January 4, 2023 • 43 mins
John Schmeelk and Tony Pauline talk about the standout players in the college football playoff, discuss bowl games across the country, and preview the College Football National Championship between Georgia and TCU. 00:00 - Start 00:10 - Ohio State vs Georgia standouts 15:51 - TCU vs Michigan standouts 23:15 - Michigan WRs and offensive line 27:07 - Early declarations and other bowl games 41:55 - National Championship game preview
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Drafts now officially open. Well, draft season. If it's not here,
it's certainly coming. John schmil Tony pouline with you. It's
all brought to you by Tommy He'll figure, a PVH
brand and an official partner of the New York Giants.
And again, this is not a Giants podcast, is a
draft podcast, despite the background and the sweatshirt. And we
(00:23):
are getting hot and heavy here with the draft coming, Tony.
We've had all the major bowls, We've had the first round,
the semis whatever you want to call it, of the
college football playoffs and more declarations. The picture of what
this draft is going to look like is becoming much
clearer by the day. And really some great performances from
some standout players, and there are other highly rated players
(00:45):
who had marginal performances in the game. So you know,
obviously the talk is gonna be about c J. Strad
with his performance. How high is he gonna jump up?
I mean, you know, we saw a lot of real
good college football Friday and Sunday and even and lead
up to the college football semifinal games. Yeah, so why
don't we start with with the college football playoffs? Because
(01:06):
I do think that's the big story, Tony. We'll look
ahead to the championship and then we'll kind of run
through the other bowls as well. We've had a bunch
of Alabama declarations, some more on the classman coming out,
another big one from Clemson as well, So a ton
to talk about. So let's get to Ohiose State in
Georgia first, because I do think that's the big story.
I think you hit it. And you know, we've talked
about c J. Shradd on this program over the course
of the year, you know, and I described them as
(01:28):
as a paint by numbers quarterback, which is not meant
to be insulting, but you know, he runs the offense
very well. He's extremely accurate. I think that's his best
trade as a quarterback. But we saw him do some
stuff against the best defense in college football. At least
a lot of people think it is, you know, off kilter,
you know, get rushed, has to move, creates plays with
(01:50):
his legs, throws on the move. He did some things
that I don't think we've seen him do a ton
of in this game, and it was very impressive and
I think he probably solidified him self at minimum top ten,
probably as a top five pick with that performance, I'm
not gonna go that early. Let me start off by saying,
you know, I really don't like basing a draft raid
(02:11):
off on the player off of one game a lot
of dangers. I'm gonna make a slight exception for c J. Stroud.
And here's why. If you go back to the show
that we did after the Michigan game and I was
I was criticizing c J. Stroud, I said, part of
the problem, or major part of the problem, is the
Ohio State coaching staff who doesn't let him run the game.
(02:34):
If you look the past two years, c J. Stroud
is consistently coming to the line of scrimmage, getting behind center,
and he's looking at the sidelines and the play clock
is running down five four and he's looking to the
sidelines for instruction. They didn't do that in this game.
They let c J. Stroud run the offense. They let
c J. Stroud play. They let c J. Stroud basically
(02:57):
be c J. Stroud, and he was for doominal. I mean,
he was outstanding. I think what bothers me most is
this is probably the c J. Stroud that we should
have seen the past two years. But the Ohio State
coaching staff kept such tight reins on him, they didn't
allow him to develop. So, you know, I think you
have to put a lot of credence and a lot
(03:19):
of credibility into this performance because basically it was unfeered.
It was the the Ohio State coaching staff let him lose.
Let's not forget remember Justin Fields also had a phenomenal
semifinal college football game against Clemson, which really, you know,
really boosted his draft stock. Uh, this was the c. J.
(03:40):
Stroud that I expected to see coming into the season,
and I think it's as much the fault of the
Ohio State coaching staff that it took basically this final
game against Georgia and the semifinal players to see the
guy that many of us have been hoping and expecting
to see. You know, it's Tony. It's funny a lot
of guys to get tight in these big games, right,
(04:01):
c just trud looked loose like he looked as relaxed
and fluid and just playing the game and letting it
come to him and reacting off platform stuff, the stuff
we've been waiting to see. And the accuracy didn't go away, right,
He had those two big throws on the move that
were accurate after avoiding the rush. And look, he showed
athleticism too, right, he ran the football, which is something
(04:22):
we hadn't seen a ton of this year. So I thought,
he you know the stuff, all the stuff that we
were worried about. And it's just one game, right, but
he I think showed the critics and doubters the stuff
that you're worried about. Look, I can do that stuff too,
I just haven't done it yet. And you remember it.
You know, you talked to scouts and they they based
when they scout a player that like what can he do?
(04:43):
You know, what does he do well? And c J.
Stroud you talked about running the ball, getting outside the
pocket with he's keeping his eyes downfield and getting the
ball downfield. Now he still hasn't ways to go. There
are a couple of throws that he missed. If you remember,
he missed that one sort of intermediate pass where you
had to just drop it into the receiver or where
the safety was behind the receiver, the cornerback was in
front of receiver. He missed it badly. Sets In Bennett
(05:05):
did make that throw during the winning drives, so you
know there's still some things he's got to work on,
but yeah, I mean again, it's it's maddening, it's it's angry.
It's anger is me because this is the guy that
we should have really seen from September, October, November on.
And I think that scouts, you're gonna ask a lot
of questions. Why did you play like this against Georgia?
(05:28):
What happened against Michigan? Why were there so many close contests?
You know, what happened against Maryland? And it will be
interesting to see, you know, how that how that evaluation goes. Alright,
couple other matchups in this game I want to talk about, obviously,
Marvin Harrison Jr. Tony not eligible for this year's draft class.
You can, I don't ef you want to use a
pen if you can, but you can. You know, whatever
(05:48):
you want to use, top ten, pick four, put it
in whatever you want to put it in. Awesome, But
you know, he went up against Keiley Ringo, who's a
guy a lot of people are projecting as a top
ten pick this year. And I get it from a
trade perspective, right, He's big, he's strong, he's fast, but boy,
guys get open on it. They get open on to
him a lot. That isn't that kind of the point
(06:10):
of the whole thing. You know, first of all, that
game changed on a dime when Marvin Harrison Jr. Went out.
I mean that that that's that that was the turning
point in that game. And you're right about Ringo. Ringo
did have a couple of nice plays down the stretch
when they needed him. But even the announcers, if you
watched the game we're talking about, you know there are
constant slip ups with Keiley Ringo. I said in my
right of the previous idea of this game. At Pro
(06:32):
Football Network, you know a lot of people like him
as a lot first round choice. I don't know. I
don't agree with the The game film that I see
on Keilely Ringo is day two. He couldn't go late
day one. Because he's got the great length, because he's
got the athleticism, because he's exclusive, because they see so
many flash plays that he makes that they feel that
(06:54):
they can turn into consistent production. But lapses at the
cornerback position from a rookie or from a guy going
to leave can be very very dangerous. That that is
a major red flag and we it's not just the
game against Ohio State. We've actually gone behind him all year. Man,
We've seen that from Ringo throughout the season. So I
think what happens is people get all over excited when
(07:16):
they see some of these great highlight films, but really,
when you dig deep into the into the film, the
overall body of work for Keatie Ringo, there are some
red flags. There are some things you've got to be
concerned about. Yeah, no question about it. All right, Let's
go to another defender on the Georgia side of the ball,
Jalen Carter. The numbers do not jump off the page.
He did not dominate the game, which is something you
(07:38):
expect from a guy that's talked about at the top
overall pick. I still thought he was active, He got
in the backfield, he made Stroud you know, scramble a
couple of times. And again that's not being you know,
the dominant first overall pick guy I think people are
looking for. But let leave it this way. What I
saw from Jalen Cardner did not make me, you know,
rethink the fact that he's gonna be one of the
first three or four guys taken in the draft. I
(08:01):
sort of agree with you, but I also think you
gotta give credit to a high state center Luke Whippler,
who I spoke about in the last program, who I
think is a lot of people like the Georgia center
to be the number one center if he declares for
the draft, which I think he's going to. I'm told
that Luke Whippler is very close to declaring for the draft,
and if he's not the first center selected, he'll be
(08:22):
the second center off the board. Somewhere in the beginning
part of round two. I mean Whippler, I mean he
slowed down the domination of the potential dominating effect of
Jalen Carter, who a lot of people think will be
the highest rated player as we moved towards the draft
that I was talking to somebody in the league about this,
and I said, you know, I like Whipplers play a
lot against George. I said, he didn't dominate the way
(08:44):
he did against Benton of Wisconsin, who's a highly rated
defense attack but Authority played well. And the response was, look,
he was playing against potentially the number one pick of
the draft in Jalen Carter, and he basically he didn't
if he didn't control and he slowed him down. So
I can understand why you like call. I just thought
that Luke Whippler, the center from o'ho stead, I thought
he was terrific. Yeah, Tony, I think both things can
(09:05):
be true. You know, I think that Hardward was actual.
You're never gonna shut down a guy that that's talented
for a whole game and you know, keep him out
of the backfield. But look what Whipple did a nice job.
And the fact that we're going into this game if
I told you that, I mean, would you thought, o House,
they will put up that many points and you know
I didn't. And you can't do that unless your offensive
line does a really nice job against a really good front.
(09:26):
And it was basically Ohio States defense inability to stop
Georgia the last five minutes of the game, which is
why they are not playing in the in the National
Championship game. That in the bed missfield goal, but still
they had a third teen point lead with five minutes left.
You gotta be able to slow down the opposition, and
they didn't. I'm with you one more Georgia player. I
want to hit on Roderick Thomas. I don't think we've
(09:47):
talked about him yet, Tony Georgia's left tackle. Your thoughts
on him, how he played in in generally overall, what
house scouts are looking at him for draft? Yeah, I'm
told he's gonna enter the draft. I don't he's officially
enter the draft. Uh. You know, he's very active, he's
very athletic. The question with with with him is what
are his measurables? You know, the team is he gonna
(10:09):
be six ft four? If he's not six ft four,
is he a left tackle or is he a guard?
Jones right now is on my guardboard. I see what
the actual measurables are. Sometimes, you know, there there were
only some teams that will put a guy left tackle
if he's six three and a half six three. I
gotta see what Jones Jones is. I thought he played
relatively well. Was big there, right? The arm length exactly?
(10:32):
Of course, you want those arms to be at least
thirty three inches. Some teams wanted at least thirty three
and a half inches. You know, he went up against
Zach Harrison, and Harrison is a real good football player.
He's smart, he's tough, he gets the most out of
his ability. He's got a long, lanky build. He's just
got to add some bolt to his to his frame
really to complete this game. But he's he's someone who
(10:53):
finds ways to make plays. Did it. Did it against
the Georgia, whether it was defending the run, batting away passes,
getting some pressures. He's done that all season long. You know,
one guy I think we need to talk about is
Paris Johnson. Paris next my list. You know, it's very
interesting when you watch Paris Johnson. What you saw from
(11:14):
Paris Johnson against Georgia is basically what I watched all
year long when I really broke down the film and
I did my big ten film work last week. And
he's an enigma of sorts in the sense that you
watch him as a run blocker and he dominates opponent.
He'll knock him off the line, he'll knock him on
the backs, he gets out to the second level. Yet
he doesn't show that strong anchor in past protection, as
(11:38):
you saw during the Georgia game when he got pushed
back into the pocket and they got to c. J. Strold,
the red shirt freshman. So I don't know if it's
an issue of I think he's got the strength but
this is his first year at left tackle. He just
has to learn to use that anchor to block with
leverage and hold the point in past protection tells me
that they're gonna be some bumps in the road. As
(11:58):
far as Paris Johnson is concerned being a left tackle
in the NFL, Yeah, we'll wait and see. I know
people love his potential, Tony. I think there will be
a debate if he's gonna be the first offensive tackle
off the board or not. When we get to the draft.
You know everyon'll try to get those tackles early in
these draft classes. Uh, regmend Johnson. Let's jump back to Georgia. Then.
(12:20):
We haven't talked much about Keny McIntosh on this show.
Tony hundred twenty six total yards and from scrimmage almost
even running pass. Do you see him as like a
mid round kind of third down back type of guy
that can kind of help an NFL team in a
in kind of like a role. Macintosh came into the
season with huge grades from scouts, and he's he's been
(12:41):
more of a flash player than a consistent guy. Had
some huge runs from the line of scrimmage against Ohio State,
which he's done all year long. Would have had the
touchdown except he tripped over the five yard mind if
you remember that, Like um, I think Macintosh has got
to put it together. If he puts it together, he
could be your quote unquote feature runner at the next level.
(13:03):
Not he's gonna be a guy that kind of meanders
around and never lives up to expectations. You know, he's
got to put those performances that we saw a guest
ohouse state. He's gonna do that every single week because
he's capable of it. And that's what scouts expect. I
mean scouts. He came into the into the season despite
the fact that he was a two bit you know
(13:25):
running back for Georgian two thousand one expect what scouts
expecting to be a top sixty pick. He got top
sixty potential. As far as the physical skills, he shows
the flashes, I don't know if the consistencies there. I
think in a deep running back class, you're looking maybe
late third round with McIntosh. Yeah, but a team could
get somebody that could really help him in a roll.
(13:46):
You know, with all that ability, you know, you usually
find running backs late, especially in a deep class. That's
gonna be. I think you'll probably see a couple of
Day two running basketball in this draft to only that
end up being really good pros, like really really good
absolutely and and and Day two running backs. Second round
running backs who should probably be first round running backer
would have been first round running backs fifteen twenty years ago. Yeah,
(14:06):
no question about it. Um, a couple of you guys.
How about Stetson Bennett, you know, give him credit, you know,
he George is not rolling out, you know, uh, you know,
Davanta Smith and Jalen Waddle and all these guys. They
have good receivers, but these aren't you know, first round,
you know, top ten pick type guys. The fact that
he's done when he's done this year, I know he's
(14:27):
an older prospect, and that's gonna scare some people away too.
You know, he's gonna find his way on through an
NFL roster. I think he's the type of guy that
would be a very good number three quarterback in the NFL.
He's the type of guy that he's just worth having
as an extra set of eyeballs on the sidelines to
you know, basically go over with what he sees. He's
gonna get a chance to compete. If he's drafted, it's
(14:50):
gonna be very late. He doesn't have the physical skills,
but it's like the guy from TCU that we're gonna
talk about. He just finds ways to win and you know,
when his team needs it. You know, in desperate situations,
he pulls the rabbit out of his hat and there's
something to be said for that at the quarterback position. Yeah,
no question about anybody else in this game you want
(15:11):
to highlight before we move on to the other matchup. Tone.
I thought Steel Chambers the linebacker played relatively well from
Ohio State. I mean, he is your classic for three
week side linebacker. He's very athletic or a couple of
times where he dropped off the wine went thirty yards
down field with receivers, he goes sideline to sideline. Underclassman
Horme told is going to enter the draft. I would
(15:32):
expect him to be a second round pick. And their
other linebacker, Tommy Eikenberg. He's also He's not as athletic
as Chambers, but man, he he packs a whileop. He
is a tough run defendant without with terrific instincts. I
think you're looking at Eichenberg if he enters the draft,
is the middle round choice. Interesting? All right, let's go
to the other game, not quite as many prospects so
(15:54):
that it could have go pro and the TC of
Michigan game tony as there were in George, Ohio state too,
with a premier you know, pro football factories in college football.
But it was an excellent game. It was up and down. Um,
Michigan can never kind of get into how they wanted to,
you know, usually try to win these games, you know,
missing their top running back, Horum. I think probably something
(16:15):
to do with that too. Um, So your thoughts on
the game in general and where would you like to start? Well,
I mean the game was great. It was back and
forth and every time, you know, you thought Michigan had
the upper hand and they were about to dominate the
game as everyone expected to. TC you had an answer,
and TC you had an answer because they have a
quarterback in MaTx Dugan who people say, well, Tim Tebow,
(16:37):
I disagree with that. You know, he's a guy who
had a lot offensive coordinators, had a couple of head
coaches at TCU. You know, all he does is when
he was a guy hard issue right exactly came into
the season as the backup quarterback. Yet you know he
basically grabbed grabbed hold of that starting position and finds
ways to win. You know who reminds me of Tony
(16:57):
I'm gonna throw a name out at you, Jeff Garcia. Uh.
It's a little bit bigger and stout than Garcia. But
he's athletic. You know, he's got a terrific arm. He
has that ability to make plays with his legs. Like
Jeff Garcia, he's gonna be you know, people are gonna
pick holes in his game. Max Dugan, Uh, throughout the
(17:17):
scouting process, when you compare him to Stetson Bennett, I
think Max Dugan has a chance to really produce on
the next level because of the physical skills, because of strength,
because of the foot speed compared to say Stetson Bennet,
who was a good pair of eyes. Plus you know,
like I said with Bennett, you know he finds ways
to wins. He I mean, every time you thought this year,
(17:39):
whether it be against Michigan, will it be against best
Kansas State, whoever else? Every time you know TCU was
counted for dead, they rise up and they win. And
it's largely in part because of the play of the quarterback.
All right, I'm with you, and one guy he was
throwing to in this game was Quentin Johnston had a
big game. Um Almost all yards came on two plays,
one of blown coverage should the other or a shallow
(18:00):
cross where he broke one tackle and then the speed
took over. Your thoughts on Johnson. We even talked about
him a ton. We did a little bit last week,
but not a ton. I watched him a little bit today.
I'll give you my take second, but your thoughts on
on the game Johnston played and the kind of where
he stands in this wide receiver class. I think he
helped himself in a sense because he was going to
be against DJ Turner lot and that was a real
(18:21):
good battle to watch in DJ Turner, the cornerback from Michigan,
who I don't know if he's sufficiently enter the draft
with the word is he gonna enter the draft. He
could be a late first round pick. He doesn't. He
had He doesn't have the size of Glinn Johnson, but
he's got outstanding ball skill. So that was a good
matchup as far as Johnson's concerned. He's got the size,
he's got the speed. People are gonna fall in love
with him. I think the thing with Johnson is you
(18:42):
gotta watch the route running at the combine and take
as much out of that as you can, because he's
got to learn it. Can't be another big twelve receiver
that just wins because the size and speed. He's gotta
find other ways to separate. I thought his route running
was surprisingly nice and surprisingly good during the game against Michigan.
(19:02):
But when you go to the NFL, it's next level.
That's the big thing with Johnson. Has had his share
of drops in the in the throughout the two thousand
two season, but you know, this is a wide open
receiver class, so it's very possible that Quentin Johnson could
end up as the first receiver selected. Yeah, he could
be Tony. This is what I wrote down. I watched
(19:23):
him this morning. I've watched all his explosive plays, and
I watched some other things from him as well, just
to get a fuel for him. I'm curious se if
he actually measures at at six four, But if he
comes in at six two and a half or six three,
that wouldn't shock me. I want to see that. I
think for a guy his size, he's good at making
guys missed after the catch. He's had some pretty explosive
runs after the catch, and he's made some guys you
(19:44):
know miss As you pointed out, he was good speed.
Not sure it's elite speed, but it's good speed. The
route running, I think he glides sometimes just basically it stops, goes,
and then either crosses or slams. That's kind of what
he runs. Not the best route runner. And the one
thing that I made a big note of at the
end of something you just brought up, he lets the
ball get into his body a lot. He's not a
(20:06):
hands catcher, and I think we see, especially on some
of those plays in the middle of the field, plays
that he should make, he kind of lets the ball
get into his body a little bit, gets his eye
off of it, and that's when you get some of
those drops, get some of those jobs. So you gotta
basically readjust yourself and take time to get back to
running after the catch. You you gotta ball bounce. So
I mean, he needs work on he's I don't think
(20:28):
there's a huge difference between him being six four and
six three, especially if he's gonna be you know, over
two twelve pounds and he's gonna running the four threes.
But it's those little things. And I mean, we've seen
time again, the keen Butlers of the world, all these
other guys from the Big twelve, these big, fast, physical
receivers who happen now learn to separate through route running,
(20:49):
have to learn to catch the ball with their hands
away from their frame. It's not an easy adjustment. A
lot of times it doesn't work out. Yeah, And the
other thing, I'll say two tone. When I went back
and I watched I can Swart and I watched all
his contested catch attempts, I thought they'd be more for
a guy with that size and athleticism. I thought they'd
be more, you know, reach it over the fender, taking
(21:10):
the ball away, going up for and catching them. I
didn't see as much as that as I thought I
would when I went through the tape. And it's interesting
because again, you know, people will grant him as a
top ten pick based off the flash players, based of
off the highlights. But you know, when you really get
deep into the film, heale Ringle, who he talks about,
just before you start to see these red flags. And
(21:30):
that's what scouts and teams are gonna be looking at.
And here's the name. I didn't hear a whole lot
about until he started prepping for the game. And you
know that. I watched the game and impossible not to
notice him. Dylan Horton the defensive end for TCU tony
three sacks in the game. I'm not mistaken, right your
thoughts on him? Would you saw from him in the game,
and where he might be and how he might be
viewed by scouts for the draft Coming into the season,
(21:52):
Dylan Horton was greated as a late round, seventh round pick.
I would a fifth round grad up. Dylan Horton is
a legit six and a half two sixty three pounds.
He runs and plays in the four sevens. It's a
matter of him getting off of blocks and getting to
the quarterback. I think against Michigan, basically you had, you know,
the big uglies against the quick, explosive defenders. That's why
(22:16):
Dylan Hornton was able to get an advantage. I mean,
the left tackle Hayes for Michigan is a pretty good
is actually a good prospect, but Dylan Hornton is very quick,
he's very explosive, he's very athletic. It's just a matter
of him putting it together. Now he's gotta granted, you
got the game, but he's gonna go up against Robert
Jones of Georgia, so he's gonna have another real opportunity
(22:36):
and the challenge on Monday for the show that the
game against the Michigan was not the exception to the rule.
He's got a lot of upside potential. It's just a
matter of him, you know, hitting that and playing to
that potential, that upside weekend and week out. I am
not surprised. I had written about that. He thought he
(22:56):
was very underrated. But it's a it's a matter of
him playing that that level week in and week out.
Not saying three sacks every week he needs, but I'm saying,
you gotta get that pressure. You gotta show that you
can stand your feet, gotta show that you can penetrate
the line of scrimmage and if you're not getting the sack,
at least caused the quarterback to move his feet and
move out of the pocket. Yeah, we've talked about Michigan
prospects a lot of Tony, So anyone really jumped out
(23:18):
at to you based on their performance in this game,
that we maybe haven't discussed or maybe changed some of
what you're thinking about some guys, I mean a school maker.
I thought it was very good till he got injured. Obviously,
you know Ronnie Bell. It's interesting, you know Ronnie Bell
came into the season graded almost four rounds later than
his teammate Cornelius Johnson. But I think if you're looking
(23:38):
at it right now, Ronnie Bell the receiver is gonna
be selected earlier than Cornelius Johnson. He's a little bit shorter,
but he's more explosive, he's faster. You can use them
as a return specialist. He's come up in huge spots
consistently for Michigan this year. He catches the ball very well.
He's a tough receiver, he finds ways to separate. I
(24:00):
think Rannie Bell at decent game. He's had a real
good season, and I think he's moved ahead of his
teammate for Neelie Johnson, who is much higher rated coming
into the year. And one of thing I want to
bring up, as we've talked about him before, all their center,
they're all sorts of snap issues late in night game
Michigan like where everyone's moving but the ball doesn't get snapped.
There seemed to be something going on with that offensive
(24:21):
line where they weren't in sinc which is unusual for Michigan.
Here's the thing with Luttini, and he's a he's a
great story. It's an he's an easy guy to root for.
But go back to what we said with Keiley Ringo,
when you or even Quentin Johnson, when you really get
into the film, there's a lot of red flags there.
I mean, he's not a powerful power gap blocker. He's
(24:43):
not overly athletics, so you can't use him in a
zone a zone scheme. I think all the Wattini is
a late round, seventh round choice. I think people are overrating.
Now when you really get into the film, you see
a guy who is potentially max out. I don't know,
he's got great upside, would be an asset to have
as a backup, but he's not an early draft. Pick
(25:06):
one other guy, I gotta talk about somebody I've liked
for the past three years. Uh, Trevius Hodgens Tomlinson, the
cornerback from TCU who had a terrific game. I mean
he is a feisty, little cornerback, little I'll get into that.
With outstanding ball skills, good hands for the interception, has
a knack for the big play, terrific ball skills. The
(25:27):
problem is he's five seven and a half. So it
doesn't mean that he's not going to play at the
next level, but what it means is he's probably not
going to be a top one pick because everybody wants
those cornerbacks to be six ft tall to guard against
the six two and a half six ft three receivers
Quinn Johnson. But I thought Hodge Hodges Tomlinson played well.
He's played well in the past three years if you
(25:47):
watch TCU, when you break down the TCU film. As
I've said about Hodges Thomlinson, if he was three inches taller,
he's a top fifty pick. But at five seven and
a half, there's just not a big market for those
types of guys come NFL Draft time. Because they projected
dinebacks on Sunday, they had no question about it. And
by the way, I want to and it reminds me
(26:10):
of a guy we talked about um last year, Tony,
and the guy's first name is escaping me. It's kind
of looking up. It's killing me. Uh, the small kid
out of Houston, Jones who ended up getting drafted by
the Patriots. Marcus Jones. Marcus Jones thying I kept something
was Nathan Jones for some reason, Marcus Jones, and he
was another guy, right, I think he was five nine,
like a hundred and sixty pounds or something like that.
He's been great for the Patriots this year. But if
(26:32):
you watch his tape last year, his tape was phenomenal.
He I know he had shoulder issues two right heading
into the draft at the end of the season, but boy,
that's you know, he's the guy that got I think
in the fourth or fifth round, and you know that
that's what you just said about that corner reminds me
of what we were saying about Jones last year. And
it's gonna be a similar situation. Hodgenson. Thompson is gonna
have to be in a scheme with a coach that
(26:54):
knows how to use him. You know, he's not a
plug and play type of guy, but he can absolutely play.
Probably had some special teams elements to him, as Marcus
Jones did, although Marcus Jones really showed a lot of
special teams ability at Houston. All Right, let's let's go
through some of the other early declarations and some of
the other games. Tony Um, we'll kind of go through
the games and then anything I want to bring up.
(27:14):
You can Clemson, tennessee a lot of luster off this game.
He's the guys that did not play in it. But
one guy that did declare from Clemson, Brian Berse, he
will head into the draft. I watched him today, really
good quickness. I felt like kind of off the snap,
really kind of shifting side the side. But for a
guy that's three pounds, I didn't see as much power
as I thought I would watching him over the course
(27:36):
of the year. I think you gotta go back and
watch the two thousand twenty one film because he was
he was a load to handle in the middle of
the line. Remember, I mean had some personally shues earlier
in the year when his I believe his fifteen year
old sister died at brand cancer, So obviously you know
there were a lot of things going on in his life.
The fact that he played in the game, I think
Bose well, he deserves a lot of credit for that.
(27:56):
I do think he's going to be an early pick,
a top twelve pick. He's got size, he's athletic. He
had he did show the power a year ago that
just a little bit off his game this year. A
lot of people liked him coming into the year. Uh,
And you know, I understand why he entered the draft.
I think it's gonna be very early pick. Also, it's
got some scheme versatility. I think you can use them
(28:16):
in three or four man lines. Yeah, he he played
a lot of knows this year. He plays in three techniques,
so he did both things. You're right, I just made
a note look at one tape for him. I'll do
that little later on today if I can find the
time here. Um, thank you for that tone. Anyone else
from Clemson Tennessee that we haven't really discussed much that
you want to bring up or you're good. No, I
mean most of those guys sat on sidelines, and most
(28:37):
of them the guys are opted out, and there's really
I mean, I guess that the big news from the
Clemson game is they moved on from the quarterback, which
we all knew that they would. And it'll be interesting
to see what happens with DJ and that now with
Oregon State, you know, moving forward, considered some people including
yours truly, but so highly of him after those two games.
He filled them for trivile bars in two thousand and twenty.
(28:59):
All right, you talked only about it. You get the
avalanche of Ohio State players declaring after the game. We
haven't gotten that yet, but we did get an avalanche
of Alabama players declared for the NFL Draft after that
Bowl game. I'm sure that the House state players will
be shortly. Maybe they've done it during the show. Who knows. Um. So,
we had Bryce Young, who we talked about a million
times on this show. He was again unbelievable, Tony. He's
(29:19):
gonna be the first quarterback take and he's probably gonna
be the first overall pick. And I don't think either
one of us has a problem with that, despite the
fact his size and measurables aren't great. We've done that
a million times. We've talked about Jamir Gibbs. Maybe not
big enough to be a twenty carry game feature back,
but certainly a guy that can split the load. Good
pass receiver, he declared, Will Anderson declared. And then a
(29:39):
couple of guys we haven't talked a bunch about, Brian
Branch and Uli Ricks too defensive back. So why don't
you take us through those three defenders, because I don't
think we've done a ton of stuff on those guys
quite yet. That we did a lot of Anderson last week.
So give me a focus on Branch and ricks On
on how scout you're looking at those guys. A Branch
is a dominant safety. I mean he he plays a
(30:01):
safety position with cornerback type ball skills. He's explosive, he
defends the run well. He's got terrific speed, both in
a straight line and sideline to sideline. Coming into the
season off of the two thousands twenty one film, when
he was rotated into the lineup, I had him as
a third round choice. I think he's a guy who
(30:22):
could break into the first round. He is that good.
He's all he's cropped up to be. Although sometimes Alabama
safety said have not really uh have panned out at
the next level. He's got size, he's explosive, you can
place him over the slot receiver and he's not gonna
be a liability. Really like his game. Can't say the
same thing for Eli Rix. Eli Rix is sort of
(30:42):
a poor man's keelly Ringo. I know people absolutely love
him transfer from l s U. A flash guy that
has a lot of lapses, and I really got to
delve deeper into the film with Rix. Uh. You know,
if I was advising him, I would have said, go
back for another season and put it all together and
really elevate your draft dock. We'll see what happens moving forward.
(31:05):
We saw Derek Stingley make a late rise of draft boards.
I don't think Eli Rix is gonna be the third pick.
I don't think he's gonna be a first round pick.
But again, you know, he shows flashes, but there's not
a lot of consistency with Eli Ris. I know there
are a lot of people in the Twitter draft world
that love them. I'm not one of them. Alright. Two
other Alabama players that unless I missed it, I don't
(31:25):
think they've declared yet, UM linebacker Henry toe Toe. I
think I have that right, and Byron Young as well.
And this as a guy that's some people like your
thoughts on those together. And then when you say that
they have declared they were seniors, they were seniors who
who basically they're entering the draft and they're not gonna
go back for a second senior season to toe is
is the type of guy. He's a smaller guy, six thirty,
(31:48):
sort of your running chase pursuit mindbacker. And by the way,
just just some people understand they get the extra year
because of the COVID year, so they could if they
wanted to, but they're choosing to go and go ahead.
So this is gonna end eventually because it was I
cost uh. You know, go back to what I said
about Steel Chambers from Ohious Day being your traditional for
three weeks sli linebacker. That's what Totoe is. He's either
(32:10):
a four three weeks slide linebacker. You're gonna put him
on the inside of a three four. Let him run
through the ball, very instinctive, very fast, but not very
big and you know, struggles getting through the trash, struggles
getting off blocks. Brian Young right now, I have a
fourth round grade on him. You know, your typical two
gap linemen at from Alabama, guy who doesn't make a
(32:31):
lot of plays behind the line of scrimmage, basically occupies
the block, occupies gaps, occupies blockers. He's got good size,
he's explosive, he's strong. Just a matter of you know,
the team see him as a three four end or
a four three tackle. I think he can play both,
but I think he's more of your middle round type
of player. All their opponent was Kansas State, and that
(32:52):
was another great game by the way, Um, just a
great weekend in the college football. Um, Deucee Banna is
the guy I'll bring up, But then you can bring
up anyone if you want to bring up from that
Kansas State team, Tony, go ahead. Deuce one a little
bit of a smaller back, but very explosive. I mean,
you know, we we we talked about Macintosh, you know, okay,
you know with the long runs from from the line
of scrimmage. Deuce one does this every week. I mean,
(33:12):
he's a smaller guy, but he's tough. He runs hard
on the inside. He shows the agility and speed to
turn the corner. I don't know that he's got the
size of the ability to be a feature runner at
the next level, but you know who needs to be
a feature runner at the in the NFL these days
carries only a few teams do it like that. I
was a little bit disappointed in the play of Julius Brents,
(33:36):
who really, I mean, got smoked by Bryce Young throughout
the game. But wrnack cornerback right, the cornerback from UH
from Kansas State, six two and a half, two and
two pounds. He's going to test off the charts. He
flashes athleticism. I think people talking about day two. If
it's day two, I think it's gonna be later in
the third round. I think he's a guy that you
(33:58):
start off as a nickelback and you try developed his game.
He's got great upside, but there's been a lot of
a lot of hurdles, a lot of bumps in the
road for Brents really, not only against Alabama, but if
you go back to that Big twelve title game against
TCU and Max Dowagan had his issues against Quentin Johnson there,
but well liked in the scouting community. All right, Before
(34:18):
we get to a couple other players that could be
coming out here, one declaration and one that is a
little bit more complicated, Um any other Bowl games that
you want to focus on, Tony really pinpoints some players
that maybe you know, made a statement jumped out to
you that you want to get to you you before we
hit our final two players here. Now, I mean the
Illinois game was a good game to watch, but a
lot of their top guys who were on the sidelines.
(34:40):
That would be interesting to see. Uh if Martin, the
cornerback who came out of nowhere, enters the draft. I
mean the the Penn State game really wasn't much of
a game. Penn State, uh Blue, Utah's doors open. I
thought Clifford, the quarterback from Penn State, played very well,
although I don't think it's you know, you gotta look
at his body of work and he's a you know,
(35:03):
he's more of a Stenson Bennett type of Uh. You know,
it's gonna have to come in and compete to earn
a roster spot. Their linebacker Strange, I'm sorry, they're tight
end Strange who the Penn State's tight end Strange, who
declared for the draft. I thought it had a very
good game. He's a good pass catcher, sort of your
move tight end who gives effort blocking. But he's got
(35:23):
who he's gonna improve his his strength. I think Strange
is a potential third round choice, but he played very
well against you strong tight end class. Right Tony, Well,
it's looking like a not except for you know, the
the notes game kid who will be a first round pick.
I think you're gonna get a lot of good day too.
Tight ends. And you know we're speaking about tight ends.
(35:45):
South Dakota State plays in the one Double A Championship
on Sunday. Uh, it's a nationally televised game. Watch the
South Dakota State tight end, Tucker Craft. Because this kid
is outstanding. I mean, I want to say he could
jump into the late part of round one, but he
is an exceptional downfield, the past catcher who does a
(36:07):
great job blocking. He's gonna be the number two tight
end off the board, Tucker Craft, South Dakota State if
everything checks out. But just watch him Sunday in that
one double A, that FCS championship game when South Dakota State,
I think they're playing North Dakota State. Uh, if memory
serves me. Because he is a legitimate early pick in
(36:28):
three draft and underclassman who has already declared, but he's
staying with South Dakota State throughout the playoffs. I wonder
if he's gonna so he can't go to the Senior
Bowl of the Right. If he's an underclassman, I'm not
sure if he's graduated or not, so that it depends
on on his graduation status as to whether he's ring
game maybe though, who knows, right possible. I don't know
(36:48):
that the Shrine games inviting players that I may be wrong,
but I don't know that they're inviting underclassmen that haven't
graduated fair enough, right enough? Alright? Uh tony, Oh, I'm
putting on the spot at this so I apologize if
if you're not prepared for and I forgot to put
it in the rundown, but I'm gonna throw it at
you anyway. Tulane played a hell of a game against
the USC man I watched that game. It was fun.
(37:11):
Anyone on Tulane, you know the team played that well
this year. They beat USC. There's gotta be some guys
coming out that that could be interested in the draft.
They actually have a couple of guys. Number one, they're
running back tij Speers, who has been phenomenal all year
and I've written about him all year, is entering the draft.
He is going to the Senior ball. He has accepted
an invitation. He's a smaller guy, but he's incredibly quick,
(37:34):
he's creative, he's an outstanding pass catcher out of the backfield.
I right now have him as an early one round.
Trust I can absolutely see him moving into Day two
if he goes to the Senior Bowl and catches the
ball exceptionally well and shows the ability, you know, to
make defenders, which which which I expected to do. So
tay J. Spears, they got some late round guys. They
(37:55):
got a couple of quarterbacks. Excuse me as I look
away from the camera. Here a couple of guys I
should say in the defensive back seven Dory and Williams
an inside linebacker, Nick Anderson an outside linebacker to safeties
and Larry Brooks and Making Clark. These are late round
draft picks, priority free agents who will I think absolutely
(38:16):
having an opportunity to make a roster in the fall
two thousand twenty three on an NFL team as you
are fourth safety special teams player, as your seventh or
eighth linebacker special teams players. So they've got a lot
of fisty guys. Not the greatest athletes in the world
as you got on USC, but guys that are tough,
instinctive and play all out on every down. Kay shan
(38:39):
Bote changed his mind, Tony. Yeah, we talked about and
going back to school lasting a good smart move. Get
another week. You know, James Danils come back. You know,
I figured you had a good, strong second half of
the year, you build on it. Nope, coming out your thoughts, Uh,
I mean I said earlier it's a wide open receiver class,
So I don't know how much that had to do
(39:00):
with it. He did play much better in the second
half of the year than he did the first half
of the year. He's basically c J. Stroud magnified in
the sense that we saw the second half of the
season of Shawn Booty what we expected to see from
the word go in September. Now, whether that was him
trying to get in tune with Jaden Daniels because Jaden
(39:20):
Daniels also played much better the second half of the season,
I don't know. Uh, you know, I think with a
lot of these guys, K Shawn Booty goes back and
builds upon what he showed in two thousand twenty one
and plays much better. KA Shawn Booty is the first
round pick. But I guess you know now, in today's NFL,
when you're a player, it's basically the race to the
(39:40):
second contract because that's when you make the cash. And
sometimes even though everyone talks about first round picks when
you talk to players. He talked to the agent better
off being a second round choice because they may not
I'm not gonna make as much money, but they're gonna
get to that second contract quicker. That may be part
of his thinking. I think it's gonna be an interesting evaluation.
I always think it's it's difficult to get to draft
(40:03):
a player when he's on his downside, when he is best,
best football has been behind him. That's the situation with
ka Shawn Booty. I definitely think he's gonna be a
Day two guy. Maybe he makes a late round charge
of the board. People do do with Derek stinctly type
where people go back and look at the two thousands
twenty one film where he made some incredible plays. And
the one thing we know about LG receivers is this,
(40:25):
they usually turn out to be much better players on
Sunday then they were on Saturday, and they were damn
good players on Saturday. Yeah, no question. I didn't think
I'd be sitting here breaking down the one point seven
billion dollar omnibus budget bill that pass Congress, but here
we are. There was a little thing in there in
the six thousand pages Tony. That makes it much more
likely Andre Carter, who's a defensive end for Army, can
(40:47):
play in the NFL next year. I'm not gonna explain
the details of it, but it's there. Trust me your
thoughts on Carter when he might get drafted. Now that
his um the commitment to the military can get pushed
back a little bit further, Senior ball is gonna be
huge for him. Ian Carter was a good player, came
into the season gritted as the second round prospect by scouts. Uh,
(41:08):
he's an athletic guy. They use him as a pass
rusher and they use them off the line of scrimmage.
You know, didn't play against The Army schedule is the Georgia,
States of the World and teams like that. I think
they played the Holy Cross as well, So you know,
the Senior Bowl is going to be huge for for him.
I still think he's more of a Day three choice.
(41:28):
There are some scouts that like him in Day two.
If he shows pass rush ability at the Senior Bowl
in those one on ones you know, the Senior Bowls
Shrine Game or Kingmakers at the quarterback position, at the
cornerback position, and if you can rush the pass or
you can really improve your stock at both the Senior
Bowl and Shrine Game. So I got to see what
he does in those one on ones. If he's able
(41:50):
to get pressure up the field, is he If he's
able to beat those offensive anacles, he's really gonna help himself. Finally, Tony,
before we say goodbye, give me some broad stroke thoughts
the National Championship Game, which takes place next Monday. I mean,
you look at it on paper and you say, you
know George is gonna win by four teen twenty one points.
But you know, how can you dismiss TCU. I mean
(42:13):
some of the matchups. Obviously Keeley win Ringo against Clinton Johnson.
We mentioned Roderick Jones against the TCU pass rushers, Kenny
one guy from TCU. We didn't mention d Winters, the
the inside linebacker who had a terrific game against Kenny Macintosh.
Tu I mentioned true Davius Hodges Thominson. See how he
(42:35):
does against the h the Georgian receivers and Stepson Bennett. Obviously,
you know Michigan's got sorry, George's gotta start in the
making with their tight end. You have to see how
d Winters matches up against that. I mean, you gotta
think you gotta like on paper Georgia, but you know
how many people thought that Michigan was gonna win. So
don't count out TCU. I just hope we see a
(42:57):
good game. Yeah. Tc You're showing a lot of guts
this year, Tony, with the cans them out, they keep winning,
so hopefully it'll be a fun game. If that game
is anything close to some of the games you so
last week, and I think we'll all be very happy
with that. Happy do year. My friend James save to
all abuse absolutely Tony Tolma paul In check out his work.
By the Way Pro Football Network. I am John Schmilk.
Thanks you for being with us. From the episode of
Draft Season. It was all brought to you by Tommy
(43:19):
He'll figure a PVH brand and official partner of the
New York Giants. Don't forget to go download the Giants
TV streaming apples for free on Roku, Apple TV, those
other streaming services. Check it out. You can find this
show and all other video content as well. For Tony,
I'm schl We'll see you next time. It's Draft Season.
Drafts now officially open. Well, draft season. If it's not here,
it's certainly coming. John schmil Tony pouline with you. It's
all brought to you by Tommy He'll figure, a PVH
brand and an official partner of the New York Giants.
And again, this is not a Giants podcast, is a
draft podcast, despite the background and the sweatshirt. And we
(00:23):
are getting hot and heavy here with the draft coming, Tony.
We've had all the major bowls, We've had the first round,
the semis whatever you want to call it, of the
college football playoffs and more declarations. The picture of what
this draft is going to look like is becoming much
clearer by the day. And really some great performances from
some standout players, and there are other highly rated players
(00:45):
who had marginal performances in the game. So you know,
obviously the talk is gonna be about c J. Strad
with his performance. How high is he gonna jump up?
I mean, you know, we saw a lot of real
good college football Friday and Sunday and even and lead
up to the college football semifinal games. Yeah, so why
don't we start with with the college football playoffs? Because
(01:06):
I do think that's the big story, Tony. We'll look
ahead to the championship and then we'll kind of run
through the other bowls as well. We've had a bunch
of Alabama declarations, some more on the classman coming out,
another big one from Clemson as well, So a ton
to talk about. So let's get to Ohiose State in
Georgia first, because I do think that's the big story.
I think you hit it. And you know, we've talked
about c J. Shradd on this program over the course
of the year, you know, and I described them as
(01:28):
as a paint by numbers quarterback, which is not meant
to be insulting, but you know, he runs the offense
very well. He's extremely accurate. I think that's his best
trade as a quarterback. But we saw him do some
stuff against the best defense in college football. At least
a lot of people think it is, you know, off kilter,
you know, get rushed, has to move, creates plays with
(01:50):
his legs, throws on the move. He did some things
that I don't think we've seen him do a ton
of in this game, and it was very impressive and
I think he probably solidified him self at minimum top ten,
probably as a top five pick with that performance, I'm
not gonna go that early. Let me start off by saying,
you know, I really don't like basing a draft raid
(02:11):
off on the player off of one game a lot
of dangers. I'm gonna make a slight exception for c J. Stroud.
And here's why. If you go back to the show
that we did after the Michigan game and I was
I was criticizing c J. Stroud, I said, part of
the problem, or major part of the problem, is the
Ohio State coaching staff who doesn't let him run the game.
(02:34):
If you look the past two years, c J. Stroud
is consistently coming to the line of scrimmage, getting behind center,
and he's looking at the sidelines and the play clock
is running down five four and he's looking to the
sidelines for instruction. They didn't do that in this game.
They let c J. Stroud run the offense. They let
c J. Stroud play. They let c J. Stroud basically
(02:57):
be c J. Stroud, and he was for doominal. I mean,
he was outstanding. I think what bothers me most is
this is probably the c J. Stroud that we should
have seen the past two years. But the Ohio State
coaching staff kept such tight reins on him, they didn't
allow him to develop. So, you know, I think you
have to put a lot of credence and a lot
(03:19):
of credibility into this performance because basically it was unfeered.
It was the the Ohio State coaching staff let him lose.
Let's not forget remember Justin Fields also had a phenomenal
semifinal college football game against Clemson, which really, you know,
really boosted his draft stock. Uh, this was the c. J.
(03:40):
Stroud that I expected to see coming into the season,
and I think it's as much the fault of the
Ohio State coaching staff that it took basically this final
game against Georgia and the semifinal players to see the
guy that many of us have been hoping and expecting
to see. You know, it's Tony. It's funny a lot
of guys to get tight in these big games, right,
(04:01):
c just trud looked loose like he looked as relaxed
and fluid and just playing the game and letting it
come to him and reacting off platform stuff, the stuff
we've been waiting to see. And the accuracy didn't go away, right,
He had those two big throws on the move that
were accurate after avoiding the rush. And look, he showed
athleticism too, right, he ran the football, which is something
(04:22):
we hadn't seen a ton of this year. So I thought,
he you know the stuff, all the stuff that we
were worried about. And it's just one game, right, but
he I think showed the critics and doubters the stuff
that you're worried about. Look, I can do that stuff too,
I just haven't done it yet. And you remember it.
You know, you talked to scouts and they they based
when they scout a player that like what can he do?
(04:43):
You know, what does he do well? And c J.
Stroud you talked about running the ball, getting outside the
pocket with he's keeping his eyes downfield and getting the
ball downfield. Now he still hasn't ways to go. There
are a couple of throws that he missed. If you remember,
he missed that one sort of intermediate pass where you
had to just drop it into the receiver or where
the safety was behind the receiver, the cornerback was in
front of receiver. He missed it badly. Sets In Bennett
(05:05):
did make that throw during the winning drives, so you
know there's still some things he's got to work on,
but yeah, I mean again, it's it's maddening, it's it's angry.
It's anger is me because this is the guy that
we should have really seen from September, October, November on.
And I think that scouts, you're gonna ask a lot
of questions. Why did you play like this against Georgia?
(05:28):
What happened against Michigan? Why were there so many close contests?
You know, what happened against Maryland? And it will be
interesting to see, you know, how that how that evaluation goes. Alright,
couple other matchups in this game I want to talk about, obviously,
Marvin Harrison Jr. Tony not eligible for this year's draft class.
You can, I don't ef you want to use a
pen if you can, but you can. You know, whatever
(05:48):
you want to use, top ten, pick four, put it
in whatever you want to put it in. Awesome, But
you know, he went up against Keiley Ringo, who's a
guy a lot of people are projecting as a top
ten pick this year. And I get it from a
trade perspective, right, He's big, he's strong, he's fast, but boy,
guys get open on it. They get open on to
him a lot. That isn't that kind of the point
(06:10):
of the whole thing. You know, first of all, that
game changed on a dime when Marvin Harrison Jr. Went out.
I mean that that that's that that was the turning
point in that game. And you're right about Ringo. Ringo
did have a couple of nice plays down the stretch
when they needed him. But even the announcers, if you
watched the game we're talking about, you know there are
constant slip ups with Keiley Ringo. I said in my
right of the previous idea of this game. At Pro
(06:32):
Football Network, you know a lot of people like him
as a lot first round choice. I don't know. I
don't agree with the The game film that I see
on Keilely Ringo is day two. He couldn't go late
day one. Because he's got the great length, because he's
got the athleticism, because he's exclusive, because they see so
many flash plays that he makes that they feel that
(06:54):
they can turn into consistent production. But lapses at the
cornerback position from a rookie or from a guy going
to leave can be very very dangerous. That that is
a major red flag and we it's not just the
game against Ohio State. We've actually gone behind him all year. Man,
We've seen that from Ringo throughout the season. So I
think what happens is people get all over excited when
(07:16):
they see some of these great highlight films, but really,
when you dig deep into the into the film, the
overall body of work for Keatie Ringo, there are some
red flags. There are some things you've got to be
concerned about. Yeah, no question about it. All right, Let's
go to another defender on the Georgia side of the ball,
Jalen Carter. The numbers do not jump off the page.
He did not dominate the game, which is something you
(07:38):
expect from a guy that's talked about at the top
overall pick. I still thought he was active, He got
in the backfield, he made Stroud you know, scramble a
couple of times. And again that's not being you know,
the dominant first overall pick guy I think people are
looking for. But let leave it this way. What I
saw from Jalen Cardner did not make me, you know,
rethink the fact that he's gonna be one of the
first three or four guys taken in the draft. I
(08:01):
sort of agree with you, but I also think you
gotta give credit to a high state center Luke Whippler,
who I spoke about in the last program, who I
think is a lot of people like the Georgia center
to be the number one center if he declares for
the draft, which I think he's going to. I'm told
that Luke Whippler is very close to declaring for the draft,
and if he's not the first center selected, he'll be
(08:22):
the second center off the board. Somewhere in the beginning
part of round two. I mean Whippler, I mean he
slowed down the domination of the potential dominating effect of
Jalen Carter, who a lot of people think will be
the highest rated player as we moved towards the draft
that I was talking to somebody in the league about this,
and I said, you know, I like Whipplers play a
lot against George. I said, he didn't dominate the way
(08:44):
he did against Benton of Wisconsin, who's a highly rated
defense attack but Authority played well. And the response was, look,
he was playing against potentially the number one pick of
the draft in Jalen Carter, and he basically he didn't
if he didn't control and he slowed him down. So
I can understand why you like call. I just thought
that Luke Whippler, the center from o'ho stead, I thought
he was terrific. Yeah, Tony, I think both things can
(09:05):
be true. You know, I think that Hardward was actual.
You're never gonna shut down a guy that that's talented
for a whole game and you know, keep him out
of the backfield. But look what Whipple did a nice job.
And the fact that we're going into this game if
I told you that, I mean, would you thought, o House,
they will put up that many points and you know
I didn't. And you can't do that unless your offensive
line does a really nice job against a really good front.
(09:26):
And it was basically Ohio States defense inability to stop
Georgia the last five minutes of the game, which is
why they are not playing in the in the National
Championship game. That in the bed missfield goal, but still
they had a third teen point lead with five minutes left.
You gotta be able to slow down the opposition, and
they didn't. I'm with you one more Georgia player. I
want to hit on Roderick Thomas. I don't think we've
(09:47):
talked about him yet, Tony Georgia's left tackle. Your thoughts
on him, how he played in in generally overall, what
house scouts are looking at him for draft? Yeah, I'm
told he's gonna enter the draft. I don't he's officially
enter the draft. Uh. You know, he's very active, he's
very athletic. The question with with with him is what
are his measurables? You know, the team is he gonna
(10:09):
be six ft four? If he's not six ft four,
is he a left tackle or is he a guard?
Jones right now is on my guardboard. I see what
the actual measurables are. Sometimes, you know, there there were
only some teams that will put a guy left tackle
if he's six three and a half six three. I
gotta see what Jones Jones is. I thought he played
relatively well. Was big there, right? The arm length exactly?
(10:32):
Of course, you want those arms to be at least
thirty three inches. Some teams wanted at least thirty three
and a half inches. You know, he went up against
Zach Harrison, and Harrison is a real good football player.
He's smart, he's tough, he gets the most out of
his ability. He's got a long, lanky build. He's just
got to add some bolt to his to his frame
really to complete this game. But he's he's someone who
(10:53):
finds ways to make plays. Did it. Did it against
the Georgia, whether it was defending the run, batting away passes,
getting some pressures. He's done that all season long. You know,
one guy I think we need to talk about is
Paris Johnson. Paris next my list. You know, it's very
interesting when you watch Paris Johnson. What you saw from
(11:14):
Paris Johnson against Georgia is basically what I watched all
year long when I really broke down the film and
I did my big ten film work last week. And
he's an enigma of sorts in the sense that you
watch him as a run blocker and he dominates opponent.
He'll knock him off the line, he'll knock him on
the backs, he gets out to the second level. Yet
he doesn't show that strong anchor in past protection, as
(11:38):
you saw during the Georgia game when he got pushed
back into the pocket and they got to c. J. Strold,
the red shirt freshman. So I don't know if it's
an issue of I think he's got the strength but
this is his first year at left tackle. He just
has to learn to use that anchor to block with
leverage and hold the point in past protection tells me
that they're gonna be some bumps in the road. As
(11:58):
far as Paris Johnson is concerned being a left tackle
in the NFL, Yeah, we'll wait and see. I know
people love his potential, Tony. I think there will be
a debate if he's gonna be the first offensive tackle
off the board or not. When we get to the draft.
You know everyon'll try to get those tackles early in
these draft classes. Uh, regmend Johnson. Let's jump back to Georgia. Then.
(12:20):
We haven't talked much about Keny McIntosh on this show.
Tony hundred twenty six total yards and from scrimmage almost
even running pass. Do you see him as like a
mid round kind of third down back type of guy
that can kind of help an NFL team in a
in kind of like a role. Macintosh came into the
season with huge grades from scouts, and he's he's been
(12:41):
more of a flash player than a consistent guy. Had
some huge runs from the line of scrimmage against Ohio State,
which he's done all year long. Would have had the
touchdown except he tripped over the five yard mind if
you remember that, Like um, I think Macintosh has got
to put it together. If he puts it together, he
could be your quote unquote feature runner at the next level.
(13:03):
Not he's gonna be a guy that kind of meanders
around and never lives up to expectations. You know, he's
got to put those performances that we saw a guest
ohouse state. He's gonna do that every single week because
he's capable of it. And that's what scouts expect. I
mean scouts. He came into the into the season despite
the fact that he was a two bit you know
(13:25):
running back for Georgian two thousand one expect what scouts
expecting to be a top sixty pick. He got top
sixty potential. As far as the physical skills, he shows
the flashes, I don't know if the consistencies there. I
think in a deep running back class, you're looking maybe
late third round with McIntosh. Yeah, but a team could
get somebody that could really help him in a roll.
(13:46):
You know, with all that ability, you know, you usually
find running backs late, especially in a deep class. That's
gonna be. I think you'll probably see a couple of
Day two running basketball in this draft to only that
end up being really good pros, like really really good
absolutely and and and Day two running backs. Second round
running backs who should probably be first round running backer
would have been first round running backs fifteen twenty years ago. Yeah,
(14:06):
no question about it. Um, a couple of you guys.
How about Stetson Bennett, you know, give him credit, you know,
he George is not rolling out, you know, uh, you know,
Davanta Smith and Jalen Waddle and all these guys. They
have good receivers, but these aren't you know, first round,
you know, top ten pick type guys. The fact that
he's done when he's done this year, I know he's
(14:27):
an older prospect, and that's gonna scare some people away too.
You know, he's gonna find his way on through an
NFL roster. I think he's the type of guy that
would be a very good number three quarterback in the NFL.
He's the type of guy that he's just worth having
as an extra set of eyeballs on the sidelines to
you know, basically go over with what he sees. He's
gonna get a chance to compete. If he's drafted, it's
(14:50):
gonna be very late. He doesn't have the physical skills,
but it's like the guy from TCU that we're gonna
talk about. He just finds ways to win and you know,
when his team needs it. You know, in desperate situations,
he pulls the rabbit out of his hat and there's
something to be said for that at the quarterback position. Yeah,
no question about anybody else in this game you want
(15:11):
to highlight before we move on to the other matchup. Tone.
I thought Steel Chambers the linebacker played relatively well from
Ohio State. I mean, he is your classic for three
week side linebacker. He's very athletic or a couple of
times where he dropped off the wine went thirty yards
down field with receivers, he goes sideline to sideline. Underclassman
Horme told is going to enter the draft. I would
(15:32):
expect him to be a second round pick. And their
other linebacker, Tommy Eikenberg. He's also He's not as athletic
as Chambers, but man, he he packs a whileop. He
is a tough run defendant without with terrific instincts. I
think you're looking at Eichenberg if he enters the draft,
is the middle round choice. Interesting? All right, let's go
to the other game, not quite as many prospects so
(15:54):
that it could have go pro and the TC of
Michigan game tony as there were in George, Ohio state too,
with a premier you know, pro football factories in college football.
But it was an excellent game. It was up and down. Um,
Michigan can never kind of get into how they wanted to,
you know, usually try to win these games, you know,
missing their top running back, Horum. I think probably something
(16:15):
to do with that too. Um, So your thoughts on
the game in general and where would you like to start? Well,
I mean the game was great. It was back and
forth and every time, you know, you thought Michigan had
the upper hand and they were about to dominate the
game as everyone expected to. TC you had an answer,
and TC you had an answer because they have a
quarterback in MaTx Dugan who people say, well, Tim Tebow,
(16:37):
I disagree with that. You know, he's a guy who
had a lot offensive coordinators, had a couple of head
coaches at TCU. You know, all he does is when
he was a guy hard issue right exactly came into
the season as the backup quarterback. Yet you know he
basically grabbed grabbed hold of that starting position and finds
ways to win. You know who reminds me of Tony
(16:57):
I'm gonna throw a name out at you, Jeff Garcia. Uh.
It's a little bit bigger and stout than Garcia. But
he's athletic. You know, he's got a terrific arm. He
has that ability to make plays with his legs. Like
Jeff Garcia, he's gonna be you know, people are gonna
pick holes in his game. Max Dugan, Uh, throughout the
(17:17):
scouting process, when you compare him to Stetson Bennett, I
think Max Dugan has a chance to really produce on
the next level because of the physical skills, because of strength,
because of the foot speed compared to say Stetson Bennet,
who was a good pair of eyes. Plus you know,
like I said with Bennett, you know he finds ways
to wins. He I mean, every time you thought this year,
(17:39):
whether it be against Michigan, will it be against best
Kansas State, whoever else? Every time you know TCU was
counted for dead, they rise up and they win. And
it's largely in part because of the play of the quarterback.
All right, I'm with you, and one guy he was
throwing to in this game was Quentin Johnston had a
big game. Um Almost all yards came on two plays,
one of blown coverage should the other or a shallow
(18:00):
cross where he broke one tackle and then the speed
took over. Your thoughts on Johnson. We even talked about
him a ton. We did a little bit last week,
but not a ton. I watched him a little bit today.
I'll give you my take second, but your thoughts on
on the game Johnston played and the kind of where
he stands in this wide receiver class. I think he
helped himself in a sense because he was going to
be against DJ Turner lot and that was a real
(18:21):
good battle to watch in DJ Turner, the cornerback from Michigan,
who I don't know if he's sufficiently enter the draft
with the word is he gonna enter the draft. He
could be a late first round pick. He doesn't. He
had He doesn't have the size of Glinn Johnson, but
he's got outstanding ball skill. So that was a good
matchup as far as Johnson's concerned. He's got the size,
he's got the speed. People are gonna fall in love
with him. I think the thing with Johnson is you
(18:42):
gotta watch the route running at the combine and take
as much out of that as you can, because he's
got to learn it. Can't be another big twelve receiver
that just wins because the size and speed. He's gotta
find other ways to separate. I thought his route running
was surprisingly nice and surprisingly good during the game against Michigan.
(19:02):
But when you go to the NFL, it's next level.
That's the big thing with Johnson. Has had his share
of drops in the in the throughout the two thousand
two season, but you know, this is a wide open
receiver class, so it's very possible that Quentin Johnson could
end up as the first receiver selected. Yeah, he could
be Tony. This is what I wrote down. I watched
(19:23):
him this morning. I've watched all his explosive plays, and
I watched some other things from him as well, just
to get a fuel for him. I'm curious se if
he actually measures at at six four, But if he
comes in at six two and a half or six three,
that wouldn't shock me. I want to see that. I
think for a guy his size, he's good at making
guys missed after the catch. He's had some pretty explosive
runs after the catch, and he's made some guys you
(19:44):
know miss As you pointed out, he was good speed.
Not sure it's elite speed, but it's good speed. The
route running, I think he glides sometimes just basically it stops, goes,
and then either crosses or slams. That's kind of what
he runs. Not the best route runner. And the one
thing that I made a big note of at the
end of something you just brought up, he lets the
ball get into his body a lot. He's not a
(20:06):
hands catcher, and I think we see, especially on some
of those plays in the middle of the field, plays
that he should make, he kind of lets the ball
get into his body a little bit, gets his eye
off of it, and that's when you get some of
those drops, get some of those jobs. So you gotta
basically readjust yourself and take time to get back to
running after the catch. You you gotta ball bounce. So
I mean, he needs work on he's I don't think
(20:28):
there's a huge difference between him being six four and
six three, especially if he's gonna be you know, over
two twelve pounds and he's gonna running the four threes.
But it's those little things. And I mean, we've seen
time again, the keen Butlers of the world, all these
other guys from the Big twelve, these big, fast, physical
receivers who happen now learn to separate through route running,
(20:49):
have to learn to catch the ball with their hands
away from their frame. It's not an easy adjustment. A
lot of times it doesn't work out. Yeah, And the
other thing, I'll say two tone. When I went back
and I watched I can Swart and I watched all
his contested catch attempts, I thought they'd be more for
a guy with that size and athleticism. I thought they'd
be more, you know, reach it over the fender, taking
(21:10):
the ball away, going up for and catching them. I
didn't see as much as that as I thought I
would when I went through the tape. And it's interesting
because again, you know, people will grant him as a
top ten pick based off the flash players, based of
off the highlights. But you know, when you really get
deep into the film, heale Ringle, who he talks about,
just before you start to see these red flags. And
(21:30):
that's what scouts and teams are gonna be looking at.
And here's the name. I didn't hear a whole lot
about until he started prepping for the game. And you
know that. I watched the game and impossible not to
notice him. Dylan Horton the defensive end for TCU tony
three sacks in the game. I'm not mistaken, right your
thoughts on him? Would you saw from him in the game,
and where he might be and how he might be
viewed by scouts for the draft Coming into the season,
(21:52):
Dylan Horton was greated as a late round, seventh round pick.
I would a fifth round grad up. Dylan Horton is
a legit six and a half two sixty three pounds.
He runs and plays in the four sevens. It's a
matter of him getting off of blocks and getting to
the quarterback. I think against Michigan, basically you had, you know,
the big uglies against the quick, explosive defenders. That's why
(22:16):
Dylan Hornton was able to get an advantage. I mean,
the left tackle Hayes for Michigan is a pretty good
is actually a good prospect, but Dylan Hornton is very quick,
he's very explosive, he's very athletic. It's just a matter
of him putting it together. Now he's gotta granted, you
got the game, but he's gonna go up against Robert
Jones of Georgia, so he's gonna have another real opportunity
(22:36):
and the challenge on Monday for the show that the
game against the Michigan was not the exception to the rule.
He's got a lot of upside potential. It's just a
matter of him, you know, hitting that and playing to
that potential, that upside weekend and week out. I am
not surprised. I had written about that. He thought he
(22:56):
was very underrated. But it's a it's a matter of
him playing that that level week in and week out.
Not saying three sacks every week he needs, but I'm saying,
you gotta get that pressure. You gotta show that you
can stand your feet, gotta show that you can penetrate
the line of scrimmage and if you're not getting the sack,
at least caused the quarterback to move his feet and
move out of the pocket. Yeah, we've talked about Michigan
prospects a lot of Tony, So anyone really jumped out
(23:18):
at to you based on their performance in this game,
that we maybe haven't discussed or maybe changed some of
what you're thinking about some guys, I mean a school maker.
I thought it was very good till he got injured. Obviously,
you know Ronnie Bell. It's interesting, you know Ronnie Bell
came into the season graded almost four rounds later than
his teammate Cornelius Johnson. But I think if you're looking
(23:38):
at it right now, Ronnie Bell the receiver is gonna
be selected earlier than Cornelius Johnson. He's a little bit shorter,
but he's more explosive, he's faster. You can use them
as a return specialist. He's come up in huge spots
consistently for Michigan this year. He catches the ball very well.
He's a tough receiver, he finds ways to separate. I
(24:00):
think Rannie Bell at decent game. He's had a real
good season, and I think he's moved ahead of his
teammate for Neelie Johnson, who is much higher rated coming
into the year. And one of thing I want to
bring up, as we've talked about him before, all their center,
they're all sorts of snap issues late in night game
Michigan like where everyone's moving but the ball doesn't get snapped.
There seemed to be something going on with that offensive
(24:21):
line where they weren't in sinc which is unusual for Michigan.
Here's the thing with Luttini, and he's a he's a
great story. It's an he's an easy guy to root for.
But go back to what we said with Keiley Ringo,
when you or even Quentin Johnson, when you really get
into the film, there's a lot of red flags there.
I mean, he's not a powerful power gap blocker. He's
(24:43):
not overly athletics, so you can't use him in a
zone a zone scheme. I think all the Wattini is
a late round, seventh round choice. I think people are overrating.
Now when you really get into the film, you see
a guy who is potentially max out. I don't know,
he's got great upside, would be an asset to have
as a backup, but he's not an early draft. Pick
(25:06):
one other guy, I gotta talk about somebody I've liked
for the past three years. Uh, Trevius Hodgens Tomlinson, the
cornerback from TCU who had a terrific game. I mean
he is a feisty, little cornerback, little I'll get into that.
With outstanding ball skills, good hands for the interception, has
a knack for the big play, terrific ball skills. The
(25:27):
problem is he's five seven and a half. So it
doesn't mean that he's not going to play at the
next level, but what it means is he's probably not
going to be a top one pick because everybody wants
those cornerbacks to be six ft tall to guard against
the six two and a half six ft three receivers
Quinn Johnson. But I thought Hodge Hodges Tomlinson played well.
He's played well in the past three years if you
(25:47):
watch TCU, when you break down the TCU film. As
I've said about Hodges Thomlinson, if he was three inches taller,
he's a top fifty pick. But at five seven and
a half, there's just not a big market for those
types of guys come NFL Draft time. Because they projected
dinebacks on Sunday, they had no question about it. And
by the way, I want to and it reminds me
(26:10):
of a guy we talked about um last year, Tony,
and the guy's first name is escaping me. It's kind
of looking up. It's killing me. Uh, the small kid
out of Houston, Jones who ended up getting drafted by
the Patriots. Marcus Jones. Marcus Jones thying I kept something
was Nathan Jones for some reason, Marcus Jones, and he
was another guy, right, I think he was five nine,
like a hundred and sixty pounds or something like that.
He's been great for the Patriots this year. But if
(26:32):
you watch his tape last year, his tape was phenomenal.
He I know he had shoulder issues two right heading
into the draft at the end of the season, but boy,
that's you know, he's the guy that got I think
in the fourth or fifth round, and you know that
that's what you just said about that corner reminds me
of what we were saying about Jones last year. And
it's gonna be a similar situation. Hodgenson. Thompson is gonna
have to be in a scheme with a coach that
(26:54):
knows how to use him. You know, he's not a
plug and play type of guy, but he can absolutely play.
Probably had some special teams elements to him, as Marcus
Jones did, although Marcus Jones really showed a lot of
special teams ability at Houston. All Right, let's let's go
through some of the other early declarations and some of
the other games. Tony Um, we'll kind of go through
the games and then anything I want to bring up.
(27:14):
You can Clemson, tennessee a lot of luster off this game.
He's the guys that did not play in it. But
one guy that did declare from Clemson, Brian Berse, he
will head into the draft. I watched him today, really
good quickness. I felt like kind of off the snap,
really kind of shifting side the side. But for a
guy that's three pounds, I didn't see as much power
as I thought I would watching him over the course
(27:36):
of the year. I think you gotta go back and
watch the two thousand twenty one film because he was
he was a load to handle in the middle of
the line. Remember, I mean had some personally shues earlier
in the year when his I believe his fifteen year
old sister died at brand cancer, So obviously you know
there were a lot of things going on in his life.
The fact that he played in the game, I think
Bose well, he deserves a lot of credit for that.
(27:56):
I do think he's going to be an early pick,
a top twelve pick. He's got size, he's athletic. He
had he did show the power a year ago that
just a little bit off his game this year. A
lot of people liked him coming into the year. Uh,
And you know, I understand why he entered the draft.
I think it's gonna be very early pick. Also, it's
got some scheme versatility. I think you can use them
(28:16):
in three or four man lines. Yeah, he he played
a lot of knows this year. He plays in three techniques,
so he did both things. You're right, I just made
a note look at one tape for him. I'll do
that little later on today if I can find the
time here. Um, thank you for that tone. Anyone else
from Clemson Tennessee that we haven't really discussed much that
you want to bring up or you're good. No, I
mean most of those guys sat on sidelines, and most
(28:37):
of them the guys are opted out, and there's really
I mean, I guess that the big news from the
Clemson game is they moved on from the quarterback, which
we all knew that they would. And it'll be interesting
to see what happens with DJ and that now with
Oregon State, you know, moving forward, considered some people including
yours truly, but so highly of him after those two games.
He filled them for trivile bars in two thousand and twenty.
(28:59):
All right, you talked only about it. You get the
avalanche of Ohio State players declaring after the game. We
haven't gotten that yet, but we did get an avalanche
of Alabama players declared for the NFL Draft after that
Bowl game. I'm sure that the House state players will
be shortly. Maybe they've done it during the show. Who knows. Um. So,
we had Bryce Young, who we talked about a million
times on this show. He was again unbelievable, Tony. He's
(29:19):
gonna be the first quarterback take and he's probably gonna
be the first overall pick. And I don't think either
one of us has a problem with that, despite the
fact his size and measurables aren't great. We've done that
a million times. We've talked about Jamir Gibbs. Maybe not
big enough to be a twenty carry game feature back,
but certainly a guy that can split the load. Good
pass receiver, he declared, Will Anderson declared. And then a
(29:39):
couple of guys we haven't talked a bunch about, Brian
Branch and Uli Ricks too defensive back. So why don't
you take us through those three defenders, because I don't
think we've done a ton of stuff on those guys
quite yet. That we did a lot of Anderson last week.
So give me a focus on Branch and ricks On
on how scout you're looking at those guys. A Branch
is a dominant safety. I mean he he plays a
(30:01):
safety position with cornerback type ball skills. He's explosive, he
defends the run well. He's got terrific speed, both in
a straight line and sideline to sideline. Coming into the
season off of the two thousands twenty one film, when
he was rotated into the lineup, I had him as
a third round choice. I think he's a guy who
(30:22):
could break into the first round. He is that good.
He's all he's cropped up to be. Although sometimes Alabama
safety said have not really uh have panned out at
the next level. He's got size, he's explosive, you can
place him over the slot receiver and he's not gonna
be a liability. Really like his game. Can't say the
same thing for Eli Rix. Eli Rix is sort of
(30:42):
a poor man's keelly Ringo. I know people absolutely love
him transfer from l s U. A flash guy that
has a lot of lapses, and I really got to
delve deeper into the film with Rix. Uh. You know,
if I was advising him, I would have said, go
back for another season and put it all together and
really elevate your draft dock. We'll see what happens moving forward.
(31:05):
We saw Derek Stingley make a late rise of draft boards.
I don't think Eli Rix is gonna be the third pick.
I don't think he's gonna be a first round pick.
But again, you know, he shows flashes, but there's not
a lot of consistency with Eli Ris. I know there
are a lot of people in the Twitter draft world
that love them. I'm not one of them. Alright. Two
other Alabama players that unless I missed it, I don't
(31:25):
think they've declared yet, UM linebacker Henry toe Toe. I
think I have that right, and Byron Young as well.
And this as a guy that's some people like your
thoughts on those together. And then when you say that
they have declared they were seniors, they were seniors who
who basically they're entering the draft and they're not gonna
go back for a second senior season to toe is
is the type of guy. He's a smaller guy, six thirty,
(31:48):
sort of your running chase pursuit mindbacker. And by the way,
just just some people understand they get the extra year
because of the COVID year, so they could if they
wanted to, but they're choosing to go and go ahead.
So this is gonna end eventually because it was I
cost uh. You know, go back to what I said
about Steel Chambers from Ohious Day being your traditional for
three weeks sli linebacker. That's what Totoe is. He's either
(32:10):
a four three weeks slide linebacker. You're gonna put him
on the inside of a three four. Let him run
through the ball, very instinctive, very fast, but not very
big and you know, struggles getting through the trash, struggles
getting off blocks. Brian Young right now, I have a
fourth round grade on him. You know, your typical two
gap linemen at from Alabama, guy who doesn't make a
(32:31):
lot of plays behind the line of scrimmage, basically occupies
the block, occupies gaps, occupies blockers. He's got good size,
he's explosive, he's strong. Just a matter of you know,
the team see him as a three four end or
a four three tackle. I think he can play both,
but I think he's more of your middle round type
of player. All their opponent was Kansas State, and that
(32:52):
was another great game by the way, Um, just a
great weekend in the college football. Um, Deucee Banna is
the guy I'll bring up, But then you can bring
up anyone if you want to bring up from that
Kansas State team, Tony, go ahead. Deuce one a little
bit of a smaller back, but very explosive. I mean,
you know, we we we talked about Macintosh, you know, okay,
you know with the long runs from from the line
of scrimmage. Deuce one does this every week. I mean,
(33:12):
he's a smaller guy, but he's tough. He runs hard
on the inside. He shows the agility and speed to
turn the corner. I don't know that he's got the
size of the ability to be a feature runner at
the next level, but you know who needs to be
a feature runner at the in the NFL these days
carries only a few teams do it like that. I
was a little bit disappointed in the play of Julius Brents,
(33:36):
who really, I mean, got smoked by Bryce Young throughout
the game. But wrnack cornerback right, the cornerback from UH
from Kansas State, six two and a half, two and
two pounds. He's going to test off the charts. He
flashes athleticism. I think people talking about day two. If
it's day two, I think it's gonna be later in
the third round. I think he's a guy that you
(33:58):
start off as a nickelback and you try developed his game.
He's got great upside, but there's been a lot of
a lot of hurdles, a lot of bumps in the
road for Brents really, not only against Alabama, but if
you go back to that Big twelve title game against
TCU and Max Dowagan had his issues against Quentin Johnson there,
but well liked in the scouting community. All right, Before
(34:18):
we get to a couple other players that could be
coming out here, one declaration and one that is a
little bit more complicated, Um any other Bowl games that
you want to focus on, Tony really pinpoints some players
that maybe you know, made a statement jumped out to
you that you want to get to you you before we
hit our final two players here. Now, I mean the
Illinois game was a good game to watch, but a
lot of their top guys who were on the sidelines.
(34:40):
That would be interesting to see. Uh if Martin, the
cornerback who came out of nowhere, enters the draft. I
mean the the Penn State game really wasn't much of
a game. Penn State, uh Blue, Utah's doors open. I
thought Clifford, the quarterback from Penn State, played very well,
although I don't think it's you know, you gotta look
at his body of work and he's a you know,
(35:03):
he's more of a Stenson Bennett type of Uh. You know,
it's gonna have to come in and compete to earn
a roster spot. Their linebacker Strange, I'm sorry, they're tight
end Strange who the Penn State's tight end Strange, who
declared for the draft. I thought it had a very
good game. He's a good pass catcher, sort of your
move tight end who gives effort blocking. But he's got
(35:23):
who he's gonna improve his his strength. I think Strange
is a potential third round choice, but he played very
well against you strong tight end class. Right Tony, Well,
it's looking like a not except for you know, the
the notes game kid who will be a first round pick.
I think you're gonna get a lot of good day too.
Tight ends. And you know we're speaking about tight ends.
(35:45):
South Dakota State plays in the one Double A Championship
on Sunday. Uh, it's a nationally televised game. Watch the
South Dakota State tight end, Tucker Craft. Because this kid
is outstanding. I mean, I want to say he could
jump into the late part of round one, but he
is an exceptional downfield, the past catcher who does a
(36:07):
great job blocking. He's gonna be the number two tight
end off the board, Tucker Craft, South Dakota State if
everything checks out. But just watch him Sunday in that
one double A, that FCS championship game when South Dakota State,
I think they're playing North Dakota State. Uh, if memory
serves me. Because he is a legitimate early pick in
(36:28):
three draft and underclassman who has already declared, but he's
staying with South Dakota State throughout the playoffs. I wonder
if he's gonna so he can't go to the Senior
Bowl of the Right. If he's an underclassman, I'm not
sure if he's graduated or not, so that it depends
on on his graduation status as to whether he's ring
game maybe though, who knows, right possible. I don't know
(36:48):
that the Shrine games inviting players that I may be wrong,
but I don't know that they're inviting underclassmen that haven't
graduated fair enough, right enough? Alright? Uh tony, Oh, I'm
putting on the spot at this so I apologize if
if you're not prepared for and I forgot to put
it in the rundown, but I'm gonna throw it at
you anyway. Tulane played a hell of a game against
the USC man I watched that game. It was fun.
(37:11):
Anyone on Tulane, you know the team played that well
this year. They beat USC. There's gotta be some guys
coming out that that could be interested in the draft.
They actually have a couple of guys. Number one, they're
running back tij Speers, who has been phenomenal all year
and I've written about him all year, is entering the draft.
He is going to the Senior ball. He has accepted
an invitation. He's a smaller guy, but he's incredibly quick,
(37:34):
he's creative, he's an outstanding pass catcher out of the backfield.
I right now have him as an early one round.
Trust I can absolutely see him moving into Day two
if he goes to the Senior Bowl and catches the
ball exceptionally well and shows the ability, you know, to
make defenders, which which which I expected to do. So
tay J. Spears, they got some late round guys. They
(37:55):
got a couple of quarterbacks. Excuse me as I look
away from the camera. Here a couple of guys I
should say in the defensive back seven Dory and Williams
an inside linebacker, Nick Anderson an outside linebacker to safeties
and Larry Brooks and Making Clark. These are late round
draft picks, priority free agents who will I think absolutely
(38:16):
having an opportunity to make a roster in the fall
two thousand twenty three on an NFL team as you
are fourth safety special teams player, as your seventh or
eighth linebacker special teams players. So they've got a lot
of fisty guys. Not the greatest athletes in the world
as you got on USC, but guys that are tough,
instinctive and play all out on every down. Kay shan
(38:39):
Bote changed his mind, Tony. Yeah, we talked about and
going back to school lasting a good smart move. Get
another week. You know, James Danils come back. You know,
I figured you had a good, strong second half of
the year, you build on it. Nope, coming out your thoughts, Uh,
I mean I said earlier it's a wide open receiver class,
So I don't know how much that had to do
(39:00):
with it. He did play much better in the second
half of the year than he did the first half
of the year. He's basically c J. Stroud magnified in
the sense that we saw the second half of the
season of Shawn Booty what we expected to see from
the word go in September. Now, whether that was him
trying to get in tune with Jaden Daniels because Jaden
(39:20):
Daniels also played much better the second half of the season,
I don't know. Uh, you know, I think with a
lot of these guys, K Shawn Booty goes back and
builds upon what he showed in two thousand twenty one
and plays much better. KA Shawn Booty is the first
round pick. But I guess you know now, in today's NFL,
when you're a player, it's basically the race to the
(39:40):
second contract because that's when you make the cash. And
sometimes even though everyone talks about first round picks when
you talk to players. He talked to the agent better
off being a second round choice because they may not
I'm not gonna make as much money, but they're gonna
get to that second contract quicker. That may be part
of his thinking. I think it's gonna be an interesting evaluation.
I always think it's it's difficult to get to draft
(40:03):
a player when he's on his downside, when he is best,
best football has been behind him. That's the situation with
ka Shawn Booty. I definitely think he's gonna be a
Day two guy. Maybe he makes a late round charge
of the board. People do do with Derek stinctly type
where people go back and look at the two thousands
twenty one film where he made some incredible plays. And
the one thing we know about LG receivers is this,
(40:25):
they usually turn out to be much better players on
Sunday then they were on Saturday, and they were damn
good players on Saturday. Yeah, no question. I didn't think
I'd be sitting here breaking down the one point seven
billion dollar omnibus budget bill that pass Congress, but here
we are. There was a little thing in there in
the six thousand pages Tony. That makes it much more
likely Andre Carter, who's a defensive end for Army, can
(40:47):
play in the NFL next year. I'm not gonna explain
the details of it, but it's there. Trust me your
thoughts on Carter when he might get drafted. Now that
his um the commitment to the military can get pushed
back a little bit further, Senior ball is gonna be
huge for him. Ian Carter was a good player, came
into the season gritted as the second round prospect by scouts. Uh,
(41:08):
he's an athletic guy. They use him as a pass
rusher and they use them off the line of scrimmage.
You know, didn't play against The Army schedule is the Georgia,
States of the World and teams like that. I think
they played the Holy Cross as well, So you know,
the Senior Bowl is going to be huge for for him.
I still think he's more of a Day three choice.
(41:28):
There are some scouts that like him in Day two.
If he shows pass rush ability at the Senior Bowl
in those one on ones you know, the Senior Bowls
Shrine Game or Kingmakers at the quarterback position, at the
cornerback position, and if you can rush the pass or
you can really improve your stock at both the Senior
Bowl and Shrine Game. So I got to see what
he does in those one on ones. If he's able
(41:50):
to get pressure up the field, is he If he's
able to beat those offensive anacles, he's really gonna help himself. Finally, Tony,
before we say goodbye, give me some broad stroke thoughts
the National Championship Game, which takes place next Monday. I mean,
you look at it on paper and you say, you
know George is gonna win by four teen twenty one points.
But you know, how can you dismiss TCU. I mean
(42:13):
some of the matchups. Obviously Keeley win Ringo against Clinton Johnson.
We mentioned Roderick Jones against the TCU pass rushers, Kenny
one guy from TCU. We didn't mention d Winters, the
the inside linebacker who had a terrific game against Kenny Macintosh.
Tu I mentioned true Davius Hodges Thominson. See how he
(42:35):
does against the h the Georgian receivers and Stepson Bennett. Obviously,
you know Michigan's got sorry, George's gotta start in the
making with their tight end. You have to see how
d Winters matches up against that. I mean, you gotta
think you gotta like on paper Georgia, but you know
how many people thought that Michigan was gonna win. So
don't count out TCU. I just hope we see a
(42:57):
good game. Yeah. Tc You're showing a lot of guts
this year, Tony, with the cans them out, they keep winning,
so hopefully it'll be a fun game. If that game
is anything close to some of the games you so
last week, and I think we'll all be very happy
with that. Happy do year. My friend James save to
all abuse absolutely Tony Tolma paul In check out his work.
By the Way Pro Football Network. I am John Schmilk.
Thanks you for being with us. From the episode of
Draft Season. It was all brought to you by Tommy
(43:19):
He'll figure a PVH brand and official partner of the
New York Giants. Don't forget to go download the Giants
TV streaming apples for free on Roku, Apple TV, those
other streaming services. Check it out. You can find this
show and all other video content as well. For Tony,
I'm schl We'll see you next time. It's Draft Season.
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