Summer Scouting
- robert Giorno
- Aug 1
- 8 min read
(Nothing in this post was created using any sort of generative AI)
With College Football right around the corner, I think it’s important to highlight a few players that could make a big name for themselves this year. These guys will not be any of the already big names and must be draft eligible (arch manning and Jeremiah smith are too big of names for this). Same formula as least year, 1 QB, 2 RBs, 2 WRs, and 1 TE.
Just a quick look back on last years Summer Scouting, I showcased a few top talents from the draft (Jordyn Tyson, Denzel Boston, Kenyon Sadiq) that were able to put together some really good tape. But I also showcased a few duds. Mekhi Hughes lost his starting role in training camp and promptly transferred out of Oregon. LaNorris Sellers didn't improve at all and is still just an athletic freak with poor arm talent. And the Penn State duo (Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton) sorta fizzled out when their QB got injured during the season but were still able to both get draft as day 3 picks.
CJ Carr - Norte Dame QB
CJ Carr (no relation to David or Derek) is entering his 3rd year in college as a redshirt sophomore and is looking to take a big step forward in his 2nd year as a starter. Carr started as a redshirt freshman and put up a respectable 2700 yards and 24 touchdowns as the team went 10-2 but missed the playoffs. While this season was promising as a first year starter, Carr was protected by having two of the best running backs in college. Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price carried the offence for the majority of the season, but when Carr had to make throws he was good. Carr thrives as a pocket passer working within the structure in the offence, but struggles when having to create with his legs. He isn't very athletic and struggles when he has to be on the move to try and create outside of structure. He has no problem throwing to any part of the field, deep back shoulder passes, throwing with anticipation, good out-breakers, he can make every throw. The struggle comes when he is pressured. When the defence pressures him he will force throws too much into tight windows and has gotten picked off plenty on those throws.
This year is incredibly important for Carr with Love and Price departing for the NFL, as Notre Dame will rely a little more heavily on his passing. If Carr can improve and show that he can perform well without the best running back duo in all of college football, he could be a first round pick in the upcoming NFL draft.
Honourable Mentions: Julian Sayin and Drew Mestemaker
Ahmad Hardy - Missouri RB
Some of you may have already heard this name before. I have been a MASSIVE Hardy fan ever since he was on the mighty University of Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks. In the lowly Sun Belt Conference, he rushed for over 1300 yards and 13 touchdowns in 12 games, carrying the Warhawks to their best record in 5 years (5-7). After that huge season as a freshman, Hardy transferred to Missouri for more NIL, better competition, best team, better exposure etc. In his true Sophomore season, Hardy put up an even better 1600 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Mizzou Tigers and was honoured as an All-American (think All-Pro) and the runner up to the Doak Walker Award (RB of the year, lost to Jeremiyah Love). While Hardy is a consensus top 3 RB prospect coming into the 2026 CFB season, there is a major concern with his offseason. In early May, Hardy was shot in the leg while attending a concert, and there is some concern about how he will perform once returning. Just recently he was given the pass to start ramping up his practicing, but his timetable for actually playing is currently unknown.
In terms of his play style, Hardy is a f***ing dog. Despite being listed at 5'10 and just 205 lbs, this guy is a tackle breaking machine and elusive as hell. He rarely ever goes down on first contact with nearly 1200 yards last season coming AFTER contact and can make defenders miss in the open field. Hardy is an explosive play machine generating one on just under HALF his carries (explosive being 10 yards or more), which you would think is unsustainable, but not for him. And lastly for the strenghts, his vision is exceptional. Can process blocks really quickly, and even assess the defenders at the second level and find creases where they don't seem to be. There are some downsides to his game.He provides essentially nothing in the passing game, with just 14 catches over his two college seasons, which is weird because the Mizzou QB was not good at all last year and you would think it would be easy to dump off to Hardy. Aside from the lack of receiving work, Hardy isn't as fast as you would like him to be, he can get caught on his breakaway rushes more often than teams would like. And obviously, availability is now in question. But far and away my favourite player in the class because I knew he was good on ULM
LJ Martin - BYU RB
LJ Martin is entering his senior year at BYU after earning the starting role there just last season. He spent the first two seasons splitting carries, getting a little over 100 carries each year, with neither season being anything to write home about. Martin finally broke out in his senior year, getting over 200 carries, and rushing for more than 1300 yards and 12 touchdowns. This breakout year culminated in a 12-2 year for BYU but lost in the BIG12 championship game losing to Texas Tech. Martin's successful year as the workhorse back even earned him the BIG12 Offensive Player of the Year award.
Martin has a great frame for a running back standing at 6'2 and weighing 220 pounds. This build works great for the workhorse role he is playing for BYU and would translate well into the NFL. Was a multi sport athlete in high school, playing basketball and ran track, and that athleticism shows up on the field. At his height and weight, Martin shows impressive agility and flexibility/"wiggle" to throw defenders off in the open field that other backs his size cannot. Martin isn't afraid of using his size either. Guy knows when to eat his broccoli before his dessert. By doing the dirty, physical type of running, he is able to use his athleticism and agility after to create big plays that other players can't because others aren't willing to be physical. While his route running is not insane, he has good hands and can run some basic routes and was productive last season. 36 receptions is good enough for him to an every down type of player. In terms of weaknesses, Martin doesn't have any glaring weaknesses. You could certainly nitpick his pass blocking, or his route running, or his long speed, but those are smaller parts of the position and not really as important. Martin is just a reliable running back all around.
Honourable Mentions: Kewan Lacy, Mark Fletcher, Jadan Baugh
KJ Duff - Rutgers WR
KJ Duff was a sophomore last season with Rutgers and had a great season. 60 receptions for 1084 yards and 7 touchdowns even though Rutgers did not have a good season finishing 5-7. While the team was bad, the numbers are impressive as Rutgers plays in a Power 4 conference (BIG10) where the competition is much higher. The outlook on Duff's production for next season isn't ideal since Rutgers will have a new QB this season who probably isn't very good. That's just the life of a mid power conference program. But Duff's tape will speak for itself.
Standing at 6'5 and 225 lbs, Duff is simply a monster. NBA comp would simply be Josh Hart. Duff is excellent at boxing out his defenders on jump balls and can easily pluck the ball out of the air with soft hands similar to the way Hart can box out for rebounds. This makes Duff super reliable at getting first downs and in the red zone. Duff even dominates at all levels of the field due to his unreal physiciality and despite his lack of speed. Just the perfect prototype of an X-receiver in the NFL. Think how Drake London plays but less athletic. Downsides are his after the catch ability. He does not make defenders miss in the open field and goes down on first contact a large portion of the time. For his size, you would expect him to be a better blocker but doesn't give the effort for it.
Duff is simply a monster of a player and should be a highly touted prospect after this college football season.
T.J. Moore - Clemson WR
T.J. Moore's sophomore season at Clemson was mediocre in terms of production for one main reason. That being Cade Klubnik did not make any sort of leap in talent and was not great for Clemson. With Antonio Williams gone, Moore should be getting more targets this season, but the QB situation did not improve at all. He should still succeed and show off his talent in his junior season.
At 6'3 and just about 200 lbs, Moore doesn't really excel in any aspect of being a receiver other than having great hands. That sounds like a slight against him, but he is just a really well rounded player. He has great hands and catching technique. Always tries to high point the ball and when he gets his hands on the ball, he's coming down with it. Just a 2% drop rate last season. Unfortunately, everything else is quite pedestrian. Route running and separation is good in flashes, his acceleration is quite slow, and he needs more play strength (defenders sometimes knock him off his spot). He's a little like Germie Bernard last year. While Bernard is a better route runner, and has more play strength, they are similar in playstyle where they thrive on in breaking routes ("thrive" is a little strong for Moore but it's what he's best at), and have exceptional hands. All of Moore's weaknesses can certainly be improved, especially for a young 20 year old. If Moore is able to improve at all, he could be a very very good receiver.
Honourable Mentions: Charlie Becker, Mario Craver, Deuce Robinson
Jamari Johnson - Oregon TE
Remember how I loved Kenyon Sadiq and was talking him up all season? Yea he was really good in college and was a 1st round draft pick. Jamari Johnson is better than Sadiq. The Louisville transfer knew he would be playing behind Sadiq for a season, and still had a much needed 32 catches for 500 yards on an injury riddled Oregon team. Johnson looks to step into a big role this coming season with Oregon's top two reception leaders leaving for the NFL (Sadiq, and Malik Benson).
Johnson stands at 6'5 and about 255 lbs which is just above average for the tight end position, but his role is quite rare. While thriving on passes up the seams of the field, Johnson excels on deep routes. This is significant because it can create big mismatches in favour of the offence. While Johnson can be that mismatch on deep routes, his short and intermediate route running is as good as any tight end in college. He can create separation on any route you tell him to run, and you guys know me, I LOVE guys that can separate. You can put Johnson anywhere on the field and he will win his one on on matchup and that is just so valuable in any level of football.
At his size, Johnson is a much better runner than you would think. Despite being 255 lbs, he is still a threat for yards after the catch, can run through defenders or even occasionally make them miss, he is just a much more fluid mover than you would think. He's not clunky or awkward, his change of direction is so smooth he's just a freak of nature. Hands and blocking could use some work, but there is a very good chance that. Johnson is better than Sadiq. Oregon is starting to become TE University. Couple years from now I'll be talking about Kendre Harrison as the tight end to look out for...
Honourable Mentions: Terrence Carter Jr.
Thank you for reading another one of my Summer Scouting articles, I know it's not everyone's favourite type of article. I love college football and I know everyone here loves watching football but isn't into watching college like I am, so I am happy to provide you guys with a few names of guys that you should look out for in the draft. I will always recommend watching college football yourself, there is always good games every week.
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