Saturday NFL Draft watch notes

Note: Head over to Buffalo Rumblings for my interview with site manager Brian Galliford.

Scouts from the Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis Colts will be at the Michigan/Indiana game but they're not necessarily there to check out some Wolverines. People are starting to take note of Indiana offensive tackle James Brewer. A massive 6-foot-8, 331-pound senior, Brewer projects as a right tackle in the NFL. Don't be shocked if he's one of the first tackles selected in April.

Similarly, several teams will be at the Colorado/Georgia game today. Chris Steuber of CBSSports.com reports that San Francisco 49ers, Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, San Diego Chargers, Indianapolis Colts, Detroit Lions, Oakland Raiders and Tennessee Titans will be on hand. Notice need theme on most of them? Left tackle. They're their for Colorado's Nate Solder. He's an athletic marvel for a tackle, but has a lot of consistency and technique issues.

Bruising Illinois junior running back Mikel Leshoure is getting some notice as a solid power back. He has 398 rushing yards on the season. The 230-pounder will be put to the test today against Ohio State. In a weak running back class, Leshoure could help himself with a big game. For Ohio State's Cameron Heyward, this could be a big game to show he can be a force against the nation's 18th ranked rush offense.

Finally, we get to see Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green. In his first game of the year, he'll get a tough matchup in Colorado's Jimmy Smith. The senior cornerback has the size at 6-foot-2 and the foot quickness to hang with Green. As big of a game as this will be for Green, it could do even more for Smith's draft stock.

Akeem Ayers of UCLA continues his stellar season. The strong-side linebacker could have a monster day today against a poor Washington State offensive line. Ayers is becoming arguably the best linebacker in this year's class. He's big at 6-foot-4 and 255 pounds and covers as well as he blitzes.

Oklahoma wide receiver Ryan Broyles recently found himself on Mel Kiper's latest big board at spot 24. Today he'll face one of Texas' outstanding cornerbacks, Aaron Williams. Or Curtis Brown. Or Chykie Brown. Whoever it ends up being could give Broyles trouble. He's a shade undersized and the Texas corners are all big with man ability.

Also in the Red River Shootout, expect a big game out of Oklahoma junior outside linebacker Travis Lewis. Compared to Ayers, he's a little more fluid but projects as purely a 4-3 weak-side linebacker. Texas is emphasizing the run this year, which plays to Lewis' strengths of easily making plays sideline-to-sideline.

A lot of scouts reportedly love New Mexico State senior cornerback Davon House. Tonight will be his biggest challenge of the season against Boise State. This is the best chance for House to show he's among the top tier of draft-eligible cornerbacks.

The opinion of Michigan State middle linebacker Greg Jones has dipped some. Although he's gotten bigger and stronger over the past couple of seasons, he still has issues shedding blocks. Because of that, he could have trouble today against the massive Wisconsin offensive line and the team's power running game. Jones might have a second round ceiling, but he could drop if he continues to struggle in the strength areas of the game. Some consider him only a weak-side 4-3 linebacker.

This season, Clemson's DeAndre McDaniel has established himself as the top strong safety for the 2011 NFL Draft. He'll be put to the test today by a Miami offense that can throw and pass. McDaniel has the athleticism and playmaking ability to be a second-round pick. He's proven plenty as a pass coverage safety but needs to show a little more against the run.

The matchup of Janoris Jenkins and Julio Jones in the Florida/Alabama game can be found here.