The battle between Notre Dame and Wisconsin on Soldier Field has been the knockdown affair everyone thought it would be. And as that game closes out, there have been a bunch of NFL offensive line prospects who have impressed during Week 4’s college football noon-time games.
College Football Week 4: OL prospects shine earlyÂ
Two offensive linemen really stood out to me on Friday night for teams that won games. Both presently play left tackle but will likely shift to different positions in the NFL.
Wake Forest’s Zach Tom is smart, tough, and fundamentally sound. While he lacks classic left tackle size, Tom gets the most from his ability. He will be a solid interior backup lineman in the NFL.
Size is not an issue for Dontae Bull, the left tackle for the upstart Fresno State Bulldogs. The senior is massive — measuring 6’6″ and 335 pounds — but he’s probably too large to stay on the left side in the NFL. Bull blocks with outstanding fundamentals and projects well as a right tackle on Sundays.
SMU’s Jaylon Thomas (someone I’ve graded highly the past three seasons) is another left tackle who projects as an interior offensive lineman at the next level. Thomas is strong and moves well blocking in motion. He’s pushing the TCU defense around the field. SMU has totaled 450 yards of offense after three quarters and currently owns a 10-point lead.
A pair of linebackers highlight Missouri vs. Boston College
Two linebacker prospects are having outstanding games playing against one another.
Earlier I tweeted my fondness for Blaze Alldredge, the former Rice linebacker who presently suits up for Missouri. Alldredge is an instinctive defender who plays all out and sacrifices his body to make the tackle. He’s terrific in pursuit, sells out on the blitz, and is constantly around the action. Against Boston College, he’s posted 5 tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss after three quarters.
Isaiah Graham-Mobley has continued his coming out party at Boston College. The linebacker looked like a star in the making as a sophomore at Temple, only to fall into a funk the next two seasons. His move to BC is proving to be a game-changer for his draft stock. Graham-Mobley was the Eagles’ top tackler coming into today’s game against Missouri, and he presently sits at the top of the tackle list this afternoon with 7 as the game moves into the fourth quarter.
Jack Coan and Tyler Shough disappointing
I am just not impressed by quarterbacks Jack Coan or Tyler Shough.
Coan barely completed 50% of his throws today and missed several big opportunities to put points on the board for Notre Dame. He was injured midway through the third quarter and will spend the remainder of the game on the sidelines against Wisconsin.
Shough was actually 9-of-11 for 68 yards before leaving the game for good with injury. Despite the stats, he’s been off the mark with his throws and makes receivers work too hard for the reception — even when they are wide open. He’s still more thrower/athlete than passer at Texas Tech.
Speaking of Texas Tech, you have to wonder if Matt Wells will still be the Red Raider head coach at the end of the week. His job was in jeopardy at the end of the 2020 season. Today’s embarrassing performance against rival Texas will do him no favors.
