College football’s final week of the regular season—a.k.a. rivalry week—has come and gone with only the conference championship games and bowl games left on the schedule. It was an entertaining finale, with several of the top teams continuing to roll with the exception being Alabama, who was upset by No. 15 Auburn in what turned out to be a sloppy performance all around. Meanwhile, the Bedlam game turned out just as expected, with Oklahoma coming out on top, surprisingly enough thanks to their running game.
Below are the prospects who stood out during Week 14 in the college football landscape.
CB Jeffrey Okudah (Ohio State)
Okudah most likely cemented his status as the premier cornerback of the draft by helping to limit the Wolverines’ three dynamic wide receivers to less than 100 yards. Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson didn’t seem afraid to target the junior cornerback, but he made them pay with two passes defensed. The only thing you can really critique him for is his effort in run defense. His effort on one particular touchdown run to the outside was a bit of a joke. Some scouts or coaches might not appreciate that.
QB Sam Ehlinger (Texas)
The junior quarterback tore the Texas Tech Red Raiders defense to shreds by putting up 49 points while passing for two touchdowns and running for another. Ehlinger is notorious for being a Josh Allen-style dual threat runner and not necessarily a dominant passer, but he threw some huge dimes against the Texas Tech secondary, leading to a big-boy 12.9 average per completion. It remains to be seen if Ehlinger will be joining this year’s class of quarterback prospects, but if he makes the choice this was a fantastic game to go out on.
DE Alton Robinson (Syracuse)
Syracuse finds themselves without bowl eligibility, so their game against Wake Forest was the last game for the seniors, including Robinson. The senior pass rusher played his part with double-digit tackles to go with a sack, a tackle for loss, and another quarterback pressure. In fact, Robinson generated decent pressure all day with his usual variety of pass-rush moves. This was a disappointing season for him, as his production didn’t quite match last year’s effort, but with a strong Senior Bowl and this final game, he could see himself drafted in the middle to late rounds.
WR Branden Mack (Temple)
Putting up huge numbers over the UConn defense should be expected. Still, Branden Mack had five catches for 171 yards and two scores in Temple’s 49-17 win. That resulted in a massive 34-yard average per catch. The deep ball seems to be Mack’s calling card. I first noticed him during University of Buffalo’s game against the Owls, where he was able to make some big catches against tight coverage. The junior wideout doesn’t have the look of a sure-fire first rounder or anything, but if he chooses to come out for the draft he’s an intriguing late-round option.
LB Isaiah Simmons (Clemson)
The junior linebacker may just be the nation’s most productive and best defensive player. In Clemson’s game against South Carolina, he made plays all over the field. The former safety-turned-linebacker did a little bit of everything, including sacking the quarterback, stuffing two running plays for a loss and covering dynamic wide receiver Shi Smith. It’s rare to see a player with that kind of versatility. He led the Tigers defense with ten tackles, including two for a loss and that one sack.
RB Eno Benjamin (Arizona State)
Despite a slow start, Benjamin got going in the second half to finish with 168 yards and two touchdowns. He also managed to add three catches for 14 yards and held up well in pass protection, both of which will help his draft stock. Although he isn’t considered to be among the absolute best at his position, it’s that type of versatility that can get teams interested in him, provided he also has a good combine.