Rising stars, fallers and ballers in college football – The Whit

Another week of the college football season is over, and this one may have been the most unpredictable yet. Seven AP Top 25 teams lost, including top-ranked Alabama and fourth-ranked Tennessee. This week introduced some new names to keep an eye on for the 2025 NFL Draft, while also bringing back some seniors who have been in draft talks for some time.

Risers:

Cameron Williams, OT, Texas

When people talk about a Texas Longhorn offensive tackle, many think of Kelvin Banks, one of the top tackle prospects in his class. However, the work that Cameron Williams has done at right tackle so far this season has caught the eye of many. Other top tackle candidates have underwhelmed to this point in the season, but Williams has impressed many fans, allowing the Longhorns just two pressures in five games. Williams stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 300 pounds, a prototypical stature for an NFL tackle. With a pass-blocking grade of 82.5, Williams ranks in the top 30 of all offensive tackles in the country.

Conner Weigman, QB, Texas A&M

I don’t know if there was another highly rated quarterback prospect in the country who needed a performance like Weigman’s against ninth-ranked Missouri. During summer scouting, Weigman claimed to be the best quarterback in this upcoming class. Still, Weigman’s season began with a disastrous performance against Notre Dame that included two interceptions and just a 40% completion rate. Two weeks later, Weigman suffered a shoulder injury that sidelined him for the past month. In his return to play last Saturday, Weigman did the unexpected: He had his best performance of the season with an over 80% completion rate, threw for over 270 yards and picked up a dominant win against a top ten opponent. Weigman is looking to get back into the QB1 conversation in the next few weeks, with quarterbacks like Miami’s Cam Ward and Alabama’s Jalen Milroe battling against inferior opponents.

Faller:

Kevin Winston Jr., S, Penn State

Winston, one of the top safety prospects in 2025, ended his season right after it began in Penn State’s game against Bowling Green a month ago. Penn State head coach James Franklin has not yet revealed the details of the injury, but Winston’s injury can be considered long-term. Winston, the Nittany Lions’ leading tackler in 2023, was a consensus prospect from late first to early second before going down in the second week of the college football season.

Jalon Daniels, QB, Kansas

The Kansas Jayhawks have rebuilt their football program over the last five years and a big part of that is thanks to Daniels. The Jayhawks QB1 has had some explosive performances against quality opponents in recent years, but disappointed fans earlier this year. The Jayhawks were in the preseason top 15 but have yet to win a game after an opening weekend win against Lindenwood, Kansas. According to PFF, Daniels is already up to 11 turnover-worthy games this season, including several games with at least three. Daniels’ inconsistencies as a passer have been exposed this season, pushing him out of contention for the second-day pick and possibly even the third-day pick.

Ball player:

Oregon RB Jordan James vs. Michigan State (24 carries, 167 yards, TD)

The true junior has been one of the most impressive running backs in all of college football this season. You can rely on James’ consistent performance week after week. James has already rushed for 100 yards in three different games this season. Additionally, James averages more than 3.5 yards after contact, which is tops in the nation. Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty may have already solidified his case for the best running back in this class, but James could be a sleeper early on Day 3. At 5’7″ and weighing 220 pounds, James has already rushed for 500 yards this season, reaching the end zone five times.

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