NFL scouts can have eyes on a number of sleepers in school soccer's Week 11

Rob Rang

NFL Draft Analyst

With most groups set to play their tenth recreation of the season, scouts are settling in on the highest prospects throughout the nation. The overwhelming majority of them have been highlighted on this very area throughout that point.

The NFL groups that persistently win, nevertheless, achieve this largely by unearthing the diamonds within the tough within the center and later rounds. It's becoming that Thanksgiving is only a couple weeks away, as scouts can have a smorgasbord of alternatives on Saturday, with some higher "under-the-radar" abilities dealing with off in enjoyable rivalry video games effectively price their (and your) consideration.

School soccer Week 11 preview

RJ Younger is joined by Geoff Schwartz to preview Week 11, together with Saturday's the "Large Midday Kickoff" matchup between Ohio State and Indiana.

Under is a breakdown of this week’s high particular person matchups, with an eye fixed towards their futures within the NFL. 

Indiana at No. 2 Ohio State (midday ET; FOX and the FOX Sports activities app)

Provided that the Hoosiers haven't defeated the Buckeyes for the reason that Reagan administration, it's past a stretch to characterize this Large Ten matchup as a real rivalry. Nevertheless, one want solely assume again two years in the past and the final recreation in Columbus between these two groups to recollect a spirited shootout, with the Buckeyes finally escaping, 42-35. 

These Hoosiers have been so much totally different from this group, which is stumbling into this contest on a six-game dropping streak and desperately needing a spark. One participant seemingly able to offering that's speedy operating again Shaun Shivers, an Auburn switch who leads the Hoosiers in each speeding yards (399) and touchdowns (4).

At simply 5-foot-7 and 186 kilos, Shivers just isn't more likely to spook the Buckeyes’ protection, however he's shifty and may generate yardage in chunks as a result of fast acceleration. He's a top quality receiver out of the backfield and a trusted kick returner, as effectively, possessing the all-around recreation that might assist him sneak onto a professional roster. 

The Buckeyes are, in fact, loaded with expertise, and we’ve highlighted quarterback C.J. Stroud and receivers Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka beforehand.

Associated: What professional scouts like about C.J. Stroud

But when the second-ranked Buckeyes dominate this recreation as anticipated, this must be a show-out recreation for edge rusher Zach Harrison, who flashes all of the traits to warrant early-round NFL consideration however has little manufacturing to point out for it. 

Harrison checks in at a prototypical 6-foot-6 and 268 kilos, with lengthy arms. He's fast off the snap, wraps the sting effectively, and coordinates his arms and toes effectively to swim, chop or spin his well past would-be blockers. He has simply 17 tackles in Ohio State’s first 9 video games this season, nevertheless, with solely three of them behind the road of scrimmage. Worse, solely a kind of was a sack. To his credit score, although, he has compelled two fumbles this season and even intercepted a cross two weeks in the past at Penn State.

No. 9 Alabama at No. 11 Ole Miss (3:30 p.m. ET)

If one thinks that this recreation misplaced a few of its luster with the Crimson Tide dropping their second recreation of the 2022 season (and nearly guaranteeing they gained’t make the School Soccer Playoff), don’t inform that to former Alabama assistant coach Lane Kiffin and host Mississippi.

If Bryce Younger had been capable of catch his personal passes (and canopy LSU tight finish Mason Taylor), the Tide may nonetheless be within the thick of the nationwide title hunt, however the reigning Heisman Trophy winner did nearly every thing else in Alabama’s loss final week, exhibiting the accuracy, athleticism, improvisational abilities and grit which earned him the highest spot on my private QB rankings.

Associated: Rating the highest professional quarterback prospects

Misplaced amid the well-deserved hype round Younger, nevertheless, has been the spectacular play of Alabama operating again Jahmyr Gibbs, who leads the Tide in each speeding (771 yards) and receiving (365 yards) this season. He's averaging an eye-popping 7.5 yards each time he touches the soccer and has scored 9 occasions in as many video games this season.

Gibbs transferred to Alabama from Georgia Tech, and he’s excelled on the larger stage, leaving Tide opponents in his wake with terrific lateral agility and burst. Whereas not essentially an intimidating runner at 5-foot-11 and 200 kilos, Gibbs is a perfect "air-back" for right now’s NFL, exhibiting delicate arms to pluck the ball from outdoors his body, in addition to the quickness, stability and soccer I.Q. to deal with sophisticated route-running duties. 

After all, if statistics are the measure of a participant, few generate them higher than Kiffin, one of many recreation’s elite play-callers at any stage. And in freshman sensation Quinshon Judkins, Kiffin has a famous person with Heisman-like numbers. 

Judkins’ 14 touchdowns (together with 13 on the bottom) lead the SEC, and his 1,036 speeding yards ranks second for the 8-1 Rebels. Although he turned 19 simply two weeks in the past, Judkins already possesses a well-distributed NFL-caliber body, full with rocked-up biceps and a strong decrease half, each of which make him a nightmare to deal with. 

Judkins assaults the road of scrimmage, knifing by means of holes with rapid acceleration and loads of wiggle to make defenders miss in tight quarters. For a younger runner, he additionally exhibits a powerful stiff-arm and terrific stability by means of contact — attributes normally gained solely after backs grow to be seasoned towards elite competitors.

There are such a lot of future NFL draft picks enjoying for these two groups that scouts won't spend an excessive amount of time specializing in a freshman. Judkins is nice sufficient to steal their consideration, anyway.

Who advantages from Alabama's loss?

Joel Klatt breaks down how losses by Alabama and Clemson will influence their playoff possibilities shifting ahead.

Maryland at No. 14 Penn State (3:30 p.m. ET; FOX)

Simply as how the operating backs might steal the highlight in Oxford, a enjoyable check of proficient (albeit underrated) receivers for Maryland may give a gifted Penn State secondary a shocking "pop quiz" in Joyful Valley.

We highlighted the Nittany Lions’ future first-round cornerback Joey Porter Jr. in Week 7.

Associated: What professional scouts like about Joey Porter Jr.

His measurement, agility, velocity and aggression are precisely what scouts are on the lookout for in a press nook. His counterpart at cornerback — sophomore Kalen King — additionally possesses the sunshine toes and free hips to lock down receivers in protection, and security Ji’Ayir Brown delivers massive performs higher than both of them, producing 11 turnovers over the previous two seasons. 

Brown, a 5-foot-11, 208-pound senior is a digital ball magnet. He led the Nittany Lions with six interceptions a 12 months in the past and is on monitor to do the identical this 12 months with three extra. He has additionally compelled a fumble every of the previous two seasons, exhibiting true stopping energy with massive collisions. Together with these spotlight reel-worthy snaps, nevertheless, are dangerous pursuit angles and missed tackles, which may depart massive performs obtainable for Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa and the Terps’ versatile receiving corps. 

Statistically talking, Maryland is led by Rakim Jarrett, however the speedy 6-foot, 200-pound senior was restricted by a decrease leg harm every week in the past towards Penn State and is taken into account a game-time resolution. The 2-time Honorable Point out All-Large Ten decide is fast, a dependable route-runner and accelerates easily, however he’s solely essentially the most completed of a deep set of pass-catchers that additionally consists of Florida-transfer Jacob Copeland, in addition to two intriguing measurement/velocity choices in Corey Dyches (6-foot-1, 219 kilos) and Dontay Demus (6-foot-3, 219 kilos), every of whom ranks increased amongst scouts than their comparatively meager statistics (27 catches for 376 yards and three scores and 14-153-1, respectively) counsel. 

No. 25 Washington at No. 6 Oregon (7 p.m. ET; FOX)

Provided that the visiting Huskies rank 79th within the nation in passing yards allowed (surrendering 237.8 yards per recreation) and that the Geese are significantly decrease than that at 117th within the nation (276.6), it will make sense to spotlight quarterbacks Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix on this contest. With breakout senior campaigns each have emerged as legitimately draftable, and few would have predicted that given the best way their first stops at Indiana and Auburn, respectively, ended. 

However on a weekend filled with hypothetical battles between gamers on the similar place equivalent to this, the heated Washington-Oregon rivalry recreation really pits two of the very best and most nationally underrated gamers towards each other.

We spotlighted Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez manner again in Week 3. Since then, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Colorado switch has emerged as arguably the elite cornerback on the West Coast this season, checking in with 10 passes defensed — together with three interceptions — up to now for a Geese squad that has rattled off eight consecutive victories since its Week 1 thumping towards Georgia. 

Lengthy, sturdy and possessing professional ball abilities, Gonzalez is on the quick monitor to an early-round choice, probably a first-rounder. Whereas the Geese have a noteworthy historical past of manufacturing high quality safeties, the final cornerback chosen within the first spherical out of Eugene got here manner again in 1996, when the New Orleans Saints took Alex Molden eleventh general.

With all due respect to the reigning nationwide champs, Gonzalez faces his stiffest check of the season up to now towards Washington’s Rome Odunze, who possesses spectacular acceleration, physique management and ball abilities at 6-foot-3, 200 kilos. Not like another prospects featured on this week’s article, Odunze boasts the manufacturing to associate with his plain traits, presently main the Pac-12 with 858 receiving yards on 57 grabs with six touchdowns.

Barring sudden climate, this recreation appears like an old school Pac-12 aerial assault, making this potential one-on-one showdown one of the crucial eagerly anticipated of the weekend. 

Rome Odunze makes a SPECTACULAR catch

Rome Odunze reeled in an incredible landing earlier this season towards Stanford. 

No. 4 TCU at No. 18 Texas (7:30 p.m. ET)

The previous saying goes that "every thing is greater in Texas" and within the case of this week’s rivalry video games, which may be true. 

As considered one of only a handful of remaining undefeated groups, the fourth-ranked Horned Frogs are leaping into Austin in what is anticipated to be their most formidable highway check of the season. Emerge from this recreation with a victory, and TCU would appear destined for a playoff berth with solely unranked Baylor and Iowa State left on the common season schedule. 

We’ve highlighted TCU quarterback Max Duggan and his potential first-round wideout Quentin Johnston beforehand.

Associated: What scouts like about … Max Duggan | Quentin Johnston

However one other Horned Frog catching on with scouts not too long ago is tight finish Jared Wiley, who transferred to Fort Value from the Longhorns. 

Wiley solely has 12 catches on the season, however few pass-catchers have confirmed extra environment friendly, with 4 of his grabs going for touchdowns. He possesses professional NFL measurement at 6-foot-7, 255 kilos, and is surprisingly athletic, gliding downfield as soon as he will get shifting. 

The Longhorns proved in an early showdown with Alabama that they've the scale, physicality, velocity and crowd noise to jam up any offense. Higher but, from offensive-minded head coach Steve Sarkisian’s perspective, in addition they have the point-scoring capability to win a shootout, if vital, largely as a result of Bijan Robinson, the clear-cut high operating again eligible for the 2023 NFL draft.

However the Longhorns’ NFL-caliber expertise at operating again just isn't restricted to only Robinson. His main backup, Roschon Johnson, would begin — and really possible star — for nearly every other program within the nation. At 6-foot-2, 223 kilos, Johnson has a extra linear body than most backs, however that doesn’t restrict his effectiveness. He bends his knees properly, operating with wonderful ahead lean and aggression to barrel into would-be tacklers. He additionally possesses good (albeit not nice) velocity to the perimeter. Johnson just isn't actually elusive in tight quarters, however he does have good stability and timing with dead-leg strikes to bounce laterally, making sturdy, decisive cuts. 

Greatest for protection throughout Gary Patterson’s tenure, TCU has grow to be an offensive juggernaut with Sonny Dykes on the helm this season. If UT is to show it's the "actual" state school in Texas, the Longhorns will nearly definitely lean closely on their floor recreation.

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Rob Rang is an NFL Draft analyst for FOX Sports activities. He has been masking the NFL Draft for greater than 20 years, with work at FOX, Sports activities Illustrated, CBSSports.com, USA Right now, Yahoo, NFL.com and NFLDraftScout.com, amongst others. He additionally works as a scout with the BC Lions of the Canadian Soccer League. Comply with him on Twitter @RobRang.

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