Tyler Guyton, Adonai Mitchell impressing NFL Draft experts ahead of Red River Showdown
The Red River Showdown is one of the most anticipated games on the college football calendar this year. Oklahoma and Texas are both undefeated heading into the matchup for the first time since 2011, and the two teams have some NFL Draft talent that’s getting some attention.
ESPN’s Matt Miller pointed out one player on each side he’s curious to see at the Cotton Bowl on Saturday. For Oklahoma, Tyler Guyton could play his way into a first-round grade — if he’s not there already. He’s a key part of the Sooners’ offensive line, protecting Dillon Gabriel, and he can make a statement going up against Texas’ pass rush.
Guyton’s ability to hold strong in pass protection is what stands out to Miller, and that could help him as part of a deep offensive tackle draft class.
“Tyler Guyton at Oklahoma. Big game this weekend for him. I mean, big game,” Miller said on First Draft. “He is fantastic and pass pro. I want to see what he can do against a Texas front that is deep and dangerous. There’s a couple guys up there who aren’t draft eligible — 88, Barryn Sorrell, is fantastic. I don’t know if Guyton can move him in the run game or not.
“If he can, we’re gonna be talking about a potential first-rounder. We might be, anyway, because of the movement ability in pass protection is really special. This is an incredibly deep offensive tackle class. … But Tyler Guyton is definitely someone — if you’re watching the Red River game, watch that left tackle matchup.”
On the Texas side, much of the conversation revolves around Quinn Ewers and Xavier Worthy. But Miller singled out Georgia transfer receiver Adonai Mitchell as someone to watch. He sits just behind Worthy for the team lead in passing yards with 321, but leads the Longhorns with four receiving touchdowns this year.
Mitchell didn’t fill the stat sheet at Georgia, but he’s looking strong at Texas. With a big game in the Red River Showdown, Mitchell could find himself squarely in the NFL Draft conversation. In fact, Miller compared him to one of the better receivers in the NFL: Cincinnati Bengals star Tee Higgins.
“AD Mitchell, the wide receiver. Transfer from Georgia, where he really wasn’t utilized a whole lot, and he has been fantastic for Texas,” Miller said. “Statistically, it was a little bit of a slow start. You really saw him breakout this past week he gets Kansas. He’s a 6-4 X receiver who can play outside the hashes. He posts up, he’s gonna win those over the top routes.
“He reminds me physically so much of Tee Higgins. We haven’t seen that statistical value yet. Like, it’s not there. But if you’re standing on the field and you’re watching him warm up, ‘Oh, No. 4? That looks like Tee Higgins.’ And he moves like him and plays like him. We just need to see the numbers match that now, too.”
Those are just two of the players who could improve their NFL Draft stock during Saturday’s highly anticipated Red River Rivalry matchup. It’s shaping up to be a fun day in Dallas in the final installment before Oklahoma and Texas join the SEC.