Fansided
Fansided

NFL Draft Prospects to Watch in National Championship Game

By Shawn Spencer

Jan 8, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; The College Football Playoff National Championship logo at the arrival of the Clemson Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide football teams at Sky Harbor International Airport for the College Football Playoff National Championship game to be played Monday. Mandatory Credit: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 8, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; The College Football Playoff National Championship logo at the arrival of the Clemson Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide football teams at Sky Harbor International Airport for the College Football Playoff National Championship game to be played Monday. Mandatory Credit: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
Dec 31, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jake Coker (14) drops back to pass against the Michigan State Spartans in the first quarter in the 2015 CFP semifinal at the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jake Coker (14) drops back to pass against the Michigan State Spartans in the first quarter in the 2015 CFP semifinal at the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

Alabama Offense

Jake Coker (QB)

Jake Coker may have played the best game of his career in the semifinals against Michigan State. Against a Spartans defense committed to slowing RB Derrick Henry, Coker stepped up; completing 25-of-30 passes for nearly 300 yards. Clemson will likely employ the same strategy and force the Crimson Tide to move the ball through the air.

This will be a much tougher task for Coker as Clemson has a very talented pair of cornerbacks in Mackensie Alexander and Cordrea Tankersley. Coker, who has completed at least 65 percent of his passes in nine of his last 10 games, will need near perfect ball placement as he’ll be throwing into tight windows all game long.

Kenyan Drake (RB)

Kenyan Drake, the oft-injured running back for the Crimson Tide, will lineup all over the field. Primarily acting as Derrick Henry’s backup, Drake could be utilized in various ways to create matchup problems for the Clemson defense.

If Calvin Ridley and ArDarius Stewart are shutdown by Alexander and Tankersley early, offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin will look to guys like Drake and Richard Mullaney to pick up the slack. Drake is the more dangerous of the two due to his versatility and explosiveness. Whether he lines up in the backfield, the slot, or outside, Clemson needs to be aware of him at all times.

Next: Clemson Offense

Home/College Football