National Football League

NFL Draft 2017: 5 College Football Games to Watch in Week 9

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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With the 2017 NFL Draft getting closer with each passing week, which five Week 9 college football games should you definitely be watching?

Every game that we’ll look at this week features a team that is ranked in the Top 15 of the college football polls. Not only does that bring added excitement when watching college football, but that means most likely there will be players in those games that will one day be playing on Sundays and that will be available in the 2017 NFL Draft.

Maybe the biggest game of the week in college football is the ABC primetime spotlight game between No. 3 Clemson at No. 12 Florida State. These two schools have been supplying prospects to the NFL in great quantity as of late.

Another game we’ll look at closer is No. 14 Florida at unranked Georgia, as the Bulldogs have some prospects on their team no NFL fan can ignore. There will be three other games that will be looked at closer, too.

These aren’t the only five games NFL fans should watch this weekend, but they are five games NFL fans should watch and keep a closer eye on than usual. Because there is no doubt that, come April, you will remember some of the names called this weekend.

Oct 22, 2016; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines linebacker Jabrill Peppers (5) rushes in the first half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

No. 2 Michigan Wolverines at Michigan State Spartans (Noon ET, ESPN)

There are two players in this game who are currently ranked in the Top 10 of all NFL Draft prospects, according to CBS Sports, in Michigan safety Jabrill Peppers and Michigan State defensive tackle Malik McDowell.

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Peppers is a redshirt sophomore who this season has totaled 37 tackles (27 solo) with 2.5 sacks and one forced fumble. In his first three games of the season (against Hawaii, UCF and Colorado), he collected 25 of those 37 tackles.

In Big Ten play this season, Peppers has collected 12 tackles and no sacks. Stats don’t necessarily describe just how good Peppers is. He can play all over the field, including linebacker, and can play some offense and even on special teams where he returns punts. You will hear Peppers’ name called a lot on Saturday, and be ready to see him drafted early next April.

McDowell is a 6-6, 276-pound junior defensive lineman and is a player to take notice of right now. Just two weeks ago against Northwestern, the defensive lineman totaled 11 tackles (seven solo) and a half sack. In the past two games (Northwestern and Maryland), he’s collected a total of 16 tackles (10 solo) with 1.5 sacks.

For the season, McDowell had 32 tackles (18 solo) with 1.5 sacks. CBS Sports has McDowell as their sixth overall best player in the draft with draft expert Dan Brugler describing him as a player who is “supremely gifted, but never shuts it down either.”

Oct 15, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Nick Chubb (27) runs against Vanderbilt Commodores defensive end Jonathan Wynn (49) during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Vanderbilt defeated Georgia 17-16. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

No. 14 Florida Gators at Georgia Bulldogs (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS)

Here is a rivalry game all football fans—college or pro—can enjoy. Georgia has 10 players listed on the CBS Sports NFL Draft Prospects Rankings, with Nick Chubb, the 5-10, 220-pound running back, being their top prospect.

If he can stay healthy, Chubb has the potential to be a first-round pick. But coming off a horrific knee injury last season, it is yet to see how the NFL views him right now. Chubb is currently a second-round projection.

The Georgia running back is sharing time in the backfield this season with 116 carries for 586 yards and five touchdowns. He’s averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Also with Georgia, watch for outside linebacker Davin Bellamy (a third-round projection) and offensive guard Greg Pyke (a fifth- or sixth-round projection).

For the Gators, cornerback Teez Tabor and outside linebacker Jarrad Davis have first-round grades. Tabor is a 6-0, 199-pound junior, and Davis is a 6-1, 240-pound senior. Tabor has four interceptions this season. Davis has two sacks and 48 tackles (22 solo).

These players will be drafted next April if they make themselves eligible for the NFL Draft. They will become players we know on Sunday, so this Saturday, get to know them all a little better from this game.

Sep 17, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies wide receiver John Ross (1) rushes the ball against the Portland State Vikings during the second half at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

No. 4 Washington Huskies at No. 17 Utah Utes (3:30 p.m. ET, FS1)

This is a great time to get to watch some West Coast football at a normal time, with the game starting at 3:30 p.m. ET, plus it is a great opportunity to get to watch two ranked teams.

A first-round prospect for the Huskies is John Ross, a 5-11 junior, who last weekend against Oregon State finished with four receptions for 115 yards. He didn’t score a touchdown, but he did have a 51-yard catch and averaged 28.8 yards per reception. This season, he does have nine touchdowns, and in three games this year, he’s caught for multiple scores.

Utah has a junior defensive tackle in Lowell Lotulelei who is a first-round prospect, but let’s take a closer look at junior Marcus Williams. The 6-1, 195-pounder is currently ranked as the third overall free safety and a second-round pick. Williams has three interceptions this season, and earlier this season in a three-game span against BYU, San Jose State and USC, he totaled 20 tackles (14 solo) with one interception. In the USC game, he collected eight tackles.

Both of these players are well worth watching in this game, but don’t forget there are a total of 27 players listed on the CBS NFL Draft Prospects list playing in this game on Saturday.

Sep 24, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Wisconsin offensive lineman Ryan Ramczyk (65) blocks Michigan State defensive end Evan Jones (85) during the second quarter of their game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via USA TODAY Sports

No. 7 Nebraska Cornhuskers at No. 11 Wisconsin Badgers (7 p.m., ESPN)

This game has great importance for the Big Ten West, with both Nebraska and Wisconsin needing to gain this valuable win Saturday night. Wisconsin has eight potential draft prospects playing in this game, but one player who could be selected in the first round is offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk.

It is tough to find a solid offensive tackle, but Ramczyk is the second-rated tackle in this draft as of Oct. 25. The 6-5, 314-pounder won’t be tough to spot when watching this game. Rob Rang of CBS Sports wrote about Ramczyk’s “pure athleticism” in his most recent report on the tackle.

Nebraska has 10 players listed as a potential draft prospect, but just one who is projected to be drafted is 6-2, 220-pound senior strong safety Nathan Gerry. Gerry has two interceptions and four games of at least seven tackles this season.

This game could possess some sleepers for the April draft, giving NFL fans a chance to learn names that many won’t know or remember until this offseason. Nebraska at Wisconsin will be a competitive football game. But more than that, it will give fans of the NFL a chance to have a look at one of the best offensive tackles in college football.

Sep 5, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles wide receiver Travis Rudolph (15) runs with the ball as Mississippi Rebels defensive back Tony Conner (12) defends during the first half at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

No. 3 Clemson Tigers at No. 12 Florida State (8 p.m. ET, ABC)

Florida State has a wide receiver in 6-1, 189-pound Travis Rudolph who is being ranked as a second- or third-round selection in the NFL Draft. This season, Rudolph has 32 receptions for 497 yards and three touchdowns. Last season, he totaled 59 receptions for 916 yards, but he’s really beginning to turn things up a notch this season over the last few weeks.

Against Wake Forest two weeks ago, the junior totaled 13 receptions for 238 yards, including one catch that went for 58 yards. Though he’s had games where not much happened for him, Rudolph has shown he does have the ability to become an NFL-caliber wide receiver in due time.

Clemson had the second-ranked quarterback in Deshaun Watson and the second-ranked wide receiver in Mike Williams to watch on Saturday night. It is no secret both of these players will most likely be first-round picks, and they get to show a national audience once again what they are capable of doing.

Both are talented players, and with Watson, he’ll be a very wanted player for a few teams in the draft who really need some improvement at quarterback. Fans of the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers and the Chicago Bears may want to watch this game a little closer.

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