Week 0 SCOUTING NOTEBOOK: Standouts in Dublin, Jalon Daniels and more

By Jack Brentnall

Week 0 is always a little unusual. There is so much excitement for the return of college football, but equally it feels more like the appetiser rather than the full main course – we have to wait for next weekend for that.

While the smaller number of games does mean that there are fewer draft-eligible players on display, it does mean that you can really focus in on a handful of games.

Here are some of the prospects that caught my eye this weekend.

Jayce Brown shows his playmaking talent

Kansas State may have lost their season opener, but I came away very impressed by Jayce Brown. The true junior receiver led the Wildcats in catches, yards, and touchdowns last season, and he wasted no time making his impact felt in Dublin.

Brown finished the game with four catches for 78 yards and a touchdown, adding two runs for 29 yards. When you turn on the tape you see a player that was causing problems for the Cyclones’ secondary all game long.

As a former track athlete, Brown brings impressive explosiveness and the speed to threaten downfield, a quality evidenced by his career average of 17.1 yards per catch. That speed, combined with his sudden movement skills, makes for a deadly combination.

His best play of the game came on a beautiful double move at the start of the fourth quarter. Brown did an excellent job of selling the post, forcing the safety to bite, before showing off his fluidity and running the corner route, creating plenty of separation for a big touchdown.

As a prospect his biggest shortcoming is his size. At 6’0” and 179 he has a noticeably slender frame that would benefit from added mass. This was on full display at the start of the fourth quarter, when he was unable to haul in a would-be 44-yard touchdown. While the ball was underthrown, it was the sort of 50/50 ball you’d like your receiver to make.

As a true junior, there is every chance that Brown returns to school in 2026, but if he carries on performing like this he should be on everyone’s draft radar.

Domonique Orange makes his presence felt

The most high profile player in the Farmageddon rivalry game in Dublin was Domonique Orange, and he didn’t disappoint. While his box score numbers were modest, his impact on the game went well beyond the stat sheet.

He was a consistent problem for the Kansas State offensive line against both the run and pass. At 6’2” and 328 lbs, Orange commands attention, and his ability to occupy blockers was crucial to Iowa State’s success. If he wasn’t making the play himself, he was eating up a double team to free up a teammate.

Orange’s work as a run-stuffer was particularly impressive. He did a nice job of playing with good leverage to hold his ground against double teams, and also showed the ability to shoot gaps and blow up the blocking scheme. The fact that Kansas State averaged just 2.8 yards on runs between the tackles is testament to Orange’s performance.

He also had some really nice moments as a pass rusher. While he wasn’t able to earn a sack, his quickness off the snap and powerful bull rush created interior pressure that consistently forced Avery Johnson off his spot. He finished the game with a 16% pass rush win rate, a very strong number for a nose tackle.

Orange projects as one of the better defensive tackles in the 2026 NFL Draft and looks set to have a big season. If he continues to demonstrate this level of disruption he will solidify his status as a legitimate day two prospect.

Jalon Daniels is faultless vs Fresno State

If you have been following college football at all in the past few years, Daniels’ name should be a familiar one. After all, he first started for Kansas way back in 2020. Since then, his career has been something of a rollercoaster, with incredible highs and real lows.

Coming into 2025, Daniels felt like a player with a lot to prove. After missing most of the 2023 season with a back injury, he returned in 2024 and struggled badly. He finished the season with 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, completing a career-low 56.8% of his passes.

He certainly started his 2025 season the right way. Daniels led the Jayhawks to a 31-7 win over Fresno State, completing 18 of 21 passes for 176 yards and three touchdowns. He also chipped in with 54 rushing yards, averaging 7.7 yards per attempt. It wasn’t a world-beating performance, but it was very solid, dependable, mistake-free football. For Daniels, a player whose career has been defined by volatility, this type of performance was exactly what he needed.

The question now is whether he can maintain this level of play. While his tools have never been in doubt, his career has been characterised by hot and cold streaks. His next big test will come in Week 2 against Missouri.

Virdel Edwards’ impressive comeback performance

This weekend’s clash against Stanford marked Virdel Edwards’ first playing time in almost two years. The Hawaii cornerback suffered a Jones fracture in his left foot in 2023, which he subsequently aggravated in the final game of that season.

Offseason surgery followed, forcing him to miss the entire 2024 season. He utilised a medical hardship redshirt to return for his seventh and final season.

If his Week 0 performance is anything to go by, he looks to be back to his best. The stat sheet is modest – one pass breakup on three targets and a pair of tackles – but the tape showed a cornerback that was firmly in control of his assignments throughout the game.

At 6’2” and 210 lbs, Edwards is built more like a safety than a corner, and that comes with the physicality you would expect. That showed up with an impressive catch point play at the end of the second quarter, preventing a completion that could have helped Stanford get into field goal range and take the lead. He also showed good effort as a run defender.

As an NFL prospect, Edwards is likely in the conversation as a late day three player, not least because of his medical concerns. However, he has a chance to boost that stock if he stays healthy and continues to perform at a high level. He is a name to watch for 2025.

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.

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