We're back for another weekend of college football as we finally get some ranked matchups on the books. Last week involved no ranked vs. ranked games, so three matchups today makes for a good time I suppose. Both Bay Area schools have big matchups today. No. 21 Stanford hosts No. 2 USC at 4:30pm PT while Cal travels to No. 12 Ohio State at 9am PT. I suspect both Bay Area teams will be on the losing end, but maybe one or both can swing a big upset.
49ers scouts appear to be a bit busier than last week, or at least confirmed at more games. 49ers scouts were reportedly at Thursday's Rutgers-South Florida game, and are confirmed by Chris Steuber as being in attendance at Wake Forest-Florida State, Cal-Ohio State, Virginia Tech-Pittsburgh, and James Madison-West Virginia. After the jump I've posted pertinent players per Steuber. Additionally, I've posted some video with Dan Rubenstein's picks for today, so check that out.
The 49ers are off to a strong start this season, but there is always room to look to the future. The 49ers have a strong, deep core of players, but given the nature of the salary cap and injury/age in the NFL, eventually the team has to find replacements. The 49ers have grabbed some intriguing projects late in the draft or as undrafted free agents, and scouting trips like this can open eyes for scouts on previously unknown players.
What are the most important positions you think the 49ers will need to address in the 2013 NFL Draft?
Rutgers at South Florida
NFL teams attending: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons (Director of Player Personnel David Caldwell), Houston Texans (Director of College Scouting Mike Maccagnan), Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins (General Manager Jeff Ireland), Minnesota Vikings (Assistant General Manager George Paton), San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams (Director of College Scouting Taylor Morton), Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tennessee Titans.
Prospects to watch: Rutgers: ILB Steve Beauharnais, WR *Brandon Coleman, OT R.J. Dill, OLB Khaseem Greene, SS Duron Harmon, WR Mark Harrison, TE D.C. Jefferson, CB Brandon Jones, CB *Logan Ryan, DT Scott Vallone; South Florida: ILB Sam Barrington, QB B.J. Daniels, DE *Ryne Giddins, DT Cory Grissom, ILB Mike Lanaris, TE Evan Landi, SS Jon Lejiste, RB Demetris Murray, OT Mark Popek, CB Kayvon Webster.
Wake Forest at Florida State
NFL teams attending: Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers.
Prospects to watch: Florida State: DE Cornellius Carradine, DT Everett Dawkins, K Dustin Hopkins, DE Brandon Jenkins (injured), OLB *Christian Jones, SS *LaMarcus Joyner, QB E.J. Manuel, DT Anthony McCloud, DT Jaccobi McDaniel, OLB Nick Moody, RB Lonnie Pryor, CB *Xavier Rhodes, WR Rodney Smith, RB Chris Thompson, DE *Bjoern Werner, ILB Vince Williams; Wake Forest: FB Tommy Bohanon, WR *Michael Campanaro, WR Terence Davis, OLB Joey Ehrmann, CB *A.J. Marshall, CB *Merrill Noel, CB Chibuikem Okoro, QB *Tanner Price, DE Zach Thompson, DL *Nikita Whitlock, C Garrick Williams.
California at Ohio State
NFL teams attending: Carolina Panthers, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers.
Prospects to watch: Ohio State: S *C.J. Barnett, FB Zach Boren, WR *Corey Brown, S *Christian Bryant, OT Reid Fragel, DT Garrett Goebel, OG *Marcus Hall, RB Jordan Hall, DT *Johnathan Hankins, CB Travis Howard, S Orhian Johnson, C *Corey Linsley, OT *Jack Mewhort, OG *Andrew Norwell, WR *Verlon Reed, CB *Bradley Roby, OLB Etienne Sabino, DE John Simon, RB *Rod Smith, TE Jake Stoneburner, DE Nathan Williams;California: WR *Keenan Allen, CB Marc Anthony, DE *Deandre Coleman, C Dominic Galas, SS Josh Hill, QB Zach Maynard, DT Kendrick Payne, OG Brian Schwenke, RB Isi Sofele, OT Matt Summers-Gavin, DT Aaron Tipoti, CB *Steve Williams.
Virginia Tech at Pittsburgh
NFL teams attending: Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Giants, New York Jets (General Manager Mike Tannenbaum), Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins.
Prospects to watch: Pittsburgh: DT *Aaron Donald, TE Hubie Graham, RB Ray Graham, FS Jarred Holley, OG Chris Jacobson, WR Mike Shanahan, WR *Devin Street, QB Tino Sunseri, OL Ryan Turnley, CB *K'Waun Williams; Virginia Tech: OT Nick Becton, WR D.J. Coles, DE *J.R. Collins, WR Marcus Davis, LB *Tariq Edwards, CB *Antone Exum, CB *Kyle Fuller, DE *James Gayle, DT Antoine Hopkins, DT *Derrick Hopkins, C Andrew Miller, OT Vinston Painter, WR Dyrell Roberts, LB Bruce Taylor, QB *Logan Thomas, LB Jeron Gouveia-Winslow.
James Madison at West Virginia
NFL teams attending: Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers.
Prospects to watch: West Virginia: RB Shawne Alston, WR Tavon Austin, WR *Stedman Bailey, K Tyler Bitancurt, OG Jeff Braun, FB Ryan Clarke, OLB Terence Garvin, OG Josh Jenkins, C Joe Madsen, CB Pat Miller, QB Geno Smith; James Madison: FS **Dean Marlowe, ILB *Stephon Robertson, OG Earl Watford.