After a thrilling end to the 2021 regular season, we now have conference championship weekend to look forward to. It will come as no surprise that there are some draft prospects worth watching. Here are four of the names you should be keeping a close eye on as the weekend unfolds.
Bailey Zappe – QB, Western Kentucky (6-1, 220, Graduate Senior)
Zappe has had an interesting route to the draft. He was a little-recruited prospect out of high school and spent four seasons with Houston Baptist in the FCS. He then transferred to Western Kentucky ahead of the 2021 season and has exceeded all expectations. Zappe has helped lead the Hilltoppers on an seven game winning run and currently leads college football with 4,941 passing yards and 52 touchdowns. His 36 big time throws are also the most in the country.
There is a lot to like about Zappe’s game when projecting to the NFL. He is a quick processor who shows the ability to look off defenders. He is also one of the more accurate quarterbacks in the country and is capable of throwing with precise touch and timing at every level of the field. This weekend he faces off against the 11-1 UTSA Roadrunners in the C-USA conference title game. A win here and a good showing at the Senior Bowl in January could provide a real boost to his stock.
Tyler Linderbaum – IOL, Iowa (6-3, 290, rs-Junior)
It isn’t often that centers are discussed as potential top ten draft picks, but that is a mark of how talented Tyler Linderbaum is. Initially recruited as a defensive lineman, Linderbaum switched to center and has looked like a natural ever since. In his three years as a starter he has earned First Team All-Big Ten honours twice and was recently voted the Big Ten’s best offensive lineman in 2021.
Linderbaum has earned a reputation as an excellent pass protector during his college career, giving up just 18 pressures on his 1,128 career pass blocking snaps. He might be even better as a run blocker, with outstanding technique paired with high level movement skills and power at the point of attack. This weekend he faces a talented Michigan defensive line and will need to be at his best if the Hawkeyes are to get anything from this game.
Jameson Williams – WR, Alabama (6-2, 189, Junior)
Few players have boosted their draft stock this season as much as Williams has. In his two years with Ohio State he caught just 15 passes for 266 yards and three scores. His transfer to Alabama this summer worked wonders. He has not only become the Crimson Tide’s leading receiver, but has been one of the best in the entire country. In just 12 games he has racked up 61 catches for 1,259 yards and 13 touchdowns at an average of 20.6 yards per catch.
Williams has the speed and separation ability that teams crave in the NFL. At 6’2″ and 189 lbs he pairs this with the size needed to win as a boundary receiver. He has also shown the ability to generate yards after the catch and has been solid in contested catch situations. This weekend he faces an excellent Georgia defense who will present his toughest test of the season so far. Kelee Ringo and Derion Kendrick have both been great this season and Williams will have to be at his best to get the better of them.
Lewis Cine – S, Georgia (6-1, 200, Junior)
On the other side of the matchup in the SEC Championship game is Cine. A former four-star recruit in 2019, he has been starting for the Bulldogs for the last two years. Whilst much of the attention on their defense has been devoted to the likes of Nakobe Dean and Jordan Davis, Cine deserves plenty of credit too. This season he has elevated his game to become one of the best safeties in the entire country. He has been excellent in coverage, with eight forced incompletions on 42 targets. He has also allowed a passer rating of just 62.3 all season.
Cine is also one of the best open field tacklers you will find at the position. He hits hard and tackles with good form, missing just 8.3% of his attempts in 2021. He actually has just eight misses on 133 career tackle attempts. When you combine this with his strong all-around athletic profile, you have a player who should translate well to an NFL field. This weekend’s game against Alabama will be a tough test, but one he should be able to handle.