Draft Scout College Football Player News & Notes

2024 CFB/2025-2028 NFL Draft Scout

- Draft Scout Front Page 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 - End of 2023 Season Risers - End of 2023 Season Fallers - CFB Player News & Notes - 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-

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

02/01/23 - QB Haynes King, rJr/2026, Georgia Tech + More +

From birth, Haynes King has lived a life revolving around football. Growing up the son of a high-school football coach in Texas, King was a ballboy for the Longview High Lobos "as soon as he was old enough to protect himself on the sideline," Haynes' father John said. As a young boy and later a star quarterback in Longview, an east Texas city of about 82,000 roughly 40 miles from the Louisiana border, he spent many an hour in the Lobo Den, the school's fieldhouse. "He's just a guy that leads by example," John King said of his son in a phone interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Not a big rah-rah guy. Hard worker, great teammate. Enjoys the locker room, the coaches office. He just kind of grew up a coach's kid and that's what he likes to do. It doesn't take much to make him happy. He's just kind of one of the guys." That approach will surely find itself welcome within the confines of the Georgia Tech locker room.

After three years at Texas A&M, King seeks a new start at Tech and a fair shot at playing time -- and has three remaining seasons of eligibility. "That's all he wants," John King said. "He just wants a chance to win a job and play college football, be a starter." At Texas A&M, King was a heralded recruit - he was ranked the No. 5 dual-threat quarterback in the 2020 class by 247Sports Composite - who twice won the Aggies' starting job (2021 and 2022) coming out of the preseason. He was recognized by the team with awards for his toughness, attitude and conditioning level and earned the praise of coach Jimbo Fisher. But on-field success was not to be his as an Aggie. - Atlanta Journal Constitution

QB Haynes King, rJr/2026 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 4* (07)

+ Georgia Tech Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
Georgia Tech Player News & Notes

News Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

01/31/23 - RB Jalen Mitchell, rSr/2025, Transfer + More +

The UConn football team added to its list of new players via the transfer portal, getting running back Jalen Mitchell from Louisville. It's an important get for the Huskies, who lost their No. 1 back of a year ago, Nathan Carter, to Michigan State through the portal. Carter, and several other running backs were lost to injuries last season, underscoring the need for depth at the position.

Mitchell was Louisville's top running back in 2021, gaining 722 yards for five touchdowns, catching 12 passes for another 121 yards. But he sustained a leg injury early in 2022 and never got back in the mix, carrying only 10 times for 48 yards. During three years as a Cardinal, Mitchell, 5 feet 10 and 214 pounds, had a knack for gaining yardage after contact, and averaged 5.14 yards over 217 carries. From Rockledge, Fla., Mitchell was rated a three-star running back out of high school. At UConn, he will have two years eligibility and join Victor Rosa, from Bristol Central, who will be a sophomore, Devontae Houston and Brian Brewton, among others, in competition for carries. - Hartford Courant

RB Jalen Mitchell, rSr/2025 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 0* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 3* (108)

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

News Source: Hartford Courant, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

01/31/23 - CB Miles Battle, rSr/2024, Utah + More +

While Utah is losing All-America cornerback Clark Phillips III, who has declared for the NFL draft, the Utes have some talented newcomers joining the secondary. Cornerbacks coach Sharrieff Shah welcomes a pair of four-star corners in Smith Snowden and C.J. Blocker as well as Ole Miss grad transfer Miles Battle. Battle was a four-star wide receiver out of Cy Creek High in Houston before moving over to the defensive side of the ball. In 2022, the 6-foot-4, 205-pound Battle recorded 22 tackles, four pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble.

Shah likes Battle's size, length and athletic ability. "When you have long-levered corners, it just makes it more difficult for a quarterback to fit a ball in a small window. We play incredibly good quarterbacks over and over again," he said. "We have a tremendous amount of speed coming in with C.J. Blocker and Smith Snowden. These kids have signed and they're unbelievably fast. "It's a good complement to have longer corners so offensive coordinators can't always simply think they can back-shoulder you in the red zone. We have people that can jump for the ball, too." - Deseret News

CB Miles Battle, rSr/2024 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (31)
Recruiting Grade: 4* (59)

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

News Source: Deseret News, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

01/31/23 - WR Naseim Brantley, rSr/2025, Rutgers + More +

Rutgers quarterback Gavin Wimsatt just got some help. Naseim Brantley, a 6-4, 200-pound wide receiver from Central New Jersey, will spend his final year of eligibility at Rutgers. Brantley began his college career at Sacred Heart University, where he played alongside Rutgers offensive lineman J.D. DiRenzo, before transferring to Western Illinois, where Brantley was named Missouri Valley Football Conference Newcomer of the Year after averaging over 17 yards per catch last fall. Like DiRenzo, who was invited to and played in the 2023 Hula Bowl following one year in Piscataway, Brantley has his sites on the NFL. And Rutgers, who plays in the Big Ten East, lends the stage for that goal.

Brantley was named a top FCS prospect for the 2023 NFL Draft in November by TheAnalyst.com, but Brantley will try his luck at in-state Rutgers, instead. Brantley, who will arrive at Rutgers on Wednesday as a graduate transfer, caught 53 passes for 903 yards and nine touchdowns last fall. He excelled against Rutgers' Big Ten foe - the University of Minnesota (3 rec, 50 yards, TD) - and against South Dakota State (4 rec, 107 yards), who won the FCS national title in 2022. - Star Ledger

WR Naseim Brantley, rSr/2025 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 0* (503)

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

News Source: Star Ledger, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

01/31/23 - RB Phoenix Sproles, rSr/2024, James Madison + More +

Of the Dukes' new batch of wide receivers, a trio came from the transfer portal, bringing collegiate experience that could translate to the Sun Belt Conference. Phoenix Sproles, a North Dakota State transfer, was the first portal addition that the Dukes made for the 2023 season, and Cignetti said he showed flashes with the Bison, but the coach wants to see it done on "consistently." Sproles caught 61 passes for 888 yards and five touchdowns in 50 games with North Dakota State across his five seasons in Fargo, N.D. - Daily News-Record

RB Phoenix Sproles, rSr/2024 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 0* (00)

+ James Madison Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
James Madison Player News & Notes

News Source: Daily News-Record, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

01/31/23 - OT Armon Bethea, rJr/2026, Transfer + More +

The Bowling Green football program has added two transfers in Arizona State offensive line transfer Armon Bethea and Ventura College wide receiver transfer Bo Tate, according to head football coach Scot Loeffler. The 6-foot-5, 285-pound Bethea will have three years of eligibility with the Falcons. Bethea (Brooklyn, New York) spent two years at Arizona State. He played in two games in 2021 as a true freshman on the defensive line after making a transition to help with depth. He returned to the offensive line in 2022. Bethea was a consensus top-5 overall prospect in New York out of Erasmus Hall High School where he was teammates with current BGSU offensive tackle Tunde Fatukasi.

Primarily used as a left guard as a junior at Erasmus, Bethea helped lead the Dutchmen to the New York Public Schools Athletic League City Conference championship. He also played in the All-American Bowl after his senior year. At Erasmus, he was invited to the All-American Bowl as one of the top players in the class, where he previously committed to Arizona State on a national broadcast Bethea attended the same high school as a bevy of celebrities and sports figures like the Commanders' Curtis Samuel, actresses Barbara Streisand and Mae West to Pro Football Hall of Famers Al Davis and Sid Luckman. - Sentinel Tribune

OT Armon Bethea, rJr/2026 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 0* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 3* (151)

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

News Source: Sentinel Tribune, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

01/31/23 - K Noah Rauschenberg, Sr/2024, North Texas + More +

North Texas landed Baylor transfer kicker Noah Rauschenberg on Wednesday. He could help fill the void after UNT lost Ethan Mooney to graduation. North Texas leaned on a long line of standout kickers over the last several years, from Trevor Moore to Cole Hedlund and most recently Ethan Mooney. UNT may have landed the next player in that line on Wednesday when former Baylor kicker Noah Rauschenberg committed to continue his career with the Mean Green. Rauschenberg spent four seasons at Baylor and was a two-time, first-team Academic All-Big 12 selection. He was primarily a kickoff specialist and saw 57 of his 75 kickoffs downed for touchbacks last season. - Denton Record

K Noah Rauschenberg, Sr/2024 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 2* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 2* (35)

+ North Texas Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
North Texas Player News & Notes

News Source: Denton Record, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

01/30/23 - QB Stetson Bennett, rSr/2023, Georgia + More +

Former Georgia football quarterback Stetson Bennett was arrested on a public intoxication charge Sunday morning in Texas where he's training for Indianapolis Combine workout (Feb. 27-March 4). FYI, drinking is not one of the events at the Combine. Dallas Police responded at about 6:10 a.m. to reports of a man banging on doors in the 1600 block of Tribeca Way, according to information provided to the Athens Banner-Herald by the department's public information office.

When officers arrived, they located the 25-year old Bennett, the two-time national championship starting quarterback for the Bulldogs, and "determined he was intoxicated," police said. Bennett reportedly turned down a chance to play in the Senior Bowl this week in Mobile Ala. NFL Draft Scout rates the undersized Bennett (5-11, 194) No. 199, in area of rounds 5-6. - Athens Daily Banner

QB Stetson Bennett, rSr/2023 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (18)
Recruiting Grade: 3* (95)

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

News Source: Athens Daily Banner, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

01/30/23 - QB Sam Huard, rJr/2026, Utah + More +

The combination of Sam Huard and Sheldon Cross produced 13,214 passing yards and 153 touchdowns - both state records - in four unparalleled seasons at Kennedy Catholic High School, from 2017 to 2021. They'll chase that same success in the FCS. Huard - a former five-star recruit, who announced a decision to enter the transfer portal after two seasons at Washington on Jan. 10 - will transfer to FCS Cal Poly, he announced on the "Brock and Salk" show on Seattle Sports Station 710 AM Monday.

In the Big Sky Conference, Huard will reunite with Cross - who agreed to become Cal Poly's offensive coordinator this month after seven successful seasons as head coach at Kennedy Catholic. "Obviously the relationship with coach Cross I've had throughout my high school career and just how much he pushed me to grow as a person and as a player," Huard said Monday morning. " So, less than two years after enrolling at UW early as a five-star recruit, is looking for an offense that is familiar. "That [air raid system at Cal Poly] definitely also had a big impact on my decision," Huard said. "I've had two different systems in two years. I know if I was going to go choose another place where I'd have to learn a third system in three years there's obviously a lot of challenges with that." - Seattle Times

QB Sam Huard, rJr/2026 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 0* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 5* (02)

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

News Source: Seattle Times, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

01/30/23 - WR Emery Simmons, rSr/2024, Utah + More +

Former Indiana and North Carolina wide receiver Emery Simmons announced his commitment to the Utes on Sunday via social media. Simmons will have one year of eligibility remaining - the former four-star prospect transferred to Indiana last year, and played three seasons at North Carolina prior to that. Simmons had 30 receptions for 516 yards and three touchdowns during his time in the Tar Heels program, with 14 starts. Last year, he made 37 catches for 408 yards (both second-best on the team) with one touchdown for the Hoosiers. Simmons also had two carries for 54 yards. - Deseret News

WR Emery Simmons, rSr/2024 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 3* (92)

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

News Source: Deseret News, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

01/30/23 - OT Daijon Parker, rSr/2024, Iowa + More +

Offensive tackle Daijon Parker, previously committed to Virginia, flipped to the Iowa Hawkeyes after an official visit this weekend. Parker entered the transfer portal from Saginaw Valley State, where he appeared in 21 games. He is a graduate transfer with one year of eligibility. Parker was one of the most sought-after players in the transfer portal with more than 25 offers, including Virginia, Washington State and Tulane among others. At 6-foot-6 and 300 pounds, Parker's size and experience is a perfect fit on Iowa's young offensive line that struggled throughout the 2022 season. - Hawkcentral.com

OT Daijon Parker, rSr/2024 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 0* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 0* (00)

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

News Source: Hawkcentral.com, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

01/30/23 - K Anders Carlson, rSr/2023, Auburn + More +

Two former Auburn stars - running back Tank Bigsby and kicker Anders Carlson - both shared on their Instagram stories that they have received invites to the NFL Combine. This year's NFL Combine will be held in Indianapolis from Feb. 28 to March 6. Bigsby and Carlson are sure to be joined by other former Auburn teammates at the annual scouting showcase, but they're the only ones to disclose so far that they have been invited to participate in the event.

Bigsby was Auburn's starting running back the last three seasons, and ran for 2,903 yards and 25 touchdowns. Carlson spent six seasons at Auburn and served as the Tigers' starting placekicker for each of the last five years, missing time at the end of the 2021 and 2022 seasons due to injury. He is the younger brother of Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson, who led the league in kicking two years and was a 2022 All-Pro. - Birmingham News

K Anders Carlson, rSr/2023 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (07)
Recruiting Grade: 3* (12)

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

News Source: Birmingham News, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

01/30/23 - WR J.J. Jones, Sr/2025, North Carolina + More +

One of the UNC football program's returning pass catchers has a pretty significant road to recovery during the offseason. With the departures of Josh Downs and Antoine Green, the UNC football program's wide receiver room will feature junior J. J. Jones - when he heals. Jones recorded 23 catches for 423 yards and two scores during his sophomore campaign. On social media, Jones announced that he underwent hip surgery. This is a rather significant surgery, especially at a young age, as his road to recovery is expected to take some time. However, based on his Instagram caption, the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina native seems determined to get back to full strength as soon as possible. - Keepingitheel.com

WR J.J. Jones, Sr/2025 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 3* (91)

+ North Carolina Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
North Carolina Player News & Notes

News Source: Keepingitheel.com, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

01/30/23 - WR Eddie Lewis, rSr/2024, South Carolina + More +

South Carolina has turned to the transfer portal to fill a need at wide receiver with the enrollment of Eddie Lewis from Memphis. The Big Spur reported Lewis that was enrolled at USC, and The State newspaper confirmed that through a school spokesman. Lewis is a native of Harlem, N.Y., and began his college career at Rutgers in 2018, playing two two seasons there. He caught 29 passes for 203 yards and one touchdown with the Scarlet Knights.

Lewis then transferred to Butler Junior College in Kansas, where he played a spring season in 2021, catching 23 passes for 512 yards and four touchdowns in 6 games. From Butler, Lewis transferred to Memphis, where he developed into one of the top receivers in his league. Last season, he earned second-team all-AAC honors after catching 40 passes for 596 yards and six touchdowns. For his two seasons with the Tigers, Lewis caught 62 passes for 945 yards and 10 touchdowns, with a long of 75 yards. He averaged over 15 yards per catch. - The Post and Courier

WR Eddie Lewis, rSr/2024 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 2* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 0* (92)

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

News Source: The Post and Courier, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

01/30/23 - QB Devin Leary, rSr/2024, Kentucky + More +

Former North Carolina State quarterback Devin Leary and former Northern Illinois left tackle Marques Cox, both projected to start for the Wildcats in the fall, expressed optimism about the status of their rehabilitation from injuries that ended their 2022 seasons early in interviews with reporters Wednesday but stopped short of placing a specific timetable for their return to the field. UK Coach Mark Stoops previously said he expected both players to be available for at least part of spring practice but said he was unsure if either would be limited. "Absolutely on schedule," Leary said Wednesday. "I feel really good. Really just taking it day by day and making sure I'm following the doctors' protocols and listening to the trainers in the training room. The strength and conditioning staff just keeping me on pace. But right now I'm in a really good spot."

Leary entered the 2022 season as the preseason ACC Player of the Year and a dark horse Heisman Trophy candidate, but his season ended after just six games when he tore the pectoral muscle on his right side in an Oct. 8 game against Florida State. The injury required surgery just more than a month later. The torn pectoral muscle was the second major injury for Leary, who also saw his 2020 season end early due to a fractured fibula. "Honestly, it was just two freak accidents," Leary said. "It can be frustrating, but that's the game we sign up to play. It's a violent sport. At the end of the day, I'm still grateful to be here. Still grateful to be around awesome doctors, awesome trainers to where I'm standing here in front of you today getting ready to play this season. Obviously in the moment it's very unfortunate, but at the same time, I'm a guy that lives by everything happens for a reason. I know I'll bounce back and play better than I ever have before." - Herald Leader

QB Devin Leary, rSr/2024 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (07)
Recruiting Grade: 4* (22)

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

News Source: Herald Leader, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here