Each week, The Game Haus will highlight five players to watch from college football games featuring Associated Press 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 5 (All times Eastern):
Sean Clifford, QB, No. 12 Penn State
Matchup: at Maryland, 8 p.m., Friday
Breakdown: Clifford has done a nice job running the Nittany Lions’ offense post-Trace McSorley, and is one of our players to watch in Week 5. He’s only completing 58.7-percent of his passes, but has thrown six touchdowns without an interception. The Terps have been tough at home, so this presents an interesting challenge in Penn State’s first road game of 2019.
Sean McGrew, RB, No. 17 Washington
Matchup: vs. No. 21 USC, 3:30 p.m., Saturday
Breakdown: The Huskies have three backs with at least 200 yards on the ground, and McGrew (204 yards) might have the crazy legs at the moment. He’s averaging 6.2 yards per carry and ran for 110 on 18 attempts at BYU last week. USC allows an average of 170.5 rushing yards, so McGrew could be in for another big game.
Jordan Mack, LB, No. 18 Virginia
Matchup: at No. 10 Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m., Saturday
Breakdown: Recently named a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy (aka the “Academic Heisman”), Mack leads all linebackers in the country with five sacks. He’ll look to put the pressure on Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book while trying to help the Cavaliers, who have recorded 20 sacks as a team, pull off the upset in South Bend.
James Gilbert, RB, No. 24 Kansas State
Matchup: at Oklahoma State, 7 p.m., Saturday
Breakdown: The Ball State graduate transfer has a chance to end his collegiate career in grand fashion with the upstart Wildcats. Gilbert rushed for 218 yards and three touchdowns on 26 careers in his first two games with Kansas State this season. Though he was held to 59 against Mississippi State in the Wildcats’ most recent content, Gilbert is worthy of being one of our players to watch in Week 5 against the Cowboys.
Chase Young, DE. No. 5 Ohio State
Matchup: at Nebraska, 7:30 p.m., Saturday
Breakdown: One of the top defenders in the country, Young is tied for the national lead with seven sacks. That probably does not bode well for Cornhuskers quarterback Adrian Martinez, who has already been sacked 10 times through the first four games of the season.
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