Week 2 of the college football season is upon us. Whether it is the true blue chip prospects or those with a chance to boost their stock with a big game, there’s plenty to keep an eye on. Here are five draft-eligible prospects you should watch this weekend.
Hendon Hooker – QB, Tennessee (6-4, 218, rs-Senior)
One of the best matchups of the weekend comes between Tennessee and Pittsburgh. Seeing how Hooker performs will be particularly interesting. He impressed in his first season with the Volunteers in 2021, following a transfer from Virginia Tech. There’s a lot to like about his game from an NFL perspective too. Whether it is his good athletic tools, arm strength, or smart decision making, he has the tools to translate his collegiate success to the next level.
Hooker and the Volunteers made light work of Ball State last week, but they will have a much sterner test against Pittsburgh. The Panthers won a fiesty Backyard Brawl in Week 1, limiting West Virginia to just 214 passing yards and forcing an interception. If Hooker is to start rising up draft boards, he will need to put out good performances against good competition, and he has the opportunity to do just that this weekend.
Bijan Robinson – RB, Texas (6-0, 222, Junior)
Tests don’t come any bigger in college football than facing off against Nick Saban and Alabama. Much of the narrative surrounding this game will focus on the coaching battle between the master and his former offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, but on the field, there might not be a more exciting player to watch than the Longhorns’ running back. If Texas are to have a chance of keeping this close, they will need him to be at his best.
Robinson is one of those rare draft prospects who really does seem to have it all. At 6’0″ and 222 lbs, he has the size to bulldoze through opponents. He also has some of the lightest and most nimble feet you could hope to find in a back, making defenders miss in space. He tops this all of with truly elite contact balance and fantastic vision. If that isn’t enough, he is also a very competent receiver. A big game against a talented Crimson Tide defense would only increase his draft stock further.
Siaki Ika – IDL, Baylor (6-4, 358, rs-Junior)
If you turn on Baylor this weekend you will find it hard to miss Ika. The former LSU Tiger stands at 6’4″ and 358 lbs, serving as a behemoth of a run defender for Dave Aranda’s defense. Baylor’s scheme relies on playing light boxes whilst maintaining integrity against the run and he is the key that unlocks that. His ability to manhandle opponents whilst holding his ground against double teams is a treat to watch.
Ika isn’t just a block of granite against the run though. He has also shown himself to be a difference maker in the passing game. In 2021 he finished the season with 33 pressures, including six sacks, on 275 pass rushing snaps. This weekend he has a tough test against an ever-reliable BYU offensive line, which has ranked as a top ten unit in both run blocking and pass protection grades over the last two seasons per PFF.
Kyu Blu Kelly – CB, Stanford (6-1, 188, Senior)
Kelly isn’t likely to be top of many people’s lists of draft prospects, but he definitely a player worth watching this weekend. The son of former NFL cornerback Brian Kelly, he has been playing for Stanford since his true freshman year. Since then, he has established a strong reputation for his ability in coverage, allowing a passer rating of just 87.8 on his 64 targets in 2021.
At 6’1″ and 188 lbs, Kelly has the frame to translate his game to the NFL level. He also shows the smooth hips and stickiness you want to see in man coverage. Last year his biggest test came against USC in Week 2 and it is the same again this season. With a Trojans roster that features Caleb Williams at quarterback and both Jordan Addison and Mario Williams at receiver, Kelly will have his work cut out to stop them.
Frank Gore Jr – RB, Southern Miss (5-8, 195, Junior)
Frank Gore is a name that will be familiar to NFL fans around the world. The former Miami back holds the NFL record for games played by a running back and ranks third in all-time rushing yards. This weekend his son will step onto the stage for Southern Miss against his father’s old team, the Miami Hurricanes. Aside from the familial narrative, there are football reasons to watch this game too. Gore Jr has led Southern Miss in rushing yards in each of the last two seasons and looks set to do so again in 2022.
He has been incredibly productive, averaging five yards per carry, with 68% of that coming after contact. He has also forced 90 missed tackles on 332 career attempts. In addition to his ability as a runner, Gore has shown he can be a contributor in the passing game too. At just 5’8″ and 195 lbs he is a little undersized from an NFL perspective, but he has plenty of translatable traits. A good game against Power Five opposition would help boost his draft stock.
