Kiper & McShay pick the most intriguing 2020 NFL draft prospects in all 10 conference title games

College football's conference championship weekend is here, and multiple exciting matchups are on deck. And with the best teams in the nation hitting the gridiron, there will of course be plenty of 2020 NFL draft prospects to get a good look at with conference titles on the line.

We asked our draft experts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay to identify the most interesting draft-eligible player to watch for each team in every conference championship, starting with the Pac-12 showdown between Utah and Oregon on Friday night. Keep in mind this doesn't necessarily mean the best draft prospect, but rather the player our analysts are excited to watch:

Jump to:
Pac-12 | Big 12 | SEC
ACC | Big Ten | Sun Belt
MAC | C-USA | AAC | MWC
Top risers | Under the radar

Power 5 title games

Pac-12: Utah vs. Oregon

8 p.m. ET, Friday on ABC & ESPN App

Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah: Johnson, a 6-foot, 195-pound corner, excels in man-to-man coverage. He's a tough kid who supports well in the running game and attacks ball carriers from the secondary. I'm excited to see Johnson go head-to-head with Oregon's Johnny Johnson III and Jaylon Redd on the outside. He has two interceptions, 10 pass breakups and 33 tackles this season. I have a second-round grade on him as of now. -- McShay

Shane Lemieux, G, Oregon: This is really all about the best matchup in this game, because I'm excited to see how Lemieux fares against 335-pound defensive tackle Leki Fotu, who could be a second-round pick in April. Lemieux, my fourth-ranked guard in the class, is a really solid player who has had a great year. At 6-foot-4, 315 pounds, he'll have his hands full with a stout Utah defensive line that ranks No. 1 against in the run in the FBS, giving up only 56.3 yards per game. How Lemieux and the interior line fare in keeping Justin Herbert clean and opening up holes for Travis Dye and CJ Verdell will go a long way in deciding this game. -- Kiper

Big 12: Baylor vs. Oklahoma

Noon ET, Saturday on ABC & ESPN App

Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor: Mims has been the go-to guy in this passing offense all season. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound senior has 61 catches for 945 yards and 11 touchdowns while averaging 15.5 yards per reception. He has a chance to be a really good No. 3 receiver in the NFL, and I think he ends up as an early Day 3 pick. Baylor defensive tackle James Lynch is also someone to watch; he's an absolute beast on that line (10.5 sacks) and could really be a top-two-round pick if he decides to enter the 2020 draft. -- McShay

Neville Gallimore, DT, Oklahoma: When I watch this improved Oklahoma defense, No. 90 shows flashes. He dominates at times by using his power to penetrate into the backfield. And yet, he hasn't been super productive, with only three sacks in each of the past two seasons. At 6-foot-2, 300 pounds, Gallimore has a ton of upside, and I think he'll wow scouts at the combine. He's my fifth-ranked defensive tackle. -- Kiper

SEC: Georgia vs. LSU

4 p.m. ET, Saturday on CBS

Lawrence Cager, WR, Georgia: OK, I'm cheating here because Cager isn't likely to play Saturday; he hurt his ankle last week and missed the win over Georgia Tech. But no Georgia prospect is more intriguing than Cager, because he has emerged as a legitimate prospect. A graduate transfer from Miami who had just 45 total catches in three seasons while battling injuries there, Cager became one of Jake Fromm's favorite targets, catching 33 passes for 476 yards with four touchdowns. And it's his 6-foot-5, 220-pound frame that makes him so interesting. He had developed a rapport with Fromm on back-shoulder throws. Cager is likely to be a Day 3 pick -- I'm curious to see what he runs at the combine -- but he has a future in the NFL. -- Kiper

Joe Burrow, QB, LSU: Pretty obvious, right? Like most tuning in, I'll be watching what Burrow does in the latest chapter of his incredible season. He is a tough kid who makes good decisions with the football and shows the ability to extend plays. His elite accuracy (78.3% completion percentage) -- especially when throwing into tight windows -- makes him a fun prospect to watch each week. I love the way he moves around the pocket, sensing pressure, protecting the ball and keeping his eyes downfield. Burrow has 4,366 passing yards, 44 touchdowns, only six interceptions and a sparkling 93.4 Total QBR this season. -- McShay

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Brant Kuithe scores three TDs as Utah secures spot in Pac-12 championship

Utah TE Brant Kuithe makes two touchdown catches and runs for a third score versus Colorado as the Utes secure a date with Oregon in the Pac-12 championship game.

ACC: Virginia vs. Clemson

7:30 p.m. ET, Saturday on ABC & ESPN App

Jordan Mack, LB, Virginia: Mack is a four-year contributor who has added rushing the passer to his game as a senior. With 7.5 sacks while playing off-ball linebacker this season, he has impressed me. He also has 289 career tackles for the Cavaliers, and he'll need to be all over the field for Virginia to have a chance against Clemson. Mack, who's 6-foot-2, 230 pounds, doesn't have elite athleticism, but he could also make an impact on special teams in the NFL. Expect him to be a Day 3 pick in April. -- Kiper

Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson: I really like Simmons as a prospect, and part of the reason is he is exactly what the NFL is looking for in a defensive player. A former safety turned linebacker, it's not really about the position for Simmons. It's about his versatility and what he can do in the passing game. He can cover as well as any linebacker in the country, and he's an underrated pass-rusher. The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder can truly play all over the field. In 12 games, the playmaker has 82 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, 5 passes broken up, an interception and a forced fumble. So yes, look for him to make an impact Saturday night. -- McShay

Big Ten: Ohio State vs. Wisconsin

8 p.m. ET, Saturday on Fox

J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ohio State: Yes, defensive end Chase Young is No. 1 overall on my board, and he will certainly make his presence felt against Wisconsin quarterback Jack Coan. But for me, Dobbins is the more interesting Buckeyes prospect to watch. A 5-foot-10, 215-pound running back, Dobbins hates going to the ground and has above-average contact balance and strength. He displays quickness in hitting the hole, leading to 1,657 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns this season. Dobbins also catches the ball well out of the backfield and is solid in pass-protection duty. I think he's one of the top three running backs in this year's class, and I'd be surprised if he gets past Round 2. -- McShay

Chris Orr, ILB, Wisconsin: Orr isn't the Badgers' best prospect -- center Tyler Biadasz and running back Jonathan Taylor could both be first-round picks -- but he has a great story. A part-time starter until this season, Orr has emerged as a great pass-rusher, racking up 11.5 sacks. He had only 2.5 sacks in his first three seasons at Wisconsin. Now, at 6-foot, 225 pounds, he's not going to be an elite edge rusher at the next level; he's more likely to be an off-ball linebacker and special-teams demon. But with long arms and good athleticism, he has an NFL future as a Day 3 pick. -- Kiper

Group of 5 title games

Sun Belt: Louisiana vs. App. State

Noon ET, Saturday on ESPN & ESPN App

Raymond Calais, RB, Louisiana: The 10-2 Ragin' Cajuns have a great offense and three really good backs -- they average 274 rushing yards per game (sixth best in FBS) and 7.1 yards per play (also sixth best). Calais is the home run hitter of the group, as he averaged 9.1 yards per carry as a junior in 2018 and averages 7.9 this season. He's also a great kick returner. Calais is only 5-foot-9, 185 pounds, and he hasn't shown much as a receiver, but he could be a late-round pick or priority free agent in April's draft. -- Kiper

Jordan Fehr, LB, Appalachian State: Fehr has strong tackling skills, displayed by his 90 on the season. He shows good instincts and a great motor, and I think he could end up being a fourth- or fifth-round prospect. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound senior additionally has 2.5 sacks, 8.0 tackles for loss and an interception in 2019. -- McShay

MAC: Miami (Ohio) vs. Central Michigan

Noon ET, Saturday on ESPN2 & ESPN App

Sterling Weatherford, S, Miami (OH): The Redhawks aren't loaded with NFL talent, so I'm going to highlight a third-year sophomore who isn't likely to enter the 2020 draft. Weatherford has jumped off the tape every time I have watched them this season. He's big -- 6-foot-4, 220 pounds -- with long arms and great athleticism, and he is tied for the team lead in tackles with 86. He also has 5.5 tackles for loss, seven pass breakups and an interception. Weatherford has been super impressive in his first season as a starter, and I'm excited to follow how he develops. -- Kiper

Jonathan Ward, RB, Central Michigan: Tight end Tony Poljan might be the better NFL prospect, but injuries have limited him this season. And Ward has been an absolute workhorse for the Chippewas' offense. The 6-foot, 202-pound running back carried the ball only 76 times last season but has gone for 1,056 yards and 15 touchdowns on 164 carries this year -- and Miami gives up 180.3 rushing yards per game. Ward also catches the ball well (28 receptions). -- McShay

C-USA: UAB vs. Florida Atlantic

1:30 p.m. ET, Saturday on CBSSN

Garrett Marino, DT, UAB: Marino is the only draft prospect on my list right now out of UAB, and he's likely a Day 3 selection or an undrafted free agent. The 6-foot-2, 290-pound redshirt senior has six sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss. He's a grinder. It sets up as a good opportunity for Marino to raise his stock, facing an Owls team that has given up 27 sacks. -- McShay

Rashad Smith, OLB, Florida Atlantic: I could have gone with tight end Harrison Bryant here, but I've already written enough about him. So let's go with Smith, a tackling machine -- more than 300 career tackles -- who flies around the field and has come up big in key moments for the Owls. He has six interceptions the past two seasons. Smith is undersized (6-foot-1, 220 pounds), but his nose for the football means he has an NFL future. -- Kiper

AAC: Cincinnati vs. Memphis

3:30 p.m. ET, Saturday on ABC & ESPN App

Josiah Deguara, TE, Cincinnati: The Bearcats' leading receiver this season, Deguara has 34 catches for 470 yards and seven touchdowns. He had 38 catches and five touchdowns last season. He doesn't wow you with his athleticism, and he has some room to grow on his 6-foot-3 frame, but Deguara is an intriguing prospect in a tight end class that is still sorting itself out. He'll be at the Senior Bowl in January, and I want to see how he performs against better talent. -- Kiper

Joey Magnifico, TE, Memphis: Magnifico has good size (6-foot-4, 240 pounds), speed and run-after-the-catch ability. But he needs to be a little more consistent as a route runner. He's currently averaging 16.8 yards per catch and projects as a late-round pick. Receiver John "Pop" Williams is also a talented prospect and was the highest-rated Memphis player early in the season, but he has played only three games and won't be on the field Saturday. -- McShay

Mountain West: Hawai'i vs. Boise State

4 p.m. ET, Saturday on ESPN & ESPN App

Cedric Byrd II, WR, Hawai'i: We're seeing NFL teams fall in love with small, speedy receivers lately, and Byrd could be a fourth- or fifth-round pick who adds to that trend. At 5-foot-9, 175 pounds, Byrd isn't going to run fades and out-jump defensive backs, but he can be used all over the field and on underneath routes, and he'll run past defenders. A junior-college transfer, Byrd had 79 catches and nine touchdowns last season, and he's up to 91 catches and 10 TDs as a senior, including a 14-catch, four-TD performance in a season-opening win over Arizona. He could also be a dynamic return man at the next level. -- Kiper

Curtis Weaver, DE, Boise State: Weaver -- a 6-foot-3, 265-pound edge rusher -- is somehow very underrated. He has 13.5 sacks, 17 tackles for loss and a forced fumble this season, using his power to be effective in the pass rush. And he has the ability to make plays in the backfield as a run defender and can set the edge when his technique is sound. I will be shocked if Weaver is not selected by the end of Round 2. -- McShay

Prospects on the rise

These are the NFL draft prospects moving up boards:

Brant Kuithe, TE, Utah

Full disclosure, Kuithe is only a sophomore and thus not eligible for the 2020 draft. But the 6-foot-2, 235-pound tight end will be in my top 32 rankings to start the season next year. He's not Travis Kelce, but he has that type of skill set: unique speed and athleticism for a hybrid WR/TE type. And that's exactly what the NFL is looking for in terms of a matchup piece. In 2019, he has caught 29 balls for 550 yards and six touchdowns, including two scores against Colorado on Saturday. Watch for him to make noise in the 2021 draft class. -- McShay

J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ohio State

I know McShay mentioned Dobbins earlier, but he had a great weekend with 260 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns in Ohio State's big win over Michigan. I like the way he runs downhill -- he doesn't mess with going sideways. Dobbins is an efficient runner with a compact build, and he has the burst to be a game-breaker. He's also dynamic after the catch when he gets targets, and he's not afraid to stick his nose in blitz pickup. The one knock is ball security, as he has fumbled in each of the past two games. I'd like to see him clean that up. Overall, though, Dobbins is challenging to be the No. 1 back in the 2020 class. -- Kiper

Under-the-radar prospects to know

Keep an eye on these potential Day 2 or Day 3 picks:

Jonathan Greenard, OLB, Florida

Greenard had one of the best weekends of any player in college football, racking up three sacks, a forced fumble and six total tackles in the Gators' win over Florida State. A graduate transfer and former team captain at Louisville, Greenard has really come on this season. He's up to nine sacks, including five in his past two games. He's versatile -- he plays with his hand in the ground on the edge but also stands up and rushes the passer -- and he varies his pass-rush moves, with a bend-and-burst move and the ability to bull rush from the inside. Greenard, listed at 6-foot-3, 265 pounds, is probably a 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL. He has a chance to be a second- or third-round pick. -- Kiper

Of course, with all the things we disagree on, we somehow still pick the same riser from last weekend. But I do totally agree with Kiper here. Greenard's big day against FSU really popped, and I'm really looking forward to seeing him at the Senior Bowl in January. In addition to those nine sacks, Greenard has 15 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles this year. He is a twitchy edge rusher with the closing burst to win with speed and the explosive change-of-direction ability to beat offensive tackles to the inside. And he's a disruptive run defender with the foot speed, length and active hands to slip blocks. His intriguing ceiling has him moving into the Day 2 conversation. Now stop reading my notes, Mel. -- McShay