Draft Scout College Football Player News & Notes

2024 CFB/2025-2028 NFL Draft Scout

- Draft Scout Front Page - 2025 NFL Combine - College Football Transfers - 2026-2029 - End of 2024 Season Risers - End of 2024 Season Fallers - 2025 NFL Draft Underclassmen - 2025 Senior Bowl - 2025 East-West Shrine - 2025 Hula Bowl - 2025 Tropical Bowl - 2025 HBCU Legacy Bowl Draft Scout Top 12 NFL Prospect Teams for 2025 (Based on NFL Team Preseason Scouting Grades)

- #1 Oregon (17 players in Top 350 Overall) - #2 Michigan (14) - #3 Ohio State (14) - #4 Georgia (13) - #5 Texas (11) - #6 Notre Dame (11) - #7 Penn State (10) - #8 Iowa (10) - #9 Mississippi (9) - #10 Florida State (9) - #11 Virginia Tech (9) - #12 Miami (9) - 2024-2028 CFB 5* Star Recruits - 2024-2028 FBS/FCS Team Lists/Rosters - CFB's Best Player Names By Year/Position - Draft Scout Player Directory A-Z - Players by School/College List A-Z - CFB Player News & Notes - Draft Scout Rokfin Football Channel - Draft Scout Weekly - Contact Draft Scout - Privacy Policy - Phil Steele/Draft Scout Player Rankings by Conference: -ACC- | -American Athletic- | -Big 12- | -Big Ten- | -Conference USA- | -Independent- | -Mid-American- | -Mountain West- | -Pac-12- | -SEC- | -Sun Belt-

2023 CFB/2024-2027 NFL Draft Scout

- Draft Scout Front Page - 2024 NFL Draft Tracker/Results - 2024 Pro Timing Days/Results - 2024 Pro Timing Day Risers by Position - 2024 Pro Timing Day Fallers by Position - 2024 NFL Combine - Josh Buchanan's 2024 Top 100 Small School Prospects - End of Season Risers - End of Season Fallers - 2024 NFL Draft Underclassmen - 2024 Senior Bowl - 2024 East-West Shrine - 2024 Hula Bowl - 2024 HBCU Legacy Bowl - 2023 CFB Bowl Games/Playoffs - CFB Player News & Notes 12/03 Final CFB Playoff Top 12
- #1 Michigan - #2 Washington - #3 Texas - #4 Alabama - #5 Florida State - #6 Georgia - #7 Ohio State - #8 Oregon - #9 Missouri - #10 Penn State - #11 Mississippi - #12 Oklahoma - 2023-2027 FBS/FCS Team Lists/Rosters - CFB's Best Player Names By Year/Position - Draft Scout Player Directory A-Z - Players by School/College List A-Z - Draft Scout Rokfin Football Channel - Draft Scout Weekly - Phil Steele/Draft Scout - Contact Draft Scout Player Rankings by Conference: -ACC- | -American Athletic- | -Big 12- | -Big Ten- | -Conference USA- | -Independent- | -Mid-American- | -Mountain West- | -Pac-12- | -SEC- | -Sun Belt-

NFL Draft Scout History

- 1997 Coach Bill Walsh Draft Insider (First/Early NFL Draft Scout) - 2023 NFL Draft Tracker/Results - 2023 Undrafted by Position - 2023 Pro Timing Days/Results - 2023 Pro Timing Day Risers by Position - Draft Scout Evolve: Player Rating Changes - 2023 NFL Combine - Draft Scout CFB Risers - Draft Scout CFB Fallers - 2023 NFL Draft Underclassmen - 2023-26 #1 Georgia Bulldogs - 2023-26 #3 TCU Horned Frogs - 2022-23 CFB Bowl Schedule - EA College Football Game Pushed Back to 2024 - CFB Schedule/Roster/News Links - CFB Player Injury News & Notes - CFB Injuries by Year/Position

2022 Draft Scout

- 2022 NFL Draft Tracker - 2022 Pro Timing Days/Results - 2022 Pro Timing Day Risers by Position - 2022 NFL Combine/Results - 2022 NFL Combine Risers by Position - 2022 NFL Draft Underclassmen - 2021 Draft Scout Top 100

Draft Scout by Conference

2023 Draft Scout Offense

2023 Draft Scout Defense

2022 Draft Scout Offense

2022 Draft Scout Defense

Draft Scout College Football Player News

Previous 15 Notes

Next 15 Notes

08/31/24 - RB Brashard Smith, Sr/2025, Southern Methodist + More +

Brashard Smith ran for 108 yards and two touchdowns, 348-pound nose tackle Anthony Booker Jr. returned a fumble for a score and SMU routed FCS member Houston Christian 59-7 on Saturday night. Preston Stone threw for two TDs and Kevin Jennings had one passing and one rushing as the quarterbacks split time in the first home game for SMU (2-0) since joining the Atlantic Coast Conference. After starting with a three-and-out, the Mustangs scored touchdowns on four consecutive possessions of their own - and one of Houston Christian's.

Jahfari Harvey crunched CJ Rogers in the chest late in the first quarter, the ball squirted loose as the QB was being slammed to the turf and Booker scooped it up and rumbled 16 yards for a 28-0 SMU lead. The lead was 42-7 with five minutes left in the first half a week after the Mustangs were three-touchdown favorites but didn't lead until the final two minutes of a 29-24 victory at Nevada. The Huskies (0-1) got a 10-yard touchdown catch from Deuce McMillan but averaged just 3 yards per play with 10 first downs and had three turnovers in coach Jason Bachtel's debut. - AP College Football

RB Brashard Smith, Sr/2025 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 4* (40)

+ Southern Methodist Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
Southern Methodist Player News & Notes

News Source: AP College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

08/31/24 - QB Jake Retzlaff, rSr/2026, Brigham Young + More +

Jake Retzlaff threw for a career-high 348 yards and three touchdowns to lead BYU to a 41-13 victory over Southern Illinois on Saturday night. Retzlaff earned his first career victory as the Cougars' starting quarterback after beating out South Florida transfer Gerry Bohanon for the job in fall camp. The redshirt junior went winless in four starts last season, but helped BYU rack up 527 total yards this time around. Chase Roberts led the Cougars with 108 yards on seven catches. BYU (1-0) has not lost to an opponent outside the FBS since 1960.

DJ Williams threw for 98 yards, while adding 121 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, to lead the Salukis. Southern Illinois (0-1) failed in its bid to defeat a third straight FBS opponent. Big plays led to a big first quarter for the Cougars. Retzlaff completed a pair of fourth-down passes to set up a 1-yard scoring plunge from Hinckley Ropati on BYU's opening drive. Then he capped off the Cougars' second drive with a 57-yard strike down the middle to a wide-open Jojo Phillips that gave BYU a 14-0 lead. Southern Illinois sliced the deficit to 14-6 when Williams broke a tackle and scored on a 4-yard keeper just before halftime. Williams connected with Keontez Lewis on a 43-yard dart to get into BYU territory and set up the touchdown. - AP College Football

QB Jake Retzlaff, rSr/2026 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 3* (52)

+ Brigham Young Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
Brigham Young Player News & Notes

News Source: AP College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

08/31/24 - RB Kelley Joiner, rSr/2025, South Florida + More +

Kelley Joiner ran for two touchdowns and South Florida scored five rushing touchdowns en route to a 48-3 win over Bethune-Cookman in a season opener Saturday night. South Florida's ground game rolled up 231 yards while its defense held Bethune-Cookman to just 48. Quarterback Byrum Brown used a play fake to skirt the left side and raced along the sideline for a 42-yard first-quarter touchdown to open the scoring for the Bulls, who scored four TDs before the Wildcats got their lone field goal with :22 left in the first half when Cade Hechter converted a 48-yard field goal.

Joiner scored on a pair of short runs and Ta'Ron Keith and Nay'Quan Wright each scored from the 1. Joiner carried 14 times for 78 yards and Brown finished with 74 yards on eight carries for South Florida. Brown completed 13 of 20 pass attempts for 152 yards. Bryce Archie completed 2 of 3 pass attempts, including a 15-yard TD pass to Michael Brown-Stephens with 2:19 left. Bethune-Cookman managed just 170 total yards despite maintaining possession for almost 38 minutes. - AP College Football

RB Kelley Joiner, rSr/2025 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 3* (179)

+ South Florida Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
South Florida Player News & Notes

News Source: AP College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

08/31/24 - QB Dillon Gabriel, rSr/2025, Oregon + More +

Dillon Gabriel threw for 380 yards and two touchdowns in his Oregon debut, but the third-ranked Ducks struggled in their first game as Big Ten members before holding off resilient Idaho 24-14 on Saturday night. While the victory wasn't as decisive as expected, Oregon extended its nonconference home winning streak to a national-best 33 games. Oregon has won 20 straight home openers. Oregon led 14-0 at the half, but Idaho narrowed the deficit on Jack Layne's 36-yard touchdown pass to Jake Cox. After a field goal by Oregon, Layne rushed for a 4-yard TD to make it 17-14. Gabriel found Tez Johnson with a 12-yard scoring pass midway through the final quarter to salvage the win. - AP College Football

QB Dillon Gabriel, rSr/2025 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 3* (68)

+ Oregon Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
Oregon Player News & Notes

News Source: AP College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

08/31/24 - CB Will Johnson, Jr/2025, Michigan + More +

Davis Warren and Alex Orji each threw a touchdown pass, Will Johnson returned an interception for a score and No. 9 Michigan started defense of its national championship with a 30-10 win over Fresno State on Saturday night. The Wolverines (1-0) were sluggish on offense for much of the night, breaking in new quarterbacks behind a revamped offensive line and Sherrone Moore, who made his coaching debut as Jim Harbaugh's full-time replacement. The Bulldogs (0-1) trailed by just four points deep into the second quarter and 16-10 midway through the fourth before Michigan pulled away.

Warren, who beat out Orji to start at quarterback, threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Colston Loveland to give Michigan a 23-10 lead with 5:43 left. Johnson picked off a pass on the ensuing possession and returned it 86 yards, making the score lopsided in a game that was close for much of the night. The game opened with Orji throwing a 3-yard touchdown pass to Donovan Warren, but the rest of the night didn't go very smoothly for Moore's team until late in the game. Davis, a former walk-on who overcame leukemia in high school, was 15 of 25 for 118 yards with a touchdown and an interception. - AP College Football

CB Will Johnson, Jr/2025 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 5* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 5* (06)

+ Michigan Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
Michigan Player News & Notes

News Source: AP College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

08/31/24 - QB Payton Thorne, rSr/2025, Auburn + More +

Payton Thorne threw for 322 yards and four touchdowns in the first half, and Auburn opened its season with a 73-3 victory over in-state FCS opponent Alabama A&M on Saturday night. Thorne wasted no time in taking advantage of his new wide receivers, tossing two touchdowns to Penn State transfer KeAndre Lambert-Smith and another one to highly touted freshman Cam Coleman in the first quarter. Fellow freshman receiver Perry Thompson added a 70-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter.

Auburn's big offensive night started with a 34-yard touchdown run from Jarquez Hunter on the fourth play of the game. Thorne scored his rushing touchdown from 4 yards out in the second quarter, and Damari Alston added a 2-yard score just before halftime. Malcolm Simmons, another Auburn freshman receiver, scored two touchdowns in the third quarter on a blocked punt and a 55-yard reception. California transfer Sam Jackson V added a 42-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter. Alabama A&M quarterback Cornelious Brown IV threw for 182 yards in the loss. The Bulldogs only converted two of their 16 third-down tries and missed two short field goals. - AP College Football

QB Payton Thorne, rSr/2025 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (48)
Recruiting Grade: 3* (69)

+ Auburn Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
Auburn Player News & Notes

News Source: AP College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

08/31/24 - QB Anthony Colandrea, Jr/2027, UNLV + More +

Virginia quarterback Anthony Colandrea threw for 297 yards and 2 touchdowns in a dominant 34-13 victory Saturday night over the University of Richmond in the season opener for both teams. The Cavaliers looked like they learned their lesson from last year's home-opening loss to James Madison. In that game, Virginia appeared to have the game in hand, but a weather delay shifted the momentum and led to a Dukes victory. Saturday night's game went into a weather delay late in the second quarter, with Virginia leading 20-7. When play resumed 2 hours and 17 minutes later, Virginia quickly scored a touchdown, and kept its foot on the gas through the third quarter before turning to clock-running mode.

Colandrea was given the fourth quarter off. Richmond's offensive line struggled to get any traction against the bigger, stronger UVA defenders. The Spiders kept the winner of their quarterback competition under wraps until game time, when sophomore Kyle Wickersham ran out to take the first snaps. He made a 5-yard scramble for the team's lone touchdown, but managed just 110 yards passing. Virginia will test itself against Wake Forest and Maryland in the next two weeks, and Colandrea showed growth that will be encouraging to the team's fanbase. He did not turn the ball over, and ran out of bounds or slid instead of exposing himself to big hits. - AP College Football

QB Anthony Colandrea, Jr/2027 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* ()
Recruiting Grade: 3* (78)

+ UNLV Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
UNLV Player News & Notes

News Source: AP College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

08/31/24 - QB Jalen Milroe, rJr/2025, Alabama + More +

Jalen Milroe ran for two touchdowns and passed for three more, including scores of 84 and 55 yards to highly touted freshman Ryan Williams, and No. 5 Alabama breezed through Kalen DeBoer's debut with a 63-0 victory over Western Kentucky Saturday night. The Crimson Tide rode a cascade of big plays on both sides of the ball to a 42-0 halftime lead in the first game of the season and post-Nick Saban. Justice Haynes scored on an 85-yard run and Jam Miller added a 39-yard touchdown, and Michigan transfer safety Keon Sabb set up two touchdowns with first-quarter interceptions and long returns.

Milroe played less than three quarters, completing 7 of 9 passes for 200 yards and running 10 times for 79. DeBoer replaced Saban, who led Alabama to six national titles in 17 seasons, after leading Washington to the national championship game. Saban and his family were at the game, watching his former team outgain Western Kentucky 600-145. Alabama left tackle Kadyn Proctor didn't play after an apparent let arm injury in pre-game warmups. Elijah Pritchett took his place. - AP College Football

QB Jalen Milroe, rJr/2025 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 4* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 4* (10)

+ Alabama Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
Alabama Player News & Notes

News Source: AP College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

08/31/24 - QB Braylon Braxton, rSr/2026, Southern Miss + More +

Transfer quarterbacks Stone Earle and Braylon Braxton each threw for a pair of touchdowns and Marshall defeated Stony Brook 45-3 in both schools' season opener Saturday night. Earle, a transfer from North Texas started and played into the third quarter. Braxton, coming over from Tulsa, took over early in the second half and then Cole Pennington finished behind center and also had a touchdown pass. The trio combined to go 21 of 32 for 290 yards.

A.J. Turner rushed for 119 yards on eight carries, including an 80-yard score. Christian Fitzpatrick had four catches for 97 yards and a score. Elijah Metcalf added two touchdown catches and Carl Chester and Bralon Brown one each. The Thundering Herd had 549 yards total offense and scored 21 fourth-quarter points in a game that endured a weather delay. The Seawolves of the FCS were 0-10 last season and have a new head coach in Billy Cosh. - AP College Football

QB Braylon Braxton, rSr/2026 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 3* (95)

+ Southern Miss Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
Southern Miss Player News & Notes

News Source: AP College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

08/31/24 - QB Brendon Lewis, rSr/2026, Memphis + More +

Brendon Lewis and Patrick Garwo III accounted for two touchdowns apiece and Nevada held off Troy 28-26 on Saturday night. Troy's Goose Crowder threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Devonte Ross with 21 seconds left to cap a nine-play, 75-yard drive, but Crowder was stuffed on his two-point conversion run attempt. Lewis was 17-of-20 passing for 158 yards with two touchdown passes. Garwo finished with 58 yards rushing and a pair of scores. Savion Red added 135 yards rushing on 11 carries for Nevada (1-1), which lost to SMU 29-24 in its season opener.

Red broke loose on a 69-yard run to the Troy 6-yard line before Garwo bullied into the endzone on a 1-yard run two plays later, tying the game 14-all early in the third quarter. Garwo made it 21-17 on a 22-yard touchdown run with 3:20 remaining in the third. Lewis tossed a 7-yard TD pass to Marcus Bellon that stretched the Wolf Pack's lead to 28-17 early in the fourth quarter. Scott Taylor Renfroe's second field goal of the second half pulled Troy to 28-20 with 6:12 left. - AP College Football

QB Brendon Lewis, rSr/2026 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 3* (35)

+ Memphis Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
Memphis Player News & Notes

News Source: AP College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

08/31/24 - QB Dequan Finn, rSr/2026, Miami (OH) + More +

Dequan Finn threw for 192 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a 39-yard score to lift Baylor to a season-opening 45-3 win over FCS Tarleton State on Saturday. Finn made his mark immediately with a 39-yard touchdown run on the Bears' first drive and added a 32-yard scoring pass to Ashtyn Hawkins later in the first quarter. Finn, a sixth-year senior transfer from Toledo who was named MAC Player of the Year last season, also found Michael Trigg for a 17-yard TD strike in the third quarter.

Finn finished 14-for-22 passing and was picked off twice. Keaton Thomas added to Baylor's fast start when he intercepted a Jaden Pete pass and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown to make it a 21-0 lead with 4:12 left in the first quarter. Dawson Pendergrass ran for a 1-yard TD, and Sawyer Robertson fired a 30-yard touchdown to Ketron Jackson Jr. in the fourth quarter for the Bears, who outgained the Texans (1-1) 442-181. Daniel Greek was 7-for-13 passing for 80 yards for Tarleton State, a program in its final season of the four-year reclassification period before becoming a full NCAA Division I football program next season. - AP College Football

QB Dequan Finn, rSr/2026 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 3* (63)

+ Miami (OH) Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
Miami (OH) Player News & Notes

News Source: AP College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

08/31/24 - QB Seth Henigan, Sr/2025, Memphis + More +

Seth Henigan threw two touchdown passes, Mario Anderson Jr. ran for a pair and Memphis opened its season with a 40-0 win over North Alabama on Saturday night. Henigan threw touchdown passes to Anthony Landphere and Brendan Doyle and Anderson added his second touchdown when the Tigers scored 24 second-quarter points on their way to a 31-0 halftime lead. Henigan finished 22 of 30 for 308 yards passing. Roc Taylor led the Memphis receivers with 87 yards on five catches. Memphis outgained the Lions (0-2), 372-185, and held North Alabama to just 3 of 15 on third-down conversions and while forcing three turnovers. North Alabama's Ari Patu threw for 103 yards and was picked off twice. - AP College Football

QB Seth Henigan, Sr/2025 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 3* (94)

+ Memphis Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
Memphis Player News & Notes

News Source: AP College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

08/31/24 - QB Avery Johnson, Jr/2027, Kansas State + More +

Avery Johnson threw two touchdown passes and Kansas State got contributions from all three phases of the game to lead the No. 18 Wildcats to a season-opening 41-6 win over UT Martin on Saturday night. The Wildcats' defense dominated early and often, allowing the Wildcats' offense to find its footing. Kansas State limited the Skyhawks to 134 total yards (2.4 yards per play). K-State also befuddled UT Martin's passing attack by sacking Kinkead Dent three times. The Wildcats finished with four sacks, led by sophomore defensive end Tobi Osunsanmi's 1 1/2.

Meanwhile, the Wildcats' offense had its moments behind Johnson, a sophomore who became K-State's second-youngest quarterback to start a season opener. He made his mark in the first quarter when he connected with tight end Brayden Loftin for a 23-yard touchdown to cap a seven-play, 80-yard drive that gave K-State an early 7-0 lead. Johnson finished 14 of 21 for 153 yards and two TDs with an interception. He also ran for 37 yards on three carries. DJ Giddens gouged UT Martin's defense with a team-high 124 yards on 13 carries, averaging 9.5 yards per attempt. As a team, the Wildcats totaled 283 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries. - AP College Football

QB Avery Johnson, Jr/2027 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 4* (09)

+ Kansas State Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
Kansas State Player News & Notes

News Source: AP College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

08/31/24 - RB Jam Griffin, rSr/2025, Oregon State + More +

Jam Griffin and Anthony Hankerson each ran for over 150 yards and combined for four rushing touchdowns as Oregon State relied on its ground game in a 38-15 victory over Idaho State on Saturday. Griffin, who played for Oregon State in 2022 and returned to Corvallis after spending last season with Ole Miss, shined in his return despite losing a first quarter fumble. He had 160 yards on 20 carries and two touchdowns. Hankerson gained 155 yards on 24 attempts with two scores. The Beavers amassed 379 yards rushing.

Hankerson's second touchdown of the first half-a 6-yard run with 27 seconds remaining in the second quarter-gave Oregon State a 17-9 lead at the break. Gevani McCoy connected with David Wells Jr. on a 55-yard touchdown pass to extend the Beavers' lead to 24-9 at 10:39 of the third quarter. Griffin's 22-yard touchdown scamper pushed the lead to 31-9. A 9-yard touchdown pass from Idaho State's Hunter Hays to Michael Shulikov cut the lead to 31-15 with about one minute left in the third quarter. Griffin's 20-yard touchdown run in the fourth sealed the win for the Beavers. - AP College Football

RB Jam Griffin, rSr/2025 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 4* (36)

+ Oregon State Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
Oregon State Player News & Notes

News Source: AP College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

08/31/24 - QB Jake Garcia, rSr/2026, Transfer + More +

Jake Garcia threw four touchdown passes and East Carolina overcame six turnovers with the help of a stifling defense in a 42-3 win over Norfolk State on Saturday night in the Pirates' season opener. Garcia, a Missouri transfer, was 23-of-36 for 308 yards and added 39 yards on the ground but threw three interceptions. Two of his touchdowns went to Desirrio Riles with one each to Anthony Smith and Casey Kelly. Javious Bond added a rushing TD. The Pirates also lost three fumbles. The Pirates rolled to 506 yards on offense while holding the Spartans from the FCS to 114. The Spartans (0-2) converted only one of 18 third downs. East Carolina's Gavin Gibson had a 30-yard pick-6 that put the Pirates up 21-6 on their way to a 28-3 halftime lead. - AP College Football

QB Jake Garcia, rSr/2026 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 4* (04)

+ Transfer Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
Transfer Player News & Notes

News Source: AP College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here