Week 3 of the college football season is here! There are some excellent matchups on offer this weekend, and plenty of opportunities for 2023 draft prospects to make a name for themselves. Here are five prospects you need to keep an eye on this week.
Spencer Rattler – QB, South Carolina (6-1, 215, rs-Junior)
Things change quickly in football and no player embodies that better than Rattler. This time last year he was still earning buzz as a first round prospect, with some suggesting he could have been in contention for the No. 1 overall pick. In reality he struggled with the weight of expectation and lost his starting job in Oklahoma, choosing to make a new start in South Carolina this offseason.
Results for Rattler have so far been underwhelming. This weekend he gets one of the biggest tests of his career, going up against an exceptional Georgia defense. If ever there was a time to put on a show it would be now. Rattler has the tools you want in an NFL quarterback, showcasing a rocket arm and some tremendous out-of-structure creativity. His poor pocket presence and tendency to play hero ball will be a concern though, and he needs to show more composure to stand any chance of reclaiming his once lofty draft stock.
Jared Verse – EDGE, Florida State (6-4, 248, rs-Junior)
Florida State have got off to a great start to the 2022 season and will be looking to move to 3-0 this weekend. One of the players who have made a name for themselves this year is former Albany edge rusher Jared Verse. Verse has hit the ground running since transferring to the Seminoles this summer. He already has nine pressures, including three sacks, in just two starts. This includes a truly dominant performance against LSU in Week 1.
Verse is still a little raw from a technical perspective, but there is a lot to like about his game. At 6’4″ and 248 lbs he has the size to translate to the NFL level and he pairs that size with some truly outstanding speed. His short area quickness causes a tonne of problems for opposing tackles, and he also has the strength to overwhelm them with power. Another big game against Louisville this weekend will help boost his draft stock.
Blake Freeland – OT, BYU (6-8, 305, rs-Junior)
BYU has earned a reputation for their offensive line play through recent years, and they once again have a talented prospect at tackle. Freeland is a four-year starter, who spent two years at right tackle before replacing Brady Christensen as the Cougars’ left tackle in 2021. He has earned a reputation as an excellent pass protector, allowing just five pressures across his 426 pass blocking snaps in 2021.
Freeland was initially recruited as an athlete, before transitioning to the offensive line at BYU. His background shows up on tape, with the tremendous movement speed you would expect. His athleticism naturally lends itself to a wide zone scheme, where he can play in space and climb to the second level. This weekend he has one of the toughest tests of his season, facing off against Oregon. A big performance here would help boost his draft stock.
Tank Bigsby – RB, Auburn (6-0, 213, Junior)
The SEC churns out great running backs at a rate of knots and the latest in that long line might well be Bigsby. The third-year junior has been a key part of the Tigers’ offense since his true freshman season, racking up 1,938 yards through his first two years. This year he has got off to a great start, averaging 6.9 yards per carry through two games and forcing an impressive 18 missed tackles on his 29 attempts.
There is an awful lot to like about Bigsby’s game when it comes to his NFL potential. At 6’0″ and 213 lbs he has ideal size and the power to match. He also displays excellent vision, especially when asked to navigate traffic between the tackles. For a bigger back he has surprisingly light feet and has shown he can be utilised as a receiver out of the backfield. This weekend he has a tough matchup against a talented Penn State defense and will have to be at his best if the Tigers are to get the win.
Joey Porter Jr – CB, Penn State (6-2, 194, rs-Junior)
For plenty of NFL fans, Porter’s name will be familiar. That is because he is the son of former Dolphins, Steelers, and Cardinals edge rusher Joey Porter. Unlike his father, Porter Jr doesn’t play on the defensive line. Instead, he plays as a cornerback for the Nittany Lions, where he is in his third season as a starter. Throughout his time with the team, Porter has established a reputation for his physicality at the catch point, allowing a completion rate of just 61.7% throughout his career.
One of the things that makes Porter so appealing from an NFL perspective is his physical makeup, especially his length. This makes him a real asset in press coverage, with the wingspan to disrupt the release of receivers and win early in reps. His length also helps him to disrupt the catch process. So far this season he has logged five pass breakups on 16 targets, and he’ll be hoping to add to that tally this weekend against Auburn.