NFL Draft: Sanders vs. McMillan, 3 games you should watch this weekend

Diving into a few college football matchups you’ll want to check out

Let’s be honest, the Las Vegas Raiders’ season is quickly going nowhere and the organization is looking to build for the future. It might be October but it isn’t too early to get a jump on this year’s NFL Draft prospects. So, let’s take a look at a few college football games that could have a few future Raiders playing in them.

Colorado vs. Arizona

• Time: 1:00 pm PST
• Network: FOX
• CU Prospects: QB Shedeur Sanders, WR/CB Travis Hunter, WR Will Sheppard
• U of A Prospects: WR Tetairoa McMillan, OL Jonah Savaiinaea, CB Tacario Davis

The headliner here is Sanders as Las Vegas is widely expected to be in the quarterback market this April, and he’s projected as one of the top passers in this year’s class. Additionally, Mark Davis was recently spotted with Sanders at a Las Vegas Aces game. But the Buffalos also have the most versatile player in college football and a Heisman Trophy candidate in Hunter, who could fill the Silver and Black’s need at cornerback or wide receiver.

Meanwhile, the Raiders could also be in the market for one of the top wideouts after trading Davante Adams, so don’t doze off when McMillan hits the field. At 6’5” and 212 pounds with speed to win down the field, he has No. 1 receiver potential. Also, Savaiinaea is an intriguing tackle/guard combo and Davis is a long corner who could be a good second-round target.

6 Miami vs Louisville

• Time: 9:00 am PST
• Network: ABC
• UM Prospects: QB Cam Ward, WR Xavier Restrepo, LB Francisco Mauigoa
• U of L Prospects: EDGE Ashton Gillotte, CB Quincy Riley, DL Thor Griffith

Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images

The big draw here is Ward, who has been on a tear this season with the most passing touchdowns (20) and yards per game (369.8) in the country. He’s another Heisman candidate and likely first-round pick. The Hurricanes don’t have many other notable prospects but Restrepo will be on the receiving end of Ward’s passes and leads the ACC with 585 receiving yards.

Don’t forget about the Cardinals, though. Gillotte is an intriguing pass-rusher who had 11 sacks last season and could be a good mid-round replacement option for Malcolm Koonce if Koonce walks in free agency this offseason.

5 Georgia vs. 1 Texas

• Time: 4:30 pm PST
• Network: ABC
• UGA Prospects: QB Carson Beck, S Malaki Starks, LB/EDGE Jalon Walker
• TEX Prospects: QB Quinn Ewers, OT Kelvin Banks, WR Isaiah Bond

Truth be told, most people were probably going to tune into this one regardless as it’s the biggest game of the weekend. There will be no shortage of first-round talent on the field as several top prospects in this year’s class will be lining up across from each other.

Beck’s stock took a hit after his three-interception performance against Alabama a few weeks ago, but he’s bounced back in the last two games with six “big-time throws” according to Pro Football Focus. Then there’s Starks, the “do it all” safety, and Walker, a unique defender who can play off-ball linebacker and rush the passer on the edge, on the other side of the ball.

For the Longhorns, Ewers returned to action last Saturday against Oklahoma and looked rusty, but he was playing well and building his draft stock before suffering the injury. Banks has a good shot at being OT1 in the draft class and has only allowed one pressure all year, per PFF, but he hasn’t faced edge rushers like Walker and Mykel Williams yet. Out wide, Bond is a speed demon whose route running has improved this season.