2018 NFL Draft Prospects Who Must Step Up in Conference Title Games

Chad Thomas (DE – Miami) vs. Clemson

Miami Hurricanes Football

With wide receiver Ahmmon Richards and tight end Christopher Herndon out for the ACC Championship Game against Clemson, points are going to be tough to come by for the Hurricanes. In order for Miami to upset the number one team in the country and defending national champions, the defense needs to step up. As the best 2018 NFL Draft prospect on that side of the ball, Chad Thomas will have to play a big role to defeat the Tigers.

Thomas is a solid defensive prospect across the board, but doesn’t perform any particular skill at an elite level. He’s the type of prospect who will be selected in the middle rounds of the 2018 NFL Draft and play the three technique for a long time. One aspect of his game he’ll have to improve upon is how quickly he gets to the quarterback. Against Clemson, it will be critical for the Miami defensive front to create pressure on Kelly Bryant to force the ball out quickly and give the secondary a chance to wear the turnover chain.

Thomas has nine sacks in his college career and 22 tackles for a loss. Adding to those totals against Clemson is essential if Miami hopes to keep this game close. 20 points may be enough to win, so the Hurricanes defense needs to play at an extremely high level. They’ve done just that all season, but this will be their biggest test.