-Originally published 1/30/21-
American Team
It’s unfortunate that the most intriguing Quarterback prospects are all on the same squad, limiting their playing time. Heisman finalist Mac Jones (Alabama) could go anywhere from the mid-first round to the top of the 3rd and was the biggest draft stock riser this season at the position. With freshman Bryce Young finally coming to Tuscaloosa after, a top prospect since middle school, it was assumed Jones would merely be a place holder for a few games before Young took the starting spot. Instead, he lead the nation in passing yards (4,500 passing yards) and completion percentage (77.4%) with a 41/4 Td/Int ratio and made the easy decision to leave school early. After Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, Mac Jones, and Trey Lance, Jones could hop behind the top quartet in the first round. Kyle Trask (Florida) was originally scheduled to play but will sit out with lingering ankle issues. He took over the starting job for the Gators in 2019 after injuries and poor performance sidelined Feleipe Franks. Franks is projected to be a 2nd-3rd rounder but could have slipped into the 1st and stuffed the opening round with QB’s with a good performance.
Jamie Newman announcement to transfer from Wake Forest to Georgia last season was an exciting opportunity to see a former top QB recruit on a big-time stage. He decided to opt-out of the 2020 season and is the biggest question mark of the draft as a result. With no combine and no pro day, this will probably be the only chance for scout to determine whether he’s worth a shot anywhere from the 2nd to 5th round.
Kellen Mond (Texas A&M) is a 3+ year starter for the Aggies and it’s questionable where or not he has the tools to make it in the NFL, especially considering the “big 4” at QB projected to go in the 1st round the other three prospects mentioned previously that are all expected to be selected ahead of Mond. He might have the tools to be “the best of the rest” and a late round prospect.
Florida’s Kadarius Toney (984 yds, 14.1 Avg, 10 Tds) is one of the top receivers on team America. He’ll be joined by Gator teammate Trevon Grimes. A pair of Clemson teammates in Amari Rodgers who finished 4th in receptions (77), 10th in receiving yards (1,020 yds, 13.2 Avg, 7 Tds) and Cornell Powell, 20th in receiving yards (882 yds, 16.6 Avg, 7 Tds) will both be looking to move themselves up draft boards. Shi Smith (South Carolina) could be the guy making the most noise. He’s had a solid week of practice per reports and establishes himself as firmly in the mid-rounds of the draft.
The running back group is ho-hum, but led by Missouri’s Larry Rountree III (972 Rush/Yds, 4.7 Avg, 14 Tds) and Kylin Hill (Mississippi St) who opted out of the 2020 season, then opted back in for a couple games before opting back out again. His 2019 season (1,350 Rush/yds, 5.6 Avg, 10 Tds) was pretty spectacular and it’ll be nice to see him on the field for only his fourth game in the past year. On the offensive line Trey Smith (Tennessee), Ben Cleveland (Georgia), and Alex Leatherwood (Alabama) are all top-100 prospects per Pro Football Focus (PFF).
On defense, team America is stacked at Safety. Hamsah Nasirildeen (Florida St) and Andre Cisco (Syracuse) could both go in the first couple rounds, as could Richie Grant (UCF). Carlos Basham Jr (Wake Forest), Payton Turner (Houston), and Quincy Roche (Miami) are all pass rusher that will get snapped up in the early rounds. Monty Rice LB (Georgia) is the top linebacker prospect.
National Team
The National team features a trio of veteran QBs just hoping to get drafted in Sam Ehlinger (Texas), Ian Book (Notre Dame) and Feleipe Franks (Florida/Arkansas) at quarterback. Franks lost his job at Florida to Kyle Trask and improved his stock after attending grad school for the Razorbacks and using his last season of eligibility. Ehlinger and Book both finished the season strong but both had their struggles for UT and ND and none of the three QB’s on this squad project to be NFL starters.
While the QB’s are unimpressive, the skill positions are rich for the National team. Receivers include Heisman winner DeVonta Smith (Alabama), two projected early picks in Tylan Wallace (Oklahoma St) and Sage Surratt (Wake Forest) and stock risers D’Wayne Eskridge (Western Michigan), and Frank Darby (Arizona State). Darby hopes to be the next Sun Devil wideout to hit the NFL in Herm Edward’s tenure following in the footsteps of N’keal Harry and Brandon Aiyuk.
Michael Carter (North Carolina) and Najee Harris (Alabama), who finished 6th in the Heisman voting, could be the top two tailbacks drafted. Khalil Herbert (Virginia Tech) will be an early round pick and Demetric Felton (UCLA) will be a mid-rounder oozing with potential. Harris, Carter, and Herbert, finished 3rd (1,466 yds), 4th (1,245 yds), and 5th (1,182 yds), in yards rushing respectively. Oklahoma’s Creed Humphrey evaluates to get taken in the early rounds on the offensive line.
The defensive side of the ball will see a number of players from Pittsburgh’s nation-leading sack-happy defense including DB Damar Hamlin, DL Patrick Jones II, and highlighted by D-lineman Rashad Weaver. Jones was tied for 5th nationally in sacks (9), Weaver tied for 17th (7.5). Ohio State will also field three linebackers, highlighted by Baron Browning. Washington D-lineman Levi Onwuzurike also looks to be an early draft selection.
Linebacker Chazz Surratt is perhaps the most interesting defensive player on the field Saturday. The former QB was recruited to play quarterback for the North Carolina Tar Heels. Surratt redshirted his freshman year and struggled sophomore year before getting injured. He switched to linebacker where he played two seasons and twice finished First-team All-ACC at the position.