College Football Week 11: 2025 NFL Draft prospects to watch
By Jack Brentnall
It’s Week 11 of the college football season and it feels like there are a handful of draft prospects with plenty at stake this weekend.
Whether it is quarterbacks in high profile games or mid-round talents hoping to impress against top competition, we’ve got it all.
Here are some of the players I’ll be watching closely this weekend.
Jalen Milroe - QB, Alabama
In a week with only two ranked matchups, Alabama-LSU looks set to be the game of the weekend. Both teams boast plenty of future NFL talent, but the player I’ll be watching most closely is Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe.
It is fair to say that Milroe has had an up-and-down season so far. After an outstanding performance against Georgia in Week 5, he looked like a future first round pick and candidate for QB1 in the 2025 NFL Draft. Things then tailed off with a pair of multi-interception games against South Carolina and Tennessee.
That all serves to make this weekend’s matchup a huge one for Milroe. A strong performance here could really help him to reignite that first round hype. If he struggles again, he may consider whether returning to school for 2025 is the best option.
There is no question that Milroe has the tools of an NFL quarterback. He showcases impressive arm strength and exceptional athletic ability. He now just needs to show NFL scouts that he can play with greater consistency. That starts this weekend against LSU.
Garrett Nussmeier - QB, LSU
On the other side of that battle is another quarterback with plenty to prove. Before LSU’s Week 9 outing against Texas A&M, Nussmeier was being talked up as a potential first round pick and candidate to be the first passer off the board. He didn’t live up to that billing against the Aggies.
Nussmeier collapsed completely in the second half. He threw three interceptions, all of which were atrocious throws and terrible decisions. He didn’t even manage to complete 50% of his passes.
When you dig into the tape you will still why many are so high on him as a prospect though. Nussmeier did an outstanding job pre-snap, identifying blitzers, setting pass protections and changing plays at the line of scrimmage. He also had a handful of elite NFL-level throws.
Much like Milroe, it feels like this has the potential to be a make-or-break game for Nussmeier as an NFL prospect. Was the performance against Texas A&M a one-off? Or was it a case of Nussmeier struggling badly against the first quality defense he faced this season? We should get an answer to that on Saturday.
Malaki Starks - S, Georgia
The other ranked matchup of the weekend will see Georgia face off against Ole Miss, with the Rebels coming off a historically good offensive outing against Arkansas. They scored 63 points against the Razorbacks, with quarterback Jaxson Dart throwing six touchdown passes.
If Georgia is going to stifle that unit then they will need the likes of Starks to be at their best. The former five-star recruit has been starting for the Bulldogs since his true freshman season and is widely anticipated to be a first round draft choice in 2025.
It is easy to see why NFL teams are so high on Starks. He possesses legitimate athletic ability (he was a state champion long jumper in high school), with some great ball skills and alignment versatility in the secondary. Starks has six interceptions and 13 pass breakups throughout his college career.
He has had a few rough moments this season, including last week against Florida, where his busted coverage allowed the Gators to score a 59-yard touchdown. He can’t afford to have any similar mistakes this weekend against Ole Miss. Scouts will be eager to see how he looks against such a potent offense.
Kyle Monangai - RB, Rutgers
There are a tonne of talented running backs in the upcoming class, and Monangai is one of them. The former three-star recruit began his career as the backup to Isiah Pacheco, before emerging as the Scarlet Knights’ leading rusher in 2022. A breakout junior season followed and saw him earn Second Team All-Big Ten honours in 2023.
He returned for his senior season and that production has carried over seamlessly. He sits second in the Big Ten in rushing yards (931) and rushing touchdowns (10). 67% of his yardage has come after contact and he has forced an impressive 51 missed tackles on 172 carries.
Monangai is admittedly somewhat limited on passing downs, but his well-rounded rushing profile will definitely appeal to NFL scouts. His stout frame allows him to bounce off would-be tacklers with ease, and he pairs this contact balance with good burst and nice ball carrier vision.
This weekend he goes up against Minnesota, whose run defense has looked good in recent weeks. The Golden Gophers have allowed just 88.7 rushing yards per game through their last three outings, so Monangai will have to be at his best for Rutgers to get the win.
Xavier Chaplin - OT, Virginia Tech
A few weeks ago, Virginia Tech’s left tackle Xavier Chaplin caught my eye against Boston College. I had been tuning in to watch the Eagles’ star edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaka, but Chaplin was the one popping off the screen.
The redshirt sophomore has been going under the radar this season but has been showing off his potential as a run blocker and as a pass protector. At 6’7” and 323 he has imposing size which combined with his wrestling background allows him to manhandle opposing defenders with ease.
Through nine games this season, Chaplin has conceded just 12 pressures, two of which were sacks. He has given up just three since Week 6 and is playing some of the best football of his career.
This weekend’s matchup against Clemson feels like a great opportunity for him to impress on the big stage. Whilst the Tigers defense is perhaps not what it used to be, they are still a strong unit and a good performance from Chaplin would be big for his draft stock.
Lander Barton - LB, Utah
Week 10 plays host to a great rivalry game as Utah will face off against an unbeaten BYU. If the Utes are going to get the upset and deliver the Cougars’ first defeat of the season, they will need players like Lander Barton to step up and have a big performance.
Barton had an immediate impact when he arrived at Utah, being voted the Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year. He became a full-time starter in 2023 and played some excellent football. He was particularly impressive in coverage, with two interceptions and two pass breakups, but an injury against USC in Week 8 cut his season short.
Barton has had some good moments this season, although it is fair to say he hasn’t reached the ceiling many were hoping for. He is missing more tackles and he hasn’t had the same impact as a coverage defender.
As a true junior who is yet to turn 21, it wouldn’t surprise me if Barton eventually decides to return to school. Whatever decision he makes, this game and how he plays is going to be important for NFL scouts and it is well worth keeping an eye on.
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.