2024 NFL Draft Prospects with Most to Gain in Final Weeks of College Football Season
As the college football regular season comes to a close, eyes have begun to slowly glance toward the horizon. Bowl season, the College Football Playoff, and most importantly for eligible prospects, the pre-draft process are all ahead.
With invites to the most prestigious pre-draft showcases being sent out and accepted as we speak, the remaining few weeks of the campaign have presented a platform for this year's prospects to both solidify draft stock and rise on boards across the league.
While closing the book on any prospect's final report usually doesn't occur until post-pro day workouts, showing up when the lights are brightest holds weight inside an NFL draft room.
With excellent showings over the next month or so, here are a few talents that can both rapidly increase their draft stock and solidify themselves as top-100 picks in the final few weeks of the year.
Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
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The conversations surrounding Caleb Williams (USC) and Drake Maye (North Carolina) have holstered top-of-the-draft headlines for over a year now. Two uber-talented signal-callers, it'll be of no surprise to hear their names called within the top five picks next spring.
However, it's the group of quarterbacks behind Williams and Maye where the conversations really pick up steam.
For LSU's Jayden Daniels, his evaluation at this point in time is an intriguing one.
A dual-threat talent with the ability to beat you with his arm and his legs, his game fits seamlessly with the modern NFL. Currently second to Oregon gunslinger Bo Nix in Heisman odds, he checks many of the boxes teams look for in a future leader under center.
While his 15th-ranked Tigers look to be on the outside looking in of the CFP, showcasing a continued high level of play against Texas A&M in the season finale—and bowl game to follow—could sway some general managers into moving him up their board. He's also been invited to the Senior Bowl, which he is expected to attend.
Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
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It's a deep class of offensive tackles at the top, but Taliese Fuaga could be the best of the bunch down the road. Yes, that includes him right alongside the headlining names of Olu Fashanu (Penn State) and Joe Alt (Notre Dame).
One of the most dominant forces at the position all campaign long, he'll have an awfully bright spotlight on his game with Oregon State's continued climb up the AP poll.
"He may be the best [independent] hand puncher in the class," an AFC area scout said.
Combine it with his size, length, athleticism and ability to stymie any type of pass-rusher in pass pro, and Fuaga could solidify himself as a top-20 player in the class before season's end.
Upcoming matchups against Washington (Bralen Trice & Zion Tupuola-Fetui) and Oregon (Brandon Dorlus) are about as good as it gets when it comes to Fuaga solidifying himself as a Day 1 pick.
Nelson Ceaser, EDGE, Houston
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A name to get familiar with you for draft buffs out there, Nelson Ceaser has consistently become a topic of conversations had with evaluators scattered across the NFL.
Matchups against a run-heavy Oklahoma State unit and the uber-explosive UCF offense will provide a nice window into his ability against contrasting offensive attacks.
Houston by no means is a team to plan your afternoon around, but Ceasar's frame, production (28 pressures/10 sacks) and alignment versatility will make him a sought-after prospect in April.
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Tyler Nubin, Safety, Minnesota
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There's many names to know in this year's safety class, but underwhelming performances from many of the headliners have thrown a wrench in the group's evaluation as a whole.
In turn, it's opened up a chance for players like Tyler Nubin to continue to rise on draft boards. At 6'2", he can play the high-post, he's not afraid to stick his face in the run game and in five years at Minnesota has accrued nearly 700 snaps on special teams.
He's a multi-faceted defender who is one of the more fluid man-defenders in the safety class (three catches allowed on 13 targets), per PFF. An excellent test awaits in countering Marvin Harrison Jr. (Ohio State) in Week 12.
Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M
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Beyond Clemson linebackers Barrett Carter and Jeremiah Trotter Jr, the next tier of linebackers differ from each person you talk to.
If a team desires an immediate plug-and-play prospect, however, look no further than Texas A&M's Edgerrin Cooper. A semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik award given annually to the nation's most outstanding defender, he leads the SEC in tackles for loss and is third in sacks (8).
While each NFL scouting department values the linebacker position differently, Cooper's knack for consistently fitting the run correctly and limiting big plays in coverage will make a team very happy should he declare.
Bucky Irving, RB, Oregon
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An electric offensive weapon, Oregon running back Bucky Irving's stock seemingly kicks into another gear each time the ball is in his hands.
A smaller-statured ball-carrier within a running back class loaded with bulkier athletes, Irving's wiggle in space and explosiveness to take it for six provides a unique wrinkle within the 2024 NFL draft class.
Just last year, the Tennessee Titans selected Tyjae Spears (Tulane) in the third round. A three-down weapon that forces matchup nightmares, how teams evaluated Spears has largely paralleled Irving's evaluation.
Impact as a ball-carrier and through the air is a must-have for teams across the league. A heavily featured piece within the high-flying Oregon attack, Irving's success the next few weeks could be incredibly important for both the Ducks earning a spot in the CFP as well as his own draft stock.
JT Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State
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Looked upon as a first-round lock during summer scouting, JT Tuimoloau has a lot to prove in the closing weeks of the season.
Another talent within the deep pipeline of pass-rushers to come out of Ohio State, his next few games, including a potential trip to the CFP, will place a large spotlight on what type of player he can be on Sundays.
His 32 pressures currently rank third among all Big Ten pass-rushers, but improvement in countering the run and a continued effort to evolve his pass-rush repertoire will see his stock rise.
The top of the edge-rusher class has yet to solidify itself, and Tuimoloau could force scouts to edit their evaluation if he is able to dominate when the lights are at their brightest.
Tonka Hemingway, IDL, South Carolina
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A consistent threat to push the pocket from the interior, Tonka Hemingway has recorded a quarterback pressure in all but one of his 10 appearances this fall.
The days of drafting stagnant one- and three-technique players to solely log gaps are over. Pressuring the quarterback is the name of the game, and studying Hemingway's tape over the past two months has showcased a player who can play on all three downs.
He can overwhelm less experienced guards in pass pro and consistently makes life easier for linebackers flowing downhill against the run. Upcoming matchups against Kentucky (RB Ray Davis) and Clemson (Will Shipley & Phil Mafah) will provide an excellent evaluation period.
Brian Thomas Jr, WR, LSU
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The other wideout on the LSU perimeter, Brian Thomas Jr. remains one of the more intriguing prospect evaluations in the 2024 class.
While his running mate Malik Nabers draws national headlines on a weekly basis and is a talent who should hear his name called early next spring, Thomas is as good of a "second option" as you'll find in college football.
At 6'4", he can marionette corners in a variety of ways. Play off, and he can take a bubble screen to the house. Align in press-man, and his strength at 205 pounds can overwhelm less physical defenders inside the contact window. He's also excellent in contested catch opportunities and has a knack for finding his way to the end zone (his 13 touchdown catches leads all FBS wideouts).
Continued volume from quarterback Jayden Daniels and an ability to take advantage of targets should see Thomas' stock continue to rise.
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