Week 1 of the college football season is already upon us, which means that draft scouting is about to heat up. While the 2024 NFL Draft may be months away, the work and preparation in the scouting world never stops. After a summer with only 2022-and-earlier tape to watch, it is always refreshing to get new film on potential draft prospects.

After a weak overall draft class in 2023, the 2024 class looks much more promising from top to bottom. Wide receiver, EDGE, and offensive tackle look incredibly appealing at the top while still displaying a solid amount of depth. Quarterback is always difficult to project this early, but the talent level of this year’s class appears to be of higher quality than the 2023 class, which boasted three first quarterbacks inside the top five selections.

Throughout the college football season, I will be giving you information about players on the rise that you should pay close attention to in lieu of the 2024 draft. Our first preview will be in anticipation of Week 1’s slate of games. While there are several appealing games on Saturday, perhaps the most appealing game of the week is not until Sunday. We will take a look at that game, along with one other, below.

Boise State vs. #10 Washington — Saturday 3:30 PM ET on ABC

Boise State prospect to watch: George Holani | RB
Added to the Senior Bowl watch list, Holani is a balanced running back with good short area burst and vision. While not the biggest or fastest back, Holani can do it all: run, catch, and block. There is still room for improvement as a blocker, but he has flashed potential in said area, and his natural hands in the receiving game will give him increased opportunities on third downs. Can he be a workhorse back at the NFL level? That remains to be seen, but a strong Washington front seven will be a great test for the talented back out the gate. With a strong performance, his stock could trend toward the middle rounds of the draft.

Washington prospect to watch: Bralen Trice | EDGE
Much of the attention will be on Michael Penix, Jr. on offense, but I am intrigued to see if Bralen Trice can tee off against a new-look Boise State offensive line. The Broncos lost interior lineman Kekaniakoa Holomalia-Gonzalez and offensive tackle John Ojukwu, which has forced the team to reshuffle the line. With a big Week 1, Trice could definitely steal the attention of scouts and separate himself from some of the other high-profile pass rushers in the 2024 class.

LSU vs. Florida State — Sunday 7:30 PM ET on ABC

LSU prospect to watch: Malik Nabers | WR
LSU has developed quite the track record for developing wide receivers, and Nabers appears to be the next badge for the school to sew to its sash. At 6’0″, 195 pounds, Nabers displays a solid amount of physicality for someone his size. His quickness off the line of scrimmage is superb, and his body control down the field is a testament to his great ball-tracking ability. His route running still needs some work, but with a strong game against a tough Florida State unit, Nabers could boost his stock toward the top half of the first round.

Florida State prospect to watch: Jared Verse | EDGE
Projected by most as a top-ten prospect in the 2024 class, Verse could have sneaked into the late first round of the 2023 draft if he had entered. Nonetheless, he chose to return for his senior season, aspiring to boost his draft stock even further. Displaying lethal hands, a consistent motor, and sneaky power, Verse is a well-rounded pass rusher who possesses a strong base to set the edge as a run defender as well. LSU’s offensive line may have some new pieces, but they will be one of the most talented units Florida State faces all season long. Much like Trice, a big game from Verse separates him from his peers at the position and sets the tone for the remainder of the season.

Which games and prospects are you keeping your eye on this weekend? Share your thoughts with our new community of fans by signing up for a free account and commenting down below!