2020 NFL Draft: Five Miami Hurricanes to watch on Saturday as potential Dallas Cowboys

At long last college football has made its glorious return to our lives. Welcome back, beautiful.

Unfortunately, the biggest thing going on this weekend in the CFB world happens to be happening in parallel with the Dallas Cowboys game on Saturday night as the Miami Hurricanes and Florida Gators will be squaring off at 7 pm ET.

Odds are you’ll flip to the game during Cowboys commercials, maybe. Or perhaps you’ll record it and watch it later. There’s also the possibility that you won’t watch the game at all and might just catch the highlights later once you have some time. Whenever you do ultimately get around to checking out Saturday’s result you might want to pay attention to a few select members from The U.

Why should you focus specifically on the Hurricanes, you ask? Consider that the Cowboys dipped into that well not just once, but twice, during the 2019 NFL Draft with the selection of both Joe Jackson and Michael Jackson. Jerry Jones has raved about the former and Miami head coach Manny Diaz has championed that cause as well.

So who are the Canes that you need to watch to potentially bookmark for the 2020 NFL Draft? I’m so glad you asked!

(To be clear we’re talking about players who are eligible for the 2020 NFL Draft)

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Jonathan Garvin, DE, Junior

We know that the Cowboys have kept tabs on Hurricane defensive ends so what’s to say they don’t have a great amount of work on Garvin already? The junior is starting to put together all of the proper tools to be a defensive end of note in the ACC and potentially the NFL as well.

Considering that Garvin is only a junior there is still a long way for him to go before he’s truly NFL ready. This is something that Matt Waldman touched on in a video that’s great insight on Garvin.

If the Cowboys are without Taco Charlton next season as some people believe will be the case, they’ll need more bodies. Here’s a potential one.

Navaughn Donaldson, G, Junior

While people think that the Cowboys offensive line next season could be (left to right) Tyron Smith, Connor McGovern, Travis Frederick, Zack Martin, and Connor Williams, it never hurts to have depth. Thankfully, the Cowboys have been very good about acquiring that along the offensive line.

Navaughn Donaldson isn’t a name that’s going to turn a ton of heads at this point in terms of the 2020 draft, but he’s one to watch out for on Saturday against the Gators.

The more guards, the better.

Michael Pinckney, OLB, Senior

You never know what kind of defensive weapons you’re going to need, and Michael Pinckney is one that isn’t at all bad to have.

It feels like Pinckney is set for a big season in 2019 and that could certainly do a lot to catapult his status for next year’s draft. Expect big things from him, maybe not so much on Saturday, but throughout the entire fall.

Shaquille Quarterman, ILB, Senior

Quarterman returned to Miami this season as opposed to entering the draft several months back, and if you’re excited for Pinckney then you need to really ramp things up for his teammate.

College football minds are extremely excited to see what Quaterman can do during his senior season especially after Miami has been trying to claw its way back to relevance in the CFB landscape.

Quarterman is 6’1”, 235, so he’s got a lot to hit you with. Pay attention to him.

K.J. Osborn, WR, Senior

Miami got a new toy on offense this season, and no, I’m not talking about Tate Martell. They have a transfer wide receiver from Buffalo and you need to know his name. He’s got the potential to be one that is discussed at the Senior Bowl (obviously the Cowboys will be worried about Super Bowl-related activities then!).

The state of the Cowboys wide receiver group does feel set (at least at the top) for the foreseeable future, but you never know what can happen. Any and all playmakers are welcome, Miami is known to produce one of those if you know what I mean.

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Regardless of whether the Cowboys end up drafting any of these players (or any Hurricanes in general) during the 2020 NFL Draft remains to be seen. The good news is we have an entire football season to play out between now and then.

Oh and by the way, speaking of Miami and playmakers, Michael Irvin is fired up for this game.

Welcome back, college football.