While the NFL season finally arrived this past Thursday, the college football season is already in full swing. Of course, this also means that the next crop of NFL stars has started to add to their resumes. For the Las Vegas Raiders, their hope is that they’ll be picking late in the first round of next year’s NFL Draft.
With improvements made across the roster, they have a legitimate chance to compete in the stacked AFC West. Even still, the front office will have their eyes on the college football landscape every week. As such, here are three players that Raiders fans should watch this weekend.
College Football Today: 3 Prospects That Raiders Should Watch Today
Tyler Steen, OT (Alabama)
Currently, Raider Nation would likely be fine with never drafting an offensive tackle from Alabama ever again. After the impossibly bad rookie season put forth by Alex Leatherwood, you can forgive fans for being hesitant.
Obviously, it is not fair to put those feelings on Tyler Steen. A transfer from Vanderbilt, he has stepped in as the starting left tackle for the Alabama Crimson Tide. A monster of a man at six-foot-five and 315 pounds, he had an up and down game in Week 1 against Utah State. This week, he will match up with the University of Texas in one of the biggest games of the week.
Of course, the Raiders are likely to add to their offensive line in the upcoming offseason, and Steen could be one of the biggest names available. Regardless, this Week 2 game will be one that talent evaluators return to at the end of the season.
Joey Porter Jr., CB (Penn State)
Yes, he is the son of former Pittsburgh Steelers standout pass rusher Joey Porter, but the Penn State cornerback is making a name for himself as well. After eight tackles and three pass breakups during last week’s game against Purdue, he’s on everybody’s radar now.
Listed at six-foot-two and 198 pounds, Porter Jr. is massive for the position. However, he uses his long frame to his advantage as he is a terrific tackler as well. At this point in his career, the Nittany Lion is filled with potential. There’s no doubt that NFL defensive coordinators will be drooling at the chance to shape that potential.
Anthony Richardson, QB (Florida)
Will the Raiders be looking for a quarterback in next year’s draft? Highly doubtful. However, Las Vegas can release Derek Carr this offseason with minimal dead money. So, if disaster strikes the offense this season, Dave Ziegler could be looking for a new quarterback next draft season. Regardless, it is always good to monitor the quarterback market.
One of the most interesting players at the position this year is Florida’s Anthony Richardson. A big-bodied quarterback, he beat out Emory Jones for the starting spot last season and led the Gators to an upset win over Utah in Week 1. Despite the win, he had just 168 passing yards, which left much to be desired.
Once again, Richardson and the Gators will be hosting a ranked team in “The Swamp”. This time, it is 20th-ranked Kentucky that poses a stiff threat to Richardson. With all the tools to be a productive NFL quarterback, it is time for him to put it all together on the field.
As mentioned, it is unlikely that the Raiders will be drafting a quarterback in next year’s draft. Either way, quarterbacks are what fuel the draft cycle, so it is always worth monitoring the class throughout the season.
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*Top Photo: Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images