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 7.
USC is undefeated through six weeks of the college football season. There have been some close calls, but luckily they have a talented offense that can outscore just about anyone. The catalyst for that is superstar quarterback Caleb Williams. Williams has passed for 1,808 yards, 22 touchdowns and one interception on 71.7 percent completion with some highlight plays to go with his stats along the way.
In week 7, Williams will play Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish have a stout defense and with the way USC’s defense is playing, the Trojans will need Williams at his best to win this game. He has great arm talent and can make plays out of structure which makes him an exciting prospect. Williams is likely going to be the top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and a good game here can only help him solidify that.
Notre Dame has taken some losses over the last few weeks, although they are still 5-2. Their offense has improved this season, but their defense has been great. They allow just 15.9 points per game and have a pair of corners who are very good. Cam Hart is the draft-eligible corner for Notre Dame. He has played well this season with 10 total tackles, three passes defended and two forced fumbles.
The Fighting Irish defense will have their work cut out for them against Caleb Williams and the USC offense. They likely won’t be able to stop the Trojans, but a few key turnovers could win them the game. Hart has been a good corner for Notre Dame over the years, but could show better ball skills in this game to help his stock. He currently is projected to be a mid-round pick.
Washington is undefeated this season and have been impressive. Their offense looks about as efficient as anyone in the country. They are led by the great Michael Penix, who had a great 2022 season after transferring to the Huskies from Indiana. He has passed for 1,999 yards, 16 touchdowns and two interceptions on 74.7 percent completion in 2023.
They play one of their rivals, Oregon, in week 7. The game will likely end up having a lot of points scored, but Oregon does have a solid defense. Penix has shown a good deep ball with a strong arm and the ability to extend plays. Using those tools to help his team in week 7 can also improve his stock. He is currently projected to be a first-round pick.
Oregon is also undefeated this season and have looked solid on both sides of the ball. Bo Nix is operating the offense well in his second season with the Ducks after transferring in from Auburn. So far in 2023, he has passed for 1,459 yards, 15 touchdowns and one interception on 80.4 percent completion.
Like Penix, Nix will have to play well to get his team the win. He has improved during his time at Oregon, but can help improve his stock by making smart decisions and plays downfield. The Ducks’ offense can sometimes ask for a lot of short passes and it works, but for his stock, hitting deep balls will help. He is currently projected to be a day two pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Miami has one loss on the season, which came in heartbreaking fashion to Georgia Tech. Their defense has been good this season and they have plenty of future NFL players to work with. One of those is safety Kam Kinchens. Kinchens has 17 total tackles, one interception and one pass defended in three games played this season.
The Tar Heels play North Carolina and the talented Drake Maye in week 7. Kinchens can help by making plays on the ball this week, something he has already done this season. The important thing for Kinchens though is to continue showing he is healthy. He had to be stretchered off late against Texas A&M and week 6 was his first week back in action.
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