Draft Week: Prospects on show for tonight's Egg Bowl

As we gear up for rivalry weekend here in Draft Week, there's an appetizer tonight with the Ole Miss Rebels facing 14th ranked Mississippi State in the 2017 Egg Bowl.

There's a load of probable future NFL players on show, although these are two younger teams whose best prospects tend to be younger so not many of the main ones will be entering this year's draft.

Most of the attention of the draft analysis community will probably be on Bulldogs offensive tackle Martinas Rankin. Some believe the improvements he's shown this season make him a potential first round pick. He's yet to give up a sack this year, although he did miss a month through injury. Rankin is versatile, as he has also played guard and center.

One of the pass rushers Rankins might find himself matched up with is Marquis Haynes. Haynes could have a future as a pass rush specialist at the NFL level and this is his fourth consecutive season with at least seven sacks.

Another senior with a possible NFL future is 321-pound offensive lineman Rod Taylor, who is currently the Rebels' right tackle, although his pro future might be as a guard.

Taylor isn't the Rebels' best offensive lineman though, as sophomore left tackle Greg Little has outstanding size and length and could be a future first round pick. Another sophomore, wide receiver AJ Brown is also destined to be a high pick in future. He set a school record with a 233-yard game in September.

The Rebels also have a couple of junior defensive players who could decide to enter the draft early in defensive tackle Breeland Speaks and safety Zedrick Woods.

Three bulldogs who could potentially enter the draft early are quarterback Nick Fitzgerald, running back Aeris Williams and outside linebacker Montez Sweat.

Fitzgerald is a dual threat quarterback who has had a good season running the ball (over 1,000 yards if you exclude sacks) but his passing numbers are underwhelming (56% completions, less than seven yards per attempt and a TD/INT ratio of just under 2 for his career). He is regarded in some places as a potential first or second round pick, but that seems optimistic.

Williams is also on course for a thousand-yard season and his stock seems to be on the rise, while Sweat is a playmaker with nine sacks.

Once again, one of their best prospects is a sophomore, defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. He's another stud and a potential future first rounder.

Feel free to discuss the game here - or tonight's NFL game if you're watching that instead...