College football preview: 5 players to watch in Week 7

Week 7 of the college football season has some massive matchups going on across the whole country. This means NFL Draft prospects will be tested against some of the best opponents they will face. Here is who I am watching.

Kelvin Banks, Offensive Tackle, Texas v. Oklahoma (3:30 PM on ABC)
The Red River Rivalry game will feature a ton of NFL talent between top ranked Texas and a really good Oklahoma team. Most interesting is Kelvin Banks, who might be one of the best players in the country right now. Banks locks down the left side of the Texas line and he will need to be on his best against Brent Venables defense on Saturday to keep Arch Manning upright and the Longhorns scoring a ton of points.

Abdul Carter, Edge Defender, Penn State v. USC (3:30 PM on CBS)
USC’s first season in the Big 10 has not gone to their expectations, but they are still a good team. Miller Moss and company have the firepower to put up points on the best of them. So, Abdul Carter will have to keep the pressure on for four quarters to keep Penn State unbeaten. Carter has emerged as a premier defensive lineman in the country and Saturday is a chance for him to really shut down a top offense.

Konata Mumpfield, Wide Receiver, Pitt v. Cal (3:30 PM on ESPN)
The Pittsburgh Panthers are currently undefeated and their offense is a big reason why. 6’1” senior Konata Mumpfield is averaging almost 19 yards a reception to start the season and has been a huge asset in this passing game. Cal’s secondary had a bad outing last week against Miami but otherwise has been an excellent unit. They will want to rebound against Pitt this weekend and Mumpfield has the match up to really make a name for himself.

Denzel Burke, Cornerback, Ohio State v. Oregon (7:30 PM on NBC)
The heavyweight match up of the weekend will be between Oregon and Ohio State in a Big 10 showdown (still weird that they’re in the same conference). The #2 and #3 ranked teams in the country feature a lot of future NFL players. Most interesting in this game is Buckeyes cornerback Denzel Burke. Burke has been a steady presence in OSU’s secondary, but he has yet to face an offense like Oregon’s. The Ducks passing game will challenge Burke with a ton of looks and some really dangerous pass catchers. A strong performance from Burke will have a huge impact on this game.

Will Campbell, Offensive Tackle, LSU v. Ole Miss (7:30 PM on ABC)
The LSU/Ole Miss contest promises to be a fun one with two very exciting offenses and talented defenses. Will Campbell is vying for that top offensive lineman spot in the 2025 class, pushing Kelvin Banks every week. Ole Miss’ defense features some real talent and Campbell will need to shut them down to give the Tigers a chance.