The college football season is wrapping up quickly. Just a couple of weeks are left on the Saturday slate, just a few more chances to get a leg up on the scouting for the 2020 NFL Draft.
Here are five players on display in Saturday’s games that should interest the Detroit Lions when draft season rolls around. Not every one of these is a top-shelf prospect. Remember, there are seven rounds and the Lions are in need of a lot of help…
Shaun Wade, CB, Ohio State
He’s only a redshirt sophomore but there are whispers Wade will declare early. And the twitchy 6-1 corner would look very good in Honolulu Blue.
Wade plays almost exclusively in the slot, which is unusual for a longer CB with his athleticism and speed. But it makes him a great fit for Detroit, which can use help inside given the recent play from Justin Coleman and the complete lack of depth behind him.
Two big feathers in Wade’s cap that you can check out when his Buckeyes face off against Penn State in the de facto Big Ten East title game (12 p.m. ET, FOX): he tackles like a strong safety and he communicates very well with his fellow DBs in transitions.
Antonio Gandy-Golden, WR, Liberty
Lions GM Bob Quinn has a definite type at wide receiver: strong, long-armed, sticky-handed but not necessarily great at creating separation. That’s Gandy-Golden, one of the most prolific receivers in the NCAA this year. He’s led the Flames to a bowl-eligible six wins already in their first season as a full FBS-level program.
Gandy-Golden has a similar style of game to Kenny Golladay, and at 6-4 and 220 pounds he brings the same kind of physical presence. There’s more speed and route precision than Travis Fulgham, the late-round prospect the Lions drafted in 2019. He could be in the same range as Golladay, a Day 2 prospect from a non-power school who thrived at making catches along the sidelines with incredible body control.
Gandy-Golden and the Flames play Virginia at noon on the ACC Network. The Cavaliers are without standout CB Bryce Hall but still present a stiffer challenge than usual for the big wideout.
Creed Humphrey, OC, Oklahoma
It can be difficult to focus on interior offensive linemen when watching a college game, especially for a program like Oklahoma where the passing attack with Jalen Hurts and CeeDee Lamb are on display. But Humphrey is worth the attention when they play TCU (8 p.m. ET, FOX)
We’ll keep this one Lions-centric: if you miss Larry Warford on the Detroit OL, you’re really going to like Humphrey. That’s not necessarily the best fit given Darrell Bevell’s scheme, but Humphrey–just a redshirt sophomore–has shown improvement in his range and ability to stay low in his stance after he moves. He projects better as a guard, and he’s the kind of talent that would be very difficult to ignore in the second round.
Kendall Coleman, EDGE, Syracuse
Coleman accepted an invitation to the Shrine Bowl (the former East-West Shrine Game) this week, and he’s someone whose profile could really raise up in the postseason.
He operates opposite a more prominent prospect in Alton Robinson, but Coleman is a player who has some things to offer the Lions. He can play either standing up or with a hand in the dirt, and he can win inside or outside. Like Robinson, he’s had an underwhelming season after a very promising earlier career. The traits and football IQ are still there for a player who entered the season as a top 150 prospect.
He’s playing Louisville (4 p.m. ET, ACC Network) and the Cardinals feature an NFL prospect of their own in tackle Mekhi Becton, if Becton is healthy.
Zack Moss, RB, Utah
Moss will make his NFL living attacking downhill between the tackles as a 5-10, 210-pound runner. He’s got balance and great forward lean in his body.
Moss projects as a Day 3 back. He’s going to be limited in his NFL role, as he doesn’t change direction well and tends to wander and slow down when he tries to press the edge. But when Moss can get the ball and attack the interior, there aren’t many college backs better than him at running through contact and subtly shifting hips and shoulders in tight quarters. He’ll get a chance to continue the Utes’ impressive season against Arizona (10 p.m. ET, FS1).
