2019 college football season preview & draft-eligible prospects to watch

Welcome to the 2019 College Football season! Today I will preview the upcoming college football campaign, and highlight prospects to keep a close eye on, because as we very well know, it is never too early to start thinking about the 2020 NFL Draft.

This will mark the first of a series of weekly articles in which draft-eligible prospects will be featured. While it is very early, we will still try and highlight those prospects in 49ers’ positions of need. However, we can never take anything for granted as far as injuries and other circumstances, and so the goal will be to highlight as many different prospects and positions throughout the course of the college football season, as well as the busy NFL offseason leading right up to the draft.

As a disclaimer, the only prospects that will be featured each week are those that are draft-eligible. That means redshirt sophomores, juniors, and seniors. While there are some truly talented underclassmen all across the country, they will not be featured in our rankings or weekly scouting profiles.

Lastly, I will provide a schedule of all the college football action including matchups, kickoff times, and tv/radio info. This promises to be another roller coaster season so be sure to tune in and take in some action-packed college football!

THE BIG Q:

Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images

I want to hear from all of YOU Faithful! Heading into the 2019 season what do YOU think are the positions of need for our San Francisco 49ers? Please share in the comments below!

Rankings:

The AP Preseason Top 25 and Coaches Polls were recently released and to no one’s surprise last year’s national champion Clemson Tigers and runners-up Alabama Crimson Tide sit atop the rankings at 1 & 2. Both teams are favored to return to the national title game which will be played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans on January 13. Here is who will be joining the Tigers and Tide inside the Top-25.

1. Clemson - ACC
2. Alabama - SEC
3. Georgia - SEC
4. Oklahoma – Big-12
5. Ohio State – Big-10
6. LSU - SEC
7. Michigan – Big-10
8. Florida - SEC
9. Notre Dame – Independent
10. Texas – Big-12
11. Oregon- Pac-12
12. Texas A&M - SEC
13. Washington- Pac-12
14. Utah – Pac-12
15. Penn State – Big-10
16. Auburn - SEC
17. UCF - AAC
18. Michigan State – Big-10
19. Wisconsin – Big-10
20. Iowa – Big-10
21. Iowa State – Big-12
22. Syracuse - ACC
23. Washington State – Pac-12
24. Nebraska – Big-10
25. Stanford – Pac-12

College Football Playoff:

The College Football Playoff committee will be tasked with selecting the top-4 teams across the country to compete for the national championship. The 2019-2020 College Football Playoff format includes two semi-final games and a national title game:

Semi-Final Game #1 – Peach Bowl – Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta, GA – 12/28

Semi-Final Game #2 – Fiesta Bowl – Glendale, AZ. – 12/28

National Championship Game – Mercedes-Benz Superdome – New Orleans, LA – 1/13

Draft-Eligible Prospects by Position

Offense:

QB:

Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

1. Tua Tagovailoa – Alabama – Junior
2. Justin Herbert – QB – Senior
3. Jake Fromm – Georgia – Junior
4. K.J. Costello – Stanford – Senior
5. Shea Patterson – Michigan – Senior

Offensive Line:

Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

1. Alaric Jackson – Iowa - Junior
2. Trey Smith – Tennessee – Junior
3. Tristan Wirfs – Iowa – Junior
4. Nick Harris – Washington – Senior
5. Tommy Kraemer – Notre Dame – Senior

Wide Receivers:

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

1. Jerry Jeudy – Alabama – Junior
2. CeeDee Lamb – Oklahoma – Junior
3. Laviska Shenault Jr. – Colorado – Junior
4. Tee Higgins – Clemson – Junior
5. Jalen Eagor – TCU – Junior

Running Backs:

Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

1. Jonathan Taylor – Wisconsin – Junior
2. Travis Etienne – Clemson – Junior
3. Ke’Shawn Vaughn – Vanderbilt – Senior
4. D’Andre Swift – Georgia – Junior
5. J.K. Dobbins – Ohio State – Junior

Tight Ends:

Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

1. Albert Okwuegbunam – Missouri – Junior
2. Colby Parkinson – Stanford – Junior
3. Grant Calcaterra – Oklahoma – Junior
4. Jacob Breeland – Oregon – Senior

Defense:

Edge:

Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports

1. Chase Young – Ohio State – Junior
2. A.J. Epenesa – Iowa – Junior
3. Kenny Willekes – Michigan State – Senior
4. Yetur Gross-Matos – Penn State – Junior
5. Mustafa Johnson – Colorado – Junior

Defense Line:

Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

1. Javon Kinlaw – South Carolina – Senior
2. Raekwon Davis – Alabama – Senior
3. Derrick Brown – Auburn – Senior
4. Nick Coe – Auburn – Junior
5. Julian Okwara – Notre Dame – Senior

Linebackers:

Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

1. Dylan Moss – Alabama – Junior
2. Evan Weaver – Cal – Senior
3. Troy Dye – Oregon- Senior
4. Michael Divinity Jr. – LSU – Senior
5. David Woodward – Utah State – Junior

Cornerbacks:

Photo by Jaylynn Nash/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

1. Bryce Hall – Virginia – Senior
2. Kristian Fulton – LSU – Senior
3. Paulson Adebo – Stanford – Junior
4. Essang Bassey – Wake Forest – Senior
5. Trevon Diggs – Alabama – Senior

Safety:

Photo by Daniel Dunn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

1. Grant Delpit – LSU – Junior
2. Alohi Gilman – Notre Dame – Senior
3. Isaiah Simmons – Clemson – Junior
4. J.R. Reed – Georgia – Senior
5. Richie Grant – UCF – Junior

Final Talking Points:

Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images

• These rankings are based on fall camps and preseason build-up. More than likely we will see new names appear as the season progresses on.
• Remember that eligible prospects must declare for the draft, and so redshirt sophomores and juniors very well could return to school. Oregon Quarterback Justin Herbert was a notable returnee last season.
• Weekly prospects will most likely play at positions of need for the 49ers.
• Who are you excited to watch this college football season? Please share in the comments below!