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The biggest night of the college football season is upon us, as the Alabama Crimson Tide and Ohio State Buckeyes will square off in the College Football Playoff National Championship.
The game starts at 7 p.m. CST, and it is sure to be an exciting night of action. Although Alabama enters the matchup as the heavy favorites, Ohio State also holds an undefeated record and has managed to beat the likes of Clemson, Northwestern and Indiana on their way to the national championship.
With the Bears now out of the playoffs, now is the perfect time to start keeping an eye on notable draft prospects. To help all of you determine which prospects to remember, I made a list of each team’s prospects for the 2021 draft and provided a quick breakdown of some players the Bears may end up targeting.
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Alabama Crimson Tide
- WR Jaylen Waddle
- WR DeVonta Smith
- CB Patrick Surtain
- OT Alex Leatherwood
- RB Najee Harris
- LB Dylan Moses
- QB Mac Jones
- DL Christian Barmore
- C Landon Dickerson (out with injury)
- OG Deonte Brown
- CB Josh Jobe
- DL LaBryan Ray
- DL Phidarian Mathis
- TE Miller Forristall
- RB Brian Robinson Jr.
Alabama is a stacked team from top to bottom, as is the case nearly every year. Both sides of the ball feature potential NFL starters, and with Nick Saban calling the shots, they have a chance to add onto their dynasty tonight.
Though not the top draft prospect on the Crimson Tide’s roster, the biggest name Bears fans should remember is quarterback Mac Jones. The Heisman finalist has been incredible this year, showcasing impressive accuracy, poise, and an ability to stretch the field against elite defenses. A lack of physical upside could limit his stock, but he may be a player worth targeting late in the first round.
He has quite the supporting cast around him, including crafty Heisman-winning wide receiver DeVonta Smith and speedster Jaylen Waddle, who could be returning from injury. Alex Leatherwood is another player the Bears could consider in the first two rounds, as he has good physical tools and a high football IQ. Deonte Brown is a massive interior blocker who could interest Chicago early on Day 3.
On defense, Patrick Surtain stands out as a potential shutdown cornerback in the NFL. With the possibility of the Bears needed defensive line depth, Day 3 prospects like LaBryan Ray and Phidarian Mathis might be intriguing options.
Ohio State Buckeyes
- QB Justin Fields
- OG Wyatt Davis
- CB Shaun Wade
- WR Chris Olave
- C Josh Myers
- OT Thayer Munford
- RB Trey Sermon
- LB Baron Browning
- DL Tommy Togiai
- RB Master Teague
- DL Haskell Garrett
- CB Tyreke Johnson
- TE Luke Farrell
- LB Pete Werner
- TE Jeremy Ruckert
- EDGE Jonathon Cooper
- LB Tuf Borland
A big reason for Ohio State’s victory over Clemson was the stellar play of quarterback Justin Fields. Though he won’t be a target for the Bears barring a massive trade-up to the second overall pick, he brings pro-ready accuracy, mechanics and athleticism to the table.
The need for an interior offensive lineman has subsided a bit for the Bears, but Wyatt Davis is a polished and powerful guard prospect who could find his way into the latter half of the first round, while Josh Myers stands out as an intelligent and nasty center prospect on Day 2. Chris Olave is the team’s most notable weapon in the passing game, and his fluidity and athleticism should make him a second-round selection.
The Buckeyes have some talented players on defense, too. They have a stacked group of linebackers, and the likes of Pete Werner and Tuf Borland could be Day 3 depth options for the Bears. Shaun Wade has struggled a bit in 2020, but his previous tape showcased a potentially elite nickel cornerback. Tommy Togiai and Haskell Garrett also stand out as possible depth pieces for Chicago’s defensive line.
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