As we inch closer to NFL and Seattle Seahawks football, the closer we are to college football as well. As an all around football fan that obsesses over the draft, this is such an exciting time, as I begin my scouting process that will go all the way up to the 2026 draft. This season is shaping up to be a wild one for fans, as it could be one of the more wide open title races in years.

It is also shaping up to be a better overall class than last season, with potentially a generationally deep class for the trenches, a deep and unique quarterback class, and one of the best secondary prospects the league has ever seen come into the draft. This should be a special 2025 season, and with that, I have the top 25 (draft-eligible) players to watch this fall.

Honorable Mention:

Nico Iamaleava QB Ten…UCLA: I couldn’t discuss this list without acknowledging arguably the biggest story of the summer. Iamaleava, a projected first round pick on a loaded Volunteers squad, overplayed his NIL hand, and essentially left (forced out?) Knoxville and came west to UCLA. The Bruins have nowhere near the level of talent that resides at Tennessee, and Nico’s CFP playoff tape was concerning to say the least. Can he bounce back in a new environment, or will this awkward divorce derail a promising prospect?

No. 25 Sam Leavitt QB Arizona State: A northwest native (West Linn, Oregon), Leavitt helped orchestrate one of the most surprising conference championship runs in recent years down in Tempe. The 6-2, 200 lbs quarterback was sensational in the second half of 2024, finishing with 2,885 passing yards and 24 TD’s while rushing for 443 yards and five scores. With Cam Skattebo in the NFL, expect Leavitt to have more responsibilities and opportunities to prove that the Sun Devils are more than just a one season wonder.

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No. 24 Carnell Tate WR Ohio State: Sometimes someone has to be overlooked when we’re discussing wide receivers at Ohio State, home of a dominant run for the past decade with Buckeye receivers and their transitions to the NFL. This year will be no different as Jeremiah Smith is arguably the best player in all of college football, but he is a true sophomore. A benefit to all the double teams he will be seeing in 2025, is former five-star Carnell Tate. As a sophomore and the #3 receiving option, Tate secured 52 receptions for 733 yards and four TD’s. At most other schools, Tate would be an all-American candidate, but such is life at Ohio State. I see the physical tools and opportunity this year will bring for Tate, and expect him to become a first round pick in a year that may not have a definitive #1 WR prospect.

No. 23 John Mateer QB Oklahoma: Sorry Wazzu fans, but last year’s darling is now in Norman, Oklahoma, trying to reignite a Sooners offense that has been dormant since Lincoln Riley left for USC. As a junior, Mateer was a magician that orchestrated some wild wins as Washington State flirted with a potential playoff berth, before collapsing at season’s end. That shouldn’t take away from the season Mateer put together, as he accumulated nearly 4,000 total yards and 44 combined touchdowns as a dual threat. Can he produce anything close to these numbers in the SEC, then Oklahoma will be a threat in 2025 and Mateer will skyrocket up the draft boards.

No. 22 Denzel Boston WR Washington: 2024 felt like a lost season for the Huskies, as departures and the move to the Big Ten were not kind to them, but there is hope for a strong rebound in 2025. A big reason for that is because of the emergence of wideout Denzel Boston. At 6-4 and 209 lbs, Boston has impressive speed to match his length, and it showed as he hauled in 63 receptions for 834 yards and nine touchdowns for an underwhelming Washington offense. With an impressive recruiting and transfer class, I expect Boston to have a massive season, while the Huskies return to national relevance.

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No. 21 Arch Manning QB Texas: Arch was a tough player to place on this list. There’s all this momentum that he’s a lock to go #1 in next year’s draft, while most believe he will be in school for two more years, creating this Andrew Luck style phenomenon. On the flip side, there has been very little in his high school tape, and his brief college experience, that shows me he should be in the discussion for the top pick. I love his toughness and running ability, but have yet to see the level of throwing that I’d like to see through his handful of starts in place of injured starter Quinn Ewers. We will find out pretty quickly as Texas travels to Columbus in Week one to face the defending national champion Buckeyes, as well as a brutal SEC schedule. No team may be as talented as Texas, and their ceiling will be determined by one of the more divisive college athletes of 2025.

No. 20 LaNorris Sellers QB South Carolina: Arguably the best team to not make the CFP last year, the Gamecocks feel they have a true national title threat, and that is because of their quarterback. LaNorris Sellers. The 6-3, 240 lbs massive RS sophomore exploded onto the scene last year, completing 65.6% of his passes and amassed over 3,200 total yards and 25 touchdowns in 12 games, while battling injuries. Sellers is raw and needs refinement, but there are tools there that are rare, and I’m fascinated to see what he can do in year two as the fulltime starter. My early pro comp for him at the moment is the late Steve McNair.

No. 19 Jordyn Tyson WR Arizona State: A reason why I believe that Sam Leavitt will have a great 2025 season is because he’s getting Jordyn Tyson back as his go-to guy. One of the big what ifs of the CFP last year was what if Tyson didn’t miss the Peach Bowl against Texas. A dominant regular season, Tyson cooked the Big 12 for 1,100 yards and 75 receptions and 10 scores. A broken collarbone cost him the conference championship and quarterfinal loss to Texas. There is nothing that Tyson can’t do, but it’s his ability to dominate in jump balls while also dominating the middle and intermediate area of the field that has me ranking Tyson as my top WR in the 2026 class currently. I see so much of Jaxon Smith-Njigba in Tyson.

No. 18 Parker Brailsford C Alabama: Husky fans will remember Brailsford from his UW days, but with Kalen DeBoer at Alabama, he will run point on arguably the best offensive line in the country. Having been an exceptional pass protector for Michael Penix Jr. and then transitioning to the style of play that Jalen Milroe brought, Brailsford could fit the need for a ton of NFL teams.

No. 17 Isaiah World T Oregon: It pays to be the top ranked transfer, as the former Nevada Wolfpack tackle has made his way to Oregon, as the Ducks look to repeat as Big Ten champions. World, who’s name may not do justice, stands at a massive 6-8 and insanely athletic 318 lbs, is just one of those freak athletes that transferred to arguably the best place for him to develop. Of all the amazing tackle prospects we are going to discuss, World may have the highest ceiling, but also the lowest floor currently.

No. 16 Anthony Hill Jr. LB Texas: Hands down, the best linebacker in this class. As the co-leader of a dominant defense last year, Hill Jr. had 113 combined tackles, including 17 tackles for a loss, along with eight sacks, four forced fumbles, and an INT. Anthony is a screen destroyer that would make KJ Wright proud, while he has a special knack for maneuvering through the trenches to cause chaos on the QB. A future with Hill Jr., Ernest Jones IV, and Nick Emmanwori could be a dream trio.

No. 15 Jake Slaughter C Florida: The only reason why Brailsford is not the top center prospect is because of his SEC rival Jake Slaughter. Florida had a sneaky second half resurgence last year, giving them hope for 2025. A big part of that was future NFL QB DJ Lagway, but his success was in large part because of Slaughter and the Gators o-line. Slaughter would have been a day 2 pick in the 2025 NFL draft, but the first team All-American decided to return for his senior year in Gainsville. When you watch the tape, you see a really strong pass blocker, and a special run blocker, who is consistently getting to the second level and throwing linebackers out of the play. His age (will turn 24 during his rookie season) may impact his draft stock, but Slaughter could be a perfect plug and play center for a Seahawks offense searching for stability at that key spot.

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No. 14 Drew Allar QB Penn State: Much like Manning, Drew Allar will be a polarizing prospect to watch this season. At 6-5, 235 lbs., Allar has all the tools you look for in his arm, but the consistency questions remain. Statistically, Allar had a tremendous 2024 season, throwing for 3,327 yards on 66.5% completion percentage, with a 30/8 total TD/INT ratio. On the flip side, he and his Nittany Lions failed to show up in the two games that mattered most, losing to Ohio State at home and to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl for a spot in the national championship. The last play of the season for Allar was a brutal interception with a minute to go, that allowed the Irish to kick the walk off field goal and continue this belief that Penn State and Allar can’t deliver when it matters most. This year feels like do or die for both the program and Drew. I see a lot of prime Joe Flacco as a pro comp right now for Allar.

No. 13 Jermod McCoy DB Tennessee: The season hasn’t started, so the perception can change, but it currently doesn’t feel like DB’s are going to be a strong class in 2026. Jermod McCoy could benefit from this, and be an early first round pick next spring. The former OSU Beaver, McCoy transferred to Tennessee last season and had four INT’s and nine passes defended for the seventh ranked defense in the country. With a 89.6 PFF coverage grade last year, and strong measurables, McCoy could threaten to be a top ten pick, if he has successfully recovered from his ACL tear he suffered in January.

No. 12 Caleb Lomu T Utah: As part of a dynamic duo of tackles in Utah, Lomu is the solid run-blocking left tackle who has blue chip potential in the pass blocking area. At 6-5 and 302 lbs, Lomu fits the modern athletic left tackle, and would be a strong fit for a franchise with a mobile quarterback. He’ll need to put on about 10-15 more lbs, but there’s franchise LT potential there.

No. 11 Keldric Faulk ED Auburn: It may be hard to finder a more freakish lookin athlete in this class than Faulk, who hopes to bring the Tigers back to the national scene in 2025. Likely to be a RAS superstar, Faulk looks like he was built in a lab, standing at 6-5 and 288 lbs. of pure speed and strength, Faulk had 11 tackles for a loss and seven sacks last year. Already a plus run defender, Faulk has top pick potential if he can learn to be a more proficient pass rusher, as he won’t be able to just use his speed and strength to get to the QB when he’s at the next level.

No. 10 Jeremiyah Love RB Notre Dame: I’m usually resistant to ranking running backs super high, and I rarely will push to select one in the first round, but I can’t deny Jeremiyah Love as a potential blue chip prospect. Rushing for over 1,100 yards on just 163 carries and 19 total TD’s, Love should be on everyone’s Heisman watch list. He can do it all, but has the best hurdle game in college football, is special at reading the holes, and feels impossible to bring down if he gets to the second level. No, he is not Ashton Jeanty, but he can have a similar type of impact again for Notre Dame, and will be a top 20 pick in the draft next spring.

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No. 9 Francisco Mauigoa T Miami: Continuing the tackle parade of future first round picks, Mauigoa is next on this list. The starting right tackle the past two years at Miami, Mauigoa was sensational and instrumental in Cam Ward’s dominance at Miami and eventually becoming the top overall pick in the draft. Mauigo could easily be a pro bowl caliber right tackle at the next level, but he may be even more dominant at the guard spot. Has a chance to boost his stock even more if Georgia transfer Carson Beck can be successful in Miami, just like Ward was.

No. 8 Spencer Fano T Utah: Lomu’s counterpart in Salt Lake City, Spencer Fano is the prototypical Kyle Whittingham Utah offensive lineman, nasty and versatile. Fano, who was an All-American last year, has 24 career starts already, with 11 at LT and 13 at RT. Fano is the second best run blocking tackle in my opinion heading into the season, and is the best right tackle prospect in the class. Fano could become a top five pick, based on his ability to successfully play both tackle spots, but much of that will depend on if Utah can rebound in 2025. With better health and a very friendly schedule, don’t be surprised to see Utah with one or zero losses heading into the CFP.

No. 7 Dani Dennis-Sutton ED Penn State: Expectations are high at Penn State, and much of that is because of all the strong pieces they have coming back from a team many thought should’ve beat Notre Dame in the semifinals last year. Arguably their best piece, and anchor of their defense, will be Dani Dennis-Sutton. Currently my second ranked edge rusher, Dennis-Sutton chose to return for his senior season at Happy Valley after racking up 13 TFL’s and 8.5 sacks last season. The 6-5 272 pass rusher may not be as physically imposing as Faulk at Auburn, but his experience and motor give him a slight edge at the moment. I’m curious to see how he fairs this fall when he’s the main target to worry about on defense, and he no longer has Abdul Carter to lean on.

No. 6 Garrett Nussmeier QB LSU: Hot take, I think Nussmeier will be the top overall pick in next year’s NFL draft. The fifth year senior at LSU will have his best team he’s had in Baton Rouge for a team that is thinking SEC and national championship. Nussmeier has a plus arm, is fearless in the pocket, and has that gunslinger mentality that makes it hard not to love watching him play. His style does lead itself to some mistakes (12 INT’s last year), but the 4,000 passing yards and 32 total TD’s show the other side of the coin. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah compared him to shades of Andy Dalton, Brock Purdy, and Tony Romo. I personally think the Romo comp is spot on. If you can work around his go-for-it mentality, then you can have a franchise QB. With his father the new OC in New Orleans, the LSU connection, and Kellen Moore looking for a franchise QB, I believe Nussmeier will get LSU back to the CFP and will be the #1 overall pick at next year’s draft.

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No. 5 Cade Klubnik QB Clemson: Nuss may go #1, but I have Clemson’s Cade Klubnik as my preseason top QB prospect. Highly touted out of legendary West Lake High School, the former top overall recruit has taken a unique road to get to this point. Immediate pressure to be the next Trevor Lawrence led to two disappointing seasons for Clemson, and while last year wasn’t exactly a return to glory, Klubnik carried his team to an ACC Championship and a playoff appearance. For the season, Klubnik had over 4,000 total yards and a 43/6 TD to INT ratio. An exceptional athlete with arguably the best accuracy in his class, which makes up for what I’d call average arm strength. I see a slightly lesser passing version of Baker Mayfield, but a much more explosive athlete than the Tampa Bay Pro Bowl QB. Klubnik will be in the hunt for the top overall pick in next year’s draft.

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No. 4 Kadyn Proctor T Alabama: If Proctor was in the 2025 draft, I’m not sure that Tennessee wouldn’t have taken him with the top pick. At 6-6, 369 lbs, Proctor simply overpowers college defensive linemen, while being a wall in pass protection. Alabama can win the national championship this season, in part because their offensive line is just that good, and Proctor is the anchor of this fearsome unit. He will need to trim down a few pounds to stay at LT in the NFL, but everything is there for a franchise tackle and top five pick.

No. 3 Peter Woods DT Clemson: Headlining the interior defensive linemen, Woods is next in the long line of successful Clemson d-linemen. Arguably the top overall prospect to some, Woods is a 6-3, 315 lbs defensive tackle that shouldn’t be able to move as quickly as he does. Woods is the classic premier DT that eats up blockers, allowing others to be great. He’s a machine in the run game, and probably should’ve had 10 sacks this past year, as he consistently lived in the backfield, but just whiffed a few times. I would rank Woods above Mason Graham if you were to compare players.

No. 2 T.J. Parker ED Clemson: Woods’s partner in crime on a loaded Clemson roster is the top edge rusher in T.J. Parker. As a sophomore, Parker was unstoppable, collecting 57 combined tackles, including 20 TFL’s, 11 sacks, and a whopping six forced fumbles. The 6-3, 265 lbs edge rusher has the best jump off the snap of his class, has plus power, and the best array of moves and counters of his class. With a toolset of a veteran NFL pass rusher already, and a knack for forcing turnovers, Parker is a blue chip prospect that will be a contender for the top pick in the NFL draft. Week one of college football will bring us a titanic showdown between Clemson and LSU. I can’t wait to see Klubnik duel Nussmeier, but also to see how Nuss handles the pressure he will be facing from Woods and Parker.

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No. 1 Caleb Downs S Ohio State: In a top 25 ranking full of quarterbacks and trench players, I actually have a safety as my top ranked player this upcoming season. A freshman star for Alabama in 2023, Downs transferred to Ohio State last year and was the star All-American safety for the national champions. At 6ft, 205 lbs, Downs brings a physicality that is reminiscent of former All-Pro Eric Berry as a safety who is a sure tackler and can be a star in the box. In coverage, Downs shuts off whatever side of the field he’s on, much like the way Earl Thomas did in his prime. Will Downs be the top pick in the NFL draft? No, but he is the most talented player, and could be the highest safety ever drafted.

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Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy, entering his 21st season as head coach, aims to improve the state of college football before he steps away. He believes the sport faces challenges with the transfer portal and NIL initiatives affecting fan engagement and revenue disparities. Gundy advocates for a structured leadership model, suggesting a commissioner to oversee fair revenue sharing and balance among Power Conference teams to ensure the sport’s viability and appeal. He remains optimistic about coaching while hoping to implement his solutions for improvement.

By the Numbers

• Gundy has been the head coach at Oklahoma State for 21 years.
• U.S. college football has seen numerous coaching changes and conference realignments in recent years, impacting revenue and team composition.

State of Play

• The college football landscape is undergoing significant changes due to NIL and the transfer portal.
• Gundy believes fan engagement is waning due to frequent player turnover.

What’s Next

If Gundy’s proposed leadership structure gains traction, it could lead to meaningful discussions around equity and sustainability in college football. His insights may influence how officials approach ongoing issues surrounding player payments and team competitiveness.

Bottom Line

Gundy’s call for a unified leadership in college football highlights the urgent need for structural changes to maintain fan interest and enhance the sport’s future viability. Solutions must prioritize fairness across conferences to ensure college football remains compelling and financially viable.

Kentucky’s BBN on the precipice of a new era in college sports

A crisp fall day in Lexington. Cornhole bags thud against wooden boards in the Kroger Field parking lot. Laughter carries in the cool air. Someone’s playing John Anderson from a truck bed. Strangers become friends because they wear the same shade of blue sipping from red solo cups.

This is what college sports were meant to be.

Not contracts. Not Transfer Portals. Not subscription fees to get closer to the team you already love.

There was once a purity to college athletics. A Sunday afternoon in March wasn’t about contracts or new NIL opportunities—it was about Selection Sunday watch parties. It was the ache in your stomach when your team’s bubble burst, or the explosion of joy when your name popped up on the bracket. It was about campus pride, alumni devotion, and that unspoken bond between generations of fans.

Now? It’s harder to recognize.

With NIL collectives and coaches calling for fans to “pony up,” and players treating the portal like a revolving door, the soul of college sports is on the line. Not gone completely—but eroding fast.

The House v. NCAA settlement cracked the dam wide open. Schools will soon pay athletes directly, essentially legalizing revenue sharing in the Power 5. On its own, that might be progress. But pair it with unrestricted transfers and a pay-to-play arms race, and the result isn’t college sports—it’s something closer to minor league professional ball.

Programs are rebuilt yearly, not developed. Jerseys don’t stay hung in lockers—they’re reused like name tags at a networking event. Even the idea of the four-year student-athlete at one school is slipping into nostalgia. Rylan Griffen will be playing for Texas A&M basketball this fall, his third school in 4 years. Zach Calzada will be on his 4th team in 7 years at Kentucky.

Some welcome this. Others—administrators like Mitch Barnhart, coaches like Tara VanDerveer, fans across every conference—are sounding the alarm. Because what made college sports special wasn’t just the talent. It was the tradition, the continuity, the sense of community.

And while the athletes deserve everything they’ve earned, the pay-for-play that NIL has become has changed the game forever. And while some champion this change in how things are done, the rest of us are left wondering:

When did we lose the game we fell in love with? Will it ever come back?