NFL's Future

Can Sam Montgomery pressure Connor Shaw as he did Kiehl Frazier?

Week six of the college football season brings us some solid matchups of 2013 NFL Draft prospects.  With a couple of great games kicking off the weekend’s slate, we should be in for a great day in front of the TV.

Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo vs. Chaz Green and Xavier Nixon

No. 4 LSU will battle No. 10 Florida in this SEC rivalry game.  There are a ton of great matchups in this contest but the best appears to be the fantastic LSU defensive ends versus the Florida tackles.  Chaz Green is a guy worth watching as he has been outstanding this season.  He and senior tackle Xavier Nixon will draw the pair of LSU ends that may wind up being selected in the top 10 of April’s draft.  Mingo and Montgomery will need to apply the heat to Jeff Driskel to take Florida out of their offensive flow.  Another Florida guy to watch is junior SS Matt Elam.  Elam is an extremely gifted athlete that is coming into his own and could challenge to be the top strong safety in this class, should he declare.

Game of the week prospect’s to watch:  Florida:  Jordan Reed, TE* / Xavier Nixon, OT / Chaz Green, OT** Andre Debose, WR* Sharrif Floyd, DT* / Omar Hunter, DT / Dominique Easley, DE* / Lerentee McCoy, OLB / Jelani Jenkins, OLB* Jonathan Bostic, ILB / Matt Elam, SS* LSU:  Alex Hurst, OT / Zach Mettenberger, QB* / Russell Shepard, WR P.J. Longeron, OC / Chase Clement, TE / Barkevious Mingo, DE* / Sam Montgomery, DE* / Bennie Logan, DT */ Eric Reid, FS* / Tharold Simon, CB*

Marquess Wilson vs. Jordan Poyer           

For me, this is a make or break game for Marquess Wilson.  He’s an exceptional talent but lacks the long speed to create separation and the strength to win off the line and over this middle.  Oregon State brings a really bad matchup for Wilson with Jordan Poyer on the outside.  Poyer is a fast rising prospect that has long arms and quick feet.  That’s a bad combination for Wilson as he could struggle to get off the line against Poyer.  There’s a lot to like with Wilson but there are some major question marks surrounding the junior receiver.  We should have some answers one way or another as he faces off with one of the PAC 12’s finest.

Marcus Lattimore vs. Georgia defense

An SEC matchup featuring No. 5 vs. No. 6, it doesn’t get better than this.  We should get a pretty good indication of Lattimore’s draft value following Saturday’s contest against Georgia.  Lattimore has proven that he is healthy following knee surgery, now the question becomes just how good is he.  Is Lattimore top 10 good or late first round good?  The Georgia defense will be stinging after giving up points against Tennessee and looking for retribution.  John Jenkins is the man that disrupts the middle and Alec Ogletree’s return should bolster the run defense.  The Gamecocks will need to run the ball as Georgia can create havoc for opposing QB’s.

Geno Smith vs. Texas defense

Week in and week out I anticipate the Geno Smith matchup.  Looking to make myself wrong on all my hype of Smith, I wait for the house of cards to fall.  One problem, it hasn’t fallen and it doesn’t look like it will.  “System” QB is the most overused, overvalued phrase in the criticism of Smith.  Smith makes every NFL throw in this offense and does so in an up tempo environment.  The one valid knock is the defenses he’s faced (Maryland was the best defense he’s faced thus far…until this week).  Texas brings in a load of talent that hasn’t played to their potential (see Oklahoma State game).  They are loaded with talent at all positions and I hope they are very good against Smith this week, so he can silence any critics that remain.

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