10/6/11 9 PM ET

California at Oregon

CB Cliff Harris (Oregon) #13

Cliff Harris has top 15 talent, but got into some of the field trouble in the offseason. He was pulled over for going 118 MPH when the cops smelled weed. He also failed an intelligence test. When asked who had the weed, he said “we smoked it all.” He was suspended for the opener, but will be back for this game. He’s still got a chance to go in the first round, but last year Christian Ballard and Justin Houston each fell about 2 rounds from where they were projected to go after failing drug tests at the Combine. At the same time, Aqib Talib went 20^th in 2008 despite a drug arrest so we’ll see. He’s definitely got talent.

RB LaMichael James (Oregon) #21

If this were 2006, LaMichael James might be being talked about as a top 3 pick. James’ 2010 season (1939 total yards and 24 total touchdowns) mirrors Reggie Bush’s 2005 season (2218 total yards, 18 total touchdowns) and both have similar games. However, small running backs are not popular in the NFL right now and neither is taking running backs with premium picks (no one told the Bills this however). Plus, having the tag of “the next Reggie Bush” attached to him is not exactly a good thing. He should still be a 2^nd round pick with another good season and he’s at 613 yards and 7 score on 65 carries with 11 catches through 4 games, but he’s hurt by his frame (5-9 185).

10/7/11 9 PM ET

Boise State at Fresno State

RB Doug Martin (Boise State) #22

Martin put himself into day 2 consideration with 201 carries for 1260 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2010, with 28 receptions for another 338 yards and another 2 scores. He’s gotten off to a rocky start this season, but he looked good against Toledo, better than his stats would suggest, when I spotlighted Kellen Moore in that game. He’s got 325 yards and 4 scores on 85 carries this season, with 13 catches for 158 and another score. He had 126 rushing yards and 2 scores in his last game against Nevada so there’s definitely hope. He’s a physical runner, who refuses to go down on first contact, and he’s got decent speed, athleticism, and pass catching ability to boot. I’m excited to watch a Boise game, spotlighting him this time.

DT Billy Winn (Boise State) #90

Winn is having a disappointing year with just 11 tackles, .5 tackles for loss, and .5 sacks and it appears the once potential day 2 pick is falling more into day 3 range. However, in his past two seasons, he has a combined 24 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks so he’s been better. At 6-4 290, he’s best suited to be a 3-4 end, but he can also play the 4-3 as an under tackle.

10/8/11 12 PM ET

QB Landry Jones (Oklahoma) #12

Following in the footsteps of Sam Bradford, Jones has put up really nice numbers over 2 years as a starter (remember, Bradford missed most of his final year with injuries). In 2009, he completed 58.1% of his passes for an average of 7.1 per attempt and 26 touchdowns to 14 picks as a redshirt freshman. In 2010, he completed 65.6% of his passes for an average of 7.6 per attempt and 38 touchdowns to 12 picks. This year, he leads the undefeated Oklahoma Sooners and completing 71.6% of his passes for an average of 9.3 yards per attempt with 10 touchdowns to 5 picks, including a tough road win against Florida State. He and Matt Barkley are currently the best two quarterbacks after Andrew Luck.

OLB Travis Lewis (Oklahoma) #28

A stat sheet filler since he became a starter in 2008 as a redshirt freshman, Lewis had 343 career tackles, 5.5 career sacks, and 8 career picks coming into this season. He amazingly only missed 1 game after breaking his foot before the season and he already has 25 tackles in 3 games this season. He’s a fringe first round prospect. 

 

10/8/11 3:30 PM ET

Florida at LSU

CB Morris Claiborne (LSU) #17

A rapidly rising prospect, Morris Claiborne has shined in the absence of Patrick Peterson, the 5th overall pick in last year’s draft, and with Dre Kirkpatrick and Stephon Gilmore both slipping a bit early this season, Claiborne has a chance to become the top cornerback in this class if he keeps this up. He has 22 tackles, 2 picks, and a kick return touchdown on the year and will be matched up with the same speed receivers that gave Dre Kirkpatrick trouble last week. 

DT Jaye Howard (Florida) #6

Howard had 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks this year, but the projected mid rounder is the type of player who has value beyond the stat sheet. At 6-3 305, Howard is the nose tackle in Florida’s 4-3 defense and frequently takes on multiple blockers, opening things up for his teammates.

Georgia at Tennessee

10/8/11 7 PM ET

CB Brandon Boykin (Georgia) #2

After 3 picks in each of the last 2 years, Boykin, a mid rounder, has 1 so far this season, along with 3 pass break ups. A former stud return man as well, Boykin showed his amazing athleticism and speed on a 80 yard run from scrimmage in their week 1 loss to Boise State. 

G Cordy Glenn (Georgia) #71

Glenn, a former guard, is lining up at left tackle for Georgia this year. The big 330 pounder is doing an excellent job and is gaining momentum as a potential first round either at guard, right tackle, or even staying at left tackle. With his size and lack of foot speed, right tackle or guard makes the most sense for him long term. 

10/8/11 10:30 PM ET

TCU at San Diego State

QB Ryan Lindley (San Diego State) #14

One of the highest rated small school quarterbacks, Lindley has all the tools you like in a quarterback, but he seems to be regressing this season. After completing 57.7% of his passes for an average of 9.1 yards per attempt and 28 touchdowns to 14 interceptions last year, he’s completed just 51.5% of his passes for an average of 6.7 yards per attempt this season and 8 touchdowns to 1 pick. He struggled mightily against Michigan and doesn’t get a lot of chances to prove himself against highly ranked defenses. He’ll get one here against TCU.

OLB Miles Burris (San Diego State) #9

Miles Burris plays the outside linebacker in SDSU’s 3-3-5 defense, so he essentially is a rush linebacker. However, at 6-3 235, there are questions about his ability to play that position in the NFL. He might be just a situational player in a 4-3. He had 79 tackles, 18 for loss, and 7.5 sacks last year, and he has 26 tackles, 5 for a loss, and 2 sacks this season, but his level of competition and his size make him a day 3 prospect.

ESPN3 Replays

10/8/11 12 PM ET

Louisville at North Carolina

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 14th. 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 2.5 sacks in 4 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 33 catches for 514 yards and 6 scores in 3 games this season. Even more impressive, he’s doing this with inconsistent play at the quarterback position. He has 6 of his school’s 11 receiving touchdowns and almost half of their receiving yards. If he keeps this up, he’ll be a first rounder.

Florida State at Wake Forest 

10/8/11 12:30 PM ET 

DE Brandon Jenkins (Florida State) #49

Jenkins burst onto the scene with 13.5 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss last season and has bulked up to 6-3 265 for the 2011 season, in an effort to remain a 4-3 player as he heads to the NFL after this season. Jenkins will need to pick up it if he wants to remain a first rounder. he has just 2 sacks and 4 tackles for loss in his first 4 this year. 

OT Andrew Datko (Florida State) #67

After Matt Kalil, Jonathan Martin, and Riley Reiff, this is a very thin offensive tackle class. For this reason, the athletic 320 pound Datko has a good chance to move into the mid-to-late first round range and go to a tackle needy team. He plays on Florida State’s left side.

10/8/11 3 PM ET

Boston College at Clemson

OLB Luke Kuechly (Boston College) #40

Luke Kuechly’s a statistician’s wet dream. He had 325 combined tackles in his first 2 seasons at BC and now he already has 83 this season through 5 games. He’s had 10+ tackles in 24 of his last 25 games (the other game he had 9) and if he were 10 pounds bigger and a little faster, he’d be a sure top 10 pick. Still, the 6-2 235 pounder is a top 15 pick at this point.

DE Andre Branch (Clemson) #40

Branch, a day 2 pick coming into this year as a 3-4 linebacker/4-3 end type, burst onto the scene last week with a huge 3 sack day against Virginia Tech in a win. Now he’s getting first round consideration. At 6-5 265 with good speed, he’s a fit for either scheme and has potential to move up if he can keep having good games. Through 5, he has 4 sacks, 7 tackles for loss, and 33 total tackles. Last year, he had 54 tackles, 8.5 for a loss, and 6 sacks.