Three-Star Checkup: Skill players that had big games in Week 5
Each week during the college football season we’ll use Wednesday as a chance to look back at three former three-star prospects that shined during the previous week’s college football action. This week we look at some unsung recruits who came through in big ways for their teams Saturday.
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As a recruit: McGhee picked up just a handful of offers as a recruit and ended his recruitment nearly a year early, committing to Georgia in February, 2015. Despite the Bulldogs' coaching change in late 2015, McGhee stayed loyal to the Dawgs and signed in 2016.
What he did this week: McGhee spent his first year in Athens working primarily on special teams, but he’s made a big leap in his second year, seeing more playing time and more importantly making more big plays. In Saturday’s blowout victory over Tennessee, the Vols tested McGhee on several occasions but didn’t have much success as he finished the game with four pass deflections. McGhee is now tied for third in the conference with five breakups on the season and is emerging as one of the SEC’s best young cornerbacks.
As a recruit: Concerns over Dortch’s size limited his options on the recruiting trail, as Wake Forest, Iowa State and Maryland were the only Power Five programs to extend offers during the process. The Demon Deacons ended up landing his commitment just prior to the start of his senior season and Dortch stuck with the school until Signing Day.
What he did this week: Dortch spent his first year on campus at Wake Forest redshirting, but he has burst onto the scene in a big way to start 2017. In Saturday’s narrow loss to Florida State, Dortch had a career day, catching 10 passes for 110 yards. While he didn’t get in the end zone on Saturday, he has five touchdowns on the year already and looks poised to have a big career for the Demon Deacons.
As a recruit: Killins collected his share of offers, but the arrival of Scott Frost at UCF from Oregon quickly led to his commitment in December 2015. But just because he committed to the Knights it didn’t stop him from taking other visits, and Iowa State and Syracuse both hosted Killins in January 2016. In the end, the chance to stay close to home and play in UCF’s new offense sealed the deal for the speedster.
What he did this week: Killins saw plenty of playing time as a true freshman but has seen his role grow even more during his sophomore season. In Saturday’s blowout victory over Memphis, Killins rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown, including a 96-yard touchdown run, and also caught five passes for 64 yards and another score. Frost brought the old Oregon offense with him to Orlando, and Killins has done a great job doing his best De’Anthony Thomas impression so far in 2017.