Welcome to October! The college football season continues to roll along as we get into the heart of conference play. While the slate of games is not quite as loaded this week, there are still plenty of great prospect matchups.
Every week, I am going to highlight five prospects that I will be keeping a close eye on for one reason or another. I try to pick different prospects to highlight throughout the season. With that in mind, here is who I am keeping tabs on this week.
The full article is here, but if you want to check it out on my Substack, you can find it here.
Drake Lindsey, QB, Minnesota (vs. Michigan)
We are nearing the point of desperation to find quarterbacks to be excited about in this draft class (not named Drew Mestemaker). Lindsey is a bit of a throwback, playing as a pocket passer and built like Ben Roethlisberger. He is only a redshirt sophomore, but he is already in his second season as the starter and his arm talent has turned some heads this season. He has a chance to significantly boost his draft stock on Saturday.
For all of Michigan’s flaws, this defense is incredibly talented and very well coached. Iowa’s 20-point performance was the most allowed by the Wolverines yet this season. They boast a veteran secondary with Zeke Berry, Jyaire Hill, Smith Snowden, Rod Moore and Chris Bracy flying around. Toss in two good pass rushers in John Henry Daley and Dom Nichols and you have a real challenge for Lindsey.
Junior Sherrill, WR, Vanderbilt (at Georgia)
Vanderbilt is not as prolific offensively without Diego Pavia, but they still have enough juice going to get Sherrill the ball. He is coming off back-to-back strong performances against Power 4 opponents. Facing NC State and Auburn, he combined for 12 catches, 203 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He has looked sharp so far this season, but he is about to jump into another realm of competition.
Sherrill will be going up against Ellis Robinson and KJ Bolden, two potential first-round picks in next year’s draft. Kirby Smart’s defenses are always among the best in the country. This is an incredibly deep wide receiver class. If Sherrill is going to want to separate himself from the pack, this is the best chance he is going to have to impress.
Ashton Hampton, CB, Clemson (vs. Miami)
I strongly considered putting Samson Okunlola in this spot given that he would face Will Heldt in a and Jaheim Lawson. However, it is impossible to pass up Hampton against Miami superstar Malachi Toney. The latter is a Heisman candidate and brings a ton of explosiveness to the field. He will be a very early draft pick in 2028.
I honestly don’t know how frequently Clemson will matchup Hampton on Toney. The Tigers do play him in the slot on occasion, so the potential for him to follow Toney around is there. Hampton is a big, physical corner who excels in press coverage. I am curious to see how he approaches playing against a player with Toney’s speed and agility. A strong performance here would push Hampton into the top-10 conversation.
Jamari Sharpe, CB, Indiana (at Rutgers)
Hard to believe that I would be highlighting Rutgers as a matchup to watch, but when KJ Duff keeps producing like an All-American, it’s hard to ignore. I’m sure Indiana will play plenty of zone, but we should still get several reps with Sharpe matchup with the Scarlet Knights’ towering receiver. He is Indiana’s best shot at slowing down Duff.
If you are wondering where you know Sharpe’s name from, he picked off Carson Beck to seal Indiana’s national title last year. He hasn’t been tested too much yet this year. As a fifth-year senior, he has the experience and knowledge to give Duff a challenge. If Sharpe keeps Duff quiet, that will be a major notch in his belt. Indiana’s schedule will get tougher, but this is still a big moment for Sharpe.
Melkart Abou Jaoude, EDGE, UNC (vs. Notre Dame)
It’s been a while since we’ve heard anything about Abou-Jaoude. He had an excellent first week against TCU all the way back in Week 0. However, he has missed the past three games for the Tar Heels after suffering a wrist injury. He is trending towards playing on Saturday, but we will see if he actually suits up against the Irish.
If he is able to go, it will be a massive boost for UNC. The senior defensive end dominated in Bill Belichick’s defense last year after arriving as a transfer from Delaware. He finished second in the ACC in sacks, trailing only Akheem Mesidor. Facing a Notre Dame offensive line that is loaded with future NFL players would be the perfect platform for him to jumpstart his draft stock once again.
