NFL Draft Scouting Reports

College Football Week 10: Open Thread

Today we take a closer look at some back-end first round prospects that the San Francisco 49ers may target. We also have your latest Heisman Watch, CFP Projections, and the AP Top 25 schedule of games.

By Alex Eisen@AlexG_Eisen Nov 2, 2019, 5:01am PDT

Intro:

Greetings Faithful! Welcome to college football week number 10! With the calendar flipping to November, we are officially entering the final full month of college football. That certainly went by fast! At this point in the season, the top-ranked teams are starting to angle themselves towards a College Football Playoff berth, while teams on the brink will be looking to become bowl eligible.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OCT 27 Florida v Georgia

Speaking of top-ranked teams, we have some notable ones on bye this week. The bad news is that both #1 LSU and #2 Alabama are both off. The good news is that a week from today, we will get a battle between the Tigers and Tide in Alabama. The most notable matchup of the week is a top 10 SEC East showdown between the #6 Florida Gators hosting the #8 Georgia Bulldogs. The winner of this game will most certainly have the inside track to the SEC title game in Atlanta next month.

Meanwhile, the San Francisco 49ers remained undefeated (8-0) on Thursday Night Football, escaping with a 28-25 road victory against the Arizona Cardinals. The 49ers drafting in the backend of the first round is looking more and more likely with each passing week. This week and the following week, we are going to identify some prospects that the 49ers should keep close tabs on towards the end of the first round.

Austin Jackson, OT, No. 73 – USC
Height: 6’6” – Weight: 310 lbs.
#7 Oregon at USC – 5:00 p.m. Kickoff (PT) – Saturday, November 2, 2019 – FOX

This pick really depends on what the future holds for Joe Staley. Regardless, Staley isn’t getting any younger, and this year, his health is being put to the test. Austin Jackson is a mauler along the offensive line. Has tremendous athleticism and physical traits that scouts and evaluators seek at the next level. Jackson has quick feet and agility along the offensive line. He is projected to be a natural left tackle at the next level. If the 49ers are looking to continue to invest in the offensive line, then Jackson is a strong choice at the backend of the first round. While Jackson is still raw, his ceiling is high as he prepares for the next level.

Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, No. 2- Colorado
Height: 6’2” – Weight: 220 lbs.
Colorado at UCLA – 6:00 p.m. Kickoff (PT) – Saturday, November 2, 2019 – PAC 12 Network

Will the 49ers resign Emmanuel Sanders? Is Deebo Samuel a number one wide receiver? What about Dante Pettis? The 49ers will, at the minimum, have questions to answer and address at the wide receiver position. Should receiver become a position of need come draft time, then Laviska Shenault out of Colorado is an intriguing option at the back-end of the first round. This season he has recorded 34 receptions for 514 yards and three touchdowns. While this season has had its ups and downs due to some injuries, Shenault has been one of the best receivers in college football since the beginning of 2018. Shenault has physical traits and strength, long with smooth fluid running abilities. He has strong, reliable hands and is so reliable when the ball is in his possession. The Colorado wideout is dangerous in the open field and can create mismatch headaches for the opposition. Shenault plays a physical brand of football with a polished route tree. Watch his tape from last season (86 receptions, 1,011 yards, six touchdowns) to see why he is a late first-round prospect.

Javon Kinlaw, DT, No. 3 – South Carolina
Height: 6’6” – Weight: 310 lbs.
Vanderbilt at South Carolina – 4:30 p.m. Kickoff (PT) – Saturday, November 2, 2019 – SEC Network

The big question this week with all of these prospects is: Will the 49ers resign insert starter here? In this case, it is Arik Armstead. What we are learning this year is that you can never have too many linemen, especially on the defensive side of the ball. A healthy rotation of players can be the difference in a winning and losing season. Kinlaw has been a force for the Gamecocks this season and has quickly seen his draft stock rise. In 2019 so far, Kinlaw has recorded 18 tackles and five sacks. Perhaps the most critical point is the amount of disruption he causes and attention he requires along the line of scrimmage. Kinlaw bursts off the snap and has a great first step. Kinlaw can often fight off blockers and come quick at the point of attack. Kinlaw can be a great fit for the interior of a 4-3 alignment. I am going to project that by April, assuming he keeps up the level of play, Kinlaw will sneak into the end of the first round where the 49ers might be waiting.

Heisman Watch:

A new name has entered the Heisman Watch. Chase Young is having himself a year at Ohio State. Yes, this award is pretty much exclusive for the quarterback position, however, at this point in the year, it would be surprising and disappointing if Young didn’t at least get an invite to New York City. The defensive end just might be the best overall player in the 2020 draft class, and like Nick Bosa, Young has been hunting down quarterbacks at will. He might just be hunting down that Heisman Trophy as well. This year Young has 13.5 sacks with 29 tackles and five forced fumbles. Good luck stopping him for four quarters! At this point, Young has at least earned himself a trip to the big apple. Below are my rankings in order. Joe Burrow is the current favorite to take home the trophy.

Joe Burrow, QB – LSU

Tua Tagovailoa, QB – Alabama

Jalen Hurts, QB – Oklahoma

Justin Fields, QB – Ohio State

Chase Young, DE – Ohio State