College Football 2024 Stock Up Week 2: Quinn Ewers, Harold Fannin Jr. & Ashton Jeanty
Roughly 4,400 words on the best NFL Draft prospects from Week 2 of college football
Week 2 of college football gave us a couple of thrilling upset bids and one that came to fruition (sorry Notre Dame fans). All of that action provided dozens of 2025 NFL Draft prospects with opportunities to showcase their skill sets on a national stage. Let’s break down more than 30 of the top performances.
I try to avoid including tune-up games in the Stock Up series, so let’s save the Elijhah Badger, Tyler Baron, Tre Harris, Quinshon Judkins, Kyle Monangai, Jack Sawyer, and Princely Umanmielen talk for a later date. We’ll hear from those guys again.
Only draft-eligible players appear in this series. All heights and weights are unofficial and shared by football programs unless specified. Pressure data and snap counts are courtesy of Pro Football Focus. Sacks and other official stats are from publicly available box scores.
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Stock Up: Harold Fannin Jr., TE Bowling Green (Scouting Report)
Move over Quinn Ewers; this week is all about the tight ends. Fannin came out on fire against Penn State and remained hot throughout Bowling Green’s failed upset bid. He caught 11 of 12 targets for 137 yards and a touchdown. Fannin forced three missed tackles on his way to picking up 80 yards after the catch and nine first downs.
Fannin lacks the size of a traditional in-line tight end but is a surprisingly capable blocker because of his play strength. Bowling Green lines him up all over the field. He plays in-line, the slot, out wide, at H-back, and as the primary ball handler in the wildcat.
Fannin is elusive and fluid after the catch. He’s too fast for linebackers and some safeties to cover but also too big and strong for corners or nickels to handle. Fannin is strong enough to drag defenders for extra yards when his acceleration and agility don’t get him out of a tackle.
Fannin is one of the most dynamic and versatile offensive weapons in the 2025 NFL Draft. He will earn All-American honors this year, and his performance through two weeks this season is cementing him as a likely top 100 pick.
Stock Up: Tyler Warren, TE Penn State (Scouting Report)
You won’t find a bigger fan of Warren in the draft community than me. I gave him a second round evaluation when I watched his tape for summer scouting in March. He’s the No. 20 overall prospect on my big board. Warren’s athleticism, size, speed, and strength make him an alignment versatile weapon and the most well-rounded top 60 prospect at tight end this cycle.
On Saturday, Warren caught all of his targets for eight receptions, seven first downs, and 146 yards, which set the Penn State record for the most receiving yards in a game by a tight end. That’s an impressive mark, considering the Nittany Lions have produced NFL talents like Pat Freiermuth, Mike Gesicki, Jesse James, Theo Johnson, and Brenton Strange in the past decade.
Warren is a tough, explosive athlete who quickly gets downfield and out-leverages zone coverage. Defenders struggle to match him up the seam, and if he breaks a tackle on the perimeter, he’s going to turn on the jets and pick up a bunch of extra yards. Warren drops a shoulder to absorb and deliver punishment when defenders try to tackle him.
Warren’s athleticism translates to his route running and separation skills. He uses his smooth lower body and hips to sell route fakes and manipulate leverage to create open space.
Stock Up: Ashton Jeanty, RB Boise State (Scouting Report)
Jeanty launched his Heisman Trophy campaign with 20 carries for 267 yards and six touchdowns against Georgia Southern in Week 1. I floated out the idea on Twitter than he could win the Heisman and be the top running back taken in the 2025 NFL Draft. Some fans were quick to remind me that it was only a game against Georgia Southern. The fools!
Boise State vs. Oregon only aired on Peacock, and it finished at close to 2 a.m. ET, so I’m betting many fans missed the Ducks needing a field goal as time expired to put the Broncos away 37-34. Jeanty was the primary reason why Boise State went wire to wire with the No. 7 team in the country.
Jeanty totaled 25 carries for 192 yards and three touchdowns. He generated nine missed tackles, four runs of ten or more yards, and nine first downs. Jeanty also picked up a few good solo blocks in pass protection, which is huge for his draft profile considering his limited size (5-8 1/4, 217 lbs. via Dane Brugler at The Athletic).
Jeanty is the only FBS player with more than 400 rushing yards this season. There are only four players over 300 yards. Jeanty is muscular and built low to the ground, which gives him the contact balance to create between the tackles. He absorbs and bounces off contact before exploding for large gains.
Jeanty’s burst quickly carries him to the defense’s third level, and he has the top speed to erase angles on the way to the end zone. He can also create in smaller spaces thanks to his twitch and jukes.
It was awesome to see Jeanty running through Oregon’s defensive line and linebackers. He was more physical than any of the Ducks defenders and had more than enough speed to thrive on that big time stage. Pac-12 remnants Oregon State and Washington State are Boise State’s highest-profile remaining opponents this year.
Stock Up: Quinn Ewers, QB Texas (Scouting Report)
The Longhorns made the College Football Playoff last year, but Ewers still wasn’t performing at the level of a first round quarterback. He made mental errors, struggled with ball placement, and lofted instead of driving throws downfield. Those issues haven’t negatively impacted Texas through two games, especially not in the program’s dismantling of the reigning national champions.
It's no secret that the Michigan Wolverines aren’t anywhere close to what they were in 2023, but many pillars of the defense are still on the squad. Ewers diced that unit up for 246 yards and three touchdowns while completing 24 of 36 passes, and he looked fantastic in the process.
Ewers has some of the best pocket management in the class. Several times, he climbed the pocket to avoid Wolverines rushing on the outside and delivered strikes over the middle of the field. Ewers dipped into his deep bag of arm angles in the 31-12 win and looked loose. Sometimes he gets in his own head and plays tight, but he flicks darts all over the field when he feels comfortable and confident.
Ewers has more mobility than many analysts give him credit for. That mobility and his loose, live arm make him comfortable throwing off-platform. Ewers throws with excellent velocity to puncture defenses over the middle of the field. He also throws with touch to layer the ball between defenders.
Texas tight end Gunnar Helm deserves some props too. The true senior caught all seven of his targets for 98 yards and a touchdown. He leads the Longhorns with nine receptions for 140 yards this season. For reference, he only made 14 receptions for 192 yards in 2023.
Kelvin Banks Jr. and the Longhorns’ offensive line looked great in pass protection. The Wolverines have explosive edge rushers who lack elite bend but can win at the snap. Texas’ tackles did a good job protecting their outside shoulders and then anchoring against the undersized rushers.
Stock Up: Mike Green, Edge Marshall
The concern I had with Mike Green coming into the season was his inexperience and lack of production against Power Four offensive tackles. Well, he played Virginia Tech on Saturday and amassed seven pressures, including two sacks, on just 22 pass rush reps. That means he applied pressure on 31.82% of his pass rush attempts. Anything over 17% is entering the elite range.
I’m grateful to The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Devin Jackson for pulling most of Green’s pressures from the game in real time. You’ll see them at the links in this section.
Green is an excellent athlete with elite explosiveness. He has the speed rush to blow past offensive tackles but also has the bend and dip to lower his pad level significantly and flatten his angle to the quarterback.
Green’s loose athleticism helps him exchange gaps with the suddenness to surprise linemen on B-gap counters. His pass rush plan includes swipe-rips, swims, club-swims, spins, and ghost moves. Green converts speed to power against Group of Five programs but also shocked Virginia Tech’s linemen with some of the power he put on tape. His relentless motor leads to hustle sacks.
Stock Up: Andrew Mukuba, S Texas (2023 Scouting Report)
We’re not done with the Longhorns yet. Mukuba left one of the nation’s best defenses when he transferred from Clemson during the offseason, but it’s starting to look like he joined another elite defensive unit. Mukuba is an undersized defensive back with significant experience playing in the slot and traditional single or two-high looks.
Mukuba had a couple of splash plays against the Wolverines. He picked off a pass on a tip drill, courtesy of cornerback Malik Muhammad. Mukuba also showed off his impressive closing burst and physicality driving to break up a pass to star tight end Colston Loveland (Scouting Report). Loveland eventually got revenge on a jump ball he brought in over the Clemson transfer.
While Mukuba’s size leads to some missed tackles, he’s willing to come downhill and make hard tackles in run defense. His speed coming downhill also translates to impressive range in coverage.
I was a little surprised Mukuba didn’t go to the draft following an outstanding year in coverage in 2023, but his move to Texas could solidify his status as a top 100 pick.
Stock Up: Jonah Monheim, C USC (Scouting Report)
Entering this year, Monheim had starting experience at left tackle, right tackle, and right guard but not center. He made the transition inside for his final season, and it’s working out better than I ever could’ve anticipated. The move mitigates most of the flaws Monheim put on tape as a tackle or guard.
Monheim has excellent foot speed and mobility. This makes him a versatile weapon to execute long pulls, reach blocks, or lead blocks on screens. He takes good angles to second level blocks. In pass protection, Monheim easily mirrors and matches interior linemen and frequently wins the reps when he lands the first punch.
Monheim can even match smaller, twitchier players like Harold Perkins Jr. He had a really nice play against Utah State when he knocked the defensive tackle off the line before redirecting to pick off the blitzing linebacker. It was technically a run play, but you can see how a play like that would translate to pass protection.
Monheim doesn’t have overwhelming play strength, but he had a significant advantage against Utah State. He took advantage of the mismatch by pancaking Aggies or driving them out of plays completely. Monheim’s anchor looks better this year than in past seasons.
USC left guard Emmanuel Pregnon (Scouting Report) is also off to a hot start this year. He and Monheim are both on pace to exceed my summer draft projections. Running back “Woody” Jo'Quavious Marks is also putting together an impressive season with his agile cutting and explosiveness.
Stock Up: Mario Williams, WR Tulane
Expectations were high when Williams, a four-star recruit, committed to Lincoln Riley and Oklahoma. He followed Riley to USC in 2022, but his role in the offense faded as the Trojans brought in transfer options. Williams ended his 2023 season with just 305 yards. We’re two games into 2024, and he already has 252 yards.
Williams is finally in a situation where he can be a featured receiving threat, and quarterback Darian Mensah has the tools to capitalize on Williams’ speed. The two-time transfer made six receptions on eight targets for 128 yards in Tulane’s upset bid that fell just short against Kansas State. He also drew a defensive pass interference call on the first play out of the two-minute timeout in the second half.
Williams has the speed and burst to fly through the secondary and threaten defenses over the deep middle of the field. The Green Wave also scheme some screens for Williams because he has the burst to reach the defense’s third level quickly. Corners struggle to prevent Williams from separating over the middle.
Stock Up: Desmond Reid, RB Pittsburgh
Reid transferred from Western Carolina to Pitt for the 2024 season, and he already looks like the best transfer portal acquisition this cycle for Pat Narduzzi’s squad. Reid went wild in Pitt’s comeback win against Cincinnati. He carried the ball 19 times for 148 yards, six missed tackles forced, and four runs of ten or more yards. He also made six receptions for 106 yards and a touchdown.
Reid is a small back. He’s only listed at 5-8, 175 lbs., but what he lacks in power he makes up for in speed. He has the long speed to eliminate pursuit angles and accelerate past defenders on big plays. To Reid’s credit, he also showed off nice contact balance to bounce off would-be tacklers who tried going low with their tackle attempts.
Reid’s upside as a change of pace running back and pass catcher could earn him a committee role in the NFL.
Stock Up: Xavier Scott, NB Illinois
The Fighting Illini produced a ton of NFL talent in the past few years, but all of those players leaving left a depleted roster behind, or so I thought. Scott stepped up big time in Illinois’ 23-16 win against Kansas. He had a season’s worth of stats all in one night. Scott allowed ten receptions on 16 targets for only 54 yards and produced eight solo tackles, a strip-sack, and two interceptions, including a pick-six.
Scott had Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels dead to rights for most of the game. He had perfect leverage on the first interception to pick off the throw. The pick-six came on an aggressive, instinctive play when Scott attacked a wide receiver screen and cut in front of the intended receiver before racing to the end zone. His vision and timing in coverage were on point all night.
Scott’s strip-sack happened to be the last play of the game and prevented Kansas from attempting a Hail Mary. He even beat left guard Michael Ford Jr. on the play.
Fellow Illinois defensive back Miles Scott also had a nice interception.
Stock Up: Tim Keenan III, IDL Alabama (Scouting Report)
Keenan is one of the more unheralded members of a talent-loaded Alabama defense. The redshirt junior put together a strong performance against USF with six pressures, including 1.5 sacks, on 48 pass rushing snaps and an additional tackle for loss as part of a nine-tackle performance. He took USF’s right guard for a ride on his sack, driving him all the way back to the quarterback in an epic show of force.
Keenan plays low to the ground and gets off the line quickly. He offers some pass rush potential with swims, clubs, club-swims, humps, two-handed swipes, and a surprising amount of bend to flatten his rush angle, but his wins are often more gradual than sudden.
In the run game, Keenan anchors low and contorts his body with his ankle and knee flexibility to maintain his positioning. He struggles to combat double teams but stacks and sheds one-on-one blocks well. Keenan flows toward the ball constantly and is too quick for many linemen to reach block.
Stock Up Week 2 Honorable Mentions
Mansoor Delane, CB Virginia Tech
Marshall attacked Delane in an ill-fated attempt to break the future top 100 selection. Delane allowed just one reception for 25 yards on eight targets. He also got flagged once for holding onto a Thundering Herd receiver. Delane had great coverage on the one reception he allowed, but Christian Fitzpatrick just happened to make one of the best catches this year.
Delane walked away from the game with an interception and two passes defensed. He showed off his vision and range on the pick, breaking off his man to charge the slot fade. Hokie Mose Phillips III tipped the pass, and Delane caught it mid-stride.
Jaylin Noel, WR Iowa State
Noel made five receptions on nine targets for 133 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown, as Iowa State upset No. 21 Iowa. He has breakaway speed to finish long plays and stretch defenses vertically. Noel’s route fakes and leverage manipulation were perfect on the long touchdown. He left Iowa safety Xavier Nwankpa in the dust. Nwankpa never even came close to matching his speed and movement.
Noel also victimized Sebastian Castro on an out-and-up. He battled through Castro’s initial contact before his sudden cut up field left the Hawkeye defender trailing by four yards.
Omarr Norman-Lott, IDL Tennessee
Norman-Lott flashed when I watched James Pearce Jr. over the summer. Norman-Lott only plays a limited number of snaps per game, but he gets after the quarterback with ferocity. He picked up two pressures, including a sack, on 11 pass rush reps against North Carolina State.
Norman Lott used his leg drive and extension to get N.C. State’s right guard off balance before disengaging and finishing the sack. He explodes off the line of scrimmage, plays low, and drives power through his violent hands to displace linemen before getting past them with rips or swims.
Nicholas Singleton, RB Penn State
In 2023, Singleton suffered a shocking fall from grace after his amazing freshman campaign. Despite Penn State losing three starters along their offensive line, Singleton already has more 100-yard games this year than he did last season. His vision and patience look better, and he still has that game-changing explosiveness.
Singleton carried the ball 13 times for 119 yards and a touchdown against Bowling Green and added a 14-yard touchdown reception that showcased how he challenges linebackers as a route runner.
Dontay Corleone, IDL Cincinnati
Corleone stepped away from football in June after he was diagnosed with blood clots. The news came out recently that he was cleared to return to football. He played 68% of Cincinnati’s defensive snaps against Pittsburgh and totaled three pressures, including a hustle sack with less than a minute left in the fourth quarter, and six total tackles.
Corleone is built like a low brick house. He wins the leverage battle and uses a powerful, violent upper body to bull rush centers in the passing game and reset the line of scrimmage in the run game.
Konata Mumpfield, WR Pittsburgh
Mumpfield caught five of eight targets for 123 yards and two touchdowns. You might remember him from his electric Pittsburgh debut vs. West Virginia in 2022. Mumpfield is a dynamic athlete with the agility to execute sharp cuts and create natural separation with his route running. He had Cincinnati’s defenders spinning in circles.
Corey Kiner, RB Cincinnati
Cincinnati’s running back had 20 carries for 149 yards, five forced missed tackles, and five runs of ten or more yards to accompany two receptions for 18 yards. Kiner ran for more than 1,000 yards in 2022. The former LSU transfer is 5-8.5, 212 lbs. according to Senior Bowl Director Jim Nagy, meaning he has the muscle to take contact and keep on rumbling.
DJ Giddens, RB Kansas State
Giddens was one of 13 FBS running backs with 1,500 yards from scrimmage or more in 2023. He’s off to another great start following his standout performance against Tulane. Giddens had 19 carries for 114 yards, five forced missed tackles, and two runs of ten or more yards. He also caught four of six targets for 63 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown.
Giddens lacks elite breakaway speed, but he has the patience and vision to find holes and create chunk plays. His contributions as a pass catcher raise his floor as a prospect.
Returning Risers from Week 1
Tai Felton, WR Maryland
Felton is off to a dominant start. He made 11 receptions on 15 targets for 152 yards, a touchdown, and eight first downs against Michigan State. Felton currently leads the FBS in receiving yards with 330. He’s a smaller receiver (6-0 7/8, 180 lbs. per Dane Brugler) who relies on a mix of schemed touches and vertical shots.
Felton is a natural separator as a route runner and extends throwing windows by lingering in holes against zone coverage. His acceleration allows him to blow past cornerbacks in off-man coverage and outrace defenders in catch-and-run opportunities. Felton’s agility contributed to him forcing four missed tackles in both of Maryland’s first two games.
Donavon Greene, WR Wake Forest
I highlighted Greene last week to celebrate his return to the field after he missed 2023, but he went off against Virginia. He made 11 receptions on 15 targets for 166 yards and a touchdown and went three for four on contested catches. Per PFF, Greene is pulling down 60.9% of his career contested catch opportunities.
Another big receiver, Virginia’s Malachi Fields, performed well in the same game. Fields caught 11 receptions on 13 targets for 148 yards.
Kevin Pointer, IDL Wake Forest
Pointer made two big plays in Wake Forest’s game against Virginia. He had a nice interception on a tip drill and picked up his second sack of the season. As an undersized defensive tackle, Pointer is an explosive gap shooter who has impressive closing burst.
Big Time Players Making Big Time Plays
Jaylin Lane, WR/PR Virginia Tech
Lane is an undersized receiver (5-8 7/8, 196 lbs. per Brugler), but few players can match his angle-incinerating explosiveness. The Hokies manufacture plenty of touches and short passes for Lane because there’s always a chance he breaks one for a long score. He made four receptions on four targets for three first downs and 41 yards (36 yards after the catch) against Marshall, but his big play came on special teams.
Lane scored the first points of the game on a 58-yard punt return touchdown. He took contact as soon as he caught the punt but maintained his balance before bolting through a small gap for the long touchdown. Lane can contribute early in his career on special teams and provide assistance to an offense that’s willing to scheme touches.
Virginia Tech running back Bhayshul Tuten also deserves credit for a good game. Tuten carried the ball 22 times for 120 yards and a touchdown. He forced seven missed tackles and generated 77 yards after contact and four runs of ten or more yards. Tuten is an experienced kick returner with home run speed and upside as a pass catcher.
Anto Saka, Edge Northwestern (Scouting Report)
Saka looks like the real deal now that he’s finally getting consistent snaps for the Wildcats. The bendy, explosive edge rusher recorded four pressures, including a sack that Northwestern fans would argue was a strip-sack, against Duke. Saka plays with a relentless motor and wins with speed rushes, speed to power, cross-chops, and rips.
Jayden Higgins, WR Iowa State
Higgins is a tall wide receiver with a frame that could support tight end weight if he wanted to stack on another 30 lbs. Dane Brugler listed him at 6-3 3/4, 212 lbs. in the summer. Higgins maximized his tall frame and long arms to snatch a would-be interception away from an Iowa defender on a red zone fade.
Per PFF, Higgins has hauled in 55.2% of his contested catches since entering college. For reference, Drake London came down with the ball in 56.8% of his career contested catch opportunities.
Zakhari Franklin, WR Illinois (2022 Scouting Report)
I never envisioned Franklin as a Day 1 or Day 2 pick when I first evaluated him back in 2022, but I thought UTSA’s former all-time leading receiver had NFL talent. Transferring to Ole Miss for 2023 ended up being a mistake for Franklin. He suffered from injuries and a lack of playing time, but the Fighting Illini are giving his NFL dream another chance. I couldn’t be happier to see it.
Franklin made nine receptions on ten targets for 99 yards and forced five missed tackles in Illinois’ upset win against Kansas. His best play was a one-handed 42-yard catch down the sideline. Good to see he still has his world class ball tracking.
Tommi Hill, CB Nebraska
Hill is a tall corner with long arms. He has surprising fluidity for a player with his long frame. He capitalized on an ill-advised Shedeur Sanders throw for a pick-six. Hill showcased good reaction time and closing burst to undercut the route. He jumped a little early for the interception, but his arms are so long that he still plucked the ball out of the air.
Ty Robinson, IDL Nebraska
Robinson had a big game against Colorado. He applied five pressures, including a sack, on 39 pass rush snaps and batted a pass down. Robinson just muscled through the A-gap and drove Colorado’s center into the ground on his way to the sack. Fans hoped for a breakout season from Robinson in 2023 but didn’t get it. He’s off to a more promising start this year.
Tez Johnson, WR/PR Oregon
Johnson only caught one pass in Oregon’s near loss to Boise State, but he made a game-changing play on special teams. Johnson returned a punt 85 yards for a score to break a 20-20 tie in the second quarter. There are some valid concerns about Johnson’s lack of size, but his twitch and speed make him a viable two-phase contributor.
Final Week 2 Notes
Nick Emmanwori, S South Carolina
Listed at 6-3, 227 lbs., Emmanwori is a massive safety and one of the more unique prospects in the 2025 class. He had a pick-six against Kentucky where he used his vision to identify and close off a throwing lane. Emmanwori made an even better interception against Kentucky last year that showed off his ball skills.
Jordan Burch, Edge Oregon
Burch had four pressures, including a hustle sack, on 34 pass rush reps against Boise State. He also broke up two passes and assisted on a tackle for loss. Burch lacks ideal arm length for an edge rusher but otherwise meets measurement thresholds. The college veteran has flirted with but never put together a dominant season. The Ducks could really use a big year from him.