By Ty Scheiner
Heading into Week 5 of the college football season, Jalen Milroe, Jake Retzlaff, and Trey Rucker are three players to keep an eye on. Each is poised to make a significant impact in their upcoming matchups.
Will Milroe Shine Under the Lights Against Undefeated Georgia?
One of, if not the most anticipated games of the year, Jalen Milroe and the Tide host the defending national champs, Kirby Smart‘s Georgia Bulldogs. Both SEC teams enter the matchup undefeated and boast top defenses. I’m eager to see if Milroe can make plays not only with his legs but also through the air. He’s shown improvement as a passer under Kalen Deboer. While their passing game has been inconsistent—sometimes explosive, other times not—I’d love to see Milroe have his ‘marquee’ game of the season at home, under the lights, against UGA.
Can Retzlaff Lead BYU to 5-0 in a Tough Battle Against Baylor?
Jake Retzlaff and BYU are off to a surprising start in a wide-open Big 12 conference. The former JUCO QB has had a solid year, throwing for 9 TDs, 3 INTs, 990 yards, and a 62.6% completion rate, while adding 103 yards on the ground. This weekend, he will head into a hostile environment at McLean Stadium to face conference foe Baylor, who sits at 2-2 with a top-30 defense, allowing 280.8 yards per game, according to NCAA.org.
Baylor is coming off a game where they gave up 341 yards through the air against Colorado. BYU averages just under 4 yards per carry on the ground, so if they can establish the run against the Bears, it should open up opportunities for Retzlaff to find success through the air and potentially lead the Cougars to a 5-0 record.
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Rucker Faces a Big Challenge Against Kansas State’s High-Powered Rushing Game
The ‘Pokes’ enter this weekend with a 3-1 record, facing another top-25 Big 12 team in Kansas State in Manhattan. While the Oklahoma State defense isn’t the strongest aspect of the team, ranking towards the bottom, a bright spot is Trey Rucker. Despite the team allowing 4.5 yards per carry, Rucker stands out, ranked second in FBS with 53 total tackles and 29 solo tackles. This likely indicates a defensive weakness, as it’s unusual for a safety to lead in tackles.
The Wildcats, ranked 15th in rushing offense, average 6.49 yards per carry and 240 yards per game. With D.J. Giddens, Dylan Edwards, and Avery Johnson each averaging at least 6 yards per carry, Kansas State will likely exploit this strength against the Pokes’ weakness. Consequently, Rucker is expected to be busy once again on Saturday.
