There are plenty of 2023 NFL Draft prospects in action during college football Week 3 -- which ones should you be keeping an eye on this weekend?

Heading into Week 3 of the college football season, we’re beginning to get a sense of which 2023 NFL Draft prospects are living up to expectation, elevating their stock, or struggling to assert themselves in the way we’d originally projected. However, it’s still early in the cycle, and there are still plenty of surprises to come and time for prospects to rise and fall.

Which 2023 NFL Draft prospects should you be watching out for as you settle down for another action-packed college football weekend? As always in this 2023 NFL Draft prospect watch, we’ve tried to provide a good mix of offensive and defensive prospects spread out across the hours of action while shining some light on the sleepers in the class rather than repeatedly highlighting the established superstars.

After a standout season for Central Arkansas in the FCS where he tallied 1,277 yards while averaging 19.79 yards per catch, Tyler Hudson was one of the most coveted wide receivers in the transfer portal this offseason. The beginning of his career with Louisville, where he leads the team with 11 receptions and 169 yards, has only strengthened his case to be discussed amongst another strong group of wide receiver prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Hudson has a great catch radius, showcases a natural pass-catching style with the ability to pluck the ball out of the air, and possesses the athletic ability to add yardage after the catch. Against Syracuse in the season opener, he flashed his twitchy route running ability, while against UCF he demonstrated his solid hands and physicality at the catch point.

A stingy FSU secondary that features several NFL Draft prospects offers another opportunity to show off his next-level potential and elevate his stock ahead of next April.

Air Force hasn’t had an offensive skill player selected to the NFL since Ernie Jennings was a 10th-round selection of the San Francisco 49ers in 1971. However, that shouldn’t be held against their crop of potential prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft. Those prospects are led by fullback Brad Roberts, who is off to an electric start which should continue when the Falcons face Wyoming in the second of Friday night’s college football action.

Hot off the back of a 1,356 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns campaign, Roberts has averaged an astounding nine yards per carry on his way to four scores and 288 rushing yards in just two games. As you’d expect from a 5’11”, 205-pound fullback, Roberts is a physical runner whose excellent contact balance makes him ludicrously difficult to take down.

However, he also boasts quick feet and decent speed to be able to rip off chunk plays for fun. Only Penn State freshman Nicholas Singleton has more runs of 40+ yards than the Air Force fullback. His Week 3 matchup against a Wyoming defense that hemorrhaged yards to Illinois running back Chase Brown earlier in the season gives him another opportunity to catch the eye.

When perusing the college football Week 3 schedule, Texas State’s trip to No. 17 Baylor probably isn’t one that catches the eye, especially given the kickoff clash with the all-SEC affair between Georgia and South Carolina. However, it’s well worth averting your eyes from Williams Brice Stadium to take a look at what promises to be a mouth-watering matchup between two impressive and highly regarded 2023 NFL Draft prospects.

One of those is Baylor NT Siaki Ika, but the man attempting to halt his path to the quarterback is Texas State guard Kyle Hergel. A Shrine Bowl 1000 Watchlist honoree and summer scouting favorite, Hergel is a legitimate interior offensive lineman in this class. The 2019 FCS Independent Newcomer of the Year allowed just one sack on 477 snaps in his first season for Texas State, and his reputation — and ability — is only growing.

Hergel plays much bigger than his listed 6’2″, 300-pound size. He also plays with a devastatingly dangerous demeanor that sees him routinely drive opponents to the floor. He’s not all physicality and no refinement, however. The Texas State product also showcases technical excellence, intriguing athleticism, and high-level football intelligence.

Oregon hosting BYU is comfortably one of the top games on the college football Week 3 schedule. There are a ton of playmakers on both teams, on both sides of the ball. With 2023 NFL Draft prospects Blake Freeland and Clark Barrington protecting quarterback Jaren Hall, the Cougars boast what should be considered one of the top offensive lines in the nation. Going up against them is the ultimate test and an opportunity to elevate your draft stock.

This is why you should pay attention to Oregon defensive tackle Brandon Dorlus on Saturday afternoon. The Oregon defensive tackle might not have filled the box score in terms of sacks last season, but he was productive behind the line of scrimmage nonetheless while also helping teammates Kayvon Thibodeaux and Noah Sewell to get to the QB unabated.

The 6’3″, 285-pound defensive tackle uses his fast feet and powerful hands to impose his will on opposition offensive linemen. While he can get south to north in a hurry, he also showcases impressive lateral agility that allows him to sidestep linemen and get into the backfield. His impressive physical tools are weaponized by technical refinement with well-timed and well-placed hands.

While there is a lot of focus on quarterback Tyler Van Dyke as one of the Miami Hurricanes’ top prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft, the man who protects his blindside has the opportunity to take another step in the right direction on what has been a rocky road to the NFL. Zion Nelson has seen his stock fluctuate dramatically between first-rounder and afterthought during the last two seasons.

This season, he’s looking to solidify and sustain significant interest. After two “cupcake” clashes, the Hurricanes host Texas A&M who — despite their shocking loss to Appalachian State — should provide a sterner test with a defensive front stacked full of highly rated and recruited players.

At 6’5″ and 316 pounds, Nelson has the frame to play offensive tackle in the NFL while also boasting exceptional length. He’s an elite athlete who explodes off the snap, has the speed to get out to the second level, and possesses the lateral agility and footwork to mirror pass rushers. There’s technical ability, too, with examples of refined handwork scattered all over his film. All he needs now is to pull it all together.

Mohamed Ibrahim dominated Ohio State in the first three quarters of Minnesota’s 2021 college football season opener. Then, disaster struck. After suffering a ruptured Achilles that required surgery and a significant period of recuperation, the Golden Gophers’ leading offensive weapon was sidelined for the entire season. A fifth-year senior at the time, there were doubts over whether he’d declare for the draft or whether he’d ever be the same impact-making running back.

Those doubts have been extinguished with Ibrahim’s return to the field this fall. Through two games, he’s tallied over 200 yards, found the end zone four times, and is averaging a career-high six yards per carry. Not only is the Minnesota running back, but he’s also better than ever before. The question is, what do his 2023 NFL Draft prospects look like?

Ibrahim possesses many of the high-level attributes that you look for in a running back. He has the vision to seek out rushing lanes and possesses nimble feet and the burst to exploit the opportunities he finds. The Minnesota RB has enough juice to rip off big runs while having the lateral agility to plant and cut with the best of them. At 5’9″ and 210 pounds, Ibrahim also has the physicality to absorb contact and offers top-tier pass protection skills.

Auburn has had a defensive back selected in the NFL Draft every year since 2015, and cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett has the opportunity to join that group of prospects next April. He’ll face a tough test in college football Week 3 as the Tigers take on a Penn State team that features a ludicrously talented pass-catching group that features Mitchell Tinsley, Parker Washington, Keandre Lambert-Smith, and tight end Brenton Strange.

At 6’1″ with impressive arm length, Pritchett has the requisite size to be impactful as an outside corner at the next level. Furthermore, as a former wide receiver, the Auburn corner flashes excellent route recognition and ball skills at the catch point. He’s snagged an interception in each of the last two seasons, and it would be a fool to bet against him adding another to his résumé this fall. A fluid mover with loose hips, a decent backpedal, and good play speed, Pritchett has the athletic ability to prove sticky in coverage.

One half of an extremely productive and highly talented linebacker duo for Tulane, Dorian Williams has tallied almost 200 tackles with 18.5 for loss and 4.5 sacks, with almost all of that production coming in the last two seasons. He’s on track for another impactful campaign, racking up 12 tackles in the first two games of the year. Meanwhile, he added a first career interception last week against Alcorn State.

Williams propels his 6’2″, 225-pound frame around the field with impressive sideline-to-sideline range. The Tulane linebacker also possesses terrifying closing speed. That speed, more often than not, culminates in a bone-shaking hit. He boasts violent hands that can visibly shock his opponent. However, he’s more than just a speed and physicality weapon, with impressive instincts and play recognition.

Throw in his experience and excellence on special teams, and Williams has the makings of an alluring 2023 NFL Draft prospect. His matchup with a 2-0 Kansas State team in college football Week 3 gives the Tulane linebacker the unenviable task of halting Duece Vaughn in the open field. An impressive performance against the standout RB could help elevate his stock.

The Washington Huskies have become an NFL defensive back factory, adding another two players selected to the league in the last cycle. They have multiple secondary prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft class, too, with Jordan Perryman and Dominique Hampton earning national attention as members of the Shrine Bowl 1000 watch list. However, two games into the season, it is senior safety Asa Turner who is turning heads with some impactful and productive performances.

With two picks against Kent State, the 6’3″, 205-pound safety prospect now boasts six career interceptions. That production is the result of excellent length and ball skills that allow him to impact the catch point while being aware of where the ball is at all times. Meanwhile, he’s an impressive athlete who can blur the lines between traditional linebacker and safety roles.

Washington plays at a reasonable hour for a Pac-12 team this week, hosting Michigan State at 7:30 p.m. ET. The clash gives Turner and the rest of the Washington 2023 NFL Draft prospects in the defensive back room a stern test covering electric wide receiver Jayden Reed. Meanwhile, the in-form Jalen Berger gives the Huskies’ safety a difficult assignment in the ground game.

Oliver Hodgkinson is an NFL Draft and College Football Analyst for Pro Football Network. Check out the rest of his work here , and you can find him on Twitter: @ojhodgkinson .

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