From a bird’s eye view, it might have looked like a calmer week in college football, but this week had a massive impact on the depth at multiple positions ahead of the NFL Draft. A weak quarterback class took another hit, while a strong running back class continues to shine. More than halfway through the college football season, it’s time to dive into some more risers, fallers, and ballers. 

Risers:

Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas

Banks was one of the top offensive tackle prospects in summer scouting and has delivered for the Longhorns so far this season. Quinn Ewers’ blindside blocker has only allowed three pressures to opposing teams all season, including having at least a 79.0 pass block grade in every game. Banks has played over 300 pass block snaps already, yet has only allowed Ewers to be sacked one time.

Pass protection has been an ease for the 6’4 320 pound left tackle, but there’s still room for improvement in the run block if he wants to be known as a consensus first-round pick this spring. It has been a great first half of this season for Banks and he will look to continue his success coming out of Texas’ bye week against Florida in a couple of weeks. 

Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State

With many top-tier pass rushers in this class, Carter has done whatever it takes to separate himself from the rest of the pack in the past month. In three of his past four games, Carter has had at least four pressures and has a total of 17 pressures in that same span. Carter was given the coveted No. 11 jersey on Penn State’s defense this offseason and has delivered in every way.

His freakish combination of speed and strength at 6 ‘3 and 252 pounds is going to make NFL general managers fall in love with the athlete he is. Carter’s quick and powerful feet allow him to explode off the snap, which helps him beat tackles around their outside shoulder. Pair that with his ridiculous bend and a first-round selection is in his future. 

Fallers:

Conner Weigman, QB, Texas A&M

It wasn’t even a full month ago when Weigman made his appearance as a riser in this weekly column, but a horrendous October has led to not only Weigman’s stock tumbling but a benching for the backup quarterback as well. Two weeks ago Weigman and the Aggies survived a scare against Mississippi State where Weigman threw two interceptions including four turnover-worthy plays according to PFF.

Weigman followed up this performance with another disappointing start in a primetime matchup against LSU. Down 17-7 at halftime, Mike Elko made a change at quarterback, inserting redshirt freshman Marcel Reed under center. The decision turned out wonderful for the Aggies as they went on to win 38-23 led by Reed, but a nightmare for the long-time starter Weigman. Reed will most likely be getting more playing time in the future, potentially forcing Weigman into the transfer portal at the end of the season. 

Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri

I have been holding off putting Burden’s name on this list for a couple of weeks now, but in the distance, I am starting to hear alarm bells for the former five-star receiver. Burden was considered a top-two receiver in the class and another elite receiver prospect before Missouri’s 2024 campaign. Coming off a 1,200-yard and nine-touchdown season, the pressure was high for the Tigers’ WR1.

However, through nine weeks of the season, Burden has only eclipsed 100 yards in one game so far and is currently coming off a season-low three yards against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Burden has clearly lost his argument for the top receiver prospect in this class, but still should remain in early day two conversations as of now. The pressure will be on Burden to step up his game and deliver through the second half of this season, or else he will see his draft stock tumble even more in the coming months. 

Ballers:

Auburn RB Jarquez Hunter vs Kentucky (23 carries, 278 yards, 2 TDs)

When looking at the running back prospects in this class, Hunter’s name has rarely come up as a prominent prospect, but he has been an extremely productive back for the Tigers over his four-year career. The senior has over 3,000 total yards and is coming off the best game of his career against the Kentucky Wildcats.

Hunter averaged over twelve yards per carry including finding the endzone twice in Auburn’s 24-10 win. He is already up to 863 yards this season and is on pace to easily beat his single-season-best 909 yards he had in 2023. 

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