The Week 1 college football slate had it all — down-to-the-wire duels, dominant performances, and a host of 2025 NFL Draft risers. Quarterbacks Drew Allar and Jaxson Dart demand attention, while Ashton Jeanty’s superlative production stands alone.
Week 1 CFB and 2025 NFL Draft Risers: Drew Allar, Jaxson Dart Kickstart QB1 Race
Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
When we talk about marrying recruiting talent, 2025 NFL Draft potential, and preseason expectations, few prospects had a more satisfying Week 1 showing than Penn State’s Drew Allar.
Against a respectable West Virginia defense, Allar put together an exemplary outing, completing 11 of 17 passes for 216 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions. The offensive coordinator shift is working out — but more than that, Allar has grown.
The 6’5″, 242-pound passer has elite arm talent and strength, which he showed on his first laser TD pass. But in this sample, he also showcased the ability to throw with anticipation and touch. With sustained maturation, he can be the breakout this QB class needs.
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
No, this isn’t hyperbole. This isn’t a drastic misrepresentation for sensationalization’s sake. Ashton Jeanty beat a team by himself in Week 1.
Against the Georgia Southern Eagles, Jeanty compiled 267 yards and six touchdowns — yes, six — on just 20 carries. “Unstoppable” doesn’t begin to describe it. There was simply no answer for his elite mix of rushing tools: vision, speed, energy, and balance.
It’s hard to truly call Jeanty a riser because he was already PFN’s top-ranked RB prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft. But Week 1 might’ve earned him greater respect on the national stage. He has every component required to be a transcendent talent in the draft.
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
The best prospects dominate lower-level competition. That’s what top-10 prospect Tetairoa McMillan did in Week 1 against New Mexico. He dismantled the opposing defense at a magnitude similar to Julio Jones’ legendary 2016 outing against the Carolina Panthers.
McMillan accounted for almost 75% of his team’s receiving production and all of their TDs — posting 10 catches, 304 yards, and four scores in a defining performance. It was a performance that said all that needed to be said: “I am that guy.”
That’s what you want to see from early first-round WR prospects. Like Jeanty, it’s hard to call McMillan a riser, but he truly has a complete skill set at 6’5″, 210 pounds, with separation quickness and elite catch-point instincts. He’s a surefire WR1 contender.
Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
Down the stretch, the dominance of Georgia’s defense in their Week 1 victory against Clemson was marred by Mykel Williams’ injury. But the Bulldogs have another early-round EDGE prospect across from Williams, and his name is Jalon Waker.
Walker is 6’2″, 245 pounds — a former inside linebacker — and in Week 1, he was slabbing pulling blockers, and setting the edge in the run game. His compact frame and proportional length allow him to hold up, and on the rush, he’s an absolute hyper-explosive menace.
Against Clemson, Walker compiled 1.5 sacks, and his pressure footprint was nearly inescapable. His best play came on a half-sack. He led with a long-arm to the inside shoulder, then decoupled, ripped past the apex, and ran down the QB in pursuit.
Cameron Ward, QB, Miami (FL)
A heavily anticipated Week 1 clash between Miami and Florida turned out to be not at all close, and the presence of Cameron Ward is a big reason why. Ward racked up 385 yards and three scores against a sputtering Gators defense, dazzling viewers in the process.
At 6’2″ and 220 pounds, Ward’s effortless creative ability and arm elasticity have always been his top-selling trait, and that was what distinguished him early on. There’s still a need for more discipline at times, but Ward’s raw talent for creating windows is almost unmatched.
Ward won’t be tested as much as preferred for a potential early-round QB this year, but if he can stay consistent and stack growth, he too can ascend.
Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss
When you only need one half of football to show how good you are, that’s when you know you’re legit. That was the case for Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart in Week 1. Granted, it was against Furman — but Dart was immaculate, passing for 418 yards and five TDs in two quarters.
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Full disclosure: This is indeed overreaction territory. The real test will come later on in the season when Dart will face off against SEC opponents. But this was a perfect starting point for a 2025 NFL Draft prospect who has the pure physical talent to contend for an early selection.
Bryce Anderson, S, Texas A&M
There’s still work that needs to be done with Bryce Anderson’s initial tackling angles. But any scout who watched Anderson’s Week 1 outing against Notre Dame would come away encouraged. Anderson put together a complete performance, all while showing his upside.
In the passing game, Anderson quietly constricted the field for Riley Leonard. He played single-high, two-high, matched tight ends in off-man, and used his threatening speed to induce hesitation. His best work came in run support.
While there were aberrations, there’s no disliking how Anderson plays the game. He’s a hard-charging participant in the box, who routinely uses his hyperactive twitch and instant burst to evade blocks and engage as a tackler. With his mentality, the ceiling is high.
Earnest Greene III, OT, Georgia
Following in the footsteps of first-round picks Amarius Mims and Broderick Jones, Earnest Greene III entered the 2024 season with high expectations. He came in with a Day 3 grade on my preliminary board, but Week 1 was a big step in the right direction.
Greene’s lack of elite flexibility will always hinder him a bit, but against a talented defensive end rotation that included Peter Woods and T.J. Parker, Greene was lights out. His technique looks more balanced, synergetic, and controlled. His tenacity shines, too.
The highlight of Greene’s day was a nasty, well-timed snatch, trap, and finish at the apex. But overall, his blend of explosive athleticism, heavy hands, and efficiently-applied physicality stole the show. He’s on his way to realizing his early-round potential.
Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State
Jaylin Noel has been one of my favorite sleepers since the 2022 season. In Week 1, he announced himself to the CFB world with an eight-catch, 135-yard, one-touchdown outing that included a jaw-dropping focus catch while double-covered down the field.
Noel has extremely underrated potential as a slot WR in the NFL. As his debut displayed, he can separate independently, find soft spots, and accrue RAC with his speed, twitch, and density at 5’11”, 200 pounds. And on top of it all, his strong hands seal the deal.
Tyler Baron, EDGE, Miami (FL)
Tyler Baron is another prospect who’s been on my radar for a while — ever since he logged four sacks and seven tackles for loss in 2021. Back then, and even up to 2023, he was mainly a power-dominant rusher. But in Week 1, he showcased a more varied arsenal.
Accruing two TFLs, a sack, and countless pressures, Baron gave the hapless Florida offense a taste of his blistering explosiveness and impressive bend capacity for his 6’5″, 260-pound frame.
Baron’s streamlined, alignment-versatile power isn’t dissimilar to that which made Lukas Van Ness such a compelling prospect. If Baron can keep building off of that, the only way to go is up.
Dont’e Thornton, WR, Tennessee
The Tennessee offense is going to be fun to watch this year. Nico Iamaleavea is an early front-runner to be the 2026 NFL Draft’s darling at QB, and he has Chris Brazzell II, Bru McCoy, Squirrel White, and Dont’e Thornton at his disposal.
Thornton may be the breakout stud of the group. He caught three passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1 after returning from a season-ending leg injury in 2023. His best play came on a skinny post, where his speed and strong hands prevailed.
At 6’5″ and 214 pounds, Thornton is a superlative vertical athlete who hasn’t lost a step. The 2025 NFL Draft needs a big-play threat, and he might be the one to fill that void.
Jahvaree Ritzie, DT, North Carolina
There were plenty of great performances in Week 1. But on the defensive side of the ball, few were more statistically eye-catching than that of North Carolina defensive tackle Jahvaree Ritzie. In a big 19-17 win over Minnesota, Ritzie scored three sacks.
Now, after just one game in the 2024 campaign, Ritzie already has career-highs in both sacks and TFLs.
All of Ritzie’s sacks were relatively slow-played — more than four seconds out. But Ritzie’s playmaking motor alone bears noting, as does his alignment-versatile power profile at around 6’4″, 290 pounds.
2025 NFL Draft Names To Watch: Taylen Green Breakout on the Horizon
Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas
Let’s start our “Names to Watch” section with a bright spot at QB: Arkansas’ Taylen Green. Yes, it was against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, but Green helped engineer a 70-0 win. He threw for 229 yards and two scores and ran for 88 yards and two additional TDs.
The full SEC slate will test the Boise State transfer. But diagnostically, countless strengths were visible in Week 1. He’s a superb athlete and off-platform mover at 6’6″, 230 pounds, with easy arm talent and a natural feel for mechanical congruence.
Matchups against ranked opponents like Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Tennessee, LSU, Ole Miss, Texas, and Missouri will test Green’s mettle. But with the opportunity afoot and the talent in his toolbox, a Round 1 rise is not off the table.
Conner Weigman, QB, Texas A&M
Starting the season with a loss is never fun, but the sour taste for Texas A&M was exacerbated by Conner Weigman‘s poor performance. Anticipation was high for the now-healthy third-year QB. In Week 1, however, he left scouts and onlookers wanting more.
Weigman’s raw athletic and arm talent is clear, but against Notre Dame, he looked shaky and uncomfortable all game, and that discomfort — particularly against pressure and in-pocket navigation — led to erratic mechanics and wildly inconsistent placement.
By the end, Weigman completed 12 of 30 passes for 100 yards and two interceptions. Notre Dame’s defense is stalwart, but for a riser candidate who had a full offseason as the starter, this was an uninspiring debut. Still, he’ll have a chance to rebound.
Donovan Smith, QB, Houston
Donovan Smith was highly rated on my preseason 2025 NFL Draft board. His Week 1 showing against UNLV was not worthy of high regard. The veteran passer lost to the Rebels 27-7, completing just 50% of his passes for 135 yards and two interceptions.
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The 2024 campaign will be a crucial one for Smith’s draft stock. He has all of the athleticism, arm talent, and off-platform ability to be an early-round pick, but until he plays to his potential consistently and strings together high-quality reps, his growth will stall.
Jared Wilson, C, Georgia
Another name could be entering the fold in the sparse 2025 NFL Draft center class: Georgia’s Jared Wilson. It’s no surprise; Georgia sent Sedrick Van Pran to the draft last year, and they have a track record up front. Wilson is the latest to impress.
Balance and control were occasional issues for Wilson against Clemson, but facing off against a talented host of defensive linemen — led by DeMonte Capehart — he performed very well.
Wilson handled stunts and looping rushers with aplomb — displaying his sharp adaptability — and his explosive athleticism at 6’3″, 310 pounds shined when climbing the field. In this center class, consistent performance could earn him early-round capital.
Harrison Wallace III, WR, Penn State
With Allar’s rise at Penn State, there’s bound to be a beneficiary at the WR position. Early on, it looks as though it’ll be Harrison Wallace III. The 6’0″, 199-pound junior caught five passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns from Allar in the team’s Week 1 win.
On his first TD catch, Harrison used his spatial awareness to find a soft spot in the zone coverage look, and then he used his speed to seal the deal. On the second, he stacked on a boundary fade and then made an incredible back-shoulder adjustment past the pylon.
We’ll have to see if Wallace can string together games — but early on, he appears to have the talent and the conversion ability to rise.
Fadil Diggs, EDGE, Syracuse
Syracuse played Ohio in Week 1, so it wasn’t an overly revealing test for the team’s 2025 NFL Draft talent. But the game did provide us a reminder to keep an eye on Fadil Diggs.
Diggs has speed, explosiveness, and bend at 6’5″, 260 pounds, and he racked up two sacks and four tackles for loss in an exceptional showing. His game against NC State and OT prospect Anthony Belton, set for Oct. 12, should be circled.