Question 1: Are any FSU RBs going to be startable this season?

I think Kromah is the only stable one for me. Norvell uses him, just not correctly. I think there are some wrinkles there that could really work, but unfortunately I think those wrinkles are going to have to wait until Norvell gets fired. Hopium at its absolute finest.

I like Kromah as a player and think the talent is there for him to be a top RB C2C asset. The problem is I don’t love the way this backfield is being used, and I don’t think we’re going to get the consistent workload we want unless someone really separates.

If I’m starting an FSU RB right now, it’s Kromah. I’m just not expecting him to suddenly become a 20 touch a game guy. The talent is there. I just need the usage and coaching to catch up.

Question 2: Follow up: Where do you think Kromah plays next season?

Would look good in some Florida Gator colors, right? Honestly, I have no idea. And that’s kind of where we’re at with college football now. A lot of this is going to depend on which players actually go to the NFL because, hell, they make more money in college than some of them will make in the NFL.

If Kromah has the year I think he can have, he’s going to have options. I’d obviously love to see him land somewhere that actually knows how to use him, but I’m not going to pretend I can predict the portal six months from now. The portal has basically turned college football into fantasy free agency with absolutely no warning. But if I had to guess it would be Florida.

Question 3: How does one value/properly react to Week 0/1 usage and play calling? Struggle with overvaluing these things or completely dismiss them.

I think the key here is don’t overreact, but that doesn’t mean completely ignore it either. I’m monitoring Week 0 and Week 1 to the point where I’m trying to make educated guesses about whether the production and usage are actually sustainable.

A lot is going to change once defenses get some film and start figuring things out. Coaches are going to adjust, defenses are going to adjust and suddenly that thing that worked for 150 yards in Week 1 isn’t working the same way in Week 4. That’s why I’m usually pretty careful during Weeks 0-2. I want to see consistent usage before I pull the trigger and add someone.

If a guy gets 15 carries in Week 1, I’m not immediately convinced he’s the next great RB. But if I see the same role in Week 2 and the coaching staff is clearly designing the offense around him, now we’re talking. The same thing works in reverse. If a player I really liked coming into the season suddenly isn’t being used, I’m not just going to say, Well, it’s only Week 1 and completely dismiss it. Basically, I’m trying to gather information without letting one Saturday completely rewrite my rankings. Don’t overreact to the box score, but absolutely react to the information.

Question 4: What do you think Y1Zero as a concept?

I get this question a lot because everyone knows how much I love the Y1Zero concept…Not.

I don’t want to go too far down this rabbit hole because my analytics guys are probably already typing their responses, but I just don’t trust it. I don’t use it in my evaluations at all. The biggest issue for me is that it’s a man made system with a cutoff that I don’t really understand. If the model is only looking at the top 300 WR recruits, why 300? Why not 400? Why not 500? Who decided 300 was the magic number?

That’s where I lose confidence in it. It feels like we’re creating a system that favors certain players and then using that system to tell us which players have a better chance of NFL success. I understand the basic premise. If a freshman WR hits certain production thresholds, historically he’s had a better chance of eventually finding NFL success. That’s fine. I just don’t believe those thresholds are something I should use to determine how I value a player. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe 10 years from now I’ll be sitting here and people will be gunning for my neck. But right now, Y1Zero isn’t part of my process, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. Sorry analytics guys.

Question 5: Demon June worth hanging onto? Solid freshman year last year and now it looks like he’s moved down the depth chart.

He’s probably a hold for me, but I think it’s going to be a rough year fantasy wise for him. At this point, we can only pray he gets away from that backfield. Rotating backfields are absolute nightmares for fantasy purposes. You can have a really talented RB and still be completely screwed because the coaching staff wants to split everything three ways.

I’m not ready to throw June away because of a depth chart move, especially after what we saw from him as a freshman. But I’m also not going to pretend I’m excited about the situation right now. If he gets into a situation where he’s the clear guy, I think the talent can show back up pretty quickly. For now, I’m holding and hoping the transfer portal gods eventually do us a favor.

Question 6: Thoughts on the impact of new offensive lines for RB production?

O-line shuffles and new faces definitely play a factor into RB production. Even if the RB is a stud, sometimes the offensive line just lets him down. That’s part of the game. And like I mentioned above, the transfer portal has made this even more of a reality. You can have an RB coming into the season that you really like, but suddenly he’s running behind an offensive line with three new starters and we’re wondering why the hell he can’t get five yards. This is another reason I don’t want to overreact to early season production. Sometimes the RB isn’t the problem. Sometimes he’s getting hit three yards behind the line of scrimmage because his guard just got forklifted into the backfield. I want to watch how the line develops because offensive lines need time to build chemistry. If we’re six weeks into the season and the line still can’t block anybody, then yeah, I’m going to start adjusting my expectations for the RB. But I’m not burying a talented player because his new offensive line had a rough Saturday.

That’s it for this round of questions. This is honestly one of my favorite types of articles to do because it gives me a chance to explain some of the thought process behind my rankings and evaluations instead of just throwing a player name out there and saying, I like him. And as you can probably tell, my general philosophy heading into the season is pretty simple: don’t overreact, but don’t ignore information either.

College football changes way too quickly for us to pretend we know exactly how everything is going to play out in August. Coaches change their minds, players emerge, depth charts change, defenses adjust and, of course, the transfer portal is always sitting there waiting to ruin whatever long term plan we thought we had. So keep watching, keep adjusting and maybe don’t panic after one Saturday. Unless Norvell is still misusing Kromah then I’m panicking.

That’s the beauty of Week 0. We have to remember that these teams are still figuring things out. A lot of these players are in new offenses, new systems, or new roles, and the transfer portal has created a ton of movement. That includes offensive lines, which can completely change how an entire offense functions. So before we start dropping players after one bad game, take a breath.

I’ll start with my own accountability. If you read my bets for the day, I finished 1-2. Not exactly a banner day. FSU and Jaden Craig decided they wanted to personally ruin my afternoon, so there’s that. But enough about my gambling losses. Let’s get into what actually mattered and I’m not including all games since I didn’t watch the Sacramento State game and UNLV vs Memphis won’t be over by the time I’m writing this and I’m an old man so I got to bed early so if you want me to break down those games let me know but let’s get into it.

UNC vs. TCU

Jordan Shipp is legit. That’s really the biggest takeaway for me from the UNC side. Jordan Shipp looks like a guy who belongs in the conversation when we’re talking about this UNC offense. There’s a lot to like about his game, and I’m going to be watching closely if he’s the clear WR1 I think he can be.

Jelani Thurman is another name that caught my attention. He might absolutely be a useful TE for your league, but I’m going to pump the brakes for another week before I get too excited. I’ve seen this movie before. A tight end goes off in Week 0, everyone starts screaming league winner, and then we never hear from the guy again. I need to see it again before I’m buying.

On the TCU side, Jaden Craig struggled early and often. I genuinely don’t know what was going on. Maybe it was the OC calling plays like a generic CPU, maybe it was the offensive line, maybe it was a combination of everything, but it was ugly.

And that offensive line was BAD. Craig had absolutely no time to throw. At one point I’m pretty sure the only way he could’ve gotten enough time was if they let him go shotgun from the locker room. UNC’s defense was getting after him all night, and they made that defense look like a prime Bill Belichick Super Bowl unit.

Jeremy Payne was one of the few bright spots for TCU. He was running the ball well, but they absolutely force-fed him with 25 carries, which is a little wild for a first game.

Ed Small also had a nice game, and I think there’s reason to keep him on the radar. TCU was without its top two receivers, which obviously opened things up, but Small took advantage of the opportunity. I’m interested to see if that involvement sticks once the full offense is back. As for Craig, I’m not throwing him away after one game. But I definitely need to see something better.

USC vs. San Jose State

Luke Weaver is legit? I’m not ready to put a giant stamp on it yet, but I was impressed. Weaver looked really good in this game regardless of the outcome. He made some legitimately impressive throws and did a nice job exposing the USC defense, especially when the run game wasn’t giving him much to work with. For a guy making his debut in that environment, I thought he looked comfortable.

The interesting development for me was Carson Clark. I expected McClure to be the guy coming out of the San Jose State receiver room, but Weaver seemed to look Clark’s way just as much. That’s something I’m absolutely monitoring going forward because you always want a SJSU WR on your fantasy team.

Then there’s Trent Mosley. This kid is a DOG. USC was missing its top two receivers, and Mosley came out and took advantage of it in a big way. Seven catches for 118 yards and a touchdown as a true freshman is a hell of a way to introduce yourself. Obviously, we need to see what happens when the entire receiver room is healthy, but you can’t ignore that performance.

NC State vs. Virginia

There isn’t a whole lot to say about the NC State side other than this: CJ Bailey is bootycheeks. I’m sorry, but 84 passing yards on 23 attempts with an interception is concerning.

That performance completely killed the offense. Maybe he bounces back, maybe this was just a bad game, but there wasn’t much here that made me feel good about him from a fantasy perspective.

On the other side, Beau Pribula might be a guy worth picking up. He basically put the team on his back, throwing for 155 yards while adding another 110 yards on the ground. That rushing ability is obviously going to give him a pretty high fantasy floor if he continues to get designed carries and scrambles.

If you need a QB and Pribula is sitting on your waiver wire, I’d at least take a look. I’m not saying he’s suddenly a locked-in QB1, but there’s enough here to make him interesting.

NDSU vs. Jacksonville State

Nathan Hayes can sling it. He made a really nice throw into tight coverage and showed some arm talent, although he didn’t have to do a ton after that because they had the game pretty much handled.

The two guys I’m actively targeting from this offense are Jackson Williams and Reis Kassel. They look like the top two targets for this team, and Hayes seemed comfortable looking their way.

Jalen Likely is good. But he’s not Cam Cook good. At least not yet. He showed some promise, but I’m not convinced this Jacksonville State offense is going to be as good as advertised. Caden Creel struggled, and when the quarterback isn’t moving the offense, it makes it pretty difficult for anyone else to produce consistently. I’m not completely out on Likely, but I’m definitely tempering expectations.

New Mexico State vs. Florida State

This game gave me one of the bigger surprises of the day. Trey Hedden looked legit. He made some really good throws, including a couple into tight windows, and honestly surprised the hell out of me.

Hedden wasn’t exactly lighting the world on fire at the FCS level, so seeing him come out and play the way he did was unexpected. I’m going to be adding him in a lot of leagues as a potential bye week fill in. I’m not expecting him to suddenly become Cam Ward, but if he continues playing like this, he could be a really useful fantasy QB.

James Jones, on the other hand, didn’t exactly fix the New Mexico State rushing attack. I don’t think New Mexico State knows how to run the football. They were dead last in the FBS in rushing last year, and after what we saw here, I’m not sure anything has changed.

The surprise WR1 for me was Broderick Malone-Bradford. Six catches, 96 yards and a touchdown is a pretty damn good night, and he definitely wasn’t the name I expected to come out of this game as the receiver to know. He’s going on my watchlist immediately.

For Florida State, Ousmane Kromah was eating whenever he got the ball. The problem is that I still don’t trust Mike Norvell to consistently give him the workload we want. Kromah was taken off the field multiple times in the red zone, while Singleton Jr. continued to get those opportunities. That is something I’m going to be watching very closely because Kromah clearly has the talent to produce. I just need to see the coaching staff actually let him do it.

Hawaii vs. Stanford

Micah Alejado struggled early but eventually found his groove. Unfortunately, he found it a little too late. He still put together a solid fantasy day, but the slow start is something I want to keep an eye on. I expect better from him as the season progresses.

Devon Rice also caught my attention. He led the Hawaii backfield and has the type of burst where it feels like he can break a run at any moment. He’s definitely a name I’m keeping on the radar.

And just like we all expected, Kaikai Carvalho was leading the Hawaii receivers. Haha just kidding I don’t think many people thought this at all including myself .

On the Stanford side, Micah Ford is still the guy I want. Twenty-five carries for 99 yards and three touchdowns. That’s a true workhorse workload.

If Stanford continues giving him that kind of volume, Ford is going to have plenty of opportunities to put up fantasy points.

Davis Warren also looked… alright? Honestly, that was a little surprising. I wasn’t expecting to come away from this game feeling particularly good about him, but he made some plays and kept the offense moving.

The Stanford receiver room is still difficult to pinpoint. Hall, Robinson and Joseph all got opportunities, so I’m not ready to declare one guy the clear target yet. The pass catcher I would be most interested in, though, is tight end Benji Blackburn.

Five catches for 49 yards isn’t exactly going to make anyone lose their mind, but if you’re playing in a TE premium league, that’s interesting. And I know what you’re thinking.

You’re really excited about five catches for 49 yards? Yes, tight ends are weird, TE premium leagues are even weirder, and sometimes you don’t need the guy catching 10 balls a game. You need the guy consistently getting five or six opportunities while everyone else is trying to find a tight end who doesn’t score three points.

Don’t Overreact to Week 0

That’s probably the biggest takeaway I have coming out of the weekend. There were some really good performances, some really bad performances, and plenty of players who left us with more questions than answers.

That’s okay. It’s Week 0. We haven’t even gotten to the point where these teams have fully settled into their rotations yet. Transfer portal movement, new quarterbacks, new offensive coordinators, new offensive lines and young players all create a ton of uncertainty. So I’m taking notes rather than making sweeping declarations.

There are players I’m buying. There are players I’m selling. And there are plenty of guys I’m putting in the show me again category. Week 0 gave us the first piece of the puzzle. Now we see what happens when everyone settles in.

Hawaii vs. Stanford — Over 48.5

I’m starting with Hawaii vs. Stanford, and I really like the over at 48.5. These teams played last season, with Hawaii winning 23-20, but I’m not putting a ton of weight into that result when looking at this game. There are enough changes on both sides that I think we could see a completely different type of matchup.

The biggest thing for me is Hawaii’s offense. Micah Alejado is back after a really good 2025 season, and Hawaii returns plenty of production around him. I expect them to be able to move the football, especially through the air. Stanford’s secondary was one of the worst in the country last season, giving up 288.9 passing yards per game.

That’s a matchup I want to attack. The question is really whether Stanford can do enough offensively to get us over the number. I think they can. Stanford averaged just 18.8 points per game last season, so I understand why someone might look at this matchup and immediately think under. But I’m expecting the Cardinal to have some success running the football, and I’m interested to see what Davis Warren can do in his first season at Stanford. The passing game is still my biggest concern with Stanford, but they don’t need to score 35 points for this bet to hit. If Hawaii gets into the 30s, I think Stanford can do enough to get us there.

I also have some serious questions about Hawaii’s defense. They were good last season, but they lost nine of their 11 defensive starters. That’s a massive amount of production to replace, and I’m not expecting a brand new defense to come out and completely shut down Stanford in Week 0. Give me some offense, some questionable defense and hopefully a few big plays.

Bet: Over 48.5

Florida State Team Total — Over 42.5

This one is pretty simple. I’m asking Florida State to score 43 points against New Mexico State. That feels very doable to me. New Mexico State gave up more than 400 yards and 30 points per game last season, and now they’re heading into Tallahassee to face a Florida State team with a massive talent advantage. Obviously, Florida State isn’t exactly the same team it was a year ago. But there is still a ton of talent on that roster.

Florida State averaged 37 points per game at home last season, and when they played Group of Five competition, they absolutely destroyed them, scoring more than 66 points in both games. I’m not saying Florida State is going to score 60 here. I’m just saying I think they can score 43. If the Seminoles get rolling early, I could see this game getting ugly pretty quickly. New Mexico State is going to have a hard time matching Florida State’s athletes for four quarters, and eventually I expect that talent gap to show up on the scoreboard. This isn’t a bet where I’m trying to predict exactly how the game plays out. I’m betting on Florida State having too much firepower for New Mexico State to keep up with.

Bet: Florida State Team Total Over 42.5

Jaden Craig — Over 1.5 Passing TDs

This is probably my favorite bet of the three. If you’ve been following my stuff, you already know I’ve been pretty high on Jaden Craig. Now we finally get to see what he can do at TCU, and I think he has a great opportunity to start this season with a bang. Craig was excellent at Harvard last season, throwing for 2,869 yards and 25 touchdowns while posting a 91.3 PFF grade.

But the number that really gets my attention is the 31 big-time throws. He finished second in the FCS in that category, and the deep ball is a huge part of what makes him interesting to me. He had 32 completions of 20 plus yards last season, which was tied for fifth in the entire FCS. Now put that arm talent into a TCU offense with a significant talent advantage over North Carolina.

I also expect TCU’s defense to give North Carolina plenty of problems, particularly up front. If TCU can consistently get off the field and create short fields for the offense, that obviously gives Craig more opportunities to find the end zone. North Carolina’s defense wasn’t terrible last season, but it wasn’t exactly dominant either. The Tar Heels ranked 74th in EPA per play and allowed 26.2 points per game.

I expect Belichick to have a plan for Craig. He’s probably going to try to make him patient, take away the deep ball and force him to win with the short and intermediate stuff. That’s fine. Craig doesn’t need to throw for 400 yards for this bet to hit. I just need him to throw two touchdowns.

I’ve been waiting to see this kid get his shot at the Power 4 level, and I think he starts the season by showing everyone why I’ve been so interested in him.

Bet: Jaden Craig Over 1.5 Passing TDs

I’m not trying to make Week 0 more complicated than it needs to be. Three bets. That’s what I’m betting.

Hawaii/Stanford Over 48.5

Florida State Team Total Over 42.5

Jaden Craig Over 1.5 Passing TDs

Now we get to see if I actually know what I’m talking about or if Week 0 is going to humble me immediately. Either way, college football is back.

Some of these names are already pretty well known, while others are guys I’m much more interested in than the general market right now. That’s what makes this list fun for me because Week 0 is our first real opportunity to start figuring out which offseason opinions are actually going to hold up once these guys get on the field.

Jaden Craig — QB, TCU

TCU vs. North Carolina

Craig is one of the quarterbacks I’m most excited to watch this weekend, and the first thing I want to see his arm strength in fully display. He can absolutely sling the football, especially inside that 25 yard range, and he has the kind of velocity that allows him to fit passes into tight windows that some quarterbacks simply can’t attack. I’m always interested in quarterbacks who can create throwing windows with their arm talent rather than needing everything to be perfect around them. The other thing that makes me interested in Craig is that he has played enough football that I’m not expecting the moment to be too big for him. He’s experienced, he’s shown that he can process the game, and TCU offensive coordinator Gordon Sammis has apparently made it very clear that interceptions aren’t going to be acceptable. Craig has taken that message seriously, and I think that could be a big part of his season. I’m not looking for him to come out and throw for 400 yards and four touchdowns against North Carolina. If he protects the football, consistently makes the right decisions and shows me that the arm talent is as good as advertised, I’m going to come away pretty excited about him.

Luke Weaver — QB, San Jose State

San Jose State vs. USC

There really isn’t a soft landing for Weaver to start his career. He’s making his first start at the Coliseum against USC, which is about as difficult of an environment as you could ask for a new quarterback. San Jose State could be walking into a game where the talent gap is pretty obvious, so I’m not going to judge Weaver solely by his final stat line.

What I’m really watching is how he handles everything around him. Weaver has talked about preparing for USC the same way he would prepare for any other game while understanding that the atmosphere is going to be loud and chaotic. I actually like that approach because he’s not pretending the environment doesn’t matter, but he’s also not allowing himself to make it bigger than it needs to be. If San Jose State can find anything close to what Chevan Cordeiro and Nick Nash were able to do against USC in 2023, this could become a really interesting guy. I’m not expecting Weaver to go into the Coliseum and take down the Trojans, but if he looks comfortable, makes some difficult throws and shows me he belongs on that stage,I’ll fully buy in.

Terrell Anderson — WR, USC

USC vs. San Jose State

I had to include two players from this game because I’m genuinely excited to watch Weaver, but I’m also realistic enough to know San Jose State could get absolutely throttled. That’s where Anderson comes in for me because USC really needs this portal addition to hit. The Trojans need him to become a legitimate second option alongside Tanook Hines, and they can’t afford to have an offense where defenses only have to worry about one or two receivers.

We’ve seen USC take swings at receivers through the portal that haven’t exactly worked out, so Anderson has a pretty big opportunity in front of him. I’m not just going to look at his final numbers against San Jose State either. I want to see how USC uses him, whether they’re intentionally getting him involved and whether Jayden Maiava looks comfortable going to him when he needs a play. If Anderson comes out and immediately looks like somebody USC needs to feature, that’s going to get my attention pretty quickly because this passing game needs more weapons if it’s going to take a step forward this season.

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That’s why I’m using this stretch before Week 0 a little differently. I kicked off The Recruit Film Room with Trae Taylor, and this is going to be the second edition of the series. Instead of forcing content around whatever news happens to be trending that day, I’m going back to the film on 2027 recruits and giving you the type of evaluation I’d want to read myself.

I’m going to break down what I like, what concerns me, where I think the player can improve, give them a grade on my 100-point scale, compare that grade against my historical recruiting evaluations dating back to 2018 and then give you a “Shades Of” player comparison based on what I actually see on film. This time we’re moving over to the running back position: Kemon Spell.

And honestly, the timing of this one is pretty damn good. Spell isn’t playing this week, while David Gabriel Georges just exploded in his first high school game. Naturally, I’ve already seen people questioning why I still have Spell ranked ahead of DGG.

I completely understand the question. DGG looked really damn good. I’m high on DGG myself, so I’m certainly not going to sit here and pretend his performance didn’t get my attention. When a 2027 running back goes out and immediately shows that kind of explosiveness and physicality, you take notice. But I’m also not going to completely overhaul my rankings because of one Friday night when I’ve already spent a significant amount of time watching both players.

That’s what I want to get into here. Because when I go back through Spell’s film, I see a running back who has an extremely difficult combination of traits to defend. He’s a mixture of a tank and a jackrabbit, and I’m not sure there’s a better way to describe what makes him so interesting. He has the physicality to run through you, but he also has the explosiveness to run away from you.

And when I watch him, I see shades of Jonathan Taylor. I’m not saying Spell is going to become Jonathan Taylor. That’s not how I use player comps. I’m talking about the way the two backs combine power, acceleration, vision and contact balance to create problems for a defense.

So while everybody else is waiting for college football to start, I’m going back to the film. Let’s talk about why I’m still betting on Kemon Spell.

The Film Breakdown

The First Thing That Jumps Off The Screen

The first thing that jumped out to me when I started going back through Spell’s film was the combination of burst and physicality. You don’t normally get both at this level.

There are plenty of running backs who can hit a hole quickly, and there are plenty who can lower their pads and run through somebody, but when you put those two traits together in the same player, that’s when you start getting somebody who can completely change a game. Spell gets downhill quickly, but he doesn’t look like a player who’s simply trying to outrun everybody. He understands how to use his momentum, and once he gets moving, he becomes extremely difficult to bring down.

His first three touches of his junior season tell you a lot about what we’re dealing with. He opened with a 98 yard kickoff return touchdown, followed it with a 56 yard rushing touchdown and then added an 80 yard touchdown run. Those plays are obviously going to make the highlight tape look ridiculous, but what I like is that the explosive plays aren’t the entire evaluation.

They’re just one part of it. Spell consistently shows the ability to hit the gas when he sees an opening, and once he gets into space, he has the speed to finish the play.

Explosiveness: 95.0

The Tank with Speed

This is probably the easiest way to explain Spell. There are backs who are really explosive but don’t love contact, and there are backs who are physical but don’t have the juice to turn a five yard run into a 50 yard run. Spell has both.

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But honestly, none of that is why I wanted to start this series with him. I’ve watched plenty of recruiting rankings change over the years, and I’ve learned that the ranking can tell you what the industry thinks a player is worth, but it doesn’t necessarily tell me what I think the player is going to become. That’s what I’m trying to figure out with The Recruit Film Room.

I’m going through the high school film, looking at the individual traits, breaking down the good and the bad, and then putting a number on the player using the same general scale I’ve used for my recruiting evaluations going back to 2018. I’m adding the film clips directly into these evaluations, you can actually see why I’m giving a player the grade I am.

With Taylor, there is a lot to like. There is also a few things I want to see cleaned up.

The First Thing That Stands Out

The first thing that jumped out to me with Taylor was the combination of arm talent and how quickly the ball comes out. The release is compact, he generates easy velocity, and he doesn’t have to completely sell out mechanically to drive the football downfield. That’s something I really like because there are plenty of quarterbacks who can make the big throw when everything is perfect. What I’m looking for is whether that arm talent shows up when the quarterback is moving, when the pocket isn’t clean, or when he has to make a throw before the receiver is completely open. Taylor has shown me enough of that to feel pretty comfortable giving him a high end arm grade.

Arm Talent: 95.0

He Doesn’t Need Receivers To Be Wide Open

This is probably one of my favorite parts of his game. Taylor is willing to throw the football with anticipation, and I think that’s an important distinction when evaluating a quarterback this young. He’s not always waiting for the receiver to create five yards of separation before he lets it go. There are plays where he understands where the receiver is going to be, trusts the route and puts the football into the window before it completely opens. That is the kind of trait I can actually project forward.

The windows are only going to get tighter when he gets to Nebraska, so the fact that he’s already comfortable throwing into them is something I want to keep an eye on.

Anticipation: 94.5

The Pocket Stuff Might Be Underrated

This is one of those things that I don’t think shows up when you simply look at his recruiting profile. Taylor can move. But what I like more is that he doesn’t always immediately turn that athleticism into a scramble.

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At first, I wasn’t really paying much attention to Martin because I was there to watch Bishop. But after seeing Martin make play after play, I eventually started wondering, who the hell is this guy and why haven’t I heard more about him? So I looked him up, and that’s when things got interesting. 247Sports has Martin ranked as the No. 21 tight end in the 2026 class, while ESPN had him all the way up at No. 6. That’s a pretty significant difference, and after going back through more of Martin’s film, I think there’s a pretty good chance I’m going to be higher on him than the services.

I’m not sitting here telling you Martin is some guaranteed future star. That’s not what this is. I’m calling him a name to know, because I think he’s the type of player who could look a lot more valuable six or twelve months from now than he does today. The combination of his production, physicality, athletic background and landing spot at Houston has me much more interested than I expected to be when I started watching Bishop.

The Production Is What Really Got Me Interested

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So I’m posting it. If you like these types of articles, let me know, and if you don’t, let me know that too. Seriously. I want to get back to just posting whatever my crazy mind thinks of instead of overthinking every single day about whether I’m posting an absolute banger, whether I’m saying the right thing, or whether I’m checking every damn P and Q before I hit publish. Sometimes I just want to find a player I like, tell you why I like him and see what happens.

There’s a certain type of player I’m always looking for when I start digging into a recruiting class. I don’t necessarily care if the player is a five star, and I don’t even necessarily care if the recruiting services are particularly excited about him yet. What I care about is whether I can look at the player and see something that could eventually matter at the next level.

We’re not drafting these guys based on what they are as high school recruits. We’re betting on what they can become once they get into a college program, develop physically, earn playing time and eventually show us what they can do against better competition. That’s where I think you can find an edge.

I’ve spent a dumb amount of time digging through the 2027 class lately, and I keep coming back to eight players who I think you should have on your radar. Some are already getting plenty of recruiting attention, while others are still sitting in that sweet spot where I think you can get ahead. I’m also going to throw a player comparison on each one, but I want to be clear about what I mean by that. I’m not saying these guys are the players I’m comparing them to. I’m looking for shades of their games, similar traits or a developmental path that reminds me of someone who has already made it at the college or NFL level. Because if I’m going to take a swing on a 17 year old, I want to have an idea of what the ceiling could look like.

QB: Chance Thomas — Kansas

Chance Thomas is one of those quarterbacks who immediately makes me think about C2C rather than traditional recruiting rankings. As a junior at Western High School in Anaheim, Thomas threw for 3,327 yards and 33 touchdowns while adding another 734 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. That’s 40 total touchdowns, and while I’m obviously not going to pretend high school production automatically translates to college success, the rushing component is what really gets my attention.

I’m always willing to take a shot on a quarterback who can create fantasy points with his legs because the floor can look completely different when you’re getting rushing production on top of the passing numbers. Thomas has shown that he can be a legitimate dual threat rather than a quarterback who occasionally scrambles when a play breaks down, and he has the kind of production that tells me the offense is already putting the ball in his hands and asking him to make things happen.

The next step is going to be the most important one for me, which is figuring out how much the passing game develops. If Thomas can become a more consistent and efficient passer without losing what makes him dangerous as a runner, his ceiling becomes pretty damn interesting. That’s the bet I’m making. I’m not expecting him to walk into Kansas and immediately become a fantasy star because he’ll have to earn everything, but if he eventually wins the job, I think the rushing component gives him a chance to become one of those quarterbacks who can outperform his recruiting profile.

The comp: Shades of Jalen Hurts

I’m obviously not saying Thomas is going to become Jalen Hurts. What I see are some similarities in the developmental bet, because Hurts entered college as a quarterback whose rushing ability was already a major part of his value while his passing development ultimately determined how high his ceiling could go. That’s what I’m watching with Thomas. If the passing catches up to the athleticism, suddenly the quarterback who was interesting because he could run becomes a quarterback I’m genuinely excited about.

QB: Kevin Verpaele — USF

Kevin Verpaele might have one of the actual best throwing ability in this class. At a recent camp, Verpaele reportedly delivered the strongest overall quarterback performance, with evaluators praising his live arm, ability to drive the football downfield, tight spirals and repeatable mechanics. That last part is important to me because there are plenty of quarterbacks who can make one ridiculous throw at a camp, but I’m much more interested in the guy who can consistently reproduce his mechanics and deliver the ball accurately over and over again.

Then you look at the junior production. Verpaele completed 191 of 302 passes for 2,714 yards, 27 touchdowns and nine interceptions, while also adding significant rushing production. Recent reporting has him at 597 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Again, that dual threat component is a big deal. I like quarterbacks who can give me multiple ways to win, and Verpaele has the arm talent to attack downfield while also being athletic enough to create something when the pocket breaks down. What makes him even more interesting to me is that his recruiting profile is still a little behind what I think he could eventually become. Rivals moved him into four star territory, while 247Sports and ESPN have still had him lower, which is exactly the kind of discrepancy that makes me want to keep watching.

The comp: Shades of Baker Mayfield

Again, I’m not saying Verpaele is Baker Mayfield. The comparison is more about the way I’m viewing the quarterback, because there are shades of that aggressive, confident passer who can drive the ball downfield, create outside the pocket and play with enough athleticism to punish defenses when they give him space. For Verpaele, the biggest question is whether those traits translate against better competition. If they do, I’m buying.

RB: Wayne Shanks Jr. — Arizona

This is probably my favorite running back on the list, and it starts with the production. Shanks rushed for 1,787 yards and 24 touchdowns as a junior while adding another 352 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns. Shanks shows the ability to shorten his stride and press blocks before entering a lane, and he has some sudden jump cut ability, including in traffic. He also runs hard enough to consistently create yards after contact.

There are things I want to see him improve, particularly his one speed tendencies in the open field, his acceleration/deceleration variation and his pass protection. Those are the kinds of things I’m willing to bet on developing, though, because the foundation is there and he is a lead back who can handle a significant workload as both a ball carrier and pass catching option.

If Shanks develops in those areas, I think his value could climb very quickly. His current recruiting profile already shows that he has legitimate Power Four interest, and he’s committed to Arizona, so now I’m watching how his game continues to develop.

The comp: Shades of James Conner

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As we head into the 2026 season, the national attention is already focused on the quarterbacks we’ve known about for years. Arch Manning is going to receive plenty of attention, Josh Hoover has become one of the more recognizable names in the transfer portal, and there are plenty of other highly regarded quarterbacks who are already established in the national conversation. That’s why I’m more interested in looking a little further down the board, because if you’re trying to find the next quarterback who could completely change his trajectory, I think you have to look out west and start paying attention to Oregon State sophomore Braden Atkinson.

I know comparing anybody to Fernando Mendoza is a big statement, but I don’t think the comparison needs to be about their exact games or their eventual careers. What interests me is the path. Atkinson has the opportunity to go from an overlooked quarterback who produced at a lower level to a Power Four starter in a new offensive system, and that is exactly the kind of situation that can completely change a player’s value.

The Jerry Rice Award Gives Us a Reason to Pay Attention

Before I get too far into Atkinson, I think it’s worth talking about the Jerry Rice Award because this was one of the first things that made me take his resume more seriously. The award is given to the top freshman in the FCS, and when you start going through the winners, the list is pretty damn impressive. Cooper Kupp won it in 2013. Chase Edmonds won it in 2014. Trey Lance won it in 2019. Cameron Ward won it in 2020, followed by Shedeur Sanders in 2021. Those are some pretty recognizable names.

And then there’s the most recent winner before Atkinson, CharMar Brown. Brown won the award at North Dakota State in 2024 and is now at Miami, where he’s been absolutely killing it. That’s important to me because we’re not just looking at some award where the best examples are a decade old. We’re watching recent winners continue to make an impact at the highest levels of college football.

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When he runs, he doesn’t look like a quarterback. He looks like a fullback with burst, and that’s what draws people in. He can break contain, run through contact, and create chunk plays without needing everything to be perfect around him. Add in the baseball background, the overall athletic profile, and the flashes of downfield arm talent, and yeah, it’s easy to sell yourself on what he could become. I get why coaches love him. I get why people are projecting forward. I just don’t get why people are already treating him like a quarterback you should be buying into right now.

When I Watch Him, I Don’t See a Quarterback Yet

This is where I separate, and I’m not going to dance around it. When I evaluate quarterbacks, I’m starting with one question; can you consistently operate the position as a passer? With Reynolds, I’m not there. What I see right now is a really good athlete who is still learning how to play quarterback. The passing isn’t just “a little raw,” it’s the entire concern for me. The accuracy comes and goes, the ball placement isn’t consistently where it needs to be, and the decision making still looks like a player who is figuring things out on the fly instead of controlling the offense.

And the biggest thing that keeps showing up every time I watch him is how he throws the football. Everything comes out hot. It’s fastball after fastball, regardless of situation. There’s not enough touch, not enough layering, not enough ability to change speeds depending on the throw. At the college level, especially in a real offense, that’s not a small issue, it’s foundational.

“Raw” Sounds Good Until You Realize How Far Away That Can Be

This is the part where I think people get caught up, because “raw” has almost become a positive buzzword in recruiting. It sounds like upside, it sounds like untapped potential, and people assume development is just going to happen because the tools are there.

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I’m honestly not sure which way I lean on this one. On one side, you have Camden Coleman, who has a legitimate college resume and more experience than anyone else in the room. On the other, you have JC Evans, who has barely thrown a pass in college but brings the kind of athletic upside that can completely change the whole offense at the position. Then you have Arrington Maiden and Davi Belfort sitting in the room as well, which makes this a competition I don’t think we should completely write off as a two man race.

But if I had to narrow it down right now, Coleman and Evans are the two names I’m watching. And whoever wins this job could have a pretty good opportunity in front of them.

The Void Left by Alonza Barnett

Replacing Alonza Barnett was never going to be easy. Barnett was one of the most important pieces of the JMU offense, and now the Dukes have to figure out how to replace his production without completely changing what made the offense successful.

JMU isn’t rebuilding the entire offense. The Dukes have a lot of pieces returning and added even more talent through the portal. George Pettaway gives them a talented option in the backfield. Corey Scott and Jeremiah Harrison give them legitimate weapons at wide receiver, while Braeden Wisloski quietly finished 2025 by leading the team in receiving in each of the final three games.

The offensive line also looks like a strength. So whoever wins this quarterback job isn’t walking into a situation where they have to carry the offense themselves. They’re being handed an opportunity.

If I’m trying to make the safest projection, it’s Camden Coleman. Coleman went 13-1 as a starter at Richmond and finished his career there with 3,192 passing yards and 26 touchdowns. In 2024, he threw for 2,031 yards and 13 touchdowns while adding 338 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground.

He also had an excellent season from an efficiency standpoint. His 85.3 PFF grade in 2024 was the highest offensive grade on Richmond’s 10 win team, and he was especially effective against the blitz.

That is a pretty impressive resume for a quarterback entering a new opportunity. Coleman also spent the 2025 season at JMU as a redshirt, giving him an entire year inside the program without having to deal with the grind of a full season.

He had the opportunity to learn the offense, study Sun Belt defenses and get comfortable with the program while waiting for his chance. If JMU wants the quarterback who gives them the most confidence immediately, I completely understand why Coleman would be the favorite.

But then there’s JC Evans. And this is where I start getting really interested. Evans has thrown three career college passes. Yes, you read that right 3 PASSES.

Obviously, that means we’re working with an incredibly small sample size. There’s no way around that. We haven’t seen enough from him as a passer to confidently project what he will become. But Evans brings something to the table that makes him extremely interesting in this format. He can run extremely well and his athletic ability and size give him a completely different skill set than Coleman, and if he has actually developed as a passer, the ceiling is pretty obvious.

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I’ve done this before with players like Wayshawn Parker a few years ago and Malachi Toney last year, where I watched them and just thought the talent was obvious. I’m not saying Kentrell White is going to have the exact same career path as either of those guys, but the reason I wanted to write about him is pretty similar. I think this kid is really good, and I think there is a lot more development coming.

White is a 6 foot 4, 190 pound freshman tight end at Bowling Green, and the first thing that stood out to me when I started watching him was how well he moves for his size. You see a player at 6 foot 4 and you expect some of the normal limitations that come with being a bigger athlete, but I don’t really see that with White. He can get moving down the field, build up a lot of momentum and cover ground without looking like he’s fighting his frame.

The First Thing I Noticed Was How He Moves

He’s already a good athlete at this size and weight, so what happens when he gets into a college strength program, adds some good weight and gets more comfortable playing the position? I think there is a lot of room for this player to grow physically and technically, and that’s what makes him such an interesting stash for me. He also looks really comfortable in just going up and getting the football. White can high point the ball and does a good job using his frame when he’s working against defenders. That matches up with what his high school coaches said about him as well, because they consistently talked about his hands, his ability to use his body on 50/50 balls and his understanding of the game.

When you watch the film, you can see why people trusted him in those situations. His high school quarterback talked about going to White when they needed a big play, whether that was on third down, fourth down or simply needing somebody to make a play when the offense needed it. That tells me this wasn’t just a situation where White was getting opportunities because he was a big kid. He was producing and earning the trust of the people around him.

White led Midtown in receiving yards during both his sophomore and junior seasons and was the school’s only football player to earn First Team All Region honors in 2024. He had already been playing football for years before that, starting when he was just three years old because he wanted to play after watching his older brother. He has talked about how much he loves the physical side of football, and I think that comes through when you watch him.

There is a physicality to his game that I really like, but I think the most exciting part of this evaluation is that he is still pretty raw. I’m not watching White thinking I’ve found a finished tight end who has every part of his game figured out. I’m watching a young player who already has some traits that I really like and still has a lot of room to develop.

That’s exactly what I want when I’m looking at a freshman in C2C. I’m much more interested in what a player can become than what he is on the first day he walks onto campus, especially when I can already see the physical traits and some of the production that give me a reason to believe in the development. White has the frame, he has the movement skills, he can make contested catches and he has already shown that he can produce. Now he gets to put all of that together at Bowling Green and that’s another part of this that I really like.

When I started looking at the situation around him, I realized there is actually a pretty interesting opportunity for White to see the field. Bowling Green is replacing the top six receiving yard leaders from last season, and the Falcons also have to replace Jyrin Johnson at tight end along with receivers like Finn Hogan and RJ Garcia II. There are obviously still players in the room who are going to have a role, but this isn’t a situation where White is walking into a depth chart that is completely locked down for the next three years.

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For me, this is usually one of the more interesting times of the year because there is not always a ton of new information to break down every single day. We have spent months discussing rankings, incoming freshmen, transfers, breakout candidates, and every other angle we can find, so I never want to force an article just because there is a blank space on the calendar. Sometimes the best evaluations happen when you allow yourself to slow down, watch what is happening around college football, and follow a thought that catches your attention.

Over the last few weeks, I have been spending more time with my family and enjoying the calm before the season starts taking over everything again. That does not mean I am completely away from football, because if you know me, you already know I am probably still scrolling through X at some point looking for something that makes me stop and think.

That happened one night when I came across a viral tweet about Colorado’s roster during fall camp. The tweet was making fun of how small the team looked compared to some of the bigger programs around college football, and I’ll admit, I laughed a little bit because when you look at some of those players on the field, they really do look different compared to the massive offensive and defensive linemen we are used to seeing across the sport.

But after the initial laugh, I started thinking about Colorado a little more. Behind the joke was a team that is entering a new offensive era with Brennan Marion taking over as offensive coordinator, and anytime a new system comes into place, one of the first things I want to figure out is which players are going to benefit the most from that change.

That led me down a rabbit hole looking at the roster, the running back room, Marion’s previous offenses, and the type of players who have historically found success in his system. Eventually, I ended up spending a lot more time than I expected looking at DeKalon Taylor, and the more I researched him, the more I started believing that he could be one of those late-round C2C values that ends up making people wonder why the fantasy community overlooked him.

The reason Taylor stands out to me is not because he is the biggest running back on the roster or because he has the highest recruiting profile. In fact, those are the exact reasons why he is probably being overlooked right now. When you combine his skill set with the way Brennan Marion wants to run his offense, there is a path for Taylor to have a much bigger impact than his current draft cost suggests.

The Problem With How We Evaluate Late Round Players

One of the biggest mistakes I see in drafts every year is how managers approach the later rounds. Early in drafts, the strategy is usually pretty straightforward because everyone knows the names they want. The elite quarterbacks, the running backs with obvious NFL traits, and the highly recruited freshmen are usually the players who come off the board first because everyone understands the upside they bring.

The deeper you get into the draft, though, the more uncomfortable those decisions become. This is where I think a lot of managers start making picks based more on comfort than actual value. Instead of asking which players have the best opportunity to help their roster, they start chasing the idea of what a player could become years down the road.

We see it every year. Someone will draft a true freshman wide receiver who is currently buried on a depth chart because they love the recruiting profile. Someone else will take a developmental running back who might not see a meaningful role until multiple seasons from now because they believe the talent will eventually win out. There is nothing wrong with taking those types of swings because the future does matter, but there is a balance that has to be found.

The biggest thing that gets forgotten is that this is still a weekly fantasy game. You still have to score points. You still have to win games. You still have to put together a roster that can survive the grind of an entire college football season.

That is why I have always believed that the best late round picks are not always the players with the biggest long term projections. Sometimes they are the players who have a specific situation that can create immediate value. A player does not have to be a future first round NFL pick to help you win a championship. Sometimes a player just needs to find the right offense, earn a defined role, and give you production when the rest of your league is still waiting for their young prospects to develop.

This is where I think there is a major opportunity with DeKalon Taylor. The reason I became interested in Taylor was not because I looked at his rankings and saw a player climbing draft boards. It was actually the opposite. I started looking at the situation first and then worked backward to figure out which players could benefit from it. That process led me directly to him.

The 2025 Box Score Does Not Tell The Full Story

If you were to open up a stat sheet and look at DeKalon Taylor’s 2025 season without any context, there is a good chance you would keep scrolling. His numbers do not jump off the page, and honestly, I understand why people would overlook him if they were just searching for names based on previous production.

Taylor finished the season with only 19 rushing attempts for 83 yards, along with 10 receptions for 106 yards and two total touchdowns. For someone casually looking through CFF numbers or building a draft board, that does not exactly scream late-round target. The problem is that the final stat line leaves out the biggest piece of information. Taylor’s season ended after only four games because of a season ending injury.

This was not a situation where he was given a full season and failed to earn a role. He never really had the opportunity to show what he could do. Before the injury, Taylor was actually one of the more efficient players on the Colorado offense, averaging an impressive 6.1 yards per carry and showing the explosiveness that made him such an intriguing weapon coming into the season.

A lot of fantasy managers are quick to move on from players when the final numbers are not impressive, but sometimes the reason behind those numbers is more important than the numbers themselves. Taylor’s 2025 season was not a reflection of his ability; it was simply a season where the opportunity was taken away before we could get a real evaluation.

Now heading into 2026, Taylor enters the year fully healthy after spending the offseason recovering and was able to participate in spring practices. He has another opportunity to show what made Colorado interested in him in the first place, and this time he is stepping into an offense that could be a perfect match for his skill set.

Why Brennan Marion’s Go-Go Offense Is The Biggest Piece Of This Puzzle

The player evaluation is important, but the biggest reason I started digging into Taylor was because of the offensive system he is entering. When Brennan Marion was hired as Colorado’s offensive coordinator, it immediately changed how I wanted to evaluate this entire offense because Marion’s Go-Go system has consistently created unique opportunities for players who fit specific roles.

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And honestly, those players are usually easy to find. The hardest part is not identifying the quarterbacks everyone already loves. The hardest part is finding the quarterback who is being overlooked today but could become the player everyone is trying to acquire a year or two from now.

That is where I think the real edge comes from. We have seen it happen over and over again. A quarterback who was not the highest ranked player in his class develops, lands in the right situation, earns the starting job, and suddenly his value changes overnight. Sometimes it is because of the traits they brought with them or because the program around them helps unlock their potential. And sometimes it is simply because opportunity opens the door.

When I started looking through the 2026 quarterback class, I wanted to focus on the names that are not always included in the first conversation. These are not necessarily players I am saying will become better than the elite quarterbacks in the class, but they are players who have the combination of talent, situation, and development path that could make them very interesting assets.

Before we get into the list, I do want to mention that this is not every quarterback outside the top group. If I have already written a full article breaking down a player, I decided not to include them here. Players like Derek Garcia and Grant Lawless are examples of quarterbacks I have already covered, so they will not appear in this article even though they absolutely belong in this conversation.

The quarterback position is different than any other position in this format. A running back or receiver can gain value quickly with production, but quarterbacks usually require patience. You are often betting on what they can become before the college production ever arrives.

That is why I think these evaluations are so important. The goal is not to find the perfect quarterback prospect. The goal is to find the quarterback who has enough tools, the right opportunity, and the development path to make people wonder why they were not valued higher earlier. So today, I wanted to highlight 10 quarterbacks outside the spotlight of the 2026 class who I think managers should have on their radar.

Kayd Coffman — Michigan State

When I started looking outside the quarterbacks everyone is taking in supplemental drafts, Kayd Coffman was one of the names I wanted to spend more time on because his profile is a little different than some of the higher upside quarterbacks in this range. Coffman is not the quarterback who is going to win you over with highlight reel plays outside of structure. His game is built around rhythm, timing, and being able to operate an offense efficiently.

The first thing that I like with Coffman is how comfortable he looks in structure. He has a clean delivery, gets the ball out quickly, and shows a good understanding of where the football needs to go. His accuracy in the short to intermediate areas of the field is a major strength, and he does a nice job throwing with anticipation instead of waiting for receivers to come open.

The biggest question for Coffman is whether he can continue developing into a quarterback who can consistently win outside of the structure of the offense. His deep ball accuracy and touch are areas that need improvement, and while he is a good athlete, he is not the type of quarterback who is going to create a ton of value with his legs. The next step for him is seeing him work through more complex defenses and become quicker when moving beyond his first read.

The depth chart situation also makes him more of a long term evaluation. Michigan State currently has Alessio Milivojevic as the QB1 and veteran Cam Fancher ahead of him, so Coffman may have time to develop before being asked to take over the offense but if Michigan state struggles he could be thrown in right away. For a quarterback with his style, that might actually be beneficial because his game is built around mastering the details.

Coffman is an interesting bet because his floor comes from the ability to process and operate an offense. The ceiling will depend on whether he can add more explosiveness to his game, but quarterbacks who can consistently distribute and make the right decisions have a way of becoming valuable when they earn the job.

Rees Wise — Ole Miss

Rees Wise is in here because he fits a different mold than some of the other players on this list. Wise is not the quarterback who is going to immediately grab your attention because of elite athleticism or a massive arm. His game is built around being steady, efficient, and understanding how to operate within the structure of an offense.

Wise looks super comfortablefrom the pocket. He has clean mechanics, a calm presence under pressure, and does a good job consistently putting the ball where it needs to go. His accuracy at all levels of the field is one of the biggest strengths of his game, and he shows the ability to take care of the football, make the right decision, and avoid putting his team in bad situations.

The biggest question I have with Wise is whether the physical tools are enough to separate him at the next level. His arm talent is functional, but it is not the type of trait that immediately changes how defenses have to play him. He also does not bring a ton of off script creativity, so his success is going to come from his ability to process quickly, anticipate throws, and consistently make the right decisions. That becomes even more important when he faces faster defenses that can take away the first option.

The depth chart at Ole Miss is probably the biggest reason I think Wise is worth watching. Right now, Trinidad Chambliss is the veteran option at the top of the room, with Deuce Knight, Walker Howard, and AJ Maddox also competing for the future of the position. On paper, that looks like a crowded quarterback room, but I do think there is more opportunity here than people might realize.

I have some questions about whether Deuce Knight will eventually become the quarterback many expected when he was recruited, and unless Ole Miss decides to go back into the transfer portal for another veteran option, Wise could have a legitimate chance to compete for the QB1 job sooner than expected. He does not need to be the highest rated quarterback in the room if he can be the guy the coaching staff trusts to run the offense.

For me, Wise is a quarterback I think people could overlook because his profile is not built around one elite trait. But those are often the quarterbacks who surprise people. If he continues developing his processing speed and proves he can handle the college game, being in an offense like Ole Miss gives him a chance to become much more valuable than his current perception.

Wise is not a player I am drafting because I expect instant production. I am drafting him because the path to value is clear. If he wins the job, the market will react quickly.

Briggs Cherry — Louisville

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The players that end up changing your roster are usually the ones people stopped talking about. Maybe they landed behind a veteran, maybe an injury slowed their development, or maybe they simply ended up in a situation where they needed a year before they were ready. Whatever the reason, the market moves on way too quickly, and that’s where I think some of the best buying opportunities are created.

So instead of talking about the obvious names, I wanted to dig back through the 2025 recruiting class and find a handful of players that I think have a legitimate chance to make some noise in 2026. I’m not saying every one of these guys is going to become a superstar, but I do think they’re worth having on your radar.

Vander Ploog | TE | NC State

Vander Ploog is exactly the type of player this series was built for. If you only glanced at his freshman stat line, you’d probably scroll right past his name and never think twice about him. That’s understandable because he didn’t catch a pass during his lone season at Oregon, but I don’t think that tells the real story.

Coming out of high school, Ploog was one of the better tight ends in the country. At 6 foot 6 and 242 pounds, he already looks the part, and his production at Troy High School backed it up with more than 2,200 receiving yards and 37 touchdowns. The talent has never been the question. He simply ran into a loaded tight end room at Oregon and spent his first year doing what a lot of freshmen have to do, wait.

The move to NC State is what really changed my opinion of him. Dave Doeren has quietly done a nice job finding talented players who just needed a fresh opportunity, and with Justin Joly moving on, there’s a real opening for someone to step into a meaningful role. Tight end is one of those positions where patience usually pays off, and Ploog feels like a player who could go from almost forgotten to one of the better young tight ends in C2C if things fall into place.

Quincy Porter | WR | Notre Dame

Quincy Porter is probably the biggest mystery on this list, and honestly, that’s what makes him so intriguing. When Porter got out of high school, he looked like the type of receiver who could become the next big thing at Ohio State and that never happened. He was one of the top players in the entire recruiting class, but injuries have slowed everything down. Missing valuable development time is tough for any freshman, especially at wide receiver, where timing and chemistry are so important.

Because of that, I think we’ve reached an interesting point with Porter. His production doesn’t match the talent everyone saw coming out of high school, and that’s exactly why I’m interested. Sometimes we get so caught up chasing box scores that we forget how talented a player actually is. The ceiling here is still incredibly high. If Porter finally gets healthy and settles into a consistent role, I don’t think it’s unrealistic to see him emerge as one of Notre Dame’s top targets. That’s obviously the best case scenario, but i’m willing to take chances on players with that kind of upside before the breakout happens instead of trying to buy them afterward.

Akylin Dear | RB | Alabama

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This is one of the most important times of the year. A strong fall camp can completely change a player’s value before they ever step onto the field. A freshman earning first-team reps, a transfer separating himself, or a player winning a major position battle can dramatically change how we view them moving forward.

Instead of simply ranking teams or throwing out predictions, I wanted to look at the biggest question facing every SEC team entering fall camp and highlight the players I will be watching closely.

Alabama Crimson Tide

Biggest Fall Camp Question:

Can Keelon Russell win the quarterback battle, and can Alabama finally fix its rushing attack?

The quarterback competition between Keelon Russell and Austin Mack will be one of the biggest storylines in college football this fall. Alabama has continued to recruit elite talent at the position, but now the question becomes who can take control and become the next quarterback to lead this offense. Russell enters camp with massive expectations after arriving with a five star profile and plenty of excitement surrounding his future. The talent is obvious, but Alabama quarterbacks are expected to handle pressure, make quick decisions, and elevate everyone around them.

Austin Mack will have an opportunity to compete as well, bringing experience and another skill set into the battle. Whoever separates himself during camp will immediately become one of the most valuable quarterbacks in the SEC.

The other major storyline is the running back room. Alabama has not consistently had the explosive rushing attack we have become accustomed to, and fixing that will be a priority. Daniel Hill appears to have the early opportunity to lead the room, but this group has multiple players capable of earning touches.

Freshman EJ Crowell has been one of the most talked about names since arriving on campus. The coaching staff has praised his ability and the impact he could have on the offense. Fall camp will tell us if he is simply another talented freshman or someone who forces his way into a major role immediately.

The receiver room is another area worth monitoring. With Noah Rogers dealing with injury concerns, players like Rico Scott, Derek Meadows, and Cederian Morgan have an opportunity to establish themselves.

Players I’m Watching:

Keelon Russell — QB

Russell is one of the biggest upside plays in the entire SEC. The talent is there, but fall camp will show whether he is ready to take control of this offense.

EJ Crowell — RB

Crowell has the talent to make noise immediately. Only question is will he crack the rotation.

Rico Scott — WR

With an opening at receiver, Scott has an opportunity to separate himself and become a bigger part of Alabama’s offense.

Arkansas Razorbacks

Biggest Fall Camp Question:

Who wins the quarterback battle, and who becomes Arkansas true WR1?

Arkansas enters fall camp with questions that could define the direction of the offense. The biggest starts at quarterback, where KJ Jackson and AJ Hill will compete for the opportunity to lead this team. Arkansas needs someone who can consistently make plays, protect the football, and create confidence throughout the offense.

The receiver room is another major storyline. Arkansas has talent, but now they need someone to become the player defenses have to plan around.

Chris Marshall brings experience and physical tools, while Courtney Crutchfield has the athletic ability and upside to become a major weapon. This battle could have a major impact on how this offense looks in 2026.

Players I’m Watching:

KJ Jackson — QB

The quarterback who wins this job immediately becomes one of the most important players on this roster. I’ll be watching his consistency and ability to command the offense.

Courtney Crutchfield — WR

Crutchfield has the talent to become a major piece of this offense. Fall camp will determine if he can turn that talent into production.

Auburn Tigers

Biggest Fall Camp Question:

Can Auburn’s transfers adjust to the SEC, and who becomes the RB2 behind Jeremiah Cobb?

Auburn enters the season with plenty of new faces, especially after adding several players from South Florida. The biggest question is whether those players can make the transition to SEC football.

The SEC demands a different level of physicality, speed, and consistency. Fall camp will be the first real opportunity to see which additions are ready to make an immediate impact.

The running back room is another situation to watch. Jeremiah Cobb appears to be the leader, but the battle behind him remains important. Bryson Washington’s health is a major factor, and falling behind early could make it difficult for him to secure a meaningful role.

Players I’m Watching:

Jeremiah Cobb — RB

Cobb has the opportunity to become the clear leader of this backfield. The question is whether he can become a true difference-maker.

Bryson Washington — RB

The talent is there, but health will determine his role. This fall could be a major turning point.

Florida Gators

Biggest Fall Camp Question:

Can Aaron Philo win the quarterback battle, and how does Florida sort through one of the deepest wide receiver rooms in the SEC?

Florida enters fall camp with two major offensive storylines that could completely change the outlook of this offense. The first starts at quarterback, where Aaron Philo enters a competition that could define the direction of the program moving forward.

Philo was one of the most intriguing quarterback additions of the offseason, and now the question becomes how quickly he can take control of the offense. The talent and arm strength are exciting, but fall camp will be about consistency, decision making, and proving he can operate at an SEC level.

The other major storyline is the wide receiver room, which might be one of the most talented groups in the conference. Florida has no shortage of options, but the biggest question is figuring out who separates themselves and earns the trust of the coaching staff.

Dallas Wilson brings elite upside and the type of profile that can make him one of the most valuable receivers in the country if everything clicks. Vernell Brown III has already shown flashes and has the opportunity to become a consistent weapon. Eric Singleton Jr. brings another explosive element, while Bailey Stockton and Micah Mays add even more competition to an already crowded room.

The challenge for Florida is a good one to have: finding enough opportunities for all of these talented players. This is a room where values could move quickly during fall camp because one player emerging as the clear WR1 could become a major asset.

Players I’m Watching:

Aaron Philo — QB

Philo is one of the quarterbacks I’m most interested in watching this fall. The opportunity is there, and if he wins the job, his value could rise quickly because of the talent surrounding him.

The biggest thing I’m watching is how comfortable he looks running the offense and whether he can consistently make the high level throws needed against SEC competition.

Dallas Wilson — WR

Wilson has one of the highest ceilings in this entire receiver room. The physical tools are there, but fall camp will show whether he can consistently turn those traits into production.

Eric Singleton Jr. — WR

Singleton is another name I’m watching closely because of his explosiveness. In a loaded room, separating yourself is the challenge, and his ability to create big plays could help him earn a significant role.

Georgia Bulldogs

Biggest Fall Camp Question:

Who steps up at wide receiver after Georgia loses six of its top seven pass-catchers from last season?

Georgia enters fall camp with one of the biggest questions in the SEC at wide receiver. The Bulldogs have consistently recruited at an elite level, but now they have to find out which young players are ready to turn potential into production.

Six of Georgia’s top seven pass catchers from last season are no longer with the program, leaving a massive opportunity for this group. The only returning receiver from that group is London Humphreys, meaning Georgia will need several players to step into larger roles immediately.

The Bulldogs did add Georgia Tech transfer Isiah Canion through the portal, giving the room another experienced option, but this fall will largely be about developing and identifying the young talent already on the roster.

Third year receiver Sacovie White Helton is one of the more experienced players looking to take the next step, while second year receivers Talyn Taylor, Landon Roldan, CJ Wiley, Thomas Blackshear, and Tyler J. Williams all enter camp with opportunities to carve out roles.

Georgia also has an intriguing freshman group with Craig Dandridge, Ryan Mosley, and Dallas Dickerson entering the program. While expecting freshmen to immediately replace experienced production at Georgia is a difficult task, this is exactly where elite recruiting classes are tested.

This is one of the most interesting situations in the SEC. Georgia has a long history of producing NFL talent, and finding the next breakout receiver before the production arrives could create a massive value opportunity.

Players I’m Watching:

Talyn Taylor — WR

Taylor is one of the names I’m watching closely because this feels like the type of opportunity where a young receiver can make a significant jump. With so many targets available, the players who separate themselves during camp could quickly rise up and make some noise.

CJ Wiley — WR

Wiley is another receiver with a chance to earn a meaningful role. In a wide open competition, consistency and trust from the coaching staff will be the deciding factor.

London Humphreys — WR

Humphreys is the lone returning receiver from Georgia’s top group last season, and that experience could make him the early favorite to become the leader of the room. The question is whether he can transition from contributor to true WR1.

Kentucky Wildcats

Biggest Fall Camp Question:

Which three receivers emerge, and can someone finally take control of this wide receiver room?

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Before we get into the picks, here’s the roster I already had.

Quarterbacks

Avery Johnson (Kansas State)
Demond Williams (Washington)
John Mateer (Oklahoma)
Cameran Brown (Georgia State)
Sam Leavitt (LSU)
Matt Zollers (Missouri)
Robert Tisdale (Western Kentucky)

Running Backs

Ahmad Hardy (Missouri)
Willie Henderson (UTSA)
Wayshawn Parker (Utah)
Ja’Kyrian Turner (Pittsburgh)
Chauncey Bowens (Georgia)
Javin Gordon (Tennessee)
Diore Hubbard (Wyoming)
George Pettaway (James Madison)
Tre Wisner (Florida State)

Wide Receivers

Chase Hendricks (Cal)
Easton Messer (FAU)
Isaiah Sategna (Oklahoma)
Ryan Wingo (Texas)
Coy Eakin (Texas Tech)
Devin McCuin (Ohio State)
Drelon Miller (Baylor)
Joshua Moore (Miami)
Donovan Olugbode (Missouri)
Dezmen Roebuck (Washington)
Tayln Taylor (Georgia)
Winston Watkins (LSU)
Joseph Williams (Colorado)

Tight Ends

Terrance Carter (Texas Tech)
Dorian Thomas (Cal)

The first thing you’ll probably notice is that a lot of these players were already some of my favorite supplemental targets before this draft even started. My team was already in a great spot last season, so instead of using waiver claims to chase points, I started grabbing players I believed would become major risers heading into the 2026 supplemental drafts.

My wide receiver room especially shows that approach. It’s filled with receivers from the 2025 recruiting class that I believed in early. Winston Watkins is a great example. I was talking about him long before he ever played a college snap, and now everyone is starting to see why I was so high on him. With that foundation already in place, the goal for this draft was simple: keep adding talented players that I believe will be worth much more this time next year.

Before I get into each pick, I want to explain my mindset because this is where I think supplemental drafts are won. I’m not trying to win the draft the day after the draft. I’m trying to win the value battle a year from now. Every pick I make comes down to a few questions. Do I believe this player has the talent to become a premium asset? Is the market still behind on him? Is he one opportunity away from becoming someone everyone wishes they drafted earlier?

If the answer is yes, that’s the type of player I’m willing to bet on. You’ll also notice I don’t worry about forcing positional balance. If the best player available is another receiver, I’m taking another receiver. Talent creates value, and value gives you options. You can always trade from a position of strength, but you can’t create elite assets if you pass on them because you were trying to fill a roster need. With that being said, let’s get into the picks.

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For most of his time at Penn State, Grunkemeyer was seen through the lens of Drew Allar. This makes sense because Allar entered college as one of the highest-rated quarterback prospects in recent history and carried high expectations from day one in Happy Valley. He was the five star quarterback expected to become the face of the program, while Grunkemeyer was the player developing behind him, waiting for his chance.

That chance came much sooner than expected. When Drew Allar got injured last season, Grunkemeyer suddenly faced a situation that most young quarterbacks never encounter. He wasn’t taking over a rebuilding program where expectations were low and mistakes could be hidden. Instead, he stepped into one of the biggest programs in college football and had to lead an offense with significant expectations.

The timing of his opportunity added to the challenge. His first true stretch of meaningful action came against some of the top defenses in the country. Instead of playing a few games against weaker teams to build confidence, Grunkemeyer had to learn on the go against nationally ranked defenses.

This context matters when assessing his season. The overall numbers are decent, but they don’t tell the whole story. Grunkemeyer finished the year with 123 completions on 178 passes for 1,339 yards, eight touchdowns, and four interceptions, achieving a completion rate of 69.1%. At first glance, those numbers may not seem impressive, but digging deeper reveals more.

The standout detail for me was how he finished the season. In his last four starts, Grunkemeyer did not throw a single interception. When evaluating young quarterbacks, I look beyond just the final stats. I want to see if the game starts to slow down for them. I want to see if mistakes happen less often, if their confidence grows, and if they look like a better player later in the season than when they first took the field.

That is exactly what I observed with Grunkemeyer. By the time Penn State faced Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl, he appeared to be a much more confident quarterback. He completed 23 of 34 passes for 262 yards and two touchdowns. However, it wasn’t just the box score that grabbed my attention. It was how he managed the offense and the confidence he displayed running the system.

This made me want to rewatch all his snaps from 2025 to track his development. I wasn’t looking for just highlight throws or plays that supported a specific opinion. I wanted to know what kind of quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer really was. I wanted to see how he handled pressure, how he processed defenses, how he reacted when plays broke down, and whether the improvements he showed late in the season were true developmental traits or just a small sample size. After reviewing the tape, I found myself more interested than I had anticipated.

The Drew Allar Comparison: Similar Development, Different Players

When talking about Ethan Grunkemeyer people always ask if he is Drew Allars clone. I understand why people compare them. Grunkemeyer is now at Virginia Tech, with James Franklin, Ty Howle and Danny O’Brien. The two of them also went through the coaching program. The two men have probably been coached by many of the coaches. There is probably a lot that’s very similar when it comes to how they play at the position. That includes the ability to win out of the pocket well as the ability to win within the offensive structure.

With all of that I think it is important to remember that when it comes to Ethan Grunkemeyer and Drew Allar there are two different evaluations that need to be made.

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Because of this, it was assumed Curtis would be on the field from the start. I think the conversation should be had regarding Jared Curtis Is he a quarterback that can be placed on the field immediately, or does it make more sense to give him time to develop his game?

We can look at Jared Curtis’s future from the eyes of another five star prospect that had a similar rise to prominence and the same questions about his readiness to compete as a true freshman. When considering the similarities between Jared Curtis and Arch Manning, I have to admit I see a lot of similarities. I want to be quick to note that I’m not saying that Jared Curtis is the next Arch Manning. Each player has his style, and the circumstances of their situations are different. Still, there are some interesting comparisons that can be drawn between Manning and Curtis that can help provide context as to why I think patience may be the most beneficial approach to Curtis’s development

Jared Curtis: The Prospect Evaluation

The first thing people will notice about Jared Curtis is his arm strength. When looking at Curtis from a prospect evaluation standpoint, I want to talk about his arm strength first and foremost. He has the tools to make all the throws on the field, and his arm strength helps facilitate that versatility and range. Curtis is one of those quarterbacks who can drive the football through the defense and make throws only the best quarterbacks in the country can make

He has the confidence to attack the deep ball and put it in the end zone when the play calls for it. He also has a gunslinger mentality that lets him make plays even when the play isn’t there. His aggressiveness and range allow him to make plays outside the pocket when the pocket breaks down.

All of this is to say Jared Curtis has the makeup of a franchise quarterback prospect. He has the physical tools to make all the throws on the field, and the best quarterbacks possess that same combination of power and precision when throwing the football. On top of elite arm talent, Curtis has the athletic profile to make plays with his feet as well. He has the size and strength at six foot three and 230 pounds, and he can make plays with his legs as well. He doesn’t have the speed to be a dual threat quarterback prospect, but his athleticism helps him make plays when the defense loses control of the game. Curtis is also very dangerous as a runner in short yardage situations and can pick up yards when the defense overcommits to stopping the pass

This can add to his value as a prospect because quarterbacks that can create points with their legs typically have a higher floor as a weekly performer Jared Curtis is one of the most exciting quarterback prospects in recent memory due to his combination of arm talent, size, and athleticism.

It’s easy to overlook the fact that most five star prospects need time to adjust to the speed of the game at the next level. Jared Curtis has dominated at the high school level, and there is no doubt he was one of the best quarterbacks in the country. Still, he will have to make several adjustments and learn the SEC speed of the game to be consistent at the next level

This goes back to the same point I made about Arch Manning. Just because you have the tools to be successful at the next level does not mean you can immediately produce at that next level. Curtis and Manning both have the talent to compete in the SEC, which is why they are both five-star recruits. Still, both quarterbacks are coming from a small high school football program and likely need more time than most to adjust to the speed of the game.

I want to say that the most important part of developing any quarterback is teaching them not to make mistakes when the play breaks down. This seems to be a reoccurring theme among five star quarterbacks, though. It seems each young prospect coming out of high school needs more time to develop situational awareness and learn how to read the game at the next level.

The main thing to remember here is that five star prospects do have a ceiling, but this ceiling often isn’t reached if the quarterback is moved too fast. Curtis has a combination of elite physical traits, but he also needs time to develop the mental aspects of his game as well.

Arch Manning: The Blueprint For Patience

When talking about Arch Manning, most people think about his legend status as one of the best recruit classes in the history of college football. The expectations for him were through the roof when he arrived at Texas because of the type of player he was coming into college as well as the fact he was able to get recruited by three different Power Five programs

He had a legendary high school career at Isidore Newman, and it was obvious to everyone involved in the evaluation process that he had the tools and combination of skills to be a franchise quarterback prospect in the NFL

Arch Manning and Jared Curtis have a lot in common as far as their NFL prospect evaluations are concerned. Both quarterbacks have elite arm strength, the ability to make all types of throws on the field, and the mental side to operate in a pro style offense

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