College Football Week 0: 2025 NFL Draft prospects to watch
By Jack Brentnall
The college football season kicks off with a bang this weekend in Dublin, as Florida State face off against Georgia Tech. It’s never too early to be looking ahead to the NFL Draft and it is fair to say there are plenty of exciting prospects on display in Week 0. Here are five names to keep a close eye on.
Patrick Payton - EDGE, Florida State (6-5, 250, rs-Junior)
The Seminoles lost several big names to the 2024 NFL Draft and the team that starts in Dublin will look very different to the one that lost to Georgia in the Orange Bowl. One of the notable names who remains is edge rusher Patrick Payton.
Payton, entering his fourth season at Florida State, had a very promising 2023 season. He started all 14 games and generated 44 pressures, including seven sacks. The former four-star recruit is a high-level athlete who possesses the size and length. With Jared Verse now gone, the Seminoles will be looking for Payton to step up and play an even more prominent role in 2024.
Marvin Jones Jr - EDGE, Florida State (6-5, 255, Junior)
On the opposite side of the Seminoles’ defensive line is newcomer Marvin Jones Jr. A highly-touted five-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting class, Jones was rated as the No. 20 player in the country. He spent his first two seasons at Georgia, where he found himself buried amongst a litany of talented defensive linemen. In his two years with the team, Jones played just 303 snaps.
Seeking increased opportunities and a chance to boost his draft stock, Jones transferred to Florida State over the summer. As you would expect for such a coveted recruit, Jones has all of the physical traits that teams will look for in an edge rusher. He now needs to show he can put it all together on the football field. That starts this weekend in Dublin.
Jordan Williams - OT, Georgia Tech (6-6, 315, Senior)
On the other side of the trench battle in Dublin this weekend is Georgia Tech tackle Jordan Williams. If the Yellow Jackets are to have any chance of withstanding the power of the heavily favoured Seminoles, Williams will have to have some success against their pair of talented edge rushers.
In contrast to the two Florida State edge rushers he will be facing off against, Williams is a seasoned veteran. He has been a mainstay along the Georgia Tech offensive line since he enrolled in 2020 and this game will mark his 41st career start. Last season, Williams was one of just 12 tackles in college football to play over 500 snaps and allow less than 10 pressures. Maintaining this level of play will be essential against the Seminoles’ formidable defensive front.
Malik Benson - WR, Florida State (6-1, 195, Senior)
With Keon Coleman’s departure, the Seminoles dipped into the transfer portal to fill the void at wide receiver, acquiring former Alabama receiver Malik Benson. Benson spent the first two years of his college career at Hutchinson Community College, where he broke the school receiving yards record with 2,152 yards in two seasons. After playing a bit-part role with the Crimson Tide in 2023, he enters the season as a starter for the Seminoles.
The name of Benson’s game is undoubtedly his speed. He was a track standout in high school, running a 10.4 in the 100 metres and a 21.6 in the 200 metres. The question now is whether he can translate his physical gifts and JUCO production to the FBS level. This weekend’s matchup against Georgia Tech should provide a good indication of how he will fare in 2024.
Preston Stone - QB, SMU (6-1, 214, rs-Junior)
Whilst the Florida State-Georgia Tech game is the highlight of the opening weekend, it certainly isn’t the only game on offer. SMU will kick off their inaugural ACC season with a trip to Nevada, and their star quarterback, Preston Stone, will be looking to pick up where he left off last season. Stone finished 2023 with 28 touchdowns and six interceptions, earning Third Team All-AAC honours.
Stone showcases good arm strength and the willingness to test tight windows – his 8.2% big-time throw rate was ranked fifth in the country in 2023. He is also an adept pocket navigator and had one of the lowest pressure-to-sack rates (12.7%) in the AAC last season. If you’re looking for an under-the-radar quarterback who could make a name for himself this year, Stone may just be the guy.
JACK BRENTNALL
HEAD OF NFL DRAFT CONTENT
Previously the founder of The Jet Sweep, Jack joined The Touchdown as head of Draft Content in 2024. A Scouting Academy alumnus, Jack has been Covering the NFL Draft since 2020. Follow him on Twitter @Jack_Brentnall.