College Draft Matchup Preview: Week 1

Florida State vs. Georgia Tech; Saturday, Aug. 24, 12:00 PM ET ESPN

The Prospects:

Florida State
  • QB D.J. Uiagalelei, No. 4
  • RB Roydell Williams, No. 24
  • LT Darius Washington, No. 76
  • WR Kentron Poitier, No. 1
  • WR Malik Benson, No. 10
  • DE Patrick Payton, No. 11
  • DE Marvin Jones Jr., No. 7
  • LB D.J. Lundy, No. 10
  • LB Cam Riley, No. 18
  • CB Fentrell Cypress II, No. 23
Georgia Tech
  • RB Jamal Haynes, No. 11


The Matchups:

Florida State has a number of draft-eligible prospects worth watching this season. Their best 2025 prospect could be edge rusher Patrick Payton. Payton’s run defense could see a nice test from Yellow Jackets running back Jamal Haynes. Haynes ran well last year despite a lack of talent around him.





North Carolina vs. Minnesota; Thursday, Aug. 29, 8:00 PM ET FOX

The Prospects:

North Carolina
  • QB Max Johnson, No. 14
  • RB Omarion Hampton, No. 28
  • C Austin Blaske, No. 58
  • DE Kaimon Rucker, No. 7
  • DE Desmond Evans, No. 10
  • DT Joshua Harris, No. 6
  • CB Marcus Allen, No. 29
Minnesota
  • OT Aireontae Ersery, No. 69
  • OL Tyler Cooper, No. 75
  • G Quinn Carroll, No. 77
  • QB Max Brosmer, No. 16
  • RB Darius Taylor, No. 1
  • DE Jah Joyner, No. 17
  • CB Justin Walley, No. 5


The Matchups:

There are some good draft matchups in this game, with Tar Heels Kaimon Rucker taking on Gophers offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery. This tape will be important for them in their draft grades. Hampton is an early-round prospect to watch this season.





Colorado vs. North Dakota State; Thursday, Aug. 29, 8:00 PM ET ESPN

The Prospects:

Colorado
  • QB Shedeur Sanders, No. 2
  • CB/WR Travis Hunter, No. 12
North Dakota State
  • DE Dylan Hendricks, No. 95


The Matchups:

Sanders and Hunter could be high first-round picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. Hendricks was a solid player for North Dakota State last year, and he needs a good tape against Colorado to improve his grades.





Clemson vs. Georgia; Sat, Aug. 31, 12:00 PM ET ABC

The Prospects:

Clemson
  • QB Cade Klubnik, No. 2
  • G Marcus Tate, No. 74
  • G Walker Parks, No. 64
  • DT DeMonte Capehart, No. 19
  • LB Barrett Carter, No. 0
Georgia
  • QB Carson Beck, No. 15
  • RB Trevor Etienne, No. 1
  • TE Oscar Delp, No. 4
  • WR Dillon Bell, No. 86
  • WR Arian Smith, No. 11
  • G Tate Ratledge, No. 69
  • OT Earnest Greene III, No. 71
  • OT Xavier Truss, No. 73
  • DE Mykel Williams, No. 13
  • DT Nazir Stackhouse, No. 78
  • DT Warren Brinson, No. 97
  • LB Smael Mondon Jr., No. 2
  • CB Daylen Everette , No. 6
  • S Malaki Starks, No. 24


The Matchups:

As usual, Georiga is loaded with NFL talent. Carson Beck is in the running to be the top quarterback prospect for the 2025 NFL Draft, and he will see some good talent taking on the Tiger’s defense. Trevor Etienne and the Bulldogs’ ground game will be a good test for Clemson and linebacker Barrett Carter. There will be a good battle in the trenches, with the Georgia defensive line prospects taking on some draft prospects in Marcus Tate and Walker Parkers. Likewise, Tigers defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart is a potential early-rounder who will match up against some early-rounders in Earnest Greene, Tate Ratledge, and Xavier Truss.





Miami vs. Florida; Saturday, Aug. 31, 3:30 PM ET ESPN

The Prospects:

Miami
  • QB Cam Ward, No. 1
  • RB Damien Martinez, No. 6
  • WR Sam Brown, No. 11
  • WR Xavier Restrepo, No. 7
  • DE Akheem Mesidor, No. 3
  • LB Francisco Mauigoa, No. 1
Florida
  • QB Graham Mertz, No. 15
  • RB Montrell Johnson Jr., No. 1
  • WR Elijah Badger, No. 0
  • WR Chimere Dike, No. 17
  • G Damien George Jr., No. 70
  • OT Austin Barber, No. 58
  • DT Cam Jackson, No. 99
  • LB Shemar James, No. 6
  • CB Jason Marshall Jr., No. 3


The Matchups:

Mertz and Ward are quarterback prospects to watch this season. Both teams have talented backs, receivers, and some defensive linemen to watch for the NFL.





Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M; Saturday, Aug. 31, 7:30 PM ET ABC

The Prospects:

Notre Dame
  • QB Riley Leonard, No. 13
  • TE Mitchell Evans, No. 88
  • DT Howard Cross III, No. 56
  • LB Jack Kiser, No. 24
  • S Xavier Watts, No. 0
  • CB Benjamin Morrison, No. 20
  • DE R.J. Oben, No. 9
  • DE Jordan Botelho, No. 12
Texas A&M
  • QB Conner Weigman, No. 915
  • OT Trey Zuhn III, No. 60
  • WR Moose Muhammad III, No. 7
  • DE Nic Scourton, No. 11
  • DT Shemar Turner, No. 5


The Matchups:

There is a very good matchup of early-round talent with Irish cornerback Benjamin Morrison taking on Aggies wide out Moose Muhammad. Notre Dame has traditionally fielded a good offensive line, while the Aggies have two early-round prospects in Scourton and Turner to challenge them. Riley Leonard is also a potential early-round candidate.





USC vs. LSU; Monday, Sep. 1, 7:30 PM ET ABC

The Prospects:

USC
  • C Jonah Monheim, No. 79
  • DT Bear Alexander, No. 90
LSU
  • LT Will Campbell, No. 66
  • RT Emery Jones Jr., No. 50
  • RB Josh Williams, No. 27
  • TE Mason Taylor, No. 86
  • WR Aaron Anderson, No. 1
  • WR Kyren Lacy, No. 2
  • DE Sai’vion Jones, No. 35
  • LB Harold Perkins Jr., No. 4


The Matchups:

LSU has some of the top prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft with top-20 potential players on both sides of the ball. Harold Perkins and Will Campbell could go very high next April, while Emery Jones could join them on the draft’s opening night. USC has a couple of linemen worth watching in a tough test to open the season taking on a talented Tigers team.