As the pre-draft process kicks into high gear, names across the college football landscape become ‘must watch’ each weekend. For the Senior Bowl, the premier showcase in the pre-draft process, the fall is a critical proving ground for players to boost their NFL draft stock, and ultimately, earn an invite to Mobile where acceptances have already begun to file in.
Below, we’ll dive into five prospects whose matchups and individual skill sets will draw a hefty spotlight in Week 12.
Gavin Bartholomew, TE, Pitt
A buzzy name within league circles, Gavin Bartholomew has an excellent opportunity ahead this weekend to assert himself as one of the risers at the position. While moving the ball up against Clemson hasn’t been easy this fall, the 6-foot-5 Bartholomew has the mass, hands, and nuance as a pass-catcher to make plays in contested areas. His numbers don’t jump off the page, and he’s only been in the endzone once this fall, but he’s a powerful and versatile flex weapon worth keeping an eye on this weekend.
Car’lin Vigers, CB, Louisiana-Monroe
A small school name to know as we get deeper into the winter months, Car’Lin Vigers initially popped on scouts’ radars during spring and summer evaluations. At 6-foot-2, Vigers touts a typical Cover 3, downhill, long, angular body type. And this week, his ability to stymie Auburn’s top pass-catchers will surely move the needle for scouts in attendance. Vigers is looking to become the first DB drafted from ULM in nearly a decade (Trey Caldwell - 2016).
Nick Emmanwori, SAF, South Carolina
Depends on who you talk to, but Nick Emmanwori has a shot to be the first safety off the board in April. It’ll take a heck of a next month of the season and an excellent pre-draft process to overtake Georgia’s Malaki Starks, but Emmanwori has many of the gifts NFL teams desire in a future Pro Bowl-level safety. He’s long, rangy, physical, has ball production, and has no issue sticking his face in the mud in the ground game. He’s just a true junior but remains eligible to compete in Mobile. Emmanwori has four INTs and three PBUs to his name so far this fall, allowing just 51.7% of passes to be completed his way (29 targets). Missouri and future first-round wideout Luther Burden III lies ahead on Saturday.
Marcus Mbow, OT, Purdue
Simply put, Marcus Mbow’s tape against Ohio State last week was… not pretty. In what was his biggest test so far in 2024, while all wasn’t bad for the future highly drafted linemen, a bounce-back week against Penn State will go a long way toward finalizing his evaluation. While Mbow has some unbelievable reps on tape that showcase a potential top-20 pick, finding a consistent, happy medium in his game will go a long way. After facing the likes of Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau last week, Mbow will have multiple matchups with future top-10 pick Abdul Carter in Week 12.
Dylan Sampson, RB, Tennessee
The Volunteers’ offense starts and stops with the ability of Dylan Sampson to churn yards on the ground. With Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava’s status for Week 12 currently up in the air due to injury (concussion protocol), the onus on Sampson to carry the load, once again, for Josh Heupel’s group will remain critical to their CFP hopes. Leaving Georgia with a win won’t be easy, but if Iamaleava can’t go and Tennessee's playbook diminishes, Sampson has a chance to solely lead the No. 7 ranked Vols to a massive road win. Sampson, another true junior, has gone over 100 yards in all but one of his nine starts this fall (Week 4 @ Oklahoma), and his school-record 20 rushing TDs are the most by an SEC player since Alabama’s Najee Harris totaled an FBS-best 26 in 2020 (13 games).
