College Football Game of the Week: Notre Dame vs Georgia

This Saturday night the eyes of the college football world will be on Athens, Georgia, as Notre Dame travels south to take on the Georgia Bulldogs.  This contest will not only impact the college football playoff landscape but could also impact the 2020 NFL Draft.  Here’s a quick look at the prospects scouts will be watching.

How much next-level talent will be on the field Saturday night?  According to my board, there are as many as five potential first-round prospects, eight top 100 choices, and nineteen players with draftable grades.

I could write about this game forever, but I’ll spare you.

Matchups

Obviously, the top matchups can be found on the line of scrimmage. Notre Dame defensive end, Julian Okwara was given mid-first-round grades by NFL scouts coming into the season and is viewed as one of the better edge rushers available in the 2020 NFL Draft. Teammate Khalid Kareem is not far behind, universally receiving second-round grades.  Okwara is more athletic and a better pass-rusher while Kareem is more stout at the point of attack and a much better run defender.  Don’t forget about senior Daelin Hayes, another talented next-level defensive end who comes off the bench for the Irish.

Trying to stop the Notre Dame trio will be Georgia’s bookend tackles: Andrew Thomas and Isaiah Wilson, two linemen with contrasting styles. Thomas will battle to be one of the first offensive tackles off the board next April, assuming he enters the draft.  He’s fundamentally sound, athletic and shows terrific footwork off the edge. Wilson has missed the last two games with ankle issues but is expected to start against Notre Dame.  The redshirt sophomore has classic right tackle size and dominates the opposition once engaged in a block.

The man they’ll be trying to protect from the Irish pass rush is Jake Fromm, a solid yet unspectacular signal-caller.  Fromm does a little of everything well and for the most part, plays smart football.  Passes occasionally get away from Fromm and he must be more consistent with his accuracy.

Fromm must also be on guard against Troy Pride Jr., Notre Dame’s talented corner graded by some scouts at the top NFL prospect on the Irish roster. Pride is a great combination of size and athleticism and also possesses great ball skills. He is the next-level cornerback too many are sleeping on in college football.