It’s Week 6 of the college football season and there are a bunch of exciting matchups 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.
Devin Leary – QB, Kentucky (6-1, 217, rs-Senior)
Kentucky have started the season 5-0, but their big test comes this weekend as they prepare to face off against the No. 1 ranked Georgia Bulldogs. Seeing how Leary fares in this one is going to be interesting. The former NC State signal caller is as experienced as they come. He is in his sixth year of college football and has been a starter since way back in 2019.
He has looked good since his offseason transfer to Kentucky, throwing for 10 touchdowns to five interceptions. Leary’s injury history and average physical skillset mean he is never going to be considered as one of the top quarterbacks in the 2024 class, but there is a lot to like about his profile as a prospect. A good game against Georgia would raise his stock as one of the most intriguing day three options.
Tyler Nubin – S, Minnesota (6-2, 210, rs-Senior)
Nubin is in his fifth season with the Golden Gophers and has already established a reputation as one of the better ball hawks in the Big Ten. Entering the 2023 season, Nubin had logged an incredible eight interceptions and nine pass breakups on his 70 career targets. Through five games this season he has already added another three picks to his résumé.
With that kind of production it should come as no surprise that Nubin is generating very real buzz as an NFL Draft prospect. He showcases the combination of football intelligence and competitive toughness that teams love in their safeties and he has looked comfortable playing from a range of alignments. Tests don’t get much bigger than this weekend’s bout with Michigan.
Xavier Worthy – WR, Texas (6-1, 172, Junior)
The Red River rivalry is the most noteworthy game on offer this weekend and as ever there will be plenty of NFL talent on display. One name that is well worth keeping an eye on is Longhorn receiver Xavier Worthy. A former four-star recruit, Worthy initially committed to Michigan before flipping to Texas. He hit the ground running, earning Freshman All-American honours in his debut campaign.
Worthy is a high level athlete, with the ideal combination of explosiveness, long speed, and twitch. He is able to threaten at all three levels of the field and shows good dynamism after the catch too. Worthy had his freshman breakout game against Oklahoma, racking up 261 yards and two touchdowns on nine catches. Do we see another big game from him here?
Raheim Sanders – RB, Arkansas (6-2, 242, Junior)
This one is going to be interesting for a number of reasons. Heading into the season, Sanders was widely considered to be one of the top running backs in the 2024 draft class. Fast forward to today and we’ve barely seen him this season. His 2023 campaign has been hampered by a knee injury that has limited him to just two appearances. In those games he has averaged just 2.9 yards per carry and has a single explosive run to his name.
This weekend, Sanders and the Razorbacks will face off against Ole Miss in an exciting SEC matchup. Arkansas will need him to be at his best for this one, but he was held largely in check against Texas A&M last week, rushing for just 34 yards. Question remains as to whether he’s back to full health, but he really needs to start to show some signs of improvement soon to remain in the conversation as one of the top 2024 backs.
John Pius – EDGE, William & Mary (6-2, 235, rs-Junior)
The NFL Draft isn’t just about the big school guys. Every year we see a few small school prospects stick and become contributors at the next level. If you’re looking for candidates for that honour in 2024, Pius is a name to consider. The redshirt junior was the runner up for the Buck Buchanan Award in 2022, given to the standout defensive player in the FCS.
He has looked good this season too, racking up 15 pressures, including five sacks, through five games. This weekend he’ll face off against Virginia, just his second game against a Power Five opponent. Pius is a little undersized by NFL standards, but he showcases good athleticism and the ability to be a difference maker against the run and pass. A good game here would no doubt provide a nice boost to his stock.
