While the 2023 NFL Draft is still far off in the distance, players who will be drafted early are on the field now. Each week presents unique matchups for draft prospects and this week is no different. Here are NFL Draft prospects to watch in college football week 0 recap.
Related: NFL Draft Prospects to Watch in College Football Week 0
1. Sam Hartman, QB, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame had a good first game of the 2023 season, beating Navy in Ireland 42-3. The offense looked like it is improved last season, specifically at the quarterback position thanks to Hartman. He went 19/23 passing for 251 yards and four touchdowns.
The good thing for Hartman in this game was his efficiency, as he had a career completion percentage under 60 percent heading into the game. He made throws all over the field, while showing he can run a more pro-style offense than he did at Wake Forest. There is still plenty of football to be played, but Hartman is on his way to improving his draft stock this season.
2. Calen Bullock, S, USC Trojans
USC won their first game of the season against San Jose State 56-28. There were still issues around their defense, as they likely will need to play better to compete on a national level. Calen Bullock had a solid game with four total tackles, but didn’t improve his stock that much in the game.
Bullock missed at least one tackle, but did lay a big hit after a screen pass by San Jose State. Ironically, Bullock needed to show he could tackle better and improve in run support this season. He still has plenty of time to improve his stock, but being more physical is the easiest way for Bullock to improve his stock this season.
3. Avery Huff, LB, Florida International Panthers
Florida International had an early lead, but let their first game of the season slip away against Louisiana Tech. They lost the game 22-17, although their defense did play well. Miami transfer Avery Huff did play for the Panthers, but he failed to create a huge impact, as he had just two total tackles.
Huff is mostly recognized as being a potential draft prospect because of his four-star recruiting ranking. He didn’t play much at Miami and will need to do a lot more to improve his stock. This could be a stepping stone to more for Huff, but he still has a long way to go.
4. Praise Amaewhule, EDGE, UTEP Miners
UTEP had a rough start to the season as a team, losing to Jacksonville State 17-14. While the team will have to recover, some of their players did stand out. One of them was Amaewhule, who finished the game with four total tackles, one sack and one tackle for loss.
This game is great for Amaewhule to build momentum this season. Last year, he finished with just 5.5 tackles for loss and two sacks, so he’s already way ahead of pace this season. This is a good start and he still has plenty of time to improve his stock further.
5. Cade Bennett, IOL, San Diego State Aztecs
The Aztecs won an ugly game 20-13 against Ohio to move their record to 1-0. The offense didn’t have a great game, but were able to do enough to get the win. Their offensive line played well, including Cade Bennett, who was a Second Team All-Mountain West performer last season.
Bennett looked good in pass protection, as he didn’t allow a sack. He also did decently to help the running game. In order to improve his stock, Bennett needs to keep putting good tape out there. San Diego State has big games against UCLA, Oregon State and Boise State later in the season for Bennett to help prove himself.
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