Welcome back! The college football season is nearly half completed. If you’re new to this article, the goal is to bring you the top upcoming dynasty prospects to watch in nationally televised college football games. It’s never too early to take a look forward. Who will be the sleepers of upcoming rookie drafts? Check back here every week for my ‘Weekly Watch’ series before you head into the weekend. Use this article each week as a place to refer back to as you get ready to watch each game.

How this article works:

I’ll give you the network, time, and teams playing in nationally televised games. Below that, I’ll list the respective schools’ prospects that are, in my opinion, worth mentioning, their position, the year they are eligible to enter the NFL Draft, and their listed heights and weights.

Feel free to reach out on Twitter (@THEtristancook) if you have players you think deserve to be mentioned in next week’s article.

#10 Penn State @ #4 Michigan

Saturday, 10/15 | 12:00 PM ET, FOX

#10 Penn State

Nicholas Singleton #10, RB 2025 (6’0, 219)

The best prospect on Penn State’s roster is freshman running back Nicholas Singleton. He’s been getting the lion’s share of a crowded backfield and is easily the most talented runner. Singleton was the top-ranked RB in the 2022 recruiting class and has looked well deserving of that ranking. The biggest problem with Singleton is that we have to wait until 2025 at the earliest to see him in the NFL.

#4 Michigan

Blake Corum #2, RB 2023 (5’8, 210)

There are really only two players that I’m interested in for the Wolverines, the first of which is junior running back Blake Corum. He is a little undersized and a bit of a divisive player in the devy community. I think Corum has seen his stock steadily rise this season and is firmly in the discussion to be a Day 2 NFL pick if he continues.

JJ McCarthy #9, QB 2024 (6’3, 196)

The other guy to watch is sophomore quarterback JJ McCarthy. Since taking over the starting job, McCarthy has looked good, completing over 78% of his passes with a 9:1 TD:INT ratio. McCarthy has subsequently seen his future draft stock rise and is in the discussion as one of the members of what is shaping up to be a strong 2024 QB class. Remember his name for next year.

Auburn @ #9 Ole Miss

Saturday, 10/15 | 12:00 PM ET, ESPN

Auburn

Tank Bigsby #4, RB 2023 (6’0, 213)

The player to know for Auburn is junior Tank Bigsby. He had a promising freshman season in 2020, but his sophomore campaign was a bit up-and-down. I have been a fan of Bigsby and think he’s a bit undervalued. He currently is my RB2 in the class, but I seem to be higher on Bigsby than most, but he’s usually in the group with Alabama’s Gibbs and Ole Miss’ Zach Evans.

#9 Ole Miss

Jaxon Dart #2, QB 2024 (6’2, 220)

Ole Miss has a few players that could end up being early NFL draft picks. First, we have quarterback Jaxon Dart. The former USC QB hasn’t quite lived up to the expectations after arriving at Ole Miss. I expect to see him grow in this offense as the season progresses. Dart certainly has some NFL potential if he can harness his tools. He looked impressive last week, throwing for nearly 450 yards and 3 scores.

Zach Evans #6, RB 2023 (6’0, 215)

Another one of the guys that could potentially end up as the RB2 in the 2023 class is Zach Evans. Evans is also a transfer and has looked good for the Rebels in split duty with freshman Quinshon Judkins. We should see both of them on the field, but the name to know for 2023 is Evans. He’ll be one of the first four running backs taken this upcoming year.

Quinshon Judkins #4, RB 2025 (5’11 220)

The other name to know is freshman running back Quinshon Judkins. He’s been a pleasant surprise this season for Ole Miss and is surprisingly leading the team in all rushing categories. Expect to see a lot of him on Saturday and to hear his name for the next couple of years before he is eligible to declare.

#3 Alabama @ #6 Tennessee

Saturday, 10/15 | 3:30 PM ET, CBS

#3 Alabama

Bryce Young #9, QB 2023 (6’0, 194) ***INJURED***

The main man to know for Alabama is still Bryce Young. It is unclear if he’ll return to the field this week after suffering a shoulder injury. I have Young as my QB1 in the class, but there are several people out there who think he’s QB2. I think by the time the draft rolls around, he’ll be one of the top two quarterbacks taken.

Jahmyr Gibbs #1, RB 2023 (5’11, 210)

Gibbs is the other player I’ll be watching. He has been much more heavily relied upon with the injury to Young and has stepped his game up. I think Gibbs is a very good running back, and I have seen many people rank him as high as RB2. I think he’s in the discussion, but I still have him as my RB3 behind Bijan and Tank Bigsby. But, with his receiving ability and what he’s shown of late running the ball, I may move him up a spot.

#6 Tennessee

Hendon Hooker #5, QB 2023 (6’4, 218)

There has been an increasing amount of draft buzz for Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker. But, I’m not much of a believer in his NFL potential. He has the size and looks impressive sometimes, but I just don’t see it with him. Plus, he’s a fifth-year player who took a long time to break out. I think this week will be the make-it-or-break-it week for Hooker. If he can show up big against Alabama, it’ll be hard to ignore what he’s done.

Jalin Hyatt #11, WR 2023 (6’0, 180)

Hooker’s top target this year has been junior receiver Jalin Hyatt. He doesn’t quite have the size of fellow WRs Bru McCoy and Cedric Tillman, but Hyatt has been the top option thus far. Tillman is not expected to suit up this week, so I think we’ll see a heavy dose of Hyatt and McCoy. The real question will be if they can show up against Alabama.

#8 Oklahoma State @ #13 TCU

Saturday, 10/15 | 3:30 PM ET, ABC 

#8 Oklahoma State

Spencer Sanders #3, QB 2023 (6’1, 190)

The main player to watch for Oklahoma State is their senior quarterback, Spencer Sanders. He’s a player that seems to flash every one of the tools NFL teams look for, but rarely all together and never for any real length of time. Sanders has looked really good this year, and he’s been putting up big numbers. I don’t think he has too much of an NFL future, but he’ll be the key for Oklahoma State in this game.

#13 TCU

Quinten Johnston #1, WR 2023 (6’4, 215)

TCU has two players that interest me. First and foremost, I’ll be watching Quinten Johnston. Johnston finally showed up last week against Kansas, catching 14 passes for over 200 yards and a touchdown. That performance more than doubled his output for the entire season. It’s easy to see the upside with Johnston, but he’ll need to keep up the production if he’s going to recoup some of his draft value.

Kendre Miller #33, RB 2023 (6’0, 220)

The other player on this roster that I’ll be watching this week is Kendre Miller. Miller has looked good this season. I expect him to be heavily involved against Oklahoma State. While I’m not sure how high-up draft boards he will make it, Miller is someone I’m monitoring. I would say he’s still a day 3 NFL guy right now, but trending upwards.

Arkansas @ BYU

Saturday, 10/15 | 3:30 PM ET, ESPN

Arkansas

Raheim Sanders #5, RB 2024 (6’2, 227)

For Arkansas, the player I’ll be watching is Raheim’ Rocket’ Sanders. He has put on a show so far this season and currently has the 6th most yards rushing in college football. I’ve seen Sanders ranked as high as RB2 for the 2024 class, behind Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson. Fortunately, we have a lot of time to iron out the running back rankings for 2024, but he’s someone you’ll likely hear a lot more about.

BYU

Jaren Hall #3, QB 2023 (6’1, 205)

For BYU, the fourth-year signal caller, Jaren Hall, is the player to watch. He’s a bit of a tough player for me to figure out. Sometimes he looks like a promising NFL prospect, and other times I struggle to see him really having a chance at the next level. There has been a good amount of buzz around Hall, but I’m not too convinced he’s anything special.

LSU @ Florida

Saturday, 10/15 | 7:00 PM ET, ESPN

LSU

Kayshon Boutte #7, WR 2023 (6’0, 205)

For LSU, the best player to watch is Kayshon Boutte. The third-year receiver hasn’t exactly looked great so far this year, with only 17 catches for 130 yards and 1 touchdown. I am not too worried about his on-field production, but it would be nice to see him do something more than we’ve seen this year. Boutte is currently my WR1, but that gap has narrowed to Jordan Addison and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Florida

Anthony Richardson #15, QB 2023 (6’4, 232)

A lot can change in a few weeks, and that’s exactly what’s happened for Florida’s Anthony Richardson. After leading the Gators to victory in the opening game against Utah, Richardson has been disappointing in the games since. The athleticism and tools are there. Richardson needs to harness them and provide more consistency, especially as a passer. Richardson’s stock has taken a bit of a fall, so I wouldn’t be shocked to see him return to school unless he turns it around quickly.

#4 Clemson @ Florida State

Saturday, 10/15 | 7:30 PM ET, ABC

#4 Clemson

Will Shipley #1, RB 2024 (5’11, 205)

I’m focused on a pair of 2024 draft prospects on the Clemson side of the ball. The first of which is Will Shipley. He has been Clemson’s best weapon this year but underwhelmed again last week against Boston College. He’s in the discussion for RB2 after Ohio State’s Henderson, so I’ll be watching him closely this week and all year.

Beaux Collins #80, WR 2024 (6’3, 210)

Beaux Collins is the other player for the Tigers to know. He isn’t having a particularly stellar year, but I think that’s more due to the mediocre quarterback play from DJ Uiagalelei. It wasn’t too long ago that DJU was a top devy prospect, but now he seems to be the cog holding back the Clemson offense. However, we’ve seen improved play from DJU and, subsequently, better production from Beaux. I like Beaux Collins a lot for 2024, and we’ll see if he can continue to develop nicely.

Florida State

Johnny Wilson #14, WR 2023 (6’7, 235)

There are a pair of wide receivers for Florida State that I’ll be watching. First, we have Johnny Wilson. He is listed at 6’7″ and looks the part. Wilson has been inconsistent for Florida State, but that size is unguardable at the college level. He’ll need to develop more skills to succeed at the next level, but he has eligibility remaining.

Mycah Pittman #4, WR 2023 (5’11, 211)

The other player to watch is the former Oregon wideout Mycah Pittman. Like Wilson, Pittman has flashed at times but has struggled with consistency. I would be pretty surprised to see Pittman declare this year, so he’s likely a 2024 prospect. But the former 4-star recruit has the athleticism to play in the NFL, so he’s someone to remember.

#7 USC @ #20 Utah

Saturday, 10/15 | 8:00 PM ET, FOX

#7 USC

Caleb Williams #13, QB 2024 (6’1, 215)

The top names to know for USC are still the same. Caleb Williams continued his up-and-down trend with a mediocre game against Washington State last week. He had played well against Arizona State the previous week after struggling against Oregon State the game prior. I’m not super concerned about how he looks from week to week, as he is still firmly QB1 for 2024. I expect a big game this week for Williams.

Jordan Addison #3, WR 2023 (6’0, 175)

Jordan Addison is the other player to watch for USC. They have plenty of other names, but Addison is far and away the top 2023 prospect on this offense. He is challenging for the WR1 spot in the 2023 class. In fact, I’ve seen some people say they would take him over any other receiver. I’m not quite there, but I agree that the gap is closing.

#20 Utah

Cameron Rising #7, QB 2023 (6’2, 218)

There are a few players that I’m interested in for the Utes, the first of which is quarterback Cameron Rising. He came into this season with some high expectations for Utah and some draft buzz surrounding him. After the disappointing loss in the opening week at Florida, Rising has looked strong. I think the ceiling is limited with him, but if he plays well, I expect to hear that draft buzz get louder.

Dalton Kincaid #86, TE 2023 (6’4, 240)

After the injury to Rising’s favorite target, Brant Kuithe, I expect to see Dalton Kincaid even more heavily involved. This offense usually runs through the tight end position, and Kincaid is a good one. He has the physical profile to play on Sundays. It will likely come down to how he runs at the combine. So, make sure you remember his name.

That’s it for this week’s games. As I previously mentioned, if there is anyone you’d like me to take a look at or want to share your thoughts on anything dynasty related, hit me up on Twitter ( @THEtristancook ). Also, check out tape on some of these guys in the Dynasty Nerds Film Room. It’s an amazing tool that I plan to take full advantage of. You can use the code “tcook” for 15% off a membership of any kind!