Ohio State vs. Clemson Fiesta Bowl: 2020 NFL Draft prospects to watch
Chase Young, Defensive End, Ohio State
If not for former Buckeye quarterback, Joe Burrow, Chase Young would be the consensus number one overall pick for the 2020 NFL Draft. His size, athleticism and production are unmatched in this class and by nearly every player that we have seen in recent years. He is an absolute force on the edge and should not fall farther than the second spot come April.
At 6-foot-5 and 265 lbs, Young has the body that NFL scouts look for. He has a long, athletic frame with great bend to get around the edge but the strength to power through blocks and make a play.
Despite a brief suspension from the NCAA this season, Young still led the nation in sacks with 16.5 and forced fumbles with seven. Young has a nose for getting to the quarterback and a knack for making a game-changing play once he’s there. He also racked up 21.5 tackles for loss, so he lives in the backfield on run plays as well.
Towards the end of the regular season of play, opposing offenses were wisely sending two and sometimes even three blockers at Young to try to slow him down. And while his production did decrease, the rest of the defense stepped up to make plays, keeping the Buckeyes undefeated.
When you watch Young play it is clear that no one man can stop him. If you are a little too slow, Young can blow right by you or make you look silly with a quick juke or spin move. A bit undersized and Young will absolutely overpower you right back into the quarterback. He can beat a blocker in so many ways that you truly have to commit extra help to his side of the line.
With pass rushers at a premium, right behind quarterbacks, Young will be one of the hottest commodities in the 2020 NFL Draft (assuming he decides to enter). His talent, athleticism and production at the highest levels are right there with the best edge prospects we have seen enter the draft in recent history. He will come off the board early and likely make an immediate impact for whichever team is lucky enough to snag him.
It will be interesting to see how Clemson decides to attack Young in this game. Do they think they can afford to spend two or three blockers on Young on a consistent basis? Or will we see him get a chance to exploit some one-on-one matchups here and there? The Clemson offense has been on a tear lately, but they haven’t been playing against defensive units like the Buckeyes and disruptive players like Young.
Jeffrey Okudah, Cornerback, Ohio State
Like Young, Jeffrey Okudah has the potential to change any defense that he goes to for the better right away. A well-rounded cornerback prospect, Okudah can come in and compete with the best wide receivers that the NFL has to offer.
Okudah is a great athlete but still plays with great technique. He can stick with any receiver in man coverage but is also very effective in zone coverage. He can break up any pass thrown his way and is a willing and capable tackler in run support. There aren’t many boxes that Okudah does not check as a true corner prospect.
With good length and fluid hips, Okudah is great in man-to-man coverage, staying right with his guy and making a play on the ball if it is ever actually thrown his way. Okudah has three interceptions this season as well as seven passes defended. They don’t go his way too often, because when they do, the likelihood of a completion is slim.
Okudah continues to improve in zone coverage. He demonstrates great bursts of speed and agility to quickly close in on the ball and make a play. As he continues to gain experience in zone, he is becoming better and better at recognizing routes, reading quarterbacks’ eyes and picking his spots to jump in and make plays rather than just playing deep and keeping everything in front of him.
Okudah and the rest of the Buckeye defense will be tested by Trevor Lawrence and a red-hot Clemson offense. They have some potent offensive weapons, including a potential 2020 NFL Draft first-round receiver that we will talk about shortly. This is a great opportunity for Okudah and the rest of the Ohio State secondary that they are legitimate NFL prospects and deserve to bring Ohio State the title of “DBU”.