Week 1 of the college football season has come and gone, putting several stocks in motion and setting the tone for a new campaign. Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning and the Alabama Crimson Tide disappointed, while Carson Beck staged his comeback tour and LSU's defense launched itself into title contention.
As the dust settles, overreactions are rampant, but each coming slate of games offers a little more evidence. Prospects who struggled a week ago can redeem themselves on Saturday, and those who started hot can build upon a strong season opener.
This week, there are fewer high-profile clashes. Even so, the slate of Week 2 games can help tell a story about the 2026 NFL Draft class. Let's take a look at four prospects with the most to gain on Saturday.
John Mateer, QB, Oklahoma (vs. Michigan)
Mateer entered the season as a fringe Day 2 passer. There are minimal concerns about his arm talent, and at Washington State, he ran rampant.
That mobility wasn't on display in Week 1. He logged just 24 yards (and a score) on the ground against Illinois State. However, the Oklahoma Sooners' 35-3 win provided more than enough opportunities for Mateer to make a strong first impression. He totaled 392 yards and three touchdowns through the air, albeit with an interception.
He wasn't perfect, but he looked the part of a Day 2 quarterback with room to rise. Against a ranked Michigan team, Mateer can prove himself against legitimate competition before the gauntlet of an SEC schedule kicks in. He can be erratic in the pocket and leave structure too early, and a more polished outing on Saturday would catch the eye of NFL decision-makers.
Calvin Clements, OT, Kansas (at Missouri)
Clements flashed in pass pro last season, largely due to his 6'7", 315-pound frame. Even so, a lack of polished technique and egregious woes in the run game rendered him a priority UDFA prospect on my board. He's a developmental name to watch, and his first two contests went well (against Fresno State and Wagner).
Clements was better against the run than the pass in those games. That isn't an option on Saturday. Missouri has a few draftable prospects on the edge in Zion Young and Damon Wilson II. Even Nate Johnson has enough juice to threaten an inexperienced starter.
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That group is among the toughest Kansas will play in 2025, even on an unranked team. Putting himself on the Day 3 radar requires quality games against real competition. Clements will get that shot on Saturday.
Byrum Brown, QB, USF (at Florida)
The Boise State Broncos were vulnerable in the post-Ashton Jeanty era, and Byrum Brown took advantage. He started the season on the right foot, shedding several tackles en route to a 43-yard, two-touchdown performance on the ground.
Brown also completed 16-of-24 attempts for 210 yards. He still took four sacks, but in a 34-7 rout, Brown showed some of the development his supporters had been waiting for. This is an incredibly important season for Brown, who has battled injuries and looked far more like a fringe-draftable dart throw than a true NFL quarterback.
Against another ranked team with far more talent, Brown cannot look overwhelmed. Keeping the pressure in check and remaining efficient will be significant, and a better defense might be stingier against Brown's ability to break tackles. If he looks the part -- or pulls off another massive upset -- he'll find himself in the middle of the class's quarterback conversation. Few passers have as tangible a path to rising in the coming months, and Florida is an appetizer for a date with Miami next week.
Austin Romaine, LB, Kansas State (vs. Army)
Army is far from the toughest team on Kansas State's schedule this season. As far as teams committed to the ground game, though, few are as devoted as the Black Knights.
Meanwhile, Austin Romaine makes his living as a between-the-tackles run defender. He toes that line with weirdly high missed tackle rates. Facing a team more than willing to run the ball repeatedly means Romaine will have plenty of chances to be a steady hand for the Wildcats' defense.
There's some Day 2 hype surrounding Kansas State's best defender. I gave him a fifth-round grade ahead of the season, but Romaine can take a step towards the middle of the NFL Draft with a strong showing.
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