Welcome back for Week 10 of the 2015 college football season. Through the first four weeks, we put together a good list of prospects to track, which you can look back on here. Since then, our game threads have included an early ranking of quarterbacks, a ranking of running backs, a ranking of wide receivers, a ranking of tight ends, and a ranking of cornerbacks.
This week, Jake takes a look at some intriguing pass rushing talent. The 49ers have a great option in Aaron Lynch, but the depth chart has numerous question marks after him. Ahmad Brooks is still a solid outside linebacker, but he is getting older and could be a cap casualty at some point. The 49ers drafted Eli Harold last year, but he has not been able to break through in his rookie year. Ideally he can work his way into more playing time this year to give us a better handle on what he might bring to the table.
After the rankings, Jake is here to take a look at two of the big games on today's schedule. Baylor faces a huge test of their unbeaten record when they host Oklahoma. Stanford has an outside shot at the college football playoff, but they need to continue winning, starting today against Oregon.
There will also be plenty of games to watch featuring the various QB prospects for the 2016 NFL Draft. Connor Cook and Michigan State host Maryland at 9 a.m. PT on ESPN2. Paxton Lynch and Memphis travel to face Houston at 4 p.m. PT on ESPN2. Jared Goff and Cal host Oregon State at 7:30 p.m. PT on the Pac 12 Network.
Pass rusher rankings
1. Joey Bosa, OSU: Who hasn't heard of this man? Bosa is everything you look for in a pass rusher. He's a 1st round, maybe even top five lock.
2. Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss: Nkemdiche is one of the most profound college football players. He's a versatile athlete who also plays a bit of offense. He looks to be a first round draft pick, as well.
3. Emmanuel Ogbah, OKSU: The Cowboy is having another stellar season at Oklahoma State University. The junior should definitely be drafted in the top two rounds of the NFL draft.
4. Kenny Clark, UCLA: Clark is undoubtedly the best nose guard in all of college football. I think Clark will be a first round draft choice, also.
5. DeForrest Buckner, Oregon: The man is an incredible athlete. He fits best in a 3-4 scheme. Buckner is a lock to be a first round selection.
No. 12 Oklahoma at No. 6 Baylor
Time: 5:00 p.m. PT
Channel: ABC
Oklahoma and Baylor are set to play the last few games of the season, which by the way, are the toughest part of their schedules. Both teams have playoff aspirations, and the loser of this matchup will most likely not have a shot of squeezing into the no. 4 spot.
Many people believe Baylor doesn't deserve to be ranked the no. 6 team in the country, along with myself. However, the outcome of the next four games of the season will determine if they qualify, or deserve, to get into the playoff. The Bears have OU at home, then on they are on the road to TCU and Oklahoma State, then back home for Texas. I do think Baylor is slightly better than TCU, but I'm not sure that they can or will get past the Cowboys, in Stillwater.
The Bears have talent all over the field, highlighted by Heisman Trophy contender, receiver Cory Coleman. He leads the country in receiving yards and touchdowns, and has yet to be shut down this season. Oklahoma's Zack Sanchez, the Sooner's top corner, will have the task of following Coleman tonight.
The Sooners also have an explosive weapon on the offensive side of the ball in Sterling Shepard. The crazy-athletic and underrated receiver, has 47 receptions for 826 yards and seven scores to add. The man throwing all of these passes is Baker Mayfield, a transfer from Texas Tech who has lit up the scoreboard while throwing for 28 touchdowns and rushing for five through nine games. Mayfield has a solid arm, but it can improve if stops throwing off his back foot.
It should be a high-scoring, close game, although I do think Baylor will get by the Sooner team.
Baylor over Oklahoma: 45-42
Oregon at No. 7 Stanford
Time: 4:30 p.m. PT
Channel: FOX
The Oregon Ducks will have a crack at trying to derail Stanford on their road to the playoffs. The game will have big implications for both teams, but primarily for Stanford. The Cardinal will have a shot to make it into the college football playoff, but they will need to run the table in order to do so.
The Ducks haven't had a type of season the team has been having in recent seasons, but they've caught a surge lately, tallying three straight wins. The high-octane Ducks offense has been riding the run ability of Royce Freeman thus far. The sophomore is only the 4th running back in team history to run for back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons. Freeman is just one of the many backs Oregon has to offer. Taj Griffin is someone who stands out to me at the running back position. The freshman is one of the most explosive players in the country, and not to mention, extremely fun to watch as well.. If the Ducks can utilize Griffin and design plays to get the ball in his hands more, it will keep defenses honest, including the tough one they play tonight.
The defense of Oregon needs to rely solely on their offense to score, and if Vernon Adams and company don't provide, it might get ugly. So, how will Heisman Trophy candidate Christian McCafrey fare against a "bend but don't break" defense? The answer to the question is, everything. McCaffrey should gash the Ducks in all facets of the game, from catching the ball out of the backfield, to returning kickoffs. He should hit the 200 yard-mark on the ground, easily.
A primetime Pac-12 matchup is taking place today at 7:30 ET. I think Oregon will keep it close, but I just do not see them coming down to Palo Alto and winning this game.
Cardinal top the Ducks: 37-31
ESPNN
Pittsburgh
Duke
CBS
Georgia
Auburn
ESPN
(11) Florida
South Carolina
SECN
North Texas
Tennessee
CBSS
ESPNU
Texas
West Virginia
ABC
(3) Ohio State
Illinois
FS1
Kansas
(15) TCU
ESPN2
Maryland
(13) Michigan State
BTN
Purdue
(18) Northwestern
ASN
ESPN3
Akron
FSN
UTEP
Utah State
NC State
(16) Florida State
Virginia
Louisville
FCS
PAC12
Washington
Arizona State
Miami (FL)
(23) North Carolina
NBC
Wake Forest
(4) Notre Dame
ABC/ESPN2
(1) Clemson
Syracuse
(2) Alabama
(17) Mississippi State
(8) Oklahoma State
Iowa State
Nebraska
Rutgers
Kansas State
Texas Tech
(14) Michigan
Indiana
Kentucky
Vanderbilt
Western Carolina
Texas A&M
Arkansas
(9) LSU
FOX
Oregon
(7) Stanford
BYU
Missouri
Cincinnati
(12) Oklahoma
(6) Baylor
Minnesota
(5) Iowa
(10) Utah
Arizona
Boise State
Oregon State
Cal
Washington State
(19) UCLA