Your thread for all of Saturday’s action
Good morning New York Giants fans! Happy Saturday and welcome to Week 10 of the 2024 College Football season.
We’re changing things up a bit this week, and instead of focusing on whole games, I want to spotlight individual players. As you may have noticed, we’ve split our college football coverage into two separate posts. The first will be a stock report on the top draft-eligible quarterbacks, while the second (this post) will focus on non-quarterbacks, as well as offer my suggestions as to which games Giants fans may want to watch throughout the day.
This is a trial run, and we’d appreciate feedback on how you all like the format.
Players to watch
Tocario Davis (CB, Arizona)
UCF vs. Arizona – FS1, 3:30 p.m.
Joe Schoen has drafted a cornerback in each of his first three drafts, and none later than the third round. Cor’Dale Flott and Tae Banks were both drafted for Wink Martindale’s defense and have man coverage traits, while Dru Phillips was drafted with Shane Bowen in mind and excels closing on the ball from off coverage.
Davis is one of the top zone corners in the country and was named a Jim Thorpe award semifinalist this week. He also has uncommon physical traits at 6-foot-4, 195 pounds and solid movement skills for that size. He pairs those traits with great instincts and knows how to use his length to disrupt at the catch point.
Davis is the headliner, but Giants fans may want to keep a close eye on Arizona over the course of the draft process. Tetairoa McMillan is in the conversation with Luthor Burden and Travis Hunter to be the first receiver drafted (assuming Hunter is drafted as a receiver). Offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea is a massive man who has been a stout tackle and could excel at guard at the next level.
Tate Ratledge (OG, Georgia)
(2) Georgia vs. Florida – ABC, 3:30 p.m.
Ratledge has missed several weeks with an ankle injury and underwent tightrope surgery to speed his recovery. He’s listed as “probable” for the game and is expected to make his return this week.
Ratledge is primarily a right guard, though he played offensive tackle in high school. He has solid mobility and impressive strength at the point of attack, which allows him to stand up to bull rushes as well as create movement in the run game. He’s a bit tall for an interior lineman at 6-foot-6 and needs to be careful to maintain his pad level.
How he moves following his ankle injury (and repair) will be a vital part of his evaluation. If Ratledge comes back from the injury well, he should probably be on the Giants’ radar. Greg Van Roten is not a long term answer at right guard, and the Giants need to continue to invest in their offensive line.
Kyle Kennard (EDGE, South Carolina)
South Carolina vs. (10) Texas A&M (ABC – 7:30 p.m.)
This is another “gateway” spotlight where watching one player is an excuse to see a few others.
Kyle Kennard is flying under the radar on a poor South Carolina squad, but he can be a game-wrecker off the edge. He transferred from Georgia Tech to South Carolina for the 2024 season and could re-set the Gamecocks’ single-season sack record. Kennard already has 13 tackles for a loss, 8.5 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles after just 7 games. He’s on pace for 14.5 sacks, beating the school record of 13.5 set by Jadeveon Clowney in 2012.
Kennard has prototypical size for a modern edge defender at 6-foot-5, 254 pounds with long arms. He’s a very twitchy rusher who can win with speed and bend, as well as technique and hustle. Expect to hear a lot more about Kennard as the draft process unfolds, and he could be a “late riser” who winds up in the first round.
Giants fans should probably also pay attention to safety Nick Emmanwori and DL T.J. Sanders. Emmanwori is similar to Isaiah Simmons as a player with linebacker size (6-foot-3, 225-230 pounds) but DB athleticism (4.39 speed, 42-inch vertical, and lower body fluidity). He already has 49 tackles, 4 interceptions and 2 touchdowns on the season.
Sanders is a long and explosive interior lineman with a versatile frame (6-foot-4, 290 pounds) who can play a variety of alignments in a 1-gap penetrating defense.
Jayden Higgins (WR, Iowa State)
(11) Iowa State vs. Texas Tech (ESPN, 3:30 p.m.)
The Giants just drafted Malik Nabers, but they could be in the receiver market again if they part ways with Darius Slayton. Higgins brings size the Giants otherwise lack in their receiving corps at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, as well as smooth movement skills for a receiver his size.
Higgins is regarded as a good, and detailed, route runner at this stage of his development. He also has soft hands to go with his impressive catch radius. He could step right in as a possession receiver and allow the Giants to mix-and-match skill sets with the shifty Wan’Dale Robinson and speedy Jalin Hyatt.
Deone Walker (DL, Kentucky)
(7) Tennessee vs. Kentucky (SEC Network, 7:30 p.m.)
Joe Schoen has selected two players out of Kentucky over the last three years, and scouts have a tendency to keep an eye on future prospects who impress before they’re draft eligible.
The Giants love dancing elephants at defensive tackle, and they could look to pair Walker with Dexter Lawrence for a truly HILARIOUS amount of size, power, and athleticism on their defensive interior. Walker is a mammoth man at 6-foot-6, 345 pounds yet has the kind of foot speed and athleticism necessary to be a legitimate threat as an interior pass rusher (he racked up 7.5 sacks in 2023). And while he wouldn’t be able to do much for the Giants’ perimeter run defense, it’s difficult to see any offense running up the middle with Walker and Lawrence on the field — or he would allow the Giants to take Lawrence off the field and give the big man some rest every once in a while.
Games to watch
- (3) Penn State vs. (4) Ohio State (Fox, noon)
- Syracuse vs. Virginia Tech (The CW, noon)
- Michigan vs. (1) Oregon (CBS, 3:30 p.m.)
- Michigan State vs. (13) Indiana (Peacock, 3:30 p.m.)
- (11) Clemson vs. Louisville (ESPN, 7:30 p.m.)
QB Tracker
- Drew Allar (Penn State) could start against Ohio State (Fox, noon)
- Cam Ward (Miami) vs. Duke (ABC, noon)
- Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss) vs. Arkansas (ESPN, noon)
- Kurtis Roarke (Indiana) is expected to start against Michigan State (Peacock, 3:30 p.m.)
- Dillon Gabriel (Oregon) vs. Michigan (CBS, 3:30 p.m.)
- Carson Beck (Georgia) vs. Florida (ABC, 3:30 p.m.)
- Connor Weigman (Texas A&M) vs. South Carolina (ABC, 7:30 p.m.)
- Miller Moss (USC) vs. Washington (Big Ten Network, 7:30 p.m.)
- Cade Klubnik (Clemson) vs. Louisville (ESPN, 7:30 p.m.)
