November 1, 2026
By James Baxter
Five Players Making Their Mark on College Football
Every week, college football gives us another opportunity to evaluate players who are either improving their draft stock, establishing themselves as legitimate prospects, or reminding scouts why they were highly regarded in the first place.
But here’s something I’ve learned from years of evaluating football talent. Statistics only tell part of the story.
I want to see how a player responds to adversity. I want to see how he performs against quality competition. Most importantly, I want to know whether the things that make him successful on Saturday will translate to the next level.
This week’s Stock Report features five players who have caught my attention.
STOCK UP: DJ VONNAHME
Tight End | Iowa
Iowa has developed quite a reputation for producing NFL-caliber tight ends, and DJ Vonnahme is another prospect worth watching.
At 6-foot-4 and 241 pounds, Vonnahme has the physical dimensions scouts look for in a modern tight end. He’s not simply a big receiver playing close to the offensive tackle. He’s a player whose value comes from his ability to contribute in multiple ways.
Through his first six appearances this season, Vonnahme recorded 24 receptions for 250 yards and two touchdowns.
Those numbers aren’t going to put him in the Heisman conversation, but tight ends should never be evaluated strictly by their receiving statistics.
I want to see how well a tight end understands leverage, how effectively he establishes position against defenders, and whether he can transition from blocking responsibilities into the passing game without tipping off the defense.
Vonnahme has the frame and receiving production to warrant serious attention.
JB’S TAKE: Iowa’s history of developing tight ends is impressive, but that reputation doesn’t automatically make Vonnahme an NFL prospect. His stock will ultimately depend on how consistently he blocks, separates from coverage, and creates mismatches against athletic linebackers and safeties.
STOCK TREND: RISING
STOCK UP: GRIFFIN WILDE
Wide Receiver | Northwestern
Sometimes a player can improve his stock even when his team loses.
Griffin Wilde is a perfect example.
Northwestern fell to Oregon 34-26 Saturday, but Wilde delivered one of the more impressive receiving performances of the weekend.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound senior caught five passes for 146 yards and a touchdown, including a 64-yard scoring reception.
That’s an average of 29.2 yards per reception.
Now that’s getting my attention.
Wilde entered the weekend with 39 receptions for 615 yards and four touchdowns. His performance against Oregon only strengthened an already impressive season.
What intrigues me about Wilde is his combination of size and production. He’s not a small receiver who must rely entirely on speed to create separation.
At 6-foot-2, he has the frame to compete against bigger defensive backs, and his production suggests he can threaten defenses vertically.
But there’s a distinction I always make when evaluating receivers.
Being fast and playing fast are two entirely different things.
I want to see how quickly a receiver gets into his route, whether he can change direction without losing momentum, and how effectively he tracks the football while maintaining his speed.
Those are the characteristics that separate productive college receivers from legitimate NFL prospects.
JB’S TAKE: Wilde is becoming difficult to overlook. His performance against Oregon was exactly the kind of showing that can improve a player’s standing with evaluators. He has earned a closer examination of his route-running, release package, and ability to separate against press coverage.
STOCK TREND: STRONG BUY
STOCK UP: LANORRIS SELLERS
Quarterback | South Carolina
I’ve been critical of LaNorris Sellers at times this season, particularly when it comes to his development as a complete quarterback.
And I’m not backing away from those criticisms.
But I’m also going to give credit where credit is due.
Against Oklahoma, Sellers reminded everyone why NFL scouts have been fascinated by his physical abilities.
He completed 19 of 24 passes for 301 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 96 yards and two additional scores.
That’s 397 yards of total offense and five touchdowns.
Those are exceptional numbers against an Oklahoma defense coached by Brent Venables.
But there’s another number worth discussing.
Two interceptions.
And that illustrates exactly why evaluating Sellers requires looking beyond his highlights.
Physically, Sellers possesses nearly everything an NFL franchise could want in a quarterback. He’s big, strong, athletic, and capable of making throws that many quarterbacks simply cannot make.
His ability to extend plays and create offense with his legs presents enormous problems for opposing defenses.
However, the NFL doesn’t pay quarterbacks simply to be spectacular athletes.
It pays them to process information.
I’ve always maintained that the most important characteristic of a successful quarterback is his ability to process information quickly and accurately.
Can he recognize coverage before the snap? Can he identify where pressure is coming from? Can he anticipate throwing windows instead of waiting for receivers to become open?
Those are the areas where Sellers must continue improving.
Saturday’s performance was encouraging because he demonstrated what South Carolina’s offense can look like when his passing ability and athleticism work together.
JB’S TAKE: Sellers helped his stock considerably against Oklahoma, but one outstanding performance doesn’t erase the inconsistencies we’ve seen. His physical ceiling remains extraordinarily high. The question is whether his mental processing and decision-making can consistently match his athletic gifts. I still say Sellars would benefit from another year of college.
STOCK TREND: RISING, WITH CAUTION
STOCK UP: RALEEK BROWN
Running Back | Texas
I’ve always believed that evaluating running backs requires looking at considerably more than rushing yardage.
Raleek Brown is an interesting prospect because of the different ways he can impact an offense.
Brown entered Saturday coming off an outstanding performance against Ole Miss, rushing for 157 yards on 23 carries. That works out to 6.8 yards per attempt against SEC competition.
Against Mississippi State, he managed just 30 rushing yards on eight carries, but added two receptions for 26 yards and a touchdown in Texas’ 31-3 victory.
Through eight games, Brown has accumulated 452 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns.
Those aren’t overwhelming season totals, but they don’t tell the entire story.
Brown’s value is tied to his versatility and ability to create explosive plays.
When I evaluate running backs, one of the first things I examine is their ability to accelerate through a running lane. There’s a difference between a player who runs a fast 40-yard dash and one who can reach top speed almost immediately after making a cut.
I also want to see how quickly a back identifies developing running lanes and whether he has the vision to recognize cutback opportunities.
Brown’s performance against Ole Miss demonstrated the kind of production he can deliver when given an opportunity.
His receiving touchdown against Mississippi State also reinforces the importance of being more than a one-dimensional runner.
The NFL has become increasingly interested in running backs who can create mismatches in the passing game.
JB’S TAKE: Brown has intriguing potential as a versatile offensive weapon. However, I want to see greater consistency before moving him substantially higher on my draft board. His ability to contribute as both a runner and receiver makes him worth monitoring.
STOCK TREND: RISING
STOCK UP: DREW MESTEMAKER
Quarterback | Oklahoma State
If there’s one quarterback whose development continues to intrigue me, it’s Drew Mestemaker.
And Saturday’s performance against Iowa State gave us another reason to pay attention.
Mestemaker completed 27 of 42 passes for 323 yards and five touchdowns in Oklahoma State’s heartbreaking 51-49 loss.
Five touchdown passes.
That’s impressive regardless of the final score.
What makes Mestemaker particularly interesting is his ability to generate production through the passing game.
I’ve always believed the quarterback position is played primarily between the ears.
Arm strength is important. Accuracy is important. Athleticism certainly helps.
But the ability to recognize what a defense is doing, process that information, and deliver the football to the proper receiver is what separates good quarterbacks from great ones.
Mestemaker is a player I want to continue evaluating in those areas.
His five-touchdown performance demonstrates his ability to distribute the football and generate scoring opportunities.
But here’s something else I look for.
How does a quarterback perform when his team is trailing?
Against Iowa State, Oklahoma State scored 21 fourth-quarter points. Mestemaker threw a touchdown pass with 53 seconds remaining to give the Cowboys a 49-48 lead.
Iowa State eventually won on a field goal as time expired.
That kind of performance deserves recognition.
When a quarterback can continue producing under pressure, particularly late in a game, it tells me something about his competitive makeup.
It doesn’t answer every question about his NFL potential, but it certainly adds another positive piece to the evaluation.
JB’S TAKE: Mestemaker continues to make a compelling case for serious consideration among the nation’s quarterback prospects. His production is impressive, but I want to continue examining his mechanics, progression reads, anticipation, and performance when defenses take away his primary options. There’s a lot to like here.
STOCK TREND: STRONG BUY
JB’S FINAL WORD
Five players. Five different evaluations.
And that’s precisely what makes scouting so interesting.
Griffin Wilde and Drew Mestemaker delivered the kinds of performances that force evaluators to pay attention.
DJ Vonnahme continues to demonstrate why Iowa remains a program worth watching for tight end talent.
Raleek Brown offers the versatility that can make a running back valuable in today’s offensive systems.
And LaNorris Sellers?
He might be the most fascinating evaluation of the entire group.
There are few questions about his physical abilities. There are considerably more questions about how consistently he can execute the mental responsibilities of playing quarterback.
But that’s why we watch the games.
A player’s draft stock isn’t determined by one Saturday. It’s built through an entire body of work, against different opponents, under different circumstances, and with different challenges.
Talent gets you noticed. Consistency gets you drafted. And the ability to process information and execute under pressure is what ultimately determines how successful you’ll become.
That’s something I’ve believed for a long time.
And I haven’t seen anything to change my mind.
James Baxter
JB Talking Sportz
Beyond the Scoreboard.
