The Athletic has live coverage of Colorado vs. Georgia Tech. We’re back! While it may not be the most exciting Week 1 (Louisville vs. Ole Miss is the only ranked vs. ranked matchup), the first weekend of college football means new opportunities for prospects to demand the attention of NFL evaluators. Before last season, no one was calling Ohio State’s Arvell Reese a top-five pick, but he changed that narrative in the opener against Texas. LSU’s Mansoor Delane was a highly-regarded potential Day 2 prospect, but he proved to be a first-rounder almost immediately in a Tigers uniform. There are numerous examples each year, so who will be this season’s ascendants? Here are 15 prospects I’m excited to see in Week 1: Three stories to watch: Indiana, Arch and KiffinStewart Mandel1. Darian Mensah, QB, Miami (at Stanford; Friday, 9 p.m. ET) Based on his time at Tulane and Duke, Mensah is already a beloved quarterback among NFL scouts. However, there is debate over his ceiling at the next level. His physical tools are average and you wouldn’t classify his arm as “explosive,” but Mensah understands touch and rhythm as a passer with a point guard awareness that should translate well. Surrounded by the Hurricanes’ talented offense, Mensah is a favorite for the Heisman Trophy — the last 15 quarterbacks to win the Heisman went on to be first-round picks. I was also excited to see Stanford left tackle Niki Prongos (6-foot-7, 312 pounds) in this game, especially against Miami running back Damon Wilson. But Prongos, a potential top-50 pick at tackle, is currently sidelined with an injury. Desmeal Leigh, OT, Youngstown State (at Kentucky; Saturday, 1 pm ET) Is your NFL team looking for offensive tackle help? Saturday’s Youngstown State-Kentucky game will be worth watching. For Leigh, this will be his biggest tape of 2026. The FCS All-American has an NFL body (6-6, 324, with 35 1/2-inch arms and an 85-inch wingspan), and enters the season as a potential Day 2 draft pick. But how he stacks up against SEC competition (and this is the only opportunity on Youngstown State’s schedule) will go a long way toward determining an invitation to the SEC Game. Stars and ultimately your draft grade.3. Lance Heard, OT, KentuckyHeard, a transfer from Tennessee, hopes to convince scouts that he is a future pro starter. His youthful tape is marred by sloppy moments, but the game’s traits and violence are worthy of the next level. Unlike Leigh, there will be bigger tapes for Heard on the horizon (including in Week 2 against Alabama), but scouts want to see the senior left tackle get off to a strong start.4. Matayo Uiagalelei, edge, Oregon5. Teitum Tuioti, edge, Oregon (vs. Boise State; Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET) There are several senior edge rushers worth tracking in this matchup. Uiagalelei and Tuioti are relentless physical prospects in 260+ pound bodies. Neither player is very nervous, but both are competing with the power to establish the lead or force the quarterback out of his spot, which is why scouts like them as Day 2.6 projections. Jayden Virgin-Morgan, up, Boise StateAnd as for Oregon’s opposition on Saturday… Virgin-Morgan has a decent frame (6-2, 254, with 32 1/2-inch arms) and is the Broncos’ top-rated senior prospect in the class of 2027, after leading them in sacks and tackles for loss in both 2024 and 2025. For Boise State to keep this game close, Virgin will need to create pressure on Ducks quarterback Dante Moore.7. Jordan Seaton, OT, LSU8. Will Heldt, edge, Clemson (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET) There are numerous prospects for Clemson and LSU worth watching Saturday night, including a combined seven players who made my top 50 preseason draft rankings. But my eyes will be focused on the matchup between Seaton (6-5, 302) and Heldt (6-7, 260). Seaton, a former five-star recruit, arrived in Baton Rouge this offseason after two up-and-down seasons in Colorado. You can see his first-round talent, but his consistency needs to catch up, especially in the run game. Heldt, meanwhile, has mediocre arm length and arc speed, but his quick hands and pursuit angles make him disruptive. Several NFL scouts have told me that he is the best senior prospect in their area.9. Nico Iamaleava, QB, UCLA (at Cal; Saturday, 10:30 p.m. ET) College football is currently overloaded with talented but inconsistent passers who will have opportunities in 2026 to rewrite their narratives, and Iamaleava is near the top of the list. Having produced better tape last season than most give him credit for, he’s carrying some optimistic love in the scouting community. It wouldn’t be surprising if he became an “up” in the coming months.10. Chase Hendricks, WR, Cal11. Ian Strong, WR, Cal My focus when Cal has the ball on Saturday will be on two senior transfer receivers who should thrive catching passes from quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele (who is not draft eligible). Working primarily from the slot, Hendricks (5-10, 195), a transfer from Ohio, is a tough-minded receiver with the craftiness and toughness to be a high-volume threat. And Strong (6-4, 216), a transfer from Rutgers, is a big-bodied receiver on the outside with average speed but strong finishing skills. Both prospects have selectable grades from NFL scouts.12. CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame (vs. Wisconsin; Sunday, 7:30 p.m. ET) Is this the start of a national championship season for Notre Dame? The Irish are loaded in several spots on the roster, including having the best secondary in the country. But what I’m most excited about is seeing an updated look at Carr, a redshirt sophomore quarterback, and his development leading the offense. Carr’s physical tools won’t blow you away, but his operation is impressive.13. Abu Sama, RB, Wisconsin If Wisconsin has any chance of upsetting the Irish, Sama will need a big day. The Iowa State transfer has enough quickness and anticipation to keep scouts intrigued, and could possibly earn a spot on Day 3 of the draft.14. Clev Lubin, edge, Louisville (vs. Ole Miss; Sunday, 7:30 p.m. ET) Ole Miss has arguably the most dynamic backfield in the country, led by quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy (both start the season in my top 50). Can Louisville’s front seven stop them? Lubin (6-2, 267), a senior, needs to improve his efficiency in pass rushing, but he appears on contact with 11-inch bear claws instead of hands. He finished fourth in the Power 4 last season with 64 pressures; The three players ahead of him were all first-rounders on April 15. Will Echoles, DT, Ole MissEcholes is fun because of the different ways he can alter an offensive game plan. He has the talent to be a T1 in the 2027 class, and Ole Miss will need him to play at that level to stop Louisville’s offense, led by dynamic running back Isaac Brown.
