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Titans Fan Guide: Friday Flash Sale Edition

Which prospects will rise and fall as teams are winding their way to conference title games?

Desmond King. Do Want.
Desmond King. Do Want.
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

#5 Washington at #23 Washington State 3:30 PM Fox

"Apple Cup"

- Possibly the biggest Apple Cup in a long time between these two schools. Winner gets the Pac-12 North division title and a shot at the Pac-12 title game next week. The Huskies rebounded to pound the hapless Sun Devils last week 44-18 after an upset loss to USC the week prior. Wazzu is coming off a 38-24 loss to 2016's Cinderella team Colorado. With a win, Washington is one step closer to making the playoff. Can the stingy Huskies defense slow down the gaudy Air Raid attack of the Cougars? Will possible Heisman invitee Jake Browning keep up with Luke Falk score for score?

Washington prospects to watch

1. Azeem Victor 6'3 239 LB Junior

- Victor is a physical force of nature in the vein of James Harrison. Mainly deployed as an outside pass rusher but has improved his pass coverage skills considerably. Instincts are still a work in progress but is a willing tackler. Athleticism is above average. Hand usage is average. Underrated starter for the Huskies. OUT for the rest of the season due to injury.

2. Budda Baker 5'10 178 S Junior

- The Huskies' best defensive prospect this year. Baker can play both corner and safety. He is on the smaller size for a safety. Pass coverage is a plus asset. Possesses an center fielder mindset and will get to most balls thrown his way. Agility is excellent and can turn his hips on a dime. Versatile and athletic enough to play both ways on offense and defense. The frame is a big question mark, however.

3. Elijah Qualls 6'2 293 DL Senior

- The heir apparent to current Cleveland Brown defensive tackle Danny Shelton is a good player in his own right. Possesses a high motor and will not quit on a play until the echo of the whistle. The anchor of the defensive line and by in part, the defense. Needs to learn how to control his weight as it tends to fluctuate on the high side. A physical dominant force when he needs to be.ue to a lack of playing time but has a lot of potential. Could rise up the boards  this year.

4. Kevin King 6'2 193 DB Senior

- King will be highly sought after due to his measureables. He's a tall and lanky corner that can run for days. One of the best corners in the country in a defense full of high quality NFL prospects. Best cover corner in the Pac-12.

5. John Ross III 5'10 190 WR Senior

- Ross is perhaps the country's most explosive athlete. He's simply a dynamic playmaker that can stretch the defense vertically and causes headaches for defensive coordinators with his after the catch agility. He has made numerous highlight plays this year. DeSean Jackson 2.0.

Washington State prospect to watch

1. Luke Falk 6'4 210 QB RS Junior

- Falk is the latest trigger man for the potent Mike Leach Air Raid offense that is garnering some draft hype. He fits the profile of a prototypical NFL QB physically. While not asked to do it much in the quick strike Cougars offense, he has the ability to read the whole field instead of the typical spread offense where things are more simplified. Has an above average arm that can make all the throws. Footwork gets a little sloppy when things break down in the pocket.

TCU at Texas 3:30 PM Fox Sports 1

- Two once proud programs are struggling to get to bowl eligibility this year. TCU has been inconsistent on offense this year after several record breaking campaigns years prior. The Horned Frogs are coming off a blowout loss to Oklahoma State after serving a blowout loss themselves to Baylor. The Longhorns have been in a spiral in 2016 with the likely culmination of embattled coach Charlie Strong's Texas career coming to an end last week with a historic loss to Kansas. This is the Horns last shot at bowl eligibility unless the bowls invite them with a 5-7 record (improbable but not likely). A program of Texas stature should not be this moribund and desolate but here we are. TCU HC Gary Patterson is an annual candidate to leave but he seems content in Fort Worth.

TCU prospect to watch

1. Josh Carraway 6'4 250 OLB Senior

- Carraway is the next stud defensive end to come out of Fort Worth. He is scheme and position versatile as he can play both end and outside linebacker with little dropoff. A veteran of a traditionally tough Horned Frogs defense so he's seen it all in terms of high octane passing attacks and isn't easily fooled.

Texas prospects to watch

1. Tyrone Swoopes 6'4 249 ATH Senior

- Swoopes has finally found his niche in his senior season as the backup QB and "18 wheeler" Wildcat guy. He's had a turbulent career where he was thrown into the fire too early and suffered through ill suited coaching changes. Well built for his role. Great teammate. A bigger Jake Locker as a passer if you will. Projects as a TE or FB at the next level.

2. Paul Boyette Jr, 6'3 317 DT Senior

- The Longhorns' best interior defensive lineman. Malcolm Brown who? He's a big body tackle that can play both a classic DT and 3-4 NT.

3. Malik Jefferson 6'3 238 LB Sophomore

- I rarely if ever shout out underclassmen but Jefferson is the real deal. He's one of the best inside linebackers in the country right now. Instincts and athleticism are off the charts good. He should declare as a junior after next year if form holds.

4. Kent Perkins 6'5 320 OL Senior

- Perkins is the Longhorns' best lineman. A big mauler that projects as a guard at the next level rather than tackle. 2016 has been an interesting year in that he has improved his stock but has picked up little nicks here and there due to getting used to the Baylor style high tempo system.rienced due to being utilized in a running back by committee for most of his career.

#16 Nebraska at Iowa 3:30 PM ABC

- The Big Ten West division is on the line this weekend with the Huskers set to do battle with an always pesky Hawkeyes team looking for spoiling their year. Theoretically, the Hawkeyes could win the division but they need a lot of chaos in doing so. The top 4 four teams are within a game of each other and conveniently the schedule sets up where they play each other this weekend. As Michigan found out recently, Kinnick Stadium has a history of being weird and tough to play in, no matter what time of day it is. Just when everyone leaves Iowa HC Kirk Ferentz for dead, he comes back to randomly upset a top team and earn more time (and coin) in Iowa City. Happens. Every. Year. The Huskers are coming off a 28-7 win over Maryland (still hasn't sunk in that they are in the Big Ten yet). Iowa is coming off a shutout victory over Lovie Smith (no really, it's THAT Lovie Smith) and Illinois.

Nebraska prospect to watch

1. Jordan Westerkamp 5'11 200 WR RS Senior

- Westerkamp is Nebraska’s top returning receiver.. Due to his size limitations, he will be limited to the slot in the NFL unless he shows some improvement on the outside. He has been a reliable weapon for an improved Huskers pass attack.

Iowa prospect to watch

1. Desmond King 5'11 200 CB Senior

- King is the best cornerback prospect in the country. The leader of the Hawkeyes defense that has been solid all year. Not the most explosive athlete out there but is very fundamentally sound in all aspects of the game. A willing tackler as well. Runs the route for the receiver at times. Returned for his senior season even after being projected as a first round pick last year as a junior.

Baylor at Texas Tech 6 PM ESPN

- The floundering Bears travel to Lubbock and take on an equally mucking about Red Raiders team. Baylor is currently on a four game losing streak with only one being remotely close. QB Seth Russell was lost to another catastrophic injury (broken ankle) in the Texas game. Off the field, Baylor has been a mess due to the string of sex crimes and the university's alleged complicity in covering them up under former HC Art Briles' tenure. The Red Raiders are coming off a blowout 66-10 loss to hapless Iowa State last week and have little to no shot at going to a bowl game even with a win. Ryan Gosling err Kliff Kingsbury is on the hot seat after a number of down years at the program. Another loss probably won't help him in the job retention department. A potential shootout is brewing in this one.

Baylor prospects to watch

1. KD Cannon 5'11 180 WR Junior

- Cannon has been a playmaker for the high powered Bears offense since he stepped foot on campus. An athletic marvel that can burn defenders deep with elite speed and agility. He has great returner abilities as well. Frame could stand to add more weight to hold up in the NFL. Has struggled in 2016 with injury and Baylor QBs not being good as once before. Has made people wonder who Corey Coleman was at times. Not having a good year along with the rest of the Baylor offense due to coaching changes and injuries.

2. Shock Linwood 5'9 200 RB RS Senior

- Linwood holds nearly every rushing record in Baylor history. He is a dynamic athlete with very good agility and above average speed. One of the more underrated backs in the class as a result of past systems and current regime. Projects as a third down specialist at the next level. Compares favorably to a faster Jacquizz Rodgers. A red flag the size of Texas just popped up on teams' radars as Linwood was seen pushing a coach during the blowout loss to TCU.

Texas Tech prospect to watch

1. Patrick Mahomes II 6'3 219 QB Junior

- Mahomes is the latest point guard of the traditionally high powered Red Raiders Air Raid attack. He has an above average arm and can make all the big league throws. Physically he looks the part of an NFL QB but the mental aspects of the game need some work i.e. field reading, pocket awareness, etc. The Red Raider program isn't exactly friendly to the idea that the QBs can successfully transition to a more conservative gameplan in the pros. Mahomes could be taken in the fourth round should he declare but needs to stay and improve his stock.

Bonus games to watch

Toledo at #21 Western Michigan 5 PM ESPN2

- Five words: Row. The. Boat. Corey Davis.

Arizona State at Arizona 9:30 PM ESPN

"The Territorial Cup"

- Doesn't have the pizazz nor prospects as it usually does but #PAC12AfterDark potential mixed in with an interstate rivalry game should be fun for those still up from a long day of Black Friday shopping.