Week 5 of the 2022 college football season brings a bunch of top-tier matchups featuring some of the best 2023 NFL draft prospects. NC State visits Clemson in a battle between top-10 teams, and Alabama heads to Arkansas. A lot of eyes will be on the Kentucky-Ole Miss game, and Oklahoma State gets a good test against Baylor. Also keep an eye on Wake Forest-Florida State.
Ahead of the loaded schedule, NFL draft analysts Todd McShay, Jordan Reid and Matt Miller pick out prospects to watch this weekend, along with the one thing they are each keeping an eye on. Then Steve Muench points to a small-school prospect who could get more draft attention with a big performance. Our experts wrap it all up by making one big prediction each for Week 5 and then emptying their notebooks with everything they saw and heard this week heading into this weekend's games. Let's get started with the top prospects to watch this week.
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Prospects to know | What to watch
Small-schooler | Big predictions
Emptying the notebook
Plant your flag: Who is your guy to watch this weekend?
Reid: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky (at Ole Miss). My eyes will be glued on Levis against a stingy Ole Miss defense that has surrendered only 40 points this season, the Rebels' fewest through four games since 1992. Levis' arm strength, mobility and overall upside are all evident -- he has 1,185 passing yards and 10 TD throws this season -- but his decision-making simply has to improve. The 6-foot-3, 232-pound passer has at least one interception in three of four games this season, and 14 of his 19 career starts.
Scouts will be watching how Levis handles adversity against a tough defense. The signal-caller is currently tracking toward being a first-round pick.
McShay: Chris Rodriguez Jr., RB, Kentucky (at Ole Miss). I'm traveling to Oxford to scout this game, and while focus will be on Levis, I'm fired up to see Rodriguez in his debut following a suspension involving a DUI in May. After rushing for 1,379 yards and nine touchdowns last season, his presence should help balance things out for Levis and the passing attack.
Rodriguez's throwback run style is refreshing to study; there's no indecision or dancing when it comes to C-Rod. He locates and attacks the hole in a flash, and he runs with an excellent center of gravity and rarely gets taken down by only one tackler. The 5-foot-11, 224-pounder lacks speed and isn't much of a factor in the pass game, but his field vision and contact balance are outstanding. Rodriguez currently carries a midround grade in a talented 2023 running back class.
Miller: Blake Corum, RB, Michigan (at Iowa). That Kentucky-Ole Miss game is going to be fun to watch, but Michigan's Corum is going to get some attention, too, facing a stout Iowa defense. The 5-foot-8, 210-pound junior has been on a tear this season, already rushing for 478 yards and nine touchdowns.
He might not have ideal NFL size, but he has electric breakaway speed and makes defenders miss in space. Corum is one of the fastest draft risers at this point and could even put together a quiet Heisman race for the undefeated Wolverines. I think he could be a Round 3 prospect.
What is the one thing you're watching this weekend?
McShay: I'm intrigued to see how NC State quarterback Devin Leary does against a loaded Clemson front seven. Leary has a really good arm and can be very accurate on all three levels (890 passing yards, nine touchdown throws and two interceptions), but he has struggled with interior pressure and against opponents that excel at disguising the blitz. That's Clemson.
Tigers defensive tackle Bryan Bresee and edge rusher Myles Murphy will challenge the Wolfpack with their power and quickness in one-on-one matchups, while linebacker Trenton Simpson leads the team in tackles (24) and lines up all over the place. All three are looking like top-50 picks right now, and Bresee and Murphy are both in my top 15. Leary is likely a midround pick.
Devin Leary throws 75-yard TD pass to Thayer Thomas
Reid: I'll be at that NC-State-Clemson matchup, keeping my eye on multiple Tigers defenders. Clemson uncharacteristically gave up 447 total yards and 45 points to Wake Forest last week, so now how will the defense respond against Leary and the Wolfpack offense?
Bresee, in particular, jumps out. He has played at a high level this season, and many believe he has taken the next step in his development. A lot of his 2021 production came off designed stunts, and scouts wanted to see him win more one-on-one matchups this season. So far, so good. The 6-foot-5, 305-pound interior lineman's combination of hand quickness, power and finishing ability have helped him to two tackles for loss and a half sack through three games. He's trending toward a top-15 selection.
Miller: OK, but what about the offense that took that Clemson defense to the limit last week? Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman and receiver A.T. Perry meet a talented and fast Florida State defense. Since Hartman's return after missing Week 1, the Demon Deacons have been on a tear, and Perry is looking like a first-round prospect. He has 16 catches for 273 yards and two scores on the season. At 6-foot-5 and 205 pounds, Perry has legitimate deep-threat ability and can stretch the field over the top.
Hartman, meanwhile, is fresh off a six-TD performance and looking like a riser in this QB class. This Hartman and Perry duo will be one to watch closely the rest of the way. And with Florida State allowing fewer than 19 points per game, this is a great test.
Which small-school prospect has a key matchup on deck?
Muench: T.J. Luther, WR, Gardner-Webb (at Marshall). He appears to be at his best in big games, catching five passes for 120 yards in an FCS playoff game in 2019, six passes for 164 yards against Georgia Southern in 2021 and five passes for 188 yards against Coastal Carolina earlier this season. Luther is averaging 22.7 yards per catch this year, and the 6-foot-1, 180-pound big-play threat has another chance to show teams he can put up big numbers against FBS defenses with Marshall on deck.
Luther has the second gear to take the top off the coverage, and he flashes the ability to come down with 50-50 balls downfield. Plus, his burst and determination after the catch stand out on tape. Luther is not a polished route runner, and his ball skills are a little inconsistent, but his upside as a receiver and ability to contribute as a kick returner make him a potential Day 3 pick.
What's your best Week 5 prediction?
Miller: One of my favorite prospects this season is Purdue wide receiver Charlie Jones, and I'm looking for double-digit catches and a few TD receptions this weekend against Minnesota. Jones already has 41 catches for 533 yards and seven touchdowns despite every opposing defense knowing it has to stop him. A transfer from Iowa before this season, he has seen both his production and NFL draft stock soar in 2022 in a passing-based offense. With strong body control and good hands, he is in the Round 3 range with room to climb.
McShay: I'm focusing on the other team in that matchup -- Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan and running back Mohamed Ibrahim will have huge games. Morgan is doing everything he can this season to work his way into late-round consideration, completing 77.2% of his passes for 886 yards, seven TDs and an interception. And Ibrahim has rolled to 567 rushing yards and eight scores in four games. After coming into the year with a fifth-round grade because of injury concerns -- he ruptured his Achilles last season -- he's steadily rising.
I like the Gophers' balance on offense. Minnesota has been a bit overlooked this season considering how well it is playing, and these two are leading the charge on offense.
End Zone! Mohamed Ibrahim scores 2-yard rushing touchdown
Reid: Look for Oklahoma State quarterback Spencer Sanders to throw for 300 yards and at least three touchdowns against Baylor. He's off to a fast start this season with 916 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and only one interception. But the Bears are the best opponent he has faced so far, and they've been a thorn in his side. His worst career performances have come against Baylor, including a four-interception struggle last season. Overall, he has thrown nine picks in three career games against Baylor.
I think this matchup will be different for Sanders, currently a late Day 3 prospect. He has plenty of arm strength, and the ball comes out of his hand with velocity. But can his decision-making improve?
Muench: Back off suspension, Kentucky's Rodriguez will begin his 2022 season by rushing for more than 100 yards against Ole Miss. He ranked second in the SEC in rushing yards per game last year, and he has rushed for more than 100 yards in each of his past five games. He's a big and instinctive back who is quick through the hole and shows good contact balance in space. Kentucky has struggled to establish the run, and Ole Miss is giving up just 3.2 yards per carry -- though it did surrender 262 rushing yards to Tulsa last week. Rodriguez can change things offensively for the Wildcats.
Let's empty the notebooks
McShay: I've talked to three different scouts this week about fast risers in the quarterback class. BYU's Jaren Hall jumps out. I'm impressed with his touch and trajectory on all three levels. He's undersized at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, but he maneuvers in the pocket very effectively. He's now my No. 6 QB based on his play, but there's plenty of competition in this deep class. Tennessee's Hendon Hooker is included there -- he's in complete control of that offense with much-improved accuracy (especially throwing deep) and decision-making. At 6-foot-4 and 218 pounds, Hooker hasn't thrown a pick in four games.
Then there is Georgia QB Stetson Bennett. Yes, he lacks ideal measurables (5-foot-11, 190 pounds), and his supporting cast helps him. But you can't ignore the improvements to his game this year. He's decisive with his reads, he's not forcing anything, and he's showing more zip and better ball placement on 20-plus-yard throws. Stetson is in the Day 3 discussion right now, and that wasn't the case for most scouts in the preseason.
A few more for you to watch: Fresno State's Jake Haener -- he is so quick in the pocket, has great football instincts and shows a snap delivery -- Washington's Michael Penix Jr., Shepherd's Tyson Bagent and Purdue's Aidan O'Connell.
Miller: Potential first-round wide receiver Josh Downs returned from an injury for North Carolina last weekend and caught two touchdown passes against Notre Dame, but scouts will be watching to see if he can become a consistent threat in the Tar Heels' passing game. The 5-foot-10, 175-pounder has an opportunity to show out against a good Virginia Tech defense on Saturday afternoon.
Reid: An Alabama transfer, Arkansas linebacker Drew Sanders faces his former team this week. He has see-sawed between middle linebacker and rushing off the edge in sub packages, and he's currently tied for the nation's lead in sacks (5.5) and has seven tackles for loss. Sanders, at 6-foot-5 and 232 pounds, is rangy at the second level. He entered the season without much draft stock, but he's surging up boards with Day 2 buzz.
Miller: The Kentucky defense is allowing 108.3 rushing yards per game, creating an ideal scouting opportunity for Ole Miss running back Zach Evans. A transfer from TCU, Evans might be second on the team in rushing (behind Quinshon Judkins), but he is averaging 6.2 yards per carry and has four touchdowns. Scouts are intrigued by his speed and contact balance.
McShay: Auburn edge rusher Derick Hall was dominant against Missouri last weekend, picking up two sacks and an interception. The 6-foot-3, 256-pound senior is No. 63 on my board, but he's rising. He has great length and and uses his power to drive linemen back into the quarterback. Hall has also been stout setting the edge against the run and relentless in pursuit. Can he get after LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels this weekend? Hall needs to play with his usual relentless approach while also maintaining gap discipline to help bottle Daniels up.
Miller: Scouts have raved to me about Hall this week as a riser through the first month of the season. He's climbing into the range where he has late-first-round buzz. Hall has outshined many of the more-hyped defensive ends in the draft class, and while there might be concern about his size in a traditional 4-3 defense, his agility and speed in space are ideal for a 3-4 outside linebacker role.
Auburn forces a quick turn of possession with an interception from Derick Hall.
Reid: The Northwestern-Penn State matchup features two solid offensive tackles. For the Wildcats, Peter Skoronski has been as advertised so far this season, allowing just four pressures and zero sacks on 191 pass-blocking snaps this year. With quick feet, he's trending toward a top-20 selection. On the other side, Olumuyiwa Fashanu has been one of the biggest early surprises of the season. The redshirt sophomore is light on his feet, and his easy movement skills enable him to mirror and match edge rushers. Opponents have gotten only one pressure against him in four games. It's still too early to label a draft range for Fashanu, but he has the kind of traits that typically intrigue scouts.
Miller: We've seen so many transfer portal players have huge impacts this season, but none have been better than Florida guard O'Cyrus Torrence. A transfer from Louisiana who followed new head coach Billy Napier to Gainesville, Torrence has been as dominant in the SEC. As my top-ranked guard in this class, he has a top-50 overall grade and should hear his name called early in Round 2. He has allowed just one pressure through four games.