WEEK 8
The Monday recording process has been getting started a bit too late, so no sophisticated extras or intros. I’ll add a few more player notes from this past Weekend onto the Preview post Thursday.
I mentioned END NOTES on the podcast, but I did not find any major notes, only minor flubs. For example, at the very end IN the end notes, I mention how injury rumors happen “anytime a player gets injured,” and I meant to say “anytime a player performs poorly.”
Included on the show this week:
How High is Too High for Kenneth Walker III, David Njoku, and Tyrone Tracy Jr.
Rookie/Sophomore Heroes, Zeroes, and QB Notes
Detailed Notes on CFB Risers/Fallers
A Bad Weekend for the 2025 QB Class
2025 Riser of the Week
Trevor Etienne, RB, Georgia via Florida
While managers of Superflex rosters would have probably traded this performance for a good QB game, Etienne was the standout in Georgia/Texas on the offensive side of the ball. Etienne runs with power, balance, and a low center of gravity while displaying solid burst and lateral quickness. What makes him a significant riser though is his projection as a 3-Down RB. Etienne continues to show a subtle prowess as a receiving back that should not be ignored. Throughout his career, Etienne has caught 50 of his 51 Targets, a nearly perfect Catch%. Early on in the season, the volume wasn’t quite there, but he has caught 15 passes in the previous 3 games as well as 6 on 6 targets against Texas. There does not seem to be anything substantial about this ability, but Etienne simply has reliable hands, turns quickly, and is ready to run off in any direction to avoid a tackler, or run through if necessary. Etienne had an off-field situation this offseason as a result of a DUI, which caused him to miss the Clemson game and likely contributed to his slow start, but on a team struggling at WR, Etienne looks like a growing focal point moving forward for a Georgia team that has clear National Championship aspirations.
Honorable Mention: Dylan Sampson, RB, Tennessee
Both the players this week have very similar stories from their Week 8’s: in a battle of two highly touted QBs, it was Sampson who may have shown the brightest. Sampson doesn’t have the physical push or leg drive of some of the other RBs in this class, and likely profiles as a bit more of a change-of-pace style RB at the next level, but he at least has adequate size and shows great speed & feel for the game. Unlike Etienne however, Sampson’s receiving role has diminished since the beginning of the season. This may be because of his heavy rushing role, but regardless, it is something we would want to see him do more. Sampson has 5 Targets and 4 Receptions in his last 5 Games.
2026 Riser of the Week
Makai Lemon, WR, USC (+ Faller: Zachariah Branch, WR, USC)
The 2026 WR class is devoid of high-profile, high-performing talents, so when someone like Makai Lemon puts up back-to-back good games, we immediately pay attention, and frankly move them up our 2026 rankings substantially. Lemon was a very highly touted player, ranked near 50th on the recruiting services, but for most of this year he appeared to be the WR4. Now, he has put up two of the most consistent games we’ve seen from a USC WR this season. He may not have broken through 100 yards yet on the year, but 14 Receptions over a 2-Game stretch may be the most from any Trojan this year. Lemon’s primary role is in the slot, and he has proven himself enough that he earned the official start over Zachariah Branch, which is why Branch’s name appears in this section heading. For futures, I usually don’t go too harsh on Fallers, but a former #1 HS WR who is losing his starting job in year 2 has to be considered a faller.
Honorable Mention: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame & Avery Johnson, QB, Kansas St.
Jeremiyah Love continues to impress on limited opportunities for Notre Dame, while Avery Johnson is one of the players who could unlock true upside for the 2026 class considering his impressive mobility.
Mention: Jackson Arnold, QB, Oklahoma
I did not know how to cover this one, but it seems like Arnold has potentially gotten his job back. Obviously losing the job is not a good indicator, but the OL and WRs on this team are atrocious right now (including injuries; Oklahoma is down their top 5-6 WRs), and he’s not the first person to take a major step back. If you’re asking me to bet on it do I think Arnold is ever going to be in the 1st Round conversation again? Probably not, but the first step is having a job again, and that’s where he’s at.
2027 Riser of the Week
D.J. Lagway, QB, Florida
Depending on the numbers you look at, you may miss what made Lagway’s debut so spectacular. He was only 7 of 14 passing with 0 TDs and 1 INT, and ultimately he didn’t have that many passing yards. But then you realize that in order to have even 259 Passing Yards on just 7 Completions, something absurd has to have happened. Those absurd passes were launched by 2027 Riser and potential Superflex super-prospect, D.J. Lagway. Lagway completed 5 passes of at least 20-yds with 3 going at least 40. He also added as a rusher, and the Florida Gators rolled over Kentucky in Lagway’s first SEC start. There are inconsistencies and he is not a perfect player by any means, but if he continues to play anywhere near this level, Lagway will be an easy top 5 NFL Draft pick with fantasy upside that almost certainly locks him into the 1.01.
Honorable Mention: T.J. Moore, WR, Clemson & Nick Marsh, WR, Michigan St.
On last week’s show, I did a brief top 5 for the 2027 class, but listening through and watching some games this weekend, maybe it is a vibes play, but T.J. Moore is my favorite 2027 WR outside of Jeremiah Smith and Ryan Williams. 24/7 compared him to Tee Higgins, and that combination of size and consistency are already apparent in a very young player. Nick Marsh is a player who should have appeared after his Week 2 performance against Maryland, but definitely deserves significant credit as a true freshman with two performances of at least 8 Receptions and 100 yards against Big Ten schools in his first half season. Marsh was spectacular against Iowa, and while he is more of a fringe Top 200 prospect, he is a player with excellent listed size who has traits that can translate to at least Day 2 at the NFL level if not higher.
2025 QB Notes
Quinn Ewers, Texas ; Carson Beck, Georgia ; Jalen Milroe, Alabama
This show and series has never been particularly high on Quinn Ewers, though this past game was a particularly low moment in his career. On the PFF College Review show, they mentioned Ewers had as many Turnover Worthy Plays as any Power Conference QB in the a couple years. He was awful in the pocket, and when Georgia took away the easy tunnel screens and misdirection plays, Ewers struggled greatly to get anything going on the offensive side of the ball. This is only one game, but it highlights the concerns we have constantly had about Quinn Ewers on this show: if the system isn’t working, can Ewers make something happen? So far in his career, that really hasn’t been his strength, and his relative lack of mobility, which is heightened by his issues with durability, creates a concern if he can grow from this or not.
I’m not sure if I’ve written this but I’ve made this comparison on the podcast before, but Carson Beck’s season is the ultimate monkey’s paw of looking for specific things in prospects. Beck has shown me everything I wanted to see from him coming into the season. The problem is he’s also added a growing addiction to throwing the ball to the other team. While the extent of the issue is inexcusable, I do believe part of the “pressing” comes from some concerns with the WRs. It is Georgia, and the raw talents of these players is very legitimate, but it is very clear at times there is a disconnect between Beck and his receivers. Ultimately, Beck has put up more negative film this year than I would have expected, but he remains very close to my QB1 as someone who still has a number of positives in a loaded class.
While I don’t regret putting Jalen Milroe as QB1 at this point given the lower grades the QB1 of this class has, I do regret putting him as highly as 1.06 on a mock. Milroe has showcased development in areas like timing, and the Georgia game alone may have raised his draft stock a full round, but where that ultimately leads him I’m still unsure. He is physically talented, but players like Malik Willis don’t always go in the 1st Round either. My big concern right now is that the more I watch Milroe, the more I’m worried that he’s not seeing things more clearly or reading better, but just being more decisive. You can be decisive without having any reason to make that decision, and right now, Milroe seems to have gone from timid scrambling to over-triggering. On top of that, he has not had a Big Time Throw, a staple of his game even last year, in two weeks. For all the “physical” conversations, it is clear that the NFL was not going to draft Milroe in the first round to me if he came out in 2023. He was not returning like Henderson or Egbuka to his same coach, but rather he had a retiring Nick Saban, a new offensive system, and a coach that brought in at least one QB he had familiarity with. There is no way in my mind that Milroe returns to school if he gets good grade comparisons, so he needs to build up his grade. He’s put up more good film than last year, but the consistency is not yet First Round worthy, and the concerns could easily drive him into the 3rd round range (or later with a poor process).
Cam Ward, Miami (FL) ; Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
At this point, blending Fantasy and real upside, Cam Ward seems the obvious QB1, but both the QBs in this category have their share of issues as well. For Ward, while we have to admire his increased ability to access his off-script playmaking, and while Miami has done an excellent job at enabling him, there is a significant lack of being able to succeed within structure that is increasingly concerning. Ward showcased some growth in areas like Time to Throw and Pressure to Sack, and those growths have largely regressed against slightly more difficult competition. One area that showcases my concern is how Ward has played the last three games in scripted drives. Generally, we expect QBs to excel in the scripted drive that begins the game. The offense even usually rehearses these plays. Something about these drives causes Ward issues. In the last three games, Ward is 6 of 10 for 33 Yards with 2 Sacks including a lost fumble on opening drives. This is a small sample, but we’re talking about this 3.3 YPA on opening drives against a 9.4 YPA on all other plays in these three games. My concern is that the first drive tells you where you likely should go, but you still have to read out the concept. Ward struggles here, but excels off-script. Off-script playmaking is fantastic, but if that is all you have, that is a major concern. Ward’s in-structure and designed play are not where I would want a QB1 to me, despite the fact that Ward is currently my QB1.
There isn’t too much to talk about with Sanders; it is just the same talking points over and over: if you isolate plays where the QB throws the football, Shedeur Sanders is easily the best QB in this class. However, Sanders’ pressure evasion is a significant concern, and the type of concern that can expand exponentially at the next level. Avoiding negative plays and making sure not to turn negative plays into VERY negative plays are both extremely important QB skills. As a passer, Sanders does this, but in the pocket there are significant concerns.
Cade Klubnik, Clemson ; Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
There isn’t too much to add here and Klubnik may very well be a member of the 2026 class, but after another solid week, to update our leaderboard–
Of QBs with a minimum of 160 Dropbacks (to get 100 QBs), Cade Klubnik is 11th in PFF Passing Grade, 15th in Big Time Throw%, T17th in Turnover Worthy Play%, and 10th in
Pressure-to-Sack%.
In these key indicator statistics that showcase high upside ability, evasion of negatives, and ability to avoid pressure turning into sacks, Klubnik is in the top 15-20 in every category. Not spectacular anywhere, but good everywhere.
Garrett Nussmeier is listed here because as of today, my general recommendation or expectation would be for Nussmeier to return for the 2026 class. However, the 2025 Class being a bit vacant may change that equation. Nussmeier showcases a lot of intriguing tools, but he is simply making too many mistakes for a one-year starter where teams usually like to get the bigger sample size. All that said, Nussmeier is potentially the best QB in the entire FBS at avoiding pressures. Nussmeier has taken only 1 Sack in 64 Pressures, and while that is not a flashy casual stat, that is a skill that functions as a major building block as it is very instinctual.
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Once again, thanks for bearing with me. I’m hoping to adjust the schedule next week to start a bit earlier in the process. I won’t have a huge post like after Week 5, but I will have my first Big Board this next week, with at least a decent post. Risers for Week 9 are TBD depending on how the post and week develops.
Thanks,
C.J.
(#57) Big Review Show #7: Where to rank KW3, Njoku, & Tracy + 2025 QB Woes & Other Risers & Reactions