Each season, we in the dynasty community get a wonderful preview of the talent that’s about to enter the NFL. College football is one of the most entertaining sports because it combines the exciting thrill of the game we all know and love with a type of rivalry and pageantry that the NFL simply cannot match. We here at Dynasty Nerds want to provide our readers with a preview of the NFL Draft prospects they will see in their rookie drafts over the next couple of years.
The best dynasty managers are the most prepared. To that end, we will bring you a series of articles that highlight some of the biggest names in the college game. So, this article will focus on NFL Draft prospects whose stock is up and NFL Draft prospects who have seen a dip. Our hope is that you will get to know these players throughout the process. In doing so, you will be lightyears ahead of the competition when it comes to your future rookie drafts.
NFL Draft Prospects | Stock Up
Cameron Skattebo | #4 | Arizona State | RB | 2025 | 5’11” | 215 lbs.
The 2025 NFL rookie running back class looks absolutely loaded at this point. Names like Ashton Jeanty, Quinshon Judkins, Nicholas Singleton, and many more have been on the radar for years. However, the emergence of Cameron Skattebo is becoming increasingly harder to ignore. The senior out of Arizona State has been ripping up his competition. This past Friday, in a late-night prime time matchup with the No. 16 Utah Utes, he exploded for yet another studly game with 22 carries for 158 yards and 2 TDs! But wait, there’s more! He also chipped in 4 catches for an additional 41 yards all while making explosive plays like the one below.
Many analysts have questioned Skattebo’s ability to translate his game to the next level. He is fast enough but lacks an overdrive gear to help him pull away from elite defenders he will see at the next level. However, as you can see from the clip above, he has adequate speed to rip off 50-yard plays in major college football.
His low center of gravity allows him to run with excellent power. He has incredible contact balance which is aided by his shorter stature. Furthermore, he is an excellent receiver out of the backfield where he is currently the second leading receiver on ASU with 19 catches for 250 yards to compliment his superb rushing totals of 133 totes for 773 yards and 8 TDs. Presently, his stock is firmly pointed up and you should keep an eye on this unique prospect as the rest of the season progresses.
NFL Draft Prospects | Stock Up
Luke Altmyer | #9 | Illinois | QB | 2025 | 6’2″ | 205 lbs.
Many of the people who read this article will not know much about Illinois QB Luke Altmyer. So, let me introduce him. The junior signal-caller has been one of the major catalysts for the resurgence of an Illini program that has been dormant for some time. Heading into the October 12th matchup with the Big-10 Rival Purdue Boilermakers, Altmyer had thrown for an impressive 11 TDs against a single Int. This weekend the captain exploded for 379 passing yards and 3 passing TDs. This went along with an equally impressive 10 carries for 60 yards and a further rushing TD.
Sure, Purdue isn’t currently one of the best teams in the nation, but whenever your QB puts up over 400 total yards of offense and 4 TDs I will take note. Altmyer currently has Illinois in the top 25 and primed for some big games down the stretch. With 11 total TDs and a single turnover, Altmyer is playing some of the cleanest football in the nation. Be sure to keep an eye on this kid as the season unfolds. He could be a name to file away in your Superflex leagues.
Dylan Sampson | #6 | Tennessee | RB | 2025 | 5’11” | 201 lbs.
When a big-time running back has a last name like Sampson, you know he has to be good. The Tennessee junior has been one of the better RBs in the SEC this season. He has helped power a resurgent Volunteers program to the forefront of the best conference in college football. This past weekend, Tennessee called on their star tailback to power the team to a conference victory over the rival Florida Gators. In this contest, Sampson was the man, carrying the ball 27 times for 112 and 3 TDs! You can see his overtime game-winner below.
Sampson currently sits second in the SEC in rushing yards with 587 yards. He also has a robust 14 total TDs on the season. In a class that is absolutely loaded at the RB position, it would be a curious decision for the Volunteers star RB to leave school early. Nevertheless, you absolutely must pay attention to this kid. He is stacking big games early and often in 2024 and his arrow is firmly pointed up.
Tyler Warren | #44 | Penn State | TE | 2025 | 6’6″ | 257 lbs.
Now, ordinarily, I will avoid naming a player in consecutive weeks for this series. However, after the game that Penn State tight end Tyler Warren just had against USC, I could not make it through the week without at least making mention of his performance. So, this week we get a bonus stock up as Warren has ascended to my TE1 in the entire class. This was after he threw down an amazing 17 catches for 224 yards and a TD!
Having scored as a passer, rusher, and receiver there is very little that Warren cannot do on a college football field. When you combine his versatility with the ability to put up massive games like the one he had this week I see very little reason not to push him past Michigan’s Colston Loveland as my top TE in the class. I would fully expect Warren to be a finalist for the Mackey Award as the top tight end in the nation. For my money, he is currently the frontrunner for the prestigious award. His arrow continues to point straight up.
NFL Draft Prospects | Stock Down
Jalen Milroe | #4 | Alabama | QB | 2025 | 6’2” | 225 lbs.
It is never easy to call out young kids for struggling in the college ranks. Nevertheless, this past week Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe struggled to lead the Crimson Tide in a difficult game with a fired up South Carolina squad. The talented QB threw a pair of interceptions and averaged only 2.0 YPC on his 18 carries in the game. Now, thankfully for Milroe and Alabama, they did win the game on the heels of his 2 rushing TDs and single passing TD.
Milroe has the raw physical talent to take Alabama back to the promised land. However, this performance, on the heels of a dramatic loss to perennial conference cellar dweller Vanderbilt, has his arrow pointed down. With a big game on tap against No. 8 Tennessee at Rocky Top, Milroe will have an opportunity to immediately flip the switch with a big game. Keep an eye on how Milroe responds to these back-to-back difficult contests but as things currently stand his stock is down a bit.
Denzel Boston | #12 | Washington | WR | 2025 | 6’4” | 209 lbs.
The Washington Huskies football program has endured a difficult 2024 after last season’s mega success. The program lost their head coach, quarterback, and a slew of playmakers including three high-end WRs in Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan, and Ja’Lynn Polk. Denzel Boston was supposed to be the next big thing at UW. He has had a nice start to the season statistically despite his team’s struggles in the win-and-loss department. This past Saturday, both areas were a struggle as Washington took a tough loss to Iowa while Boston saw his numbers take a marked dip, setting season lows in both catches and yards with a 5/48/1 stat line.
Now there were some positives to take away for Boston including his nice over-the-shoulder TD catch you can see above. He very well could be the next big Washington WR when he is eligible to come out in 2026. This wasn’t exactly a total disaster but you would like to see a little bit more in a game where his team trailed for the majority of the contest and attempted 50 total passes. Brighter days are ahead for Boston but after this week his stock takes a little bit of a dip.
Quinshon Judkins | #1 | Ohio State | RB | 2025 | 6’0″ | 219 lbs.
Judkins is another player that I fully expect to have a fantastic season and enter the 2025 NFL draft as one of the highly-ranked NFL Draft prospects. However, after this performance against the Oregon Ducks, Judkins finds his stock taking a weekly downturn. Steve Smith once famously said, “Big-time players make big plays in big games.” Ohio State looked to their new RB to make some of those big plays in No.2 Buckeyes matchup against No.3 ranked Oregon. However, Judkins fumbled the ball, literally and metaphorically. Quinshon had 11 carries for just 23 yards and a TD to go along with 2 catches for 38 yards. The most costly though was the fumble you see below.
In a game decided by the smallest of margins, turnovers are critical. You cannot put the ball on the turf. To make matters worse for Judkins, his teammate TreVeyon Henderson had a nice game running for 87 yards on just 10 carries. With the new expanded playoff system and matchups yet with Penn State and Michigan, there is certainly plenty of time for Judkins to get back on the horse and turn things around. That being said, his poor performance this week has his arrow pointed down and his stock along with it.
NFL Draft Prospects in Action
#6 Miami @ Louisville
Saturday 10/17 | 12:00 PM ET | ESPN
#6 Miami | NFL Draft Prospects
Cam Ward | #1 | QB | 2025 | 6’2” | 223 lbs.
Cam Ward leads one of the most high-powered passing attacks in the nation. The Hurricanes’ senior signal caller is averaging 370 passing yards and 3 TDs per game in 2024. He is big and physical, bringing nice athleticism along with NFL arm talent. He will be on the shortlist for a number of major awards at the end of the season.
Over the past couple of weeks, Ward has been put to the test. He has led the Hurricanes to a pair of single-digit victories. While Louisville has struggled this season, they have played decent pass defense. The Cardinals only give up 217 passing yards per game on the season. They have also allowed less than one TD per game to opposing QBs. This should be a nice matchup for Ward as he seeks to keep the Hurricanes firmly in the hunt for a conference title and a playoff bid.
Xavier Restrepo | #7 | WR | 2025 | 5’10” | 198 lbs.
Miami’s top WR Xavier Restrepo has the looks of a dynamic slot man at the next level. Coming off of the best season of his career, finishing with an impressive 85/1,092/6 stat line. However, this year he has increased his yards per catch to an impressive 18.3. His matchup against the Cardinals’ secondary should be one to watch.
Last week was Restrepo’s best game of the season when he torched the California Golden Bears for 7 catches and 163 yards. Virginia’s Malachi Fields showed last week that the Louisville defense could be chewed up by a top-level WR when he went for 9 catches for 129 yards. Keep an eye on Restrepo as he will be crucial to the Miami efforts.
#7 Alabama @ #11 Tennessee
Saturday 10/17 | 3:30 PM ET | ESPN
#7 Alabama | NFL Draft Prospects
Jalen Milroe | #4 | QB | 2025 | 6’2” | 225 lbs.
This could be a major watershed game for the talented Alabama QB. Playing on the road in Tennessee is never an easy task. The fans and students at Rocky Top will surely offer up an amazing atmosphere and put real pressure on the Crimson Tide offense. Milroe played his best game of the season against a tough Georgia defense earlier in the year so it will be interesting to see which version of Jalen we get in this game.
Jalen Milroe and the Alabama offense will enter Week 8 looking for some answers. They have struggled in back-to-back weeks against teams they would normally handle. Last week was Milroe’s worst game of the season as he threw for only 209 yards, 1 TD, and 2 Ints. He also took 4 sacks on the day killing a number of drives along the way. He managed to salvage his day with a pair of rushing TDs but struggled on the round overall taking 18 carries for only 36 yards.
Ryan Williams | #2 | WR | 2027 | 6’0” | 175 lbs.
Ryan Williams has been a revelation for the Crimson Tide offense. While a number of talented pass catchers have passed through Tuscaloosa over the years, Williams is on his way to breaking every major freshman record in the school’s storied history. He is absolutely chasing Calvin Ridley’s 1,045 in 2015.
Williams will also be coming into this pivotal matchup with Tennessee on the heels of his worst game of the year. He struggled against South Carolina last week, managing a meager 4 catches for 32 yards. In the one game that Tennessee lost this season, they were beaten up by Arkansas WR Andrew Armstrong to the tune of 9 catches and 132 yards. So, Williams will have a matchup that he can make some noise against. Keep an eye on how the youngster plays in this one.
#11 Tennessee | NFL Draft Prospects
Nico Iamaleava | #8 | QB | 2027 | 6’6” | 215 lbs.
Tennessee will bring their own big-time QB into this contest in the person of Nico Iamaleava. The freshman monster has the Volunteers back in the spotlight of the powerhouse SEC conference. While he hasn’t put up the gaudy numbers you would like to see, you have to keep in mind that he is a freshman and will have a number of years to develop and grow. He has done a fantastic job of leading the team to a number of quality victories.
The once vaunted Alabama defense has allowed some decent games to Diego Pavia of Vanderbilt and LaNorris Sellers of South Carolina over the last two weeks. Therefore, this tells me there is a chance that Iamaleava will have a decent game. He will have an absolute opportunity to pull an upset. Keep an eye on this kid as he will have a major impact on this game.
Dylan Sampson | #6 | RB | 2026 | 5’11” | 201 lbs.
Dylan Sampson might just be the best running back you haven’t heard about. If he left school early, Sampson would be in one of the most loaded RB classes in recent memory. However, despite his lower profile, he is without question one of the best RBs in the nation. He has already set single-season career highs across the board. Sampson currently leads the entire SEC in both rushing yards and TDs with a 118/699/15 stat line.
Sampson has been a consistent performer for the Tennessee offense. He has rushed for over 100 yards in all but one game, where he still ran for 92 yards. He is coming off another monster performance against Florida where he ran for 112 yards and 3 TDs. Look for his matchup against the front 7 of Alabama to be a critical factor in the outcome of this contest. Definitely pay attention to this talented runner and track his potential entry into the upcoming NFL Draft.
Colorado @ Arizona
Saturday 10/17 | 4:00 PM ET | FOX
Colorado | NFL Draft Prospects
Shedeur Sanders | #2 | QB | 2025 | 6’2” | 215 lbs.
Shedeur Sanders is one of the most high-profile names in all of college football. The son of Head Coach Deion Sanders, Shedeur has had some notable big games in 2024. As a graduate of multiple HBCUs myself, it has been a treat to watch this kid translate his game from the SWAC to the Big 12. Some think of Shedeur Sanders as the top QB among the 2025 NFL Draft prospects.
Sanders has been a prolific passer this year. Last week, against a tough Kansas State squad, he managed to throw for 388 yards and 3 TDs. Despite playing in several shootouts this season, Sanders has maintained a relatively clean ledger only throwing 4 INTs. Arizona has given up quite a few points this season and Sanders will be looking at yet another shootout in this one. If you haven’t yet watched him this year, do yourself a favor and check him out. On Day 1 of the NFL Draft this coming spring, he will almost certainly hear his name called.
Travis Hunter | #12 | WR | CB | 2026 | 6’1” | 185 lbs.
Travis Hunter is a legitimate reason to watch a Colorado Buffaloes football game all by himself. It is a rare thing indeed to watch a player excel at such a high level on both sides of the ball. Hunter might be the best corner in the entire nation. But wait, there’s more, as he is also the leading pass catcher on Colorado, with 49 catches for 587 yards and 6 TDs. Last week he was banged up against Kansas State after taking a hit to the shoulder but appears good to go for this one.
You will get a chance to watch this unicorn play both sides of the ball in an extremely intriguing matchup with fellow WR Tetairoa McMillan. There has been some interesting discussion about Hunter’s chances of winning the Heisman Trophy in 2024. Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty is the other frontrunner. If Hunter can shut down McMillan, who is one of the top WRs in the nation, it will go a long way to bolstering his Heisman resume. Keep an eye on him in this pivotal matchup.
Arizona | NFL Draft Prospects
Tetairoa McMillan | #4 | WR | 2026 | 6’5” | 212 lbs.
Arizona’s WR Tetairoa McMillan has been one of the absolute best pass catchers in the nation this season. From his otherworldly 300-yard game against New Mexico, to his big games against Kansas State and Texas Tech, he has put up some truly impressive performances this year. Many analysts have him as the top pass catcher in the upcoming NFL draft.
McMillan will be in line to compete against the aforementioned Travis Hunter in this game. When these two 1st Round prospects line up on each other, it will be must-see TV for any dynasty or football enthusiast. Colorado has struggled to keep their opponents off the scoreboard this year so I do expect Arizona to find ways to get McMillan the ball in this one. Unless Hunter shadows him, he will have an opportunity to put up some nice stats. If Hunter does shadow him, it will be one of the best WR/CB matchups you will see all year.
#5 Georgia @ #1 Texas
Saturday 10/17 | 7:30 PM ET | ESPN
#5 Georgia | NFL Draft Prospects
Carson Beck | #15 | QB | 2025 | 6’4” | 220 lbs.
Carson Beck is considered by some to be the top QB in the 2025 class. If you are looking for a prototypical drop-back pocket passer, this is your guy. He is huge and has an excellent arm. In a game against the Longhorns’ outstanding defense, it will be interesting to see how Beck performs. If he wants to be in consideration for the top QB of the class, he will need to put up a good game in this one.
Over the past three games, Beck has been on a tear throwing for 8 TDs against conference foes Alabama, Auburn, and Mississippi State. However, despite his impressive TD total, Beck has been somewhat careless with the ball throwing 5 INTs across those same games. This will be one of the best games of the season. Tune in to see how the Georgia offense matches up with the Texas defense.
Trevor Etienne | #1 | RB | 2026 | 5’9” | 205 lbs.
Trevor Etienne is another big part of the Bulldogs offense. The transfer from the University of Florida has been on the cusp of a breakout performance of late. He has put up some nice numbers but has yet to put forth a 100-yard, marquee performance type of game. The Longhorns have been very stout against the run thus far in 2024. This will be an interesting matchup to watch.
Etienne, the brother of Jacksonville Jaguars’ RB Travis Etienne, offers a nice dual skill set. While he hasn’t had a breakout performance yet in 2024 he has been a consistent weapon in the passing game over the last couple of weeks. In Georgia’s last two games against Mississippi State and Auburn, he has put up at least 6 catches in each contest. This shows the team’s commitment to getting him the ball in space. Georgia will need him to have a big game in this one if they hope to compete on the road at Texas.
#1 Texas | NFL Draft Prospects
Quinn Ewers | #3 | QB | 2025 | 6’2” | 210 lbs.
Texas QB Quinn Ewers is a divisive prospect. Some believe he is among the top signal callers in the draft class. Others question how well his game will translate to the next level. No matter what you think of his ability to take his game to the next level, he has certainly helped steer the Longhorns back to national prominence. Last week, he helped lead Texas to a dominant victory over their bitter rival, the Oklahoma Sooners.
This one will be yet another marquee matchup for Ewers and the Longhorns. Last week, he shook off the rust against the Sooners. Look for him to put his stamp on the 2024 season in this game. Both he and Carson Beck will be looking to impress the scouts who will assuredly be in the stands for this contest.
Look for him to get the ball to Isaiah Bond and company early and often. Georgia has been a great team this season but they have allowed some numbers in the passing game. Last week, they gave up 306 passing yards and 3 TDs to Mississippi State QB Michael Van Buren Jr. Look for Ewers to make headway against the same defensive unit.
Isaiah Bond | #7 | WR | 2026 | 5’11” | 180 lbs.
If Quinn Ewers is going to have a good game against Georgia this weekend, he will need to get a big performance out of his star wide receiver, Isaiah Bond. The Alabama transfer has made his presence felt this year despite not putting up the biggest of numbers. He has seen a noticeable uptick in his yards per catch, putting up a career high 17.6 mark. He is an explosive playmaker with the ability to blow past defenders at any given moment.
The big question for Bond in this one will be health. The talented receiver missed the second half of last week’s game against Oklahoma with an ankle injury. Early indications out of Austin are that Bond will play in this pivotal SEC matchup. If he does play look for Bond and Ewers to re-establish the connection that looked to be blossoming before Ewers went out with his own injury. This game will certainly be a must-see, prime-time college football contest.
Our senior writer Tristan Cook has his full 2025 NFL Draft Prospects available below:
