The first three weeks of the 2024 college football season have seen some big performances from top 2025 NFL draft prospects. But who is moving up or down the board?
Draft analysts Mel Kiper Jr., Matt Miller, Jordan Reid and Steve Muench answered big draft-related questions coming out of the first few weeks of college football, including a look at the roller-coaster start for Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Plus, which other quarterbacks who have turned heads? Who are the biggest risers in the early going? Which position groups and sleepers are flying under the radar? Our analysts get into all of that and empty their notebooks with everything they have seen and heard over these past three weekends.
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Sanders' draft stock | Top QBs | Risers
Positions to watch | Early sleepers
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Has your evaluation of Shedeur Sanders changed since the start of the season?
Miller: Not really. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Sanders (my QB1) will ultimately be evaluated on individual position-specific talents like arm strength, pocket awareness, mobility, leadership, field vision and accuracy. His evaluation will also span his time at Jackson State through the end of his Colorado career, so scouts can have an idea about his continued potential.
There are things Sanders does well -- his accuracy and touch are very good, and I love his toughness -- and there are things he must clean up, like timing. But Colorado lacks a good offensive line and its playcalling too often asks Sanders to play "hero" ball. So my evaluation of him hasn't changed at this point, though we'll continue to check in.
Kiper: I hear you, but I am lowering my grade on Sanders a little bit based on what we saw in that Nebraska game. I know he took five sacks, and the offensive line didn't help him out, but you can't put all of that on his surroundings. He forced things in that Week 2 matchup, and I saw some uncharacteristic, missed layup throws. He has to be able to show he can avoid those hiccups when the situation isn't perfect.
That said, Sanders is still my third-ranked QB and could absolutely end up in the mix at the top of the board. When his mechanics and footwork are sound, he can pick apart a defense. It's easier to evaluate a quarterback when his team isn't overmatched, and the Buffs should be competitive the rest of the way. So maybe a slight knock in the early going for that rough Nebraska game -- I moved him from No. 9 to No. 14 on my Big Board -- but I'm not changing much until we see more.
Muench: Sanders is still an accurate passer who can get the ball out quickly and pick defenses apart with short to intermediate passes. He has the mental toughness to make plays under pressure and at critical points in the game. On the downside, he made an uncharacteristic mistake throwing a pick-six against Nebraska, and the Cornhuskers' game plan highlighted some existing concerns. They used simulated pressures to muddy his reads and forced him to extend plays with his feet. They also took away the middle of the field and made him throw outside the hashes at times.
I haven't seen enough to change his evaluation at this point of the season. But he is losing ground to Georgia's Carson Beck in the race for QB1, and Texas' Quinn Ewers has been closing in, too.
Reid: Sanders is a quarterback who wants to operate from the pocket and thrives off rhythm, timing and accuracy. The strengths and concerns have remained the same. He has been dealing with inconsistent protection, and some of that is Sanders' doing. Getting the ball out in a timely manner, not compounding mistakes and stepping up vertically in the pocket instead of searching for an exit are still the main areas that I want to see him improve.
Shedeur Sanders racks up 310 passing yards and four touchdowns in Colorado's decisive victory over Colorado State.
Which quarterback prospect has stood out the most through three weeks?
Kiper: Quinn Ewers, Texas. Well, at least until Saturday, when he left the Longhorns' game against UTSA with an injury. There's some uncertainty now, but let's look at what he has done on the field: 691 passing yards, 73.4% completion rate, 8 touchdown passes and 2 interceptions. Last season, he went to Alabama and had a huge early outing. This season, he had a marquee game against Michigan in Week 2, throwing three TDs in the Big House. I really like what I've seen from the 6-foot-2, 210-pound junior, and I recently slid him up to No. 9 on my Big Board.
Miller: Yeah, I agree. Ewers has taken a big jump in terms of processing speed, decision-making and taking what the defense gives him. It was needed after he was plagued with ill-timed turnovers and poor decisions in 2023, despite a 22-6 TD-to-INT ratio. The game has slowed down for the 21-year-old Ewers. His Week 2 performance against Michigan (24-of-36, 246 yards and 3 TDs) showed his maturity as a passer. He's working through progressions with pro-level speed, finding open targets and working the ball to the open man instead of forcing touches.
He had an overthrow early against UTSA that led to an interception, and then left in the second quarter with an oblique strain. But combining his experience and confidence with his plus-level arm talent and mobility will help Ewers make a strong case for QB1 status -- as long as his Week 3 injury isn't a long-term issue.
Muench: Cam Ward, Miami. The 6-foot-2, 223-pound senior's arm talent, release, off-platform throws and ability to make plays with his feet make him fun to watch. But it's important to take his season-opening performance against Florida in the opener with a grain of salt, as some of the concerns I had watching him at Washington State in previous years showed up on tape. Ward can hold onto the ball too long, drift and force throws, but he has shown signs of progress and should continue to improve. He's getting to his third read and getting the ball out on time, and his footwork in the pocket was better against Ball State this past Saturday. Ward's ball placement could be better, but he's flashing excellent touch.
It's clear that Ward is playing with great confidence. It's early, but the tape is getting better, and I think he has put himself in position to be that quarterback who shoots up draft boards before April.
Reid: I agree, Steve -- it's Ward for me, too. Entering the season, Sanders, Beck and Ewers were considered the only Round 1-worthy passers. But Ward is on a fast track to be this year's big riser, and I have him as my QB4. Through three games, he has 1,035 passing yards, 11 touchdown passes and only 1 interception. According to ESPN Research, Ward has the fifth-highest QBR (94.4) by a player with 10 passing touchdowns through the first three games of the season. The four QBs ahead of him all went on to be first-round picks (Justin Fields, Tua Tagovailoa, Sam Bradford and Andrew Luck).
Ward hasn't played a high-quality opponent yet, but his poise and accuracy have been among the best in the country. The biggest difference for Ward this season has been his patience. He tried to do too much at Washington State last season, resulting in too many chaotic plays. Ward is playing under control and being more selective with his deep shots down the field.
Kiper: I want to mention one more guy. Alabama's Jalen Milroe has been impressive. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound junior is a true dual-threat QB, throwing eight TD passes and zero interceptions while also rushing for six scores through three games. I love his deep-ball accuracy and overall presence in the pocket. The arrow is pointing up for Milroe, and I have him fifth at the position right now.
Who has risen the most on your board in the early going?
Kiper: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State. I don't believe there's good value in drafting running backs in Round 1, but I also don't grade based on philosophy. I grade based on what I see on tape. And Jeanty is showing he could be a top-10 prospect in the 2025 class, in the same group as prospects such as Bijan Robinson and Christian McCaffrey. To fit into that category, you have to be an elite rusher, a talented pass catcher and a strong blocker -- and Jeanty is all those things. He has amazing contact balance and toughness at 5-foot-9 and 215 pounds, which helps him skirt past the first line of defense and through traffic. Jeanty has 459 rushing yards and nine touchdowns in just two games, and he has also displayed some terrific hands out of the backfield.
Miller: Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina. Revel has jumped off the tape early this season with expert play. The 6-foot-2, 188-pound senior has awesome length, but it's his ball skills, instincts and poise in coverage that I love most. His 4.4-second speed allows him to quickly close on the ball and flip the field -- something he did in Week 3 with a 50-yard pick-six against Appalachian State. That gave Revel back-to-back weeks with interceptions. Rated as a Round 2 player outside my top 32 when the season began, Revel has skyrocketed to No. 20 overall after I watched fresh tape. He's making a big impression in a very good cornerback class.
Shavon Revel picks off Appalachian State
Reid: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama. It didn't take long for the 6-foot-3, 245-pounder to stand out in a talented Crimson Tide defense, as he has 18 tackles, a half sack and a pass breakup in three games. Campbell's movement skills pop in pass coverage, as he can open up and run in man -- but he also has good eyes in zone to clog throwing windows. He needs to step downhill quicker and tackle more consistently as a run defender, though. With uncertainty at the top of the linebacker class, Campbell has cracked my top 50 overall and has the potential to boost his draft stock even higher. It wouldn't be a surprise if he ends up being the top-ranked off-ball linebacker in the draft.
Muench: Kyle Kennard, Edge, South Carolina. The 6-foot-5, 254-pound Kennard negated two pick-sixes with penalties in South Carolina's three-point loss to LSU and needs to clean up those mistakes, but the Georgia Tech transfer is also currently tied for third nationally in tackles for loss (6) and is tied for the FBS lead in sacks (5). His length and ability to work inside gave LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell -- who is regarded as a first-round pick in many circles -- a lot of problems. Kennard is also versatile enough to kick inside. He has gone from a midrounder to potential Day 2 selection and could continue to improve his draft stock.
Which position group are we not talking about enough in this draft class?
Reid: Safety. Georgia's Malaki Starks is in a tier of his own as a clear Round 1 prospect, but there are many other top-100-worthy players. South Carolina's Nick Emmanwori and the Texas duo of Jahdae Barron and Andrew Mukuba are off to fast starts this season. Even though the NFL seemingly devalues the position early in the draft, I believe that we will see a run of safeties in the first four rounds.
Muench: Defensive tackle. Over the past five draft cycles, there have been only two top-10 picks at DT, Derrick Brown (No. 7, 2020) and Jalen Carter (No. 9, 2023). Michigan's Mason Graham was my top-ranked player regardless of position coming into the season and has a chance to join them in April. Eight defensive tackles went in the top 50 in 2024, and that number could be exceeded in 2025. Tyleik Williams (Ohio State), Kenneth Grant (Michigan), Deone Walker (Kentucky), Nazir Stackhouse (Georgia), Dontay Corleone (Cincinnati) and Walter Nolen (Ole Miss) are all talented players to keep an eye on.
Kiper: How about the H-back/tight end class? I have Michigan's Colston Loveland at No. 17 on my board, but there is some serious depth here, too. We saw Penn State's Tyler Warren (8 catches, 146 yards) and Bowling Green's Harold Fannin Jr. (11 catches, 137 yards, 1 TD) go off in a Week 2 head-to-head meeting. LSU's Mason Taylor has been extremely consistent. Utah's Brant Kuithe made a Week 1 statement with three TDs. Virginia's Tyler Neville is averaging 16.3 yards per catch. The Georgia duo of Oscar Delp and Ben Yurosek have a ton of upside. And Michigan's Kalel Mullings -- who is on my H-back list -- has been dominant rushing the ball, going for 153 yards and two scores Saturday against Arkansas State. There's a lot of talent.
Honorable mention goes to the interior offensive line class. We haven't gotten a true grasp on that group because so many offensive tackle prospects might kick inside in the pros -- guys like Arizona's Jonah Savaiinaea, LSU's Emery Jones Jr. and Georgia's Earnest Greene III -- which would improve the overall outlook of the position. And there's a great deal of Day 3 talent at IOL, too.
Miller: Cornerback. This is a very special group. We didn't see a cornerback come off the board until pick No. 22 in the 2024 draft, when Quinyon Mitchell went to the Philadelphia Eagles. While our boards are still in their early stages, I have three corners ranked in the top 20 overall. Revel, who I mentioned earlier, sits behind Michigan's Will Johnson and Notre Dame's Benjamin Morrison. But there's plenty of depth behind them, as I have 10 cornerbacks ranked in my top 50. After a down secondary class in 2024, the 2025 group looks to be much better in terms of top-end prospects and early-round depth.
Which sleeper caught your eye in the first three weeks?
Kiper: David Walker, Edge, Central Arkansas. I wanted to highlight William & Mary offensive tackle Charles Grant, but I called him out a few weeks ago in our season primer. I'm going with Walker, who just keeps producing. In 2022, he had 21 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. In 2023, he had 18 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. And he already has 8.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks through three games this season. Walker (6-foot-2, 260 pounds) plays with terrific leverage, and he can beat offensive tackles with speed or power. He isn't just a standout pass rusher; he's also stout against the run off the edge. I see Walker as a fourth- or fifth-rounder right now, and I'd love to see him at an all-star event after the season.
Miller: Keon Sabb, S, Alabama. The Michigan transfer has been a consistent playmaker for the Alabama defense. The 6-foot-1, 206-pound redshirt sophomore was the SEC Defensive Player of the Week after a Week 1 win over Western Kentucky in which he had two interceptions for 87 return yards. Sabb is a versatile safety who can excel in two-high looks, and his knack for being in the right place at the right time jumps off the tape. He was routinely around the ball in Week 3 against Wisconsin and showed great situational awareness in coverage.
Muench: Ben Bell, Edge, Texas State. Bell had 16 tackles for loss last season and already has six in three games this year. He is a polished hand fighter who makes it tough for offensive linemen to lock on and slips blocks quickly. He works half the man and forces offensive linemen to move their feet in pass protection. The 6-foot-2, 250-pound Bell bends well and chases the quarterback with great effort. He also moves well enough to drop into underneath zone and fits best at outside linebacker in a base three-man front. Bell can get too far upfield and gets moved out of his gap at times, but he can also make plays in the backfield in the run game. He grades out as a Day 3 pick with the potential to develop into a rotational edge in the NFL.
Reid: Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa. There are very few running backs who have been better through the first three games of the season than Johnson, who has already rushed for 479 yards and six touchdowns. He is a fast-moving, decisive runner who can accelerate through lanes in a hurry. At 6-foot and 225 pounds, Johnson has a dense frame that helps him take on and run through contact. He is capable of running from multiple platforms and could fit in various blocking schemes in the pros.
What else are you hearing from sources or seeing on tape this week?
Miller:
LSU pulled off the late win against South Carolina in a strange back-and-forth game Saturday, but Tigers tackles Will Campbell and Emery Jones Jr. struggled to contain talented South Carolina pass rushers Dylan Stewart and Kyle Kennard throughout the contest. Campbell has top-10 buzz, but one longtime scout I spoke to midday Saturday said he thinks the 6-foot-6, 323-pound junior will ultimately end up as a guard in the NFL and compared his play to Washington Commanders interior lineman Sam Cosmi. (One AFC South area scout said Campbell has a Round 2 grade on their board.) Jones, the Tigers' 6-foot-6, 315-pound right tackle, has a high-Round 2 grade based on my conversations with scouts.
Another notable player in that game was South Carolina defensive tackle T.J. Sanders. The big man in the middle has the first-step quickness and power that teams are looking for early in the draft. The 6-foot-4, 290-pounder had 4.5 sacks last season and has one so far in 2024. Scouts I've spoken to say he has top-50 potential.
Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond had a breakout performance against UTSA, grabbing five passes for 102 yards and two scores on catch-and-run plays. Bond, a transfer from Alabama, has special speed and acceleration that's on a different level from the competition. He has the look of a player who will receive a first-round grade in April. He's ranked No. 23 on my board.
Reid:
Penn State running back Nicholas Singleton is getting high grades throughout the NFL. "I think he'll be right up there with Jeanty before it's all said and done," an NFC area scout texted me while discussing this RB class. With 233 rushing yards and two touchdowns through two games, Singleton is a tough, hard-running player who has good change-of-direction skills. He also has plenty of breakaway speed to reel off big runs, and his vision to maneuver and find holes has already stood out on tape.
I was able to watch Ole Miss take on Wake Forest this Saturday and came away very impressed with defensive tackle Walter Nolen. Talent has never been the question with Nolen, a former ESPN 300 No. 1 overall recruit, as he has the explosive traits that NFL teams covet. The 6-foot-3, 305-pound junior struggled with consistency at Texas A&M during his first two seasons, though. Nolen easily penetrates the first level as a run defender, and his quickness is often too much for interior blockers to handle. The Rebels have yet to play a high-quality opponent, but Nolen's effort and disruption have exceeded what he showed in his first two seasons.
Alabama QB Jalen Milroe has continued to take leaps forward as a passer. His deep passing ability was on full display against Wisconsin, as he finished the game 12-of-17 for 196 yards and three touchdowns. He also added another 75 yards and two scores on the ground. Milroe's lethal dual-threat ability has intrigued scouts, but they still want to see more consistency on throws between the hashes. Milroe received a mixture of midround grades coming into the season, and after polling scouts this weekend, late-Day 2 is the most common projection for him right now.
Check out some of the numbers behind the Crimson Tide's commanding 42-10 over the Badgers.
Muench:
LSU tight end Mason Taylor is a natural hands catcher who catches the ball in stride, runs well and fights for yards after the catch. The 6-foot-5, 255-pound junior flashes as a route runner and is a big target with the awareness to develop into a zone buster. He has moved to TE2 behind Michigan's Colston Loveland on my board, and he could go earlier than previously projected if he tests as well as expected.
Kiper:
BYU outside linebacker Jack Kelly was relatively unknown in August, but he is quickly rising, as I have him fifth at the position after three weeks. He added his second sack of the season Saturday against Wyoming, and you can see the high-end closing speed on tape. At 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds, Kelly flies all over the field and can also play off the ball.
I really like what I've seen from South Carolina's Nick Emmanwori -- my No. 4 safety -- so far. He's quick and physically imposing at 6-foot-3, 227 pounds. And he just added his second interception of the season against LSU. As Jordan mentioned above, keep an eye on him.
The Week 4 matchup between USC and Michigan will be a great test for Trojans defenders Anthony Lucas (DE6) and Eric Gentry (LB7). At 6-foot-6 and 215 pounds, Gentry is so good off the ball and already has 13 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack through two games. Good outings for him and the 6-foot-5, 275-pound Lucas could help them both rise.
A lot will be made about the names at the top of this running back class, including Jeanty, whom I wrote about earlier. But if you want a pair of sleepers, Tennessee's Dylan Sampson and Rutgers' Kyle Monangai are making some early noise. They are ranked ninth and 10th at the position on my list, respectively. Sampson (5-foot-11, 201 pounds) has stepped up in Jaylen Wright's place, rushing for 357 yards and nine scores over three games (including 101 yards and four TDs Saturday against Kent State). He's a home-run hitter, averaging 7.9 yards per carry. And Monangai is just really underrated, partially because he is only 5-foot-9 and 209 pounds. But he has rushed for 165 and 208 yards in his two games this season, making him someone to watch the rest of the way.