This week's edition of college football prospects to keep an eye on is finally here. In case you missed it, here's last week's version of the series. Quite a few players from last week's list went on to have big games, such as OT Jackson Carman, CB Derion Kendrick, QB Mac Jones, and WR Kadarius Toney.
I like to start off with highlighting player's from this week's game of the week first. This week, that'll be Georgia vs Alabama if the game is played as scheduled. It was just recently announced Alabama head coach Nick Saban has tested positive for COVID 19. The game hasn't been postponed at the time this article was published.
Game of the Week: Georgia vs Alabama
EDGE Azeez Ojulari Georgia
The redshirt sophomore started the second half of last week's game with a strip-sack on Tennessee’s first possession in the second half. Ojulari was all over the field with five tackles, two forced fumbles, and two sacks. He was named SEC defensive lineman of the week after his solid performance.
He's a big reason why Georgia's defense is off to a fantastic start. They're giving up just 236.7 yards per game and only have allowed 115 rushing yards. They have the best run defense in the country this season by far. This week will be a big test for their defense against Najee Harris and Alabama.
LB Dylan Moses Alabama
Moses missed last season due to a torn ACL and was widely considered the best off ball linebacker in all of college football prior to his injury, but he's struggling to start the season. Some rust should be expected to start after not playing for a full season, but he's looked a bit lost out there so far. We're only 3 games into the season, so it's a bit too early to panic, but Moses will fall hard if he continues to play at this level. A strong game on the big stage against Georgia would help after his poor performance last week.
Watch Moses in the clip below. He looks nothing like the star I remember seeing in 2018.
Other players to keep an eye on:
RB Khalil Herbert Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech is averaging 299.3 rushing yards per game and is facing a Boston College defense allowing 135.8 rush yards per game. Their run defense has been impressive in every game, except against North Carolina's elite rush attack last week. Herbert has 450 rushing yards and 5 TDs on just 44 carries. His 10.4 rushing yards per carry are second in the nation.
Quarterback Hendon Hooker will make his first start of the season this week. He played the second half last week and the offense really took off with him back in the lineup. His elusiveness will really open up more creativity in the playbook and possibly more holes for Herbert.
RB Michael Carter North Carolina
North Carolina's run game was simply unstoppable last week against Virginia Tech. Carter put up 214 rushing yards and averaged 12.6 yards per carry. He's viewed mostly as a late round pick, but could be a sleeper pick. He shows great vision and is someone I'll have my eye on the rest of the season. North Carolina faces a struggling Florida State team this week and could be in line for another big game.
WR Gunner Romney BYU
Romney is off to a monster start this season. He's suddenly become a big play threat and has emerged as Zach Wilson's favorite target in BYU's explosive offense. Romney is averaging 22.7 yards per reception this season after averaging just 12.2 yards per reception last season. He already has more yards this season (453) than last season (377). Romney is on pace for 1,472 receiving yards, which would be the second most in school history. Austin Collie had 1,538 yards in 2008.
BYU will play Houston this week, which only allowed 141 passing yards in their first game of the season last week.
WR Elijah Moore Ole Miss
Moore is averaging 154 receiving yards per game, the best in college football through his first three games. He also leads the nation with 20 first downs. He's used primarily in the slot for Ole Miss and has been incredibly reliable thus far. He hasn't dropped a pass yet on his 34 targets.
WR Terrace Marshall Jr LSU
While we're on the subject of SEC wide receivers, Marshall has really made a name for himself this year. He's really benefitting from Jamar Chase opting out and seeing more targets than anticipated. He's currently tied with tight end Kyle Pitts for most receiving touchdowns this season with 7 and has 20 touchdowns in his last 15 games. It doesn't appear to be a fluke either, as Marshall was on a similar run at the start of last season before he fractured his foot against Vanderbilt and missed four games.
DT Jonathan Marshall Arkansas
Marshall has looked unblockable at times as pass rusher this season. You may have seen him already on the controversial "spike play" by Auburn where he absolutely just blows through two offensive lineman with ease. He has 12 hurries on the season and 1 sack through 3 games. Arkansas will play Ole Miss this week, which has allowed 8 sacks in 3 games.
LB Baylon Spector Clemson
Spector really caught my attention in last week's game against Miami. Clemson's defense has been great against the run, allowing just 2.48 yards per carry and Spector is a big reason behind that. He had 5 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 2.5 tackles for a loss last week against a Miami offense that was very hot coming into their matchup.
Dabo Swinney has praised Spector's work ethic and given him and fellow linebacker James Skalski "The Bruise Brothers".
S Macon Clark Tulane
Clark has earned starts the last two weeks after seeing just limited snaps in Tulane's first two games of the season. He had two interceptions last week against Houston and took one of those all the way to the house for a touchdown. He'll be facing an SMU offense averaging 339.3 passing yards per game this week.
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