College football is back!
As the 2025 season rolls along, so will our weekly previews of games and NFL prospects to watch. This will come in addition to our NFL Draft coverage over the course of the fall
and winter. Whether you’re a fan of the draft or just a college football fan, this series looks to give you an idea of what to watch each week. Windy City Gridiron’s Lead Draft Analyst, Jacob Infante, will be taking a look at what to expect in Week 6 of this year’s college football campaign.
Blue-chip of the week
Clemson DT Peter Woods @ North Carolina, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, 11:00 a.m. CST
Clemson’s defense has been pretty disappointing in 2025, which is part of the reason they’ve gotten off to a pedestrian 1-3 start. They have the chance to right those wrongs against Bill Belichick’s Tar Heels this week, and the Tigers have the advantage in terms of talent with players like Peter Woods lining up for them up front.
Woods is an explosive defensive tackle who’s best served as a 3-technique but has the ability to kick further outside if need be. He’s quick off the line of scrimmage and uses his athleticism to squeeze through gaps easily. With moves like long-arm stabs, two-handed swipes, cross-chops, and swim moves, he has a deep arsenal of ways he can use his hands to shed blocks, and he showcases very good spatial awareness as a run defender. He is a top-notch interior defensive line prospect as is, but if he can work on his pad level a little bit more to maximize the raw strength he has, I think Woods has a Pro Bowl ceiling.
Prospect matchup to watch
Incarnate Word WR Jalen Walthall vs. Stephen F. Austin CB Charles Demmings, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, 6:00 p.m. CST
I think this might be the first time I’ve included two FCS players in a prospect matchup since I started doing this series a few years ago. Nonetheless, both of these players deserve NFL attention and will have a chance to show their skills on Saturday. Jalen Walthall is a 6’2” speedster who serves as an effective deep threat for an explosive Incarnate Word offense: he had 85 receptions for 1,290 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2024.
On the opposite end is Charles Demmings, who generated Power 4 and Group of 5 consideration in the transfer portal before returning to Stephen F. Austin in 2025. Walthall probably has the speed advantage, but Demmings is right there with him physically at 6’1” with the length and ball skills to factor in as a producer in coverage.
Sleeper highlight
Army C Brady Small @ UAB, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, 11:00 a.m. CST
Army’s football team is an interesting case in that they’re extremely run-heavy, leaving their prospects at a schematic disadvantage one way or the other, depending on what position they play. Though Brady Small has many more reps as a run blocker than he does in pass protection, he’s still absolutely a player worth considering at the NFL level.
A three-year starter at center, Small is a coordinated lineman who moves well in space and has the proper weight distribution needed to keep his pads low and win with leverage at the point of attack. He also times his strikes well and demonstrates good spatial awareness, both in pass protection and as a zone-run blocker. His undersized frame and gimmicky offense could cause him to go undrafted, but he absolutely deserves a contract with a team next offseason.
