Which games should Giants fans be watching this week?
Good morning New York Giants fans! Happy Saturday and welcome to Week 3 of the 2024 college football season.
This week we’re going to take a closer look at the SEC, and two of the most talented rosters in college football as well as one of the top receivers in the upcoming draft class. We’re also going to be featuring two games on channels we don’t normally highlight. So consider Oregon State vs. (9) Oregon (Fox, 3:30 p.m.) as an alternate game for the afternoon slot and Kentucky vs. (1) Georgia (ABC, 7:30 p.m.) as an alternate for the evening game.
We’ll update if we find out where the Giants’ scouts are credentialed or where Joe Schoen is this week.
Wisconsin vs. (4) Alabama
Fox – noon
Wisconsin isn’t as talented as they’ve been in years past, however the could provide a decent challenge for Alabama. Or at least enough of a challenge to give us decent scouting tape. There will absolutely be future NFL players on the field for both teams in this game, and on both sides of the ball. However most of the attention will be paid to the Alabama side of things.
Alabama has players who are more highly regarded than quarterback Jalen Milroe at this point, however he might be the most closely watched prospect in the game. Most draft analysts agree that Carson Beck and Shedeur Sanders are at the top of the quarterback class, however the door is open for either of them to be supplanted and for other prospects to join them in the top tier at the position. Milroe improved tremendously over the course of his first year as a starter in 2023, but the NFL will need to see continued improvement to consider him to be more than a toolsy developmental prospect. In particular, Milroe will need to improve his sack avoidance and not allow as many pressures to turn into sacks. He could vault to the top of the draft if he can improve his ability to deal with pressure while remaining a dynamic downfield passer.
Stepping back a bit, Alabama has a bunch of interior offensive linemen for Giants fans to watch. As usual, the best way to scout Alabama is probably to simply enjoy the game and take note of which players stand out.
Players to watch
Alabama
- Jalen Milroe (QB)
- Tyler Booker (LG)
- Parker Brailsford (OC) *red-shirt sophomore
- Jaeden Roberts (RG)
- Domani Jackson (CB)
- Keon Sabb (S) *red-shirt sophomore
- Malachi Moore (S)
Wisconsin
- Jack Nelson (LT)
- Riley Mahlman (RT)
- Ricardo Hallman (CB)
- Hunter Wohler (S)
(6) Missouri vs. (24) Boston College
SEC Network – 12:45 p.m.
I try to avoid spotlighting games that might not be available for everyone. However, the game between Mizzou and BC is one of the few between ranked opponents this week. I also want to highlight one of the top prospects in the draft.
That would be Missouri receiver Luthor Burden III. Burden is on the injury report with an illness (as of this writing), but he’s definitely worth talking about when healthy. Burden is a compact (5-foot-11, 208 pounds) receiver who is one of the most dynamic threats in the country with the ball in his hands. He had a breakout year in 2023, with 1,212 yards and 9 touchdowns on 86 receptions that has drawn straight-faced comparisons to Deebo Samuel. Teams looking for an offensive weapon to provide a potentially elite run-after catch threat will likely grade Burden very highly.
His quarterback, Brady Cook, could also catch the eye of NFL evaluators. He has solid size, good accuracy and the ability to make off-platform and off-schedule throws, and the athleticism to be a dangerous runner. He doesn’t have eye-popping arm strength, which could limit him in the eyes of the NFL, but he could have upside as a developmental prospect.
This could be a good early test for Cook and Burden, as Boston College’s defense has been stingy and BC started their season with the surprising upset of Florida State.
Prospects to watch
Missouri
- Brady Cook (QB)
- Luthor Burden III (WR)
- Armand Membou (OL)
- Marcus Bryant (OL)
- Toriano Pride (CB)
Boston College
- Treshaun Ward (RB)
- Ozzy Trapilo (OT)
- Donovan Ezeiruaku (edge)
Wake Forest vs. (5) Ole Miss
The CW Network – 6:30 p.m.
Ole Miss has done a great job of working the transfer portal to quickly build a remarkably strong team. 10 of their 22 starters joined the team this year via the transfer portal, and they’ve added some of the most intriguing players at their respective position groups in the nation.
Players like edge Princely Umanmielen, defensive lineman Walter Nolan, and cornerbacks Trey Amos, Isaiah Hamilton, and Louis Moore reinforced the defense. On the offensive side, receiver Antwane Wells joins 2023 transfer Tre Harris to provide a spark to the offense. This collection of talent has been a windfall for quarterback Jaxson Dart, who transferred from USC to Ole Miss when Caleb Williams arrived in 2022.
Dart has been rising up draft boards thanks to a fantastic start in his new surroundings. He has solid mobility, good size (6-foot-2, 225 pounds), and a very strong arm — in addition to an NFL-ready name. Dart’s first real test likely won’t be until the October 12th game against LSU, but so far the results are hard to argue with. He’s completed 87 percent of his passes for 14.7 yards per attempt, and 6 touchdowns through two games. It’s obviously only two games, and against the likes of Furman and Middle Tennessee State, but he could become this year’s Jayden Daniels if he keeps up the pace.
