Scout's Eye - 2025 College Football Week Zero Preview
- John B. Everett
- Aug 22
- 6 min read
Updated: Aug 26
Game of the Week
(22) Iowa State v (17) Kansas State
Dublin, Ireland
Saturday, August 23. 12 noon ET / 9 am PT (5 pm local time)
Iowa State Prospects to Keep an Eye On:
· QB Rocco Becht
· OLT James Neal
· ORT Tyler Miller
· IDL Domonique Orange
· LB Caleb Bacon
Kansas State Prospects to Keep an Eye On:
· QB Avery Johnson
· RB Dylan Edwards
· TE Garrett Oakley
· EDGE Cody Stufflebean
· S VJ Payne
The first ever ranked match-up to take place in week zero kicks off what should be an exciting season of college football as Big 12 rivals and two of the favorites to win the conference and earn an automatic berth in the college football playoffs face off. The Cyclones lost the 2024 Big 12 Conference Championship game to Arizona State and then lost WRs Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel to the NFL (second and third round selections of the Houston Texans). But the Cyclones return Becht for his third year as the starting QB in Ames. Becht (6’1” / 210 lbs) has average size, good arm strength, and is a gutsy, emotional signal caller who displays NFL-caliber leadership. His accuracy and ability to throw with anticipation need continued development, and Becht will not have the receiving corps he has had the last two seasons as a lot more of the offensive burden will fall on him this season. The Cyclones have one of the biggest set of bookend offensive tackles in FBS with Neal (6’6” / 325 lbs) and Miller (6’9” / 335 lbs) lining up on the left and right side of the line, respectively. ISU returns the RB tandem of Carson Hansen and Abu Sama and will likely lean on their big offensive line early in the season as the passing game will need time to gel. The run blocking and pass protection that Neal and Miller provide will be influential on the offense’s success. Defensively, Orange is one of the more intriguing defensive tackles in the nation. Orange (6’4” / 325 lbs) has ideal size for 0-technique / Nose Tackle (NT) with the strength and anchor to squeeze down inside run lanes. If Orange can develop as a pass rusher and pressure the QB consistently, he could earn a Top 50 grade next spring. Bacon returns one year after suffering a season-ending knee injury in the opener and the coaching staff hopes he aids the defense which was uncharacteristically porous last year. Bacon (6’4” / 245 lbs) will be expected to apply pressure in the pass rush while providing outside leverage in the run defense. This will be especially important trying to contain the outside running game on Saturday afternoon, a dangerous element of the Kansas State rushing attack.
The Wildcats are coming off a disappointing 9-4 season and are hoping for a bounce back season. KSU has a great backfield combination in Johnson and Edwards, who are beginning their second year starting in the same backfield. Johnson (6’3” / 196 lbs) is a great athlete with quickness, burst, suddenness, and playmaking skill – can make people miss like a shifty RB. Johnson is still developing as a passer but has a very good arm and is generally accurate, although he is streaky and threw ten interceptions last year. If he takes the next step as a passer, this offense gets really scary. Edwards (5’9” / 170 lbs) is an undersized but uber-quick RB with elite lateral agility and cutting ability. Edwards is extremely explosive and goes from 0 to 60 in a blink of an eye – his burst is amongst the best in college football. Oakley (6’5” / 248 lbs) is an ascending talent with the size and well-rounded playing style that the NFL seeks at the position. Oakley’s size is especially useful near the end zone – he recorded five TDs last season. Oakley’s ability to handle OLBs in run blocking is a key to opening up holes in the perimeter running attack. Stufflebean (6’4” / 260 lbs) possesses NFL-size and sets a strong edge in the run game. But he needs to become more of a factor rushing the passer – he only has four sacks in two years as a starter. Payne (6’3” / 208 lbs) is flying under the radar as the new season dawns but his combination of size and production is enticing. Payne is entering his third season as the starter and has 121 tackles, three INTs, two forced fumbles, and six passes defensed over the last two seasons.
Other Noteworthy Games
Fresno State at Kansas
Saturday, August 23. 6:30 pm ET / 3:30 pm PT
Fresno State’s EJ Warner (son of Hall of Famer Kurt) is starting his third year as a starting QB, first at Temple, then last season at Rice, where has thrown for 8,814 yards and 59 TDs but unfortunately, also has 37 interceptions thrown over that time span. Warner (6’0” / 203 lbs) needs to show much better field vision and decision-making to get on draft radars as a senior. Much of the same can be said about EDGE Korey Foreman, a blue-chip recruit at USC who never reached his hype but has displayed tantalizing flashes of elite bend and burst last season in Fresno. Foreman (6’4” / 250 lbs) has demonstrated a knack at knocking the ball loose, creating three forced fumbles last year. Kansas QB Jalon Daniels needs to play more consistently and cut down on his propensity for turnovers, including 12 interceptions thrown last year. But the biggest issue concerning Daniels (6’0” / 220 lbs) is his availability – 2024 is the only season that he has appeared in nine games or more. Daniels is a great athlete who has significant technical issues to iron out to play QB in the NFL. But Daniels’ size and open field running ability could make him a dangerous WR in the NFL. Center Bryce Foster is the highest ranked prospect playing in this game. Foster (6’5” / 310 lbs) is an ascending talent in what looks to be a very deep center class. Foster has the size, experience, durability, and consistent play to merit a Top 75 pick next April. LB Bangally Kamara transfers in from South Carolina where he only played in three games and then decided to redshirt and enter the transfer portal in early October. Kamara demonstrated big play ability at times while at Pittsburgh in 2022 and 2023. Kamara gets a chance to display his speed and athleticism this season in Lawrence.
Stanford at Hawaii
Saturday, August 23. 7:30 pm ET / 4:30 pm PT
Stanford GM Andrew Luck is attempting an odd strategy in building an organization from the ground up. Take for instance, hiring former NFL head coach Frank Reich to coach the team on an interim tag. Stanford was devastated by the transfer portal but did acquire a potential weapon in WR CJ Williams from Wisconsin, a former USC commit who has teased with his size-speed combination and big play ability but needs to be a more consistent performer and improve his route running ability. TE Sam Roush is the best NFL prospect in this game with the size, strength, and physicality to excite scouts. Roush (6’5” / 260 lbs) is a sure handed and reliable option over the middle for projected starting QB Ben Gulbranson, an inexperienced redshirt senior transfer from Oregon State. S Scotty Edwards looks the part of an NFL safety (6’1” / 200 lbs) and is an effective player in run support. But he needs to become a more impactful player against the pass – he only has two INTs and three passes defensed over the last two seasons. The Rainbows are breaking out a new offensive system that blends Air Raid, Run ‘N Shoot, and RPO offensive elements and will be a fun team to watch. WR Nick Cenacle plays slot back for Hawaii and can create match-up issues with undersized slot CBs on short and intermediate routes. Cenacle (6’2” / 200 lbs) should be the number one option and improve on last year’s respectable numbers of 63 receptions / 721 yards (11.4 YPR) / 6 TDs. A veteran leader of the defense, S Peter Manuma may not project as an NFL player but he is the heart and soul of the defense and a steady presence on the back end. Manuma (6’0” / 205 lbs) has recorded 131 tackles, three INTs, four passes defensed, and a forced fumble over his last two years as a starting safety.
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