We’re through Week 2 of the 2025 university football season , and Saturday’s action included 3 top- 15 teams losing– consisting of No. 15 Michigan falling to No. 18 Oklahoma. South Florida additionally resisted No. 13 Florida in The Swamp, and Mississippi State defeat No. 12 Arizona State.
The NFL period , at the same time, kicks off Sunday. All 32 groups are undoubtedly focused on their 17 -game regular-season schedules that exist ahead, and the 2026 draft is still even more than half a year away. Yet our NFL draft experts are constantly looking additionally in the future, taking very early notes on top prospects and starting to stack their rankings for an interesting course.
With that said in mind, Mel Kiper Jr., Matt Miller and Jordan Reid will size up CFB action with a draft-centric lens on Sunday early mornings all season long (conserve this web link!). They will address lingering concerns on the very best 2026 prospects, share insights from precursors, choose risers to watch and draw back the curtain on their examination procedure. Right here is what they have actually seen and heard with Week 2
Sept. 7
Which possibility captured your eye in Michigan-Oklahoma?
Miller: The Michigan protection was meant to be the star of the show, but I could not assist however absolutely no in on Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer The Washington State transfer put the Sooners on his back with his strong right arm and wheelchair both inside and outside the pocket. Mateer rushed for 74 lawns and a rating, and he tossed for an additional goal with 270 backyards passing versus a gifted defense that includes among the nation’s best D-lines.
Mateer (6 -foot- 1, 224 pounds) is a gunslinger, and he’ll take a lot of opportunities with passes that will make you hold your breath– however he also makes plays many various other college QBs simply aren’t making now in the season. Mateer’s arm stamina, flexibility, guts and playmaking way of thinking create a great watch.
NFL precursors had a conventional Day 3 quality on Mateer this summertime, yet I’m seeing a player with adequate starter traits to put him inside my top 50 And if he continues to play this well versus SEC defenses, a Round 1 quality isn’t inconceivable.
What have we discovered Arc Manning over 2 video games?
Reid: Expectations for Manning were sky high going into the period. Yet he never got involved in a rhythm versus Ohio State in Week 1, which resulted in erratic precision, late checks out and bad overall decision-making. Manning managed simply 170 passing yards, one TD toss and an interception. He did have a better efficiency in Week 2 versus San Jose State — 295 passing yards and four goal passes. There, Manning was extra decisive, and the infraction seemed to move better as a result. But he is quite still in the early stages of his very first year as a starter.
Where Manning has actually been the most frustrating is his auto mechanics. His body hasn’t remained in sync with his throwing movement, triggering him inaccuracy on what should be routine throws. To actually hit the following level, he requires to iron that out. As I have actually said because the summer, I still believe the earliest we’ll see Manning in the NFL is 2027
Which possible first-round QB most requires a fast turn-around after a slow start to 2025
Miller: LaNorris Sellers , QB, South Carolina. Let me start by stating I’m a Sellers fan. He’s my No. 1 -ranked quarterback for the 2026 draft based on his potential and talent. That stated, he has to be cleaner as a passer than he got on Saturday against South Carolina State He was just 11 -of- 19 in a vanilla tactical plan. Much like we saw in the season opener versus Virginia Technology , Vendors can bewilder opponents with his movement and arm skill, yet he is still taking shots as a passer that are just as well high-risk– which lead to incompletions and turnover-worthy plays. He is finishing 60 5 % of his passes right now, and he has actually been off-target 10 5 % of the time.
Vendors (6 -foot- 3, 240 pounds) is unbelievably gifted, however he needs to become a better on-target passer, specifically in the pocket, and enhance his on-time rhythm to take that following action as a possibility. He’s still holding company as my QB 1, however there are openings in his video game that I’ll be watching this season.
Reid: Cade Klubnik , Clemson. Coming into the period, I was high on Klubnik as he showed a substantial bump in his development throughout 2024 Based on the personnel and infrastructure in position at Clemson, there had not been a QB in the nation who was better established to succeed this year. But after viewing him live against LSU recently, I see problems when he faces pressure. He was additionally indecisive and took too long to make decisions within the framework of the infraction. Those worries popped up once again this weekend break versus Troy
In speaking to precursors around the organization, Klubnik (6 -foot- 2, 210 pounds) is polarizing as a prospect due to the fact that he has a great deal of solid/average characteristics but lacks a leading one. You need that remarkable ability to catapult to the front of this QB class, and it’s why his draft qualities are all over the location with NFL evaluators.
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Cade Klubnik broadcasts it out for 26 -yard goal pass
Cade Klubnik links for 26 -lawn TD pass
Which player is already climbing your draft board based upon his play so far– and exactly how high could he go?
Reid: Mansoor Delane , CB, LSU. Nothing else draft-eligible prospect excited me more throughout my Week 1 searching journey than Delane. One of the largest transfer portal enhancements in the country across any placement, he has been exceptional through two weeks given that showing up in Baton Rouge from Virginia Tech.
At 6 -foot and 190 pounds, Delane is a smooth-moving corner with the capacity to mirror-and-match the motions of challenger receivers. His round abilities have actually also been phenomenal to start the season, with two pass breaks up and an interception. Delane has the savviness and recognition to locate the ball and make plays on it in the air. His strategy is always kicked back, too, and he rarely enables pass receivers to accelerate his procedure while sticking in coverage with them. And Delane has not only been consistent in male coverage; his area instincts have actually shined as well.
Because of the spring injury to Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy , the CB 1 race is wide open. Delane has actually reinforced his case via the very early sections of the season and presently jobs as a top- 50 pick.
Miller: Fernando Mendoza , QB, Indiana. There was a great amount of summer season buzz and enjoyment bordering Mendoza after he transferred right into the wide-open Indiana passing video game from Cal. And so much, the buzz has actually been necessitated. Mendoza hasn’t faced a high quality challenger yet, however it’s obvious his characteristics are next-level.
Versus Kennesaw State , Mendoza was 18 -of- 25 for 245 backyards and 4 touchdown passes– the type of numbers you expect a top-tier prospect to install versus a lower-level opponent. He’s revealing fantastic command of the infraction while building chemistry with elderly wide receiver Elijah Sarratt (who had three ratings on Saturday). Mendoza’s capacity to layer the sphere on deep throws sticks out. And in a quarterback course where we’re significantly waiting on a person to arise, his showing via 2 weeks– also against not terrific competition– has been noteworthy. Mendoza’s arm talent, dimension (6 -foot- 5, 225 pounds) and what he adds to the video game as a jogger can place him right into the QB 1 derby we’re seeing play out every Saturday.
What else are you seeing and listening to?
Kiper: I have actually been thrilled with Oregon quarterback Dante Moore He was a huge hire out of high school yet struggled in Year 1 at UCLA and afterwards rested behind Dillon Gabriel in Year 2 after moving. Now he’s maximizing this Will Stein infraction in Eugene. Yes, the Ducks have only faced Montana State and Oklahoma State– two groups they should handle a lot of the moment– but Moore is dipping into a high degree. The 6 -foot- 3, 206 -pounder showed wonderful accuracy on Saturday against the Cowboys The discuss his deep balls was great, and he consistently tossed with precision from various arm angles and while rolling either direction. Moore has tossed for at least 200 backyards, completed at the very least 75 % of his tosses and threw at the very least three TD passes in both contests– and he hasn’t thrown any kind of INTs yet.
Now, the routine is going to obtain tougher. I have Moore’s trip to Penn State circled for late September. Exactly how will he take care of a “white out” setting? However if Moore keeps playing such as this, Round 1 will certainly remain in play.
Miller: During summer season evaluations of the 2026 class, Ohio State safety and security Caleb Downs became among my favored players to examine now that he’s finally draft-eligible after two All-American periods to begin his college profession. Downs places as my No. 1 security and a top-five player on the whole. But that view had not been shared by scouts I talked with before the period. “He’s a liability in male coverage. He may be a [weakside linebacker] in the NFL with how typically he plays in the box,” stated an AFC East area precursor.
The problem keeping that idea is that Downs is detailed by Ohio State at 6 -foot and 205 pounds, hardly linebacker size by today’s standards. In my view, Downs is a Kyle Hamilton -esque protector, and his play against Texas highlighted his flexibility.
Kiper: Jordan discussed this, however I still think Manning returns to school. He requires to end up being a wonderful university quarterback prior to he can become a fantastic NFL quarterback, and he hasn’t arrived yet. The possibility is here, for sure. But one complete year as a CFB starter isn’t going to suffice to get to that following degree prior to jumping to the pros. I would not place him on simulated drafts and even positions today.
Kiper: Kevin Coleman Jr has flawlessly filled up the Luther Burden III void in the Missouri violation. The 5 -foot- 11, 180 -extra pound port receiver has been all over the place. He was at Jackson State in 2022 Then Louisville in 2023 Then Mississippi State in 2024 Now he’s on to Missouri. And the manufacturing has actually been good up until now, consisting of 10 catches for 126 yards and a goal against Kansas on Saturday. Coleman shows the quick burst to separate underneath, and he can mark on added lawns after the catch. His body control is impressive, and he snags the ball in stride. And I actually like exactly how promptly Coleman reads zone insurance coverage and locates openings. Toss in some punt return capacity, and I see a prospective Day 2 prospect.
Reid: One gamer who has NFL scouts currently humming is Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq They particularly call out his ability as a blocker at 6 -foot- 3, 245 pounds. “He’s an outright weapon as a run blocker that attempts to place men in the dust whenever he gets hands on them,” an AFC area precursor said. Sadiq entered the season as my TE 1, and he resembles one of the most consistent potential customers in the country up until now, no matter position. Sadiq received Round 1 buzz entering the year, and if his level of play continues, he could be a top- 20 choice.
Miller: Ohio State offending lineman Ethan Onianwa — a highly related to transfer from Rice with leading- 75 qualities from NFL precursors– did not begin against Texas and played just 13 snaps after he eventually rotated into the game at appropriate guard. The 6 -foot- 6, 333 -extra pound elderly had high assumptions this season, yet the very early word from sources with the Buckeyes is he has actually had a hard time to pick up the violation.
Kiper: The Clemson protective line is filled, with the likes of T.J. Parker and Peter Woods But exactly how about Will Heldt He’s leading the Tigers with two sacks until now, and he looked terrific against Troy this weekend. The Purdue transfer has excellent size, the capacity to obtain stress both inside or outside and strong closing speed. Heldt blends his pass-rush relocate to obtain home, but do not rest on his capacity to leave blocks and pursue side to side, and also drop in protection. Dabo Swinney does not generally utilize the transfer site, however landing Heldt this year was a big win. The 6 -foot- 5, 260 -pound edge rusher is playing like a first-rounder.
Miller: Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson deserves watching on as an arising talent in the 2026 draft course. An AFC South location precursor texted me on Saturday: “Robertson is the genuine offer. He’s got it all.” The 6 -foot- 4, 220 -extra pound elder was sensational in a shootout with SMU on Saturday, tossing four touchdown passes and finishing 34 of 50 passes for 440 yards in a double-overtime win.
Kiper: The Ole Miss defense lost a lot of talent this year, including Walter Nolen III But defensive take on Zxavian Harris (6 -foot- 7, 320 pounds) has actually been huge for the Rebels, with his second sack in as several games on Saturday versus Kentucky Harris moves well for his size, specifically laterally, and he makes his presence felt versus both the run and the pass. He still needs refinement as a pass rush, but protective organizers can relocate him around to obtain benefits. His draft stock is still TBD– I require to see more.
Kiper: Tanner Koziol left Sphere State for Houston before this season, and he has been superior. The early Day 3 possibility still needs to improve his barring, yet he’s a harmful pass catcher. Koziol is primarily a receiver in a tight end’s body (6 -foot- 6, 250 pounds). He currently has 13 catches on the period, including 6 for 52 lawns on Saturday versus Rice