SB Nation • 10 min read

2025 College football Week 5: Draft prospects to watch for the Giants

Good morning New York Giants fans!

Happy Saturday and welcome to Week 5 of the 2025 college football season.

The schedule makers gave us one hell of a decision to make… So I’m not. The evening slate is asking

us to choose between Georgia vs. Alabama and Penn State vs. Oregon, and I decided to highlight both games. Each one is going to be stacked with NFL talent, and both matchups are “must watch” games.

We also have a pair of interesting games in the afternoon games that will allow us to look at some prospects that haven’t been on our radar yet.

Wake Forest vs. (16) Georgia Tech

ESPN – noon

Georgia Tech put themselves on the national map with an incredible last-second win over Clemson. Of course, Clemson followed that up with a loss to Syracuse, so feel free to wonder how big of a win that was overall, but the Yellowjackets are ranked for now.

This game has some pretty interesting players, particularly running backs Demond Claiborne (who’s averaging 9.9 yards per carry right now) and Jamal Haynes. Likewise, Giants fans could pay attention to Wake Forest tackle Fa’alili Fa’amoe and GT guard Keylan Rutledge.

Players to watch

Wake Forest

Fa’alili Fa’amoe (OT – 79)
Demond Claiborne (RB – 1)
Carlos Hernandez (WR – 8)
Davaughn Patterson (S – 5)

(16) Georgia Tech

Keylan Rutledge (OG – 77)
Jamal Haynes (RB – 1)
Eric Rivers (WR – 3)
Malik Rutherford (WR – 8)

Washington vs. (1) Ohio State

CBS – 3:30 p.m.

We’ve talked about Ohio State fairly recently, and pretty much everything holds true. Safety Caleb Downs is excellent and the defense is stocked with an embarrassment of riches beyond Downs. Giants fans may want to pay attention to receiver Carnell Tate.

Washington receiver Denzel Boston should also be of interest. The 6-foot-4, 210 pound receiver is averaging 15.6 yards per catch and already has 3 touchdowns on the season. He could add the size and outside presence the Giants’ offense is currently lacking. Cornerback Tacario Davis is questionable for this game, but he also brings rare size to the position at 6-foot-4, 200 pounds and has allowed just 1 reception on 49 coverage snaps so far this year.

Players to watch

Washington

Carver Willis (LT – 55)
Jonah Coleman (RB – 1)
Denzel Boston (WR – 12)
Tacario Davis (CB – 8) *Questionable

(1) Ohio State

Ethan Onianwa (OG – 78)
Max Klare (TE – 86)
Carnell Tate (WR – 17)
Kayden McDonald (iDL – 98)
Kenyatta Jackson Jr. (EDGE – 97)
Sonny Styles (LB – 0)
Arvell Reese (LB – 8)
Caleb Downs (S – 2)
Davison Igbinosun (CB – 1)
Jermaine Mattews Jr. (CB – 7)

(5) Georgia vs. (17) Alabama

ABC – 7:30 p.m.

This SEC showdown is a must-watch matchup every year, but this isn’t quite the titanic brawl that we’ve gotten used to seeing. Georgia isn’t quite as good as their glory years a few seasons ago, and Alabama is diminished in the Post Saban era.

But this still should be a very good game with plenty of future NFL players on the field.

I’ll be highlighting some of the top prospects in the match-up, but this is always one of those games where my best advice is to simply watch and take note of which players distinguish themselves.

Players to watch

(5) Georgia

Earnest Greene (OT – 71)
Oscar Delp (TE – 4)
Lawson Luckie (TE – 7)
Zachariah Branch (WR – 1)
Christen Miller (iDL – 52)
C.J. Allen (LB – 3)
Daylen Everette (CB -6)

(17) Alabama

Kadyn Proctor (OT – 74)
Parker Brailsford (C – 72)
Jaeden Roberts (OG – 77)
Germie Bernard (WR – 5)
Tim Keenan III (iDL – 96) *Questionable
L.T. Overton (DE/EDGE – 22)
Deontae Lawson (LB – 0)
Domani Jackson (CB – 1)
Keon Sabb (S – 3)

(3) Penn State vs. (6) Oregon

NBC – 7:30 p.m.

If you don’t feel like watching the SEC, we have a very good game on tap in the Big10.

Most of the NFL will be focusing on Penn State quarterback Drew Allar. Allar was considered a potential top QB prospect for the 2025 class, but he went back to school following a stumble in the College Football Playoffs. He has a prototypical blend of size (6-foot-5, 235 pounds) with plus athleticism and arm strength, all of which will likely have him compared to Josh Allen once he enters the draft. Teams could also be paying close attention to Oregon QB Dante Moore, who has played very well so far this year — though he’s also a red-shirt sophomore.

The Giants certainly hope that Jaxson Dart will be their quarterback of the future and they won’t need to look at the position again anytime soon. For the Giants’ purposes, Oregon’s offensive linemen could — or should — be on their radar.