Yardbarker
x
2017 Week 4 college football players to watch
Sep 2, 2017; Lubbock, TX, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Nic Shimonek (16) on the bench during the game with the Eastern Washington Eagles at Jones AT&T Stadium. Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

2017 Week 4 college football players to watch

Week 3 was a wild weekend filled with some mild surprises and shocking scores. Week 4 doesn't have as many trap games of sorts as last week did, but most everyone is getting into the conference schedule. 

Anything can happen in conference play as teams, coaches and players are more familiar with each other and rivalries continue. We also have two matchups between two ranked teams (TCU-Oklahoma State, Mississippi State-Georgia) as well as 10 ranked teams facing unranked conference foes on the road.

Last week also saw some of the Heisman favorites turn in some not-so-outstanding showings. Does that open up that race to some new blood? Let's take a look at the players to watch in Week 4.

 
1 of 20

Cam Akers, Florida State

Cam Akers, Florida State
Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

What a weird start to the season for Florida State. The Seminoles haven't played since their Sept. 2 spanking from Alabama in which they lost quarterback Deondre Francois for the season. Hurricane Irma canceled/postponed their next two games. So they are back this week with a true freshman QB against a dangerous N.C. State team. That means true freshman back Cam Akers could be important against the Pack. Akers is such an exciting player who can be used in a variety of ways (he got the most carries against 'Bama). Jimbo Fisher will try to use Akers a lot to ease QB James Blackman into his role.

 
2 of 20

Saquon Barkley, Penn State

Saquon Barkley, Penn State
Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Penn State has a tough test at Iowa, but Saquon Barkley is ready for the exam. Sure, in the Nittany Lions' blowout of Georgia State, Barkley ran only 10 times for 47 yards, but he was a menace in the passing game, catching four passes for 142 yards including an 85-yd TD score. Penn State has been blowing out opponents all year so Barkley has been rested up (just 34 carries all season). Expect a steady dose of the Heisman candidate this week against the Hawkeyes.

 
3 of 20

J.T. Barrett, Ohio State

J.T. Barrett, Ohio State
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Is there anyone more on the hot seat than Barrett seems to always be in Columbus? All he did was unseat Drew Brees as the all-time touchdown leader in Big Ten history on Saturday with his three scores (two passing, one rushing). Sure, the sting of his performance against Oklahoma will hurt, but the Buckeyes still have a National Championship on their minds. With their final non-conference test against UNLV this week, look for Barrett and Ohio State to build on last week's blowout of Army.

 
4 of 20

David Blough, Purdue

David Blough, Purdue
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Purdue has had a surprisingly solid season and welcomes No. 8 Michigan to West Lafayette Saturday. Entering the season, Blough was the Big Ten's top returning passer and has been solid under new head coach Jeff Brohm despite being dinged up and in an interesting rotation with sophomore Elijah Sindelar. Against physical Michigan, he will need to avoid the mistakes he made against Louisville in the opener (a key pick-six late was a back-breaker in the attempted upset). 

 
5 of 20

Kelly Bryant, Clemson

Kelly Bryant, Clemson
Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

How about Kelly Bryant? While he is no Deshaun Watson yet, he did a wonderful job going toe-to-toe with Lamar Jackson in Clemson's huge ACC win over Louisville. Bryant went 22-for-32 for 316 yards and a TD pass (he also rushed for two scores) just one week after looking rather pedestrian against Auburn. We can probably expect the ups and downs to continue, but at least we've seen what the ups can look like in a big game. Clemson hopes there isn't a letdown against Boston College this week with the Tigers looking at No. 13 Virginia Tech in Blacksburg next week. 

 
6 of 20

Ryan Finley, N.C. State

Ryan Finley, N.C. State
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

There are rumblings that Ryan Finley could be even better than Wolfpack legend Philip Rivers in Raleigh. That may be a bit of a stretch, but Finley has had a great start to the season. He's yet to throw an interception in 127 passes this year and has 987 yards passing and six TDs. He gets a huge test at Florida State this Saturday and that vaunted secondary. If N.C. State wishes to contend with the Seminoles, Clemson and Louisville in the ACC's brutal Atlantic Division, Finley will be the guy who leads the Pack. Do that and the comparisons to Rivers will be taken much more seriously.

 
7 of 20

Nick Fitzgerald, Mississippi State

Nick Fitzgerald, Mississippi State
Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

Fitzgerald was featured in this spot last week, and he sure didn't disappoint. All he did was throw for 180 yards and two TDs as well as rush for another 88 yards and two more TDs. All that against an LSU defense that is regarded as one of the more talented in the SEC. It wasn't just the numbers; it was the control he had over the game. Fitzgerald was the man on the field that night, and it was impressive. With so much doubt that there is no one in the SEC who can challenge Alabama, the Bulldogs (who play at fellow Bulldogs Georgia this week) could stake their claim with another huge win.

 
8 of 20

Royce Freeman, Oregon

Royce Freeman, Oregon
Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports

Oregon may not be back, back, but the Ducks have returned some of that swagger. Freeman is a catalyst for that. This season, he has rushed for 460 yards, and his nine rushing TDs lead the nation. Against Wyoming last week, he ran for 157 yards and three scores in the rout over the Cowboys. Oregon gets Arizona State this week, a team that two weeks ago watched San Diego State's Rashaad Penny run for 216 yards on it. Needless the say, Freeman should be chomping at the bit to get at the Sun Devils.

 
9 of 20

Kenny Hill, TCU

Kenny Hill, TCU
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Kenny Hill won't likely match his counterpart in passing this week, but he is not slouch himself. The TCU quarterback threw for 365 yards and four TDs last week against rival SMU. It will be hard to outshoot Oklahoma State QB Mason Rudolph, but Hill, a fifth-year senior, will need to hold his own if the Horned Frogs want to leave Stillwater with a victory. He will have more on his shoulders with versatile running back Kyle Hicks slated to miss the game.

 
10 of 20

Daniel Jones, Duke

Daniel Jones, Duke
Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports

Duke is looking to contend for an ACC Coastal Division title and heads to Chapel Hill to face rival North Carolina this week. It all comes down to Duke's QB Daniel Jones. Jones is a load. Not only does he have a 129.7 QB rating this season, but he's not a bad rusher either. Two weeks ago against Northwestern, Jones threw for 305 yards and two TDs and rushed for 108 and two more TDs. This is the Blue Devils' first road game of the season, albeit just eight miles down the road. Still, Jones's great start to the season could portend great things for Duke if it continues during ACC play.

 
11 of 20

Bryce Love, Stanford

Bryce Love, Stanford
Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

In a battle of top running backs, Stanford's Bryce Love held serve with San Diego State's Rashaad Penny, albeit in a loss to the Aztecs. This week, the Cardinal hosts a wounded UCLA who suffered its own defeat in a shootout with Memphis. Unlike last week, this won't be two running teams beating each other up physically. For Stanford to stick with UCLA, it must control the ball and the clock and keep Josh Rosen off the field. Love can do that. He's second in the nation in rushing yards and averaging an unreal 12.2 yards per carry. For Stanford to get back on track, it will be because of Love.

 
12 of 20

Tavares Martin Jr., Washington State

Tavares Martin Jr., Washington State
James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

With all that happened last weekend, you may have missed Martin Jr.'s game against Oregon State. The Cougars' junior receiver caught 10 passes for 194 yards and three TDs in the blowout win over the Beavers. Washington State faces a struggling Nevada team this Saturday, and the Cougars' Air Raid offense could pile on some heavy points on the outmanned Wolf Pack. That could mean more targets for Martin Jr., who liked getting a lot of QB Luke Falk's attention.

 
13 of 20

Mark McLaurin, Mississippi State

Mark McLaurin, Mississippi State
Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

Sure, Nick Fitzgerald and the Bulldogs' offense deserves a ton of credit for Mississippi State's great start, but it is that defense that has been amazing. The line, those backers and the secondary have all played well in shutting down their opponents. Safety Mark McLaurin is one of the leaders of that defense, a safety who looks like a linebacker and plays with fire. He's key in stuffing the run and holding down the aerial attack, which will be key against a Georgia offense that is pretty balanced.

 
14 of 20

Rashaad Penny, San Diego State

Rashaad Penny, San Diego State
Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Last week Penny sliced the Stanford Cardinal for 175 yards and a TD in the upset win. Now the Aztecs are ranked No. 22 in the latest Associated Press poll, and more eyes will be on the nation's leading rusher (588 yards). Saturday night, Penny and the Aztecs go up against an Air Force squad that played Michigan very tough at the Big House. The Wolverines did manage 190 yards rushing against the AFA so Penny will look to do some damage.

 
15 of 20

Dante Pettis, Washington

Dante Pettis, Washington
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Not only is Pettis the favorite target of QB Jake Browning (his 12 receptions, 209 yds, three TDs lead the team), but he's one heck of a punt returner. Last week against Fresno State, Pettis's 77-yd punt return for a touchdown was his eighth in his career and tied an NCAA record. This is the third straight game that Pettis has scored on a punt return, also tying him for the NCAA mark. At some point, teams will stop kicking to him. Even if they do, he is still dangerous. Against Fresno State, he caught three TD passes to go along with his punt return touchdown. You can bet the Huskies won't stop throwing it to him.

 
16 of 20

Nic Shimonek, Texas Tech

Nic Shimonek, Texas Tech
Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Shimonek had a field day against Arizona State last week, completing 37 of 50 passes for a Week 3 high 543 yards and six TDs. Yes, another season of gaudy passing numbers for a Red Raiders quarterback. Shimonek didn't exactly come out of nowhere as the senior did well in mop-up duty last year behind 2017 first-round pick Patrick Mahomes. In two games as the starter this year, he has already thrown for nearly 1,000 yards with nine TDs and zero picks. Texas Tech heads to Houston this week for a nationally televised game with the Cougars. 

 
17 of 20

Benny Snell Jr., Kentucky

Benny Snell Jr., Kentucky
Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

Two SEC basketball powerhouses will play a huge football game that could decide the SEC East race. Florida has beaten Kentucky 30 consecutive times, but the Gators may be facing the best Wildcats team they've battled in years. Last week against South Carolina, Kentucky leaned on Snell Jr. to carry the offense. Snell Jr. carried the ball 32 teams for 102 yards and scored two TDs. Florida has the 107th-ranked (out of 130 teams) run defense so Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops will rely on Snell Jr. if his Wildcats want to beat Florida for the first time since 1986.

 
18 of 20

Brandon Wimbush, Notre Dame

Brandon Wimbush, Notre Dame
Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

No, Notre Dame hasn't instilled a ton of confidence in anyone, but the Irish are 2-1 with the loss a 20-19 defeat against No. 11 Georgia. This week, they get rival Michigan State in East Lansing and will need another huge week from QB Brandon Wimbush and RB Josh Adams. The two just walked all over Boston College last week and need a sound ground attack against the Spartans. Wimbush's passing wasn't impressive last week (11-of-24, 96 yards), but he did run for 207 yards and four TDs. Adams added 229 yards against the Eagles. 

 
19 of 20

Logan Woodside, Toledo

Logan Woodside, Toledo
Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Woodside is a name you may not know, but NFL scouts do. So far this year, he's led Toledo to a 3-0 record by throwing for 1,003 yards and eight TDs. He entered the season as a real dark-horse Heisman candidate and the MAC's top returning passer and hasn't disappointed. Last week he tossed six touchdowns against Tulsa. This week he gets to play on a big stage as the Rockets head to Miami to face the Hurricanes. The Canes are good, but they haven't played a game since Sept. 2. They could be ripe for a blindside from Woodside.

 
20 of 20

Charles Wright, Vanderbilt

Charles Wright, Vanderbilt
Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

Not many will give Vanderbilt a shot to win when the Commodores host top-ranked Alabama this Saturday, but Charles Wright (No. 11, pictured) certainly gives you something to root for. Wright has been a sack machine early on this season. He recorded 2.5 sacks last week in the Commodores' impressive shutdown of Kansas State, 14-7, to give him seven on the season. He also has quite a nice backstory that shows the importance of family and stability in a youngster's life. Who knows how long Vandy can stay in this game, but you bet Tide QB Jalen Hurts will know where Wright is before every snap.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

+

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.