LSU vs Alabama: Power Ranking the 10 Best NFL Draft Prospects from Both Teams

There’s going to be an extraordinary amount of talent on display when No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Alabama meet in Tuscaloosa on Saturday night for the “Game of the Century.”

Every pro scout in the country is going to be trying to get their hands on a credential for the big SEC showdown.

Both the Tigers and the Tide are loaded with future NFL talent, and the individual matchups that will take place all over the field are certainly going to be a heck of a lot of fun to watch.

Here’s a look at 10 top prospects that you better keep an eye on during the game.

Honorable Mention

S Robert Lester, Alabama (Jr.)

OT Barrett Jones, Alabama (Jr.)

LB Nico Johnson, Alabama (Jr.)

WR Marquis Maze, Alabama (Sr.)

C William Vlachos, Alabama (Sr.)

DE Sam Montgomery, LSU (R-Soph.)

OT Alex Hurst, LSU (Jr.)

DT Michael Brockers, LSU (R-Soph.)

LB Ryan Baker, LSU (Sr.)

TE Deangelo Peterson, LSU (Sr.)

S Brandon Taylor, LSU (Sr.)

10. DT Josh Chapman, Alabama

Nose tackle Josh Chapman is the elder statesman of the Alabama defensive line, and while guys around him like Ed Stinson and Nick Gentry have all stepped up, he’s still remained the leader of the front three.

The big, stout 6’1’’, 310-pound senior has the perfect makeup you look for in a nose tackle in a 3-4 defense.

Chapman isn’t the type of tackle who is going to penetrate and make a ton of plays in the backfield, but he’s got the size and strength to eat up blockers and free up Alabama’s talented linebackers to make plays.

Projection: 3rd Round

9. OT D.J. Fluker, Alabama

Both of Alabama’s offensive tackles—D.J. Fluker and Barrett Jones—will be playing in the NFL someday, but Fluker is the real player to watch.

Even though he’s only in his second year as a starter, the big 6’6’’, 335-pound redshirt sophomore has already established himself as one of the top overall offensive line prospects in the country.

Physically, Fluker resembles former Alabama franchise tackle prospect Andre Smith, and like Smith, he’s got the strength and power to dominate smaller defensive ends in the running game.

It should be very interesting to see how the big right tackle performs against LSU’s talented defensive front four.

Projection: 3rd Round

8. S Mark Barron, Alabama

Mark Barron was thrust into a leadership position last season, as he became the veteran of a vastly inexperienced defensive unit that lost nine starters from the year before.

Even though there were a few instances when he was caught just a split second out of coverage last season, it was still a role that Barron flourished in, leading the Tide with 75 total tackles.

The 6’2’’, 215-pound senior still plays like a linebacker more than a safety at times, but he’s got the type of range and instincts to be a stalwart in an NFL secondary for years, and he's the type of locker room leader that pro scouts covet.

Projection: 3rd Round

7. WR Rueben Randle, LSU

Justin Blackmon and Alshon Jeffery are the clear-cut top two underclassmen wide receivers, but outside of them, there really are no other definitive first-round prospects yet.

There’s a second tier of guys like Rutgers’ Mohamed Sanu, Georgia Tech’s Stephen Hill, Oregon State’s Markus Wheaton and Toledo’s Eric Page that are making some noise, but one of the junior receivers to really watch is LSU’s Rueben Randle.

Randle, a former five-star recruit, struggled to live up to his high school hype in his first two seasons, but now that he’s gotten some more consistent play at quarterback, he’s starting to reach his enormous potential.

Randle has already matched his receptions total from last season with 33 catches, and he’s managed to haul in an SEC-leading seven touchdowns.

The 6’4’’, 205-pound junior has an NFL body and a combo of size, hands and speed that will really intrigue scouts.

One of the real keys to watch in this weekend's game will be how much pressure Randle and fellow receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Russell Shepard can put on Alabama's talented secondary.

Projection: 3rd Round

6. DE/OLB Barkevious Mingo, LSU

This year’s Aldon Smith?

I know it’s a little too early to start calling LSU’s physical freak Barkevious Mingo a Top 10 pick, but if Mingo keeps up the tear that he’s been on in the first eight games, he might have to think about jumping ship for the NFL early.

The 6’5’’, 240-pound redshirt sophomore has been an animal this season, and he’s starting to gain a reputation as one of college football’s top pass-rushers, as he’s notched four sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss.

Mingo has the perfect makeup to be a big-time rush linebacker in a 3-4 system in the NFL.

Projection: 2nd Round

5. LB Dont'a Hightower, Alabama

Dont’a Hightower has been one of Alabama’s most consistent players since returning from a knee injury that cut his 2009 season short.

Hightower isn’t the fastest linebacker on the planet, but he’s got great versatility, and he can line up all over the field and make an impact.

The 6’4’’, 260-pound junior currently leads the team in tackles with 47 stops, and he’s also racked up 6.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

Hightower’s got the type of size and instincts to be a great fit as an inside linebacker in a 3-4 system in the pros.

Projection: 2nd Round

4. CB Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama

If you’re looking for a perfect cornerback for a Tampa 2 system, you can’t build them much better than Alabama’s Dre Kirkpatrick.

At 6’3’’, 190 pounds, Kirkpatrick has the type of length and size to step right into a Cover 2 defense and flourish, and the fact that he’s physical at the line in bump-and-run coverage and plays the run well only helps add to his value.  

Kirkpatrick reminds me a lot of Charles Tillman of the Chicago Bears, another corner who is a great fit for the Cover 2.

Don’t let his lack of interceptions fool you, teams are afraid to test Kirkpatrick, and if he keeps up his current pace, the big junior will definitely think about testing the NFL waters after this season.

Projection: 1st Round

3. LB Courtney Upshaw, Alabama

With the continued growth and popularity of the 3-4 defense in this NFL era, the 3-4 rush linebacker is becoming one of the draft’s premium positions.

If you can find an elite young pass-rusher to set loose off the edge in a 3-4 front, you better snag him up.

This year, the top 3-4 rush-linebacker in the country is Alabama’s steady defensive star, Courtney Upshaw.

At 6’2", 265-pounds, Upshaw not only has the size, but he also has the edge speed to be a pass-rushing force for a 3-4 defense in the NFL.

Last year, Upshaw was one of the most consistent performers on a superbly talented Alabama defense.

He made a living in the opponent’s backfield, racking up 14.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks, and this season he’s on pace to actually outperform those gaudy numbers, as Upshaw already has 11.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in just eight games.

The steady senior is the type of impact player who can step in and immediately help an NFL defense.

Projection: 1st Round

2. CB Morris Claiborne, LSU

When Patrick Peterson entered his name into the 2011 NFL draft, some LSU fans panicked and wondered how the Tigers were going to replace such a rare talent, but Morris Claiborne has stepped his game up and managed to perform at the same level Peterson did last season.

This season, Claiborne has been one of the cornerstones of LSU's dominant defense.

Although he’s not as flashy as fellow corner Tyrann Mathieu, you can just tell from one look at the physically gifted 6’1’’, 185-pound junior that he’s the real deal.

Although he could still stand to refine some of his basic technique and footwork, Claiborne has the explosive speed and incredible length to mirror and shadow any receiver he goes up against.

Physically, you can’t build them much better than Morris Claiborne.

Projection: Top 10 Pick

1. RB Trent Richardson, Alabama

In my opinion, Alabama’s Trent Richardson belongs in the same conversation with the likes of Darren McFadden, Adrian Peterson and Reggie Bush as the type of rare running back prospect that is worthy of a Top 10 draft pick.

Richardson, who looks like he was born in a weight room and never left, is the strongest and most powerful back in the country, and he packs quite a punch when he meets contact from a tackler.

The powerhouse back has already rushed for 989 yards and scored 18 TDs in the first eight games of the season, and if he keeps it up, he may run all the way to the stage at the Heisman ceremony.

Richardson reminds me of a bigger, stronger version of Ahmad Bradshaw, but he also has shown similar traits to guys like Maurice Jones-Drew and Ray Rice.

The 5’11’’, 220-pound junior is definitely a special prospect, and it should be interesting to see what he can do against LSU’s tenacious defense.

Projection: Top 10 Pick