Good morning New York Giants fans! Happy Wednesday and Happy New Year!
New Year’s Eve is here, which is historically one of the biggest days in college football. Today we get some potentially great games, culminating in the first game of the second round of the College Football Playoffs. The showdown between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Miami Hurricanes could be of huge importance for the Giants, as multiple players on both teams could be in play for the Giants in the first round.
ReliaQuest Bowl: (14) Vanderbilt vs. (23) Iowa
ESPN – noon
We’re starting the afternoon off with a game that has the potential to be a really good one. Neither of these teams are powerhouses this year, but both have been good enough to be ranked. From a draft perspective, each of these teams have players who could interest the Giants on the second day of the draft. We’ll highlight each of those in a bit, but I also want to shout out Vandy quarterback Diego Pavia. Pavia is an undersized quarterback who isn’t likely to be drafted highly — and might carry a “Priority Free Agent” grade. However, he’s also an exciting playmaker who’s creativity and competitiveness remind of Russell Wilson or Dillon Gabriel. He could be an option for the Giants if they decide they want to develop a backup behind Jaxson Dart.
Player to watch
(14) Vanderbilt – Miles Capers (OLB, 29) – Capers is an undersized EDGE for Vandy at 6-foot-4, 235 pounds, and he may have to transition to being an off-ball linebacker at the next level. However, he has been a very good run defender off the edge this year, while also generating 24 hurries per Pro Football Focus. He needs to get better at finishing his rushes, but at a nearly 10 percent run stop rate, he could be good depth as a late round pick or priority free agent.
(23) Iowa – Gennings Dunker (OT, 67) – The big question with Dunker is where he’ll play in the NFL. He’s been one of the top tackles in college over the last couple seasons, but it remains to be seen whether he has the athleticism to stay on the edge against NFL speed. He’s a stocky, powerful blocker at 6-foot-5, 315 pounds and has given up 6 hurries, 2 hits, and 3 sacks this year. Dunker has the frame and demeanor to move inside to guard — but could also be a mauler at tackle reminiscent of Jack Conklin if he proves that he has the quickness, agility, and flexibility to match up with NFL pass rushers.
Tony The Tiger Sun Bowl: Duke vs. Arizona State
CBS – 2:00 p.m.
Unfortunately, the best player on either team, and the one the Giants should be most interested in, won’t be playing. Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson has declared for the 2026 NFL Draft and isn’t expected to play in this game.
In fact, Arizona State’s roster will be fairly depleted of draftable talent thanks to opt-outs and injuries. Likewise, OT Brian Parker II, Duke’s top prospect, is also opting out of the game. Interestingly, Duke defensive end Wesley Williams has declared for the draft but is expected to play.
Player to watch
Duke – Aaron Hall (iDL, 29) – Hall isn’t a big name in this draft class, but he has potential to be an interesting option as a 3-technique or 5-technique for a 1-gap attacking defense. Hall weighs in at 6-foot-4, 290 pounds, and finished the regular season with 10 tackles for a loss. He has upside as a B-gap disrupter for the right team.
Arizona State – C.J. Fite (iDL, 99) – I’m cheating a bit here, as Fite is foregoing the draft and returning to school for his senior season. But the Giants should also probably get back into the habit of keeping a well-stocked pipeline of defensive tackles, and we can consider this future scouting. Fite is well-regarded as a leader in the locker room and has been flashing upside since taking the field as an 18-year old freshman. He’ll be a 21-year old senior next year and has a real chance to break out next year.
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl: (13) Texas vs. (15) Michigan
ABC – 3:00 p.m.
If you said back in August that Texas and Michigan would be playing on New Years Eve, pretty much everyone would assume that they were meeting in the College Football Playoffs. Instead, the two are meeting in one of the BIG bowl games, but as a consolation prize after being on the outside of the big dance.
Michigan has been rocked by controversy and scandal over the last few weeks, while the Longhorns have been very disappointing.
As we might expect, there are going to be a bunch of players on both teams opting out of this game to enter the NFL Draft as well as the transfer portal
Player to watch
(13) Texas – Trevor Goosby (OT, 74) – Goosby hasn’t yet declared for the draft, and is a sophomore with two more years of eligibility available. However, he has an athletic frame that’s well-suited to playing tackle at the NFL level, as well as experience at both left and right tackle. He’s been a very good run blocker as well as a reliable pass protector for Texas. Goosby has the potential to be a fringe first round player if he decides to declare.
(15) Michigan – Jyaire Hill (CB, 20) – Hill is a long (6-foot-2, 190 pounds) corner with the versatility to play in man or zone coverage. He does a good job of getting his hands on the ball and disrupting at the catch point and is also a willing (and physical) run defender. Hill is considered a Day 3 prospect by both the Consensus Big Board and by Pro Football Focus, but he has a real chance to raise his stock over the course of the draft process.
SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl: (15) Utah vs. Nebraska
ESPN – 3:30 p.m.
Unfortunately, we won’t get to watch either of the Utah offensive tackles. Both left tackle Caleb Lomu and right tackle Spencer Fano have opted out of the game in favor of preparing for the Draft. The Giants could — and possibly should — be interested in both tackles, and they would have been the two best players in the game.
Player to watch
(15) Utah – Lander Barton (LB, 8) – There might be better prospects on the field, but Barton presents an interesting option for the Giants. Barton is a long (6-foot-5, 235 pound) off-ball linebacker who is a former 3-sport athlete, as well as a former receiver. Barton is a rangy linebacker who can cover sideline-to-sideline as well as as come up and engage with offensive linemen. He could be a later round pick, which could appeal to the Giants as a lower-cost option to reinforce their linebacking corps if they extend Micah McFadden.
Nebraska – Dane Key (WR, 6) – Key is a big receiver at 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, who also has surprising fluidity for a bigger receiver as well as some route running savvy. Key was a reliable and consistent receiver for the Kentucky wildcats, and maintained that consistency after transferring to Nebraska this year. He isn’t spectacular, but he has draftable traits and would be a good depth piece for a team like the Giants who could need multiple receivers.
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic: (2) Ohio State vs. (10) Miami
ESPN – 7:30 p.m.
After sifting through lists of opt-outs in other games, the challenge with this game is picking just one Ohio State player to focus on. The Buckeyes are, frankly, stacked with talent on both sides of the ball.
I’m going to use this opportunity to shout out OSU linebacker Sonny Styles, who would be an immediate upgrade for the Giants’ linebacking corps. The Giants could also take a long look at iDL Kayden McDonald, who’s a big, powerful defender with great run stopping upside.
Miami has a plenty of future NFL players of their own, and plenty of teams will be interested in EDGE Reuben Bain Jr. Bain is the best defensive end in the country with great size and strength, as well as the burst and bend to get after passers off the edge. The Giants might not have anything like a need at the position, but other teams might want to trade for him, or they could consider his talent to great to pass.
Player to watch
(2) Ohio State – Carnell Tate (WR, 7) – Tate is one of the players most commonly mocked to the Giants at the top of the first round. He isn’t an elite athlete, but he’s long, a fantastic route runner, and simply doesn’t drop the football. Tate might not have the raw upside of some of the 2027 wide receivers, but he could be a “Justin Jefferson” type for the Giants. Having another player who can get open at will, be a threat at all three levels, and simply ignore coverage would allow Jaxson Dart to take the next step in his development.
(10) Miami – Francis Mauigoa (OT, 61) – We’ve talked about Mauigoa a ton this year, but for good reason. The U’s right tackle may have to move to guard at the NFL level, but he should have high-level upside at either position (assuming he has the athleticism to play tackle in the NFL). If he does have tackle upside, Mauigoa could be a great candidate to start his career at guard as a replacement for Greg Van Roten before moving to right tackle once Jermaine Eluemunor’s time ends.
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