College football ’18: 5 players to watch in Week 6

Each week, The Game Haus will highlight five players to watch from college football games featuring 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 6 (All times Eastern):

Sam Ehlinger, QB, Texas

Matchup: vs. No. 7 Oklahoma (at Dallas), Noon, Saturday

Breakdown: A year ago as a freshman, Ehlinger went toe-to-toe with Baker Mayfield in the Red River Showdown. Now, he will face off against another Heisman contender in Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray. A year older and wiser, Ehlinger has thrown nine touchdowns with two interceptions and should have much more confidence than he did in 2017’s 29-24 loss to the Sooners.

Jachai Polite, DL, Florida

Matchup: vs. No. 5 LSU, 3:30 p.m., Saturday

Breakdown: The Gators face a difficult task trying to stop an LSU offense that is averaging 33.8 points per contest. But Florida is yielding just 14 per game and the junior defender is a big reason why. He’s certainly a player to watch in Week 6. Polite, who earned SEC Player of the Week honors following last Saturday’s win at Mississippi State, is tied for the team lead with four sacks and is tied for the SEC lead with three forced fumbles.

Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Colorado

Matchup: vs. Arizona State, 4 p.m., Saturday

Breakdown: Colorado enters Week 6 as a ranked team that’s off to a 4-0 start. A big reason is an offense that averages 40.3 points – and Shenault is the star of that unit. The sophomore has 38 receptions and leads the nation averaging 145.3 receiving yards per contest. He’s also scored a touchdown in each game this season. Arizona State has allowed six touchdown passes in its last four games.

Josh Allen, LB, Kentucky

Matchup: at Texas A&M, 7 p.m., Saturday

Breakdown: The Wildcats put their undefeated record on the line at College Station against Jimbo Fisher’s Aggies. Kentucky is tied for third nationally in scoring defense (12.6 points per game) and Allen is tied for the SEC lead with six sacks heading into Week 6. He’s also one of three Kentucky defenders with at least 33 tackles on the season.

Ryan Willis, QB, Virginia Tech

Matchup: vs. No. 6 Notre Dame, 8 p.m., Saturday

Breakdown: The Kansas transfer came through when his team needed him most, replacing the injured Josh Jackson and helping the Hokies rebound from that unthinkable loss to Old Dominion a week earlier. Facing then-No. 22 Duke at home, Willis went 17 of 27 for 332 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in Virginia Tech’s 31-14 win. Now, he’ll face a Notre Dame team in Week 6 that’s allowed 17 or more points just once this season.

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