The column is back for another edition of Risers, Fallers, and Ballers and this week we are going over the aftermath of an upset-filled weekend of college football. Multiple top-10 teams lost, opening up the playoff picture even more for outside teams looking in.

With championship weekend and the College Football Playoffs around the corner, it is crunch time for stars on weaker teams to make a name for themselves before the end of the season. All-Star game invites are being handed out to seniors, filling up crucial postseason roster spots quickly. Let’s take a look at a few players who deserve or who have already been invited to an All-Star game, as well as some players who have seen their stock tank in recent weeks. 

Risers

Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State

Even though Thomas is on a Power 4 team, he is still a sleeper in the NFL draft landscape as of now. However, he won’t be for long. Florida State has had one of the most disappointing seasons from a preseason top-ten team in a long time, but their secondary has been decent so far this season and it is led by Thomas.

In his junior season, Thomas has taken a larger role in the secondary already playing over a career-high 660 snaps this season. Thomas is on pace to have a completion percentage allowed of under 52% for the second year in a row. An impressive feat for the 6’2 and 198-pound corner.

In a cornerback class where multiple top prospects have seen their potential final college seasons end short due to injury, Thomas should be quickly rising up draft boards the closer we get to April. 

Mike Green, Edge, Marshall

The Thundering Herd will not be in playoff contention this season, however their defense has been dominant the last couple of weeks. A large part of this success can be attributed to Green who has been on an elite run as of recently. Green is second in the nation in pressures with 52 in only 10 games.

In his last three games alone, Green has 19 pressures, seven sacks, and two forced fumbles. Additionally, in the same span, Green has not had a PFF grade of under 87.8 and a pass rush grade under 83.6. At 6 ‘4 and 248 pounds, Green is on the smaller side compared to an NFL edge rusher, however, his deep bag of pass rusher moves and dominance at the Group of Five level will most likely get him invited to an All-Star game. 

Fallers

Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU

The “Nuss Bus” had been moving full steam ahead up until a couple of weeks ago when it came to a screeching halt at Texas A&M. Since the matchup with the Aggies, the bus has not been able to get the engine working again with poor performances against Alabama and most recently in The Swamp.

Nussmeier’s development in the pocket and over the middle of the field was fun to watch in October, helping him make a case to be QB1 in a weak quarterback class this year. However, Nussmeier has thrown nine turnover-worthy plays since Week 9 and the Tigers have suffered three straight losses. Nussmeier seems like a prime candidate to return for his fifth season in Baton Rouge and continue to work on his decision-making skills against some of the nation’s best defenses next season. 

Ollie Gordon III, RB, Oklahoma State

The nation’s leading rusher in 2023 has taken a step back in the 2024 campaign, struggling to maintain the consistency he had for the Cowboys offense last season. Coming off a year where he had over 1,700 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns, Gordon has only eclipsed 100 yards in a game three times in 2024.

His numbers in almost every statistical category have dipped. Gordon is on pace for less than 1,000 total rushing yards in addition to averaging a career-low four yards per carry. Gordon’s ability to break tackles has dipped as well. He is averaging only 2.96 yards after contact, a major dip from his 3.71 yards after contact in 2023.

Hopefully, Gordon can bounce back and improve his efficiency the rest of this season, but with an already stacked running back class in the 2025 NFL Draft, Gordon could be returning to Stillwater or even potentially transferring in the coming months. 

Baller

Bowling Green TE Harold Fannin Jr. vs Western Michigan (10 catches, 137 yards, 2 TD)

One of the best tight ends in college football comes from Bowling Green, Ohio. Fannin has been lighting up MAC defenses every Tuesday or Wednesday for the last few weeks and has positioned himself into a consensus day-two pick if he enters. Fannin’s dominant performance against the Broncos helped him receive a 93.7 grade, the highest by a TE in Week 12.

It has been a career year for Fannin, who is already up over 1,100 yards with eight touchdowns on the season. Fannin will have a decision to make this offseason as he is more than likely going to receive major NIL packages from Power 5 teams.

Will Fannin elect to enter the draft after his junior season or will he look to turn himself into a potential day one pick after competing at the highest level in college football? 

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