While the 2023 NFL Draft is still far off in the distance, players that 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 4.
1. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State has been breaking in a new quarterback, but they are still 3-0. Things look to be improving with Kyle McCord at quarterback and he is finding star wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. more frequently. So far this season, Harrison Jr. has 14 catches for 304 yards and three touchdowns.
The week 4 matchup for the Buckeyes is with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Notre Dame has some solid corners in Cam Hart and Benjamin Morrison, who will test Harrison. There is almost no way Harrison Jr. isn’t the first wide receiver selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, but it is still going to be fun watching him go up against some talented players this week.
2. Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame has had a solid start to the season, as they are 4-0 heading into week 4. They played a game in week 0 against Navy and things have been pretty smooth for the Fighting Irish ever since. A big part of that is their offensive line play. Joe Alt is one of the best left tackles in the country and helps lead the way for the Notre Dame offense.
Alt will have his work cut out for him against Ohio State. The Buckeyes have plenty of future pro players on their defensive line that will be tough for him to block. So far this season, the difference in their offense is quarterback Sam Hartman making great throws. If he and the rest of the Notre Dame offensive line give him time to throw, Notre Dame can win and Alt’s stock could rise. He currently looks like he will be one of the first two offensive tackles selected in the 2024 NFL Draft.
3. Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State Seminoles
Florida State is 3-0 to start the season and some of their offensive playmakers have really stood out. There are a few future NFL Draft prospects on that side of the ball, but the most impressive so far is Keon Coleman. The Michigan State transfer has 12 catches for 170 yards and four touchdowns on the year.
The Seminoles haven’t defeated Clemson since 2014 and Coleman could be a key in helping them overcome that hump. He has great speed, especially given his size and can really put pressure on a defense. It is hard to double-team him because of the amount of weapons Florida State has on their offense. He could help his case to be the second wide receiver selected in the 2024 NFL Draft with a big day against Clemson.
4. Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB, Clemson Tigers
Clemson hasn’t had the start to the season that they envisioned, but they are still 2-1. They have a formidable defense and the leader on that side of the ball is Jeremiah Trotter. He has 17 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and one forced fumble this year for the Tigers.
He will have a huge part in helping slow down the Florida State playmakers. While he doesn’t have the length and top-end speed that teams are looking for, Trotter diagnoses plays relatively quickly. If he can lead the Clemson defense well enough to slow down Florida State, the Tigers could get a win and Trotter could help his stock.
5. Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa is 3-0 and that is largely thanks to their defense. Their offense still doesn’t score a lot of points, so a lot of pressure is put on the defense. One of their better players is cornerback Cooper DeJean, who has 19 total tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss and one pass defended on the season.
In week 4, Iowa will be going up against Penn State. Their best hope of winning is to shut down quarterback Drew Allar and the Penn State offense to make it a low scoring game. This will make it an important game for DeJean, who will be tasked with keeping plays in front of him. DeJean could be a future safety in the pros, but whatever position he plays, he looks like he could make an impact and be an early 2024 NFL Draft pick.
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