parker. He's
probably gonna be a guard at the NFL, at the
next level, maybe center, but he's fundamentally sound. He plays
(31:28):
like one of those typical smart Duke offensive lineman. Bends
his knees, uses his angles well. A guy that and
we've seen a lot of good offensive linemen come out
of Duke to pass the half dozen years.
Speaker 4 (31:41):
Parker's the next guy.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
Parker of Duke against Gabe Jackets of Illinois is a
matchup to watch, a scout matchup to watch on Saturday.
And then Troy versus Clemson. I would expect Clemson to
go in there and win the game seventy five to three,
but the fact of the matter is Troy has a
receiver by the name of raw Rock Thomas who transferred
from Georgia. Now let's go back a year. You had
(32:06):
Michael Green, who was I believe your first non power
for player to be drafted. Michael Green, the former Virginia
player who transferred to a Sun Belt school, came out
of Marshall. Now you have ra Rod Thomas going to Troy.
Robrod Thomas was highly rated by scouts coming into the
twenty twenty four season. He was arrested for I believe
(32:26):
it was second degree felony. He was immediately dismissed from
the program. Didn't play it down for Georgia last year.
Came to a plead deal with authorities. He's now at Troy.
He's going to be the number one receiver. Let's see
where he's at after missing a full year, full season
of football, and he's going to be throwing to the
(32:47):
Wolves against that Clemson secondary. I mentioned Avion Terrell. They
got another kid by the name of Jaden Lucas who's
a terrific corner that has been dealing with some injuries.
Khalil Barnes. If you watched the game Sunday night, played well,
but he got injured. They're gonna be They're gonna be
keen on Ramrod Thomas, who prior to the two tentsy
twenty four seasons, scouts had him as a third fourth
(33:09):
round type of receiver, the top receiver on the George
in the Georgia in that Georgia unit. That Georgia class,
which had a lot of good receivers, still has some
good receivers. But this is a big rebound game against
the talented Clemson secondary for Thomas.
Speaker 1 (33:24):
All right, Tony, Well, we'll do this a lot more
next week, but just before we say goodbye, give fans
a little preview of what you think this draft class
looks like and what we'll be talking about over the
next two weeks, just in those where the strengths of
the week this is are and just kind of what
the the you know, basic character of this class is
going to be as we talk about it over the
next seven eight months.
Speaker 3 (33:45):
You know, I like, and we'll get Like you said,
we'll get into this more next week.
Speaker 4 (33:48):
Next week.
Speaker 3 (33:49):
I kind of like the potential at the quarterback position
you may you mentioned, Kay Klubnick. Next week, I'm gonna
be talking a lot about Lenora Sellers, the guy of
the quarterback from South Carolina should be a good edge
rushing class. Keldric falk Of of Auburn, Overton of Alabama,
(34:09):
Kelly of Central Florida. I mean, these are all guys
that are that are good pass rushers. I think it's
a real good off ball linebacker class. You mentioned Harold Perkins,
Anthony Hill who was kind of up and down the
the the junior from Texas who's an explosive player. I think,
you know, we'll have to wait and see, but it
could be a good running back class as well. Mentioned
(34:31):
Jeremiah Love. Penn State's got a pair of running backs
that are real good players. There's some other ball carriers
Laketon In day In, Laighton day two that could have
an impact, Davis Taylor of Minnesota. And the offensive tackle
class has got a lot of potential. I'm looking at
my boy right now. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven,
(34:54):
eight offensive tackles with great with first or second round grades.
Speaker 4 (34:59):
So that's something else we'll talk about at length.
Speaker 1 (35:01):
We'll have a long conversation about the offense next week.
Defense the following week. I will of course review everything
that happened in college football over the weekend as well,
and then things really start to pick up with conference
play in week number four and we'll start getting to that.
Speaker 2 (35:15):
Have some guests on.
Speaker 1 (35:16):
It'll be funny here, Tony. I'm thrilled to be back
with you. Thanks for being with me again, and we'll
talk soon.
Speaker 4 (35:21):
Look forward to it. John.
Speaker 1 (35:22):
That's Draft Season presented by Moody's, a proud sponsor of
the New York Football Giants. For Tony Pauline from sports
Keta check out all his work there. I am John Schmelk.
We will see you guys next time.
Now officially open. This is Draft Season, presented by Moody's.
I am John Schmoke. He is Tony Pauline. Thank you
so much for being with us. Episode three. Happy to
be rejoined by my partner, Tony here after going solo
with Drew Fabianic and Bruce Feldman in our first two episodes.
(00:24):
I suggest everyone go back and listen to those episodes.
Really some good nuggets on the draft class in general
and Bruce Feldman's freaks list, which also ends up being
a pretty good preview for the season. Tony, you're vacationed,
You're relaxed, You're refreshed.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
How are you.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
I'm great. I'm excited to be back. Hopefully we'll do
some butt kicking this year. I'm looking forward to the
next what eight months of shows, a lot of information,
a lot of film over the summer, as you can
see a lot of sun on my vacation as well.
But I'm glad.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
To be back, absolutely, and I'm glad to have you
with me.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
This is probably the biggest week one of college football
that I've ever seen, Tony. We had three games with
matchups between top ten teams, which is awesome. It was
a lot of fun, and I think there were some
lessons to be learned, and I think the first one
would be, without a lot of evidence, beware hypes of
(01:22):
names before our season starts, to see guys play a
lot of football, And I guess that would be a
good place to start with Texas Ohio State and look,
arch man it could end up being an awesome football player.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
But you know, people.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Were really making a lot out of one game last year,
and his tools are great. And again, this is nothing
negative about arch This is a negative about people covering
him and how they talked about him without seeing a
ton of evidence before they started blowing things out of proportion.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
And listen, I'm right there with you. And it started
at the end of the twenty twenty five draft. I mean,
go back and watch our post draft shows. Many mock
drafts for twenty twenty six had arch Manning out there
as the number one pick for the twenty twenty six draft,
and I said at the time, you.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
Know, it's insane.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
All it is is a continuation of the Shador Sanders
hype on the college football level.
Speaker 4 (02:14):
And you're absolutely right. I mean it was.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
It's nothing against arch Manning, but you know, the hype
is having people draw the mines, you know, the arch
manning lovers and the arch maning hitters. Just let the
guy play. And he didn't play well against Ohio State.
There's no doubt about it. You can't shake it out
any other way. He was what, five for ten for
twenty six yards in the first half. Obviously the physical
(02:37):
skills are there, but he was laid on throws, his
reads were poor, he was overthrowing receivers, he was missing
wide open receivers. The last three minutes of the game,
he played well, but you know, you're thrown caustion to
the win there because they had to score fourteen points
in the last three minutes just to tie the score up.
(02:57):
But yeah, you know, there was all this hype and
there was this massive letdown from people who believed in him.
And it's kind of funny because after the game I
was reading things and the height went the other way.
Oh he's no good, he's staying so his uncles were
so much better. Give it some time. The irony is
I was thinking about this. If you remember quinn Ewer's
(03:19):
first game as a redshirt freshman in Texas, he was
destroying Alabama. I mean He looked like the next coming.
He was incredible until he went down with.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
A collarbone injury.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
So you know, Arch Manning not only got paid, we
got outplayed by the Ohio State freshman quarterback. He also
got outplayed by quinn Ewers when Queen Ears was a
redher freshman. But it's just one game. Let's see what happens.
It wasn't a good game, but it was just one game.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
And by the way, against a great team, right, it's
not like it's not like this game was against some
you know, you know, a like money game against some
FCS team that's coming into Texas to to get a
million dollars to play him, you know. And look, Ohio,
they lost a lot of players, we know that, but
they have Caleb down Sunny Styles is still there.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
They have some very good players.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
And it's okay for in the first game of a
college season when teams are still getting their footing for
a quarterback not to be his sharpest in game number one.
And there's gonna be there could be a dozen more
of these games, Tony for Arch before this season is over.
If they go into the college football playoffs, and there
is going to be a lot more to go off
of this. To your point, you saw the athleticism, you
(04:27):
saw the arm creativity. On that one last drive, he
had that great hole shot between the safety and the
corner and the sideline. It was a fantastic throw. But look,
it was just really a slow start, and you know
it did It's not go well early, and that's fine.
And Arch said it after the game that he needs
to play better. But there's a long way to go
here for Texas too, and for Arch. Let's see how
(04:49):
the rest of this year goes. It's no crime to
lose to Ohio State. A lot of players and great
players and good teams have lost to Ohio State before.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
In Ohio State in the show with one hundred and seven,
and I've been there because my daughter graduated for that,
and it's so much fun if you're an Ohio State fan,
I mean, if you're a fan of the opposing team,
it's a very hostile environment off a team that just
won the national championship. So you know there's extra hype
there and Arch Manning is coming in, so yeah, I mean,
the cards were stacked against him. The deck was stacked
(05:21):
against him, and as you mentioned, you know, all the
offseason hype. Well, it wasn't on him. It wasn't you know,
he didn't you know kind of he wasn't blowing smoke.
It was everybody else on the outside. Let's see what happens.
Speaker 4 (05:32):
Listen.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Credit to Texas, Credit to LSU, which we'll get into.
Credit to Alabama for you know, for going into the
hornets nest of some of these places in Week one.
You know, when you know Penn State is playing in
you know, Kent State or whoever they were playing, going
in and playing this type of game.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Yep, absolutely, who else from Texas Tony stood out team
in this game.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
You gotta like both of their running backs. I mean CJ.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Baxter as a runner, as a pass catcher, as a blocker,
red shirt sophomore, he looked really good. Quin Travian Wisner
the other running back. I mean, they got the sort
of a what Ohio State had last year, you know,
with that one two punch with Jenkins and Henderson. Weisner's
more the game breaker, who can run, who can run
the daylight. He's got the home run hitting speed. Baxter's
(06:19):
more the more of the sure interior ball car, ballcarrier
who can also catch. He made some sensational blocks. During
that game, Avrol Reese of Ohio State nine tackles, one
tackle for a loss, one sack. He's taking over for
Cody Simon, who was the brains of that defense last year.
(06:40):
He's kind of a Jalen Walker type. Now, I don't
mean as a player. What I mean is when I
watched Reach last year, he was more of a situational
linebacker who was, you know, who came out of the
field and was good when he came on the field.
Now he's in the starting role. Now he's you know,
he's gonna be someone who's relied upon the way Jalen
Walker was from twenty twenty read in twenty twenty four.
(07:02):
Reese isn't the pass rusher. Oh, He's not displayed himself
as the pass rushing He's more of your off the
ball linebacker, which you know Ohio State uses because they
rely on that fore man front to get pressure. But
he's the guy he's already had came in the season
with fourth round grades from scouts. I think he's a
definite Day two player. And I think their cornerback Davidson,
(07:25):
a big Bogna son who was great two years ago,
was terrible last year. Showed a lot of good things,
still getting call for passing and france for p I penalties,
which he has got to got to really cut that down.
But I saw a lot of good things from him
compared to last year, which at times was a disaster.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
And then Tony, I want to talk to you a
little bit about the Ohio State passing game in this contest.
I thought the quarterback looked okay. You know, Jeremiah Smith
had a quiet game. He had a couple of drops early,
but you know he's not draft eligible anyway.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
How about Carnal Tate.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
You know, he had that really nice play down the field,
and I feel like he's gonna be another one of
these while state wide receivers that's going to try to
slide in here to the back end of the first round.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Of everything goes well this year.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
I have more as a Day two pick. And if
you remember Cardinal Tate just last year from the college
football playoffs, he was a guy that came up big
and important situations. He's more of a stouter, possession type
of timing receiver, more of an underneath guy, a very
reliable pass catcher. You know he's going to be relied
upon the way I talked about the linebacker ree. Cardinal
(08:36):
Tates to me, relied upon now that a mecha abuka
is in the NFL to play your bigger role. I
like Cardinal Tate. Could I see him as a late
first round pick. Possibly. I think a lot will depend
on his testing numbers. I think he's more early Day two,
but he's a legitimate NFL prospect. I would agree with you.
And you know you know you mentioned the pass catchers.
(08:57):
Let's see what happens with Max Clair. I mean Max
Clair coming in the season, the Perdue transfer, a dynamic
move type of tight end, plays the position like a
pass catcher, like a receiver more than a tight end.
Was one of the highest rated seniors tight ends coming
into the season. Had to drop on Saturday, but for
the most part it played relatively well. Whether they had
(09:17):
what one hundred and thirty or one hundred and forty
yards passing Ohio STATEA on Saturday. Let's see what happens
with these guys with tape with Max Clair as the
season progresses, as that freshman quarterbacks, that first year quarterback
really starts to get into the groove of things.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
I thought that big Texas tight end looked like he
had some promise to Tony.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
I think you could transfer right yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
Jack injuries. I tweeted about him before the game. You know,
he's a guy who he's been on my scouting radar
for two years now, since he was a sophomore at California.
You could see that big playability, that flash ability to
get down the field and make big plays.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
I tweeted about him myself.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
You know what this guy he is a Day two
prospect and he was arch Manny's leading receiver. I think
he's gonna build that rapport with arch Manning. He's not
gonna be the big play receiver that they have they
have on the depth chart right now, but he is
a terrific pass catcher. He looks like a good athlete.
He plays like a good athlete, not a bad blocker.
(10:20):
But I tweeted about energy before the game.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
I really like him absolutely. All right, let's go on
to the next game, Tony. Let's go to Alabama and
Florida State. Obviously a big upset here, Ty Simpson. Not
the best game for Alabama in that contest, and I
thought it was more telling is that Florida State ran
the ball really well against that Alabama defense, which you
don't often see your thoughts on the game.
Speaker 4 (10:42):
A good Alabama defense at that.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
I mean, they've got some good linebackers, they've got good safeties,
they've got a good defensive line. They're pretty they were
supposed to be pretty strong up the middle. You know,
Alabama offensively. No JM. Miller, who's a real good running back,
he's a middle round choice. No Jaden roberts Uh the
offensive guard, who's also a middle round choice, potentially a
(11:05):
Day two pick. I think that hurt their offense. That
hurt the quarterback.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
The wide receiver wasn't out there either, right there, their
their big sophomore wide receiver. He wasn't out there either, right.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
Williams right what I thought he was. But Jermaine Jermaine
Bernard had eight recepts for one hundred fourteen year. You
may be right, But then again, he's a speed receiver
and it was raining like heck that game, so that
that would have hurt him.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
I was. I agree with you.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
The way uh Florida State was able to push that
Alabama defense around the field, and the way Tommy Castellanos,
the Boston College transfer basically had his way throwing the
ball as well as running the ball. Wasn't you know,
was impressive if you're a Florida State fan and then
had to be impressive to scouts. I mean, Castellanos he's
(11:50):
an r PO quarterback, more r for me than than
I would usually like.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
But for him to come in a game like that, he's.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
A mauthedy guy. He's an outspoking guy. He wasn't boss
in college. You heard what he said about Alabama not
having Nick Saban the fallback on leading into this game,
which was bolton board locker room material that Alabama used.
Speaker 4 (12:09):
Uh and but he backed it up.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
I mean he backed it up. He beat Alabama with
his arm and with his legs. And if you're a scout,
Castellanos has kind of basically been ignored. You know, this
is the kind of guy that if he plays like
that for the rest of the season, gets an invite
to something like the Shrine Game. Now all of a sudden,
you're talking about a potential, you know, possible late round pick.
He's small, but he's very athletic. He mike plays in
(12:34):
her outside the pocket. He plays with his arms or
his legs, so it is really good on Saturday against Alabama.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
Absolutely, And I think Tony, just just a statement win
for Florida State. You know, they've given up and down
a little bit, and I think that's got to be
a win that that breeds some confidence in them moving forward.
Speaker 4 (12:49):
No, hands down.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
I mean, you know, you got you gotta think that
normal the coach had to get off the get get
out of the gate hot or his job was on
the line, and what better way to do it against
Alabama at home? I mean, you know, now you got
to think about the bore, the pressure that's on him
at Alabama. I think whether you're Tennessee, I'm sorry, whether
(13:11):
you're Texas, whether you're Alabama, we'll talk about Clemson. You know,
you're glad that there's a college football playoff because a
wind like a loss like this early in the season
would usually devastate the rest of your campaign. But now
with the twelve team college football playoffs, you still have
another chance.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
No, I, Tony, You're right.
Speaker 1 (13:30):
Ryan Williams five catches thirty yards in that game, so
you were correct about that. That was the one game
I did not get to over the weekend as they
went through, But it was raining, which kind of retigated
his speed absolutely.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
All right, let's shop over to LSU Clemson.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
Much like texall house that I watched this game front
the back here, Tony, and you got a lot of
notes here. I want to start with the quarterbacks though,
because these are two guys that have been the conversation
as potential first round picks. Kay Klebnick has been a
guy I've seen talked about his potential first overall pick
store and that's my first or Club Nick?
Speaker 2 (14:01):
Where do you want to go?
Speaker 4 (14:02):
Let's go with Club Nick? I think, well, let's go
with the game overall. The theme of the game. I
think number one.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
LSU's defensive line played much better than anybody expected, and
the pressure they were getting, they did run a lot
of blitzes and Clemson. Clemson's offensive line, with which has
three draftable players including their left and the right tackle.
Speaker 4 (14:22):
Just seemed lost.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
I mean that would that that shocked me to begin with.
The Next thing that shocked me is Clemson's defensive line
has got three early picks, alright, it two potential first
round picks, and they were non existent. I mean they
were basically non existent. They got no pressure on news
Myer and this myer was able to make plays.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
So I think and by the way, Tony real quick.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
This is behind the LSU offensive line that lost three
or four starters last year.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
Including the two tackles right, including both offensive tackles Emery Jones,
who was what a third round pick and Campbell who
was the fourth pick of the draft. So and they
replaced the center who I think is going to be
really good. I believe he got hurt. So yeah, I mean,
they were non existent and I kind of expected Clemson's
defensive line to control the game.
Speaker 4 (15:10):
Never happened.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
So I think when you talk about you know, you
talk about that. We talked about club Nick. He did
not look good. The thing about kay Clubnick is he's
a bit like Dylan Gabriel. He's smart, he seized the field.
He showed great progress in this game last year. But
he doesn't have the great physical skills. He's not the
biggest guy in the world. He doesn't have the strongest arm.
(15:32):
Moscalochy talked to great him as a mid day three
pick because of the lack of physical skills. But as
we saw with cam Ward and Jayden Daniels, sometimes those
mid day three picks or those quarterbacks that get get
that get midday three grades at the beginning of season
turned out to be early first rounders. I think there
was a lot of hype, which I bought into club
(15:54):
Nick based on the development that he saw last year.
But I think the fact that you know, the Clemson
offensive line could not slow down the LSU pass rush,
plus the fact that Klubnick's not a guy that can
rely on his great athleticism to elude defenders or rely
on a strong arm to make some difficult throws when
he's under the rush, really hurt him. And that's what
(16:17):
we saw. Excuse me, sorry, And I never mind the
fact that his number one receiver was injured early in
the game with the hamstring and really was was on
the field, but was not himself Williams, who's going to
be a first round pick.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
Yes, exactly.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
And by the way, that was that was my confusion
with the two wide receivers, that that was the Williams
that was out Clubnik.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
I was actually impressed with his mobility. He moved pretty well.
For me. I thought he showed some athleticism.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
Me that one really nice move on the sideline where
it kind of June the guy and guy out of bounds.
But when he threw on the move Tony a couple
of times he was high, especially over the middle of
the field early in that game. And for a guy
that's gonna have to rely on his accuracy, I think
in order to be a really effective quarterback.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
I thought he was a little inconsistent with that.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
Going to nuss Meyer very quickly, I you know, there's
something about him where, you know, the tools don't jump
off the page, where you're wowed by the arm strength,
you're wowed by, you know, his athleticism, but he has
some creativity. He's accurate, and he just kind of finds
a way to find receivers and make plays. And there's
something about the way he plays quarterbacks.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
That I like.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
He looked like he was always in control. Yeah, if
you remember cam Ward a year ago, that opening game
when Miami went in and just pounded Florida, you could
tell it was a different cam Ward because he was
in control of the poise. Now, thus Meyer was on
the was on the move a little bit, but you
never felt that he was always poised under the rush.
(17:46):
You always felt that he was in control. And the
vision was fantastic. I mean he would see you be
rolling outside the pocket. He'd find the receivers on crossing patterns.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
How about that bay where he rolled right through back
and left to the guy coming behind the play.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
Oh, it was a great throw.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
He's finding the underneath receivers, he's finding the safety valves.
He's not making bad throws. Going back to your point
about club Nick overthrowing receivers, I think that's also the
result of him trying to put extra speed on throws
because he doesn't have the big arm. But nuss Meyer
looked terrific against you know, a defense that on paper
(18:23):
has an outstanding defensive line, has some real good linebackers,
and has an outstanding secondary.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
So you never got once.
Speaker 3 (18:33):
LSU was able to tie the game, you just I
just got the feeling that ms Meyer was in control
of the situation.
Speaker 4 (18:39):
And it was going to be very tough for Clemson
to get back in it.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
I thought the LSU wide receivers, and again, you know,
they've lost a bunch of guys the last couple of years, Tony,
but I thought the LCU wide receivers look like those
guys could develop into some pretty explosive players. So I
guess isn't surprise, given how ls you knows how to
produce guys at that position.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
Right.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
Aaron Anderson is a highly rated guy by NFL scouts.
He's a smaller guy, but he's exceptionally quick. He separates
from defenders and as he saw Saturday night, he catches.
Speaker 4 (19:08):
The ball very very well.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
The other one to keep an eye on is Chris Hilton.
He's more of the downfield thread. He's the four to
three guy, but he's got to really learn to become
a pass catcher.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
He had a fumble in that game on on that
screen pass.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
And the that power forward they have playing at at
tight end. Trey Dad's green. He's only a sophomore, but
it'll be fun to see his development.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
I thought Wade wood has looked pretty good for Clemson's
defense the linebacker. I thought he got a couple of
nice plays, got inside the line of scrimmage.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
I thought he was very active. I was impressed by him.
Speaker 3 (19:41):
I love Wade woodez and if you read my Clemson
right up at sports Skeito over the summer about it,
scouts have a six round grade on him. I think
he's Day two material. He's got decent size, He's got
solid speed and he gets it between the head, between
the ears, he sells out of the blitz. He's a
good run defender. He also gets he also gets stepped
(20:01):
out of his pass drops. Really a complete three down defender.
I don't know why they graded him as a Day
three pick, but I think at the end, and this was,
there was talk that with Dodds was going to enter
the draft last year. So I got a head start
on him because I was doing my film work on
Clemson earlier this year getting ready for twenty twenty five draft.
(20:23):
I kept denying him in case he entered the draft. Yeah,
I really like him a lot.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
All right, Tony, anyone else in this game that that
really jumped out to you that you think is worth noting.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
I thought Monsieur Delayanne, the Virginia Tech cornerback h for
ls LSU, played exceptionally well. I mean he was shutting
down his Clemson opponents. I think when Antonio Williams went down,
the rest of the Clemson receivers really didn't step up
their game. But part of the reason was because Delaane
played exceptionally well. I've had him on my scouting radar
(20:55):
the past two years since his sophomore season of Virginia Tech.
I have him as a second third round pick. Scouts
have him a little rated, a little bit lower. I'm
told there may be concern about his forty times. He's
not a fast guy. I don't see it on film.
I don't see him getting beat downfield on film. But
de Lane is a guy to watch, especially as you
get through the SEC schedule.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
I also thought that a tony real quick I had
on my notes generally to your point, I thought LSU's
corners did not allow those Clemson wide receivers any breathing room,
and I think that was another reason why club thing.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
I think struggle a little bit. Sorry I didn't mean,
but you're right on.
Speaker 3 (21:30):
And I think Delane I was excited to see a
Clemson this year, was one of those who was one
of the main reasons. And Avian Terrell, younger and smaller
brother of A. J. Terrell, the cornerback from Clemson. I
thought he played exceptionally well. The other kid, the freshman's
getting called for penalty after penalty, they stayed away from Terrell,
but when they went in his direction, he answered the call.
(21:52):
I think he's a top forty five pick doesn't have
that six foot even or a taller measurement when he
gets on the scale.
Speaker 4 (22:00):
But he's smart, he's tough, and he's got terrific ball skills.
Speaker 2 (22:03):
Yeah, no question about it.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
And you know you mentioned that, you know, let's use
pass rushers then after howld Perkins, who could have came
out last year wasn't for the injury.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
He's back now and he was very active.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
Yeah, and it wasn't just a pass rush, and I
mean he did everything he was. They mentioned how he
was a spy on k Klubnik and how even Clemsing
game planned around him and Perkins, I'm glad you brought
him up. He was all over the place sideline to
sideline pursuit, doesn't show any any ill effects from that
injury from a year ago. He's a smaller guy, he's
not an edge rusher. I think he's someone that can
(22:34):
play three downs. You can use him in space, you
can use him in pursuit. But he's tough, he's intense,
and he's also smart and it was great to see
him play as well as he did coming off of
that injury from a year ago.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
Draft season is presented by Moody's a Pratt partner of
the New York Giants Dcode versus Unlock Opportunity. Learn more
at Moody's dot com. All right, Tony, let's jump to
Notre Dame Miami. Really an entertaining game on Sunday night,
much like the NFL jumps into Saturdays when college football
ends before the NFL starts college football, jumping into Sundays
(23:09):
before NFL starts running that day.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
But a fun game.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
Notre Dame trying to make a run late, they could
not quite come you know, complete that comeback, a big
field goal late for Miami to get them that victory.
And it was Carson Back's debut for the Hurricanes, and
they didn't put a ton on his plate.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
Tony, but he was pretty emotional in the interview after
the game.
Speaker 1 (23:33):
I think he hopes to have, you know, it probably
won't be to the same level, but have the same
type of success transferring to Miami that cam Ward had
last year.
Speaker 4 (23:41):
Listen.
Speaker 3 (23:41):
I mean, if he played all season last year the
way he played on against Notre Dame, he probably enters
the NFL's raft. I mean, he wasn't great, but it
was a major improvement from a year ago. He wasn't
throwing ridiculous interception sections early in the game which put
his team in the hole. He got Miami ahead. He
(24:04):
was efficient. I was impressed the way he would look
around the field. He'd go through his progressions a little
bit later than I would like to see. But he
wasn't locking onto one receiver as he had the prior
to years at Georgia. The receivers were holding onto the
football as they didn't do with Georgia. On which Teliga
you know, is there something the way he's delivering the
(24:25):
football or what the situations because the receivers in Miami
are good, but they weren't as talented as what he
had at Georgia last year. I mean, I think the
only disappointment with Beck was it kind of seemed to
take the pedal off, his foot off the pedal late
in the game and let Notre Dame get back into
the game. But then again, Miami seemed content on running
(24:47):
the football rather than leaving the ball in Carson Beck's hands.
I think overall, was it a spectacular performance, No, but
it would start. It was much more improved to what
we saw basically for most of the season last year
at Georgia, and.
Speaker 1 (25:01):
To me, the story here Tony especially late is the
Miami pass rush. And we're gonna be talking about Ubin
Bain a lot this year. He's a really good pass rush,
a really good player, and I thought that was one
of the big differences here that they could just not
block those two outside pass rushers for the Hurricanes.
Speaker 3 (25:17):
Yeah, you mentioned Ruben Bain, and he's well known in
the Twitter draft world. But a key Messidor, I mean
a key Messidor two years ago was highly rated by scouts.
He had some injury problems, he really didn't show a
lot of progress in his game. He played exceptionally well.
Bain is what number three in Messidor I believe is
number four, And Mezsador is quick, He's explosive up the field,
(25:40):
off the edge, he's got decent size. So Ruben Bain,
if he's gonna be a top forty two pick, which
I believe he will be, I think that a key
Mezsidor who was created as a fifth round pick, has
the ability to sneak into Day two. What you saw
from Messidor on Sunday night is not just a one
off type of thing that that's what he showed in
(26:00):
twenty twenty three when he was fully healthy. So that's
a good sign for Miami. It's a good sign for
teams that are looking for pass rushers in the twenty
twenty six draft.
Speaker 1 (26:09):
Absolutely, and then Jeremiah Love probably the highest rated player
in that game. Tony in terms of you know, grades
heading into the season, just had trouble getting going. And
I think that's a product of until teams start respecting
what Notre Dame's going to do in the passing game,
they're just going to stack the box against Jeremiah Love
all year.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
Yes and no, I mean Jeremiah Love is everybody's favorite
running back. You remember the game, the Indiana game when
he took in ninety six yards and he has the ability,
you know, to break big plays and to take over games.
Speaker 4 (26:40):
But I'm pulling it up now.
Speaker 3 (26:41):
If you watch, if you look at Mesador, he was
kind of hit or miss, you know, most of the
time he would have one hundred yards ninety one yards.
He's a twelve carry, fourteen carry. He's not the guy
that he's never been, the guy that carries the ball
twenty times and rushes for two hundred yard I'll Ashton
genty a year ago. He's got that home run hitting speed,
(27:05):
but it's kind of been up and down. I understand
what you're saying about, you know, loading up the box.
But even last year, if you look at him when
he was good, he was unstoppable. But there are times
with Jeremiah Love where he just disappears. Didn't Sean McDonough
talk about it late in the game when he said
when when they put the Love on the field, he goes, well,
he's finally come out of the witness protection plan because
(27:26):
he didn't see him for so long on the field.
Speaker 4 (27:29):
That's his game.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
That's got to change for NFL teams to fall in
love with him.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
All right, Tony, let's go on to the two other
games this week that you want to touch on. Auburn
Valor what kind of jumped out to you from that game.
Speaker 3 (27:40):
Yeah, everybody talks about Keldrick Keldrick falk Uh, the incredible
Auburn pass rusher who's going to be a top ten pick.
In fact, as we get into it during the season,
Auburn probably has two top ten picks, but Kron Crawford
great as a mid to mid day three pick.
Speaker 4 (27:57):
Fifth round the area.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (27:59):
He had seven times, one sack, one tackle of loss.
He's a real good pass rusher. Think Kyle Knard, you know,
goes about six three two and forty eight pounds four
point eight one in the forty doesn't have those great measurables,
but it's just an explosive, intense pass rusher.
Speaker 4 (28:15):
Keep Crawford on your on your scouting radar. It was
good to see Joey.
Speaker 3 (28:19):
Aguilar, the former Appalachian State quarterback, do what he did
at Tennessee or for Tennessee, i should say, against Syracuse.
You remember the whole off season saga which happened right
around draft time when Nico I'm a Lava was basically
dismissed from the Tennessee program. They didn't have a quarterback.
(28:39):
Late April, they bring Aguilar in from Appalachian State. Agilar,
in my opinion, is disrespected in the scouting community. He's
got decent size, he's always had a good arm. Now
he's got a real good quarterback coach. So let's see
what happens with him moving forward. Talked about Castellanos before
having a good year then going to something going something
like the Shrine Bowl.
Speaker 4 (29:00):
The new York season. I think Aglar fits that mold
me Tony.
Speaker 1 (29:04):
By the way, you you just know how great that
Tennessee offense is. I mean you can pull quarterbacks in
there and they are going to be productive. So absolutely
one hundred you.
Speaker 4 (29:13):
Want another pass rusher to watch.
Speaker 3 (29:16):
Josh Josephs of Tennessee basically played second fiddle to James
Pierce last year. Great it as a late day two
type of player from scouts. Absolutely deserves that great I
have a solid third round grand on him. Seven tackles,
one tackle for loss, one sack, went forced fumble against Syracuse.
A guy that's got a lot of ability, makes a
(29:37):
lot of plays on the football. Somebody to keep watch
moving forward. Two last guys I've mentioned real quick. Jalen
McMurray of Tennessee by way of Temple, now Tennessee's full
time starting nickelback, made a lot of positive plays on Saturday.
Got to mention one guy from Syracuse. California transfer David
Reese led the team with seven tackles one tackle for loss.
(29:58):
He was a terrific rusher California before moving to Syracuse.
Kind of gets the shoulder shrug from scouts. That's because
he's an eighth year senior. I mean, the guy's gonna
be pushing thirty soon. But he's a real good football
player who makes a lot of plays up front.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
Draft Season is presented by Moody's, a proud partner of
the New York Football Giants, on uniting the brightest minds
to turn today's risk into tomorrow's opportunities.
Speaker 2 (30:26):
Learn more in Moody's dot com. All Right, Tony.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
Unfortunately, as great as Week one on the college football
schedule was, weeks two and three not so great. So
the next two weeks, Tony's gonna go through his offensive
preseason rankings next week.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
We'll do defense to the following week.
Speaker 1 (30:42):
But there are a couple games that you want to
talk about coming up in week two, Tony, What do
you got?
Speaker 3 (30:46):
You just show a prospect point of view. Illinois versus Duke.
I mean two good mid tier programs. Illinois's got a
pass rusher by the Gabe Jackets. He's getting third fourth
round grades, thirteen tackle for lost, eight sacks, kind of
is the defensive end. Defensive tackle six three, two hundred
eighty pounds runs in the low four to sevens. But
(31:08):
a guy that's constantly making plays on the football. Watch
him versus Brian Parker, Duke's right tackle. A guy that
no one talks about, but if you talk to people
in the scouting community, they absolutely love Brian Parker. He's
probably gonna be a guard at the NFL, at the
next level, maybe center, but he's fundamentally sound. He plays
(31:28):
like one of those typical smart Duke offensive lineman. Bends
his knees, uses his angles well. A guy that and
we've seen a lot of good offensive linemen come out
of Duke to pass the half dozen years.
Speaker 4 (31:41):
Parker's the next guy.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
Parker of Duke against Gabe Jackets of Illinois is a
matchup to watch, a scout matchup to watch on Saturday.
And then Troy versus Clemson. I would expect Clemson to
go in there and win the game seventy five to three,
but the fact of the matter is Troy has a
receiver by the name of raw Rock Thomas who transferred
from Georgia. Now let's go back a year. You had
(32:06):
Michael Green, who was I believe your first non power
for player to be drafted. Michael Green, the former Virginia
player who transferred to a Sun Belt school, came out
of Marshall. Now you have ra Rod Thomas going to Troy.
Robrod Thomas was highly rated by scouts coming into the
twenty twenty four season. He was arrested for I believe
(32:26):
it was second degree felony. He was immediately dismissed from
the program. Didn't play it down for Georgia last year.
Came to a plead deal with authorities. He's now at Troy.
He's going to be the number one receiver. Let's see
where he's at after missing a full year, full season
of football, and he's going to be throwing to the
(32:47):
Wolves against that Clemson secondary. I mentioned Avion Terrell. They
got another kid by the name of Jaden Lucas who's
a terrific corner that has been dealing with some injuries.
Khalil Barnes. If you watched the game Sunday night, played well,
but he got injured. They're gonna be They're gonna be
keen on Ramrod Thomas, who prior to the two tentsy
twenty four seasons, scouts had him as a third fourth
(33:09):
round type of receiver, the top receiver on the George
in the Georgia in that Georgia unit. That Georgia class,
which had a lot of good receivers, still has some
good receivers. But this is a big rebound game against
the talented Clemson secondary for Thomas.
Speaker 1 (33:24):
All right, Tony, Well, we'll do this a lot more
next week, but just before we say goodbye, give fans
a little preview of what you think this draft class
looks like and what we'll be talking about over the
next two weeks, just in those where the strengths of
the week this is are and just kind of what
the the you know, basic character of this class is
going to be as we talk about it over the
next seven eight months.
Speaker 3 (33:45):
You know, I like, and we'll get Like you said,
we'll get into this more next week.
Speaker 4 (33:48):
Next week.
Speaker 3 (33:49):
I kind of like the potential at the quarterback position
you may you mentioned, Kay Klubnick. Next week, I'm gonna
be talking a lot about Lenora Sellers, the guy of
the quarterback from South Carolina should be a good edge
rushing class. Keldric falk Of of Auburn, Overton of Alabama,
(34:09):
Kelly of Central Florida. I mean, these are all guys
that are that are good pass rushers. I think it's
a real good off ball linebacker class. You mentioned Harold Perkins,
Anthony Hill who was kind of up and down the
the the junior from Texas who's an explosive player. I think,
you know, we'll have to wait and see, but it
could be a good running back class as well. Mentioned
(34:31):
Jeremiah Love. Penn State's got a pair of running backs
that are real good players. There's some other ball carriers
Laketon In day In, Laighton day two that could have
an impact, Davis Taylor of Minnesota. And the offensive tackle
class has got a lot of potential. I'm looking at
my boy right now. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven,
(34:54):
eight offensive tackles with great with first or second round grades.
Speaker 4 (34:59):
So that's something else we'll talk about at length.
Speaker 1 (35:01):
We'll have a long conversation about the offense next week.
Defense the following week. I will of course review everything
that happened in college football over the weekend as well,
and then things really start to pick up with conference
play in week number four and we'll start getting to that.
Speaker 2 (35:15):
Have some guests on.
Speaker 1 (35:16):
It'll be funny here, Tony. I'm thrilled to be back
with you. Thanks for being with me again, and we'll
talk soon.
Speaker 4 (35:21):
Look forward to it. John.
Speaker 1 (35:22):
That's Draft Season presented by Moody's, a proud sponsor of
the New York Football Giants. For Tony Pauline from sports
Keta check out all his work there. I am John Schmelk.
We will see you guys next time.
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