The big time has arrived, y'all.
The College Football Playoff Semifinals are finally here with a 3 PM game between Washington and Alabama and a 7 PM game between Clemson and Ohio State (both on ESPN). Obviously with these games there are a massive amount of NFL draft prospects to keep an eye out for, but the two earlier bowl games also have a few guys Eagles fans should be interested in....
11 AM on ABC- Citrus Bowl: Louisville v. LSU
- Brandon Radcliff, Running Back, Louisville: While Lamar Jackson rightfully gets the hype on the Louisville offense, it is worth noting his productive backfield sidekick, Brandon Radcliff. At 5-9, 215, Radcliff has a strong build and that shows with his powerful running style. He does not have great quickness and is a one speed runner, but his power and vision make him a solid complement in a backfield.
- DeAngelo Brown, Defensive Tackle, Louisville: DeAngelo Brown is the glue of the Louisville defense. Brown is built like a can of soup, barely measuring at 6-1, yet weighing 310 pounds. Brown will not blow anyone away with his athletic ability, but he is a stout presence in the middle of a defense whose leverage and bully strength can disrupt a running game or passing game. Brown is not a flashy pass rusher from the interior, but he has an ability to gobble up space and make players around him better.
- Ethan Pocic, Center, LSU: Ethan Pocic has been a big part of LSU's success running the ball the last two seasons. Pocic is incredibly tall for a center (6-7, 305), which hurts his ability to win the leverage battle with defensive tackles who are usually four to six inches shorter. However, Pocic has consistent technique, long arms and plays with attitude. Luckily, Pockic has experience at various positions along the offensive line and a move to guard in the NFL due to his size at center seems logical.
- Tre'Davious White, Cornerback, LSU: Another cornerback to keep an eye on, Tre White is an athletic cover guy who consistently locks down his man. He needs to improve his ball skills, but his ability to win at the line of scrimmage and use his athletic ability in coverage is incredibly impressive.
- Davon Godchaux, Defensive Tackle, LSU: Davon Godchaux is a talented interior linemen with good athletic ability and size (6-4,300). He does a good job firing off the ball and his quickness make him hard to handle for offensive alinement. Godchaux can improve his technique and overall get more consistent with pad level, but he is a very solid NFL prospect.
- Kendell Beckwith, Linebacker, LSU: LSU is producing NFL linebackers on a fairly regular basis it seems and this year is no different with Kendell Beckwith. The 247 pound linebacker is not only incredibly physical, but also intelligent on the field. While he is not a special athlete like previous LSU linebacking prospects, he makes up for it with his on field savvy and consistency.
- Jamaal Adams, Safety, LSU: Jamaal Adams is the best prospect on this LSU team. The 6-1, 215 pound safety has a great build and is an excellent athlete. He has ball skills and range, but is also an incredibly good run defender. His biggest issues come with his overaggressiveness, but his athletic and playmaking ability make him one of the five best players in this class.
11 AM on ESPN- Taxslayer Bowl: Georgia Tech v. Kentucky
- Jon Toth, Center, Kentucky: With two 1,000 yard rushers, it is not hard to see why the Kentucky offensive eline should draw some attention. Their senior leader, Jon Toth, is a very intelligent and consistent player with great experience on the line. He has a well rounded skill set that should get him drafted some time on day two and I would not be shocked if he enjoyed a long NFL career.
- Patrick Gamble, Defensive Line, Georgia Tech: Patrick Gamble is one of the lone standouts on the Yellow Jacket defense. The 6-5, 280 pound lineman has great size and also has impressive athletic ability. Gamble's technique could stand to improve, but he resembles a ball of clay (not literally) that can be molded into an impacting NFL defensive lineman.
3 PM on ESPN- Peach Bowl: Alabama v. Washington
- ArDarius Stewart, Wide Receiver, Alabama: While Calvin Ridley and OJ Howard get much of the publicity, it is ArDarius Stewart who is the most productive member of the Alabama pass catchers. Stewart has solid size at 6-1, 204 and excellent athletic ability to make impact plays down the field. He has been a big reason for Jalen Hurts' freshman success due not only to his ability after the catch, but his dependability catching the ball as well. This is a talented receiver class, but Stewart could surprise and have one of the better careers of the crop.
- OJ Howard, Tight End, Alabama: Speaking of OJ Howard, it is certainly worth mentioning the Crimson Tide Match Up Nightmare. Howard isn't the classic inline blocking player, but we are talking about a 6-6, 250 pound receiver who has legitimate 4.5 speed on the field. Howard is an unreal athlete and though he has never seen ton of usage at the college level, he has the tools of an NFL star.
- Cam Robinson, Offensive Tackle, Alabama: It is crazy how underrated the left tackle on the number one team in the country is, but Cam Robinson is underrated, even in a bad draft class. The former star freshman player has immense size at 6-6, 310 pounds with very good movement skills. Robinson could get more consistent with his technique and he's been dinged up during his career, but make no mistake that he is still a very good player.
- Marlon Humphrey, Cornerback, Alabama: Marlon Humphrey is one of many first round quality players on the Alabama defense. He is a 6-1, 200 pound, athletic cornerback with incredibly good physicality. He is at his best playing with the ball in front of him and could improve his ball skills in man coverage, but his physicality, upside and ability to impact the run game is impressive. He will have a huge test against a talented group of Washington receivers.
- Reuben Foster, Linebacker, Alabama: Reuben Foster is one of the best players in this class, period. He is a 6-1, 230 pound missile who does an incredible job coming down hill or flowing to the sideline to make plays against the run. His unreal speed makes him a threat as a blitzer and his intelligence helps him cover in the middle of the field. Foster is one of the best linebacker prospects I have ever seen and is the best to come out of college since Luke Keuchly and Bobby Wagner.
- Tim Williams, EDGE, Alabama: Tim Williams is a situational player for the Tide but also one of the most efficient pass rushers in the country. He has great burst and bend around the edge that allows him to disrupt plays immediately. He is listed at 6-4, 250 but I have suspicions he is a bit lighter. Also his lack of playing time in college might make the learning curve in the NFL steeper, especially when asked to play the running game. Regardless, Williams is a gifted player whose ability to quickly create pressure will be highly valued at the next level.
- Jon Allen, Defensive Lineman, Alabama: Jon Allen has been one of the most productive and disruptive players in the country in the last two years. Allen gets moved all around the formation for the Crimson Tide and his high motor and consistently excellent technique make him very hard to deal with. I am not sure what his full time role is in the NFL and I think he is better served playing defensive end who kicks inside on passing downs than a full time defensive tackle. Regardless, Allen is a safe prospect with a very high floor who should help an NFL defense immediately.
- Ryan Anderson, EDGE, Alabama: Anderson is a bit of an unsung guy on the Alabama front. There is so much star power that the 6-2, 250 pounder goes unnoticed. While he may not be the prospect that his compatriots are in the front seven, Anderson is a solid athlete with good production and possesses a well rounded sill set. I would not be surprised to see him have a solid NFL career.
- John Ross, Wide Receiver, Washington: John Ross is among the best receivers in this class and one of the best offensive weapons in the entire country. Though he is smaller (5-10, 190), Ross is an incredibly good athlete with savvy route running skills and dependable hands. He is a deep threat, indeed, but is also a massive threat after the catch. If Washington wants a big chance at winning tonight, Ross' playmaking will be a deciding factor.
- Dante Pettis, Wide Receiver, Washington: Though Dante Pettis does not get the press John Ross does, the 6-1, 190 pound receiver is a decent player in his own right. In fact, Pettis is scoring at a higher rate than Ross. Like Ross, Pettis is a very good athlete but he also brings a size element to his game. One could argue that Pettis has an equally high ceiling, but is not quite the player Ross is right now.
- Lavon Coleman, Running Back, Washington: Lavon Coleman is the number two back in Washington, but I think he is the most talented back on the team and his best football is still ahead of him. At 5-11, 230, Coleman has excellent size and is a freight train of a runner with very good speed. It is a shame he has never been featured, but that also means he has fresh legs to make an impact in the NFL.
- Sidney Jones, Cornerback, Washington: Sidney Jones is just one of the members of what is one of the best secondaries in the country. Jones has NFL size and is a quick twitch ball hawk with the ability to play man coverage or zone. While he can be physical in coverage and as a tackler, he has a few moments of passivity that can be frustrating. Regardless, he is a good cover corner with a chance to be among the first defensive backs taken this draft.
- Budda Baker, Safety, Washington: Budda Baker might get knocked for size (5-9, 190), but so did David and he killed Goliath. Baker has incredible athletic ability and range, while also being a very heady, intelligent player. Baker's size rarely deters him from making impact plays as a tackler and he does a good job playing all over the field. He is a versatile player who can play anywhere from single high to the slot and he should be a high pick in spring.
- Kevin King, Cornerback, Washington: Kevin King is underrated, but the 6-3, 195 pound corner will likely command a long look from the NFL. While King is not the athlete like some of his teammates, he is a very physical player who uses his size well in coverage and as a tackler. He may not go as high as Sidney Jones, but his blend of size, ball skills and physicality should make him a good number two cornerback in the NFL.
- Vita Vea, Defensive Tackle, Washington: Washington has a very talented defensive line but Vita Vea is what makes the whole unit go. At 6-5, 332 pounds, Vea is a comically large human being. Even at such a high weight, Vea carries it well and looks more like a rocked up power forward than a defensive tackle. On top of his huge size, he is a very impressive athlete who can disrupt the interior of an offense and create opportunities for players around him. Beating Alabama is all about controlling the line of scrimmage and Vita Vea gives the Husky defense a good shot at keeping Alabama in check early.
7 PM on ESPN-Fiesta Bowl: Ohio State v. Clemson
- Mike Williams, Wide Receiver, Clemson: Though Deshaun Watson deserves recognition, he is a top quarterback prospect who Eagles fans will not have much interest in besides enjoyment. However, Watson's physical, 6-3, receiving threat may interest Eagles fans quite a bit. Mike Williams is a playmaking receiver who fights at the line of scrimmage, fights for the ball in the air and fights for yards after the catch. He is not an outstanding athlete, but he is a dependable target with size and good enough speed to consistently be a threat to score.
- Jordan Leggett, Tight End, Clemson: Jordan Leggett is another pass catching type of tight end who should be coveted in this class. The 6-5, 255 pound target has excellent size and is also a very good athlete. He had his coming out party last playoffs and after a strong senior season, I expect more impressive football over the next one or two games.
- Wayne Gallman, Running Back, Clemson: Considering he has run for 2500 yards and 28 touchdowns over the last two seasons, it is fair to say Wayne Gallman is an important element of the Clemson offense. Gallman has a solid build at six foot and 210 pounds. He is not overly anything from an athletic perspective, but he is just a well rounded back who rarely gets negative yards. He is a chain moving type of player and though he is not dynamic, he should be a good role player in the NFL.
- Carlos Watkins, Defensive Lineman, Clemson: Carlos Watkins is just another player in a long line of really impressive Clemson defensive linemen. Watkins has a solid build (6-3, 300) and is a high motor player with good burst off the line. Watkins has some versatility to his game, which helps his projection and his ability to be productive from various spots in a front speak to his potential to be a good NFL defender.
- Cordrea Tankersly, Cornerback, Clemson: Cordrea Tankersly is the best corner in this year's class. He has the blend of size (6-1, 200), speed, ball skills and flashes of physicality that you want from a cornerback. He has an immensely high ceiling and if becomes more consistent, he could be a star sooner than later.
- Curtis Samuel, Running Back, Ohio State: Ohio State's offensive success is due in large part to Curtis Samuel, their versatile offensive weapon. At 5-11, 200 pounds, Samuel is uniquely built for a running back and that is possibly due to his duel role as a prolific pass catcher. His quickness and ability to gain yards with the ball in his hands translates well from ball carrier to receiver. Samuel's role in the NFL may be unclear, but I think having a versatile weapon who can contribute in all facets of the running back position at a high level is a pretty clear cut good player.
- Pat Elflein, Center, Ohio State: Pat Elflein is arguably the best lineman in this draft. While he may not have imposing size, the 6-3, 300 pound center is a very good athlete and is as consistent as the sun rising in the east. Elflein is not a flashy player at a flashy position, but he will be among the best pros to come out of this draft.
- Malik Hooker, Safety, Ohio State: Malik Hooker is a ballhawk. No other way of putting it. He has great eyes, discipline, instincts and speed over the top. His ability to click/close on a play is really unmatched in this class, even considering the depth. Hooker has been noncommittal on coming out, which is not surprising for a redshirt sophomore. However, if he does, he could be a top 15 pick.
- Marshon Lattimore, Cornerback, Ohio State: Ohio State, like many of the best teams in the country, has a stacked secondary. A big cog in that unit is their six foot ball hawking cornerback. Lattimore has excellent athletic ability and cover skills while also showing the propensity to force turnovers. Lattimore could stand to be a more physical player, but his cover skills alone should see him drafted pretty highly.
- Gareon Conley, Cornerback, Ohio State: Gareon Conley is another talented defensive back for the Buckeyes. He is a similarly good athlete to Lattimore, but lacks the consistency in coverage while also not being overly physical. Like Lattimore, Conley's tools should get him drafted in the first 60 picks or so, but he has a steeper learning curve.
- Raekwon McMillan, Linebacker, Ohio State: With all the small, fast linebackers in college football, it is nice to see an old school thumper from time to time. McMillan is thickly built at 6-2, 245 and he does a great job coming downhill and making plays at the line of scrimmage. He is a powerful player who fights through blocks with ease and can blow up players as a tackler. He is a smart player, but he can be taken advantage of in space in coverage. However, his overall game should get him a spot on an NFL defense as a dependable run defender.
- Tyquan Lewis, EDGE, Ohio State: Tyquan Lewis had big shoes to fill when Joey Bosa left for the NFL, but Lewis has done a solid job filling in as Ohio State's most productive pass rusher. Lewis has good size (6-4, 266), quickness and though he is not the strongest player, he does a good job fighting to the whistle. Lewis projects more to an outside linebacking position in the NFL, but, regardless, he should be a nice role player at the next level.
This post first appeared on Bleeding Green Nation, A Philadelphia Eagles Commu, please read the originial post: here
