Football

College football primer: Scouting Day 2 prospects who could be steals

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1 month ago

November 16, 2024

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College football primer: Scouting Day 2 prospects who could be steals

Good morning New York Giants fans! Happy Saturday and welcome to Week 12 of the 2024 College football season.

The schedule makers are taking a bit of a breath this week, as many of the top teams are either off or have easier games. Next week will be a bit of a ramp-up, and then we get Rivalry Week in week 14, as almost every top program will play their fiercest rivals.

But that’s not for two weeks, and while we don’t have many big games this week, the schedule isn’t barren either. We have some very intriguing matchups this week, as well as a couple big games sprinkled throughout the afternoon and evening.

There’s plenty to watch today, and we could even get some go-to scouting tape for the 2025 NFL Draft. In fact, we’re going to start with one of those matchups first.

Landon Jackson, DL, Arkansas

Arkansas vs. Texas – ABC, noon

We’ve mentioned Jackson earlier in the season, but this is a great game to circle back to him. Each of Texas’ offensive tackles, left tackle Kelvin Banks and right tackle Cameron Williams, should be first-round picks and Banks could be a Top 10 pick. That gives us an excellent opportunity to scout Jackson against elite competition.

Jackson is very much a “first off the bus” type of guy. He has a massive frame at 6-foot-7, 280 pounds, with long arms and enough athleticism that he landed at 21 on Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List” for 2024. Jackson has the potential to take over a game, which also makes this a good game to scout the Texas offensive tackles.

Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State
Northwestern vs. (2) Ohio State

Marcus Mbow, OL, Purdue

Purdue vs. (4) Penn State – CBS, 3:30 p.m.

Mbow is an interesting offensive line prospect who could appeal to the Giants if he slips far enough on draft day.

He started his career at right guard before transitioning to offensive tackle, and could even have upside as a center convert at the next level. Mbow is undersized for an offensive tackle, listed at 6-foot-5, 305, but that’s a solid size for an interior lineman in a zone-based blocking scheme. He was able to make the transition from guard to tackle thanks to plus athleticism, but his frame could well fall below thresholds at the position for some (even many) teams. That said, his versatility and athleticism could bolster his draft stock as most teams should be able to find a fit.

Penn State boasts two very good pass rushers in Abdul Carter and Dani Dennis-Sutton. This should be go-to scouting tape for Mbow.

Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College

(14) SMU vs. Boston College – ESPN, 3:30 p.m.

Ezeiruaku is flying under the radar a bit — after all, BC isn’t exactly a powerhouse at 5-4 on the season — but he’s an intriguing pass rusher. He has a compact frame at 6-foot-3, 235 pounds and experience rushing from both a 2 and 3-point stance. That should give him the versatility to find a home in most modern defenses.

As you many gather from his frame, Ezeiruaku won’t be known as a dominant run defender, and could be viewed as a rotational player. However, his motor and impressive bend around the edge can give blockers fits. He isn’t the type of long, hyper-athletic pass rusher who gets scouts excited, but he has the potential to be a hidden gem in the middle rounds of the draft.

Kyren Lacy, WR, LSU

Florida vs. (22) LSU – NBC, 3:30 p.m.

Lacy played second, or rather third, fiddle behind Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. last year at LSU. But with Nabers and Thomas both in the NFL, Lacy has had the opportunity to show what he can do.

He hasn’t had the same yards per reception as 2023 — 15.2 down from 18.6 — but he’s having a career year in total yardage and scoring. Lacy isn’t as dynamic an athlete as Thomas or Nabers, lacking Thomas’ raw speed and Nabers quickness and agility. However, he has good size at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds and is a nuanced route runner. He’ll likely settle into a role as a reliable possession receiver in the pros, and it’s a job he can do for a long time.

Daylen Everette, CB, Georgia

(12) Georgia vs. (7) Tennessee – ABC, 7:30 p.m.

You could probably use this as an excuse to watch the entire UGA defense — they’ve got a lot of dudes who’re pretty good at this football thing.

I’m focusing on Everette due to the Giants’ needs in the defensive secondary. Everette is long (6-foot-1, 190 pounds) and an explosive athlete who’s expected to turn a 40 in the low 4.3s. But while he looks like a press-man corner, he’s better suited to zone schemes. Everette has some stiffness that limits his transitions and mirroring ability, but has very good instincts for zone coverage. His limitations in man coverage could knock him into the second day of the draft, but his ability in zone makes him an appealing prospect for Shane Bowen’s defense.

And while we’re here, feel free to enjoy watching the rest of the Bulldogs’ defense.