College football returns to action this weekend with Kansas State and Iowa State opening the season in Dublin. The Big 12 matchup kicks off Week 0 festivities on foreign soil.
Both teams enter as conference title contenders. Kansas State sits at No. 17 in the AP poll while Iowa State checks in at No. 22.
The rosters feature real talent with 2026 NFL Draft implications. Several players will use Saturday’s game to make first impressions on scouts.
Kansas State Prospects
The Wildcats’ top draft prospect is linebacker Romaine, who brings a physical presence to the front seven. He projects as a between-the-tackles run stopper with his 6’2″, 245-pound frame.
Limited athleticism hurts his pursuit and coverage ability. If he tackles more consistently in 2025, he could earn an earlier Day 3 selection.
Quarterback Johnson isn’t currently a draftable prospect entering his age-21 season. He has impressive physical tools including strong athleticism and decent arm talent.
Johnson can create explosive plays and attack the middle of the field. He works well to checkdowns and looks comfortable within structure.
Turnover issues remain a major concern. His decisions against trap coverage are poor. His process breaks down under pressure and he’ll miss easy throws. The upcoming season is important for Johnson’s development, though he’s unlikely to declare in 2026.
Wide receiver Brown enters the year as a priority undrafted free agent on most boards. His ability to make plays underneath and over the top will earn praise throughout the cycle.
Kansas State WR Jayce Brown’s biggest play against Arizona. Good route, adjusts to throw, smooth transition into YAC, lets his athleticism win in the open field.
Fun player who’s worth keeping an eye on this year. pic.twitter.com/Rl76WyBrmK
— Anthony Licciardi (@ALiccScouting) August 20, 2025
At 5’11”, 179 pounds, Brown is undersized and it shows. He struggles playing through contact and might be limited to slot duties. Drop issues remain a concern.
There’s upside to watch. He’ll need to turn flashes of strong route running into consistent production to get drafted.
Iowa State Prospects
The best player on the field Saturday will be defensive lineman Orange, who has real Day 2 aspirations thanks to his versatility and pro-ready run defense.
At 325 pounds, Orange disrupts zone runs effectively. He generated five tackles for loss in 2024. While he has just one sack to his name, there’s some pass rush potential to develop.
He has decent burst for his size and can win with flashes of strong technique. Orange’s motor runs hot. Doing enough to stay on the field for passing downs could be the defining factor for his stock.
Cornerback Williams is another Sunday player on the Cyclones’ defense. His willingness to get physical stands out among boundary corners.
There are questions about his burst and long speed, raising concerns in man coverage. He’s proficient in zone and can make plays at the catch point.
Williams profiles as a steady backup corner with quality processing. As a mid-Day 3 prospect, a strong showing this season would be meaningful.
Tight end Brahmer is inherently limited as a slot-only option. He’s not an NFL-level blocker at this point, even considering his alignment.
If he does enough as a receiver, it might not matter.
Brahmer stands 6’6″ with the length to match. His catch radius and strong hands boost his stock. It’s easy to see him threatening the seam and making red zone plays, though he wasn’t very productive in 2024.
He relies on strength to separate without much success. More polishing is needed to land on NFL Draft radars. In line for a bigger role this season, Brahmer has the look of a project tight end who dominates the pre-draft circuit.
Quarterback Becht faces challenges as a shorter passer. It’s about to get more difficult with his favorite targets catching passes from NFL quarterbacks this fall.
There’s reason to believe he gets drafted in April. His ability to recognize scrambling opportunities helps optimize his athleticism. Ball placement stands out within structure, particularly on shorter passes.
Intangible questions remain. He makes irresponsible throws out of structure and in the red zone when margins are slim. His escapability clouds his pocket presence and he doesn’t play well under pressure.
Becht has a handle on the offense with a little more upside left in his physical tools.
