Dane Brugler’s NFL Draft watch: 10 games NFL scouts will be watching closely in Week 1 (2024)

College football is back in full with a marathon of games Thursday through Monday this Labor Day weekend.

Not only are area scouts back on the road, but with no NFL games this weekend, plenty of general managers and personnel directors also will be on campuses during opening weekend. Here are 10 games in particular that will have the eyes of the NFL:

10. Colorado State at Texas (Saturday, 3:30 p.m., ESPN)

One of only two programs with 11-plus draft picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, Texas lost a lot on offense and defense — which means a younger roster. But the Longhorns nonetheless will be very well represented in the 2025 draft. Quarterback Quinn Ewers, who’s still just 21 years old, is entering his third season as a starter in Steve Sarkisian’s scheme and scouts will be looking for him to take another step in his development.

Junior offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. might be the top Texas prospect, but is he a tackle or guard? Is he a top-10 guy or an option for the back half of Round 1?

The best matchup for evaluators will come any time we get to see Colorado State wide receiver Tory Horton against Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron. Both would have been expected Day 2 draft picks in April, but they returned for their fifth seasons and a chance to push for higher draft grades. Horton has outstanding speed before and after the catch, and drops were infrequent on his 2023 tape. Barron might not be the biggest or fastest, but he plays smart and physically to annoy receivers.

9. North Dakota State at Colorado (Thursday, 8 p.m., ESPN)

No prospect will be under the NFL microscope more this season than Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. He is talented, but does he have the on-field efficiency and off-field intangibles worthy of a top-five pick? Scouts will need an open mind to answer that question. The No. 3 prospect in my preseason top 50, WR/CB Travis Hunter is one of the most electric players in the country.

There was a lot of turnover on the Colorado roster, including on the offensive line. A transfer from Indiana, right tackle Kahlil Benson has draftable talent.

North Dakota State has had three offensive linemen drafted over the last four seasons, and offensive tackle/team captain Grey Zabel is next up in the pipeline. With his body quickness and ability to generate movement, I like him best inside at guard in the NFL. Also keep an eye on quarterback Cam Miller, a potential late-rounder. Scouts like safety Cole Wisniewski, but his season is in jeopardy due to injury.

8. Boston College at Florida State (Monday, 7:30 p.m., ESPN)

Florida State started the season the wrong way, but with the new 12-team playoff, all of the program’s goals are still attainable. I graded quarterback DJ Uiagalelei as an undrafted free-agent prospect this summer, and he didn’t do anything Saturday to change that.

My eyes will be focused on the trenches. The Seminoles’ defensive line suffered a major letdown last week, specifically edge defender Patrick Payton — that group needs to rebound against a talented Boston College line, led by Ozzy Trapilo. The 6-foot-8 senior right tackle didn’t allow a sack last season and has draftable grades from scouts.

Despite mixed on-field results, Boston College has an impressive (and active) nine-year streak of producing at least one top-100 pick. Defensive tackle Cam Horsley might have the best chance of continuing that run in April.

7. South Dakota State at Oklahoma State (Saturday, 2 p.m., ESPN+)

Two-time defending FCS national champ South Dakota State has produced five draft picks over the last three years, which is more than multiple Big Ten and SEC programs over that span. Despite receiving six-figure name, image and likeness offers to transfer to an FBS program this offseason, quarterback Mark Gronowski returns to the Jackrabbits for his fifth season. He has some Day 2 buzz among NFL scouts, and a productive performance against a fast and physical Cowboys defense would help.

When studying Oklahoma State’s defense this summer, I would have guessed there were multiple No. 4s on the field, because of junior linebacker Nick Martin’s speed and range. He just missed my preseason top 50 but will grade as a Day 2 pick if he declares. Senior linebacker Collin Oliver is somewhat of a tweener, but he has the traits to be drafted in the first four rounds.

On offense, Oklahoma State’s main attraction is running back Ollie Gordon II (No. 35 overall on my preseason top 50). Oklahoma State hasn’t had a running back drafted top-40 since Barry Sanders, but Gordon has a chance to change that.

6. North Carolina at Minnesota (Thursday, 8 p.m., FOX)

North Carolina will have a tough time replacing Drake Maye, but running back Omarion Hampton will be a legitimate contender for ACC Player of the Year and RB1 status in the 2025 NFL Draft. However, he had a tough time (3.5 yards per carry) last season against a Minnesota defense that returns several draftable prospects, like edge rusher Jah Joyner and cornerback Justin Walley.

The best prospect matchup in this game will come when North Carolina edge rusher Kaimon Rucker squares off against Minnesota left tackle Aireontae Ersery. Though short (6 feet 1), Rucker isn’t small (266 pounds), and he plays with adequate arm length (33 1/8 inches) and initial quickness to pressure the pocket. He enters the season with a fourth-round draft grade. Ersery, who debuted at No. 26 in my preseason top 50, has NFL starting skills with his size, strength and movements.

5. USC at LSU (Sunday, 7:30 p.m., ABC)

USC has produced a first-rounder in each of the last five drafts and eight of the last 10 years. But I didn’t see a prospect on the Trojans’ 2023 tape to warrant anything close to that type of projection. My favorite senior on the roster is transfer running back Jo’Quavious Marks, who runs close to the ground with balance and determination. His draft grades are in the early Day 3 range.

I am also eager to see quarterback Miller Moss as USC tries to replace Caleb Williams’ production and impact. The last time we saw Moss, he was tossing six touchdown passes in the bowl game, giving NFL evaluators reason to be interested.

Though USC has to replace the No. 1 overall pick, LSU doesn’t have it any easier — it lost No. 2 pick and reigning Heisman winner Jayden Daniels. Junior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier has NFL-level talent and will benefit from the best offensive tackle tandem in college football, as both left tackle Will Campbell and right tackle Emery Jones Jr. landed top-15 in my early rankings. The other LSU prospect in my preseason top 50 is linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. — what will his development look like in a new defensive scheme?

LSU always has athletes who emerge as top-100 prospects. Who will that be this year? Keep an eye on wide receiver Chris Hilton Jr., who can absolutely fly.

4. Penn State at West Virginia (Saturday, noon, FOX)

I can’t wait to see my No. 2 prospect, Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter, face off against West Virginia left tackle Wyatt Milum. This game will be our first peek at Carter in his new role as he transitions from off-ball linebacker. His natural burst and force when attacking the pocket are why he earned such a high ranking on my preseason board. And Milum, with his killer instinct, is one of the best block finishers I watched all summer. His ability to seal the edge jumped out, but he is short-armed (32 inches) — which also pops up on his tape. He grades as a potential top-100 pick.

The other potential top-50 pick I’m eager to see is Penn State quarterback Drew Allar. In terms of physical tools, he checks boxes for size, arm strength and mobility. What kind of jump will he make mentally in Year 2 as the starter? How will new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki develop his quarterback’s immense skills? There are some questions about the wide receivers, but Penn State returns one of the nation’s top tight ends in Tyler Warren, who will have a chance to cement his Day 2 status.

Two more draftable NFL prospects: West Virginia senior cornerback Garnett Hollis Jr., who loves to mix things up with receivers, and Penn State junior pass rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton, who put plenty of flashes on tape as a role player and will now be relied upon as a full-time starter.

3. Miami at Florida (Saturday, 3:30 p.m., ABC)

The expectations are high for Miami — and the catalyst for that hype was the addition of quarterback Cam Ward, who wisely pulled his name out of the 2024 NFL Draft to enter the transfer portal. Ward, who initially started his college career at Incarnate Word before transferring to Washington State, is dynamic in every sense of the word and has an instinctive feel for the RPO game. He showed growth on last season’s tape, but too often things felt rushed, leading to erratic throws and decisions. Ward is trying to put his name in the top-100 mix.

He will benefit from his supporting cast. At wide receiver, the Hurricanes have three seniors who should be draft picks in April: Houston transfer Sam Brown, who just cracked my top 50, and Jacolby George and Xavier Restrepo, both of whom are coming off career-best seasons. On the offensive line, senior left tackle Jalen Rivers is a mid-round prospect. At running back, Oregon State transfer Damien Martinez is one of the most physical backs in the country and has a chance to be a Day 2 pick.

For the Gators, quarterback Graham Mertz returns for his sixth season looking to cement draftable grades from NFL scouts. Look for him to rely on running back Montrell Johnson Jr., who stands as the highest-graded senior prospect on the Florida roster. One other prospect to watch is Florida senior cornerback Jason Marshall, a Miami native who will have his hands full with the Hurricanes’ wide receivers.

2. Clemson at Georgia (Saturday, noon, ABC)

Georgia is the only college program with at least eight draft picks in each of the last four NFL Drafts — and I’ll bet that streak is extended in April, maybe including the No. 1 pick. Quarterback Carson Beck doesn’t have a “wow” factor, but he is efficient and got better and better as last season progressed. Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey are now in the NFL, but Beck can lock up QB1 on most teams’ draft boards if he continues to develop throughout 2024. Saturday, he’ll face a Clemson defense that ranked top-10 last season.

The leader of that defense is linebacker Barrett Carter, who passed up a potential spot in the top 60 picks to return for his senior year. At 5-11 7/8 and 234 pounds, Carter has big-time speed (mid-4.4s) to beat blockers to the point and make stops at the line of scrimmage. This type of matchup will help determine whether he can push his draft stock into the top 25. An underrated prospect on the Clemson defense is senior defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart, who finally gets his chance to start and show off his next-level traits. Capehart versus Georgia right guard Tate Ratledge will pit two potential Day 2 picks.

For Clemson’s offense, tight end Jake Briningstool enters the season as my top-ranked senior at the position, with his ability to affect drives with his pass-catching athleticism. At running back, senior Phil Mafah had 13 rushing touchdowns last season and is also a likely draft pick in April.

I could write another 5,000 words just about Georgia’s prospects, but I’ll narrow it down to three junior defenders who all made my preseason top 50: safety Malaki Starks, defensive lineman Mykel Williams and linebacker Jalon Walker. Starks has the do-everything athleticism and physicality to be a top-20 draft pick; Williams has big-time traits, and scouts are hoping for his production to match his talent; Walker is unproven in several areas, but his pass rush juice and athletic range make him an ascending prospect.

1. Notre Dame at (Saturday, 7:30 p.m., ABC)

Texas A&M’s Conner Weigman was one of the most impressive QBs I watched this summer. He has a natural feel in the pocket that separates him from most college passers, as well as the presence to negotiate the pass rush and the quick feet to climb, shuffle and rip off strikes downfield. Weigman started only four games last season before he was sidelined with an injury, so improving his body of work is key for him. He is a legitimate contender for QB1 in the 2025 NFL Draft.

After bringing in Sam Hartman last season, Notre Dame went back to the transfer portal and added Riley Leonard from Duke. I’m a big fan of Leonard’s athletic instincts and the way he is wired, but his 2023 film didn’t have many throws that would be categorized as difficult NFL passes. Leonard is primarily viewed as a third- or fourth-round pick among NFL teams, but he can boost that projection.

He’ll need to show off his mobility against the Texas A&M defensive line. Purdue transfer Nic Scourton (No. 19 on my preseason top 50) is an active rusher off the edge with the physical hands to force blockers off their spot and flush the quarterback. On the inside, defensive tackle Shemar Turner is the Aggies’ top-ranked senior prospect. He added 30 pounds this offseason and is looking to prove himself as a top-75 prospect.

Notre Dame hasn’t had a cornerback drafted top 15 in more than 30 years, but Benjamin Morrison has a chance to change that. The All-American has a patient, controlled process plus the natural instincts needed to blanket routes.

(Photo of Riley Leonard: Joseph Weiser / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)