2016 NFL Draft scouting: Week 10 college football viewing guide

This deep in the season, we've identified the top teams in the league and everyone's in the heart of their conference schedules. November is the greatest time of the college football year, and this weekend is the excellent beginning. 3:30 will be an outstanding time to watch football on Saturday, with four games featuring undefeated teams: Clemson hosting Florida State, Houston against the Gunner Kiel-led Cincinnati Bearcats, Iowa heading to Indiana, who narrowly missed upsetting Ohio State earlier in the season, and the marquee attraction, a matchup between two unbeatens in TCU and Oklahoma State. The best game of the day may be later, however, with LSU taking on the Crimson Tide. Both rosters are stocked full of NFL talent and the outcome of this game will likely shape the College Football Playoff results for the rest of the season.

(via 506sports.com)

Game of the week

(4) LSU at (7) Alabama

8:00 p.m. ET, CBS

When LSU has the ball, the star attraction is obviously Leonard Fournette. He's not draft eligible for another year, but enjoy him nonetheless. LSU has another receiver with talent in Travin Dural, and though he might not be in the same echelon as Odell Beckham or Jarvis Landry, he bears watching given LSU's recent success graduating receivers. Vadal Alexander is the behemoth right tackle, Jerald Hawkins is the more athletic left tackle, and Ethan Pocic is a 6'7" 300 pound center who somehow manages to play well in spite of his unusual size.

Alabama, of course, has plenty of defensive talent that will shine against LSU. Edge rusher Jonathan Allen is the most productive sack artist on the team, A'Shawn Robinson is a raw athletic specimen on the defensive line, and Jarran Reed is the nose tackle who does the dirty work that frees up the other players. Linebacker Reggie Ragland has athletic talent and instincts that hold down the middle of the field. There are also draftable prospects in the secondary with cornerback Cyrus Jones and safeties Geno Smith and Eddie Jackson.

When Bama has the ball, Derrick Henry gets his time to shine. He's the workhorse back, largely relegating Kenyan Drake to the occasional change of pace carry. Tight end OJ Howard has been considered a higher potential prospect for years but was never a focal point of the offense; this year he's catching more passes but for fewer yards per catch. Center Ryan Kelly should be drafted this year, and there are other players on the line who will merit consideration in a year or two, such as left tackle Cam Robinson.

On LSU's defense you have a few more draftable players. LB Kendall Beckwith is the team's leading tackler, including five for a loss. Edge rusher Lewis Neal has seven sacks and seven more QB hurries to lead the team in both categories. Tre'davious White is an effective cover corner. All three are juniors, but could very well be in this year's draft. Senior safety Jalen Mills was out for most of the season so far with a fractured fibula, but he's been working back into the rotation now that he's healthy.

Discussion topic for the week

Here's a bit of an expanded discussion topic for the week: My first big board. This consists only of players whom I've scouted and given preliminary grades to or written reports for so far this season. Have any comments? Requests for notes or new players to scout? Let me know.

1. Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss
2. Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss
3. Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
4. Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama
5. Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame
6. Jared Goff, QB, Cal
7. Myles Jack (+), LB, UCLA
8. Josh Doctson, WR, TCU
9. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State
10. Shaq Lawson, ER, Clemson
11. Keyarris Garrett, WR, Tulsa
12. DeForest Buckner, DL, Oregon
13. Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington
14. Kentrell Brothers, LB, Missouri (END OF TIER ONE)
    
15. Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida
16. Noah Spence, ER, EKU
17. Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama
18. Jacoby Brissett, QB, NC State
19. Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana
20. Max Tuerk (+), OC, USC
21. Paul Perkins, RB, UCLA
22. Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor
23. Brandon Doughty, QB, WKU
24. Shon Coleman, OT, Auburn
25. Kenneth Dixon, RB, LA Tech
26. Kyle Friend, OC, Temple
27. Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State (END OF TIER TWO)
    
28. Evan Boehm, OC, Missouri
29. Devontae Booker, RB, Utah
30. Nate Sudfeld, QB, Indiana
31. Jeremy Cash, LB, Duke
32. Cardale Jones, QB, Ohio State
33. Bryce Williams, TE, Eastern Carolina
34. Matt Breida, RB, Georgia Southern
35. Gunner Kiel, QB, Cincinnati
36. Christian Hackenberg, QB, Penn State
37. Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State
38. Jake Butt, TE, Michigan
39. Josh Dobbs, QB, Tennessee (END OF TIER THREE)
    
40. Trevone Boykin, QB/WR, TCU
41. Kevin Hogan, QB, Stanford
42. Taysom Hill (+), QB, BYU (END OF TIER FOUR)