2018 NFL Draft Prospects Who Must Step Up in Week 1

Alabama vs. Florida State

Alabama and Florida State have featured two of the best rushing attacks recently, with the likes of Mark Ingram, Derrick Henry and Dalvin Cook carrying the football. Even in 2017, Bo Scarbrough and Cam Akers will have the opportunity to lead their schools to victory. That may be the case most weeks, but the winner of week one’s most anticipated matchup will be the team that can find success through the air.

Florida State Seminoles Football

Both teams have potential early-round picks in the 2018 NFL Draft at wide receiver and cornerback. As a result, the battles outside the hashes will be just as important as those in the trenches. The top matchup will feature Alabama wide receiver Calvin Ridley and Florida State cornerback Tarvarus McFadden. Neither are very physical at the line of scrimmage, so Ridley should get plenty of free releases. With both players possessing similar height, length and speed, the deep ball is when this matchup becomes very intriguing. The winner of this battle will significantly improve their 2018 NFL Draft stock.

When the Seminoles have the ball, Auden Tate will be hard to miss. The 6-foot-5 receiver will lineup against two of the top cornerbacks in the SEC in Anthony Averett and Tony Brown. Both corners are listed at 6-feet, so Tate holds a significant size advantage. When Florida State quarterback Deondre Francois has time to deliver the football, Tate will be his primary target. If those two can connect throughout the game, the Seminoles have a chance to pull off the upset.