Each week here at PFF, we will not only highlight those top draft-eligible prospects, NFL draft board-risers and deep statistical updates of the top draft-eligible quarterbacks, we will also be giving you an advanced look at those top prospects when they will be matching up against one another.
This week’s top matchups are heavy on trench warfare, as five of them involve offensive linemen. With little in terms of ranked team matchups (outside of USC’s visit to Washington State on Friday night), this is a great weekend to devote to catching up on draft prospect evaluations.
Virginia Tech interior defenders Tim Settle & Ricky Walker vs. Clemson OG Taylor Hearn
We talked about our appreciation for Settle’s game over the summer, and to this point he’s lived up to the billing, posting 10 total pressures and five run stops through the first month of play. His production has been matched exactly by Walker, who has posted his numbers without missing a tackle. They’re each likely to see their fair share of Clemson guard Taylor Hearn, who has been excellent thus far during his senior season. He’s surrendered just one total pressure through four games, and has posted a run-blocking grade of 84.5.
USC DI Rasheem Green vs. Washington State OG Cody O’Connell
This will be a “Friday Night Fight” not to be missed. After racking up eight sacks and 29 total pressures last season, Green is having a truly breakout campaign, as he already has 14 total pressures and 12 total defensive stops. We pegged O’Connell as one of the top guard prospects heading into the season, and through the first month he has allowed no sacks and just one hit in pass protection, and has a solid run-blocking grade of 82.8.
Rutgers LT Tariq Cole vs. Ohio State edge defenders Sam Hubbard & Tyquan Lewis
Cole has played like a future first round pick to this point, as he has surrendered no sacks or hits and just four total pressures in pass protection, and his 88.2 run-blocking grade ranks seventh in the country among tackles with at least 100 run down reps. Hubbard and Lewis have been as-advertised as well, posting a combined five sacks, six hits and 13 hurries to go with 13 total defensive stops.
Connecticut LT Matt Peart vs. SMU edge defender Justin Lawler
No one has been able to drum up much of any pressure on Peart this season, as he has yet to surrender a sack or a hit. He’ll certainly be in the limelight for NFL scouts on Saturday, as he’ll face off against one of the most productive pass-rushers in the country in SMU’s Lawler. All Lawler has done is post 14 total pressures this season, which ranks him seventh among all 4-3 defensive ends in FBS in pass-rush productivity.
Colorado LB Drew Lewis vs. UCLA TE Caleb Wilson
Lewis has been a strong all-around performer for the Buffaloes this season, posting 15 total pressures and 20 defensive stops, and opposing quarterbacks have a rating of just 64.0 when throwing into his coverage. His coverage skills will certainly be put to the test this week, as Wilson has been the favorite target of UCLA QB Josh Rosen. He’s caught 32-of-42 targets for 425 yards and a score, with 191 of those yards coming after the catch.
Miami (OH) LB Brad Koenig vs. Notre Dame OG Quenton Nelson
Koenig is off to a strong start in his senior season at Miami, as his 18 total stops put him tied for 18th in the country among all inside linebackers. He’ll be forced to take on one of the top interior draft prospects in Nelson on Saturday. Nelson’s 89.1 overall grade leads all guards in the nation, and his 88.9 run blocking grade ranks second among guards with at least 100 snaps in the discipline.
Mississippi State DI Jeffery Simmons vs. Auburn OG Braden Smith
Simmons had a tough game last week against Georgia, but before not posting a single pressure last week he’d accumulated 13 in the three prior games, seven coming against LSU in Week 3. Simmons is one to watch for the 2019 NFL draft, for sure. Smith graded extremely well in both 2015 and 2016, and is trending in the same direction this season. While he gave up two sacks against Clemson, he’s been responsible for no other pressures this year, and his 86.7 overall grade ranks 10th in the country among guards.
Wisconsin TE Troy Fumagalli vs. Northwestern S Kyle Queiro
Fumagalli wasn’t used heavily in Week 3 against BYU, but he is otherwise off to a strong start with 15 receptions on 22 total targets for 236 yards and a score in all three games. He’ll likely see a fair amount of one-on-one reps against Queiro, who has given up just six grabs on 10 throws into his coverage this season and a passer rating against of just 43.8.
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