If you’re new to this article, the goal is to provide you with the names of the top college prospects in nationally televised college football games. It’s never too early to take a look forward. Who will be the sleepers of upcoming rookie drafts? Check back here every week as you get ready to watch each game.
Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6
Feel free to reach out on Twitter (X) @THEtristancook if you have players you think deserve to be mentioned in next week’s article.
Friday Night College Prospects to Watch
Michigan State @ #6 Oregon
Friday, 10/4 | 9:00 PM ET | FOX
Michigan State
Aidan Chiles | #2 | QB | 2026 | 6’3” | 217 lbs.
It has been an inconsistent start to his first year at Michigan State for the former Oregon State transfer, Aidan Chiles. After struggling in the opener against Florida Atlantic, he bounced back nicely against Maryland and Prairie View A&M. Unfortunately for Chiles, the struggles returned over the last two weeks. He has shown glimpses of excellence but hasn’t been able to sustain for long.
There was a lot of excitement surrounding Chiles and this program heading into the season, but it has faded of late. Chiles has the tools to get in the early-QB discussion whenever he comes out, but right now he’s just a player to monitor.
#6 Oregon
Evan Stewart | #7 | WR | 2025 | 6’0” | 175 lbs.
The biggest faller to date is Oregon’s Evan Stewart. The former Texas A&M wide receiver has struggled to find his role in this offense with Dillon Gabriel. In fact, he’s 4th in receiving on his own team. I had Stewart as my WR1 heading into the season, but he’s now in free-fall in my rankings. I think it’s more likely that he returns for the 2025 season than he declares for the NFL Draft.
Terrance Ferguson | #3 | TE | 2025 | 6’5” | 255 lbs.
As I’ve mentioned, it’s difficult to project the tight end position at the NFL level. One player that has the physical traits and has demonstrated an impressive receiving ability is Terrance Ferguson. Often what we see with the TE position is that the athletic testing numbers really shape the top of the positional rankings.
I think Ferguson could hear his name late on the second night of the NFL Draft if he can impress the rest of the season.
Saturday Early College Prospects to Watch
#9 Missouri @ #25 Texas A&M
Saturday, 10/5 | 12:00 PM ET | ABC
#9 Missouri
Luther Burden III | #3 | WR | 2025 | 5’11” | 208 lbs.
Missouri has a pair of wide receivers that will be drafted this year. While both are worthy of our attention, Luther Burden III is in the conversation as the top WR in the class. As such, there aren’t many holes in his profile. He is exceptional with the ball in his hands after the catch. His combination of speed and quickness, along with the versatility to line up all over the field, make him incredibly difficult to guard.
I expect Burden to be taken in the first round of the NFL draft and early in the first round of dynasty rookie drafts.
Theo Wease Jr. | #1 | WR | 2025 | 6’2” | 192 lbs.
The other player on the Tigers is a name you may know from watching college football over the last handful of years. Theo Wease Jr. is actually in his sixth collegiate season. He has struggled to stay on the field dealing with a myriad of injuries over the years.
He’s coming off his best season in college in 2023 and should be drafted sometime on the final day of the NFL Draft.
#25 Texas A&M
Noah Thomas | #3 | WR | 2025 | 6’6” | 200 lbs.
The player I will be most focused on when Texas A&M has the ball is their third-year receiver Noah Thomas. At 6‘6“, Thomas is hard to miss when he’s on the field. He is one of the few remaining high-ranking college prospects on the Texas A&M roster (after the mass exodus over the last year) and has become a focal point of this offense.
He may end up coming back for his senior season, but could be drafted on Day 2 whenever he declares.
UCLA @ #7 Penn State
Saturday, 10/5 | 12:00 PM ET | FOX
UCLA
J. Michael Sturdivant | #7 | WR | 2025 | 6’3” | 205 lbs.
There aren’t many top-tier college prospects on the field for the Bruins, but one name to know is J. Michael Sturdivant. It was a bit of a head-scratcher when he decided to return to college at the end of the 2023 season. It’s hard to say if that decision has done anything to help him as he’s still likely going to be a mid-round-pick in the NFL draft.
However, as a former highly-touted recruit, Sturdivant is worth remembering as he could be a value pick in rookie drafts.
#7 Penn State
Nicholas Singleton | #10 | RB | 2025 | 6’0” | 227 lbs.
One of the top names for 2025 rookie drafts is running back Nicholas Singleton. He came to Penn State as one of the best running back recruits in the nation and immediately made an impact, rushing for over 1,000 yards in his freshman season. Last year was a little disappointing based on the sky-high expectations, as he only ran for 752 yards.
Singleton has demonstrated his ability as a receiver out of the backfield, catching 26 passes. I have him slotted as my RB4 right now as I expect Singleton to destroy the NFL Combine.
Drew Allar | #15 | QB | 2025 | 6’5” | 238 lbs.
Similar to his teammate, Drew Allar is looking to have a better season in 2024 than he did in 2023. Through 4 games in 2024, Allar has rebounded his draft stock quite nicely. He is completing 70.9% of his passes so far but hasn’t been asked to carry the offense at any point so far. When Allar does throw the ball, he has demonstrated excellent anticipation and accuracy.
I will have my eye on him this week, and moving forward, to see if he continues playing himself up the list in the 2025 quarterback discussion.
Tyler Warren | #44 | TE | 2025 | 6’6” | 257 lbs.
There’s one more player that I’m going to focus on in this game and that is the massive tight end, Tyler Warren. He has been an explosive weapon and is leading the Nittany Lions in all receiving categories and was featured in Matthew Mitchell’s stock up/down article earlier this week.
We know that tight end is one of the toughest positions to project to the NFL level, but I think that Warren can be an impact tight end.
Saturday Afternoon College Prospects to Watch
Iowa @ #3 Ohio State
Saturday, 10/5 | 3:30 PM ET | CBS
Iowa
Kaleb Johnson | #2 | RB | 2025 | 6’0” | 225 lbs.
If not for Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, the story of the year would be the dominant start by Kaleb Johnson. His 685 yards rushing (2nd) and 9 touchdowns (3rd) are among the best in the country and have helped Iowa to a 3-1 start.
Johnson may not be the NFL prospect of Jeanty or some of the other top-tier running backs, but he’s playing his way up draft boards and should be on your rookie draft boards as a value pick.
Luke Lachey | #85 | TE | 2025 | 6’6” | 247 lbs.
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but there’s a tight end prospect that you should know from the University of Iowa. Perhaps something that is surprising is that Lachey only has 12 receptions and 97 yards receiving through the first 4 games.
We are used to seeing Iowa feature their TEs, but whether or not he puts up big numbers on the stat sheet—I expect him to put up big numbers on Sundays in the future. Lachey is currently my TE2.
#3 Ohio State
TreVeyon Henderson | #32 | RB | 2025 | 5’10” | 208 lbs.
The top 2025 prospect on Ohio State’s roster is senior running back, TreVeyon Henderson. However, he is nowhere near the only elite prospect on this team. I have been a supporter of Henderson as the RB1 for Ohio State, as well as the RB1 in the 2025 class. However, after the dominant start to the season, the aforementioned Ashton Jeanty has claimed the top spot.
I believe that while Henderson may not be putting up massive numbers for Ohio State, his game will transfer well to the next level.
Quinshon Judkins | #1 | RB | 2025 | 6’0” | 219 lbs.
Judkins is the other player in Ohio State’s backfield that is deserving of your attention. Many people have Judkins as the better draft prospect, including ESPN’s Mel Kiper, who has Judkins as RB3 in his most recent positional rankings. The reality is that Judkins and Henderson are very different styles of running backs. It is going to depend greatly on what kind of scheme they get drafted into and what kind of role they are asked to play.
Emeka Egbuka | #2 | WR | 2025 | 6’1” | 205 lbs.
The last 2025 draft-eligible player for OSU is Emeka Egbuka. My biggest concern with Egbuka is if he’ll make it through the entire season without missing time due to injury. His talent has never been a question. He may not be a top-tier WR, but he should be drafted on Day 2 of the NFL Draft.
Egbuka’s role as a slot receiver that can step in on the first day and contribute at the next level seems well-defined. What I want to know is if he can stay healthy and test well. Egbuka is in my second tier of wideouts right now as my WR4.
Jeremiah Smith | #4 | WR | 2027 | 6’3” | 215 lbs.
The last player to mention for the Buckeyes is their freshman phenom, Jeremiah Smith. He’s been the most exciting player on the field for OSU so far, continuing his impressive start to his collegiate career.
I am eager to watch the battle between Alabama’s Ryan Williams and Smith for the WR1 spot in the 2027 class.
Auburn @ #5 Georgia
Saturday, 10/5 | 3:30 PM ET | ABC
#5 Georgia
Carson Beck | #15 | QB | 2025 | 6’4” | 220 lbs.
Georgia’s signal caller, Carson Beck, is the top quarterback on many people’s draft boards, and he certainly looks the part. At 6’4”, Beck is the most physically imposing of the top-tier QBs in this class. He is a much more traditional QB prospect in that he does most of his damage from inside the pocket.
After a brutal start to the game last week, Beck almost completed a monumental comeback but fell just short. I still have him as my QB2, but he’s now closer to QB3 than he is QB1.
Trevor Etienne | #1 | RB | 2025 | 5’9” | 205 lbs.
Year after year, Georgia has a stable of talented running backs, and this year is no different. The top 2025-eligible player in that group is Trevor Etienne. If that name sounds familiar, it could be because he was an explosive weapon last year for the University of Florida, or because his older brother Travis Etienne plays for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Trevor Etienne currently ranks as my RB11 in this class. That kind of ranking may sound bad, but the depth of talent in this year’s class is massive. So, despite being outside my top 10, he could still be an impact player at the NFL level.
#12 Ole Miss @ South Carolina
Saturday, 10/5 | 3:30 PM ET | ESPN
#12 Ole Miss
Jaxson Dart | #2 | QB | 2025 | 6’2” | 225 lbs.
I am very eager to see how Jaxson Dart is going to look against South Carolina. He had a very pedestrian performance in the surprising loss to Kentucky last week, completing 66.7% of his passes and only throwing for one score. Dart had been on a tear, and I expect him to respond with a big week against the Gamecocks.
Tre Harris | #9 | WR | 2025 | 6’3” | 210 lbs.
The main target this year for Dart has been fifth-year senior wide receiver, Tre Harris. He may be a slightly less-known wide receiver in this class, but I don’t think that will last long. He is leading the country in receiving yards. Harris profiles more as a big-bodied, physical receiving weapon.
Despite his team’s struggle last week, Harris continued his dominance, putting up 176 receiving yards on 11 receptions. As of now, I expect Harris to be drafted on the second day of the NFL Draft. However, if he continues this kind of play, he could sneak into the first round.
South Carolina
Raheim Sanders | #5 | RB | 2025 | 6’0” | 230 lbs. | INJURED
The player I’ll be watching (if he’s healthy enough to play is Raheim Sanders. My biggest worry for Sanders is his health as he has struggled with injuries for the last couple seasons. The talent has shown in flashes, but he always seems to be dealing with one thing or another. If Sanders plays, he should be the focal point of the offense. If not, the questions about his durability will get louder.
Saturday Evening College Prospects to Watch
#4 Tennessee @ Arkansas
Saturday, 10/5 | 7:30 PM ET | ABC
#4 Tennessee
Nico Iamaleava | #8 | QB | 2026 | 6’6” | 215 lbs.
The player I’m most eager to watch in this game is second-year quarterback, Nico Iamaleava. There was a lot of excitement when Iamaleava committed to the Vols and we are starting to see glimpses of why.
Iamaleava hasn’t lit up the stat sheet the way that many people expected and hoped that he would, but Iamaleava has shown some of the traits that made him one of the top-ranked QB recruits in the country. He is a player to watch heading into 2025 and beyond.
Arkansas
Ja’Quinden Jackson | #22 | RB | 2025 | 6’2” | 233 lbs.
The fate of the Razorbacks will likely fall on the back of their senior running back, Ja’Quinden Jackson. After an explosive start to the 2024 season, Jackson has slowed down over his last two games, rushing for 112 yards on 32 attempts.
Jackson has been able to find the end zone in each game so far. If he’s going to give Arkansas a chance at a massive upset and give himself a chance at NFL relevance, Jackson will need to put on a show.
Saturday Night College Prospects to Watch
#8 Miami @ California
Saturday, 10/5 | 10:30 PM ET | ESPN
#8 Miami
Cam Ward | #1 | QB | 2025 | 6’2” | 223 lbs.
One of the biggest risers in the early part of the 2024 season is Miami’s Cam Ward. Despite a bit of a scare against Virginia Tech last week, Cam Ward and the Miami Hurricanes kept their unblemished season alive. Ward was able to show off his strong arm, timely rushing skills, and playmaking ability during the primetime win. I have him as my QB4 currently but he is firmly in the top tier of QBs in this class.
Xavier Restrepo | #7 | WR | 2025 | 5’10” | 198 lbs.
One of Ward’s top receiving options this year has been Xavier Restrepo. He had another steady performance last week, hauling in 5 receptions for 60 receiving yards, adding to his team leading numbers. Restrepo is likely going to start as a slot receiver at the NFL level, and should excel. He is quick in and out of his breaks and shifty with the ball in his hands after the catch.
If he goes to a team that likes to target the slot often, I’ll be very eager to draft Restrepo in rookie drafts. I expect Restrepo to be drafted on the second day of the NFL Draft or early on Day 3.
California
Jaydn Ott | #1 | RB | 2025 | 6’0” | 210 lbs.
Another of the college prospects that is looking to get his season back on track after an underwhelming start is California’s Jaydn Ott. He had a breakout season in 2023, rushing for over 1,300 yards for the Bears. Unfortunately for Ott, he’s averaging an abysmal 3.3 yards per rush through 3 games.
I’m not sure that this week is the game where we see that change, but I do believe that better days are ahead.
Texas Tech @ Arizona
Saturday, 10/5 | 11:00 PM ET | FOX
Texas Tech
Tahj Brooks | #28 | RB | 2025 | 5’10” | 230 lbs.
For the late, late, late night crowd, this matchup features a couple of players that carry the offensive burden on their backs. For Texas Tech that player is fifth-year running back Tahj Brooks. After nearly hitting 300 carries (for 1,541 rushing yards) in 2023, Brooks is on track for another monster workload in 2024.
Brooks’ 103 carries are the 2nd-highest in the country and he’s only played 4 games. I expect the offense to run through Brooks once again.
Arizona
Tetairoa McMillan | #4 | WR | 2025 | 6’5” | 212 lbs.
The main attraction in this game is once again the monster weapon at wide receiver out of Arizona, Tetairoa McMillan. He has been a bit of a yo-yo performer this year. “Tet” exploded in the opening game, going for 304 receiving yards and 4 scores on 10 receptions. Yes, you read that right. McMillan averaged 30.4 yards per catch. He followed that massive game with a dreadful 2-reception, 11-yard performance in a low scoring game against Northern Arizona.
Then, he was back to his dominant ways against Kansas State, tallying 11 receptions for 138 yards. Last week, he was quiet once again, only catching 6 passes for 50 yards. McMillan is viewed as the top WR by many people but I have him slightly lower (WR2) than most, but I still really like McMillan as a prospect.
If you are interested in other college prospect articles, check out senior Nerd Matthew Mitchell’s Stock Up/Stock Down on 6 different players of note:
