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2018 NFL Draft prospects to watch in Week 12

Fort Worth, TX, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs wide receiver Courtland Sutton (16) during the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Aside from the usual Pac 12 conference games that heat up around this time of year, the week before Thanksgiving typically pits some lower-tier teams against some of the nation's best, in a final tune-up before the annual rivalry week in college football. However, if you look close enough, there are some fine matchups that pit top draft-eligible talent on both sides of the field this coming Saturday, and we at PFF are arguably looking most forward to this big-time AAC matchup against SMU and Memphis.

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SMU @ Memphis

Top 2018 NFL draft eligible players to watch - SMU @ Memphis

When SMU is on offense

  • You may have seen this one on the schedule at the beginning of the season and just thought ‘oh, another AAC conference game, I'll watch something else.' We here at PFF on the other hand, have been eagerly awaiting this one since the schedule release – as this game matches up some very intriguing prospects across the board. SMU WR Courtland Sutton grabs the headlines right off the start as his 6-foot-4, 216-pound frame as a wide receiver is nothing short of formidable at first glance.
  • A year after bringing down 10 touchdown receptions, Sutton has hauled in 55 receptions on 100 targets this year for 875 yards and already topped his TD total from last year with 11 touchdowns. He has brought down multiple receptions in all but one game game this year, and hauled in at least five catches in each of his last six contests. He's been on a tear since Week 7, bringing down four touchdowns, 35 receptions and has forced eight missed tackles after the catch.
  • Last season, against Memphis, Sutton was targeted a team-high seven times, bringing in six receptions for 70 yards but was kept out of the end zone. In all likelihood, it will be Memphis freshman CB Terrell Carter or junior CB Tito Windham's job to attempt to do the same this year. Windham has excelled in his first year as a starter for Memphis, allowing just 11 receptions on 26 targets into his coverage. He has not allowed a touchdown all year and has broken up six passes for a passer rating of just 58.0 on throws his way. This one-on-one matchup will be must-see TV when they line up across from one another. Oh, and don't forget about the lesser-known Trey Quinn, because he'll carve up the middle of the field if you do.

When Memphis is on offense

  • This one starts with the battle up front, and the increasingly powerful edge rushing duo of Justin Lawler and Mason Gentry, the latter of whom has successfully returned from injury this season. Lawler, a long-time PFF favorite, is an equal opportune pass-rusher, registering 100-plus pass-rush snaps on either side of the defensive line, but excels from the left. On 129 rushes from the left, Lawler has registered 27 total QB pressures (5 sacks, 7 hits, 15 hurries) compared to his nine pressures from 104 rushes from the right.
  • Memphis LT Trevon Tate will have his hands full when Lawler rotates to his side of the line as Tate has allowed just just 10 pressures this year on 377 pass blocking snaps. Most importantly for Tigers fans, all 10 of Tate's pressures have been hurries, as he has kept QB Riley Ferguson upright all season protecting his blind side.
  • Speaking of Ferguson, his connection to star WR Anthony Miller has shown up time and time again this season for Memphis. Miller has been targeted 108 times this season, sixth-most in the nation, and hauled in 67 receptions for 902 yards and 11 touchdowns, compared to zero interceptions. In their meeting last year, Miller torched the SMU secondary on four receptions for 102 yards and two touchdowns.
  • However, Miller was held in check by this year's draft board riser in Jordan Wyatt a year ago. Despite his 6-target, 4-catch, 102-yard performance, Miller was targeted on Wyatt three times, while Wyatt kept him to just one reception for six yards, and has a pass breakup. This is ANOTHER must-watch TV moment when these two go at it.
Be sure to sign up for PFF Edge and check out our other featured matchups in Week 12 – including LSU @ Tennessee, Texas @ West Virginia, UCLA @ USC and TCU @ Texas Tech along with much, much more from your PFF Edge subscription.

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