Week 8 of the 2022 college football season brings several top-tier matchups. Which 2023 NFL draft prospects will star? Keep an eye on who stands out in Syracuse's showdown with Clemson, UCLA's head-to-head with Oregon and Mississippi State's trip to Alabama.
Ahead of the loaded schedule, NFL draft analysts Todd McShay, Jordan Reid and Matt Miller pick prospects to watch this weekend, along with the one thing they each are keeping an eye on. They also look ahead to April's draft with a quick peek at intriguing possibilities at No. 1 overall. 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 predictions for Week 8 and emptying their notebooks with everything they saw and heard this week.
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Prospects to know | What to watch
Top-pick possibilities | Small-schooler
Big predictions for Week 8
Emptying the notebook
Plant your flag: Who is your guy to watch this weekend?
McShay: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama (vs. Mississippi State). I'm excited to get my first live look at Gibbs on Saturday night. He is an electrifying runner with the ability to string multiple sharp cuts together with ease, and he does a really good job of tempoing his runs with patience before unleashing a devastating second gear. The 5-foot-11, 200-pounder is a legit playmaker catching the ball out of the backfield, too, catching 27 passes for 268 yards and three scores.
Gibbs is my No. 2 running back behind Texas' Bijan Robinson right now and has dominated over the past three games to the tune of 463 rushing yards and five TDs. I'm looking for that run to continue against a Bulldogs rush defense, allowing 4.6 yards per carry (104th in the nation).
Miller: DJ Uiagalelei, QB, Clemson (vs. Syracuse). DJU has been on a tear this season after some struggles with timing and ball placement in 2021. He has the Clemson offense operating on all levels with highly efficient play, but now the 6-foot-4 junior gets Syracuse's defense, which is allowing fewer than 175 passing yards per game.
Uiagalelei might be more of a 2024 draft prospect than 2023, but this matchup will give us a good indication of where he's at in his development. Specifically, I'll be watching his timing, field vision and processing speed. He has 1,665 passing yards, 17 TD throws and two interceptions this season, and he has added another 337 yards and four more scores on the ground.
Antonio Williams hauls in an absolute dime from DJ Uiagalelei for a 59-yard Tigers touchdown.
Reid: Sean Tucker, RB, Syracuse (at Clemson). I'm going to stay within that same game but focus on the other sideline. Tucker is second in the ACC in rushing yards at 644 and has scored six touchdowns, but his patience, contact balance and vision will be tested against the Tigers' stellar front seven. The 5-foot-10 back did rush for 157 yards against Clemson last season, so can he replicate that for the No. 14-ranked Orange this time around?
Tucker is a tough and determined runner, and most evaluators I've spoken with have him as a late-Day 2 or early-Day 3 prospect.
What is the one thing you're watching this weekend?
Reid: I'll have a close eye on the Big Ten matchup between Northwestern and Maryland. Why? Both teams have potential first-round offensive tackles: Northwestern's Peter Skoronski and Maryland's Jaelyn Duncan.
Skoronski has been one of the better pass protectors in the country this season, only allowing five pressures over 278 reps and not committing a single penalty. At 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds, he's a contender to be the first tackle off the board in April, but scouts remained mixed on whether he projects better as a guard or a tackle at the next level due to his lack of length. Duncan, meanwhile, has had some inconsistent spurts, but his mobility stands out. Despite being 6-foot-6 and 320 pounds, he is light on his feet and blends nimbleness and savviness at the point of attack. He's trending toward a top-50 pick, but he must get stronger as a run-blocker.
Miller: Will we see Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba back in the lineup this week? JSN has been out since Week 3 with a hamstring injury and has just four catches for 36 yards on the season. With the Buckeyes facing a loaded Iowa defense -- including cornerback Riley Moss -- this would be a must-watch matchup for scouts.
How good will my preseason WR1 look against a rival cornerback with a top-50 grade? Can Smith-Njigba get back in the hunt for No. 1 receiver? Coming back from a hamstring injury can be tricky, so we shouldn't expect Smith-Njigba to light the game on fire, but it will be a good chance to see where the 6-foot-1, 200-pound pass-catcher is at right now.
McShay: Neither Texas nor Oklahoma State can afford another in-conference loss, and I'm looking for Longhorns running back Bijan Robinson to take over. He's the most talented all-around back in college football, averaging 145.6 scrimmage yards (seventh in the FBS) despite facing a heavy dose of loaded boxes each Saturday.
Robinson (6-foot, 220 pounds) did his part in last year's loss to Oklahoma State, racking up 173 yards of offense and three touchdowns. The Longhorns have much more balance this time around with quarterback Quinn Ewers, but they will need their star running back to play a big role against a Cowboys defense that ranks 75th nationally in scoring defense (27.8 points against per game) and 46th against the run (3.7 yards allowed per carry).
Which NFL team currently in the hunt for the No. 1 overall pick would be the most interesting outcome?
Reid: Chicago Bears. It's clear the franchise lacks talent on both sides of the ball, but a lot of the focus has been on the offense's lackluster performances. Quarterback Justin Fields hasn't shown any signs of growth, but there's plenty of blame to go around. Outside of Darnell Mooney, the Bears don't have any consistent perimeter threats, and the offensive line is still going through growing pains.
If Chicago does end up with the top overall pick (13.9% chance, per ESPN's Football Power Index), it makes for an interesting debate. Do the Bears select a quarterback and effectively move on from Fields? Remember, general manager Ryan Poles doesn't have any ties to him. Do they instead try to trade back in hopes of acquiring more picks to instead build around Fields? Or would Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. be a possibility for a defense struggling to get pressure (25.9%, 26th in the NFL)?
Miller: Pittsburgh Steelers. Much like the Bears and the evaluation of Fields, the Steelers would have many long nights trying to decide between a generational pass-rusher in Anderson or double-dipping at QB with this loaded group -- just one year after selecting Kenny Pickett on Day 1. Pickett hasn't done anything to make us think he's not the guy moving forward, but he also hasn't done anything to convince us that he is the guy.
If Pittsburgh ended up at No. 1 (10.0% chance), the front office would certainly evaluate Pickett's grade and development against what it sees from players like Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud and Will Levis. But if first-year GM Omar Khan is a Pickett believer, this becomes a much easier decision. The Steelers can pivot to Anderson and pair him with T.J. Watt. Imagine that duo rushing the passer?
Which small-school prospect has a key matchup on deck?
Muench: Patrick O'Connell, ILB, Montana (at Sacramento State). He finished the 2021 season with 105 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss and 14 sacks -- and he's on pace to better those numbers this year. He's an instinctive run-defender and effective tackler who closes well. O'Connell also has the active hands to get after the quarterback and the range to hold up in underneath coverage.
A Sacramento State offense that ranks third in the FCS in rushing yards per game and is tied for second in the FCS in offensive plays per game will test the 6-foot-2, 225-pound linebacker's endurance and, more importantly, his ability to get off blocks. O'Connell grades out as a potential core special teams contributor and projects as a potential late-round pick.
What's the Week 8 prediction you feel great about?
Miller: TCU wide receiver Quentin Johnston has been unstoppable as of late (22 passes for 386 yards and two scores in the past two games), and he'll continue that streak of greatness against Kansas State this weekend. Let's say double-digit catches and more than 150 receiving yards. Yes, the Wildcats have a stout defense, but Johnston has found his groove after not being a focal point of the Horned Frogs' offense throughout the month of September. He has already set career-highs for catches this season (34), and at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, he's making a very convincing case for a Round 1 grade thanks to his power, route running and big-play ability after the catch.
Quentin Johnston goes airborne for the big catch at the 1-yard line. Max Duggan would run in the short touchdown a couple of plays later.
McShay: Ole Miss will run wild on LSU this Saturday afternoon. I'm looking for 120-plus yards from Zach Evans and 240-plus yards combined from Evans and Quinshon Judkins. LSU's defense is allowing 4.2 yards per carry (79th in the nation), and the Rebels' rushing attack has been outstanding behind a solid run-blocking offensive line led by powerful guard Nick Broeker. Evans is a powerful north-south runner with a great second gear for his size (6-foot, 215 pounds), and he currently carries a Day 2 grade. And Judkins is a super talented true freshman with first-round potential in a couple of years.
Reid: UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet will go over 100 rushing yards and punch in a couple of TDs against Oregon. The 6-foot-1, 220-pound senior is coming off a 198-yard showing against Utah, the Bruins are 20th in the country in rushing at 211.5 yards per game. Charbonnet might not have an elite trait, but he's well-rounded as a prospect, displaying power and very good contact balance. He'll have some opportunities to make plays against a constantly-improving Oregon defense. I have a fourth-round grade on Charbonnet right now.
Muench: I'm going the other way here, Jordan. I actually think Oregon holds Charbonnet to fewer than 100 yards rushing. Sure, he is the only Pac-12 back averaging more than 100 rushing yards per game this year, and he has gone for 100-plus in each of his past three games. But the Ducks are capable of slowing Charbonnet much like they did when they held him to a season-low 2.3 yards per carry in 2021. Noah Sewell anchors a talented linebacker corps, DJ Johnson's ability to set the edge jumps out on tape, and Oregon's tackling has improved since its lopsided loss to Georgia in the opener. That's critical, considering Charbonnet's greatest asset is his power.
Emptying the notebook: Everything we heard this week
McShay: Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid has been a steady force for Utah as both a blocker and pass-catcher this season, but his performance against USC last weekend was legendary. The fifth-year senior racked up 16 catches for 234 yards and a score. He excels at adjusting to the ball outside of his frame, using his big 6-foot-4, 240-pound frame to shield defenders and making difficult contested catches look easy. Kincaid is doing his best to be included among the top five tight ends in the 2023 draft class, and he will look to continue trending up after the Utes' bye against a stingy Washington State defense at the end of October.
Reid: South Dakota State tight end Tucker Kraft is expected to return this week against North Dakota, and he should be a contender for the TE2 spot behind Notre Dame's Michael Mayer in April. The 6-foot-6 redshirt junior has missed the past six games because of a lingering ankle injury, so it will be interesting to see how the Jackrabbits' main pass-game target will re-acclimate himself back into the lineup against North Dakota.
Miller: Penn State left tackle Olumuyiwa Fashanu continues to impress me and move up the board. His tape against Michigan from last weekend shows great mobility and recovery awareness. With just a handful of career starts under his belt -- he made his seventh against the Wolverines -- Fashanu is raw, but his length, agility, reaction time and balance are first-round caliber. He's a work-in-progress at 19 years old but is quickly emerging as one of my favorite pass-protectors in this class. The Nittany Lions get Minnesota at home this weekend.
Reid: In six games this year, Minnesota center John Michael Schmitz has allowed just one pressure in pass protection (146 snaps) and hasn't committed a penalty. Many evaluators thought the sixth-year senior would declare for the draft last season, but Schmitz opted to return and take advantage of his extra year of eligibility. When discussing him with NFL scouts before the season, the consensus grade for him was third- or fourth-round -- but he has a chance to be drafted even higher now. Penn State is on deck after giving up more than 400 yards rushing to Michigan.
Miller: It's hard to play better than Tennessee right tackle Darnell Wright has in back-to-back weeks. He has been asked to hold LSU's BJ Ojulari and Alabama's Will Anderson Jr. in check and has done an admirable job. In a weaker offensive tackle class, Wright's play is catching the eye of scouts. A 6-foot-6, 325-pound senior with experience at both left and right tackle, he has moved up my board into the Round 2-3 range.
McShay: During his first six games this season, USC defensive tackle Tuli Tuipulotu averaged over two tackles for loss and a sack per game, but he was shut out in both categories against Utah. Tuipulotu is an intriguing and fast-rising prospect with impressive quickness and natural strength. But in order to maximize his first- or second-round draft potential, he will need to continue to improve his hand usage and counter moves once he's reached. The Utah game should serve as a coaching tool, and he now has two weeks to prepare for a trip to Arizona on Oct. 29.
Reid: Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez has lived up to preseason hype, but he will be tested by UCLA and quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson this weekend. The Bruins are averaging 294.2 passing yards per game. The Colorado transfer caught his first career interception this season, has very fluid hips, shows disciplined technique and has proven reliable in man coverage. Gonzalez is already receiving Round 1 praise, and scouts will be watching how he steps up to this weekend's challenge.
McShay: De'Corian Clark (UTSA) and Ali Jennings III (Old Dominion) are a couple of under-the-radar wide receiver prospects climbing the Day 3 board. Clark is a big target at 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds with long arms and an impressive catch radius. He has shown strong hands this season and wins on a lot of contested catches. Through seven games, Clark has hauled in 44 passes for 678 yards and seven touchdowns. Jennings has a long but slightly leaner frame at 6-foot-2 and 196 pounds. His length and play strength make him difficult to defend down the field, helping him to a nation-leading 129.2 receiving yards per game. Seven of his 38 catches have hit pay dirt.
De'Corian Clark hauls it in for 31-yard touchdown
Miller: Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes continues to get mentioned by scouts. The 6-foot, 180-pound junior is tied for first in the nation with five interceptions and has five more passes defended in a breakout season. But Forbes' ball-hawking is already well-known -- he has 13 interceptions over two and a half seasons for the Bulldogs. A matchup with Alabama this weekend makes Forbes a must-watch player, and with Round 1 talk floating about the country, this has the makings of a career-changing game for his draft stock.