We are into the home stretch of the college football season and there are plenty of interesting matchups on offer. With that in mind, we’ve produced this list of five NFL Draft prospects that you need to keep a close eye on in Week 11.
J.J. McCarthy – QB, Michigan (6-3, 202, Junior)
Michigan have been excellent this season and McCarthy has been a huge reason behind that success. Through nine games he has thrown for 18 touchdowns to just three interceptions and is averaging a massive 10.4 yards per attempt. He’s doing this whilst completing 75.7% of his passes, which ranks second amongst all FBS quarterbacks.
The question that Michigan, and by extension McCarthy have faced is how they will fare against top competition. This weekend will mark their first game against a ranked opponent as they face off against #10 Penn State. The Nittany Lions are allowing the fifth lowest EPA per play of any FBS defenses this season. A big game here would help boost McCarthy’s draft stock further.
Olu Fashanu – OT, Penn State (6-6, 317, rs-Junior)
On the other side of this notable Big Ten matchup is Penn State’s left tackle Olu Fashanu. WIdely regarded as one of the top prospects in the entire class, Fashanu is in the middle of an outstanding 2023 campaign that has seen him concede just nine pressures on 304 pass blocking snaps. Fashanu is a member of Feldman’s Freaks List, having run a 4.97 40-yard dash and logged a 4.63 short shuttle.
This week he will be going up against a good Michigan defense that has a deep group of pass rushers at their disposal. Josaiah Stewart and Jaylen Harrell rank first and third respectively in the Big Ten in pass rush win rate. Fashanu has not yet allowed a sack in his college career. Can he keep that streak up here and cement his status as the 2024 OT1?
Jaylen Wright – RB, Tennessee (5-11, 210, Junior)
The 2024 running back class might be lacking a true standout star, but it is home to plenty of exciting prospects that should have good NFL careers. One of those players is Tennessee’s Jaylen Wright. So far this season he has amassed 825 yards at an average of 7.5 yards per carry. He also leads all draft eligible running backs in explosive runs (30) and breakaway runs (16).
Wright’s combination of size and athleticism is going to intrigue NFL teams. In high school he clocked a 6.72 60-yard dash. For context, Tyreek Hill ran a 6.70 during the offseason. He has also reportedly logged a 44” vertical jump and a 10’8” broad jump. Both of those would rank in the 95th percentile or above. He’s one to keep an eye on this weekend against Missouri.
Brenden Rice – WR, USC (6-3, 210, Senior)
Marvin Harrison Jr isn’t the only son of an NFL Hall of Famer in this year’s class. USC receiver Brenden Rice is the son of the NFL’s all-time receiving yards leader and 49ers legend Jerry Rice. The former four-star recruit began his career at Colorado before transferring to USC ahead of the 2022 season.
Rice has been a solid weapon for Caleb Williams this season, logging 32 catches for 563 yards and a Pac-12 best 10 touchdowns. His combination of size and speed project well to the NFL level and he has shown the ability to create his own yardage after the catch. This weekend he faces #6 Oregon and their impressive defense and it’s going to be interesting to see how he fares.
Jacob Dobbs – LB, Holy Cross (6-0, 237, rs-Senior)
From Jerry Rice’s son to a former Jerry Rice Award finalist in Holy Cross’ Jacob Dobbs. The four-time team captain and FCS All-American has been one of the most productive FCS linebackers in recent years. He is also a former member of Feldman’s Freaks List on account of his impressive athletic profile that includes a 4.02 pro shuttle and a 36.5” vertical jump.
Dobbs’ numbers this season are eye-popping. He has amassed 97 tackles in eight games and has a missed tackle rate of just 2%. He has also contributed 42 defensive stops and has had success as a pass rusher, with 27 pressures on just 72 pass rushing snaps. Dobbs might lack ideal NFL size, but his toughness and athletic ability should see him get a shot at the next level.