Week 5: Players to Watch

Draft Nation is ready for Saturday’s games and wants to make sure you are as well. Each week, we will go through the games and the players to watch, on our way to the draft in April 2025.

Here is our preview for - Week 5:

#2 (3-0) Georgia at. #4 Alabama (3-0) Saturday 7:30 pm ABC

Line- Georgia (-2.5)

Draft Nation Prediction - Georgia 28 Alabama 24   

It's hard to admit that a game played on September 28th is so important that it could have an effect on how the playoffs play out. But this is Georgia and Alabama. Georgia will be looking to exact revenge over last season’s 27-24 loss to the Crimson Tide in the SEC Championship game. Of course, this is the first time Georgia will play against an Alabama team without head coach Nick Saban on the sideline since 2003. 

This game will spotlight high end NFL draft prospects that could have 35 plus players chosen between the two teams in the 2025 selection process. Draft Nation believes that Georgia gets their revenge in a game that will be tightly played. 

Alabama- Quarterback- Jalen Milroe

Jalen Milroe can add to his legendary career at Alabama as he leads the Crimson Tide into this huge tilt this weekend. Milroe has been virtually perfect since the beginning of 2024. He has completed 67.3% of his passes and has thrown for 590 yards with eight touchdowns and no interceptions. Milroe has hit on long passes and is averaging a career high 16.9 yards per completion. These numbers are great but he has not faced a defense like Georgia and will need to stay perfect for the Crimson Tide to roll. 

Draft Nation still has Milroe as a second round pick who is right on the outside of a first round prospect. If Milroe can beat Georgia and keep producing at the rate that he is, a first round pick is not out of the question.

Georgia- Quarterback- Carson Beck

It wasn’t that Carson Beck played poorly in the SEC Championship loss last season to Alabama. After all, going 21 out of 29 for 243 yards is not terrible. However he did not throw a touchdown and he lost a fumble on his own 11-yard-line that led to an Alabama score. 

Carson Beck is on a short list of players who have the capability to be the No. 1 pick in 2025 and this game will go a long way to showing scouts how he plays against NFL prospects on the road. 

Beck, like Milroe, has been very effective in the early going, completing 68.3% of his passes for 680 yards with seven touchdowns and no interceptions. Draft Nation loves the accuracy of Carson Beck to go along with his size and pocket presence. A big game against Alabama could make him the favorite to be the first overall pick.

Alabama- Center- Parker Brailsford

Parker Brailsford is the highest ranked center coming out in the 2025 NFL draft and he will need to be on top of his game against a stout Georgia defensive line. Brailsford has smooth athleticism and can get to the second level to take on linebackers, which he will need to be able to do at the next level. Brailsford is explosive off the snap but he is undersized and will need to prove he can anchor down against the larger Georgia defenders. Alabama’s offensive line will need to play as a unit and stop the complex blitz package that Georgia will be serving up.

Georgia- Safety- Malaki Starks

Georgia safety Malaki Starks is a playmaker that can change the momentum of a game instantly. Starks is explosive and a run-stopper who also has the capability to jump routes and make plays. Georgia will be looking to make Jalen Milroe uncomfortable with different defensive packages and blitz schemes and a player with Starks’ versatility will be tough for Alabama to account for. Starks’ stock has been rising and reminds Draft Nation of Minkah Fitzpatrick with his overall game.

Others to Watch

Georgia- RB- Trevor Etienne

Georgia- WR- Dominic Lovett

Georgia- LB- Jalon Walker

Alabama- WR- Ryan Williams

Alabama- LB- Deontae Lawson

Alabama- DL- Tim Keenan

#15 Louisville (3-0) at. #14 Notre Dame (3-1) Saturday 3:30 pm Peacock

Line- Notre Dame (-6.5)

Draft Nation Prediction - Notre Dame 20 Louisville 13

The Louisville Cardinals are off to a 3-0 start and have one of the nation’s best defenses. Louisville’s first three games however were against Austin Peay, Jacksonville State and Georgia Tech. Notre Dame bounced back after losing to Northern Illinois by dismantling Purdue 66-7 last week. Draft Nation sees this as a low scoring affair that the Fighting Irish pull out.

Notre Dame- Running Back- Jeremiyah Love

The sophomore running back has taken over as the starting running back and is averaging 7.4 yards per carry in the first four games of 2024. Love has an explosive burst and is able to put pressure on the second and third levels of a defense. He is also a weapon out of the backfield and it will be fun to see how he performs against a tough Louisville run defense. Love is only a sophomore, so he has areas to improve, but he will be worth keeping an eye on this year and next.

Louisville- Edge Rush- Ashton Gillotte

The Cardinals defense has been exceptional in the early going and their main weapon has been Ashton Gillotte who Draft Nation projects as an early second round pick. Gillotte is explosive coming off the edge and is powerful with his hands and drives through lineman with his lower half. Gillotte will need to play a strong game and help to seal the edge and hold his ground against possible Riley Leonard scrambles. Gillotte has a “tweener” designation due to his 6-foot-2 frame. The matchup between Gillotte and freshman tackle Anthonie Knapp will be worth keeping an eye on.

Notre Dame- Tight End- Mitchell Evans

Look for Notre Dame to get senior tight end Mitchell Evans more involved in the offense against Louisville on Saturday. Evans has only put up a pedestrian seven catches in the first four games, but look for Notre Dame to do a lot of play action fakes to keep the Louisville run defense on their heels. Evans is a large target at 6-foot-5 and has reliable hands. Evans projects as a third round pick and his performance on Saturday could be a determining factor in the game. 

Louisville- Quarterback- Tyler Shough

Senior Tyler Shough came into the 2024 season as nothing more than a UDFA type prospect. After his first three games, he has done enough to warrant scouts watching what he can do against a tough Notre Dame defense. Through three games, Shough has thrown for 857 yards and eight touchdowns while not throwing an interception. The mobile 6-foot-5 signal caller has been sloppy with his mechanics and ball tempo in the past, so it will be interesting to see how he performs against a formidable opponent.

Others to Watch

Notre Dame- LB- Jack Kiser

Notre Dame- S- Xavier Watt

Notre Dame- QB- Riley Leonard

Louisville- RB- Isaac Brown

Louisville- WR- Ja’Corey Brooks

Louisville- LB- T.J. Quinn

#3 Ohio State (3-0) at. Michigan State (3-1) Saturday 7:00 pm Peacock

Line- Ohio State (-23.5)

Draft Nation Prediction - Ohio State 45 Michigan State 17

Ohio State finally plays a somewhat legitimate opponent after feasting on Akron, Western Michigan and Marshall. The Buckeyes are the most talented team in the country and Draft Nation believes they will show up on Saturday and suffocate the Spartans from the outset. 

Michigan State is coming off a 23-19 loss against Boston College and their quarterback Aidan Chiles has already thrown seven interceptions. This could be a recipe for disaster.

Ohio State- Cornerback- Denzel Burke

Watch for the Ohio State secondary to make plays on Saturday against Chiles and Sparty's ailing wide receiver corps. Cornerback Denzel Burke could have been a high draft pick in 2023, but decided to bring his playmaking ability back to Ohio State for another season. Burke, now considered a first round talent, will be a thorn in the side of the Spartans on Saturday. Michigan State will try to stay away from Burke for the most part, but senior Jordan Hancock is on the other side, so good luck Spartans…

Michigan State- Quarterback - Aidan Chiles

Sophomore quarterback Aidan Chiles has had an up and down season so far in 2024. He has thrown for 891 yards in four games, but he has also already thrown seven interceptions. He will need to play a more conservative style against the Buckeyes, because if he turns the ball over, the avalanche of points agains the Green & White will start. 

Ohio State- Wide Receiver- Emeka Egbuka

Ohio State has so much talent on offense that it is virtually impossible to predict which player(s) will have a huge game. Senior Emeka Egbuka is another player who could have been drafted in 2023, but decided to stay home and play pone more season for the Buckeyes. Egbuka is tied for the team lead in receptions with 14 and is averaging 19.0 yards per catch. Egbuka has elite speed and his route running is near the top of the class. Look for the future first rounder to put up big numbers on Saturday.

Michigan State- Linebacker- Jordan Turner

Turner, a redshirt from Wisconsin is an undersized linebacker who plays and moves like a safety. He is tied for the team lead in sacks (3) and leads the team in tackles with 22. The speed of the Buckeyes won’t be as overwhelming to Turner as to some of his teammates and he will have to step up and have one of his biggest games of his career to help keep the Buckeyes explosive offense at bay. Turner is a potential late round pick, but most likely will be a UDFA signing due to his “tweener” moniker. 

Others to Watch 

Ohio State- G- Donovan Jackson

Ohio State- RB- Quinshon Judkins

Ohio State- S- Lathan Ransom

Michigan State- RB- Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams

Michigan State- WR- Nick Marsh

Michigan State- DL- Khris Bogle