Week 3: Players to Watch

Draft Nation is ready for Saturday’s games and wants to make sure you are as well. Each week, we will go through the games and the players to watch, on our way to the draft in April 2025.

Here is our preview for - Week 3:

(1-1) West Virginia at. (2-0) Pittsburgh Saturday- ESPN2- 3:30pm

Line- West Virginia (-2)

Draft Nation Prediction - Pittsburgh 34 West Virginia 30

Pitt and West Virginia renew one of college football’s most storied rivalries, the “Backyard Brawl”. This will be the 107th all-time meeting between the Panthers and the Mountaineers in a series that dates back to 1895. Pitt leads the all-time series 62-41-3, but lost last season to WVU 17-6 in Morgantown. Draft Nation thinks this will be a nail biter in 2024, with Pitt’s newly revamped offense doing just enough to pull out a victory.

Pittsburgh- Quarterback- Eli Holstein

Eli Holstein is a redshirt freshman from Alabama who has become the first freshman (true or redshirt) to throw for 300 yards in consecutive games since Alex Van Pelt in 1989. Holstein has been the conductor of new offensive coordinator Kade Bell’s up tempo gameplay and although he has made some rookie mistakes he has led the Panthers to a 2-0 start and has shown the arm strength and ability to lead the offense up and down the field. Last week’s comeback victory over Cincinnati reaffirmed that this is Holstein’s team and he will be a prospect to watch over the next couple of seasons.

West Virginia- Safety- Aubrey Burks

While the Pitt Panthers will be looking to go fast and make the Backyard Brawl a sprint, West Virginia will look to a veteran presence on the defense to help slow down the Panthers. The senior safety has shown the ability to play in several different defensive packages and will be vital in bringing consistency to the Mountaineers secondary on Saturday. Burks is 5-foot-11 and 209 lb and can be a physical presence over the middle against Pitt. Burks plays downhill and has a strong football IQ. 

Pittsburgh- Running Back- Desmond Reid

Desmond Reid followed offensive coordinator Kade Bell from Western Carolina to Pittsburgh. Fans can see the confidence that Bell has in Reid by the number of ways he gets the ball in his hands. Reid has made the most of his first two games at Pitt, totaling 410 yards and two touchdowns. Last weekend Reid was the first Panthers player in history to have 100+ yards rushing and receiving in the same game. 

Reid is small, at 5-foot-8 and only 175 lbs, so he most likely will be a late round prospect or even more likely a UDFA. If he can keep putting up numbers however, NFL teams may try to find a way to use him in a gimmick type playmaker role in the mold of Darren Sproles or Bucky Irving.

West Virginia- Running Back/Tight End- C.J. Donaldson

C.J. Donaldson is a versatile running back who has been lined up all over the Mountaineers offense, including playing some tight end. He is a big back at 6-foot-2 and 238 lbs and has the athleticism to catch passes out in the flat and make plays. So far in 2024, Donaldson is averaging over six yards per carry and has a pair of touchdowns. Look for West Virginia to try to establish the run early on and win the time of possession battle.

Others to Watch

Pitt- S- Donovan McMillon

Pitt- TE- Gavin Bartholomew

Pitt- WR- Kenny Johnson

West Virginia- QB- Garrett Greene

West Virginia- OT- Wyatt Milum

West Virginia- WR- Hudson Clement

#2 (2-0) Alabama at. (2-0) Wisconsin- Saturday- Fox- Noon

Line- Alabama (-16.5)

Draft Nation Prediction - Alabama 34 Wisconsin- 10

It is hard to imagine but it feels like the No. 2 team in the country are sort of an afterthought as many college football fans look to Georgia and Ohio State when they are asked who are the best teams in college football. The Tide have some cleaning up to do after entering the fourth quarter last week against USF clinging on to a 14-13 lead, before finally exploding to a 42-16 victory. Many in Wisconsin feel that this is the biggest non conference home matchup in the university’s history. Draft Nation believes that Alabama will get back on track with a dominating road victory over the Badgers.

Alabama- Quarterback– Jalen Milroe

Milroe has been steady but not spectacular in the first two games for Alabama. He has not thrown an interception and has completed 65.7% of his passes. Wisconsin will be the stiffest defense he has faced up to this point and the atmosphere should be electric in Madison. 

Draft Nation rates Milroe as a second round talent that is right on the outside of the first group of 2025 prospects at quarterback. He is a playmaker who has a strong arm and can throw on the move. Coming into the season his decision making has been questionable but up until now he has not turned the ball over. 

Wisconsin- Offensive Tackles- Riley Mahlman & Jack Nelson

Riley Mahlman and Jack Nelson are both talented enough to hear their names called during next year’s NFL draft. This week's matchup against the talented Alabama defense can go a long way to when they are selected. Mahlman is 6-foot-8 and Nelson is 6-foot-7 and their job on Saturday will be to keep quarterback Tyler Van Dyke upright and give him time to make some plays. Mahlman projects as a 6th round talent while Nelson is a 7th round player. 

Alabama- Safety- Malachi Moore

Moore, a fifth year senior, is the glue that holds the Crimson Tide’s secondary together. He is a run stopper who also has playmaking ability to help turn the momentum in games. Moore is projected as a mid-round talent. He is undersized at 6-foot-0 and only 182 lbs.

Wisconsin- Quarterback- Tyler Van Dyke

The transfer from Miami, Fla in his fifth collegiate season has been underwhelming early on for the Badgers in his first two contests against Western Michigan and South Dakota. Van Dyke will look to play a turnover-free game to give Wisconsin a puncher's chance against Alabama. 

Coming into the season Van Dyke projected as a UDFA signing and he has done nothing to improve his draft stock up to this point. He has shaky mechanics both throwing and in his footwork and it all may come unraveled against a fast and talented Alabama defense. 

Others to Watch

Alabama- WR- Ryan Williams

Alabama- C- Parker Brailsford

Alabama- DT- Tim Smith

Wisconsin- WR- Will Pauling

Wisconsin- S- Hunter Wohler

Wisconsin- LB- Jaheim Thomas

#24 (2-0) Boston College at. #6 (2-0) Missouri- Saturday- SEC Network: 12:45pm

Line- Missouri (-17)

Draft 412 Prediction - Missouri 45 Boston College 27

New Boston College head coach Bill O’Brien has the Eagles flying high in the early going after their week one upset of Florida State. Missouri has climbed up to No. 6 in the country after defeating their first two opponents to a combined 89-0. The Tigers schedule is manageable by SEC standards- no Georgia, Ole Miss, LSU or Tennessee. So this top 25 showdown is a must win for Missouri if they are to have playoff aspirations.

Missouri- Wide Receiver- Luther Burden III

Missouri’s first two blowouts have actually kept superstar wide receiver Luther Burden’s numbers down. They have not had to use their pass catcher full time and have used substitutes in the second half of both games to keep their star healthy. 

Luther Burden is one of the top 2-3 receivers in the country and Draft Nation expects to see Burden on full display Saturday against Boston College. Burden is coming off a season where he totaled 86 receptions for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns. His explosiveness off the snap will keep pressure on the back end of the Eagles defense all game long. Burden is a future No. 1 pick and worth watching on Saturday.

Boston College- Defensive End- Donovan Ezeiruaku

Boston College will need to put pressure on Missouri quarterback Brady Cook if they are to have a change in this contest. If Cook can set up and flourish in the pocket it will be a long day for BC. Donovan Ezeiruaku is a talented defensive end who is versatile and has the ability to create pressure. He can line up with his hands in the dirt or from the upright position and be a force. He had two sacks against Florida State in week one, putting him on the scouting radar.

Missouri- Quarterback- Brady Cook 

Fifth year senior signal caller Brady Cook has not had to do much in the first two weeks of the season, but will need to be on point this weekend against Boston College. Cook is a late round prospect who is an explosive runner with the ability to make things happen outside the pocket. He has above average accuracy, even though his arm strength is average at best. This Missouri team has a chance to be a playoff contender which should put more eyes on Cook this season.

Boston College- Running Back- Treshaun Ward

Treshaun Ward has spent four seasons with Florida State and one with Kansas State before ending up at BC. He is a playmaker who has the ability to catch passes out of the backfield and beat you on a quick hitter around the edge. He has mostly been a backup in college football and most likely will project as a depth piece on an NFL roster.

Others to Watch 

Missouri- RB- Nate Noel

Missouri- WR- Theo Wease Jr.

Missouri- DT- Chris McClellan

Boston College- WR- Lewis Bond

Boston College- OT- Logan Taylor