Talents to watch in Week 4 of the college football season

• Cam Ward has another opportunity to get closer to QB1: This is the best start to the season and even the best period of play in Ward’s college career. He has thrown 11 touchdowns, nine of them on big throws and only one play that required a turnover.

• Tommi Hill faces Illinois’ best wide receivers: Bryant is a more traditional “X” receiver who does his best work with power and in contested catch situations, whereas Franklin looks to separate himself with his route running.

• Take advantage of a PFF+ subscription: Get full access to all of our fantasy tools throughout the season, including weekly rankings, WR/CB matchup charts, weekly projections, the Starting Sit Optimizer and more. Register now!

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

As we enter Week 4 of the 2024 college football season, there are a handful of 2025 NFL Draft prospects in key matchups with a chance to increase their draft value. Here are some of the players we’ll be watching this weekend.

MIAMI (FL) QB CAM WARD AGAINST USF

In Week 1 of the college football season, Miami quarterback Cam Ward achieved the first PFF passing grade over 90.0 in a single game of his career. In Week 2, he did it again. And in Week 3 – you might have guessed – he repeated the feat.

This is the best start to the season and even the best stretch of Ward’s college career. He has thrown 11 touchdowns, nine of them long throws, and only one play that resulted in a turnover. He has an adjusted completion percentage of 83.2% and averages a depth of target of 10.7 yards – both career highs.

This is the best version of Ward we’ve ever seen; it’s fun and it’s winning. His Hurricanes will face USF in Week 4, whose defense is not to be underestimated and currently ranks 47th in the FBS with a team coverage rating of 77.4. Another great performance from Ward this weekend could catapult him to the top of the 2025 NFL Draft quarterback rankings very soon.

NEBRASKA CB TOMMI HILL VS ILLINOIS WRs PAT BRYANT AND ZAKHARI FRANKLIN

Hill is making a name for himself as a cornerback prospect for the 2025 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound former wide receiver has earned a PFF coverage rating of 83.5 so far and had his best game against his toughest opponent a few weeks ago in Colorado. Depending on your definition of fun, Week 4 will see another exciting matchup between Nebraska and Illinois.

Illini receivers Pat Bryant and Zakhari Franklin, both notable talents in their own right, offer two different skill sets for Hill. Bryant is a more traditional “X” receiver who performs best with power and in contested catch situations, while Franklin looks to create spacing through his route running. Another high-quality finish for Hill will allow him to continue to climb up the big list.

MARSHALL EDGE MIKE GREEN VS OHIO STATE T JOSH SIMMONS

Simmons has the highest PFF pass block grade of any Buckeyes offensive lineman this season (83.5). He has yet to give in to pressure in 61 pass block reps. The two-year starter and senior will have a tough test this weekend to maintain his record for a clean game when Ohio State faces Marshall. Simmons will get the Thunder Herd’s best pass rusher: Mike Green.

Green, who is also eligible as a redshirt sophomore, stands 6-foot-4 and weighs just under 250 pounds. He has a PFF pass-rush grade of 84.4 so far this season, with 12 pressures, four sacks and a 21.7% pass-rush win rate.

UTAH LB LANDER BARTON VS OKLAHOMA STATE RB OLLIE GORDON II

Utah linebacker Lander Barton has had a slow start to the 2024 season. His overall PFF grade of 66.1 would be a career low. But he faces a good test this weekend against running back Ollie Gordon II and the Oklahoma State offense.

If there is one area where Barton continues to play at a high level, it is run defense, as he has posted a PFF run defense grade of 71.4 with six tackles and just one missed tackle in 71 run defense snaps this season.

Gordon, who ranked second in the country with over 1,700 rushing yards last season, is also off to a slow start for his level. He ran for over 100 yards in Week 1, but has failed to rush for more than 50 yards in his last two games. Both players will look to get on track this weekend.

OKLAHOMA S BILLY BOWMAN JR. AGAINST TENNESSEE QB NICO IAMALEAVA

Oklahoma has one of the best coverage safeties in the country in Billy Bowman Jr. He may be smaller, but that gives him excellent change-of-direction fluidity/acceleration and good coverage range. He only has a 54.6 PFF coverage grade this season because he allowed a touchdown last week against Tulane. But other than that, he’s been solid.

Tennessee’s offense – and especially young star quarterback Nico Iamaleava – poses a challenge. Given the Volunteers’ explosive offensive power, Bowman will have plenty of opportunities to impress in both the running and passing game.