New England Patriots Scouting College Games: Ohio State, Georgia, Alabama...Hawaii?

According to Chase Goodbread of NFL.com's College 24/7 entity, the New England Patriots have been credentialed to the following games this season (prospects courtesy of NFL Draft Scout):

Hawaii at Ohio State

Hawaii Prospects: QB Max Wittek transferred from the University of Southern California, but Hawaii doesn't feature many NFL prospects.

Ohio State Prospects: ED Joey Bosa is the best player in college football, RB Ezekiel Elliott is the best back in college football, OT Taylor Decker is a top tackle talent, WR Michael Thomas is a first round receiver prospect, LB Darron Lee is the next in a line of athletic linebackers, DT Adolphus Washington boasts NFL size on the defensive line. Those are just their first round prospects.

QB Cardale Jones, S Von Bell, LB Joshua Perry, OL Pat Elflein, TE Nick Vannett, and QB-turned-WR Braxton Miller are all considered Day Two prospects.

South Carolina at Georgia

South Carolina Prospects: WR Pharoh Cooper, OT Brandon Shell, TE Jerell Adams, RB Brandon Wilds. Cooper reminds a bit of Emmanuel Sanders and Golden Tate, while the 6'2, 220 lbs Wilds is a huge body at running back that can both run and catch the ball.

Georgia Prospects: EDs Leonard Floyd and Jordan Jenkins are both borderline first round prospects as edge defenders. OL John Theus (4-year starter) and Greg Pyke (2-year starter) are day two prospects that played with Patriots center David Andrews.

UCLA at Arizona

UCLA Prospects: DT Kenny Clark is 6'3, 310 lbs and LB Myles Jack (injured for season: knee) are both considered first round prospects. DT Eddie Vanderdoes (injured for season: ACL) and CB Fabian Moreau (injured for season: Lisfranc, foot) were both early day two prospects before their injuries.

Arizona Prospects: WR Cayleb Jones is a 6'3, 215 lbs day two prospect with YAC ability.

Alabama at Georgia

Alabama Prospects: DT A'Shawn Robinson is a 6'3, 315 lbs mountain in the defense with surprising quickness. LB Reggie Ragland is cooked to be a Bill Belichick favorite. RB Derrick Henry is a 6'2, 240 lbs beast of a back. These are all first round prospects.

DL Jonathan Allen, TE O.J. Howard, DL Jarrad Reed, RB Kenyan Drake, and CB Cyrus Jones all deserve day two consideration.

Texas Tech at Baylor

Texas Tech Prospects: OT Le'Raven Clark is a 6'5, 315 lbs is a 4-year starter, with one at right guard and three at left tackle. He has no NFL technique coming out of Texas Tech, but is pure raw talent at this point as a day two prospect.

Baylor Prospects: DL Shawn Oakman is a 6'8, 280 lbs monster and DT Andrew Billings is a 6'1, 300 rock, with both the only first round talents. OL Spencer Drango is a 4-year starter at left tackle and a day two prospect due to a back surgery in 2013, while WR Corey Coleman is a 5'11, 190 lbs can line-up all over the formation with blazing speed.

Miami at Florida State

Miami Prospects: S Deon Bush is a potential day two prospect at free safety.

Florida State Prospects: CB Jalen Ramsey is the best defensive back in college football and will be a star in the NFL. Kicker Roberto Aguayo is automatic and could very well be taken on day two with the current questions surrounding multiple NFL teams and their kicking games. LB Terrance Smith is an athlete at linebacker with the nose for a play behind the line of scrimmage.

Maryland at Ohio State

Maryland Prospects: DB William Likely is a 5'7, 180 lbs cornerback that adds value as a kick returner.

Any Trends?

The Patriots are looking at a lot of schools with top edge defenders as the Patriots brace for the potential departure of Rob Ninkovich (age), and Chandler Jones and Jabaal Sheard (free agency after the 2016 season). While the Patriots invested in the position this past draft with Geneo Grissom and Trey Flowers, and also picked up free agent Rufus Johnson, the New England front office is still keeping tabs on the college ranks.

Look out for top tier running backs, too, as running back LeGarrette Blount is a free agent after this season. Ohio State's Elliott likely won't fall out of the top 20, but Henry would be a great replacement for Blount as New England will look for a boulder of a teammate for Dion Lewis.

The Patriots are definitely looking at quality cornerbacks as the team looks to add an early round talent to the rotation, and they are scouting mid-round wide receivers as Aaron Dobson and Danny Amendola could be in their final seasons with the team.