LA Rams: These 3 Saturday games boast 6 must see Rams prospects

Saw this and thought it was worth sharing 3 college football games today that have 6 potential Rams 2022 draft prospects facing off.

Oregon at Ohio State (FOX) (9:00 am PT)

In the first of two PAC-12 versus BIG-10 matchups, this early contest pits the 12th-ranked Oregon Ducks against the third-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. Why this one? Well, simply to catch a glimpse of Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux compete against the Ohio State offensive line, specifically offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere.

6-foot-5 250-pound outside linebacker/ defensive end Thibodeaux burst onto the college football scene as a freshman, getting nine sacks and 35 tackles in 13 games. His sophomore season found his tackles climbed to 42, but his quarterback sacks fell to just three. His presence was felt in Oregon’s tough win over Fresno State. In that game, he helped the Ducks to jump out to a 21-6 lead before leaving the game. To that point, he ruled the line of scrimmage and recorded two tackles and one sack. After Thibodeaux left, Fresno State rallied but fell short by a final score of 31-24.

He will be opposed by Ohio State offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere. Petit-Frere is a huge offensive tackle, standing 6-foot-5 and weighing in at 315-pounds. He is named to the 2021 Outland watch list (the Outland Trophy is awarded to the best college football offensive lineman that season). Per the team’s website, he was the best college football offensive tackle from the Power 5 conferences. He was a 5-star college recruit and has lived up to that potential so far with Ohio State.

Both prospects project as day one or day two draft candidates. This contest, and how well each performs against the other, could springboard one into the early round one conversations. While the LA Rams do not draft that early, this is a long season and either or both could be there when the Rams step up to the podium to make their first selection in round two.

Iowa at Iowa State (ABC) (1:30 pm PT)

After the early game concludes, you have time to stretch before turning to ABC to catch the tenth-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes take on their cross-state rivals and ninth-ranked Iowa State Cyclones. The reason to tune into this one is to catch a glimpse of Iowa’s inside offensive lineman Tyler Linderbaum take on a formidable opponent in Iowa State defensive tackle Eyioma Uwazurike.

After the Rams scored by signing former Iowa offensive tackle AJ Jackson after the 2021 NFL Draft, the front office will have the binoculars pointed to this one. Tyler Linderbaum is 6-foot-2 and weighs 270-pounds, but this offensive center knows his stuff on the football field. He has incredible physicality, having excelled at both track and field and wrestling as cross-training sports. Originally a defensive tackle, he maintained a great competitive nature combined with good leverage learned from wrestling.

He faces off against 6-foot-6 320-pound behemoth Eyioma Uwazurike. Listed as a defensive end, he is more likely to line up as an interior defensive lineman, simply due to his incredibly powerful size. He is not a huge threat to get after the quarterback, but he is very capable of plugging up every rushing lane to either side. Entering his fifth season, he has 105 tackles but just six quarterback sacks.

The LA Rams will be looking closely at both sides of the ball in this matchup. The Rams face expiring contracts on both offensive center Brian Allen and defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph Day. Linderbaum, though smallish by NFL standards, would be a solid option for the Rams’ new offensive center. And if SJD signs on elsewhere, Uwazurike would be a good option to fill that spot.

Washington at Michigan (ABC) (5:00 pm PT)

The third and final contest for this Saturday’s viewing pleasure is the one that many are already talking about. The Pac-12 Washington Huskies travel to Michigan to take on the Wolverines. In the process, the nation will enjoy the matchup of Washington offensive tackle Jaxson Kirkland taking on Michigan defensive end Aiden Hutchinson. Why will so many tune in for this one? Well, it’s the Reese Senior Bowl featured matchup this week.

Wahington Husky Jaxson Kirkland is a mountainous offensive tackle who stands 6-foot-7 and weighs an impressive 310-pounds. He is the son of former offensive guard Dean Kirkland, an NFL offensive guard who was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 1991. Right now, Kirkland is projected to be flirting with a Top-10 selection in the upcoming 2022 NFL Draft. He is a tall offensive lineman with long arms but has maintained a healthy weight to ensure both power and agility as he engages with the defender. While the Rams do not have a round one draft pick, Many things can happen on the way to the draft, and Kirkland could be there for the Rams in round two.

He will face off against another gargantuan in the form of 6-foot-6 265-pound Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. Entering his fourth season, Hutchinson has 98 tackles and 4.5 quarterback sacks. Hutchinson has appeared on ESPN’s Todd McShay’s Top-50 prospects list (subscription may be required) and appears on Bruce Feldman’s annual athletic freak list. We know that the LA Rams have turned up the intensity on drafting highly athletic prospects, and Hutchinson shows signs of having a phenomenal season this year.

Once more, the LA Rams will have binoculars on both sides of the football in this one. With the potential retirement of Andrew Whitworth, plus the expiring contract of Joseph Noteboom, the Rams will need offensive tackles, if for nothing more than to restock the roster. And an athletic pass rusher would be an ideal addition to the Rams roster in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Three games, six potential draft prospects. That’s why college football is so much fun. You needn’t cheer for either team if you have players who could be drafted by your NFL team in the upcoming draft.

[ramblinfan.com]