While the 2025 NFL Draft is still far off in the distance, players who will be drafted early are on the field now. Each week presents unique matchups for draft prospects and this week is no different. Here are NFL Draft prospects to watch in college football week 1 recap.
Related: NFL Draft Prospects to Watch in College Football Week 1
Clemson had a rough first week of the season, losing to Georgia 34-3. The defense played well, but were worn down when their own offense couldn’t consistently move the ball. Carter didn’t have a great game, as he had just three tackles.
Carter’s play wasn’t why Clemson lost, but he’ll need to play better in the future to help Clemson and his draft stock. He still has good athleticism and shows good pursuit. Carter will need to continue to work on his diagnosing plays quickly. There is still a lot of football left to be played for Carter to improve his stock
Part of the reason the Bulldogs were able to dominate Clemson was how well they played in the trenches. They were able to rack up 447 total yards of offense against a defense that has some talent. Ratledge held up well and helped clear holes for the running game.
Ratledge battled well with Clemson’s big defensive line. He may not be the most athletic, but he has plenty of strength. Ratledge clears holes in the run game and can anchor as a pass protector. He looks like a good bet to be one of the first interior offensive linemen selected in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Texas A&M lost to Notre Dame in week 1 and their offense struggled. Weigman was going up against a tough defense, but he didn’t play well himself. He finished the game with just 100 yards passing and two interceptions.
There were plenty of throws that Weigman is capable of making, but he missed on them. For a player that lacked experience going into the game, it is clear he needs more. His stock took a hit due to his accuracy and decision-making, so he’ll have to play well the rest of the year to boost it.
Notre Dame’s defense rose to the occasion, only allowing 13 points to Texas A&M. They had playmakers on all three levels, but specifically their secondary played well. That includes Morrison, who helped keep Texas A&M to just 100 yards passing and had two tackles.
Morrison showed his ability to shut down receivers in this game. He is good in man-to-man coverage and can be trusted on an island. While he didn’t show his ball skills in this game, he didn’t have a chance to, as Weigman hardly targeted the receiver he was guarding.
USC was able to get a big win over LSU in their season opening game. The win comes as a result of some vast defensive improvements. These improvements include the play of Bear Alexander. He finished the game with one tackle, but his impact was bigger than that.
Alexander helped USC limit LSU’s rushing attack, as they rushed for 117 yards, but 39 of that were on one carry. He still needs to work on being more consistent, but it looks like the improvements he made in the offseason can really help his stock. Finding that consistency throughout the season will be key for his draft stock.
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