Alabama vs. Clemson: Underrated Prospects in CFP Championship 2016

There is no better place for a college player to showcase his ability than the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. In addition to battling for a title, a number of players will use this as a great chance to raise their stock in the national spotlight.

Alabama and Clemson are both loaded with elite talent on the defensive end, with Shaq Lawson, Mackensie Alexander, A'Shawn Robinson and Jarran Reed all having a good chance of being selected in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft. Derrick Henry, Jayron Kearse and others could also be taken early, showcasing the talent on display in this highly anticipated matchup.

This doesn't even include Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson, who could be a top pick in 2017.

Beyond the bigger names, however, there are quite a few under-the-radar players who can help their stock in the CFP National Championship Game. Here are a few players who could gain some attention Monday night.

T.J. Green, S, Clemson

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It's easy to get overlooked in Clemson's talented secondary. Not only is Alexander one of the top cornerbacks in the sport, but Kearse earned tons of accolades for his excellent season, including being named a second-team All-American by the Associated Press.

While Kearse deserves the praise, T.J. Green has been almost as valuable in this defense. The free safety currently leads the Tigers with 61 solo tackles on the year and ranks second with 84 tackles overall. He doesn't have any interceptions, but he has forced two fumbles on the year.

Aaron Brenner of the Post and Courier summed up what you need to know about Green:

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. even listed Green as a better safety prospect at the next level than Kearse. His ability to cover a lot of ground and make big hits should make him appealing for NFL teams, something he will show against Alabama.

Jordan Leggett, TE, Clemson

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At the national level, fans generally know about Watson and few others on Clemson's offense. Running back Wayne Gallman and receiver Artavis Scott consistently make big plays, but even they are far from household names.

This leaves tight end Jordan Leggett far down the list of players to watch for the Tigers, but he certainly has a big chance to make a difference in this game and in the NFL.

The 6'5", 250-pound tight end is a force to be reckoned with when he gets the ball and is often a great safety net for Watson offensively. He is especially efficient in the red zone, where he has a team-high seven receiving touchdowns this season.

After finishing the Orange Bowl with just one catch for five yards, you can be certain Leggett will want to redeem himself against an Alabama secondary that could be considered the team's biggest weakness defensively. If he can make some key catches, NFL scouts will certainly take notice.

Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama

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The Rimington Trophy winner isn't exactly an unknown for scouts. Ryan Kelly could be the top center taken in the 2016 class, but the challenge is for a player at his position to prove he is worthy of an early draft pick.

Only two centers have been selected in the first round of the draft in the last five years.

If you need an endorsement for Kelly's ability, though, Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry provided a good one, per Matt Zenitz of AL.com:

"

He's a great leader and the heart and soul of the offense. …

He has to make sure everybody has the right calls [on the offensive line], everybody's doing the right thing. He does a great job at his job, but he has to make sure other guys are doing their jobs, so that's why I call him the heart of the offense.

"

Henry enters the national title game with 2,061 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns, and much of that is due to the great work of Kelly and the rest of the offensive line. It might not be exciting for a casual fan to watch a center all game, but the senior is a star in the trenches and can help himself with a strong performance against a top Clemson defensive line.

Tim Williams, OLB, Alabama

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Alabama's front seven is flat-out dominant. Robinson and Reed are studs up front. Reggie Ragland racks up the tackles, while Jonathan Allen gets around the edge with the majority of sacks. This leaves someone like Tim Williams stuck battling just to get on the field.

Of course, limited snaps have not prevented the junior from making a big impact when he does get playing time.

Williams ranks second on the team with 10.5 sacks, including five from the past three games. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network caught this impressive play against Michigan State in the Cotton Bowl:

Even if he is a one-trick pony at this stage, it is a pretty good trick. Williams knows how to get to the quarterback, and that skill is valuable both in college and in the NFL. If he had decided to leave after this season, some team would definitely have been intrigued by his ability as a pass-rusher.    

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