National Football League

2017 NFL Draft Prospects Who Must Step Up in Week 4

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 10:36 p.m. ET

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Sep 19, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) leaps over the goal line for a touchdown against the Auburn Tigers during the third quarter of a game at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Week four of the college football season is here with conference play about to kick into full swing. Conference games will not only affect which bowls a school will earn invitations to, but they will also have a significant impact on a prospect’s stock for the 2017 NFL Draft.

In many cases, this season will represent the third or fourth time a prospect has played against the same school. Whether it’s in the trenches or outside the hashes, conference games can also mean the same one-on-one matchup. How a prospect progresses and handles the same opponent over the years will factor into a player’s final draft grade.

Regardless of how many times a prospect or team has faced the matchup they’ll face this weekend, there are a handful of prospects worth spending extra attention to on Saturday. Whether it’s to lead their team to victory or win their individual matchup, these are the prospects who need to step up in week four.

Sep 17, 2016; Berkeley, CA, USA; California Golden Bears quarterback Davis Webb (7) warms up prior to the game against the Texas Longhorns at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

Davis Webb (QB – California) vs. Arizona State

The last time California quarterback Davis Webb faced Arizona State was in the 2013 Holiday Bowl as a member of the Texas Tech Red Raiders. On that night, Webb completed 28-of-41 passes for 403 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. His performance garnered MVP honors as Texas Tech upset the 14th ranked Sun Devils 37-23.

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At the time, the Arizona State secondary featured skilled defensive backs Damarious Randall and Lloyd Carrington. This year’s squad isn’t nearly as talented. Through three games, the Arizona State pass defense ranks dead last in the FBS in pass yards allowed per game at 379.3. No other team has allowed more than 346 per game.

Current Texas Tech QB Patrick Mahomes threw for 540 yards in a loss to the Sun Devils earlier in the season. Mahomes is the only QB to throw for more yards than Webb this season, so 540 is a number Webb likely has in the back of his mind. Playing well this weekend isn’t enough for Webb to improve his 2017 NFL Draft stock. He needs to dominate the Arizona State defense.

Oct 10, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines cornerback Jourdan Lewis (26) scores a touchdown on an interception in the second quarter against the Northwestern Wildcats at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Jourdan Lewis (CB – Michigan) vs. Penn State

Jourdan Lewis makes his highly-anticipated season debut Saturday in Michigan’s Big Ten opener against Penn State. After missing the first three games of the season due to back, quad and hamstring injuries, Lewis is ready to return to his 2015 form.

In his absence, the Wolverines secondary has played extremely well. According to Pro Football Focus, Michigan’s two starting cornerbacks (Channing Stribling and Jeremy Clark) have graded better than any other CB in the Big Ten this season. With Lewis returning to the lineup, either Stribling or Clark will spend a lot more time on the sideline.

It won’t be an easy matchup for Lewis as Penn State boasts two capable receivers in Chris Godwin and DaeSean Hamilton. Both have similar size, however Godwin is the better prospect. Lewis is a potential first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, however he needs to return to full strength quickly in order to improve his stock.

Sep 17, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) before a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Leonard Fournette (RB – LSU) vs. Auburn

When LSU faced Auburn last season, Leonard Fournette ran for a then career-high 228 yards. He surpassed that total in his next two games, but the point remains the same. LSU must feed Fournette 25 to 30 times in this game and allow him to showcase his next-level skills.

Fournette created fear in the Auburn defense last season as the Tigers flat out refused to tackle him at times and played out of control for much of the game.

Despite the expectation that the 2017 NFL Draft is going to be deep at the running back position, Fournette should be the first RB off the board and a top-10 pick. He’s a better prospect than Ezekiel Elliott and could be selected just as early (fourth overall) with a strong finish to his college career.

Nov 21, 2015; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys wide receiver James Washington (28) makes a catch as Baylor Bears cornerback Ryan Reid (9) defends during the first quarter at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports

Ryan Reid (CB – Baylor) vs. Oklahoma State

Like Michigan’s Jourdan Lewis, Baylor CB Ryan Reid will be returning from injury to play in his team’s conference opener. Reid did play in the school’s first two games, however missed last week with an ankle sprain. His return comes just in time for the Baylor defense, which figures to struggle against the high-scoring Oklahoma State offense.

When these two teams met last season, Oklahoma State QB Mason Rudolph threw for 430 yards, but it wasn’t enough for the Cowboys to knock off Baylor. In what is once again expected to be a high-scoring matchup, the game could be decided by a defensive stop. If Baylor is going to make that play on defense, Reid is the playmaker who can do so.

Reid may not be selected early, or at all in the 2017 NFL Draft. He’s going to have to finish his career strong and make some plays against the conference’s pass-heavy offenses. It starts this weekend with a matchup against wide receiver James Washington and Oklahoma State.

Sep 26, 2015; Greenville, NC, USA; East Carolina Pirates wide receiver Isaiah Jones (7) reaches out for his touchdown catch against Virginia Tech Hokies defensive back Greg Stroman (3) during the third quarter at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. East Carolina defeated Virginia Tech 35-28. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

Zay Jones (WR – East Carolina) vs. Virginia Tech

In a matchup which hasn’t received nearly the attention it deserves, the nation’s second-leading receiver takes on the top pass defense in the FBS. East Carolina’s senior wideout Zay Jones will go head-to-head with CB Brandon Facyson and the Virginia Tech secondary.

With 443 yards receiving, Jones trails only California’s Chad Hansen among FBS receivers. He’s coming off a 22-catch, 190-yard performance against South Carolina. The Hokies on the other hand have allowed a total of just 241 yards through the air in three games.

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When these two teams collided last season, East Carolina won the game, but Jones was shutdown by Virginia Tech. He did score a touchdown, however he only caught two passes. If he wants to secure his spot in the 2017 NFL Draft, he’ll need to find ways to create separation against Facyson.