It’s Week 13 of the college football season and that means Rivalry Week! There are some excellent games on offer this weekend and plenty of noteworthy NFL prospects on display. 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 13.
Tahj Brooks – RB, Texas Tech (5-10, 230, Senior)
Brooks has been one of the most dominant running backs in all of college football this season. He leads all draft-eligible running backs with a whopping 1,357 rushing yards. He has averaged 5.4 yards per carry and has scored nine touchdowns. Brooks also leads the FBS in forced missed tackles (86) and first downs (79).
There is a lot about Brooks’ game that will translate well to the NFL level, particularly his combination of size, vision, and short area quickness. He has also shown the ability to be a serviceable pass catcher out of the backfield. This weekend will mark one of his biggest tests of the season so far as he prepares to face off against Texas. Can he produce his fifth consecutive 100+ yard game?
JJ McCarthy – QB, Michigan (6-3, 202, Junior)
The game of Week 13 is obviously “The Game” as Michigan face off against Ohio State. There are plenty of prospects to watch on either side but one I will be paying close attention to is the Wolverines’ signal caller, JJ McCarthy. McCarthy has been having a great season, completing 73.8% of his passes and throwing for 18 touchdowns to just four interceptions.
He is however coming off a pair of limited and underwhelming games against Penn State and Maryland that saw him throw for a combined 201 yards, zero touchdowns and an interception. There is a lot of interest in seeing how McCarthy holds up against a top defense. Can he silence doubters and lead Michigan to a win?
Marvin Harrison Jr – WR, Ohio State (6-4, 205, Junior)
On the other side of the Michigan-Ohio State matchup is one of the most high profile prospects in the entire draft class. Marvin Harrison Jr looks locked in to be a top five draft pick in April and he has been absolutely dominant throughout his time at Ohio State. This year he has had 62 catches for 1,093 yards and 13 touchdowns, averaging 17.6 yards per catch.
Harrison Jr truly has everything you could want in a wide receiver. He is a technically refined route runner with impressive athletic ability and excellent hands. His body control at the catch point is exceptional and he is brilliant in contested catch situations. This weekend’s clash with Michigan will be one of his biggest tests of the season – how will he fare?
DJ James – CB, Auburn (6-1, 164, Senior)
Week 13 will treat us to the Iron Bowl as Alabama and Auburn face off against one another. This is another matchup with bucketloads of NFL talent but one name I will be watching closely is James. The former Oregon corner has established a reputation as a fearsome man coverage corner at Auburn and will have a tough test stopping this Alabama team.
James, who recently accepted an invite to the Senior Bowl, is a little on the skinny side, but there is no denying his talent on the field. His foot quickness and mirror ability make him a nightmare in coverage and he has forced 10 incompletions on his 46 targets this season. Can he make a big play this weekend against a big rival?
Jared Verse – EDGE, Florida State (6-4, 260, rs-Junior)
Entering the season Verse was being talked about as a potential top five pick. Many predicted that he would be the clear EDGE1 in the 2024 NFL Draft class. It is fair to say he has had a quieter 2023 season than expected, but if you look beyond the box score the production is still very encouraging. Verse may only have five sacks, but his 11 quarterback hits rank seventh across the FBS.
Verse has the size and quickness that teams are looking for along the edge, as well as the ability to win with power. This weekend he goes up against Florida in another notable rivalry game. The Gators have had some issues in pass protection and their two starting tackles have allowed a combined eight sacks and 41 pressures this season. Can Verse make some headlines with a big performance?
