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, and a look at tight ends.
This week, Jake has his top five cornerbacks. The timing of this is pretty good given the injuries to the San Francisco 49ers cornerbacks. Kenneth Acker is dealing with a concussion, Keith Reaser is dealing with an ankle injury, and Tramaine Brock has a shin injury. They are all still young and not going anywhere, along with Dontae Johnson. Given all the needs, cornerback might be a little lower on the priority list next April.
After the rankings, Jake is here to take a look at two of the big games on today's schedule. There are two games with huge implications for the college football playoff. Two current playoff teams, LSU and Alabama, square off Saturday evening. Before that, unbeaten Oklahoma State hosts unbeaten TCU in what is likely an elimination matchup. It should be a fun day!
Cornerback rankings
1. Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida: The stats may not show it, but I still think Hargreaves is the best at his position, right now. The biggest asset to no. 1's game is his ability to play off in man coverage. His crazy athletic ability and read/react skills is what separates him from the rest.
2. Tre'Davious White, LSU: White is at his best while pressing. He's not afraid to get physical at the line of scrimmage, excellent at flipping his hips in a hurry and sticking with a dominant receiver. Despite being on the small side of your stereotypical football player, White plays tough with bigger receivers on the account of his incredible athleticism.
3. Jalen Ramsey, FSU: Jalen Ramsey and company will be tested by the strong receiving core of Clemson today. The self proclaimed top corner in the country, has only managed 28 tackles, zero interceptions and seven PBU's through 8 games. Ramsey is a CB/S hybrid, but at the next level, I think he will primarily play at the safety spot.
4. Cameron Sutton, Tennessee: The small 5-foot-11 junior cornerback, was finally getting some love from the nation prior to the season. And well, he hasn't exactly lived up to the hype he had. Nonetheless, Sutton shows great NFL attributes throughout his game. He has great short-area quickness, fluid hips and the ability to turn and make a play on the ball. The Vol looks like a player that should be drafted in the top four rounds.
5. Zack Sanchez, Oklahoma: I'm not totally sold on Sanchez. He does have his detractors, but the junior does have upside, and does most of what a college corner should. Thus far, Sanchez has 28 tackles and 3 interceptions. Come May, I think he will be a 3-6 round draft choice.
Notable Names: Kendall Fuller of Virginia Tech, and Will Redmond of Mississippi State, we're both 1st round talent, but both were stricken season-ending injuries. These guys will both be steals late in the draft.
No. 2 LSU at no. 4 Alabama
Time: 5 p.m. PT
Channel: CBS
We all know the season Fournette is having, running all over every team he has faced. However, the star-sophomore will be up to the the hardest challenge of the season today. So, how will he will fare against a rigid front seven of Alabama? His 1,352 yards have consisted of 792 yards before contact and 560 after, which leads all Power 5 rushers. LSU has played some tough defensive fronts, but none the magnitude of Bama. The veteran line backing group and a ferocious d-line should slow down LSU's running game to a certain degree, but will it be enough to come out with a win at Bryant-Denny stadium?
Considering Fournette has done most of the work for the team this year, quarterback Brandon Harris hasn't been asked to do much. But, news flash, he will actually have to show up and play a football game today. The man who I believe to be the x-factor in today's matchup, Harris, has only thrown for 1,098 yards with a poor completion percentage of 58.6%. The ball-hawking defensive backs of the Tide is going to be a struggle to toss the ball against for Harris. Although people have doubted and criticized him, he does have weapons at receiver, and of course that running-game. Malachi Dupre is one of the most ball-skilled receivers in the country, but many people have never even heard of him. He hasn't had a very productive season, but the Tigers must get him involved tonight. With the ability to cut on a dime and decisive speed, Dupre is a menace with the ball in hands.
Bama has had its ups and downs this year, but they are seemingly getting back on track, while sitting at the no. 4 ranked team in the country. Derrick Henry has led the Crimson Tide in most of its wins, providing the team with 1,044 rushing yards and 14 scores. Calvin Ridley has been quarterback Jake Coker's top target this year. The breakout freshman has caught 45 passes for 525 yards thus far. Ridley has elite talent, and Lane Kiffin hasn't been shy about proclaiming it. Before the season began, he hyped him up an enormous amount, and well, he has lived up to it.
How are you not intrigued by this matchup? This is a game that is packed with action and battles to watch. You are not going to want to miss a play. I love underdogs, and I am taking one in this game.
LSU over Bama: 24-23
No. 8 TCU at No. 14 Oklahoma State
Time: 12:30 p.m. PT
Channel: FOX
No conference in the country puts points on the board like the Big 12 does. And this is exactly what we have on our hands -- a top 15 ranked matchup between two Big 12 football squads. It is not a surprise that Oklahoma State defensive coordinator knows TCU can score like no other. He actually said playing in these types of games is, "gut-wrenching hell".
There is not a lot talk surrounding the Cowboys, despite having a goose egg in the loss column. Oklahoma state has controlled TCU in recent games in Stillwater, but can they keep that going? Well, the most prominent athlete on the team happens to be on the defensive side of the ball, and they are going to need him to show up today. Emmanuel Ogbah will have his hands full today, while he will attempt at containing the shifty Treveone Boykin. When Boykin escapes the pocket, he's one of the hardest players to bring down in the country, due to his unreal illusiveness. They will also need the assistance of starting cornerback Ashton Lampkin who brings a competitive edge to the table for the Cowboys. He should be locked up on the arguably best receiver in college football, Josh Dotson.
TCU is looking like the TCU of last year, but even better. The unbeaten Horned Frogs have been blasting teams, one weekend, and they're looking to do it again, but this time they'll face one of the best defenses the team will see this year. From Trey Boykin to Josh Doctson to Aaron Green all the way to Kolby Listenbee, there are weapons everywhere. So, how do you defend it? I really wish I had the answer, and it seems every team they play does not have the solution either. The Cowboys will have a fun time trying to defend that.
Oklahoma State also has a high-powered offense. But the steadily-improving TCU defense needs to slow down the Cowboys just enough, to let their offense get on the field and do what they do. It will be an intriguing game to watch. Although I like OKST, I still think the Horned Frogs pull it out.
TCU over OKST: 38-31
CBSS
Akron
FSN
Florida Atlantic
ESPNN
ESPNU
Penn State
(21) Northwestern
BTN
Illinois
Purdue
ASN
FS1
Texas Tech
West Virginia
ESPN2
Duke
North Carolina
ESPN
Vanderbilt
(10) Florida
SECN
Kentucky
Georgia
ABC
(5) Notre Dame
Pittsburgh
ESPN3
Syracuse
Louisville
NC State
Boston College
PAC12
(11) Stanford
Colorado
Colorado State
Virginia
Miami (FL)
(16) Florida State
(1) Clemson
CBS
Arkansas
(18) Mississippi
Arizona State
Washington State
(9) Iowa
Indiana
Wisconsin
Maryland
Rutgers
(17) Michigan
FOX
(8) TCU
(14) Oklahoma State
FCS
Cincinnati
Connecticut
South Carolina
Tennessee
(23) UCLA
Oregon State
Iowa State
(15) Oklahoma
(7) Michigan State
Nebraska
(12) Utah
Washington
Auburn
(19) Texas A&M
(2) LSU
(4) Alabama
LHN
Kansas
Texas
Minnesota
(3) Ohio State
Cal
Oregon
Arizona
USC