Four College Players To Watch In Week 8

Welcome to the Patriots Prospect Preview, our annual series where we talk about the club’s future picks before literally anyone else! It’s time to switch things up for Week 8.

I’ve been tossing all sorts of names at you for the past few weeks, cycling through prospects who seem to fit the primary needs down at One Patriot Place — but we’ve neglected what seems to be the likeliest scenario once we approach draft season.

The New England Patriots are on track to be in a position where they can supplement their primary needs through free agency and focus on building depth through the draft. I don’t know about you, but that leads me to believe the options could be narrowed down quite easily.

I’d just follow what other successful teams have done…

The Philadelphia Eagles, for example, have built their foundation in the trenches, taking offensive and defensive linemen during the early portion of the draft while bringing in established names to carry the skill positions. Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith, Tyler Steen, Jordan Davis, Cam Jurgens, Landon Dickerson and Milton Williams were all selected within the first three rounds between 2021 and 2023, and served as foundational pieces to their squad that got over the hump in Super Bowl LIX.

I’ll spend the next couple of weeks talking about prospects who could serve in a similar capacity, starting with some defensive difference-makers who could help build an explosive unit alongside Williams and Christian Barmore.

Keldric Faulk (#15), DL, Auburn

Week 8: vs. Missouri (7:45 p.m. ET on SEC Network)

Keldric Faulk isn’t going to get the publicity of guys like Oregon’s Marsha Uiagaleilei or Clemson’s Peter Woods — both of which we’ve already profiled — but he’s equally as versatile across the defensive front and just might be more disruptive than the two first-round prospects.

Faulk has 14.0 tackles for loss and 9.0 sacks in his last 18 games, including a pair of each last season in what should have been an upset win over Georgia.

Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze has raved about his maturity and leadership qualities, which make him an ideal candidate to slide into a versatile role at the next level — where he’ll be asked to play on all three downs for a variety of alignments.

Faulk is up for the challenge, someone just might need to reach a bit in order to secure his services.

LT Overton (#22), DL, Alabama

Week 8: vs. Tennessee (7:30 p.m. ET on ABC)

LT Overton reminds me a lot of Anfernee Jennings, not because they went to the same school or wear odd numbers for the position, but because you know exactly what you’re going to get from them on each individual down.

Overton is much bigger, which is why he’s used as a hybrid defensive lineman and not a traditional outside linebacker. Like Jennings, however, he’ll make his living at the next level by setting the edge and being disruptive on backside runs — you’ll just expect more out of him against the pass.

It’s like getting a juiced up version of a player you already have, which might not necessarily be a bad thing.

Cashius Howell (#9), EDGE, Texas A&M

Week 8: @ Arkansas (3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN)

Cashius Howell is just the latest in an extremely long line of talented defensive linemen to come out of College Station, Texas.

Shemar Stewart, Nic Scouting and Shemar Turner were all high draft selections last season, but were laughed at by many due to their rather pedestrian numbers. Howell’s are anything but, with the star pass-rusher having racked up 21.5 sacks, 28.0 tackles for loss and 12 passes deflected across the last three seasons played between Bowling Green and Texas A&M.

If you’re looking for a dude that can flat out get to the quarterback, this is it.

Lee Hunter (#2), DL, Texas Tech

Week 8: @ Arizona State (4 p.m. ET on FOX)

Lee Hunter is the lone true interior defensive lineman that we’ll talk about, serving as something of a hired gun for Texas Tech after stints at Auburn and UCF. 

The Patriots don’t have a true run stuffer anymore, but this young man would give them exactly that while opening up more advantageous roles for the likes of Williams, Barmore, Joshua Farmer and a potentially returning Khyiris Tonga.

I’d take this guy on my team any day.