Week 2 of the college football season doesn’t have huge matchups like Clemson-LSU or Ohio State-Texas, but there are some interesting games if you’re willing to look for them. Let’s talk about a couple of the bigger games this week and include some notable NFL draft prospects on each roster, using their rankings on the consensus draft board.
#11 Illinois @ Duke (11 am CT, ESPN)
- Illinois
- #53 ED Gabe Jacas
- #78 S Xavier Scott
- #247 OT J.C. Davis
- Duke
- #72 CB Chandler Rivers
- #150 QB Darian Mensah
Personally, I think that Duke quarterback Darian Mensah, a Tulane transfer, is going to be a first-round pick someday. He’s
got a lot of young Jordan Love in his game. I don’t know how long he’s going to stay in college football…or at Duke…but this is going to be one of his biggest tests of the season as the number 11-ranked Illini come to town.
Iowa @ #16 Iowa State (11 am CT, FOX)
- Iowa
- #77 OT Gennings Dunker
- #95 iOL Logan Jones
- #111 DL Aaron Graves
- #154 S Xavier Nwankpa
- #179 ED Max Llewellyn
- #191 iOL Kade Pieper
- Iowa State
- #103 DT Domonique Orange
- #233 CB Jontez Williams
El Assico! I have no analysis here, other than Iowa’s quarterback, Mark Gronowski, wasn’t a silver bullet for the Hawkeyes’ passing game in their season opener against Albany. Gronowksi, the transfer from South Dakota State who actually threw to Packers TE Tucker Kraft in the FCS, was just 8 of 15 for 44 yards in Week 1. They’ll need to be a lot better than that to beat the Cyclones on the road.
Baylor @ #17 SMU (11 am CT, The CW)
- Baylor
- #142 WR Josh Cameron
- #165 QB Sawyer Robertson
- #248 RB Bryson Washington
- SMU
- #184 OT P.J. Williams
- #219 TE R.J. Maryland
- #228 S Isaiah Nwokobia
Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson has tools, but everything is a tick slow for him right now. Still, he was able to put 400-plus yards on Auburn in Week 1. Another player to watch here is receiver Kole Wilson, who caught 8 receptions for 134 yards — mostly out of the slot — last week. He’s a two-time transfer who has a chance to make it as a receiver and punt returner at the next level.
Oklahoma State @ #6 Oregon (2:30 pm CBS)
- Oklahoma State
- None
- Oregon
- #22 ED Matayo Uiagalelei
- #25 OT Isaiah World
- #27 S Dillon Thieneman
- #34 TE Kenyon Sadiq
- #74 iOL Emmanuel Pregnon
- #100 RB Makhi Hughes
- #144 WR Evan Stewart (injured-out for the year)
- #168 OT Alex Harkey
- #197 iOL Iapani Laloulu
This one is pretty one-sided, only because Oklahoma State doesn’t have much star power. If you’re on future nose tackle watch, keep an eye on #52 A’Mauri Washington, who had a breakout first start in Week 1. The 6’3”, 320-pound junior has the athleticism of a potential Day 1 or 2 selection, if he declares early for the draft.
#15 Michigan @ #18 Oklahoma (6:30 pm ABC)
- Michigan
- #112 LB Jaishawn Barham
- #134 ED Derrick Moore
- #136 DT Rayshaun Benny
- #145 S Zeke Berry
- #157 CB Jyaire Hill
- #171 RB Justice Haynes
- #180 TE Marlin Klein
- Oklahoma
- #63 QB John Mateer
- #88 ED R Mason Thomas
- #113 DT Gracen Halton
- #114 RB Jaydn Ott
- #138 WR Deion Burks
- #186 ED Marvin Jones Jr.
This is the heavyweight fight of the night. Michigan is getting a lot more out of its transfer running back, Justice Haynes, via Alabama, than Oklahoma has out of Jaydn Ott, by way of Cal. Ott was buried on the depth chart while Haynes looked like the real deal, along with freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood, in Week 1.
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Drop your college football thoughts throughout the day in the comment section. After Saturday, it’s time for some Green Bay Packers football. Finally.
