College Football, Week 5: Checking in on some wide receivers

Happy Saturday New York Giants fans, and welcome to week five of the college football season!

Last week we had a match-up between ranked teams in each of the three time slots. This week the schedule makers weren’t so kind, so instead I want to take the opportunity to zoom in on some of the top wide receivers in the upcoming draft.

We’ve gotten an object lesson this year on the importance of pass catchers to the development of young quarterbacks with the additions made to the Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens. So with that in mind, let’s get to some of this week’s games!

Texas Tech at Oklahoma (5)

Fox - Noon

Do you like your football games to be high-scoring track meets? Did you love seeing UCLA go full Chip Kelly and come back from a 32-point deficit against Mike Leech and Washington State? Well then this is the game for you. Kliff Kingsbury might be in the NFL, but Texas Tech is still putting up points, which is something they’ll have to do a lot of against Oklahoma.

Lincoln Riley is at it again, this time with former Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts, who already has 9 touchdowns to just 12 incompletions on the season. Also keep an eye on Oklahoma wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, who’s long speed, hands, route running, body control and ball skills remind of A.J. Green.

Prospects To Watch

Texas Tech

• Jack Anderson (iOL)
• T.J. Vasher (WR)

Oklahoma

• Jalen Hurts (QB)
• CeeDee Lamb (WR)
• Grant Calcatera (TE)
• Trey Sermon (RB)
• Creed Humphrey (OC/iOL) *Redshirt sophomore
• Neville Gallimore (iDL)

(2) Alabama vs. Ole Miss

CBS - 3:30 p.m.

If we’re looking at wide receivers this week we pretty much have to stop in Alabama. For once Nick Saban doesn’t have the top ranked team in the land, but somehow the Football Gods allowed him to have a legitimate NFL quarterback and a ridiculously good wide receiver pairing.

I do not say this lightly, but Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III might be the best college receiver duo we have seen since Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry. Except instead of Zach Mettenberger, they have Tua Tagovailoa. Jeudy has the potential to be a Top - 5 pick, and Ruggs might be the top receiver in most other receiver drafts.

Players to watch

Mississippi

• Scottie Phillips (RB)

Albama

• Tua Tagovailoa (QB)
• Jerry Jeudy (WR)
• Henry Ruggs III (WR)
• DeVonta Smith (WR)
• Alex Leatherwood (OT)
• Raekwon Davis (iDL)
• Trevon Diggs (CB)
• Xavier McKinney (S)

Washington State (19) at Utah (10)

FS 1 - 10 p.m.

Here’s one for the night owls on the east coast or a prime time game for our friends on the west coast (how I envy your time zone).

I mentioned Washignton State’s loss to UCLA in talking about the first game of the day. They will look to avenge their 67-63 loss last week, but have their work cut out for them against 10th ranked Utah. Of course, Utah is looking to bounce back after an upset loss of their own, falling 30-23 to USC.

Players To Watch

Utah

• Jaylon Johnson (CB)
• Zach Moss (RB)

Washington State

• Anthony Gordon (QB)
• Frederick Mauigoa (OC)