Simon Clancy picks out his players to watch during the coming college football campaign, with a view to the 2019 NFL Draft.

The NFL Draft is a beautiful thing. It’s also a 365 day a year, living, breathing, ever-changing organism – which is ultimately what makes it so attractive in the first place. The jeopardy, the smoke and mirrors, the relentless guessing games, the upside, the downside, the workouts, the meetings, the lies. The not knowing what’s going to happen next when the commissioner steps to the podium.

And yet that doesn’t stop people trying to second guess everything. The draft is its own cottage industry, inspired by a myriad of draftniks from across the globe who are all competing to be the next Joel Buchsbaum or Mel Kiper. And the mock draft is king. Rarely, if ever, right – but endlessly fascinating for everyone with even a passing interest.

But why?

Mocks are all about the hype. And hope. But no-one’s ever truly happy. Which is why we’ve avoided a mock here in favour of our early big board. It’s also a roundabout way of saying that this list you’re about to read is subject to dramatic change during the season. Injury, loss of form, arrests, off-the-radar guys can all contribute to that. Just look at Pro Football Focus’ 2017 mock, released in the days after the 2016 Draft: only 11 players ended up in the top 32 picks.

The fun, though, is in watching the moves unfold week-in, week-out during the college football campaign, which is every bit as fun as the NFL and, in some cases, more so. Ahead of that season kicking off, here are our 20 players to watch on Saturdays this year…

1. NICK BOSA – EDGE – OHIO STATE

Yep, he’s the brother of Los Angeles Charger Joey, just more athletic, quicker and more dynamic as a pass rusher. There’s a strong chance he goes off the board first overall. An elite talent with no weaknesses, his game against Michigan on November 24 could be defining – not least because of who is No. 3 on this list.

2. ED OLIVER – DT – HOUSTON

You may never have seen a big man move like this before and you may never see it again. This is Aaron Donald 2.0. Oliver is relentless, with quick hands, explosion and great instincts. He’s also an outstanding kid. Top-three pick at worst.

3. RASHAN GARY – EDGE – MICHIGAN

In any other year he’s the best edge rusher and a likely No. 1 overall selection. Even with Bosa, he will be pushing hard to be the best player in the draft and aided by a strong Wolverine team. Gary is massive at 6ft 5ins, 281lbss, so defining his true position will be a test. Could also be a Heisman candidate.

4. JONAH WILLIAMS – LT – ALABAMA

In an outstanding draft for offensive tackles, Williams tops the group. Athletic, smart and boasting great hands, he is battle tested on both the right and left sides and another who could be in the conversation for No. 1 overall. If he can keep Tua Tagovailoa upright, it’ll go a long way to deciding the fate of the National Championship.

5. DREW ANDERSON – QB – MURRAY STATE

This is bold, but Anderson is the best draft-eligible quarterback Gridiron has seen on film this year. Transferring to Murray State from Buffalo will make his path to round one difficult, but his talent is off the charts. Throw on the Western Michigan game, where he threw for 597 yards and seven touchdowns, and tell us we’re wrong.

6. DEVIN WHITE – LB – LSU

White is going to get plenty of chances to flash this season given LSU’s schedule, but is more than up to the task. He could be the most athletic pure linebacker the modern-era draft has seen and, at 6ft 1in and 240lbs, flows to the ball as purely as Roquan Smith did a year ago.

7. A.J. BROWN – WR – OLE MISS

It’s a big year for Brown who has elite talent, can separate and is highly dangerous with the ball in his hands. September 29^th against LSU’s Greedy Williams will be a huge game for him who’s flattered to deceive against top competition in the past.

8. JUSTIN HERBERT – QB – OREGON

In a questionable year for passers at the highest level, Herbert has plenty of upside and No. 1 overall potential. With Royce Freeman moving on, Mario Cristobal’s offense will be built solely around the 6ft 6in, 225lb passer. Herbert has the arm talent, confidence in the pocket and perimeter placement to be a star in the NFL.

9. CLELIN FERRELL – EDGE – CLEMSON

All four of the Tigers’ defensive linemen should be top-60 picks, but the star is Ferrell, a 6ft 5in, 260lb pass-rush machine who brings some serious juice on every snap. Right now, he is mainly a speed to power player who possesses superior athletic gifts. When he learns how to play the position, Ferrell could be unstoppable.

10. TREY ADAMS – LT – WASHINGTON

At 6ft 8ins and 331lbs, Adams is a monster who can play left or right in a pro-style offense. Great feet, great hands and the ability to overwhelm at the point of attack mean the only thing stopping him becoming a top-10 pick is how he handles his return from a torn ACL.

11. JOSH ALLEN – LB – KENTUCKY

For the second draft running we’ll have a Josh Allen pushing the top 10, although this year’s incarnation has far less question marks. The biggest issue will be where he plays: as a pass-rusher he recorded seven sacks in 2017, but his best position may be inside as a 4-3 mike who can kick outside on obvious passing downs. Either way, Allen is really good.

12. GREEDY WILLIAMS – CB – LSU

Yet another off the Bayou Bengal DB production line, Williams may not be quite in the class of Patrick Peterson – but he has got the ability to shift inside the top 10 with a strong year. Only a redshirt sophomore, Williams led the SEC in picks and passes defended a year ago and has elite cover skills. Plus, his name is ‘Greedy’. What’s not to love?

13. DEXTER LAWRENCE – DT – CLEMSON

You just don’t find 6ft 4in, 330lb 20-year olds who can do what Lawrence does. Arguably the most physically imposing player in college football, he is still a baby in an NFL body. The question for Lawrence at the next level is position: Is he a nose, or can he lose 15lbs and be an immoveable 3-4 defensive end?

14. GREG LITTLE – OT – OLE MISS

Probably a right tackle at the next level, Little would be such a force on that side you’d want to be running that way on most plays. As one scout recently told Bleacher Report: “He’s a big, mean, nasty SOB who’s better than any of the guys from the 2018 draft.”

15. RAEKWON DAVIS – DT – ALABAMA

In most years Davis is a top 7 pick. Unfortunately, 2019 is something of an outlier for defensive linemen. He burst onto the scene in 2017 with 69 tackles, 8.5 sacks and a pick and, when you watch him play, it’s easy to see how he garnered the nickname ‘Freak Show’. A unique combination of size, speed, strength and instincts, he was dominant in last season’s National Championship Game.

16. NIGEL WARRIOR – FS – TENNESSEE

True free safeties aren’t easy to come by, but Warrior is well on his way to becoming an elite one. Gridiron watched his father Dale Carter have a great college and pro career and Warrior’s on a similar path. He possesses elite burst, instincts, range and understanding of angles. Plus his name is ‘Warrior’.

17. CHRISTIAN WILKINS – DT – CLEMSON

Would have been a very high pick in 2018 if he’d declared, but didn’t have quite the campaign he expected to. If Wilkins bounces back and outstanding coordinator Brent Venables uses him in a way which highlights his ability to get up the field, he is a legitimate top-16 pick.

18. DEANDRE BAKER – CB – GEORGIA

It’s shaping up to be a really nice cornerback class and Baker has the ball skills and instincts to be considered a strong first-round possibility. Extremely tight in man coverage, he has the athletic ability to be in play as the first corner off the board. Also, Baker will be tested by the very best in the SEC.

19. BRIAN LEWERKE – QB – MICHIGAN STATE

Many people would be surprised not to see Drew Lock or Jake Bentley here, but Lewerke is Baker Mayfield in a pro-style offense. A dual-threat passer who threw for almost 3,000 yards and rushed for nearly 600 more in his first year as a starter, the 6ft 3in, 212lb passer has the game to make it high in the first round.

20. JOE JACKSON – EDGE – MIAMI

Jackson rounds out the top 20 as the eighth defensive lineman in this group, highlighting the quality on offer. Sources in Miami tell Gridiron he is primed for a breakout year and could jump to the top of the U’s packed draft class that features WR Ahmmon Richards and CB Michael Jackson. A 3-4 defensive end, Jackson has the length and athletic ability to get to the passer.