Week 6: Players to Watch

College Football season is now more than a quarter of the way through, and key conference matchups are in full swing. This is where NFL Draft separation starts to occur. 

Here are some key games to watch this weekend:

#9 (4-0) Missouri @ #25 (4-1) Texas A&M – Saturday 12:00 pm- ABC

Line- Texas A&M (-1.5)

Draft Nation Prediction- Missouri 27 Texas A&M 17

Neither team has looked dominant this season, and a win here could bring much needed momentum to a Playoff push. A loss, conversely, could send the season spiraling. Watch out for Luther Burden III, one of the preseason top draft prospects. He is not playing poorly, but he’s not put together the dominant showing he needs to be a premier selection next Spring. 

For the Aggies, Junior Running Back Le’Veon Moss is having the type of season that could lead to an early jump to the NFL.

It has been nearly a month since Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman last appeared in a game, and his status remains in question heading into this weekend against No. 9 Missouri. Redshirt freshman Marcel Reed has done a solid job in Weigman’s absence, but Draft Nation sees the Tigers pulling this much needed win out. 

Missouri- Wide Receiver- Luther Burden III

Luther Burden will be one of the top wide receivers selected in the 2025 draft, and his big play ability will be showcased on Saturday in College Station. Burden has not had that huge game, and scouts are waiting for it. On the season he has been consistent, hauling in 19 receptions for 257 yards and four touchdowns.  

Burden is explosive and has elite separation ability and will be a handful for the Aggies to contain. It is only a matter of time before he goes off… and this could be the weekend.

Texas A&M- Running Back- Le’Veon Moss

Junior running back Le’Veon Moss has rushed for 100+ yards twice this season, including 110 yards on 18 attempts against Florida. On the year he is averaging 6.2 yards per carry and may be sneaking into the draft discussion for 2025. 

The 6-foot-0 running back runs with a violent temperament and has a bust to run through holes, while breaking tackles. His blend of size, toughness and speed will be his ticket to the NFL. Draft Nation thinks coming back for his senior year could make him a day two pick in 2026. 

Missouri- Wide Receiver- Theo Wease Jr.

If Texas A&M can shut down superstar Luther Burden III, they may still have their hands full iwith single coverage on Wease. Theo Wease Jr. leads the Tigers in receptions with 26 and receiving yards with 287. He's not quite as explosive as Burden, but he is the perfect complement with his excellent hands and superior route running. He has been inconsistent throughout his career and should be a late round pick in 2025. 

Texas A&M- Center- Bryce Foster

If Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman does not play on Saturday the Aggies will run the ball and control the clock, trying to keep the talented Missouri offense off the field. Center Bryce Foster is one of the top interior linemen in the SEC and he will have his hands full against a Missouri defense that realizes the run is coming. 

Foster is a high IQ center who has a ton of experience playing in the nation’s best conference. He is projected as a mid-round pick because of his lack of athleticism, having his share ofstruggles against players with length. Foster is tall for a center (6-foot-5) and needs to improve his run blocking. This is a great week for Foster to show that he is improving.

Other players to watch

Missouri- QB- Brady Cook

Missouri- RB- Nate Noel

Missouri- S- Marvin Burks Jr.

Texas A&M- QB- Marcel Reed

Texas A&M- DB- Will Lee III

Texas A&M- DL- Shemar Turner

(3-1) Iowa @ #3 (4-0) Ohio State – Saturday 3:30 pm CBS

Line- Ohio State (-18.5)

Draft Nation Prediction- Ohio State 31 Iowa 10

The Buckeyes face their first “test” of the season, though the Hawkeyes are heavily outmatched in this Big Ten competition. For draft followers, this game is more than just a throwback match up in the new era of college football, but instead it is a chance to get a glimpse of the premier running back prospects of the 2025 Class. Iowa Junior Kaleb Johnson is off to a torrid start, and Ohio State backs TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins are two of the best. 

Draft Nation thinks that Iowa’s defense will hold up for a half, but in the second half, look for the Buckeyes to pull away. Iowa has several NFL caliber defensive prospects, but in the end they will still be no match for Ohio State’s explosive play makers.

Ohio State- Running Back- Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson

College football has not seen a duo like this at running back since Felix Jones and Darren McFadden were playing at Arkansas back in 2007. Judkins leads the team in rushing with 390 yards and an 8.3 avg, and Henderson is right behind him with 276 yards and an 8.9 avg. With two running backs averaging over eight yards a carry, the Iowa defense is in for a long day. The worst part of it all, however, Iowa can’t sell out to stop the run because the Buckeyes have so much talent in the passing game as well. 

Judkins could be a late first round pick in 2025, and Henderson will not be too far behind. Judkins, the transfer from Ole Miss reminds Draft Nation of Nick Chubb with the way he runs violently, with great balance and a burst. On the other hand, Henderson reminds Draft Nation of Breece Hall with his natural instincts as a runner, and his exceptional cut back ability. 

Iowa- Linebacker- Jay Higgins

This game is all about the matchup between Ohio State’s powerful offense against the stout Iowa defense. Linebacker Jay Higgins is not only the best tackler on the Hawkeyes defense, but also one of the best tackling linebackers in the country. Higgins can make plays sideline-to-sideline, and he will need to do so on Saturday. His instincts and football IQ will keep the Iowa defense in position to make plays. Higgins leads the team with 34 tackles, and he has also added two interceptions, and a forced fumble. The fifth-year senior is not the biggest or fastest linebacker in the class and offers very little in terms of pass rush. Higgins should be a mid-round pick who will offer a reliable run stopper to an NFL teams defense. 

Ohio State- Wide Receiver- Emeka Egbuka

When watching Saturday’s game against Iowa and Ohio State, fans will be watching several future NFL position players, including Buckeye wide receiver Emeka Egbuka. Egbuka could have entered the 2024 draft and probably would have been selected no later than day two. 

Many experts, including Draft Nation, believe that Egbuka has worked his way into a mid-late first round pick with his start this season. The senior wide receiver has caught 21 passes for 362 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Egbuka has elite speed and runs very aggressive routes and competes for everything. Hie route running is effortless, and he has the makings of a future #1 receiver in the NFL. If the Hawkeyes can contain the running game of Ohio State, they will still have to worry about Egbuka and the passing game.

Iowa- Quarterback- Cade McNamara

Cade McNamara’s job in Iowa most weeks is to be secure with the football and help the Hawkeyes squeak out low scoring victories. McNamara a transfer from Michigan and is a step up from what Iowa has had as signal caller that past couple of seasons. This weekend against Ohio State, McNamara will more than likely have to throw the ball a lot more. The Hawkeye signal caller is effective in the short passing game but struggles with arm strength and ball placement. On the season he has completed 62.7% of his passes for three touchdowns and two interceptions. McNamara will probably be a seventh round or UDFA signing, and nothing more than a backup in the NFL.

Other players to watch

Ohio State- S- Sonny Styles

Ohio State- QB- Will Howard

Ohio State- WR- Jeremiah Smith

Iowa- RB- Kaleb Johnson

Iowa- TE- Luke Lachey

Iowa- C- Logan Jones

#12 (4-1) Ole Miss @ (3-1) South Carolina – Saturday 3:30 pm ESPN

Line- Ole Miss (-8.5)

Draft Nation Prediction- Ole Miss 31 South Carolina 17

Two one-loss SEC teams will be fighting for their Playoff hopes on Saturday. While the Rebels are heavily favored, the LSU Tigers can certainly attest that the Gamecocks will make teams work for a win in Columbia. In a draft short on elite QBs, Jaxson Dart’s positioning took a hit last week in a loss to Kentucky. Can he bounce back against a stout South Carolina DL led by fast-rising Kyle Kennard? 

Ole Miss is third in the nation in sacks and No. 1 in tackles for loss. South Carolina’s offensive line will have trouble competing all day with the Rebels defensive front, leading Ole Miss to a bounce back win on the road.

Ole Miss- Defensive End- Princely Umanmielen

Ole Miss defensive end Princely Umanmielen is off to a sizzling start in 2024 and the transfer from Florida has solidified his draft stock as a day two prospect. Umanmielen has 3.5 sacks, which is tied for the team lead, a team that has already sacked the quarterback 18 times. 

Umanmielen will be part of a defensive line unit that will look to wear down a below average South Carolina offensive line. What makes Umanmielen tough to defend is his versatility as he can line up all over the front seven and then teams still must deal with defensive tackle Walter Nolen inside. Umanmielen has excellent length and is very quick off the snap. Umanmielen is questionable but expected to play on Saturday.

South Carolina- Edge Rusher- Kyle Kennard

In a game that Draft Nation believes is going to be won in the trenches, South Carolina edge rusher Kyle Kennard is off to as good a start as anyone in the country. Kennard has collected 10 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles in just four games. 

Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart is coming off a rough game against Kentucky and the Gamecocks will want to put constant pressure on Dart, so he does not get comfortable in the pocket. Coming into 2024, the 6-foot-5 Kennard was considered a late round draft pick. However, after his early season performance draftniks are starting to hear Kennard mentioned as ticketed for the mid-rounds and if he keeps it up, he should keep climbing.

Ole Miss- Quarterback- Jaxson Dart

Jaxson Dart hit a bump in the road last weekend in the Rebels’ 20-17 loss to Kentucky. Although Dart played well, he completed 18-27 for 261 yards and one touchdown, he couldn't find a way to beat a pedestrian 2-2 Wildcats team. On the season, Dart has been sensational, already throwing for 1,815 yards and 13 touchdowns, while only throwing two interceptions. 

Dart is still considered a first or second round prospect who will try and find a way to separate himself from the group that is forming at the top. Dart can throw the ball with excellent velocity and always has his eyes downfield to make a play. His accuracy and decision making were two things he needed to improve entering 2024, and so far, he has done just that.

South Carolina- Running Back- Raheim Sanders

South Carolina will be looking to keep the front seven of Ole Miss guessing, and what better way to do this than to have running back Raheim Sanders establish the run game early. Sanders is a transfer from Arkansas and he's seen his draft stock take a hit over the past couple of seasons. Still considered a later round draft pick, Sanders has rushed for 286 yards and four touchdowns this season but has shown some flashes of his big play ability he was known for in his early days at Arkansas. If Sanders can continue putting up numbers in the SEC, his draft stock should improve.

Other players to watch

Ole Miss- DT- Walter Nolen

Ole Miss- T- Micah Pettus

Ole Miss- WR- Tre Harris

South Carolina- DT- T.J. Sanders

South Carolina- Edge- Dylan Stewart

South Carolina- TE- John Simon