BYU versus Texas Tech
The Big 12 Championship will kick off at Noon on Saturday. The Cincinnati Bengals could be looking at several prospects playing in this one. For BYU, they have several defensive prospects of note. Two linebackers of interest for day three include Jack Kelly and Isaiah Glasker. Another player on the defensive side of the ball is Keanu Tanuvasa. The defensive tackle is another day three prospect, if he declares.
My top rated prospect for the Cougars is on the offensive side of the ball. Running back LJ Martin could be drafted prior to the end of day two. If that happens, it may be too rich for the Bengals to invest in a running back, just a year after drafting Tahj Brooks in the sixth round. Martin is another big, physical back. He is listed at 6’2” and around 230 pounds. Martin has rushed for over 1200 yards with 11 touchdowns already this season. The biggest reason I wouldn’t rule out another running back is due to some of the difficulties we are still seeing from the Bengals in short yardage and goal-line situations. That is an area that Martin excels.
For Texas Tech, they are stacked on the defensive side of the ball. Defensive prospects of interest include defensive tackle Lee Hunter, defensive end Romello Height, and linebacker Jacob Rodriguez.
My top rated prospect for Tech is defensive end David Bailey. The Bengals are getting good contributions from Myles Murphy and Joseph Ossai recently. However, Ossai along with Trey Hendrickson could both leave via free agency. If that happens, defensive end could be a need yet again. Bailey would immediately be the most explosive pass rusher on the roster. He has 12.5 sacks on the season, with a total of 70 pressures.
Georgia versus Alabama
An excellent matchup for the SEC Championship will take place on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. ET. There will be an abundance of draft-eligible prospects of interest for both Alabama and Georgia.
Some intriguing prospects of note for the Bulldogs include linebacker CJ Allen, defensive tackle Christen Miller, and cornerback Daylen Everette. On offense, I have previously mentioned the upside of Monroe Freeling at left tackle for the Bengals to develop, if he declares. One other player on that side of the ball I want to mention is wide receiver Zachariah Branch. While wide receiver may not stand out as the most immediate need, I think the Bengals could benefit from adding a speedier slot wide receiver at some point during the 2026 draft. Branch should end up being selected within the first few rounds. The dynamic athleticism he would provide as a receiver and returner would be enticing.
Alabama has an extensive list of prospects that should interest the Bengals. On the offensive line alone, they have three players to note. Tackle Kadyn Proctor, guard Jaeden Roberts, and center Parker Brailsford will all likely be top 100 draft selections this year. On defense, they have players like defensive end LT Overton, defensive tackle Tim Keenan III, and cornerback Domani Jackson. The player I want to highlight for the Bengals though is Deontae Lawson. The veteran linebacker is undersized at just 228 pounds. He has excellent range and could slip to day three due to the aforementioned size limitations. Adding a player with his talent to the youth movement at the position could pay big dividends for Al Golden and the Bengals defense next season.
Ohio State versus Indiana
The Big 10 Championship will take place Saturday night at 8:00 p.m. ET as the top two teams in the country face off. Ohio State is loaded with talent on the defensive side of the ball. I have previously highlighted players like Caleb Downs, Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles, and Caden Curry. Another player on that defense that is making a real push for day two consideration is Kenyatta Jackson. Jackson has prototypical size for a defensive end. After waiting his turn to be a starter, he has played his best football against the best competition the Buckeyes have faced this season.
Indiana is stacked with talent on both sides of the ball, as well. On offense they have quarterback Fernando Mendoza, offensive tackle Carter Smith, and wide receivers Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper. On defense, they have defensive end Mikail Kamara, linebacker Aiden Fisher, and cornerback D’Angelo Ponds. The prospect that could intrigue the Cincinnati Bengals the most is safety Amare Ferrelll. With Geno Stone scheduled to be a free agent, safety has to be high on the list of needs for the Bengals. Ferrell has shown his ability the past two seasons to be a magnet for the football. Adding some playmaking on the back end is never a bad idea.
Who are the players you are most looking forward to watching in these marquee matchups? Sound off in the comments.
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