The College Football Playoff is back and will kick off on New Year’s Eve with Miami taking on Ohio State at 7:30, followed by three more games on Thursday. We have already seen some electric games in the first round, and round two appears to be even more exciting. These playoff games are loaded with NFL talent, with some of the nation’s best prospects going head-to-head. So, let’s jump right into it. Today, I took a look at some of the most exciting matchups between prospects in this year’s playoffs.
Miami OL vs Ohio State DL
There is too much NFL talent on both units for me to pick one-on-one matchups. The Miami offensive line has at least three NFL prospects: offensive tackles Markel Bell and Frances Mauigoa, as well as guard Anez Cooper. These three massive men, each over 315 pounds, project as top-100 prospects and will anchor the Hurricanes’ offensive line on Wednesday. Miami will need them because on the other side of the ball, Ohio State has an incredible defensive line with NFL prospects all over the field.
EDGE’s Kenyatta Jackson and Caden Curry have looked like stars, Beau Atkinson also rotates in, and Kayden McDonald has been dominant on the interior. When you add in the presence of other blitzers like Arvell Reece, Sonny Styles, and Caleb Downs, the Miami offensive line is in for a long day. The question now becomes… How will they hold up?
Austin Siereveld vs Rueben Bain/Akheem Mesidor
This game is the biggest test Sierveld has faced all season, and his ability to hold up on the blindside will be heavily impactful for his draft stock this offseason. Bain and Mesidor are some of the best pass rushers in college football, and containing them is a tall task for anyone. Siereveld is a massive man, and his ability to generate low leverage has earned him significant attention in the draft community. If he has a good game against Bain and Mesidor, he will solidify himself as a top 100 prospect.
Reggie Virgil vs Jadon Canady
Virgil will be near the top of the “my guys” list in this year’s draft, and I am incredibly excited to see how he plays in this year’s CFP. Texas Tech will likely try to use Virgil in the slot, allowing QB Behren Morton to get the ball out quickly. Virgil will go head-to-head with one of the nation’s top nickel corners in Jadon Canady, and the winner of their matchup will make a massive impact on the winner of this game.
David Bailey vs Isaiah World
On the other side of the ball in the Oregon vs Texas Tech game, my eyes will be glued to the blind side of Dante Moore, where Isaiah World and David Bailey will go toe to toe. Bailey is one of the best edge rushers in the draft and my top-graded outside linebacker prospect, while World was one of the top players in the transfer portal when he came to Oregon and has gotten plenty of draft attention himself. If World can contain Bailey, the Ducks will have a much easier route to victory behind Dante Moore and their explosive offense.
Domani Jackson vs Elijah Surratt/Omar Cooper Jr
Coming into this season, Jackson was one of my favorite CB prospects, known for his incredible speed and athletic upside. But this year, he has been picked on by some, and his struggles against physical outside receivers have been so secret. Now he will get a chance to prove the doubters wrong against two of college football’s best pass catchers, Elijah Surratt and Omar Cooper.
Antonio Kite vs Georgia WR core
It was tough to pinpoint a matchup between two major prospects in this game, despite there being several on both sides of the ball. Antonio Kite is a strong corner for Ole Miss who could declare this year with a big game. The Georgia WR core is one of the best in the nation, with at least 4-5 players who will play in the NFL at some point. Kite is the best corner on the Rebels’ defense, and against the Bulldogs, he will not be able to take any snaps off.
