Each Friday I list my "Five prospects" that I'll be focusing on for the upcoming weekend. In reality, I'm focusing on dozens of prospects each week, but the players listed below are playing in high profile games and against the caliber of competition that I believe provides us with an opportunity to truly assess how a collegiate player might fare when asked to make the huge jump to the NFL.

Typically I focus on senior prospects in this space. However, with it becoming more and more obvious as to which underclassmen are considering the jump to the pros, I'll be incorporating a few more juniors and redshirt sophomores in the coming weeks.

Sometimes it also leads to the player being featured in Draft Slant , NFLDraftScout.com and CBSSports.com's weekly NFL Draft preview. In each PDF issue of Draft Slant Senior Analyst Chad Reuter breaks down six more players in Filmroom Notes, updates our Top 64 prospects overall and offers extensive previews of the next week's action. Here is the link to this week's issue of Draft Slant. Or for the entire season click this link . Looking for a specific week? Download past issues from the past three years here.

Without any further adieu, here are the five prospects, as well as the cable provider and time you can expect to see them.
DT Kheeston Randall, Texas: There are certainly plenty of talented players to focus on in this game, not the least of which is Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones. While I will definitely be keeping a close eye on Jones' performance, I'm also very intrigued to see if the Longhorns' 6-5, 305 pound senior defensive tackle Randall is able to supply any pressure on the Sooner passing game. Randall has the frame and experience scouts are looking for, but hasn't yet played with any semblance of the consistency needed to earn a high round selection. In fact, through the first four games of the season, Randall has accumulated only five tackles (only two of which were solos). Like Texas, as a whole, to earn real respect, this is a game that Randall must play well. This game begins at noon ET and will be televised by ABC.

OT Matt McCants, Alabama-Birmingham: It isn't often that Conference USA teams match up with SEC opponents, but that is precisely the case Saturday when UAB hosts Mississippi State. I certainly do not expect an 0-4 UAB team to perform particularly well against a physical Bulldogs' defense, but the Blazers possess a very real pro prospect in 6-6, 295 pound senior left tackle Matt McCants. I'm anxious to see how McCants holds up physically and athletically against Mississippi State's defenders. By playing for UAB, McCants is a logical local candidate to be invited to the Senior Bowl. I'm hopeful that he'll show in this contest that he deserves the consideration based on his talent, not just his local connections. This game begins at noon ET and will be televised by Root Sports/Fox Sports.

RB/WR Chris Rainey, Florida: Though he's rarely given the credit outside of SEC country, Rainey is one of the more versatile playmakers in the country. The Gators' leading rusher (415 yards) and receiver (14 catches for 246 yards) this season Rainey's exploits on the offensive side of the ball have been well documented, but he's also a special teams threat as a returner and is even tied for the Gator lead in career kicks blocked (five). We all know that LSU's defense is fast. Rainey, along with fellow mighty mite Jeff Demps, possesses the extraordinary speed that could serve as the Tigers' biggest test yet this season. Where Rainey fits into the NFL depends on which scout you ask. Some, however, believe that he could serve as a poor man's Percy Harvin at the next level. This game begins at 3:30 pm ET and will be televised by CBS.

OG Ryan Miller, Colorado: Standing at 6-8 and 298 pounds Miller has the build of a prototypical NFL right tackle, but has played well enough inside at right guard throughout his career that some view his best chance at NFL success remaining there. I'm not sure I among those who feel this way, however, as his height makes him susceptible to the powerful bull rushes he'll see at the pro level. Miller and his Colorado teammates will get one of their stiffest tests Saturday when they travel to play Andrew Luck and Stanford. Stanford's use of the 3-4 defense will be a different look than Colorado is used to and will put additional pressure on the Buffs' interior linemen to get out in space. I'm very curious to see how Miller, a rare five year letterman, handles the challenge. This game begins at 7:30 pm ET and will be televised by Versus.

DL Jared Crick, Nebraska: Among the better defensive linemen in the country over the past two seasons, Crick's senior campaign hasn't gone as expected. While his statistics aren't bad (19 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, one blocked kick), he hasn't been the dynamic presence inside that Huskers' fans had grown used to seeing. Crick will be challenged inside in this game by Ohio State's dependable Mike Brewster, one of the better center prospects in the country. However, with Ohio State struggling to score points, this appears to be the type of defensive battle that in which Crick could make an impact. He's slipped down draft boards this season. A big performance in this key Big Ten game could stop the slide quickly. This game begins at 8:00 ET and will be televised by ABC.
 

Jake Locker and his Washington teammates face Nebraska tonight in the Holiday Bowl in what is clearly the most intriguing re-match of the bowl season.

Locker and the Huskies were blown out 56-21 at home by the Cornhuskers on September 18. Locker only completed 4 of 20 passes in the game for 71 yards and a touchdown. He also threw two interceptions in what was the worst performance of his career.

Locker has been better since, engineering upset victories over USC, Oregon State and Cal since and leading Washington to to three consecutive wins to assure the Huskies of their first bowl berth since 2002.

He hasn't been so good, however, to expect the type of performance against Nebraska tonight that should significantly impact his draft stock.

The reality is Washington simply lacks the bulk and talent up front to protect Locker from Nebraska's formidable defensive line, led by junior defensive tackle Jared Crick and senior defensive end Pierre Allen. Making matters even more complicated for Locker, the Huskers boast arguably the best cornerback duo in the country in Prince Amukamara, NFLDraftScout.com's top rated senior prospect at any position, and junior Alfonzo Dennard, a Second Team All-Big 12 pick, who has already announced his intentions to return to Nebraska for his senior season despite the fact that he'd best - at worst - a second round pick in the 2011 draft.

Locker is blessed with a solid receiving corps, including a legitimate NFL talent in junior Jermaine Kearse, but Nebraska has the secondary to force him to look elsewhere. Unfortunately, the Huskies are as reliant on their wide receivers as any team in the country when it comes to the downfield passing game.   Locker has only completed six passes to his tight ends all season long and saw starting tight end Chris Izbicki leave the team following the regular season. His backup, freshman Marlion Barnett, has four catches for 31 yards for his career.

If the Huskies have a chance in this game it will be due to the running of redshirt sophomore running back Chris Polk and Locker. Locker could be very decisive and accurate with the football tonight and still post ugly numbers that will undoubtedly draw criticism from media.

Having spoken to various scouts recently about Locker's stock and the expectations for him vs. Nebraska, their feeling is that Locker's stock isn't likely to go down after this game - even if he struggles just as badly against Nebraska tonight as he did in September. Of course, should Locker surprise Nebraska (and scouts) and performs very well despite the Huskies being overmatched physically at nearly every position, his stock has a chance to rise significantly.

The most likely scenario, however, has Locker and the Huskies again struggling against Nebraska. If Locker is going to re-emerge as a first round guarantee, it will almost surely happen in the next bowl -- the Senior Bowl -- approximately a month from now.

For the very best in NFL draft coverage, the place to go is NFLDraftScout.com

The 2010 season has featured several big conference matchups thus far on Thursday nights, but none bigger than tonight's showdown between two Big 12 unbeatens in Nebraska and Kansas State.

By virtue of their 27-20 victory over conference rival Iowa State a few weeks ago, Kansas State hosts this game in first place over Nebraska in the Big 12 North division. This, despite the fact that the Cornhuskers are currently ranked No. 7 in the country (AP) and boast a sparkling 4-0 record, including an impressive dismantling of Washington in Seattle.

While the Cornhuskers and Wildcats have matching records, there is a significant disparity in talent on the two rosters, which is likely to give Nebraska the win in this contest.

Nebraska's stellar defense features as many NFL prospects as any unit in all of college football. Senior cornerback Prince Amukamara was rated the No. 1 senior prospect in the country regardless of position by NFL scouts heading into the season. The corner playing opposite him, junior Alfonzo Dennard, is playing like a future first round pick, himself. Senior safety Eric Hagg, who at 6-2, 210 pounds has seen snaps at cornerback, both safety positions and even linebacker, is among the more versatile defenders in the Big 12.

On the defensive line, junior defensive tackle Jared Crick is a proven playmaker and senior defensive end Pierre Allen is a rising name in scouting circles this year.

Nebraska's spread option offense helps them put up points quickly. The play of redshirt freshman quarterback Taylor Martinzez is a huge reason why. Michigan's Mr. Versatility Denard Robinson gets so much attention (and deservedly so), but Martinez (with 1,028 all-purpose yards and 10 scores) has been spectacular through the first four games. If wideout/returner Niles Paul played for an offense that featured him, he might be viewed as the top senior receiving prospect in the country. At 6-1, 220 pounds, he boasts an ideal frame and athleticism for the pro game. The Cornhuskers feature some intriguing second-tier NFL prospects on the offensive side of the ball, as well, including running back Roy Helu, tight end/receiver Mike McNeill.

As I mentioned earlier, Kansas State does not boast the talent that Nebraska does. That said, in senior running back Daniel Thomas, they have arguably the top senior running back in the country.

Thomas, 6-2 and 228 pounds, is a former JUCO All-American quarterback, made a splash last year in his first season in the Big 12, earning Offensive Newcomer of the Year with 1,265 rushing yards. Though his height concerns some scouts, there is no denying that Thomas is a natural runner with good vision and balance -- true rarities for backs of his size.

Nebraska's defense is so stout I don't expect Thomas to be particularly effective in this contest. If he is, however, it will unquestionably move his stock that much higher in the eyes of NFL scouts.

Be sure to tune in tonight (ESPN, 7:30 pm EST). I assure you, NFL scouts will be.