Week 1 Scouting Notebook: Colorado’s stars shine, a record-breaking day from Ashton Jeanty and more

By Jack Brentnall

College football really came alive in Week 1. It gave us a chance to see plenty of interesting draft prospects. Some confirmed expectations, whilst others confounded them (I’m looking at you Conner Weigman).

As with every week, we’re taking a look at the past weekend of action to see which NFL Draft prospects caught our eyes, for better or worse.

Colorado stars shine in opener

Love them or loathe them, the Colorado Buffaloes under head coach Deion Sanders are a team that demands your attention. While their narrow victory over FCS powerhouse North Dakota State in their season opener raised some eyebrows, both the coaching staff and NFL scouts will have been impressed by the standout performances of their two star players.

Quarterback Shedeur Sanders, a projected first-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft, lived up to the hype in his season debut. His trademark accuracy and decision making were on full display throughout. What came as a nice surprise though was the ability he showed under pressure.

Sanders, who struggled with a 25.3% pressure-to-sack rate in 2023, silenced critics with his noticeably improved pocket presence against North Dakota State. He was sacked on just one of his 12 pressured dropbacks and averaged an impressive 18.3 yards per attempt when pressured.

Travis Hunter, the two-way standout at wide receiver and cornerback, also had a game to remember. He showcased his iron-man durability by playing an incredible 153 snaps, while pulling off some jaw-dropping acrobatic catches. Hunter finished the game with seven receptions for 132 yards and three touchdowns, including a sensational contested catch in the fourth quarter.

Ashton Jeanty cements his place as 2025’s RB1

Boise State has a long history of producing good running backs, and Ashton Jeanty is poised to be the next in line. Following a breakout sophomore season that earned him Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year honours, Jeanty solidified his status as a top NFL prospect with a jaw-dropping performance in Week 1.

Against Georgia Southern, Jeanty showcased his exceptional running ability, rushing for a career-high 267 yards and setting a Boise State school record with six touchdowns. His efficiency was off the charts too, averaging 13.3 yards per carry and an incredible 1.1 EPA per play. For context, that means his runs were twice as efficient as the best offense in college football last season.

At 5’9″ and 215 pounds, Jeanty is a compact and physical runner with a style reminiscent of former Packers star Aaron Jones. His exceptional contact balance, vision, and quickness were on full display in the Broncos’ opener and you can bet that NFL scouts will be eager to see what more he can accomplish throughout the rest of the season.

Quarterback duel falls flat at Kyle Field

The highly anticipated matchup between Texas A&M and Notre Dame was expected to feature a thrilling quarterback duel between Conner Weigman and Riley Leonard, both of whom have been touted as potential first-round picks. To say that neither quarterback lived up to the hype would be an understatement.

While the Fighting Irish emerged victorious, Leonard’s performance fell short of expectations. He completed just 158 yards on 30 attempts, averaging a disappointing 5.3 yards per attempt. Although he avoided turning the ball over, Leonard’s passing game lacked any explosiveness and he didn’t have a single attempt of 20+ air yards. If Notre Dame aims to make a deep playoff run, they will need to see more from their new quarterback.

Weigman, returning from a foot injury, struggled even more. In his second career start against a ranked opponent, he completed just 12 of 30 passes for 100 yards and two interceptions. PFF also credited him with three turnover-worthy plays. It remains to be seen whether this was a one-off poor performance against a tough Notre Dame defense, or a sign of deeper issues with the Aggies offense.

Jalen Catalon makes a splash in his UNLV debut

If you’re a keen NFL Draft fan, Catalon’s name may well ring a bell. The former Arkansas safety generated significant buzz during his time with the Razorbacks, but his progress has been hampered by injuries in recent seasons.

Following a stellar 2020 season that earned him First Team All-SEC honours, Catalon’s career took a turn for the worse. He played only six games in 2021 before suffering a season-ending injury. The following year, his season ended prematurely in the very first game due to another injury. In 2023, Catalon transferred to Texas but was once again limited by injuries.

Catalon re-entered the transfer portal in the offseason and landed at UNLV for his sixth collegiate season. In Week 1, he made a statement, intercepting Houston quarterback Donovan Smith and returning it for a touchdown. He added another interception in the fourth quarter.

With seven interceptions and 10 pass breakups on 59 career targets, Catalon’s coverage ability is undeniable. Now, he must prove his durability to NFL scouts. Hopefully, this season marks a turning point in his injury-plagued career.

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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