Each week, The Game Haus will highlight five players to watch from college football games featuring Top 25 teams. From established stars to players on the verge of breaking out, we’ll offer some names to remember every week of the college football season.
Here’s a look at five players to watch in Week 11 (All times Eastern):
KeeSean Johnson, WR, No. 16 Fresno State
Matchup: at Boise State, 10:15 p.m., Friday
Breakdown: Most of the credit for Fresno’s success this season has gone to a defense that’s yielding just 12.3 points per contest. However, there is plenty of talent on the offensive side of the ball. Among the most notable is the senior Johnson, who ranks among the national leaders with 62 receptions and 858 receiving yards. He’s made 24 of those catches for 348 yards in the last three games, and likely will need to come up big if the Bulldogs want to end their struggles on the blue turf in Boise.
J.K. Dobbins, RB, No. 8 Ohio State
Matchup: at No. 24 Michigan State, Noon, Saturday
Breakdown: Ohio State needed to get the running game going against Nebraska after struggling in recent weeks. Both Dobbins and teammate Mike Weber came through in that narrow win over the Cornhuskers last week. Dobbins ran for 163 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries. The Buckeyes might need another workhorse-like effort from Dobbins against Michigan State, which has a strong run defense, but yielded 205 rushing yards versus Penn State and 183 to Michigan this season.
Kenneth Murray, LB, No. 6 Oklahoma
Matchup: vs. Oklahoma State, 3:30 p.m., Saturday
Breakdown: We know about that other Murray for the Sooners, who is usually among those players to watch each week. But what about the Murray that leads Oklahoma’s defense? Sure, that unit has been much-maligned in 2018, and it gave up 46 to Texas Tech last weekend, but this Murray ranks second in the Big 12 with 103 total tackles, is tied for sixth in the league with 10 tackles for loss and also has four sacks. Expect him to be all over the field in this Bedlam matchup with Oklahoma State.
Jerry Jeudy, WR, No. 1 Alabama
Matchup: vs. No. 18 Mississippi State, 3:30 p.m., Saturday
Breakdown: Somebody has to catch those balls Tua Tagovailoa is throwing, and nobody seems to be doing it better than Jeudy. He certainly has a knack for reaching the end zone, too. Of his team-leading 39 receptions, 10 of them have gone for touchdowns – which ranks in the top 10 nationally. Though a bit nicked up, Jeudy enters this week’s slate of games fourth in the nation, averaging 22.6 receiving yards per game and coming in seventh with 880 overall. Seems like a good bet the Jeudy will join the likes of Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley as successful NFL receivers.
Hamp Cheevers, CB, No. 17 Boston College
Matchup: vs. No. 2 Clemson, 8 p.m., Saturday
Breakdown: With Trevor Lawrence and the Tigers coming to town, the Eagles defense will need to be at their best — particularly the secondary, which has gotten some strong play from Cheevers. The junior cornerback has a team-leading five interceptions, including two in the last three games. Boston College will need more big plays from its defense in order to pull off the upset.
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