Watch NFLPA Collegiate Bowl director of college scouting Dane Vandernat discuss some of the marquee matchups for college football in Week Two, along with some prospects that the NFLPA Bowl will be keeping tabs on, as he joined Ric Serritella during ‘The State of Football’ show on Sports Illustrated.
Below are some of the highly contested games that NFL scouts will be sure to pay close attention to this weekend:
Featured Game: Pittsburgh at Tennessee, Saturday, September 11th, 12:00pm
A potential shootout in the making, Pittsburgh senior signal-caller Kenny Pickett looks to show off his rifle arm in Knoxville, as they take on Tennessee. Will the cerebral Pickett, who likes to spread the ball around, avoid Tennessee senior Alontae Taylor? The lockdown cornerback continues to build an impressive resume with his blanket-like coverage. This is certain to be one of the more polarizing prospect matchups that pro scouts will be keeping an eye on.
Featured Game: Appalachian State at Miami, Saturday, September 11th, 7:00pm
The Hurricanes look to avenge a week one loss to Alabama, as they host Appalachian State, featuring the dynamic senior duo of quarterback Chase Brice and wide receiver Thomas Hennigan. For the Hurricanes, senior quarterback D’Eriq King looks to rebound and help state his case as a next-level signal-caller. On defense, Miami senior safety Bubba Bolden has been a sponge to his current mentor Ed Reed and is one prospect whose draft stock is on the rise.
Featured Game: Missouri at Kentucky, Saturday, September 11th, 7:30pm
Sliding under the radar is Missouri senior linebacker Blaze Alldredge, who racked up 10.5 tackles, including three and a half sacks in week one. His counterpart Akayleb Evans, a transfer from Tulsa, also got off to a good start, coming up with a big interception. For Kentucky, gamebreaker Josh Ali will attempt to duplicate last week’s magic, as the senior wideout hauled in five balls for 136 receiving yards and a score.
Featured Game: Louisiana at Nicholls State, Saturday, September 11th, 7:00pm
One of the best kept secrets in college football is DaiJean Dixon of Nicholls State, who brings pro size, a big catch radius, and tremendous body control. Look for the senior wide receiver to have a bust-out season. However, he’ll face a daunting opponent in the Rajun Cajuns stellar defense, which features a handful of potential prospects. Senior cornerback Eric Garror and safeties Percy Butler and Bralen Trahan will have plenty of opportunities to impress NFL evaluators.
It’s sure to be an exciting season, so check back for frequent updates throughout the season as we update you on which players are rising, sliding, and surprising. Follow us on Twitter @NFLPABowl for the latest news and announcements!