5 players to watch following Alabama’s BYE week

5 players to watch when Alabama returns from the BYE week

No. 3 Alabama is currently in the middle of its BYE week and most fans are still hungry for news on the Crimson Tide.

I thought we could take a few moments to look at a handful of players that fans should keep their eye on when Alabama returns to the action on November 6 against LSU.

Let’s take a look, shall we?

Wisconsin vs. Penn State: 10 players to watch

Wisconsin vs. Penn State: 10 players to watch

Week 1 of the season always seems to come slowly. For months, all we do is look at the season as a whole and dive deep into the Wisconsin Badgers’ Week 1 matchup.

Yes, the Badgers are usually playing the Western Kentucky’s or Eastern Michigan’s of the world so that game isn’t high profile.

But this year it’s No. 19 Penn State—a team that enters the year with an extremely similar profile to the Badgers.

Saturday will likely tell us a lot about where each team stands after disappointing 2020 seasons, and specifically where each starting quarterback stands after expectations of a bounce-back season.

So when the two teams take the field on Saturday, here are the 10 most important players to watch:

Wisconsin vs. Penn State preview:

6 players to watch at Chiefs’ mandatory minicamp

Keep an eye on these six players as the Kansas City Chiefs get mandatory minicamp underway.

The Kansas City Chiefs kick off their three-day mandatory minicamp on Tuesday.

While practices won’t be open to the public until training camp begins in July, traditionally there tends to be more information coming out of practices beginning around mandatory minicamp. Below you’ll find a quick look at some of the players that you should be keeping an eye on throughout the next three days.

2021 Wisconsin Football Preview: Early breakout players, true freshmen to watch

The Wisconsin Badgers’ 2020 football season saw sophomore ILB Leo Chenal, freshman RB Jalen Berger, freshman OLB Nick Herbig and others…

The Wisconsin Badgers’ 2020 football season saw sophomore ILB Leo Chenal, freshman RB Jalen Berger, freshman OLB Nick Herbig and others break onto the scene and make their names known.

The team would not have had the same success without these guys and what they did on the field, as Chenal and Herbig were two of the driving forces on defense and Berger was far-and-away the best option in the backfield.

Going into any season there will be hype given to certain players and positions, hype which I expect the three names above to receive as well as QB Graham Mertz, WR Chimere Dike and NT Keeanu Benton.

Related: The Badgers’ projected 2021 depth chart on offense, defense

But aside from the names that every Badger fan knows and players that we know will take a step forward, who else should you watch and keep on your radar?

I set out to answer that question in this week’s edition of way-too-early breakout players and freshmen to watch for the 2021 football season.

For 2020 season review:

6 Chiefs players to watch in divisional round vs. Browns

Keep an eye on these six players as the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Cleveland Browns.

The Kansas City Chiefs are set to play the Cleveland Browns in the AFC’s divisional round of the playoffs. After nearly three full weeks with no game, the Chiefs’ starters will look to pick up where they left off against a Browns team riding a lot of momentum into Arrowhead Stadium.

Despite the two weeks off, the Chiefs aren’t at full strength. They’ll need to rely on some of their biggest stars and some supporting cast members to pick up the slack. So who should Chiefs fans keep an eye on this week?

Here are six players to watch in the divisional round:

6 Chiefs players to watch in Week 17 vs. Chargers

Keep an eye on these six players as the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Kansas City Chiefs are set to play the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 17. This will be a unique game for the team and fans alike because the Chiefs have everything clinched. This game is wholly meaningless in terms of standings, playoffs and really the only true meaning to this game is evaluation.

Kansas City decision-makers get the rare opportunity to get a look at the bottom of the roster in Week 17. Many, if not all starters will be sitting out this week and it’ll be up to the backup players to go out there and get a win. So who should Chiefs fans keep an eye on this week?

Here are six players to watch in Week 17:

Wisconsin vs. Wake Forest: 10 players to watch

The Wisconsin Badgers and Wake Forest Demon Deacons are set to meet on Wednesday in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl as Graham Mertz looks to finish his

It is game week for the Wisconsin Badgers as they get ready for Wednesday’s Duke’s Mayo Bowl matchup with the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

The two teams enter the contest with similar records, though they took completely opposite paths to reach where they stand today.

Related: Duke’s Mayo Bowl: 5 things to know

The Badgers, as you probably know, began their season with two straight victories, then went on a three-game losing streak and finally finished their regular season with a win over Minnesota to move to 3-3.

Wake Forest, on the other hand, began the season with two losses, won four straight including a 23-16 victory over then-No. 19-ranked Virginia Tech and finally finished their regular season with two losses to move to 4-4.

Related: Wisconsin’s bowl-week depth chart sees a few key players return

Furthermore, although the two squads sit at .500 entering the contest, their path to success looks a lot different—Wisconsin’s coming through running the ball and playing defense and Wake Forest’s through playing fast and getting points on the board as quickly as possible.

So, with opposite styles of play set to face off, there are a few pivotal matchups that will dictate the pace of Wednesday’s game and decides who comes out on top.

Related: Team preview: Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Those matchups and more are highlighted below in my Duke’s Mayo Bowl edition of 10 players to watch:

4 Chiefs players to watch in Week 15 vs. Saints

Keep an eye on these four players as the Kansas City Chiefs take on the New Orleans Saints.

The Kansas City Chiefs are set to play the New Orleans Saints in Week 15. For the Chiefs, this is basically a bragging rights game that can help validate their Super Bowl title defense. Meanwhile, the Saints are clinging on to hope that they can somehow keep pace with the Green Bay Packers, eventually securing the NFC’s No. 1 seed.

If Kansas City wants to prove that they’re the best team in football again in 2020, a win this week will go a long way toward proving that. The Chiefs will need some key performances from veterans and rookies alike if they’re to come away victorious in New Orleans. Here is a look at four Chiefs players to keep an eye on during the Sunday afternoon showdown between non-conference opponents:

4 Chiefs players to watch in Week 14 vs. Dolphins

Keep an eye on these four players as the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Miami Dolphins.

The Kansas City Chiefs are set to play the Miami Dolphins in what should be an exciting in-conference game between playoff opponents. The Chiefs are fighting to keep pace for the No. 1 seed and lock up the AFC West division. Meanwhile, the Dolphins are attempting to clinch a playoff berth and stay in the running with the Buffalo Bills for the AFC East.

If Kansas City is to again avoid an upset in Week 14, they’ll need some of their players to have standout performances. Here is a look at four Chiefs players to keep an eye on during the Sunday slugfest:

4 Chiefs players to watch in Week 11 vs. Raiders

Keep an eye on these four players as the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Las Vegas Raiders.

As the Kansas City Chiefs prepare to face the Las Vegas Raiders, they’ll look to build on a history of post-bye week success against their most bitter AFC West rival. The Chiefs have faced the Raiders coming off of the bye week in each of the past two seasons, winning in a dominant fashion, scoring 40 points in both games. Can they keep up their success for a third-straight year?

Las Vegas got the best of Kansas City back in Week 5. If the Chiefs want to change their fortunes in Week 11, they’ll need some standout performances from key players. Here is a look at four Chiefs players, including one player from each phase of the game, to keep an eye on this Sunday night: