NFL Analysis
12/1/23
6 min read
2024 NFL Draft: 6 Prospects to Watch During Conference Championship Week
One of the most exciting weekends of college football has finally arrived.
With conference championship weekend finally here, plenty of 2024 NFL Draft prospects will hit the field. Today, we’ll look at six prospects primed to improve their draft stock this week.
6 2024 NFL Draft Prospects for Championship Week
Washington QB Michael Penix Jr., Oregon QB Bo Nix
For the first “player,” we will cheat a bit. One of this week’s premier matchups is Oregon vs. Washington for the Pac-12 Championship, with a bid into the college football playoff on the line.
All eyes will be on both signal callers as they look to separate themselves from each other in the Heisman race and draft quarterback rankings.
In the last few weeks, we’ve discussed how Penix Jr. and Nix have been in the QB3 conversation. While there are a few other names in the mix, closing the season out strong for Penix Jr. and Nix could go a long way in pushing them up boards.
Both quarterbacks are having impressive statistical seasons. Nix gets the nod in the raw statistical category, but Penix Jr. edges out Nix in the traits category.
| Stat | Michael Penix Jr. | Bo Nix |
| Passing Yards | 3,899 | 3,906 |
| Passing Touchdowns | 38 | 37 |
| Interceptions | 8 | 2 |
| IQR (via Sports Info Solutions) | 115.6 | 141.4 |
Penix Jr. and the Washington Huskies handed Oregon their only loss of the season. However, both quarterbacks had fantastic days at the office in the 36-33 Washington victory.
We know Oregon and Washington’s passing defenses are susceptible to allowing big plays so that we could be in for another big game from both quarterbacks.
Alabama CB Terrion Arnold
For all the talk that Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry received early in the draft process, his teammate Terrion Arnold deserves just as much recognition.
Arnold, a 6-foot, 196-pound corner out of Tallahassee, Florida, burst onto the scene in his redshirt sophomore season. Arnold has some of the best ball skills and production in the class, picking off five passes in 2023.
He is still a bit raw, given how young he is and his lack of experience, but he oozes athleticism. Given his high-end traits at a premier position, his footwork and fluidness in coverage could have him in the CB1 discussion.
Arnold and the Crimson Tide have a big game this week against the back-to-back National Champion Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship game. As we’ve learned from recent years, you can never count Alabama out, especially with how Arnold and the Crimson Tide defense play.
With J.C. Latham as one of the only Alabama offensive players with first-round buzz, most eyes will be on the Alabama defense, which could have three to four players drafted in the first round.
Assuming they finish strong, Arnold and McKinstry could be the first Alabama defensive back duo drafted in the first round since Mark Baron and Dre Kirkpatrick in 2012.
Iowa CB Cooper DeJean
One of my favorite players in all of college football this season is Iowa CB Cooper DeJean. DeJean will have plenty of eyes on him this week as the red-hot Michigan Wolverines come to town to take on the Hawkeyes in the BIG-10 Championship game.
The 6-foot-1, 207-pound defensive back is one of this draft class's most athletic and versatile.
The one knock on DeJean and the Iowa defense is their lack of competition this year. In their one game against what many would consider a good offense in Penn State, Iowa’s defense allowed 31 points and four passing touchdowns to QB Drew Allar.
DeJean and the Iowa defense will get the opportunity to redeem themselves this weekend against a good offense and quarterback in J.J. McCarthy.
DeJean is in the conversation to be one of the first cornerbacks drafted, but playing a significant role in an upset win against Michigan would push him further up the rankings.
Texas WR Adonai Mitchell
Despite a few quiet weeks from Texas WR Adonai Mitchell, I expect him to bounce back in a big way this week. He’ll have a big stage for it as Texas hosts Oklahoma State in the Big-12 Championship game at AT&T Stadium.
Mitchell has rare traits, measuring in at 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, while also being one of the more fluid and explosive route-runners in college football. Mitchell’s size and athletic traits — along with his nuance as a route-runner — have him in the first-round conversation in one of the best wide receiver classes in recent years.
Mitchell should be in for a big day against an Oklahoma State defense, allowing 33.3 points per game in its last four.
While Mitchell’s production is down, breaking 70 yards receiving just once over the last seven games, I expect him to explode this week, increasing his stock as the season closes.
Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell
Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell taking on Miami (OH) in the MAC Championship is one player and game that might not get as much attention. Despite lacking the star power of these other games, people should put some respect on Mitchell’s name.
Mitchell is one of the best cover cornerbacks in this class and possesses some of the best natural traits. Mitchell, listed at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, is a nightmare matchup for opposing offenses. He can cover, play the ball in the air and tackle well on the boundary.
According to Dane Brugler of The Athletic, Mitchell is expected to run in the high 4.3s and is one of the more fluid and explosive athletes in this draft class, regardless of position.
With a dominant showing on the national stage against Miami (OH), we could see Mitchell’s stock continue to increase before we get to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. If he tests like we expect, there might be no slowing down the hype train at that point.
>> READ: Jim Nagy's Senior Bowl Profile for Mitchell
