2021 NFL Draft: Huge test for Georgia CB Eric Stokes this weekend

Georgia cornerback Eric Stokes has an opportunity to significantly boost his 2021 NFL Draft stock this weekend.

Far and away the marquee matchup of the college football weekend will take place on Saturday evening, as the second-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide will play host to the third-ranked Georgia Bulldogs. Both of these teams have their eyes on a National Championship this season and each undoubtedly has the talent to make it happen.

Not only will we see a ton of college football stars in this matchup, but there is also probably more 2021 NFL Draft talent in this game than any other game we will see this season. Both of these squads are loaded with impact players on both sides of the ball who will hear their names called during the 2021 NFL Draft.

In my eyes, the marquee matchup in this one is the Alabama passing attack against this Georgia secondary. Quarterback Mac Jones is leading a dynamic Alabama passing game this season, with star wide receivers Jaylen Waddle, Devonta Smith and John Metchie making plays on the outside. Waddle and Smith are two of the top wide receiver prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft class, and Metchie likely will be as well when he becomes eligible.

Can Georgia match up?

Simply put, any team that faces Alabama this season will have their hands full in the secondary. It is incredibly difficult to match up against this kind of talent, but Georgia may be in a better position to do so than any other team in the country.

This Georgia defensive backfield is absolutely loaded with talented and they are led by a trio of top-tier 2021 NFL Draft prospects. Safety Richard LeCounte, and cornerbacks Eric Stokes and Tyson Campbell are all potential first-round picks in the 2021 NFL Draft next April. Both LeCounte and Campbell are extremely talented players, but it is Stokes who stands out as the best prospect in my eyes.

Stokes shows an impressive combination of length, speed and quickness at the cornerback position. He is a strong man-to-man defender who is physical at the line of scrimmage, has the speed to keep up against nearly any receiver and shows tremendous natural ball skills. Stokes has been absolutely fantastic this season, but he has a real opportunity to take his 2021 NFL Draft stock to the next level in this game.

The Bulldogs will undoubtedly rely on Stokes to handle one of the premier Alabama wide receivers on nearly every snap. A matchup of Stokes against the speedy Jaylen Waddle would make a ton of sense and would allow Stokes to prove himself against a premier wide receiver prospect.

No matter who Stokes spends most of his time defending in this one, he will have a chance to take his 2021 NFL Draft stock to the next level. It will obviously take a strong performance, but the opportunity is certainly available for the young Georgia defensive back.