Prospect Stalker: Week 1

The wait is almost over. You can come out of your hibernation now. College football is back. Even though your allegiances may lie with your alma mater, that doesn’t mean their game is the only one worth watching. Broaden your horizons!

What I have found is that I can make even a non-marquee matchup worthwhile by keying in on the guys who could be playing on Sundays in the near future. Here are the nationally televised games that I’ll be watching this weekend, along with which players to watch out for. Also, I’m a nice guy, so no need to grab those media guides; I have their jersey numbers listed right here for you in parentheses.

(Note: Players in bold are also in my 2012 NFL Draft Extravaganza)

Thursday, September 1st at 8:00 PM EST (ESPN)

UNLV Rebels @ (11) Wisconsin Badgers

Wisconsin

QB Russell Wilson (#16), WR Nick Toon (#1), G Kevin Zeitler (#70), T Ricky Wagner (#58), T Josh Oglesby (#67), C Peter Konz (#66), S Aaron Henry (#7)

UNLV

Cheerleaders?

Friday, September 2nd at 8:00 PM (ESPN)

(14) TCU Horned Frogs @ Baylor Bears

Baylor

QB Robert Griffin III (#10), WR Kendall Wright (#1)

TCU

LB Tank Carder (#43), Tanner Brock (#35)

Saturday, September 3rd at 3:30 PM (NBC)

South Florida Bulls at (16) Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Notre Dame

WR Michael Floyd (#3), LB Manti Te’o (#5), S Harrison Smith (#22)

South Florida

S Jerell Young (#1)

Saturday, September 3rd at 3:30 PM (ESPN2/ABC)

Minnesota Golden Gophers at (25) USC Trojans

USC

QB Matt Barkley (#7), TE Rhett Ellison (#40), T Matt Kalil (#75), DE Nick Perry (#8), LB Chris Galippo (#54), S T.J. McDonald (#7)

Minnesota

I’d recommend just watching whichever side of the ball USC is on.

Saturday, September 3rd at 8:00 PM (FX)

Tulsa Hurricane at (1) Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma

QB Landry Jones(#12), WR Ryan Broyles (#85), DE Ronnell Lewis (#56), LB Travis Lewis (#28, injured)

Tulsa

QB G.J. Kinne (#4)

Saturday, September 3rd at 8:00 PM (ABC)

(3) Oregon Ducks vs (4) LSU Tigers (Dallas, TX)

LSU

WR Rueben Randle (#2), LB Ryan Baker (#22), CB Morris Claiborne (#17)

Oregon

QB Darron Thomas (#1), RB LaMichael James (#21), TE David Paulson (#42), CB Cliff Harris (#13, suspended)

Saturday, September 3rd at 8:00 PM (ESPN)

(5) Boise State Broncos at (19) Georgia Bulldogs

Georgia

WR Tavarres King (#12), TE Orson Charles (#7), T Cordy Glenn (#71), C Ben Jones (#60), NT Kwame Geathers (#99), CB Brandon Boykin (#2), K Blair Walsh (#57), P Drew Butler (#13)

Boise State

QB Kellen Moore (#11), RB Doug Martin (#22), T Nate Potter (#73), DT Billy Winn (#90)

Sunday, September 4th at 3:30 PM (ESPN)

Marshall Thundering Herd at (24) West Virginia Mountaineers

West Virginia

QB Geno Smith (#12), DE Julian Miller (#97), DE Bruce Irvin (#11), CB Keith Tandy (#25)

Marshall

DE Vinny Curry (#99)

Monday, September 5th at 8:00 PM (ESPN)

Miami Hurricanes at Maryland Terrapins

Maryland

LB/S Kenny Tate (#6)

Miami

RB Lamar Miller (#6), G Brandon Washington (#72), DT Marcus Forston (#99, suspended), LB Sean Spence (#31, suspended), S Ray-Ray Armstrong (#26, suspended)