CFB Regular Season Finale Watch List
Some early round defensive draft picks that could help push the Chiefs defense over the top in 2022!
Happy College Football Regular Season Finale Weekend everyone! It’s not quite as big as Thanksgiving - well, to most - but it’s still a fun day. I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday weekend and gets a chance to relax, settle in, and watch some of these fantastic games this weekend!
We likely only have one more Watch List article coming for the Conference Championship Weekend (don’t worry, draft content will continue just in a different format) after this weekend, so we have to make them good ones!
Week 11 Prospect Watchlist
Day 1 Stud
David Ojabo | DE
6’5” 253lbs | Michigan | #55
David Ojabo has burst onto the scene this year and just keeps climbing up draft boards as the year goes on. He was born in Nigeria, moved to Scotland in 2007, and didn’t come to the United States until high school. His first two years in high school, Ojabo played basketball and soccer and didn’t take up football until his junior season. Still, he was able to come through the recruiting process as a four star player. At Michigan, Ojabo didn’t see playing time as a freshman and only recorded a single tackle in 2020 while mostly playing special teams. Then 2021 started and he exploded onto the scene with 10 sacks, 10 tackles for a loss, and 30 tackles.
Ojabo has a very similar storyline to Jayson Oweh out of Penn State in last year’s draft class. He’s an excellent athlete that looks like a modern NFL edge player and the path to success in the NFL is very clear. He has the burst, he has the flexibility, and he already knows how to turn his speed into power. There is clear development needed with his hands and footwork but the progress he’s shown in this season makes his upside as promising as just about any other EDGE prospect in recent years.
How to watch: Ohio State Vs Michigan, 11:00 AM CST, FOX
A few weeks ago I used Ohio State as a big matchup for Penn State pass rusher Arnold Ebiketie and he had a massive game against the Ohio State first round hopeful, Nicholas Petit-Frere. This matchup is probably bigger for Petit-Frere than Ojabo - or his teammate Aidan Hutchinson - but it does provide a matchup between likely top 50 picks in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Potential Riser
Alontae Taylor | CB
6’ 195lbs | Tennessee | #11
Taylor was a top 10 recruit in the state of Tennessee that was mostly sought after as a wide receiver rather than a cornerback. He enrolled early at Tennessee and participated in Spring practice as a wide receiver before switching over to corner full time and even went on to start the first game as a true freshman. Taylor started off and on his first three seasons coming down with two interceptions and nine pass break-ups but has set career highs in both in 2021 with two INTs and five PBUs respectively.
Taylor has quality size and athleticism for a NFL cornerback which plays great with his well rounded game. Taylor hasn’t always shown “4 star wide receiver” level ball skills while playing corner but flashes them enough to believe in them while improving as a pure corner every season. He’s played mostly on the outside and should likely stick there in the NFL utilizing some physicality and the sideline to help defend quick receivers.
How to watch: Vanderbilt vs Tennessee, 2:45 PM CST, SEC Network
Vanderbilt won’t provide the biggest test for Taylor on the season but it gives the senior a final chance to showcase his skill and insert his name in the upper tiers of cornerback draft prospects. The final rivalry game for a senior is always a big deal so I anticipate Taylor putting his best foot forward again and coming away with a big game.
Local Flavor
Perrion Winfrey | IDL
6’4” 300bs | Oklahoma | #8
Perrion Winfrey was the nation’s highest rated JUCO transfer in 2020 after dominating at Iowa Western for two seasons. He had to go to community college because he was academically ineligible for a DI scholarship coming out of highschool but after two years at the JUCO level, he looks to have it figured out. His first season at Oklahoma he earned a starting role during the shortened COVID season and finished the year with 5.5 tackles for a loss and half a sack. In 2021, he took the next step and is dominating with 9 TFLs and 5.5 sacks.
Winfrey has a very traditional 3-tech profile at this point in his career. He possesses an explosive first step, quality lateral agility, and good flexibility for a man his size. He easily darts through gaps and penetrates into the backfield on pass and run plays. Proportionally he lacks a little length and is a little high-cut presenting some challenges of disengaging from blocks and winning in the second half of plays but has shown development with his hands throughout the year. If Winfrey can continue to showcase developed hand technique and pass rush plan, he’s going to go from a dangerous interior rusher to a complete player.
How to watch: Oklahoma vs Oklahoma State, 6:30 PM CST, ABC
The big matchup in this game will be when Winfrey lines up across from Oklahoma States’ left guard Josh Sills. Sills has experience at guard and tackle and should be the closest to matching Winfrey’s athleticism and power. The other interior linemen for OKST have plenty of experience so Winfrey stacking up another big game could really help him push for IDL 1 in this draft class.
Big draft nerd here and I love the prospects you have here.