9/22/11 8 PM ET

NC State at Cincinnati

RB Isaiah Pead (Cincinnati) #23

The senior running back rushed for 1029 yards and 6 touchdowns on 157 carries in 2010 and currently projects as a mid round pick in 2012. He’s a decent pass catcher with 26 catches in 2010, but he plays out of a weird scheme and doesn’t have great size at 5-10 200. He doesn’t have the breakaway speed to make up for it so he seems destined for day 3.

TE George Bryan (NC State) #84

Bryan is in position to take advantage of a weak tight end class. He’s a quality blocker at 6-5 265 and he’s got decent speed in the 4.7s. He’s not the best pass catcher, but he caught 40 balls in 2009 and 35 balls in 2010. If he improves on those numbers in 2011, he could be a day 2 pick.

9/23/11 8 PM ET

UCF at BYU

DT Hebron Fangupo (BYU) #91

An monster at 6-1 330 with an impressive 5.0 40, Fangupo couldn’t get onto the field at USC and transferred to BYU. In 3 games this season, the big man has 7 tackles, 3 for a loss, and is gaining late round consideration. He’ll need to keep that up, however, because his age, 26 years old, could turn a lot of teams off late in the draft.

OT Matt Reynolds (BYU) #70

A left tackle at BYU, but projects as a right tackle or even a guard at the next level. He’s not very athletic and his height, 6-4, suggests guard. At 322 pounds, he’s a monster as a run blocker, but needs to work on his form and his lateral quickness in pass protection. He’s also 24 because he spent 2 years on as a Mormon missionary. He projects as a day 2 pick.

9/24/11 12 PM ET

North Carolina at Georgia Tech

DE Quinton Coples (North Carolina) #90

Robert Quinn was a candidate for the #1 overall pick in 2011, before a season long suspension. He eventually went 14^th. Quinn’s replacement at end at North Carolina was Quinton Coples. Coples, who had 5 sacks as a rotational player in 2009, burst onto the scene with 10 sacks in his first year as a starter in 2010. At 6-6 280 with 4.7 speed, Coples figures to be the first defensive player off the board in this April’s NFL draft and could challenge Matt Kalil to be the first non-quarterback taken if he keeps this up. He has 2 sacks in 2 games so far this season, all while providing a huge force against the run.

WR Dwight Jones (North Carolina) #83

The massive Dwight Jones has not yet become a popular projected first round pick, but after 62 catches for 946 yards and 4 scores in 2010, the 6-5 Jones already has 20 catches for 336 yards and 4 scores in 3 games this season. He had 5 catches for 85 yards and a touchdown last week against Virginia, abusing potential first round pick cornerback Chase Minnifield. Even more impressive, he’s doing this with inconsistent play at the quarterback position. He has 4 of his school’s 5 receiving touchdowns and almost half of their receiving yards. If he keeps this up, he’ll be a first rounder.

 

9/24/11 3:30 PM ET

Oklahoma State at Texas A&M

WR Justin Blackmon (Oklahoma State) #81

Justin Blackmon is in a battle with South Carolina’s Alshon Jeffery to be the first receiver off the board in 2012. Jeffery is bigger and succeeding despite not having an elite quarterback, but there’s something to be said for a guy like Blackmon who catches everything in sight. The 6-1 210 pound Blackmon had 111 catches for 1782 yards and 20 scores last year, despite missing one game. He had at least 100+ yards in every game. He already has 27 catches for 329 yards and 3 scores this season, but he’s coming off a mere 57 yard effort against Tulsa last week. Alshon Jeffery is disappointing a bit this year, so Blackmon has the opportunity to overtake him on the totem pole.

WR Jeff Fuller (Texas A&M) #8

Fuller is another first round caliber receiver. He so far hasn’t broken out this season, with just 11 catches for 131 yards and no touchdowns in 2 games, but he’s still got the ability to have a break out game at any time. The 6-4 Fuller had 72 catches for 1066 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2010.

9/24/11 7 PM ET

Vanderbilt at South Carolina

CB Stephon Gilmore (South Carolina) #5

Once seen as the 2^nd best cornerback in this draft class after Dre Kirkpatrick, Gilmore is slipping a bit in recent weeks. In his 3^rd year as a starter, the AP All-American 3^rd teamer as a sophomore in 2010 needs a good game this week to regain his status as the #2 cornerback in this class. LSU’s Morris Claiborne is a rising prospect who could overtake him.

WR Alshon Jeffery (South Carolina) #1

Alshon Jeffery had 89 catches for 1517 yards and 9 scores in 2010 despite inconsistent quarterback play. The 6-3 receiver has been compared to Larry Fitzgerald, but he’s struggled a bit this season with 12 catches for 212 yards and a score. After a mere 2 catches against Navy last week, Jeffery needs a good game this week against Vanderbilt, who possesses a day 2 prospect in Casey Hayward at cornerback.

9/24/11 10:15 PM ET

USC at Arizona State

QB Matt Barkley (USC) #7

Matt Barkley was billed as a future #1 overall pick out of High School. Barkley has lived up to the hype, but likely won’t be the #1 pick because of Andrew Luck. Improving again in his 3^rd season as a starter, Barkley, the first true freshman starting quarterback in USC history, has completed 69% of his passes for an average of 7.7 per attempt, and 9 touchdowns to 1 interception.

S TJ McDonald (USC) #7

McDonald, a big strong safety with great triangle numbers with 6-3 205, is similar to another former USC safety, Taylor Mays. He had 89 tackles and 3 picks last year, but inconsistent play in coverage has him probably looking at being a day 2 pick. This is a weak safety class, however, so he could be drafted in the first out of desperation.