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 5 recap.
Related: NFL Draft Prospects to Watch in College Football Week 5
Duke was undefeated going into week 5, but ended up losing a tough battle to Notre Dame. Riley Leonard did not have his best performance throwing the ball, but did use his legs to help out. He finished 12/27 passing for 134 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Leonard added 88 rushing yards to help his team move the ball.
Over the season, Leonard has still impressed enough to boost his NFL draft stock. His athleticism has really helped him out, as even when he isn’t throwing well, he can use his legs to keep defenses honest. There are still plenty of games left for Leonard to improve his passing against good defenses.
While they got the tough road win over Duke, Notre Dame’s offense didn’t have their best performance. The offensive line still played well though, as they allowed just two sacks and helped the team rush for 159 total yards. Fisher was a big part of that and helped the Irish specifically in the run game.
His proficiency as a run blocker has helped him be one of the best right tackles in college football. A move to guard could be in play at the next level to help him avoid some of the athletic edge rushers that could give him trouble. Either way, he has improved his stock so far this season and can continue to do so down the stretch.
LSU suffered a tough loss on the road where not much defense was played. The Tigers’ offense was aided by Nabers’s ability to showcase his speed and separation. He finished the game with eight catches for 102 yards.
Nabers has played well this season. He is battling for position among the plenty of good receivers in the 2024 NFL Draft. Currently, it looks like he can be a late first-round pick. LSU still has plenty of games against quality competition to help Nabers differentiate himself from other receivers.
Texas was able to pull away in the second half to beat Kansas in week 5. The offense put up 40 points to help the Longhorns win the shootout. Sanders aided their efforts with one catch for 10 yards. The reason for the lackluster stat line was that he left the game with an injury.
Even with not playing much in this game, Sanders has done well this season. He is generally seen as the second-best tight end in the country behind Brock Bowers. His athleticism is impressive for the position and he should be selected in the first two rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Colorado lost a second straight game in week 5, this time to the USC Trojans. The offense was able to keep the game close though. Shedeur Sanders had a much better performance in week 5 to make it competitive. He passed for 371 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Sanders also rushed for 50 yards and a score.
Sanders is another quarterback who has really improved his draft standing early in the 2023 college football season. He doesn’t have great offensive line play in front of him, but he escapes pressure and has good football IQ to make up for it. There is a possibility that Sanders could be a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, if he decides to go to the pros.
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