We have made it to the Green Bay Packers’ bye week, and the team is 6-3.
While most of the team is playing well, there are a few areas that need to be addressed. Given how much success the Packers have had in the NFL Draft over the last couple of years, watching college football on Saturday could be an early glance into several guys who will be wearing the Green and Gold next year.
So, with that in mind, here are the top four college games you should watch this weekend.
1. Florida State vs. Notre Dame
Cornerback is one of the Packers’ biggest needs. Jaire Alexander has been great and a staple of the new Jeff Hafley defense but has already missed time this season due to injury. Jaire is the glue that allows the Packers’ defense to play in better coverages, and when he is out, the lack of depth has been badly exposed.
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One guy who figures to be available in the middle to late part of the first round is Benjamin Morrison out of Notre Dame. Through his first two seasons with the Fighting Irish, Morrison has nine career interceptions and 18 passes defended, including four this season. Morrison could prove his worth in a matchup against the struggling Florida State offense and is a must-see player.
2. Georgia vs. Ole Miss
The New York Jets might be Packers East, but the Georgia Bulldogs have proven to be Packers South. This matchup on Saturday afternoon features two College Football Playoff contenders out of the SEC in #3 Georgia and #16 Ole Miss.
Following the Preston Smith trade, and with the low numbers of sacks from the Packers’ pass rush, this game features two of the top linebackers/edge-rushers in college football.
Jalon Walker has been a force up front for the Bulldogs this season, with 34 tackles (six of them for loss) and 4.5 sacks through eight games. Walker also has a pass defended and two fumble recoveries. Georgia also has edge-rusher Mykel Williams, who has missed a couple of games due to an ankle injury but is coming off a second-team All-SEC selection and still has two sacks despite missing time. Williams is a perfect Smith replacement.
Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen is another player to watch. Nolen has been mocked to the Packers by several outlets and fits in what the team loves as a versatile guy who can stop the run and get after the QB. Ole Miss defensive coordinator Pete Golding compares Nolen to All-Pro Quinnen Williams, who he also coached at Alabama. For the 2024 season, Nolen has 30 tackles, four sacks, two passes defended, and a fumble recovery.
3. Alabama vs. LSU
Another SEC game that features two playoff-caliber teams, as this one features #11 Alabama traveling to “Death Valley” in Baton Rouge to take on #15 LSU. While the first couple of games focused on players the Packers’ brass should be looking at defensively, this game is stacked with offensive linemen.
The top talent the Packers should consider is LSU tackle Will Campbell. ESPN’s Mel Kiper has Campbell at No. 19 on his big board, pointing out that he has only allowed one sack at left tackle since taking over as starter in 2022. At 6-foot-6 and 323 pounds, Kiper writes that Campbell has great footwork that would make him an effective pass protector in the NFL.
As for the rest of the Tigers’ offensive line, Kiper has Emery Jones Jr. as his fifth-ranked tackle.
On the other sideline, Alabama has a stable of interior offensive linemen: Tyler Booker and Jaeden Roberts. Center Josh Myers is in the last year of his deal with Green Bay, and the Crimson Tide also have a potential replacement in Parker Brailsford.
This game is certain to have plenty of offense, and while the receivers and quarterbacks will get a lot of the attention, keep your eyes on the big guys up front.
4. Maryland vs. Oregon
Admittedly, this probably won’t be a good game, but it is on this list for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, Oregon is the #1 ranked team in the country and should be watched every week. Second, for a large number of Packers fans, this game serves as a scouting mission, as the Oregon Ducks will travel to Camp Randell next week, as Wisconsin hosts one of the newest Big Ten teams. Last, this game features Derrick Harmon.
Harmon is another top prospect on Kiper’s big board, coming in as the 17th-ranked prospect. He has been a monster up front for the Ducks this year, with 32 tackles, three sacks, nine run stops, and two forced fumbles. He is also an incredibly versatile player who, like Lukas Van Ness, could play end or defensive line.
