Fans at Levi's Stadium will be in for a treat full of future NFL talent in Monday night's College Football Playoff National Championship.
We've already identified two Clemson prospects whom 49ers and Raiders fans should watch. When it comes to Alabama, though, the Crimson Tide are full of players who soon will be playing on Sundays.
It all starts with a defensive lineman both Bay Area teams will take a long look at with their top pick in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Quinnen Williams, DL
Williams will be the top draft prospect on the field in the championship game. His draft stock has soared during his sensational redshirt sophomore season, and there's almost no chance of him lasting past the Raiders at No. 4 overall.
Teammates pay Williams the ultimate compliment for a defensive lineman by calling him a "300-pound bar of soap."
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Watch Quinnen Williams (number 92) monster his way through Oklahoma's O-Line. You watching this, Bob Quinn? #OnePride pic.twitter.com/H68zCpvkHp— Tony Dombrowski (@tonydombrowski) December 30, 2018
The 49ers and the Raiders don't need an interior lineman per se. Williams, however, might be too good to pass up. He could bring an Aaron Donald level of talent to the Bay Area, and has 67 tackles (18 for loss) and eight sacks this season.
Deionte Thompson, Safety
Thompson is considered the top safety in the country. His patience has paid off into a huge season for the Crimson Tide.
Deionte Thompson is good. pic.twitter.com/KBogFOCiN1— Ty Wurth (@WurthDraft) October 6, 2018
According to Charlie Campbell, NFL teams have recently cooled off on Thompson. The Raiders should hope that's true. If they can snatch the safety who has 75 tackles, two interceptions and six passes defensed this season at No. 24 overall, that could be a steal of a pick.
Jonah Williams, OT
The former Folsom High School star is considered the top offensive lineman in the draft. He hasn't allowed one sack in his junior season, and faces a big test against Clemson's Clelin Ferrell, who just happens to be the last player to get past Williams and take down the quarterback.
Jonah Williams had another STRONG season for the Crimson Tide pic.twitter.com/1gYEcFHB5A— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 22, 2018
If Nick Bosa, Quinnen Williams and Josh Allen all are selected in the top three picks, there's a chance Jon Gruden and Co. could go with Jonah Williams. Derek Carr was sacked 51 times in 2018 as rookie Kolton Miller struggled and Donald Penn, who turns 36 in April, played in just four games because of injury.
Raekwon Davis, DL
Even if the Raiders go with a defensive lineman at No. 4, they easily could add another one with one of their two other picks in the first round. Davis was expected to grab the spotlight this season until Williams burst onto the scene.
At 6-foot-7 and 316 pounds, he's quite the impressive athlete.
Raekwon Davis, so athletic and agile, not sure I saw NFL player run like this after an INT. I want studs on this defense and Davis fits the bill. #SteelersDraft pic.twitter.com/PaC3WuyjYm— Steel Legends (@Steel_Legends) January 1, 2019
Davis has 15.5 tackles for loss in the last two seasons with 10 sacks.
Irv Smith Jr., TE
Jared Cook had a career year for the Raiders with 68 receptions, 896 yards and six touchdowns. But he's also a free agent and turns 32 in April. The Raiders could be watching their future tight end Monday.
Smith, who's 6-foot-4 and 241 pounds, has 40 receptions for 667 yards and seven touchdowns this season. He could be a target for the Raiders near the end of the first round or if he slips to the second.
Irv Smith running a corner route and does a great job getting his feet down, boxing out the defender and having the control & concentration to secure the pass. Certainly looks like a + weapon in the red-zone. pic.twitter.com/LfSENQzR9u— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) December 31, 2018
Josh Jacobs, RB
Jacobs is RB2 -- and sometimes RB3 behind Najee Harris -- on the Crimson Tide, but he could be RB1 in the draft. In Alabama's Orange Bowl win over Oklahoma, he showed why.
Josh Jacobs' touchdown pic.twitter.com/blA0PSNJjH— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 30, 2018
Hot damn Josh Jacobs took this man's ankles pic.twitter.com/5thXOfZilF— Ty Wurth (@WurthDraft) December 30, 2018
The junior finished his monster night with 15 carries for 98 yards, plus four catches for 60 yards and one touchdown. He has 593 rushing yards and 15 total touchdowns this season (11 rushing, three receiving, one return).
Damien Harris, RB
Ahead of Jacobs in terms of carries in Alabama's loaded backfield, the elder Harris is more of a known product. The senior has over 3,000 yards in his college career, and carries the ball with plenty of tenacity.
Tough run from Alabama RB Damien Harris. Don't lose sight of him with all the Jacobs hype - pic.twitter.com/r3TzwCAtub— Michael Kist (@MichaelKistNFL) December 30, 2018
As The Draft Network notes, "Harris can grind out tough yards and wear down tacklers late into football games." He's gone through four years at Alabama and will be ready to contribute at the next level.
Here's how 49ers and Raiders fans who want to see these prospects can watch Alabama-Clemson live on TV and online:
When: 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET on Monday, Jan. 7
TV Channel: ESPN
Live Stream: Watch ESPN
