The New Orleans Saints will have a close eye on the Indiana Hoosiers and Miami Hurricanes showdown in the College Football Playoff championship game. There's multiple prospects the Saints need to monitor.
We've already taken a look at multiple players from each team, so you'll see some players you've seen already. This is the biggest game of the year, though, so we take a look at the biggest players.
Here are four players Saints fans should pay attention to as potential targets in the College Football Playoffs Championship game.
The Saints should target Indiana defensive back D'Angelo Ponds
Indiana: D’Angelo Ponds
Indiana cornerback D’Angelo Ponds is the embodiment of the saying “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, instead, it’s the size of the fight in the dog”. He only stands at 5’9”, 173 pounds, but plays much bigger. Ponds is a lockdown slot cornerback who hasn’t allowed a touchdown this year, has forced two interceptions, and six pass breakups. He will likely be a major factor in stopping Miami’s offense.
Miami: Rueben Bain Jr.
Rueben Baini has been dominant in Miami’s playoff run. He’s totaled 21 pressures and four sacks in the past three games. It’s pivotal that the Hurricane’s defensive line forces Fernando Mendoza to make mistakes, and Bain is a huge part in that. He’s a rare mix of power, speed, and finesse that makes him a nightmare for any offensive lineman to defend. Be on the lookout for number four to make a game-changing play.
Indiana: Elijah Sarratt
Elijah Sarratt is the number one receiver for Indiana’s offense. He’s a big bodied X receiver who thrives in the red zone and contested catch situations. He’s caught an impressive 15 touchdowns this season despite missing two games and leaving one after playing nine snaps. He’s Mendoza’s primary target when under duress. He will likely get a large workload as the Heisman Trophy winner is likely to frequently be under pressure. Saints fans should keep an eye on him in crucial situations.
Miami: Akheem Mesidor
Akheem Mesidor is Bain’s partner on Miami’s defensive line. Mesidor has tallied an impressive 20 pressures and 3.5 sacks this postseason. He has a chaotic, violent pass rush with amazing hand usage that makes him challenging to block. He contains an outstanding motor and is relentless, oftentimes playing through the whistle. If Indiana’s offense puts extra focus on mitigating Bain, pay attention to Mesidor.