Football is back with Week 0 and the headliner for NFL personnel evaluators takes us to Ireland, where Florida State is serving prospects by the pint in an ACC matchup with Georgia Tech.
Here are five prospects playing on opening weekend who enter the 2024 season with “draftable” grades.
RB Jamal Haynes, Georgia Tech (RS JR): Haynes’ performance Saturday against a defense with speed everywhere could foretell his NFL draft outlook. He gets his toughness naturally from mom, Annette Johnson. Johnson has an Army background, sure, but she was also the family’s first running back. Johnson played for the semi-pro football team the Atlanta Xplosion in the Independent Women’s Football League. At Georgia Tech, Haynes went two seasons as a return specialist and receiver — his primary position since his sophomore season in high school — before being moved to the lead running back role. He has the versatility to line up anywhere in the formation for the Yellow Jackets. An all-purpose yardage dynamo already known in the ACC, put him on your list of breakout candidates on the national level.
LB Patrick Payton, Florida State (RS JR): Since becoming the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2022, Payton has drawn the full attention of opponents. Teams can slow him down, but best of luck stopping him. At 6-5, 256, Payton is a pure athlete with natural football instincts. As an edge aligned at the five-technique, Payton brings position flexibility (10 pass breakups in 2023), lining up inside on occasion, and versatility beyond imagination. A see-ball, get-ball defender with chase-down speed, he collected 14.5 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks in 2023.
QB Preston Stone, SMU (JR): A 13,000-yard passer in high school (over 2,000 rushing yards, too) in Texas, Stone led Dallas Parish Episcopal to back-to-back state titles and was on the radar of Alabama with a scholarship offer from Georgia Tech before opting to stay home help steer SMU back to respectability. The Mustangs veer into the ACC this season. He’ll be tested by the depth and talent of the league more than he was in the American Athletic Conference, but Stone’s strong arm, quick release and processing ability appear to be pro-worthy. Perhaps the greatest obstacle on his path to the NFL is height — listed at 6-1, which might be a reach — but he brings an eerily similar physical profile to current 49ers starter Brock Purdy (6-0 5/8, 212 pounds at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine).
CB Azareye’h Thomas, Florida State (JR): Listed at 6-2 and a Nelson’s cheeseburger shy of 200 pounds, Thomas fits the NFL prototype. His 2024 season sets up as a ramp to the draft after flashing dominant — and physical — coverage traits in a rotational role in 2022 and 2023. Thomas played inside as an underclassmen in dime and nickel CB roles, and his running back and wide receiver background at Niceville (Fla.) underscores his position flexibility and athleticism.
QB DJ Uiagalelei, Florida State (RS SR): Uiagalelei can throw the fastball with the best of them, and his size (6-4, 246) along with his power and timing on a deep out gets your name on draft boards. What teams need to see from the two-time transfer and former five-star recruit is consistency and the patience to find his second and third receivers when coverage or scheme dictates going away from his primary option.