If you’re new to this College Prospects article, the goal is to provide you with the names of the top upcoming 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.
Feel free to reach out on Twitter (X) (@THEtristancook) if you have college prospects you think deserve to be mentioned in next week’s article.
Friday Night College Prospects to Watch
Virginia Tech @ #7 Miami
Friday, 9/27 | 7:30 PM ET | ESPN
Virginia Tech
Kyron Drones | #1 | QB | 2025 | 6’2” | 234 lbs.
This game isn’t expected to be particularly competitive (Miami is nearly a three-touchdown favorite), but if the Hokies are going to make it at all interesting, it will undoubtedly be thanks to their junior quarterback, Kyron Drones. There were high hopes for Drones heading into this season, but he has struggled so far, completing under 60% of his passes, including a season-worst 48.1% last week against Rutgers. Drones is a physically talented player but needs to put it together on the field if he’s going to have a chance at playing in the NFL.
#7 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. Through four games, there may not be a better quarterback in all of college football. His 14 TDs (1st) and 1,439 passing yards (2nd) are among the top in the country and have Ward as the favorite to win the Heisman trophy. 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 caught 6 more passes for 99 receiving yards and a score last week, 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.
Saturday Early College Prospects to Watch
Minnesota @ #12 Michigan
Saturday, 9/28 | 12:00 PM ET | FOX
#12 Michigan
Donovan Edwards | #7 | RB | 2025 | 6’1” | 212 lbs.
I’ll mainly be focused on Donovan Edwards when Michigan has the ball. However, I’ll be watching him closely because he has been one of the biggest fallers down my running back rankings through the opening handful of weeks. He had a fine game statistically last week against USC, but nothing that was particularly exciting. I have dropped him all the way down to RB8 in my 2025 rankings.
Colston Loveland | #18 | TE | 2025 | 6’5” | 245 lbs.
Colston Loveland is the other player to keep your eyes on when the Wolverines are in possession. However, don’t expect an overly impressive statistical performance, as the Michigan offense has struggled this year. Loveland is still the odds-on favorite to be the first tight end taken in the NFL Draft. For dynasty players, his ceiling as a receiving weapon is probably a bit lower than some of the other TE college prospects. However, he has enough talent that he should be on your radar in rookie drafts.
Kentucky @ #6 Ole Miss
Saturday, 9/28 | 12:00 PM ET | ABC
Kentucky
Dane Key | #6 | WR | 2025 | 6’3” | 210 lbs.
The best weapon so far in 2024 for Kentucky has been junior wide receiver, Dane Key. However, the 7 receptions for 145 yards receiving last week against Ohio are more than double his receiving stats through the prior 3 games. Unfortunately for Kentucky, their offense has struggled out of the gate in SEC play.
Through 2 conference games, the Wildcats have scored a total of 18 points. If Kentucky can pull off the upset against #6 Ole Miss this week, Dane Key is going to be a major reason why. He has the physical traits to play outside receiver at the NFL level, but he needs to show them off more consistently at the collegiate level first. I’ll be watching him closely as he could be a late-riser among college prospects if he plays well the rest of the season.
#6 Ole Miss
Jaxson Dart | #2 | QB | 2025 | 6’2” | 225 lbs.
If Miami’s Cam Ward is the favorite for the Heisman, the smart money might be on Mississippi’s Jaxson Dart to take home the trophy. He is leading the country in passing yards and is fourth in passing touchdowns. Dart has seen a massive resurgence in his draft value this year. If he continues to light the world on fire like he’s done through four games, he could be a 1st-round pick in the upcoming draft.
Tre Harris | #9 | WR | 2025 | 6’3” | 210 lbs.
The main target this year for the aforementioned Dart has been fifth-year senior, Tre Harris. He may be a slightly less-known wide receiver college prospects, but I don’t think that will last long. He has tallied 38 receptions for 628 yards receiving so far this season, which are top-3 in the nation in each category.
Harris is another receiver that profiles more as a big-bodied, physical receiving weapon. As of now, I expect Harris to be drafted on the 2nd day of the NFL Draft. However, if he continues this kind of play, he could sneak into the 1st round.
#20 Oklahoma State @ #23 Kansas State
Saturday, 9/28 | 12:00 PM ET | ESPN
#14 Oklahoma State
Ollie Gordon II | #0 | RB | 2025 | 6’2” | 225 lbs.
I think it’s officially panic time for any Ollie Gordon believers out there. Outside of the opening week against South Dakota State, Gordon has yet to eclipse the 50-yard mark in any of his 3 other games. I am still holding out some hope that Gordon will bounce back and recoup some of the value that he’s lost in 2024, but the hope is fading quickly. He entered the season as my RB2 in the 2025 class and has dropped down to RB6 entering this week.
#23 Kansas State
DJ Giddens | #31 | RB | 2025 | 6’1” | 212 lbs.
The main option for the Kansas State offense in 2024 has been their star junior running back, DJ Giddens. Unlike his counterpart in this game, Giddens has looked good through four games. He has the size to be a workhorse back at the NFL level, but he still has a bit to go before he cracks into my top 12 RBs for 2025.
Saturday Afternoon College Prospects to Watch
Colorado @ UCF
Saturday, 9/28 | 3:30 PM ET | FOX
Colorado
Shedeur Sanders | #2 | QB | 2025 | 6’2” | 215 lbs.
If you missed the Baylor @ Colorado game last week, you missed out on one of the greatest ends to a college football game in recent memory. After getting pulverized by the pass rush all game long, Shedeur Sanders uncorked this pass on the final play of regulation to send the game into overtime.
There are some people that have yet to buy in to Shedeur Sanders being one of the top quarterbacks in this class, but at this point, I’m not sure how that’s possible. He is my QB1 and as long as he continues to find ways to win games, he’s going to be at the top of many draft boards.
Travis Hunter | #12 | WR | CB | 2025 | 6’1” | 185 lbs.
Not to be outdone by Sanders, Travis Hunter made a spectacular play of his own in the comeback victory over Baylor. With his back against the goal line, Hunter forced this game-clenching fumble that capped an improbable win for Colorado.
I know that defensive plays don’t score fantasy points for most people out there. But rest assured, Travis Hunter caught 7 passes for 130 yards while playing offense. He currently sits at 4th in the country in receptions, 6th in the country in yards receiving, and 1st in my wide receiver rankings.
UCF
RJ Harvey | #1 | RB | 2025 | 5’9” | 208 lbs.
One of the most intriguing matchups in this game is UCF’s run game against Colorado’s porous run defense. That means we will likely see a heavy dose of senior running back RJ Harvy for the Knights. While I don’t think that Harvey is going to be an early-round draft pick, he could be an interesting value if he finds himself with an opportunity to see the field.
Saturday Evening College Prospects to Watch
Stanford @ #17 Clemson
Saturday, 9/28 | 7:00 PM ET | ESPN
Stanford
Elic Ayomanor | #13 | WR | 2025 | 6’2” | 210 lbs.
Before the chaos in Boulder on Saturday night, the college football world was ogling at this impressive catch by Stanford’s redshirt sophomore receiver, Elic Ayomanor on Friday night.
He burst onto the scene last year, hauling in 62 passes for 1,013 yards, and 3 TDs. If his name sounds familiar, it’s because 13 of those catches, 294 of the yards, and 3 of the TDs came in an epic double-OT comeback win against Travis Hunter and Colorado in primetime. Since then, he’s put up strong numbers and made many impressive contested catches. What his draft future will likely come down to is how well he tests at the NFL Combine and/or his pro day. I think a Day 2 selection is well within the realm of possibility for Ayomanor.
#17 Clemson
Antonio Williams | #0 | WR | 2025 | 5’11” | 190 lbs.
On the Clemson side, there are two players for the 2025 NFL Draft. First, dynamic third-year receiver Antonio Williams has been the top receiving option for the Tigers so far in 2024. After a promising freshman campaign, Williams had his sophomore season cut short due to injury. He has at least one more year of eligibility, but if he continues to lead the Clemson passing attack, I would expect that he’ll declare for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Cade Klubnik | #2 | QB | 2025 | 6’2” | 210 lbs.
There are a few other Clemson players that could be dynasty-relevant come rookie drafts next year (TE Jake Briningstool & WR Adam Randall), but the player that will make or break their draft future is quarterback Cade Klubnik. He has done a ton to rebound his draft stock after a disappointing 2023 season. Klubnik was a highly-touted recruit coming out of high school who is finally putting it all together this year.
#2 Georgia @ #4 Alabama
Saturday, 9/28 | 7:30 PM ET | ABC
#2 Georgia
Carson Beck | #15 | QB | 2025 | 6’4” | 220 lbs.
The biggest game of the week is taking place in Tuscaloosa, AL between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide. This game features two potential first-round quarterbacks amongst a wealth of future NFL players. Georgia’s signal caller, Carson Beck, is the top QB 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 as he does most of his damage from inside the pocket. Beck struggled in his last game against Kentucky, completing only 62.5% of his passes after failing to eclipse the 175 yard passing mark and being held without a touchdown. This Alabama defense is going to be his toughest test of the year, so I’m eager to see how he does. He’s my QB2 behind Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders.
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 this year’s 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 may seem low, 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.
#4 Alabama
Jalen Milroe | #4 | QB | 2025 | 6’2” | 225 lbs.
The other potential first-round quarterback in this game is Alabama’s Jalen Milroe. I spoke about him as one of the biggest risers since the start of the 2024 season on the Dynasty Nerds YouTube channel.
My biggest concern with Milroe is if he can throw the ball effectively enough at the NFL level. Thankfully, we get to see him face one of the best defenses at the collegiate level this week. I still have Milroe as a fringe first-round pick, but if he plays well against Georgia this week, it will be full speed ahead as Milroe continues his ascent up draft boards.
Ryan Williams | #2 | WR | 2027 | 6’0” | 175 lbs.
The top option for Milroe through 3 games has been 17-year-old wide receiver Ryan Williams. He only has 10 receptions on the year but has scored on 4 of them. Alabama has yet to play against a good opponent, so Williams hasn’t been needed for four full quarters.
If you aren’t familiar with him, Williams is one of the most outstanding college prospects that is emerging as the best freshman receiver in the country. He has a long way to go before he’ll be a draft-eligible prospect, but he’s absolutely going to be one of the top receivers in the 2027 class.
#19 Illinois @ #9 Penn State
Saturday, 9/28 | 7:30 PM ET | NBC
#9 Penn State
Nicholas Singleton | #10 | RB | 2025 | 6’0” | 227 lbs.
All of the players I’ll be focused on in this game reside on the Penn State sideline. The top name 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. However, Singleton 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. I’m eager to watch him face off against a better team this week.
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. Allar entered the 2023 season with the hopes of putting himself firmly in the discussion of the top 2025 quarterback college prospects. However, despite having a 25 to 2 touchdown-to-interception ratio, Allar underwhelmed. He failed to complete 60% of his passes and at times looked lost and overwhelmed on the field.
Through 3 games in 2024, Allar has flipped the script. He is completing 70.7% of his passes and has demonstrated excellent anticipation and accuracy. I will have my eye on him this week, and moving forward, to see if he’s playing himself back into the 2025 QB 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 is currently leading the Nittany Lions in all receiving categories, and despite only playing three games, is more than half way to his career bests for receiving stats in a season. We know that tight end is one of the toughest positions to project for college prospects, but I think that Warren can be a weapon.
Saturday Night College Prospects to Watch
Washington State @ #25 Boise State
Saturday, 9/28 | 10:00 PM ET | FS1
#25 Boise State
Ashton Jeanty | #1 | RB | 2025 | 6’0” | 210 lbs.
Once again, if you’re staying up late to watch college football, it should be to watch Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty. He’s coming off his worst game of the season last week against Portland State. However, his “worst” game was 11 carries for 127 yards. It wasn’t that Jeanty played poorly, but rather that Boise State was in command of this game, so he wasn’t needed.
If you aren’t familiar with Jeanty’s game, now is the time to catch up. Assuming he tests well leading up to the draft, it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s the first running back off the board. As of now, he’s my RB2 in the class, but he’s making a strong case for the top spot.
Arizona @ #10 Utah
Saturday, 9/28 | 10:15 PM ET | ESPN
Arizona
Tetairoa McMillan | #4 | WR | 2025 | 6’5” | 212 lbs.
The main attraction in this game is the massive wide receiver out of Arizona, Tetairoa McMillan. He 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. Thankfully, he was back to his dominant ways in Arizona’s last game against Kansas State. McMillan is viewed as the top WR by many people, and it’s easy to see why. I have him slightly lower (WR2), but I still really like McMillan as a prospect.
#10 Utah
Brandt Kuithe | #80 | TE | 2025 | 6’2” | 236 lbs.
One of the more unique prospects in this class is Utah’s Brandt Kuithe. He has been a dynamic receiving option for the Utes for quite some time. His first season in Salt Lake City was all the way back in 2018. Yes, you read that right. That means that 2024 is Kuithe’s 7th season in college. But, that’s not what makes him so unique.
He plays TE for the Utes but at 6’2, 236 pounds, he is quite undersized for the NFL (the closest size comparison is Evan Engram at 6’3”, 240lbs.) I think he could be a sneaky value if he ends up on a team that utilizes him well. He’s been the top receiving option for Utah this season, and I expect more of that this week.
#8 Oregon @ UCLA
Saturday, 9/28 | 10:30 PM ET | FOX
#8 Oregon
Evan Stewart | #7 | WR | 2025 | 6’0” | 175 lbs.
Another one of the biggest fallers through the opening handful of weeks 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 been outperformed by fellow college prospects Tez Johnson and Terrance Ferguson.
I had Stewart as my WR1 heading into the season, but he’s now hanging onto a top-5 ranking by a thread. If this continues, I think it’s more likely that he returns for the 2025 season with future college prospects 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.
