Ten potential Patriots to watch this weekend in the College Football Playoff

Ten potential Patriots to watch this weekend in the College Football Playoff originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

There are three College Football Playoff games on Saturday, all of which happen to be loaded with draftable talent. Here are 10 names for Patriots followers to keep an eye on throughout, highlighting some of the best of the best at perceived positions of need for Robert Kraft’s club.

SMU vs. Penn State, noon on TNT

Penn State EDGE Abdul Carter

One of the best prospects in the draft. Period. And one of the few options on this list to be realistically taken with New England’s first pick.

Abdul Carter logged 10 sacks and 20 tackles for loss with Penn State this season.

The 6-foot-3, 250-pounder is yet another explosive rusher coming from Penn State. He may not be Micah Parsons from a tools standpoint, though he looks like a naturally gifted disruptor who could align in multiple spots in New England’s front seven. He’ll have to be more than a designated pass-rusher eventually, especially given where he’s going to be drafted, but that may have to be his role initially while he learns the pro game and develops his impressive physical skill set.

Penn State TE Tyler Warren

At 6-foot-6, 260 pounds, Warren looks like a blocking tight end but has the movement skills of an H-back. He’s a rare athlete who the Nittany Lions felt comfortable aligning everywhere, and his hands look like they could be among the best in the draft class regardless of position.

The Patriots tight end room has been one of their best in 2024, but if they’re looking for a young and dynamic player to take over for Hunter Henry — or to pair with him in 12-personnel packages (Austin Hooper is set to be a free agent in 2025) — Warren looks like a potentially game-changing mismatch option.

Clemson vs. Texas, 4 p.m. on TNT

Texas OT Kelvin Banks

Widely considered one of the top tackle prospects in a relatively thin tackle class, Banks could end up being New England’s choice in the first round given…

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Author : NBC Sports Boston

Publish date : 2024-12-19 22:47:00

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