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The McShay Show
Coach Prime’s NFL Influence, a College Football Playoff Confidence Draft, and Previewing Tennessee-Georgia
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- [00:00]
Todd McShay
The McShay show is presented by FanDuel. College Football Saturdays are packed with action and FanDuel is where you can score every game day. Let's face it, November is everything in college football. The playoff picture is starting to become more clear. This is the first year with the 12 team playoff and we have some critical matchups throughout this month. Why we love fanduel there's so many markets like spreads over unders, national championship futures going to get a part of that and so much more. This app is safe, secure and easy to use. When you win, you'll get paid instantly. Visit FanDuel.com McShay to download America's number one sportsbook. The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and help lines available and listen to the end of the episode for additional details. Must be 21 and older and present in select states. Gambling problem. Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit RGH help.com you never know what to expect when you wake up in the morning. This is the McShay Show. Thank you for joining us. We've now got a jam packed show. Didn't expect to have to get to this but Coach prime, his recent comments about Shador Sanders, his son. Also Travis Hunter is star two way player and how it's going to be affected in the NFL draft, the role he's going to play after that. Men, are you fired up or what? This is an historic day on the McShay Show. We're thrilled to debut our college football playoff championship confidence draft. It's going to be epic. Then we're also going to drill down. We've got the biggest matchup of this week in college football. Another prime time game in the sec, Tennessee at Georgia and then plus our Thursday staples of course. That's my guy. Where are the scouts this weekend and where would Todd be this weekend? You know where we're going from here. It's week 12 in college football, week 11 in the NFL and just 161 days until the NFL draft mean you good?
- [02:02]
Steve Mensch
I'm good, man.
- [02:03]
Todd McShay
Let's play those urban horns. M. This is, I mean this is not the show. We're not going to be the show. And I promise anyone who's a friend of the show who watches and downloads and subscribes and likes, we are not going to be the show that is always talking about the Dallas Cowboys and Coach Prime. We're not gonna, we're, we're not gonna ram it down your throat for the sake of ratings. It's just not who we are. We have too much respect for. For all the friends of the show, for all the fan bases, there are 32 NFL teams. There are. There are college, you know, fans across the country, they want to know where their players are going in the draft. They want to talk college football. They want smart conversations. When we get into the draft, you know, portion of this show during draft season, we want to talk about all 32 teams. We want to talk about the Carolina Panthers and what they need just as much as the Dallas Cowboys. But here we are and Coach prime discussing Shador Sanders, his son, and Travis Hunter, his, you know, his draft prospects, both of their draft prospects, and bringing it up, their situations in the. To me, everything is intentional with Coach prime to bring up this discussion about how he's going to interfere or interject himself in where they wind up landing in the NFL draft during mensch, a Big 12 run to the College Football Playoff.
- [03:42]
Steve Mensch
Right.
- [03:42]
Todd McShay
That's news.
- [03:43]
Steve Mensch
It's not coincidence.
- [03:45]
Todd McShay
Yeah, right. That's intentional, and it creates urgency. And so that's where we are today. We're not going to spend a ton of time on it, but I think this is. This is the time where we have to have a smart conversation about the number one storyline leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft, because Coach prime himself made it news. Okay, Right. Here's how I want to attack this. Okay, for those of you who didn't hear, it was. It was on. Keyshawn Johnson was asking questions, and he was answering on their. On their podcast. And Coach prime decided to answer those questions and to dive in. Ultimately, what you need to know, if you haven't seen that on social media or you haven't watched their podcast, Keyshawn asked him the question, are you going to. And I'm paraphrasing here, but are you going to affect where the landing spot is for Shador? And his answer was, yes, but I'm going to do it public, privately, not publicly. Yes, I am going to play a role, but I'm going to do it behind the scenes. I'm going to do it privately, not publicly. And he doubled down on it and said, I'm also going to do it with Travis Hunter, our star cornerback wide receiver. And so. And they. And they laughed about just the fact that, you know, that basically his third son on the team and that he's going to treat. He's going to treat Travis's situation just like Shador's.
- [05:10]
Steve Mensch
Yeah, that is a unique relationship. I think most people know that at this point, but Travis Hunter and Coach prime are closer. You know, there's a lot of great coach player relationships around the country, but this, this one is unique. They are very close.
- [05:25]
Todd McShay
For the, for the sake of this conversation, let's, let's focus on Shador because I do think he'll affect where Travis goes, but I think there could be a package deal to be made. Okay.
- [05:36]
Steve Mensch
So interesting. Yeah.
- [05:38]
Todd McShay
People know that Coach prime is serious when he says that Shador won't play, play for you as an NFL organization if you draft him and take it seriously.
- [05:49]
Steve Mensch
Yeah.
- [05:50]
Todd McShay
And, but why. And my answer is, what about Coach prime and, and Prime Time and Deion Sanders? What about his nearly 40 year run in college football and the NFL would lead anyone to believe that he won't hold Shador out if the wrong team takes him and goes against his will?
- [06:09]
Steve Mensch
My answer to that, ask the Braves. Remember what he did with the in the nlcs and they wanted him to sit out the game for the Falcons and play in the playoffs for us. And he's like, no man, I'm going to do, I'm going to do my thing because it's best for me.
- [06:21]
Todd McShay
That's a great.
- [06:22]
Steve Mensch
There's never been a time in this guy's career where, I mean, he's not, I don't think, I don't want to say he's selfish. He just does what's, he still played, he still showed up for the Braves that day. He still, he's just going to do what's right for his family and what's right for him.
- [06:36]
Todd McShay
That's why I said, what about his 40 years and add. Add Major League Baseball to it. That's a great point. I didn't even think about that. Yeah, but what about that? What about what he has stood for his entire career going back to Florida State. If you think like the COVID of Sports Illustrated, the jewelry everywhere, Prime Time. Like he, you got to remember a lot of people listening or watching may not even remember like at that time. I remember like my grandfather worked with both Schembechler and was part of their, you know, recruiting and, and like it was, this isn't allowed. We can't do this.
- [07:09]
Steve Mensch
Yes.
- [07:10]
Todd McShay
You know, and I'm like, I'm, I'm like, you know, in high school and I'm like, I kind of love this, you know.
- [07:14]
Steve Mensch
Right.
- [07:15]
Todd McShay
But he did it his way. He's always done it his way. And so, so when, when I ask you what, what about his, you know, his history Leads you to believe that he won't hold Shador out. And the answer is nothing.
- [07:26]
Steve Mensch
There's press, too, like this. He will. This kid Shador will not be the first quarterback to do this. You can't be like. This is. This is different. It's been done before.
- [07:35]
Todd McShay
20 years ago was the last time of this significance that some. That we saw an incident like this. It was. It was more private. The difference is that the Mannings were kind of behind the scenes. People didn't realize how serious they were. Some people in the league kind of knew what was going on, but it wasn't public like this. The Mannings handled their business quietly.
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Steve Mensch
Not this early. I think it was very public. Towards the end.
- [07:59]
Todd McShay
Towards the very end.
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Steve Mensch
Early in the process. Yeah.
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Todd McShay
And I remember I. It was the first NFL draft, first or second NFL draft, where I was in New York City. I was in the stands. I was working. We were working for Sporting News at the time.
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Steve Mensch
Yeah, I was there.
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Todd McShay
I was there. Yeah. Remember Ben Roethlisberger?
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Steve Mensch
Right.
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Todd McShay
Who else?
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Steve Mensch
Philip.
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Todd McShay
Philip Rivers and Eli Manning. Where are these three quarterbacks to go? So it's been 20 years since we've had this kind of situation, but of course, Coach prime, being Coach prime, we're going to do this. He. He's saying privately, and those conversations will take place privately. Right, but he's going. He's using the media now. And I just want to say this like he's our. You know, he liked one of our clips. Everything he does is intentional. We're going to get Coach prime on the show. We'll. We'll reach out to him. Yeah, let's reach out to him this week and see in the next few weeks if we can get him on. I'm sure he'll. He'll. He'll be happy to join. We'll get him on the show and we'll have a great discussion with him about all this and how he plans to attack it and. And some more details on it. Okay. But in the meantime, I think it's important for us to have this conversation now because this. This information is. Is new. It's fresh. And again, I want to reiterate, they're playing Utah this week. Utah almost beat byu, like should.
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Steve Mensch
Utah did beat byu.
- [09:16]
Todd McShay
Sorry, Utah beat byu.
- [09:18]
Steve Mensch
No, no, BYU won the game.
- [09:21]
Todd McShay
Yeah. Yeah, but the refs.
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Steve Mensch
The refs blew it.
- [09:24]
Todd McShay
Correct. They had the sack. The sack at the goal line and they called a holding penalty in the. You know, in the back end. Gave them new life. They drove down the field. I Was up watching the game after our review show on Saturday night, our live show on YouTube. And so my point is, let's not get sidetracked. My point is that they're playing Utah this week. We've talked about it before. Colorado almost lost to North Dakota State. Colorado lost two of its first five games. Colorado was dead to rights. The stories, it's old news. Coach prime, who cares? You know, Boulder, Colorado, it's back off the map now. All of a sudden, they've won. What is it, three straight, looking to make it four against Utah. And they win out. Like, they can get in the Big 12 championship. Win the Big 12 championship. They're in the College Football Playoff. And so this week, to be making these comments tells you how serious Dion is, Tells you how serious this. This situation is in Coach Prime's house with his. With his son, with Travis Hunter. Go ahead.
- [10:24]
Steve Mensch
I. I like that he's getting ahead of it, too. Like, don't.
- [10:27]
Todd McShay
This is.
- [10:27]
Steve Mensch
Let's. Let's get it out there now. If you wait and it's. It's gonna look. This was not something that we were surprised by. I don't think anyone was surprised by this. You get it out now, it gives it more time to, you know, kind of air out for people to get used to the idea, understand what's happening. It's not a big deal later on. I understand the stakes are. Haven't been higher for the Colorado football program in years. In years. But I think he's. This is a guy that. I mean, he should be in crisis management if he's not in. In a coach for football, he knows how to handle all of these different things.
- [11:00]
Todd McShay
This.
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Steve Mensch
I just don't see this being a problem for his team. So. I get it. Like, it's. It's crazy. It's not crazy. It's. It's interesting that he's doing it now, and the fact that he is doing it now speaks to how important it is to him. But I don't think it's going to be an issue for that team.
- [11:13]
Todd McShay
So. So if we've answered the question, is he serious about holding out Shador and, And. And making an organization miserable for. For going against his will and drafting his son? That question's answered. We know he will. So now let's get into the nitty gritty. Coach prime is a package deal. That's what you have to take seriously here. Okay? Coach prime loves being in Boulder. He loves coaching Colorado. They've been great to him. He's been phenomenal to them.
- [11:43]
Steve Mensch
Right.
- [11:43]
Todd McShay
But Coach prime is a package deal and I want people to understand the dude can coach.
- [11:51]
Steve Mensch
Right?
- [11:52]
Todd McShay
Okay. This is not like, oh, we're just going to bring him in flashy lights, all that. Like people in the. I've talked to people in NFL organizations. I've talked to him in the last couple weeks and there is people in the NFL take him seriously as a coach. Okay? So now that's as the backdrop. So coach prime as a package deal and all this is critical. So if you can. Now I want you to put on your ownership hat, okay? Not even general manager because this is what this is above that pay grade, this ownership now. Okay? So if you can get prime as your coach and shedur as your quarterback and that's the direction you decide you want to go, now we can get into a discussion and we just had one on Tuesday. I thought it was a really good deep in depth breakdown. If you haven't seen it, go check it out on social media. Go check it out on our YouTube page, the McShay Show. But we got into Shador Sanders. He's not. He is not Jaden Daniels. He's not a talent level of Caleb Williams. Okay? Right. He's not probably Drake May. We've all decided that like if it was last year's draft, Shador, we'd start talking about him at number four. Okay. But he is in, I would say majority and I don't even know. Let me say this. It's important for people to understand decision makers and evaluators I talk in talk to in the league are not nearly as high on this quarterback class. Talking Shador, talking Cam Ward from Miami, talking Jalen Milroe, Garrett Nussmeier. We've mentioned we think he should go back to school. Talking Carson Beck, Quinn Ewers. They are not as high and on this quarterback class as the media seems to be. But I also want to tell you that that doesn't necessarily mean that one of if and most likely Shador is not going to be a top five pick. It's a quarterback position. We know how that goes. So. So if you decide as an owner and as an organization that you want Coach prime to be your next head coach and you want Shador to come as the next quarterback of your organization. Want people to hear this loud and clear. There's almost no limit to the price you're willing to pay if you've made this decision as an owner, one of 32 owners in the NFL. We want prime and we want his son Shador. We want the package deal. We've got to turn our organization around and they're the two men that can do it for us. There's no price that that's organization would I'm telling you. So, so keep that in mind.
- [14:29]
Steve Mensch
You look back at the, the, the trade we just talked about and at the time that was mind blowing in 24.
- [14:36]
Todd McShay
Yeah. When and it was the Chargers, the Giants.
- [14:39]
Steve Mensch
And it wasn't that. It was they traded. The Chargers traded back from the first to the fourth with the Giants and I think they picked up two picks from the next year, including the first from the next year. That, that trade's not as crazy as we thought it was at the time. It wasn't that big. So let's, let's get into. By the way, they both are wrong. They should have taken Rober and not traded up for anyone. But anyways, let's look at the Ricky Williams trade. Are we talking Ricky Williams trade here, Todd? I mean I listen in terms of if you want prime coach, prime is your head coach. Pay him whatever he wants you paper, he writes down a number and he gives it back to you. Are you talking about if you are picking seventh and you need to get to two or one to get Shador, are you making the Ricky Williams trade?
- [15:29]
Todd McShay
I'm saying there's almost no limit to the price you're willing to pay. If you believe I'm not. Now, now, now, I'm not saying you should believe that they're going to be the answer. But I also want you to keep this in consideration. When you start talking about Ricky Williams trade, when you start talking about Eli Manning trade, when you start talking about what could this cost and would it be worth. I want you to keep this in consideration because this is important. Owner, owners in the NFL are business people too. Okay. Even without the wins and the losses, even when your scouting department comes to you and say listen, I get it, Shador, Shador's a good player. He's got a chance to be a good pro. We made the NFL comps. Maybe he's TUA from the right side, you know, maybe he's Geno Smith. You tried to go a little bit higher, you know, with Joe Burrow. I, I, I, I thought that was a reach. Quite honestly, I think it's a little.
- [16:18]
Steve Mensch
Bit of a reach too.
- [16:18]
Todd McShay
But I think if he exceeds expectations, that's the absolute ceiling. I think we're looking more like a Geno Smith. I think we're looking at more like a TUA and what they, what they are in the NFL. But even without the wins and losses and your scouting department advising you, I got. I, I can't make this more clear. Owners make the decision in this kind of situation, and owners own the NFL franchise because they're typically great business people. Okay? And I want you to look, I want you to keep this in consideration. Look at the economy in Boulder, Colorado. Look at the increased budget at University of Colorado since the Sanders made Boulder its home less than two years ago. Study that for me. Just do some Google searches on the increased athletic budget, on the desire and passion for young people in high school that want to go to Colorado. That place has been reinvigorated, okay? The local budget, the commercials, the attention, the media. So you take that in Boulder, a small little party, hippie town, fun town, great place to go to college. You can ski. You take that in Boulder and you bring that to New York City. You bring that to Las Vegas, you bring that to New Orleans, you bring that to Dallas. Do you understand? So, so while it always should be about the football at the, at the end of the day and the wins and losses and pursuing a, a Lombardi Trophy, it's not always. Okay, I hear you.
- [17:55]
Steve Mensch
I think it's a great point. I just think there's. I want to know what his. I want to talk to Coach prime because I don't want to put words in his mouth. I don't want to assume what is, what is his. I don't want to know the team name. I want to know what the top three things he's looking for in an organization for his son to go play there and for him to potentially coach there, which he may not want to get into at this point, which is understandable.
- [18:15]
Todd McShay
But where, where.
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Steve Mensch
What are the top three things he's looking for?
- [18:17]
Todd McShay
Well, he. In that interview, he, he didn't get through top three, and I. That's why we will get him on the show. Get him on the show at some point. But he did stability, I believe, and I'd have to go back and watch it and people can, can get it, you know, online and, and go. Go check out the interview. But he mentioned stability, like organizational stability and, and basically the right people in the organization. It wasn't. I think he made something. It wasn't necessarily about climate. It wasn't necessarily about where, you know, where to play, but like going to an organization with stability and that, you know, that's a perfect transition. Let's, let's take a look right now at, at the draft and what the draft order is right now. Okay. And. And I, I want you to take a look at this simply because I think it's important, like, where are the landing spots? Okay.
- [19:08]
Steve Mensch
Right.
- [19:08]
Todd McShay
And. And I look at this draft order. Right. And I'm looking at the Giants at number two. I'm looking at the Raiders at number five. And it's important to mention this with the, with the Las Vegas Raiders. Tom Brady is there. Okay. Part owner.
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Steve Mensch
Yeah.
- [19:26]
Todd McShay
Just became part owner of that organization. Two other things I want you to keep in mind. Okay.
- [19:31]
Steve Mensch
Yep.
- [19:32]
Todd McShay
Where did Shador spend time this past off season? Training with Tom Brady.
- [19:38]
Steve Mensch
Right.
- [19:39]
Todd McShay
Okay. So there's a relationship between Shador and Tom. There's a relationship between Coach prime and Tom. And. And also there was a basketball game recently. I don't know all the details, but that Mark Davis, the owner of the Raiders, was there and talked glowingly about Shador. And I guess, like, yeah, any player, draft prospect, you're going to talk glowing, but, like, right again, these people are. Have made billions, not millions. And Coach prime has. Has done what he's done, probably hundreds of millions. And when, when you have people of that level of success, I've had the great fortune of being around some unbelievable head coaches, some unbelievable owners, some, you know, people who are at the elite level. And this, this job has afforded me that opportunity. The word I always use is intentional, man. Nothing comes out of the people who are, like, at the highest, highest level, nothing comes out. There's always messaging and it's always intentional. So keep the Raiders in mind. That's fascinating to me. Then you go down, I'll give you three more, and then you go ahead. Do wherever you want, bud.
- [20:50]
Steve Mensch
Okay.
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Todd McShay
The jets at 8. Joe Douglas is there as the GM. His contract's up at the end of this year. Woody Johnson, if you don't want to take my. My word for how interfering some owners can be and some of the issues that Woody Johnson has presented for this jets organization, you don't see it on the field. Go check out some of the comments from Bill Belichick. And yes, there's an ax to grind, but again, intentional. And, and Bill Belichick's not going to make those comments about someone he respects in ownership. Okay. Even if, even if he let him down or, or, you know, they had. Did bad business, he's just. He's not going to unless he believes it. So the Jet. My point in all saying that is there's a chance, and it's looking more likely than there's a chance that that organization, what he's just going to do whatever he wants, clear it out. He's already cleared out his head coach and, and try to reset it all. Aaron Rodgers is going to be back next year, so maybe this would be time. So The Giants at 2 are interesting. The Raiders, we see the connections there already at number five. The jets with that ownership. Absolutely. The Saints are intriguing to me. I don't know that there's any connections or ties, but the Saints are sitting at 9 right now. And then we promise you this is not going to be a Dallas Shadoor podcast or show. But like, but, but there's a lot of smoke right now about the Cowboys. What's happened to this organization? Obviously Jerry Jones is the owner. No one likes attention more on his franchise than Jerry Jones does and I truly can't think of anything. Come up with one scenario this upcoming off season after a massively disappointing season for the Dallas Cowboys. Give me one scenario, Mitch, that would be more attention grabbing and create more buzz and more excitement for the Dallas Cowboys than orchestrating a trade and getting Shador Sanders as your future starting quarterback with Coach prime as the new head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.
- [22:55]
Steve Mensch
Yeah, there's nothing even close to base in reality. You'd have to be like, oh, the Cowboys trade from homes. Like there's nothing real that could possibly happen that is anywhere near as good or as exciting for a team like that. What do they do with Dax contract though? I mean, how, I mean that thing is a albatross. Like what do you like who's taking that on if you're going to move on from Dak? What's the penalty if you cut? Like that's, I mean it's tough. And then the other thing is, look, and this is what I was going to say about the Raiders. I love that. I mean I think that's great. He goes with Brady. I think, you know, the Raiders, it would be just so, so great. Right? He's, if you're looking at this, he's throwing to Jacoby Myers and Brock Bowers who has a chance to be special but is young and I mean what are his offensive line like? What is, what is Coach prime looking for? Because then if you're giving up draft.
- [23:44]
Todd McShay
Yeah, but there's, there's free agency and now maybe a lot more people want to make Vegas their home. You know, maybe if he can get a bunch of young men to go to Boulder, Colorado to play for a, an organization. Sorry, that was I think 1 in 11 prior to last season, 20, 23. If he can turn that whole roster over. I mean, yeah, it's different recruiting in high school versus recruiting in the NFL.
- [24:11]
Steve Mensch
But devil's advocate, he's worked.
- [24:15]
Todd McShay
He's worked with a lot of dudes in the NFL.
- [24:18]
Steve Mensch
First off, if you're a corner and you don't want to play for him, I don't know what's going on. I don't care what level you're at.
- [24:21]
Todd McShay
Right.
- [24:22]
Steve Mensch
I will say devil's advocate. And again, I don't know. This is just, you know, something to think about is if you're going to a situation where, you know, the coach is going to play his son as a quarterback and that's it, and has never won an NFL game as a head coach, there are guys who are going to love that. They're going to love that situation because he is. He's proven to be a good coach. But there's going to be other guys who might have some hesitations about going into that kind of a situation. The Raiders haven't done anything. You know, it might. If he goes there and he has success, it'll be the top landing spot, one of the top landing spots in the league. But there might be some guys, like free agents who are like, I'm. I feel a little more comfortable signing, you know.
- [25:03]
Todd McShay
Yeah. But it all. It only takes a handful, man. And his connections, like his in.
- [25:07]
Steve Mensch
I guess we'll see.
- [25:08]
Todd McShay
That's something the young guys worked with that now play in the NFL. I'm telling you, it's also done.
- [25:16]
Steve Mensch
I mean, what he's done at Colorado in terms of, like, yes, he's gotten a lot of players to come in, but the way he's developed guys, too, I mean, it's, It's. He is. I, you know, I'm. I'm with you. I think he's a great coach. I think the sky is the limit for what he can do in the league. But there. You're not convincing me. You know what I mean? You're convincing guys who have played in the league for seven years and may want to go win, go somewhere they think they can win a championship sooner. It's just. It's going to be interesting how that all plays out. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe you're right.
- [25:42]
Todd McShay
One last thing I want to. I just want to address. Okay. And then we'll move on. We've got so much college football, like the. We're mid November now. We've got the college Football playoff race. We've. We've got to get to our championship draft. Let's Throw that graphic back up the draft order. Okay, here's the draft order. I'm intrigued by this match. So now Shadour is working the phones. Let's say it's Jacksonville. Let's say it's Cleveland. Okay. Picking it number one. And let's say. Absolutely. Coach prime is working behind the scenes privately, as he says, talking to teams and saying, we're going. We're going to the Raiders at five. Let's see it. Let's say it's the Jaguars at one. Let's say it's the Browns at three, the three that wind up picking it number one. Let's say it's the Titans that pick it number one. Let's even say it's the Giants picking it number one. They want to bring in prime, but he doesn't want to go there. He wants. They want to bring in Shador, and they're. They're told that go ahead, draft us. Draft my son. But. But he's not going. How do you manage this as the team and maybe multiple teams? Let's say this is the. Let's say this is a draft order. You're the Jaguars. Yeah, I. I'm taking Shador, absolutely again, because the second. The second. Yes. The second I pass on Shador 1, I've lost all my leverage. I'm out of this game. This game, this game is fruitful. This game with Coach prime and Shador, there's a lot to benefit from, and I want to be right in the middle of this thing. I don't care if I need a quarterback. I don't care if I don't need a quarterback. I, if I'm picking at one, and I'm not one of. And I'm not the anointed organization or one of two or three anointed organizations where Shador's allowed to go. And potentially I'm coming with him as Coach Prime, I'm taking them.
- [27:37]
Steve Mensch
Right. If you're the Patriots who took Drake May last year, you are taking Shador Sanders because it's the asset, it's business.
- [27:44]
Todd McShay
What I'm not doing is letting. Is letting the draft go by. Right?
- [27:49]
Steve Mensch
Right.
- [27:50]
Todd McShay
You wake up Sunday morning, 256 picks later, and you're like, I got Shador on my team. We don't need a quarterback. Or I do. But, like, he ain't. He ain't going to come play for us. He's holding out now. You've lost your leverage where you. Where you have. And it's a, It's a dangerous game. It's a dangerous game, but where you have the leverage. If you're picking at number one or picking at number two, you're not the anointed team. Anointed team. But you know of one, two or three anointed teams below you where you, where you got to go get yours is on the clock, right? So a deal has. And if I'm picking at one, I'm telling everyone we're taking Shador. I don't care if I Trevor Lawrence, we're taking Shador.
- [28:34]
Steve Mensch
He's the best player in the draft. He's the best player.
- [28:37]
Todd McShay
If you want him, come get him. This is going to be fun, man.
- [28:40]
Steve Mensch
It is. It is. And you're right though. You have to again, you know, it's not like the, the Chargers waited until the next Wednesday to trade to make the, the Manning for Rivers trade. I mean it was, it was done that night very quickly.
- [28:53]
Todd McShay
And this, this is why I love, I love having this conversation too. Because we're fortunate what we do. Like we're acutely aware of what this draft is and there's not a lot of podcast shows, TV outlets, like not a lot of people know the in detail what this draft is and can and can break it down. What I'm promising you right now and talking to the league and just studying tape in my own eyes and I know mention you agree this, this, this is not a great or elite draft at the top. We've got some really good player. It's a damn good running back class. It's a damn good edge class. It's. There's a lot of depth in like the second, third, fourth round this year, teams are going to want to move back. Okay. But my point to all of this is if you are a Jacksonville or you are a Tennessee and you wind up with that first pick, if you are the Cleveland Browns and you're not anointed, you wind up with that first pick, you take them. And if you got a wait and trade to 11 with the Dallas Cowboys or you gotta wait and trade to five, you're not missing out on like a generational, a generational left tackle. You're not missing out on a generational edge rusher. There's a lot of good edge rushers. So what I'm getting at 5 or what I'm getting at 11, it's almost as good as what I'm getting at 1. So that adds to it.
- [30:14]
Steve Mensch
Yeah, I couldn't agree more. I mean, you don't have to get a ton in return, but get something, man. Just get something if, you know.
- [30:24]
Todd McShay
I'm excited about this. It's not, I just said it. It's not a great draft, but this is going to be a storyline that just, it keeps giving. There's so much to it. There's so many different angles. I think this is a great jumping off point for it. But we are in. We are in week 12 of college football.
- [30:39]
Steve Mensch
Yes, we are.
- [30:40]
Todd McShay
And we just had the another second rankings reveal. We do have the first year ever with the, with the 12 team college football Playoff bracket. Here's the projection. If you're watching this, you can see the projection here that Boise State, Ohio. Ohio State matchup is still sitting there. 12, 5. But let's get into this. My man. Okay.
- [30:59]
Steve Mensch
Yeah, let's do it.
- [31:02]
Todd McShay
This is, I said it before. This is a historic day on the McShay Show. Like when you're sitting around talking to your grandchildren, you know, 40 years from now you can say, I was there, I liked, I subscribed, I downloaded. I was with them from the beginning. These two idiots that are co hosting the McShay show, I was there the first time they, they revealed this. Okay. This is the College Football Playoff Championship Confidence Draft. And I, and I love our producer Connor, but could he be, could he have added any more words or Cs to this?
- [31:42]
Steve Mensch
But I love it.
- [31:43]
Todd McShay
I love it. He asked us right before we came on. You good with the word, the word, the wording on this? Yeah, I'm good with the College Football Playoff Championship Confidence draft. So how does this work? Men and I, we're going to. I don't have a coin. M. You pick first. Okay. I'm a good.
- [31:57]
Steve Mensch
All right, nice.
- [31:58]
Todd McShay
You know, like, you come to my house, I'm going to feed you. What cocktail can I make for you? I'm going to let you, you get first.
- [32:03]
Steve Mensch
That lines up nicely for me.
- [32:05]
Todd McShay
We're going to go back and forth. Okay? You pick one, I pick two. You pick odds, I pick evens. We're going to go all the way down. Here's the only thing you have to know about this. Two things, I guess. The first is we're not picking based off of resume. This isn't strength of schedule. This isn't strength of resume. This isn't anything else besides confidence. Confidence in which teams can actually win the national championship. If you right now were able to, we go through a draft, say, all right, I want that team because I think that they have the best chance to win the national championship. Okay, then this has the second best chance in my opinion. And we're going to go down that way. And then in weeks following, what we're going to do is it's a little bit like Rosillo and I did the Heisman Trophy eliminator. Okay, he picked three players. I picked three players. Then we'll have opportunities in future weeks to. We're going to circle back on this and say, okay, here are my six teams that I picked. My confidence in him here mention six teams. Confidence he has in these teams to win the national championship. And we're going to say, all right, well, Tennessee's eliminated now, or whichever, whatever team is eliminated. And then we can trade in and out. And we can also restack them. Okay, Right. Restack them based off of what we're seeing. And it's not only what we're seeing, but also the situation they're in, who they're going to have to play is someone getting a six seed versus, you know, a two seed and getting a buy in the first week. So with that as the backdrop, Mensch. And we'll. We'll rifle through this, but comment on each one and why you. Why you take them at this spot with the first pick of the inaugural in 2024 College Football Playoff Championship Confidence draft. You knew it had to be a draft with you and I. Steve Mensch is on the clock. Go ahead.
- [33:54]
Steve Mensch
No offense to Dan Landing and the Ducks, but we're going the Ohio State Buckeyes. I just think really too talented, talent everywhere. I feel like we've talked a lot on this show about where are the flaws on this team. And there's some flaws. We'll start with the flaw for Ohio State, the offensive line, some injuries up front. How are they going to continue to gel and play well, But I saw enough against Penn State to be excited about that. But. But look at the talent on that team. The running back talent, the receiver talent. They have playmakers everywhere. They have a defensive line where all four starters might get drafted. They might have the best secondary in the country. They might have the best defensive pack defensive back in the country in Caleb Downs. Then you have Ryan Day. You have Chip Kelly calling your plays. They've been here before. They know how to handle this pressure. I think Ohio State's going to win out. I think Ohio State beats Oregon in the. In the big Chen championship game. And they will be crowned the national championships when it's all said and done.
- [34:49]
Todd McShay
Wow. Mensch, the gate.
- [34:53]
Steve Mensch
I love the Ducks, but I gotta go Buckeyes.
- [34:56]
Todd McShay
I'm. I'm like Ozzie Newsome. Right. Like, my, My draft tactic is to sit back and let you make the mistake.
- [35:02]
Steve Mensch
Oh, here we go.
- [35:03]
Todd McShay
And then I cash in on it. And I thought it was going to be at, like, the fourth, fifth, fourth or sixth pick, but it's coming at number two. I'm taking Oregon. I believe in Dan Landing. I believe in Will Stein, the offensive coordinator.
- [35:16]
Steve Mensch
Right.
- [35:17]
Todd McShay
Young buck, great hire by Lanning. What he did with Bo Nicks, what he's doing with Dylan Gabriel this year. I believe in Jordan James, the running back, most underrated running back in the country. I believe in their weapons. Four deep at wide receiver. They're Ferguson at tight end. Defensively, playing good enough. Playing good ball. I. I loved what I saw. I know. I know it was a home game. I know it was a close game, but they. They did head to head beat Ohio State. I'm going to go with the Oregon Ducks, and I'll say this preseason, and even more so after the first couple of weeks of watching them, I did not think I was going to be making this kind of statement.
- [35:54]
Steve Mensch
Right.
- [35:55]
Todd McShay
I really didn't. But now, like, you go back and you look at Boise State's a damn good football team. So, like, I get why that was close, and they probably got snuck up on a little bit in that game, but I'm gonna go. So with the first pick, it's Ohio State for Steve Mensch. The second pick is Oregon for myself. And now the third pick, Mensch. I think I know where you're going. Go ahead.
- [36:17]
Steve Mensch
Oh, let's see. I was.
- [36:20]
Todd McShay
I love it.
- [36:23]
Steve Mensch
No idea that was coming. That's great.
- [36:25]
Todd McShay
Except when it's like to pick 250 on a Saturday. Then I just.
- [36:28]
Steve Mensch
I am. I'm interested to hear what you. Your take on this one. I'm going Texas, man.
- [36:33]
Todd McShay
Yep.
- [36:33]
Steve Mensch
I think Texas at three. I look, I. I actually struggle with Texas and Oregon. I think that's. That's 1A and 1B. I mean, 2A and 2B to me. I. I look at Texas, that defense is so good. But m. What about the Georgia game? I just don't. I think that's a blip. I think that Sark's going to get yours right enough that they. They correct that. I don't think they give up nine sacks in a game again, I don't think that happens. That second quarter was an absolute nightmare for that program. I think they bounce back. I think they get right. I don't think people will realize how good that defense is, man. It is. I mean, I think it's 12.6 points per game. I think I said that already. That defense is good. Jo the corner, J. Baron.
- [37:13]
Todd McShay
Love them.
- [37:14]
Steve Mensch
There's some dudes on that defense. And then, look, I just, I just think they're going to be. When I look at top to bottom, I believe in Sark. I think, I think the, yours is going to get it right. And I love that defense. I'm going Texas at three.
- [37:28]
Todd McShay
Okay. I like that pick. All right, pick number four.
- [37:31]
Steve Mensch
It's trickier here. Right.
- [37:33]
Todd McShay
I, I drew a line the time.
- [37:35]
Steve Mensch
Right.
- [37:36]
Todd McShay
I tear everything. I'm a tear guy.
- [37:38]
Steve Mensch
Yeah, I know you're a tier guy.
- [37:39]
Todd McShay
Oregon, Texas, Ohio State were my top tier. Okay, so now we're in tier two, in my opinion. I'm drinking the Kool Aid. You know, maybe it's just recency bias.
- [37:51]
Steve Mensch
No.
- [37:52]
Todd McShay
Alabama.
- [37:54]
Steve Mensch
Oh, all right. All right.
- [37:56]
Todd McShay
You thought, you thought Ole Miss.
- [37:57]
Steve Mensch
I did.
- [37:58]
Todd McShay
I thought Ole Miss, that's coming soon. I'm gonna take Alabama here because I, I. You asked the question why I think their defense is good, not exceptional. It's not to the standard that we saw in some of those elite classes that we've talked about with Nick Saban, you know, with like four first rounders and nine guys in the top 100 and all that. But it's, it's a really good defense. I love their linebackers, absolutely love their linebackers. I think their defensive line is good and getting better. Some, there's some, some holes to attack in the secondary at times. So I think.
- [38:29]
Steve Mensch
Right.
- [38:29]
Todd McShay
That's concerning. But the reason I'm going to pick Alabama here is because I think they figured something out and coming off of a bye week and I mentioned 7 0, Kaylin DeBoer against, against the elite coaches. I'm going to rattle this off my head. I hope I get it right. Kirby Smart, Brian Kelly, Sark and oh, and Dan Lanning. 70 against those guys.
- [38:54]
Steve Mensch
That means something, man. That's a damn something.
- [38:57]
Todd McShay
It does.
- [38:58]
Steve Mensch
Yeah.
- [38:58]
Todd McShay
And when I say they figured out something, the designed runs for Jalen Milroe, we were scratching our heads, right? Like why isn't he aggressive in some games? Jalen Milro and he's more aggressive in others. They realized when they self scouted that Jalen Milroe, he takes pride when you call his number and he is the most aggressive version of himself as a runner when you call his number. Not on scrambles. He's not comfortable as, not nearly as comfortable. So last week it was 10, 10 design runs for 175 yards, men.
- [39:32]
Steve Mensch
Yeah.
- [39:33]
Todd McShay
And it was two. Two scrambles for runs. I think it was the number for 10 yards. Two or three, whatever.
- [39:37]
Steve Mensch
It was so, so strange. Yeah.
- [39:39]
Todd McShay
So I. I think that when. When we get into big moments like they were in this past week, when they're in big moments, that's going to be the design. And until someone stops them, like, you know, I've got a lot of confidence, so. All right, so we've got our pick so far. Mensch has got Ohio State, number one. Took Texas at three. I've got Oregon at two and Alabama at four. We're down to pick number five with Steve Mensch. Play me that music, that little jingle.
- [40:06]
Steve Mensch
There. This is the one. This is the one where you're like. Because, you know, can I put my faith in Kiffin and Ole Miss? And I just. I watched the tape, and I. When I watched the tape, I just. I believe in this team. That defensive front is so good. They have a seasoned quarterback who can make some plays with his feet. I think really understands that offense. They're loaded at wide receiver. I mean, I think Ole Miss at five. I don't, man. I just. Maybe it's because I've been watching that defensive line too much, but I just. I just think that's. I think that's fair. I think when you start looking at these other teams, you really start getting into. All right. You know, they're. They're no longer those teams. You're like, I definitely think this team's gonna win the championship. So do I think the Ole Miss has the best shot of the teams left? I gotta say, I do.
- [40:59]
Todd McShay
I would have gone there, so I can't sit there and debate. All right, good pick. Good pick. This one might surprise you. Pick number six. Technically, this week, they're not even in the College Football Playoff.
- [41:15]
Steve Mensch
Wow. Here we go.
- [41:16]
Todd McShay
Coming off an ugly loss, I'm taking Go Dogs. I'm taking Georgia, because if they get in, I don't want to play them. And we're down to six. Excuse me. I see you, Indiana. I see you, byu. I see you, Notre Dame. I see you, Miami. I see you, Penn State. We'll have to ask Fanduel. I want to know from Fanduel. We'll get into a Saturday night. We may have a different result depending on what happens in the game, but I'd be very interested. Those teams I just rattled off, what would the spread be? Georgia, to me, would be favored in all those games in a neutral site. Yeah, they got a lot to figure out like that. Offensive line struggled. And you know what? It wasn't just the pre. It wasn't just one week against Ole Miss. It just happened to be arguably the best defensive line in the country. They've got to get their pass protection figured out. Their weapons are not great on the outside, but it's still Georgia, that defense. Can I go back to this when we're talking confidence for the sake of this argument. This is about confidence that if they get in and. And you've matched them up against the other teams in this tourney, if you will look at that Texas game.
- [42:27]
Steve Mensch
Yeah.
- [42:28]
Todd McShay
That version can. Can resurface. I like my chances picking him at number six. So I'm going to go number six, Georgia.
- [42:35]
Steve Mensch
And there's.
- [42:37]
Todd McShay
Go ahead.
- [42:37]
Steve Mensch
Their schedule has been outrageous.
- [42:39]
Todd McShay
All right, we're.
- [42:39]
Steve Mensch
We'll. We'll get into them a little bit later. And I am. Right. I mean, this is going to set up nicely for what we're going to talk about later. I'm going Tennessee again. These are. These are. The formula for me here is they can run the ball in that defensive front as deep as it gets. They had that blip against Arkansas. I don't like that. They played so many home games. That kind of concerns me. But they had the blip against Arkansas, but they come back and they beat Alabama. Is Nico being inconsistent? Scare me. Yeah. But super talented, man. Super talented. And I look at that running game, I think Dylan Sampson is the truth. And I look at that defensive front. I love their scheme. I love their defensive scheme. And to me, this might be the year that the Vols make some noise.
- [43:30]
Todd McShay
I don't hate it. That's who I had him at seven, too.
- [43:33]
Steve Mensch
Nice.
- [43:34]
Todd McShay
All right, pick number eight. The pick is in. I'm going Notre Dame. I'm going Notre Dame because I just don't. I don't. I don't feel like I know enough. And maybe they're better than I. Than I thought. Maybe they're. Maybe they just had one terrible game against Northern Illinois. Maybe.
- [43:54]
Steve Mensch
Maybe they just ran over Florida State. But they look so good doing it, you know, like Riley Leonard seems like.
- [44:01]
Todd McShay
He'S getting a little better. You know, he's never going to beat you with his arm. Like they're going to have to manufacture passing game, but he's mobile. That offensive line is good. The defense is really good. That secondary, even with the loss at corner, they're still outstanding. I don't know. I think when we get down to nine to number nine, Notre Dame, I feel like I. It's hard to say Notre Dame in the program, in the history.
- [44:24]
Steve Mensch
Right.
- [44:24]
Todd McShay
Mission. That I. But I just don't feel like I know enough yet. But with that comes a little bit of intrigue, and that makes them kind of dangerous. So I'm going to take note. If you tell me you get a Notre Dame at nine, I'm pretty happy. So my pick is number nine, Notre Dame. What do we got? We're down to pick 10.
- [44:40]
Steve Mensch
It's getting tough, man. And you think. If you think it's hard to pick Notre Dame, I'm going Penn State. I love the defensive front. Yeah. I mean, at this point, right. I'm going Penn State. I'm still terrified of their ability to win the big game. I love the tight end, Tyler Warren. I think we got talent at running back. I think they have that defensive front that can make some. You make some plays and really keep them in games. And maybe they figure it out this year. But at this point, when we're getting this deep in the draft, I think Penn State's solid.
- [45:12]
Todd McShay
All right. So Penn State was pick nine, pick ten. I'm just gonna. I'm just gonna roll with it. I'm taking Indiana.
- [45:23]
Steve Mensch
Yeah.
- [45:24]
Todd McShay
I'm taking Signetti. I know Miami's got more talent. I know it.
- [45:28]
Steve Mensch
Right.
- [45:28]
Todd McShay
Every team we've talked about has more talent. I know A M has more talent. I know South Carolina has more talent. But there's something about this bunch, man. The efficiency they play with, the confidence they play with. They know what's expected and they execute what's expected. So when we get down to pick 10 and, yeah, they haven't played anybody. I get it. But they've annihilated everyone they've landled.
- [45:52]
Steve Mensch
Yeah.
- [45:53]
Todd McShay
I mean, just no problem. And it doesn't, you know, like, Michigan should be a scary moment. We don't beat Michigan in Indiana. Nah. You know what I mean? They just. There's.
- [46:01]
Steve Mensch
And it got a little tight. There was a point in that game where it could teetered like, oh, here this is. The old Indiana is about to show itself.
- [46:08]
Todd McShay
But I never want, if you get out to win. There was the. The helmets were. Were a factor. You know what I mean? Like, it didn't matter who they were playing.
- [46:16]
Steve Mensch
Right.
- [46:17]
Todd McShay
And Michigan, you know, poured its heart out, but Indiana better. Right. And we know Michigan is recruited better. We know Michigan has more NFL prospects. We know there's going to be two defensive tackles for Michigan that are going to go really early. Will Johnson did not play in that game, but we know Will Johnson is going to be a top five, top seven pick cornerback. So.
- [46:37]
Steve Mensch
Right.
- [46:37]
Todd McShay
I don't know. I like, you know, we got to. We got to throw some. Throw some stuff against the wall here. But pick number 10. I like Indiana. What do you got at 11m?
- [46:48]
Steve Mensch
Really considered a M? I did. I'm a little concerned about the quarterback situation, so I ended up going Miami. I, you know, give me Cam Ward. Can he ca. How far can he take that team? I think defensively there's a lot of holes. I like their running back, Martinez. I think they've. They've got some playmakers at wide receiver. I think they're gonna have to win some shootouts, to be honest with you. But give me Cam Ward.
- [47:10]
Todd McShay
All right, pick 12. And I don't disagree with that at this point. Pick 12. This may surprise you. Like, Boise State's a really good team. I'm excited to have them in. You know, like, I love that matchup. But we get Ohio State versus Boise State or Boise State versus. Any team that's probably going to be ranked third or probably ranked third is going to wind up with that five seed because the Big 12 gets a spot and the ACC gets a spot. Okay. So the third best team in the country according to the College Football Playoff rankings, when it's all said and done, is likely going to play Boise State. And I think it's going to be intriguing. BYU is rated ranked high. BYU could be a four seed in this thing. Four seed.
- [47:51]
Steve Mensch
I know business.
- [47:52]
Todd McShay
They could be a four seed.
- [47:54]
Steve Mensch
Yeah.
- [47:55]
Todd McShay
I'm taking Texas A and M. Okay.
- [47:58]
Steve Mensch
Yeah.
- [47:58]
Todd McShay
Yeah.
- [47:58]
Steve Mensch
No, no. I thought you were going to go the other direction.
- [48:00]
Todd McShay
And I'd be interested to hear what fanduel has to say. That's another one. I'd like to see Georgia matched up against the Red. The rest of the field, I'd like to see A M. I like to see A M. And I'd like to see South Carolina neutral site vs vs BYU vs Boise State. What would that number be? Because I have a strong feeling that I would be on the right side of that in terms of what Vegas thinks.
- [48:27]
Steve Mensch
Right.
- [48:27]
Todd McShay
But that's all right. So that's our. I love it. How did you get Georgia at 6. Now I'm already regretting it. All right, so a quick recap. Mensch with the number one pick, took Ohio State. He had all the odd picks. So on men's side is Ohio State, Texas, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Penn State, Miami. I picked at number two and had all the even picks. Oregon, Bama, Georgia. Stop. Notre Dame, Indiana, And Texas A and M. That was fun. I like that. And we'll revisit that. I think each week we'll come back and revisit that. See if we want to, you know, pluck a team out. Maybe a BYU or a Boise State or another team once we want to move them in and we can restack them as we go so that when we get to the College Football Playoff, you and I will both have our six picks and we'll bet something over. You know what. Anyone listening? Anyone watching something reasonable?
- [49:27]
Steve Mensch
Yeah, no tattoos.
- [49:28]
Todd McShay
Yeah, something reasonable. But I want. I see a bunch of hysterical stuff for like, guy lost his fantasy football draft and had to do this with.
- [49:38]
Steve Mensch
The Waffle House thing.
- [49:39]
Todd McShay
So the. Oh, here we go. We got a good graphic right here. Anyone who's watching, it's the breakdown of Todd's teams versus matches. Teams. What's the Waffle House thing, Mitch? It's.
- [49:49]
Steve Mensch
You got to stay in the Waffle House for. If you're losing your fantasy league, you got to stay in a Waffle House for 24 hours. But the catch is for every waffle you eat, they take off an hour. So if you can eat eight waffles, it's only 16 hours.
- [50:03]
Todd McShay
How many? I, I feel, I feel like I could eat more waffles than you.
- [50:07]
Steve Mensch
Maybe. I mean, but you're. Yeah, I think you're there bare minimum, 18 hours.
- [50:14]
Todd McShay
How big are the waffles there? The McShay show is presented by FanDuel. Get out your game day gear this college football season on FanDuel because right now all customers get a profit boost every college football Saturday. Every single Saturday. Listen, I'm never going to tell you which play you have to make on a college football Saturday, but I will let you know. I was 6 and 1 last week in picks. I'm just saying I'm kind of feeling it right now. And I look at this Georgia Tennessee spread. It's the biggest game of the weekend. Georgia versus Tennessee, prime time game. Everything's on the line, especially for Georgia in this game. I think the Bulldogs giving ten and a half is the way he gotta go. I think Vegas is begging you to take Tennessee. Sure. We'll take the higher ranked team. You get 10 points with it. Don't be a sucker. I love Georgia in this game. I'll tell you what, again, I'm never going to say exactly what you have to do, but the same game parlay is really intriguing to me. In this one, I don't see where the points come from. Let's Put it this way, I just believe this is going to be a low scoring defensive battle. I think Georgia is absolutely the play. I wouldn't be surprised if we had an under as well. Boost your winnings on bets like spreads over unders, method of first touchdown, and so much more. Just visit FanDuel.com McShay that's FanDuel.com McShray to download America's number one sportsbook and kick off every college football Saturday with a boost. Must be 21 and older and present in select states or 18 and older and present in DC. Opt in required bonus issued as non withdrawable profit boost tokens Restrictions apply including any token expiration. See terms@sportsbook.fanduel.com call 1-800-gambler or visit rg help.com all right, couple more things. Few more things that we got to get to Mitch, this has been a fun show so far.
- [52:10]
Steve Mensch
Yeah, this has been awesome.
- [52:12]
Todd McShay
We the biggest matchup in the SEC this week. Biggest matchup in the country this week. Saturday night prime time. Herbie and Fowler back at it coming off of last week's really disappointing matchup with LSU in Alabama. Not, not if you're an Alabama fan, but if you're a fan of college football and we're looking for a great game. If you're on the McShay show and you're waiting up to do a live show right after and please join us again. We honestly, my favorite show that we do every week is the Saturday night Instant Reaction live show on YouTube. Like just come join us, check it out. We may, you may not agree with all the things we're saying. You may disagree, but that can be fun too. But we dive into the to the biggest game and then the other key games in the action from that day. But this week, again, prime time sec. Like I love it. I just love between the hedges night game. Everything's on the line. Georgia loses. People keep saying, well, they could get in with three losses. They could, but it ain't likely. Tennessee needs this win. You know, backs against the wall. This is a huge game. So let's break this down for a minute and then we'll get into FanDuel and what we're looking at here. I'm kind of on a hot streak right now. Mitch.
- [53:30]
Steve Mensch
You'Re scaring me.
- [53:32]
Todd McShay
6 and 6 and 1 and won my pool of like 50 different people last week. Okay, let's go. And I feel strongly about this game. We'll get to that.
- [53:41]
Steve Mensch
I know you do. We're going to get into it strongly.
- [53:43]
Todd McShay
I think you're a sucker. All right.
- [53:47]
Steve Mensch
Not just for this, but yeah.
- [53:48]
Todd McShay
Georgia, Tennessee. A couple things. Let's start with Georgia. Georgia's offense versus Tennessee defense. What stands out? Georgia's offensive line. A lot of numbers, depending, you know, you can go to a lot of different places, get different statistics, analytics numbers. This offensive line for Georgia, and I'm going off of some of the stuff that you've said, obviously going off my tape study, this offensive line has not been as good as maybe the numbers stacked up to be. I think that George has done a good job kind of protecting this offensive line, but with quick passes, quick games, screens, they don't have receivers who are running verticals. There's not a lot of like, you know, the traditional, what you would call seven step drops or, you know, working the ball vertically down the field, deep, intermediate stuff. And when they. When they have. It's been a little bit of a struggle and Carson Beck has been under pressure, but they were able to mask it and hide it for a long time. I felt like there's no masking, running away, hiding from the Ole Miss defensive line. There isn't. And so we. We saw it get exposed last week. Lowest passport, if you go, you know, pff. Lowest pass blocking grade of the season. But again, I think that the Georgia offensive line has struggled. That was the best defensive line, I think you and I could argue in the country. I would then argue, I would argue the second best defensive line or the one I fear the most is the Tennessee defensive front.
- [55:14]
Steve Mensch
The difference is like, easier.
- [55:16]
Todd McShay
You're going to have more guys drafted. We talked about those front four. We gave you the graphic of the four guys on the defensive line who are going to be drafted and are all in the top 10 of their respective positions. This defensive front, yes. You've got the big name, James Pierce Jr. It doesn't have elite, elite sack numbers, but his pressure rate is number one among all FBS defenders. Okay.
- [55:38]
Steve Mensch
Right.
- [55:39]
Todd McShay
You got Omar Norman lot. He's a terror as well. And the thing that's different with this group, you're not going to hear Tennessee defensive lineman get drafted as frequently in the first two days of the NFL draft. But the difference between this group and Ole Miss is I think this group is deeper.
- [55:55]
Steve Mensch
Couldn't agree more.
- [55:56]
Todd McShay
Okay.
- [55:57]
Steve Mensch
I mean, I was looking, I'm watching the tape and I'm like, who is this? Who's this defensive tackle? They play six defensive tackles and they can play six defensive tackles because there's no drop off. And the Top three. When you're talking about Omari Thomas, you're talking about Bryson Eason and you're talking about Omar Norman lot. These guys are difference makers when they're on the field. I mean they are tough to run on. They can get pushed up the middle. So when you're. I'm watching the tape and I'm looking at my depth chart and I'm like, who's, like who's this guy? Now this guy is making plays. So it's. The depth is, is outrageous. I do think. I don't know how much you want to get into it right now. The depth at edge isn't quite as good, but it's still really good. So yeah, it's. Yeah.
- [56:40]
Todd McShay
So Georgia, to me they're going to have to run the football. They were going to have to create some, some good play action situations. The thing that I've. And we've touched on it. I'm not going to beat a dead horse. The weapons just aren't different. They lost a couple guys early in the season, remember Georgia did at wide receiver, in addition to obviously what we've talked a lot about, losing an elite tight end, losing an elite wide receiver and lad McConkey and losing them to the NFL draft. And so now you're down like your four best weapons from what two that you were supposed to have coming into the season and two from a year ago. And we've seen the absolute impact on this offense for Georgia. They're not separating quickly enough. That's what I see on tape. They're just not separating quickly enough. I think delp. There's been a lack of trust there. And, and also the thing, the thing that George has always had is yak guys yards after catch. And when you have an offensive line that's, that's not protecting well and you got a quarterback that's got to get the ball out. What do you need? You need receivers that can create screen game, quick game. Right. They're not doing that right. And so something's kind of got to give here. You got a great Georgia defense. An elite Georgia. I mean, I'm sorry, a really good, let's say Tennessee defense. I would say great. I think it's great standard.
- [57:59]
Steve Mensch
They're the best in the country but.
- [58:01]
Todd McShay
And an elite. One of the top two. We said defensive lines. So what is Georgia going to do? Can they run on this front? Were you talking about all that depth of defensive tackle, the rotating in like hockey lines, like hockey shifts, you know, like I just, I don't Know, listen.
- [58:18]
Steve Mensch
I, I gotta tell you, when I, and maybe it's because I watched the Alabama game recently, defense coordinator Tim Banks doesn't get enough credit for what he does, man. And he has two guys on the outside in James Pierce and Joshua Josephs who are elite in terms of versatility. And so he can do these multiple fronts and he can drop guys. He brings pressure. It looks like he bringing pressure over here. Nope, I'm dropping a guy. I'm bringing pressure over here. We talk about some of the things that Carson Beck has had a hard time seeing. This is going to be a challenge for him as well. You, you, you know you want. Again, this is the thing about the, the James Pierces of the world. If you see that guy coming off the edge, you would better account for him protection wise. But now when you account for him, the numbers are off. When you drop more guys, got to win one on one. You might get a free runner. You got to make a quick decision. The guy you thought was your hot is now has a linebacker dropping underneath him. It is difficult, difficult to play against that defense. And I'll also say one thing that really jumps out to me about when I watch their tape. Take away the scheme, take away the talent, these dudes rally to the football. I, I've been super impressed with how they rally to the ball. Mis tackle. No problem. Here comes the next layer. Guys are flying. And part of that is again, we're so deep. You're going to be fresh when you're.
- [59:34]
Todd McShay
On the field, man. Give me 25, give me 30. You don't have to give me 60.
- [59:38]
Steve Mensch
All out, right? Empty the tank now, man, because don't worry about it. We got a guy, another guy who can come in when you need, when you need a break. So I mean this I, that's, I'm concerned about and again there, I don't know how you want to handle the injuries in this game, but George is banged up at running back. I mean they, they're, they're potentially going to have to lean on Frazier who is a very, you don't get carries at Georgia as a freshman if you're that talented.
- [60:02]
Todd McShay
Oh, he's an absolute stud. But, but he's got to protect the football.
- [60:06]
Steve Mensch
Can he hold on to the football in this game?
- [60:07]
Todd McShay
He was losing carries early in the season because of, because of fumbles and fumbles that Kirby Smart said in practice as well that scared him. And then they got to a point with, with ETN and he's been dinged up since that the Text Texas game right where he had. Yeah, three touchdowns, I think it was.
- [60:22]
Steve Mensch
Yeah.
- [60:23]
Todd McShay
So they've got him very clearly on a pitch count. And so, so how effective is etn?
- [60:29]
Steve Mensch
Jones has been a good receiver out of the backfield. He's hurt, too, like he's banged up. Frazier hasn't played a big role in the passing game. Can he, can he step it up there? I mean, they're. Listen, this looks like a low scoring game to me. Tell me if you think I'm wrong, but it looks like a low scoring game to me. I think it's going to be a real defensive battle.
- [60:46]
Todd McShay
We'll get to that in a minute. Yeah, we'll get to. So this is, this is a resume. If you're, if you're watching for, for Georgia, obviously, the Alabama, the, the one loss. The Texas win is the signature win. And you know, you just look at. I think we have Ole Miss, there is a win that should be an L. So the, the one loss early to Alabama and the loss there for, for Ole Miss. But. And then after this, it's. It's UMass and Georgia Tech. So this is, this is the game for Georgia. This, this will decide whether they're in the College Football Playoff or if they're absolutely sweating it out in the end. Let's flip the sides. Okay. Tennessee on offense. And I, I agree, like, they're gonna have. Georgia's gonna have to run the ball, manufacture stuff, be smart on offense and limit mistakes and kind of grind their way on the offensive side. Because defensively I think Georgia, like, this could be a bloodbath.
- [61:43]
Steve Mensch
Yeah.
- [61:43]
Todd McShay
And you don't often say that. When you talk about, when you talk about hypo and you talk about this offense for Tennessee, the first thing we have to address is that. Nico, Emily, Ava.
- [61:55]
Steve Mensch
Yeah.
- [61:55]
Todd McShay
What's our situation here against Mississippi State, came out of the game. Gaston Moore came in, was five of eight passing in that game. But Nico, now this week, what report do you believe that no one has officially said that he's in concussion protocol. There's been a lot of reports.
- [62:13]
Steve Mensch
Yeah, yeah.
- [62:15]
Todd McShay
Like, like kid gloves will stand back. Like. I. I don't know. Let's just say I don't know what it is. Been a lot of reports that it most likely is that he's in concussion protocol. And every human being is different with concussions. Like, you just, you don't know when, when you're gonna, you know how you're going to react and, and how long that's going to take. So very. And we had Coach Hyp come out and said he's looked great. Practice. We don't know, like, is this. Is he. Is he playing? Is this gamesmanship? Is this, like, be prepared.
- [62:43]
Steve Mensch
What are we doing?
- [62:44]
Todd McShay
But we're bringing in Gaston. Like, that obviously is the biggest story heading into this game.
- [62:50]
Steve Mensch
Changes everything.
- [62:51]
Todd McShay
Let's. Let's just assume for this sake right now Nico's able to play. Right? Okay, let's just assume that. Because if. If not, we know what the result is. We do. I'm sorry. Guessing more. But it doesn't take more than eight passes against Mississippi State and that one interception, I think in the only pass he attempted against Alabama for me to realize like, we're talking a massive. There's a reason why true freshman starting and because he's super talented. But Al, also, if it was anywhere close, you'd probably go with the veteran guy and help develop the true freshman, put him in spots and all of that. So against this Georgia defense at home night game for the Bulldogs between the hedges, like, if it's not Nico, this. None of this conversation matters. So let's go to Nico and I. I did it. We've talked a lot about Nico this year. Look great early on, had some regression, which I don't think necessarily is all Nico. I think, quite honestly, I don't think this offensive line is great for Tennessee. Okay. That's one thing to keep in mind.
- [63:53]
Steve Mensch
Better run blockers.
- [63:54]
Todd McShay
Better beat me to it. I totally agree. Passport. I think those tackles are vulnerable. And when you get Mikel Williams and Jalen Walker, two of the most explosive edge rushers in all of college football, it's not a happy place to be if you're Hypo designing a game plan this week. Okay. With those offensive tackles. So let's. Let's keep that in mind. But where is Nico? And that's the question I wrote to myself before I started watching the tape. And we've talked about him a lot. Game feels like it's too fast for him. Him holding on the ball sometimes too much, you know, running outside, just not playing within the. In the construction, the structure of the offense. But also the thing that just jumps out to me every week. It's almost like Hypo should just. Like the very first play of the game, let's run a vertical and let's let him overthrow it.
- [64:48]
Steve Mensch
Right? Get it out.
- [64:49]
Todd McShay
Right? Get it. Just get it out. Mississippi State for. I think it was his first throw. It was the third play of the game. Yeah, it was his first throw because the first two plays were runs. One was. One was bottled up. The other one was pretty successful. Third play of the game got a receiver running wide open. It's Brew McCoy, right? Number five. Not only does he overshoot him, he throws it out of the back of the end zone, right? So, like, not. Not only was it, like, very little chance. Like, even if Brew caught up, no shot, he was out of bounds. It gave him zero chance. Okay, but Mississippi State, I haven't watched much of their defense this year. Like, they're not in the College Football Playoff race. They don't have a lot of prospects. We'll get to one, one or two guys later. I don't know if they played like this all year long, but Mississippi State's defense was putrid in this game. Like, not like guys aren't, like, open by 2 yards.
- [65:37]
Steve Mensch
Don't hold back, man.
- [65:39]
Todd McShay
I know, but. But a few plays later, squirrel number three, squirrel white. White is running like another, like, like seven, 10 yards open, you know, so he gets the second shot, but he kind of. He got the first one out of his system and he. And he hit connects on this one, right? So. But there are two points here. First of all, like, how many can you afford to miss in this game against this competition? And secondly, you're not. Maybe you get one breakdown. That was in the first, like, eight plays of the game. He had two receivers open by seven, eight yards, right? Maybe one time you get a communication breakdown or something happen, guy trips for Georgia. There's not going to be a lot of open receivers like this like what we saw last week.
- [66:22]
Steve Mensch
I agree with you. The margin of error is smaller. But if we just talked about the other side of the ball in Georgia. Let's play it out. Let's say that Georgia has some hard times putting points on the board. You don't need that many, man. I mean. I mean, you get a cut, you hit a couple of those deep shots, and this is a here we go, 21:17 game, man, you don't need a ton. You don't need a lot. I'm just saying. I get what you're saying. The margin error is smaller, but we'll get.
- [66:49]
Todd McShay
We'll get to why you're a sucker in a little bit. So I. I worry about Nico's natural touch and placement right now. You know, he's just. I don't. He's super talented. He's going to be a phenomenal one true freshman year. All the pressure, but he's not just. He's not progressing the way I Was hoping to see and like this should be a game. I don't know, we'll see but it's a big spot and hopefully he's healthy. Healthy enough to play and hopefully he plays great. And we have one an all timer on Saturday night.
- [67:17]
Steve Mensch
Fun to watch man.
- [67:18]
Todd McShay
But like realistically, what is this game going to come down to for Tennessee offensively? It's Dylan Sampson. I mean the running, the run game has been Tennessee's savior all season long. Samson's rush for 1126 yards so far.
- [67:35]
Steve Mensch
He's a dude.
- [67:36]
Todd McShay
And his 20 rushing touchdowns ranked second nationally, only behind, you guessed it, Ashton Ginty. So like it. I know it's not record setting but my goodness is this guy on a clip. But, but what I did get to study on this and I, I credit pro Football focus for this. They're help, they're really helpful with certain things that I rely on. Very average. Tennessee's run game has been very average against Power 4 conferences running the football 1.6 yards before contact according to BFF. That's not a lot and not many explosive runs. Like, like we're so. For a guy who's rushed for over 1100 yards and for a run game that's been so successful, it's not, it's. There's been a lot of, you know, rolling out some stats against programs that aren't great. So.
- [68:26]
Steve Mensch
Right.
- [68:27]
Todd McShay
That's something to keep in mind. Keep your eye on and enter Georgia's defense. As I said, night game, crowd behind it, energy. Michael Williams, Jaylen Walker. 210 Top 10 Top 15 picks in the draft. Chaz Chamb, Chambliss, Nazir Stack house, Malachi Starks, first safety off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft. Like this defense has dudes and it in the run defense, if you say like what's the one thing Georgia can rely on? What's the one thing Georgia has done great all season long? Stopping the run.
- [69:03]
Steve Mensch
Yeah.
- [69:03]
Todd McShay
So you take away Samson and put this game on Nico or put this game on Gaston Moore. Like I, I hear you. George is not going to put up major numbers in this game. But where's the offense come from for Tennessee?
- [69:18]
Steve Mensch
Yeah, I mean look, I hear you. I did. Like I said, I think this is a low scoring game. I have no illusions of Tennessee going and put up 28 or 31 against Georgia in Athens. Like, I just don't, I don't see that happening. I think their path to success is you ride Dylan Sampson who has 20 plus carries and all but two games this year. I wouldn't be surprised if he had a season high in carries this week. I would be surprised if they gave him 35 if they had to. And some of it is you hope that you don't need the big plays, right? You're looking to control the clock. You're looking to wear out that Georgia front if you can. You're looking to wear out that Georgia front. And you know, I look, I have a lot of faith in Samson. I think he's such a tough runner who's going to get everything that, that he can get on every carry. So I think that's, you know, that's their, that's their formula. I have again, I, I would be stunned if they put up more than, than 24, 28 points in this game. I don't, I think 28's too high.
- [70:17]
Todd McShay
All right. You know our friends at FanDuel, right? And I just pulled up their app and what I love is there's just so many different ways and this isn't an ad. Like they haven't asked me to do this, but I, I love going through their app and going through all the different things that they have, the trends that they have. They help, you know, they help put things in, in perspective for us. Very helpful with all the lines. What I love to do is like same game parlay. Hear me out on this.
- [70:43]
Steve Mensch
I, I'm a sucker for the parlays.
- [70:45]
Todd McShay
I don't, I, I don't, I don't get the Tommy John surgery much for patting myself on the back, but I'm six and one last week mentioned. So you know, like when you start.
- [70:54]
Steve Mensch
Show, like changing into a different show in front of.
- [70:56]
Todd McShay
No, just for a minute.
- [70:57]
Steve Mensch
Just for a minute.
- [70:57]
Todd McShay
All right. But you know when you get hot, you just got, you got to ride it. You gotta, when you're at, when you're at the craps table, when you're playing poker, you know roulette, like when you're starting, you better run with it now. You better, you better, you better stick your foot on the, on Vegas throat when you get a chance because they'll do it to you the rest of the year. So I'm feeling it right now. Okay, here's, here's what I want you to know. Like we watch all this tape, we talk to contacts, we know injury report, all this information. But like at the end of the day when I start winning, when I'm picking games, it's because I'm beating Vegas at its own game. Yeah, they're the self proclaimed they love being that little devil on your shoulder, right? Sometimes they're like begging you, come on, come on, take all these points. Take the candy, right? Take the sweets. They are begging you. And don't listen to me, public. Listen to me. Vegas is just begging you, pleading with you to take Tennessee here. The spreads, ten and a half. Tennessee is a higher ranked team. Tennessee's only got one loss, right? Begging you to take 10. Here, take, hey, Tennessee's ranked six, Georgia's ranked 11th. You can. Tennessee only has to lose by 10 points and you still win. Get out of here, Vegas. Get out of here. Don't be a sucker like Mensch. Let's win some money this week. Take Georgia on tape. No, I don't necessarily see, I don't know where the points are coming from. I don't. But I know this. I know this. When we go on live on YouTube Saturday night, it's going to be around 11, 11:30, whenever that prime time game's over, I'm going to be like this. I know, I know we're going to.
- [72:49]
Steve Mensch
Be like, I'm going to have the hoodie on.
- [72:53]
Todd McShay
They just kicked a field goal, you know, so that's what's going to happen here. And listen, same game parlor. I'm not again, I'm not here to tell you what to pick or what not to pick. There's a million different ways that you can bet this game. You get the, I'm looking right now on the, on the FanDuel app, right? We get the alternate lines, we get the Georgia point. Total points. Tennessee total points. You can do first quarter, first half, second quarter, third quarter, fourth quarter, like any way you want this. But I'm just saying if you're considering a same game parlay, and maybe I'm a sucker here, but like the under 48 and a half, I just don't know how they get to 49 these two teams.
- [73:31]
Steve Mensch
Yeah, I just don't.
- [73:33]
Todd McShay
So I'm much, a much hotter on. I think George is going to run away with this thing, but I, but I think like keep that in mind as you're going through all, you know, FanDuel, ripping through your app and figuring out what you want to do. I just don't see a ton of points in this game.
- [73:46]
Steve Mensch
How about, how about these numbers? Georgia 7 and 1 against Tennessee since 2016. The loss was in 2016. I think they have a 28 game winning streak at home. But Kirby, Kirby doesn't lose after a loss. I mean he always, almost always bounces back.
- [74:03]
Todd McShay
Kirby Owns this defense. Think back to 20, 22, two years ago, right. UT was rolling 11. They won 11 games. 11 games that year. They had only lost. They know they're. They were undefeated playing against Georgia. They're, they're Tennessee's. Remember, that's Hendon Hooker. That's, that's.
- [74:23]
Steve Mensch
This is a different Tennessee, which is what I'm saying now.
- [74:25]
Todd McShay
They're, they're roll. They're. They're putting up. They're stomping you with 50 or 60 every week. If you take all. If you take out the Georgia game. They averaged almost a half a hun on every other team. 49 points per game in the 12 other games. I looked this up yesterday. You know what Georgia did? No. That's cute. Come on in. Hype. Yeah, come on in, Hendon. Come on in, Jalen. 13, 13 points. They were held to hand to the ball. Is the first of only two losses that year. So that's it. I say, hey, I hear you.
- [74:55]
Steve Mensch
It's a strong point.
- [74:58]
Todd McShay
When you lose, say little. When you win, say less. I can't promise that will be the case on Saturday night. All right, we got that game down. Couple other. All right. We always, every week we got our staples here. That's my guy. Where are the scouts this weekend? And where would Todd be this weekend? We're going to have to rip through this. We've already gone way too long. But that's fine. Mensch. Yeah, that's my guy. Who is it this week? We're going to cut it down. We've been doing two each week. By the end of the draft, if we kept up this breakneck pace, basically every single guy would be our guy. And that's just not an accurate. It's not really an accurate, you know, picture of what this thing is all is all about. So we're going to, we're going to knock it down to one guy. But who's your guy this week that you've, you've loved watching tape that you're kind of planting your flag with?
- [75:42]
Steve Mensch
Bowling Green tight end Harold Fanon Jr. And this guy's been getting a lot of buzz.
- [75:47]
Todd McShay
Yeah. Okay. I haven't done his tape yet, so tell me.
- [75:50]
Steve Mensch
And like, so I don't want to act like breaking news that this guy's a, he's going to be a, a good tight end prospect because. But I am fir. Because it's been out there. But I am firmly on the bandwagon. Listen to this. 11 catches, 137 yards against Penn State. O goes Goes into Texas A and M the next week, 8 for 145 and another touchdown. I mean, the kid's putting up numbers. He is by far.
- [76:11]
Todd McShay
I didn't realize that.
- [76:12]
Steve Mensch
I think he's fourth in the country in average yards per game, receiving yards per game. And like the next tight end isn't even close. I mean he's been super productive. And when you throw on the Penn State tape, it's like the first play of the game, he runs down the seam, he's got a corner closing on him, he's got a safety closing on him, no problem. Snatches it out of the air. This guy is productive. After the catch, he runs hard. Could sneaky make that first defender miss? I think there's some detail oriented stuff he can do with his route running, but has all the tools to be an above average route runner. One concern is he's built like Brock Bowers and he's not, you know. No, there's not a lot of tight ends that are Brock Bowers. I'd like to see him put on about ten pounds. His game, really the game when you look at it, reminds me of Johnny Smith, the tight end for Miami, who was with Atlanta. He was with New England. I think he's a guy that can really make plays with the ball in his hand. He can make plays down the field. So if you're looking in terms of what his game looks like, that would be the best comp for me.
- [77:09]
Todd McShay
What, what would you say in terms of the tight end class? And we know about Tyler Warren, Penn State, we know about Colston Loveland, Michigan, Mason Taylor, LSU, Gunner Helm, Texas. Gunner Helm is probably. Is 4 on my list right now. Terrence Ferguson is really rising. Where, where do you. If those guys are the guys that we know for pretty. I don't want to say for sure, but we feel really good about it. Like by the end of day two, they'll, they'll. They should all be off the board. Where are you going here?
- [77:41]
Steve Mensch
I think he has a chance to be a top five tight end. I have him in the middle rounds right now. I think he's got. We'll see how well he tests and how big he is. Those are my concerns because when you start breaking it down, there's not a lot of sub 240 tight ends and he's listed at 230.
- [77:57]
Todd McShay
Yeah.
- [77:58]
Steve Mensch
So my concern is I love this tape. I love how well he plays. And then we get to Indianapolis and he weighs 225 and he's a big Slot receiver instead of a tight end, I hear. But if he tests well, then he. I think he's a day two pick. And he's. He's a top five tight end in this class.
- [78:14]
Todd McShay
All right, that. That's my guy. This week for me is Cam Scattaboo, running back, Arizona State.
- [78:20]
Steve Mensch
Yep.
- [78:20]
Todd McShay
5, 5, 11, 2 15. I've got him in the top 10 running backs, and this is an absolutely loaded running back class. Wow.
- [78:28]
Steve Mensch
Wow.
- [78:28]
Todd McShay
He's moved. I like him. Eight games a season missed last week. Okay.
- [78:33]
Steve Mensch
Okay.
- [78:34]
Todd McShay
Eight games a season, 1,001 rushing yards, 5.8 yards per carry, 11 touchdowns. Okay. Not big on the stats, but the production is there. Over a thousand rushing yards in just eight games. Also. Also averaging 15 yards on 27 catches. Okay.
- [78:52]
Steve Mensch
Yeah.
- [78:53]
Todd McShay
So I actually, I talked to a scout last Thursday who. He's like, make sure you. You watch Scattaboo. Make sure you like. To me, he's like, what? Going through the country. He's a guy that's. That's really rising. I love he. He is. He saw our show where I talked about Jordan James. Okay.
- [79:11]
Steve Mensch
Yeah.
- [79:12]
Todd McShay
He's like. I agree. One of the. He's like, maybe not the most underrated, but. But one of the most underrated running backs in the class. Really like James. So. So he's like. But another guy. You got it. You. You know, just. Just study him. Because coming into the year with all these other running backs, he was not on my list of guys to evaluate. So. So I popped in the tape this week. He didn't play last week. He had the injury against ucf, I think it was. But this is a huge game this week. Arizona State versus Kansas State, both seven and two teams kind of like flying under the radar.
- [79:47]
Steve Mensch
There are a couple teams like that, right? Yeah.
- [79:49]
Todd McShay
Right. So questionable with the injury is out a week, but, like. But he was back in practice on Wednesday, so he's expected to play in that game. I really dying to see him in that game. So from an evaluation standpoint, not a burner, but he hits the hole hard. You know, those backs, like, he reaches top level fast. His top. His top speed is probably going to be like 4, 5, 5. It's not a 4, 4 guy. Yeah, but he's. But he reaches that top level and he hits the hole hard, but he also has great vision.
- [80:19]
Steve Mensch
Right.
- [80:19]
Todd McShay
And so, like, guys who can hit it hard, hit it hard, but also sense that, you know.
- [80:23]
Steve Mensch
Yeah.
- [80:23]
Todd McShay
Where to make the cut. Got a great jump cut as a runner. Excellent vision. As I said, contact balance is really good and he's just a consistent grinder of a runner. Catches the ball well. Been productive in that department. Also tough pass protection. So I, I don't think you're getting a starting back necessarily like your number one. You know, we're not talking about Derrick Henry, not talking about Christian McCat when you know those are. We could talk Ashton Ginty was when. How great is he going to be? He's not that but I think in a rotation which a lot of NFL teams use, I think he can be very, very productive and, and, and, and successful in the next level. So to me he's, he's probably these running backs. The run on running backs gentee will go in the first round, we'll see a few in the second. I think the run on running backs will be rounds three through five. I think, you know, if he doesn't go in late day two, he's going to go early day three.
- [81:18]
Steve Mensch
Love it. I had not heard about him. I had not. I mean that's what I love about this like and I love that you got it from a conversation from someone else. That's, that's the best, it's honestly the best way to find players. And it's so exciting when you're like wow, oh this is.
- [81:29]
Todd McShay
Yeah, you have that conversation. Then you shoot a text back like I do like him. Or it's like eh.
- [81:33]
Steve Mensch
Especially when you get into. There's not as many of these guys when you get later in the process. But you know how it is when you're in the middle of January, the sun goes down at about 1:30 in the afternoon and you're sitting there and you've watched the seventh, you know, fifth round pick in a row and someone's like dude, check out this guy. And you're like oh my God, this is awesome. You know like you, you know, you get excited about a guy, you get.
- [81:53]
Todd McShay
A little kick in the ass, right? Yeah, it's awesome. All right, so those are two. That's my guys. Let's just rip through this scout. Where are the scouts this week? I think Tennessee, Georgia is an obvious one.
- [82:05]
Steve Mensch
Yeah.
- [82:06]
Todd McShay
Clemson, Pitt. You know, I'm interested to see what Clemson is. But, and, and Pitt, obviously. I just, I think that's a game that scouts will be at it's central location. I think there will be a decent amount there. How about Missouri? South Carolina? I think that's another one.
- [82:20]
Steve Mensch
Yeah, some, I mean South Carolina, we've talked about this. They've got dudes on defense, man. You, they're They're. They're. Must see defense, so. And then Missouri again. It comes back to me for. For Bird in the third. Like, I just keep waiting for that breakout game. Man, he's talented. I just want to see that breakout game. And maybe I didn't check recently, but I. I still don't think he's had that. That monster performance that I've expected this year.
- [82:44]
Todd McShay
Yeah, I think. I think Arkansas, Tennessee is another. Another one. I'm sorry. Arkansas, Texas is another one where we could see a lot.
- [82:53]
Steve Mensch
Yeah. But.
- [82:55]
Todd McShay
Yeah. All right, so that's. That's where we think the scouts will be this week. Where would Todd be this weekend, though?
- [83:02]
Steve Mensch
This is your favorite thing every week, man.
- [83:04]
Todd McShay
I know. I'm sorry. I take over the podcast.
- [83:06]
Steve Mensch
No, it's great. No, it's fine. It's great.
- [83:08]
Todd McShay
I get excited about it when you're on the road as much as I was for, like, you know, for 20 years.
- [83:19]
Steve Mensch
You've earned it.
- [83:19]
Todd McShay
Leave on Thursdays, come back on Sundays. I just. I can't stand when you're traveling with a group of people and they just want to go to the same place. We're in Cincinnati. Let's go to Skyline Chile. No, go bleep yourself. I'm not going to Skyline Chile. No offense. I hope they're not a sponsor or something, but, you know, like, let's make this. Let's make this special. Like, let's get somewhere where we can, like, break bread. We can do this the right way. We can, you know, find something unique, find something that. Like, that the locals are proud of, you know?
- [83:46]
Steve Mensch
Right.
- [83:46]
Todd McShay
And have that and know that you can come back to it and make friendships. And so I just. There's a special pride. So talk to a bunch of people. Folks in Athens. Talk to. David Pollock is one of them, who, by the way, like, I love you, Dave. You know? I do. He just. He just. He. He eats so healthy that I was concerned.
- [84:03]
Steve Mensch
Yeah, right. What are we doing here?
- [84:05]
Todd McShay
But if we're. If you're staying in Athens, I think it's like that. One of the Hyatts or something. It's, like, the most popular place. Check out the Abacus Hotel. I'm a big, like, boutique guy, man. You know me, I. Everywhere we go, I try to find someplace it's a little bit more interesting. There's a history to it. It's a little off the beaten path. You're not in. In the. You know, you're not in the. In the elevators with, like, either a thousand fans or a bunch of scouts, you know, like something a little off the beaten path. Abacus Hotel. Really cool music venue, too, there. Okay. So if you're going down to Athens, stay at the Abacus. If you can get in there. The Foundry is inside the. Inside the hotel. Live music there, restaurant, some cocktails, do your thing, whatever your thing is. But it's just kind of cool. Different spot than your average mainstream hotel. You got to check out the dog walk when you're there working games. I didn't have an opportunity, but been there, I've seen it driven by and around it. But that's a. That's a special deal, tailgating there, the dog walk. Everyone's coming into the stadium, the players just like what you would expect. The transition, the atmosphere, the vibe, the feel. But. But you know my specialty, Mensch? I do. It's Friday nights, right? It's Friday night fair. We got. If we're going to. We got one night. Let's go out. Let's be responsible on Friday night, but let's have a hell of a time. Okay? It's all about, like I said, breaking bread, great people, special environment. Get to know the people there, the locals telling stories, the history. And I'm not going to let you down. Once again, this is week three of this. You haven't yet gave you acre two weeks ago in Auburn, Special place. Last week, Baton Rouge. I mean, Brandon Landry Walk ons supper club. They just outlining an amazing trip. Like, if you're going to Baton Rouge and you're going to have a weekend with. With friends, family, whatever it is, and you want to have like a bucket list trip, go check out the Baton Rouge breakdown we did last week. But this week, this is a special close to my heart match. Okay? We're gonna highlight Chuck's Fish. Chuck's Fish. Let's start with a little history lesson here. You ready?
- [86:26]
Steve Mensch
Yeah.
- [86:28]
Todd McShay
You're gonna learn when you're on the college football trail, when you're out there every week, that there's tremendous history and there's pride in every place where you go. Each place has something different to offer, and everyone wants to tell you a story. When you're in your 20s and you're going, you're kind of annoyed. You're like, where's the food? I don't care. Right? Then you get in your 30s and you're like, this is interesting. And then you start to get a little older and you're like, I need this. This is so special, so cool, so unique. All these places, not just in the Southeast, but out west, you know, out in the mountains in the Midwest, like, every place has a special story, and there are special places in all these places, and Chuck's Fish is one of those places. Okay, Chuck Morgan, follow me here. Okay. Chuck Morgan came to national prominence in 1963, the day after the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham. And if you're looking and watching this online on the left hand side, you'll see. You'll see Chuck Morgan right there with that huge fish. So he delivered a speech after the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama. Delivered a speech that was critical of the state of race relations in the South. His career as a civil rights attorney has been well documented. Right. During extremely turbulent times in the 1960s, he went on to try nine cases before the United States Supreme Court. Many of these were landmarks in the struggle for racial equality. I mean, how cool is this, right? What he did, the impact he had. This restaurant, Chuck's Fish, is named in his honor. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Okay? 1979, our guy right here, Chuck Morgan, founded Harbor Docks. Anyone who spent any time in Destin, Florida. The Destin harbor is a famous restaurant and bar down in Destin. Chuck was also a frequent patron of Socorro's Sushi bar, where he initially met this woman named Yoshi Eddings. And she has an unbelievable story, too. Dates back to her days in Tokyo. Growing up. She was born and raised in Tokyo. Came over the United States with her husband, who was a photojournalist in the Air Force, and their son Chris, who I've gotten to know, become friends with over the years, and basically making my second home down in the south on the college football circuit. And just follow me here. Okay, so we've got Yoshi Eddings, her husband, who's. Who's in. In the United States Air Force. And we've got their son Chris. Ultimately, Yoshi joined Chuck. So Chuck just goes in. He likes the sushi place. He loves food. He sees that Yoshi's making this unbelievable sushi, right? And so, so eventually, Yoshi joins Chuck at his restaurant, Harbor Docks, and starts working there. Okay. In 1991, they started working together. Brought her over with, saw a special talent, saw a special person with a great backstory, brings her in. Chris was 15 years old at the time. Chris Eddings, he began busing tables. That's where his love and passion and just being around, being around restaurants began. Fast forward to 2005. Okay. He goes off to college. He tries to do Some business stuff. And Chuck's, like, come back and. And his son, Chuck's son, Chuck Morgan's son, Charles Morgan iii, had an idea for opening a restaurant that would showcase the best seafood from the Gulf of Mexico.
- [89:50]
Steve Mensch
Love that.
- [89:51]
Todd McShay
Both with a southern flair and also impeccable sushi.
- [89:57]
Steve Mensch
Right, Right.
- [89:58]
Todd McShay
So a year later, Chuck's Fish opens up in downtown Tuscaloosa. That's the first Chuck's Fish I ever went to. Okay. Okay. First time I met. I met Chris Eddings, and you guessed it, Yoshi's making the sushi. And her son Chris, my bud, becomes a managing partner. You see Chris and his mother, Yoshi, who I had the pleasure of meeting actually in Mobile, Alabama. I think you and I actually went to the Chuck's Fish in Mobile. Mensch. But I met Yoshi in Mobile. I first met Chris in Tuscaloosa. Then I met. I hooked back up with Chris and met his mom, Yoshi, in. In mobile. So in 2009, they opened up the location in Birmingham after the Tuscaloosa one in 2005, followed by Mobile, Alabama, where I think we've eaten there together. Mensch. And then Most recently in 2019, they opened a location in Athens, Georgia. So now in 2024, when deciding to make a trip to Athens or to Tuscaloosa or to Mobile or to. Or to any of these locations, Tallahassee as well. They have one. Okay, you gotta stop by Chuck's Fish. You now know the history. You now know the passion. You now know what Chuck did, you know, and his impact on racial equality in the South. You now know that he finds this woman who's doing unbelievable stuff making sushi, brings her in. They open up in his son, you know, Charles Morgan III opens up these restaurants, and it's. It's a must. It's a must. Stop. Yeah, I was texting with Pollock. I was like, give me some other places. Like, you know, is there anything new? I haven't been back in a few years. The first place he said, got to be Chuck's. Right. Like, we both know Chuck's. Chuck's is the place to go. So it's not just a great restaurant. It's not just a great story. It's a destination. Like, right. Get. Get there early, you know, sit down at the bar, get to know the people there. Chris doesn't spend, I don't think, as much time in the. In the Athens one is some of the others. But let you know. Let people know, you know, you know, Chris, you know, the backstory you know the Morgan family story. And I'm sure they will, like, everywhere in the SEC and especially places like Athens and Baton Rouge. We talked about Auburn. They'll welcome you with open arms. And a side note just to pull it, bring it all full circle. Pollock told me yesterday that Kirby Smart is also a part owner in the. In the Chuck's fish in Athens.
- [92:14]
Steve Mensch
That's great. Yeah.
- [92:15]
Todd McShay
Yeah. So there's. There's kind of the tie with football and all that. And don't let the visor and the yelling and screaming on the sideline throw you off here. Kirby knows his fine food. He knows what he's doing. So let's check out the. Do we have the menu? Oh, there we go. I'm telling you, like, their sushi is phenomenal. It's one. I always get in trouble with these places because I. Because I have to try the sushi. And. And. And, like, Yoshi's sushi is just unbelievable. And you see all the different rolls there, right? But then you're like, how. How many sushi rolls can I put down? You know, the rock. The rock and roll sushi. How many can I put down while I still need to get into the appetizers, you know? Yeah, the. The. The seafood gyaz gyoza, right? It's like the pot stickers so good. The Commit. The kimchi Brussels. I think the Brussels. I remember the brussels were so ridiculous. And then any. I mean, what they do best is their. Is their seafood, you know? So it's a golf. You got the grilled gulf fish of the day. Go like their fish of the day the way they do it. I love stuffed shrimp, but you can't. I don't know, can you limit yourself to that when you have all these different special.
- [93:26]
Steve Mensch
Right, right, right.
- [93:27]
Todd McShay
The. The sesame seared tuna. Oh, what would you pick your men? Where would you go?
- [93:32]
Steve Mensch
I'd probably go with the tuna man. Yeah. I mean, that. That's right up my alley. And again, it would be the same thing. This is the kind of place it looks like you could eat five nights in a row, have five different meals, and just have the time of your life every night.
- [93:45]
Todd McShay
Let me give you a couple places because obviously I love. I love Chris. You know, his mother's a beautiful, wonderful person. Joe Yoshi Eddings. I. I think what. You know what. What Chuck has done, what he did in his son now, Charles Morgan iii. What? Like, it's an amazing story, but when you're in Athens, you can't just eat at one place. Right. I mean, you could, but. But a couple other places. The national for lunch. Check it out. Like, cool vibe in there. Very different, you know, from like what you're used to seeing. Maybe on a college campus. College area. The national is a cool spot. Really good food. Paloma park when you're in Athens. Okay. Good place to go, watch games, have some cocktails, apps, atmosphere. Okay. Tons of screens inside. I remember there's tons of screens inside, but it's also one of those indoor outdoor deals, right. Where they've got huge jumbo. You think about game day, right? Like before you go over the tailgate, you want to like, have the atmosphere. You want to feel a part of the whole thing. You want to watch other games. We got the big noon kick, right. Like, this is a great place to do that. Beer garden outside, big Jumbotron, like picnic table, set of. It's kind of, kind of a fun, open vibe. Yeah. You know, so it's our kind of placement. It's totally our kind of place. And then every. Everywhere I go, you've got to have a late night joint because, like, who knows what's going to happen whether you're working late on the game, whether you're, you know, indulging yourself all day and you got to kind of absorb it before you go to bed. Little Italy Pizzeria is the place they stay open late. It's. You know who. That's my favorite part of the show every week. I'm sorry.
- [95:21]
Steve Mensch
I just love the people you bring into it, man. I love it. The restaurants have been great and the, and the food's great. All of it's great. But I love that you're. You're tying in these people, man, because that's what it's all about. College football is a huge community and it is, it's. That's. That's the stuff to me. And maybe it's because I'm older, right? Maybe when I was 20, I was like, okay, all right, enough.
- [95:40]
Todd McShay
Yeah, in life, it's.
- [95:43]
Steve Mensch
That stuff is fascinating to me.
- [95:45]
Todd McShay
So, yeah, I just, I have a great appreciation for it now. And that wasn't always the case, but great appreciative appreciation for it. And I'm so like, I. There's special, like when we get out to a USC game at some point. I like, I like literally close friends now that I met while on the college football tour who run a restaurant, you know, I mean, like, yeah. Friends that I've developed and the relationships I have over the years. That's why you gotta. I Told you. The question I get asked more would have been anything else, like, who's your biggest fail as a, as an evaluation? Like, who, who's the biggest bus that you thought was gonna be? Like, all that stuff. The question I get asked the most over the years is always, you know, bucket list. Where would you go? And where are the places that we have to go? Or my friends, we've, we've done three different college football trips. My friends give me another place and like the list goes on and on and the, these people and these places are the reasons why there's just so much passion for it. And literally, like, we'll go, we'll do this for a couple years and we'll stack all these different places, all these different restaurants, all the people, and hopefully come up with like a really good menu for people when they, when they're going to try to make a trip somewhere special and do a bucket list type of trip. They'll at least have a, an initial guide and a jumping off point of where to go. So, yeah, appreciate you sticking with us here. Appreciate you listening to all my nonsense in my history lessons.
- [97:07]
Steve Mensch
It's great.
- [97:09]
Todd McShay
All right, so this is Thursday, huge weekend. We talked about the, how we're going to make you enough money so that you can go on one of these trips with fanduel.
- [97:16]
Steve Mensch
Here we go.
- [97:17]
Todd McShay
Get on there app. I'm telling you, man, when I start getting hot. But Saturday night we're back and I've talked about a couple times. I love our live show right after the prime time game. Herbie and Fowler off air. Come right over to our show. Check out on Twitter @mcshade13@ Scouts Inc. Mensch. We'll send out some links to it so you know exactly where to go and we'll have some fun with it Saturday night.
- [97:41]
Steve Mensch
So can't wait.
- [97:42]
Todd McShay
Looking forward to that. Mensch. Always a fun ride, bud.
- [97:46]
Steve Mensch
Yeah. Great show, man.
- [97:47]
Todd McShay
I'll talk to you. I'll talk to you between now and Saturday, but I'll definitely talk to you Saturday night. See you. Folks. Must be 21 plus and present in select states for Kansas in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino or 18/ plus and present in D.C. gambling problem. Call 1-800- gambler or visit rg-help.com, call 1-888-789 7777 or visit ccpg.org chat in Connecticut or visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland. Hope is here. Visit gamblinghelplinema.org or call 1-800-327-5050 for 247 support in Massachusetts or call 1-877-8-HOPE NY or text Hopeny in New York.