Week 15 is here and that means the end of the college football regular season. As such, this weekend will be the last opportunity to see a number of 2021’s most exciting prospects play. Draft boards are starting to take shape but there is still plenty to play for. This list includes some big risers, as well as some of 2021’s most divisive prospects. These are the players to keep an eye on in Week 15.
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Jaelan Phillips – EDGE, Miami Hurricanes
There are few prospects as intriguing as Jaelan Phillips. He was the No. 1 ranked recruit in 2017, ahead of players like Chase Young and Tua Tagovailoa. Yet before this season he had just 420 career snaps and retired on medical grounds at the end of 2018. He made his comeback this year after transferring from UCLA to Miami and has not looked back.
You can see why Phillips was once so highly regarded. He has terrific burst off the line and is one of the most athletic edge rushers in this class. He’s got prototypical size and length for the position and is excellent at converting speed to power. This is is first full season as a starter and he’s been great. Through nine games he has 38 total pressures, including eight sacks. He’s been good against the run too and is a sure tackler, with just three misses on 36 attempts.
Miami have a tough test against UNC this weekend and it will be interesting to see how Phillips performs. His talent has never been in doubt. It has just been a question of whether or not he can stay healthy. If he has a good finish to the season and tests well at the Combine he could be a late riser on draft boards across the country.
Nick Bolton
Nobody is going to challenge Micah Parsons as the top linebacker in the 2021 class. That said, there are a number of names behind him who are looking like potential first rounders. Bolton, a two-year starter for Missouri and First Team All-SEC member in 2019, is one of them. He’s a divisive prospect, but there is no doubting his collegiate talent.
Bolton has been excellent in all phases of the game. He’s excellent against the run, with terrific instincts and some of the best tackling you will see from a linebacker in this class. He is good in coverage too, with 10 forced incompletions in 2019. His numbers aren’t as impressive this season, but he’s still been great. His 93 defensive stops since 2019 lead the nation.
He has a tough task this weekend as he prepares to face No. 9 ranked Georgia. The Tigers like to use him as a blitzer and it will be interesting to see how he fares against a powerful Bulldogs offensive line. Some scouts will have concerns about Bolton’s lack of length and average speed, but his production can’t be ignored. I have him as a first round talent, though he may slip into day two when the draft rolls around.
Dazz Newsome
This year’s wide receiver class is stacked again, with half a dozen names in first round contention. Newsome is not among them, but he is certainly an interesting prospect that deserves some attention. So far this season he has 46 catches for 601 yards and five touchdowns, all ranking second behind Dyami Brown at UNC.
Newsome aligns as a slot receiver for the Tar Heels and has been consistently productive there over the last three seasons. He’s not the quickest receiver, but he showcases fluidity in his route running, creating separation on a regular basis. He provides some after the catch ability too, with real elusiveness. 52 per cent of his career yardage has come with the ball in his hands and he has 57 forced missed tackles on 180 receptions.
The biggest concern with Newsome is that he has only produced in the slot. His lack of physicality and issues against bigger corners is another concern. All of this will limit his draft stock and appeal in the NFL. Nevertheless, he’s showcased playmaking ability throughout his career with the Tar Heels and that counts for something. I’m expecting him to have a big game against Miami this weekend.
Kyle Pitts
Everybody knows Kyle Pitts after his dominant 2020 season. That said, it is worth watching Pitts this weekend. The question is not whether he goes in the first round, but how high he can make it. Another good game this weekend will only help to boost his already excellent draft stock and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him go inside the top ten.
Pitts’ numbers this year are excellent. Through seven games he has 641 yards, averaging an astonishing 17.8 yards per catch. He’s been a red zone threat too, with his 11 touchdowns ranking second in the SEC behind only DeVonta Smith. He is a true modern tight end and has played almost 15 per cent of his snaps on the boundary. He presents one of the best mismatch weapons in college football and holds the nation’s best PFF receiving grade at 95.9.
This weekend the Gators will face LSU. The Tigers are not the opposition they once were, but I’ll be interested to see how Pitts performs. He matched up against Derek Stingley a number of times last year and that is certainly something to keep an eye on this time around.
Tyler Linderbaum – IOL, Iowa Hawkeyes
There are just two Big Ten games taking place this weekend. Thankfully we will still get to see the Hawkeyes play and that means watching their talented offensive line. The best player on it may just be Linderbaum, a redshirt sophomore center who has been absolutely incredible so far this season.
In his 248 pass-blocking snaps he has allowed just one pressure. For context, he is the only interior lineman in the Power Five to allow a single pressure having played over 200 pass-blocking snaps. Linderbaum is a really athletic player who excels in space. He has a background in wrestling, which shows in his powerful and precise hand usage. In a short career he’s been consistently excellent in both phases of the game.
The main concern with Linderbaum is his lack of size. At just 288 lbs he is a little undersized for the position and still has room to grow into his frame. I wouldn’t be entirely surprised to see him return in 2021, but if he declares he will be amongst the top interior linemen in this class for me. I’ll be interested to see how he performs this weekend against Wisconsin.
