Welcome back! The college football season is nearly half completed. If you’re new to this article, the goal is to bring you the top upcoming dynasty prospects to watch in nationally televised college football games. It’s never too early to take a look forward. Who will be the sleepers of upcoming rookie drafts? Check back here every week for my ‘Weekly Watch’ series before you head into the weekend. Use this article each week as a place to refer back to as you get ready to watch each game.
How this article works:
I’ll give you the network, time, and teams playing in nationally televised games. Below that, I’ll list the respective schools’ prospects that are, in my opinion, worth mentioning, their position, the year they are eligible to enter the NFL Draft, and their listed heights and weights.
Feel free to reach out on Twitter (@THEtristancook) if you have players you think deserve to be mentioned in next week’s article.
Indiana @ #2 Ohio State
Saturday, 11/12 | 12:00 PM ET, FOX
#2 Ohio State
CJ Stroud #7, QB 2023 (6’3, 218)
I don’t expect to be paying too close attention to this game when Indiana has the ball. However, when the Buckeyes have the ball, the players to watch haven’t changed. The top 2023 prospect to know is their Heisman frontrunner, CJ Stroud. I have Stroud as my QB2 in this class, but he’s not very far behind Alabama’s Bryce Young for the top spot.
TreVeyon Henderson #32, RB 2024 (5’10, 214)
The next player to watch is TreVeyon Henderson. He’s my RB1 in 2024 and is for nearly everyone. Henderson has struggled a bit with his health this year, but I’m not concerned about his long-term outlook. Barring anything major changing, he’ll be the top running back in his class.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba #11, WR 2023 (6’1, 200) ***INJURED***
Well, the return of Jaxon Smith-Njigba was rather short-lived. He injured himself again, and at this point, I would be surprised if we see much of JSN for the rest of the year. He will have to show that he’s healthy in the pre-draft process and will likely have a bit of an ‘injury-prone’ label, but I’m still expecting him to be a first-round NFL draft player. There are several future receiver prospects to know for OSU, but the one for this year is JSN.
Missouri @ #5 Tennessee
Saturday, 11/12 | 12:00 PM ET, CBS
Missouri
Luther Burden III #3, WR 2025 (5’11, 215)
The only player I’ll be watching for the Tigers is their freshman phenom, Luther Burden III. Burden was one of the highest-rated players in his recruiting class. While he hasn’t completely wowed this year, he’s shown a lot of promise and flashes of what is yet to come. We’ll see Burden for at least two more years at the collegiate level, but he’s a name to remember for the future.
#5 Tennessee
Hendon Hooker #5, QB 2023 (6’4, 218)
For Tennessee, the main two players I’ll be watching haven’t changed. The top guy for me is their super-senior quarterback, Hendon Hooker. I am eager to see how he looks after having his worst game of the season last week in the rain in Athens. I haven’t been much of a believer in Hooker’s top-tier potential, but I’ll be interested to see how he looks this week in a much easier matchup against Missouri.
Jalin Hyatt #11, WR 2023 (6’0, 180)
Hooker’s top target this year so far has been junior receiver Jalin Hyatt. He doesn’t quite have the size of fellow WRs Bru McCoy and Cedric Tillman, but Hyatt has been the top option thus far. Hyatt has looked unstoppable at times but, like the rest of the Vols offense, came crashing down to earth a bit last week. I expect Hyatt to declare after this year, and if he runs sub 4.4 in the 40-yard dash, he could easily be a Day 2 pick.
#7 LSU @ Arkansas
Saturday, 11/12 | 12:00 PM ET, ESPN
#7 LSU
Kayshon Boutte #7, WR 2023 (6’0, 205)
For LSU, the main player to watch is Kayshon Boutte. The third-year receiver hasn’t exactly looked great this year. But, I am not too worried about his on-field production, although it would be nice to see him do something more than we’ve seen this year. Boutte is still my WR1, but the big change for me is the gap between the tier-1 receivers and the rest of this class.
Arkansas
Raheim Sanders #5, RB 2024 (6’2, 227)
For Arkansas, the player I’ll be watching is Raheim ‘Rocket’ Sanders. He has put on a show so far this season and has the 8th most yards rushing in college football. I’ve seen Sanders ranked as high as RB2 for the 2024 class, behind Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson. Fortunately, we have a lot of time to iron out the running back rankings for 2024, but he’s someone you’ll likely hear a lot more about. I currently have him as my RB3.
#9 Alabama @ #11 Ole Miss
Saturday, 11/12 | 3:30 PM ET, CBS
#9 Alabama
Bryce Young #9, QB 2023 (6’0, 194)
The main player to know for Alabama is still Bryce Young. He was all the way down at QB3 in Mel Kiper’s latest quarterback rankings, but he’s still my QB1. Young and Stroud are miles ahead of anyone else in the class right now, but I would take Young first. I would take him at 1.01 of Superflex drafts if they were today.
Jahmyr Gibbs #1, RB 2023 (5’11, 210)
The other player to watch for Alabama is Jahmyr Gibbs. Last week, he had a very good game in the overtime loss at LSU. Gibbs ran for 99 yards on 15 carries and added 64 yards receiving on 8 catches. I know that Bijan Robinson is the clear #1 running back in this class, but I think Gibbs could end up providing the most value for where he ends up being drafted. He’s secured the RB2 spot in my 2023 rankings.
#11 Ole Miss
Zach Evans #6, RB 2023 (6’0, 215)
There are two players I’ll be watching for Ole Miss. Zach Evans is another one of the guys that could potentially end up as the RB2 in the 2023 class. He has looked good for the Rebels in split duty with freshman Quinshon Judkins. We should see both of them on the field, but the name to know for 2023 is Evans. He’ll likely be one of the first four running backs taken in this upcoming year’s rookie drafts.
Quinshon Judkins #4, RB 2025 (5’11 220)
The other name to know is freshman running back Quinshon Judkins. He’s been a pleasant surprise this season for Ole Miss and is surprisingly leading the team in all rushing categories. Expect to see a lot of him on Saturday and to hear his name for the next couple of years before he is eligible to declare.
#15 North Carolina @ Wake Forest
Saturday, 11/12 | 7:30 PM ET, ESPN 2
#15 North Carolina
Drake Maye #10, QB 2024 (6’4, 220)
One of the biggest surprise breakouts this season has been North Carolina’s Drake Maye. Through nine games, he is completing over 71% of his passes. He’s thrown for nearly 3,000 yards and has 31 passing touchdowns. On top of that, he’s only thrown three interceptions. Maye has also added five rushing touchdowns and is the team’s leading rusher. Maye has vaulted himself into the 1st round quarterback discussion in the 2024 draft. I expect another big day for Maye against Wake Forest.
Josh Downs #11, WR 2023 (5’10, 175)
The best weapon for UNC is Josh Downs, who has looked great when he’s been on the field. Downs isn’t in my top tier of receivers in the 2023 class, but that doesn’t mean I don’t think he’s good. This is shaping up to be a very deep year for wide receivers, and I think Downs could end up being a value pick in rookie drafts this summer. I have seen his name in the 1st round NFL Draft discussion, which would likely lead to him being a mid-1st-round pick in rookie drafts.
Wake Forest
Sam Hartman #10, WR 2023 (6’1, 210)
There are two 2023-eligible players for Wake Forest of note. First, we have their redshirt junior signal caller, Sam Hartman. Hartman was a potential 2022 NFL prospect but decided to return for the 2022 season. He then missed time earlier due to a medical condition but has since returned to the team. Hartman has the talent to get a look at the next level, but his draft position will likely depend on how his medical checks go.
AT Perry #9, WR 2023 (6’5, 205)
The top weapon for Hartman has been AT Perry. He broke out last year with 71 catches, 1293 yards receiving, and 15 touchdowns. I expected to see Perry go to the NFL, but he instead returned for this season. His production numbers this year are slightly down as we are seeing teammates Jahmal Banks and Donovan Greene produce as well. I’m a believer in Perry. He’s got good skills as a receiver and is a monster target at 6’5” tall. If Perry can run well at the combine, he could go earlier in the NFL Draft than he’s currently projected to.
#4 TCU @ #18 Texas
Saturday, 11/12 | 7:30 PM ET, ABC
#4 TCU
Quinten Johnston #1, WR 2023 (6’4, 215)
TCU has two players that I’m interested in. First and foremost, I’ll be watching Quinten Johnston. He has seemingly turned his 2022 season around in the last handful of games and is now being projected in the early 1st-round of some NFL mock drafts as the top wide receiver taken. While I agree that the physical tools and upside are both there, I worry about his inconsistency.
Kendre Miller #33, RB 2023 (6’0, 220)
The other player on this roster that I’ll be watching this week is Kendre Miller. Miller has looked good this season and is making a claim for Day 2 NFL Draft capital. I am not sure if he’ll get there, but he’s continued to impress all season. I expect to see him be the focal point of the rushing attack for the #4 Horned Frogs this week.
#22 Texas
Bijan Robinson #5, RB 2023 (6’0, 220)
There’s not much to say about Bijan Robinson. He’s really good, and he’s all but locked up the 1.01 in non-super flex drafts. Bijan continued his monster season with a casual 209 yards rushing last week. As long as he stays healthy, Bijan should be the top non-QB pick in all formats. He’s even making a claim for the top pick in Superflex formats at this point.
Xavier Worthy #7, WR 2024 (6’1, 163)
Sophomore wide receiver Xavier Worthy is the other Texas player I’ll mention. Worthy hasn’t exactly put up big receiving yardage numbers, but he has consistently been finding the end zone. I think the biggest knock on him will be his slender frame. He has the DeVonta Smith/Hollywood Brown build, which will turn some teams and dynasty players away. I am a fan of Worthy, though. If Texas is going to upset TCU, I imagine Worthy will have to have a big day.
Arizona @ #12 UCLA
Saturday, 11/12 | 10:30 PM ET, FOX
Arizona
Jacob Cowing #2, WR 2023 (5’11, 175)
There is just one player I’ll be watching for Arizona, and that is UTSA transfer Jacob Cowing. He is currently dealing with a knee injury, so it’s unclear if we will see him on the field this week for Arizona. I am curious to see if he returns for another year to Tucson. Right now, he’d be lucky to be picked before the final day of the NFL Draft, but depending on his landing spot, he could be an early contributor.
#12 UCLA
Zach Charbonnet #24, RB 2023 (6’1, 220)
The leading 2023 eligible player that I’ll be watching is running back Zach Charbonnet. Charbonnet has had five straight 100+ yard rushing games, including two games where he had 198 yards. One of the most underrated parts of his game is his receiving ability. He’s certainly not going to wow you out of the backfield. But he’s shown that he can contribute on third down and in the receiving game. I expect Day 2 draft capital for Charbonnet, assuming he doesn’t run poorly.
That’s it for this week’s games. As I previously mentioned, if there is anyone you’d like me to take a look at or want to share your thoughts on anything dynasty related, hit me up on Twitter ( @THEtristancook ). Also, check out tape on some of these guys in the Dynasty Nerds Film Room. It’s an amazing tool that I plan to take full advantage of. You can use the code “tcook” for 15% off a membership of any kind!