Head 2 Head Preview: Week 11

NFL Draft Analyst Chris Steuber gives you a preview of this weekend's top individual matchups between players who are being scouted by NFL teams for the 2008 NFL Draft. Take a look at who you should be watching during this weekend's college football action.

Arkansas (6-3) at #24 Tennessee (6-3)

Game Details: Saturday, November 10th at 12:30 p.m.

The Prospects: 

* Felix Jones (6-foot, 200 pounds), RB - Arkansas
VS.
* Demonte' Bolden (6-foot-6, 290 pounds), DT - Tennessee

Scouting Report: Jones is a an explosive back with big play ability. He has excellent vision, shiftiness, and speed that make him difficult to defend. He's a patient runner who runs with a great deal of leverage and uses his quick burst to get through the smallest seams. He displays toughness running through the middle and uses his quickness to bounce outside for big gains. He makes quick cuts, makes defenders miss, and shows elusiveness in the open field. He has good hands out of the backfield and is a dynamic all-around threat. Bolden is an athletic interior lineman who gets good penetration and clogs things up in the middle. He's quick off the snap, moves well laterally and is able to fight off blocks to make plays in the backfield. He has quick hands and gains leverage instantly with great balance. He defends well in pursuit and is rarely off of his feet.

Head 2 Head: When you face Arkansas, you know you're going to get a heavy dose of Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. Tennessee has a tough task trying to keep the Razorbacks' rushing attack under control. The Razorbacks average 316 yards a game on the ground and will look to take advantage of Tennessee's shaky run defense. The Volunteers defense allows 168 yards on the ground a game. Jones, who's averaging 9.3 yards a carry this season, is the perfect compliment to McFadden and keeps the opposition guessing. Tennessee DT Demonte' Bolden has to get penetration up the middle to put pressure on Jones when he's in the game. Jones likes to run the ball around the end, but he also runs between the tackles. If Bolden can fill a gap and clog things up for Jones, it will allow Tennessee's edge defenders to attack on the outside and contain the running game. It sounds simple, but when you're facing two of the top rushers in the nation, nothing is easy.

2007 Statistics:

			Rushing
No	Name	G	Att	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
25	Felix Jones	5	111	1,029	9.3	73	11

			Tackles				Pass D	Sacks
No	Name	G	Solo	Ast	Total	TFL-Yds	Int	No-Yds
98	Demonte' Bolden	8	15	5	20	4.0-13	0	1.0-8

#19 Virginia (8-2) at Miami (FL) (5-4)

Game Details: Saturday, November 10th at 7:15 p.m. on ESPN2

The Prospects: 

Tom Santi (6-foot-5, 250-pounds), TE - Virginia
VS.
Tavares Gooden (6-foot-2, 238-pounds), OLB - Miami

Scouting Report: Santi is an athletic, pass-catching tight end that has the ability to stretch the field. He has great size and uses his frame to his advantage. He gets a clean break off the line, runs smooth routes, and finds openings over the middle for his quarterback to exploit. He has soft hands and is able to adjust to errant throws and make tough receptions. He shows good blocking technique and never gives up on a play. Gooden is a tough, gifted linebacker who displays tremendous athleticism on the field. He has great sideline-to-sideline range and is always around the ball. He's a solid open-field tackler who takes good angles in pursuit. He has good lateral movement, quickly fills a gap, locates the ball and explodes against the opposition. He shows good awareness and discipline in coverage.

Head 2 Head: The Cavaliers have a balanced attack on offense and like to utilize all of their weapons. The Hurricanes play well against the pass and allow just 190 passing yards a game. Santi leads the Cavs in receiving yards (313) this season and QB Jameel Sewell looks for him over the middle and downfield. Gooden is very good in coverage and is aware of all situations. He has to stay disciplined when Virginia is in passing downs and keep Santi in check. This is a tough matchup for Santi as Gooden's physical play will cause him some problems and not allow him space over the middle.

2007 Statistics:

			Receiving
No	Name	G	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
86	Tom Santi	10	26	313	12.0	45	3

			Tackles				Pass D
No	Name	G	Solo	Ast	Total	TFL-Yds	Int-Yds
52	Tavares Gooden	9	51	32	83	2.5-5	1-35

 

#17 USC (7-2) at California (6-3)

Game Details: Saturday, November 10th at 8:00 p.m. on ABC

The Prospects:  

Justin Forsett (5-foot-8, 196-pounds), RB - California
VS.
Sedrick Ellis (6-foot-1, 285-pounds), DT - USC

Scouting Report: Forsett is a tough runner who doesn't possess ideal size but is very productive. He's patient, waits for a crease to develop, and displays a quick burst to gain positive yards. He has great speed around the edge and makes quick cuts against the grain. He displays excellent footwork and balance that makes him tough to defend against. He has great vision and elusiveness in the open field and makes defenders miss. He has good hands and is a receiving threat out of the backfield. Ellis is an explosive interior defender who can rush the pass and defend the run. He doesn't possess great size, but he plays with a high motor and great technique. He's quick off the snap, has quick hands, and is able to fight off double teams and sneak through a seam. He's built low to the ground, gets underneath the opposition and keeps his feet moving up the field to gain penetration. He has excellent closing speed and is able to track down ball carriers.

Head 2 Head: Forsett has played great this season, but going up against a tough USC defense that's allowing just 80 yards on the ground a game is a difficult task. Forsett is a player who can get tough yards inside and has the speed to get around the corner for big plays. But the Trojans have a fast defense that will attack on the outside and make it difficult for Forsett to get loose. Ellis is a tremendous inside threat who can get penetration up the middle and create havoc in the backfield. It's vital that Ellis gets a quick push up the middle and draws Forsett to the outside where USC's athletic linebackers can make plays. If Ellis gets leverage and directs Forsett to the outside, USC will contain Cal's running game.

2007 Statistics:

			Receiving
No	Name	G	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
20	Justin Forsett	9	210	1,005	4.8	45	12

			Tackles				Pass D
No	Name	G	Solo	Ast	Total	TFL-Yds	Int-Yds
49	Sedrick Ellis	9	20	22	42	10.5-60	0-0

 

#25 Kentucky (6-3) at Vanderbilt (5-4)

Game Details: Saturday, November 10th at 2:00 p.m.

The Prospects: 

 * Earl Bennett (6-foot-1, 202-pounds), WR - Vanderbilt
VS.
Wesley Woodyard (6-foot-1, 212-pounds), OLB - Kentucky

Scouting Report: Bennett is a sure-handed receiver with a great work ethic. He's fast off the line, runs smooth routes and gains separation from the opposition. He's a reliable target who finds holes within a defense and gives a quarterback confidence throwing his way. He adjusts well to errant throws and is able to haul them in with his soft hands. He's sharp in and out of cuts, makes defenders miss and has elusive speed in the open field. He shows great focus and awareness on the field and takes advantage of what the defense gives him. Woodyard is a versatile defender who can play safety or outside linebacker at the next level. He works well with his teammates and covers a large area against the run and pass. He's an aggressive player who always seems to be around the ball. He reacts well to a play and is quick to the point of attack. He shows great awareness and discipline and can cover receivers coming across the middle.

Head 2 Head: Vanderbilt uses Bennett consistently in their offense because he has reliable hands and is tough on the outside and going across the middle. Bennett has good speed, but he's more of a possession receiver that runs intermediate routes. Woodyard has experience as a safety and his cover skills are better than most linebackers, and that will benefit him going up against Bennett. The Commodores will get Bennett over the middle, and Woodyard will flank his every move when he's in his area. Bennett has great quickness and if he's able to get Woodyard out of position on the second level, he could get big gains.

2007 Statistics:

			Receiving
No	Name	G	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
10	Earl Bennett	9	59	670	11.4	54	4

			Tackles				Pass D
No	Name	G	Solo	Ast	Total	TFL-Yds	Int-Yds
16	Wesley Woodyard	9	49	44	93	8.0-21	0-0

Michigan State (5-5) at Purdue (7-2)

Game Details: Saturday, November 10th at 12:00 p.m. on the Big Ten Network

The Prospects: 

Kellen Davis (6-foot-6, 246-pounds), TE - Michigan State
VS.
Stanford Keglar (6-foot-2, 247-pounds), OLB - Purdue

Scouting Report: Davis is a big target who possesses great size, good speed and excellent hands. He runs good routes, displays great focus and makes difficult catches in traffic. He adjusts well to overthrown passes and uses his frame and athleticism to come down with the ball. He's a willing blocker, but has to improve his technique and hand placement. Keglar is a tough, hardworking linebacker who flies around the ball and makes plays. He has good speed and great range. He's a very intelligent player that understands his assignment and produces on the field. He takes good angles, positions himself well, and wraps up the opposition. He's good in coverage and shows good instincts.

Head 2 Head: Michigan State does an outstanding job of using the run game to set up the passing game. The Spartans have two excellent runners, Javon Ringer and Jehuu Caulcrick, who create mismatches all over the field. When the defense is worried about the run, MSU can take advantage of the opposition through the air. Kellen Davis is QB Brian Hoyer's second option, but he gives Hoyer a big target over the middle. Keglar has to stay disciplined and not bite on play-action. If Keglar gets caught playing up on the line, Davis can squeeze by and take advantage of his aggressiveness.

2007 Statistics:

			Receiving
No	Name	G	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
80	Kellen Davis	10	21	322	15.3	32	4

			Tackles				Pass D
No	Name	G	Solo	Ast	Total	TFL-Yds	Int-Yds
59	Stanford Keglar	10	32	26	58	4.0-3	0-0

* Underclassmen (junior class)

A member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of America, Chris Steuber has provided his analysis of the NFL and NFL Draft prospects on the web and on the radio since 1999.