Week 0 of the college football campaign marks its arrival on Saturday! The must-watch contest will take place in Dublin, Ireland between Florida State and Georgia Tech. Elsewhere, Montana State travels to New Mexico, SMU plays at Nevada, and Delaware State is at Hawai'i.
Several exciting NFL draft prospects will be making their season debuts. We've identified five intriguing prospects to watch this weekend.
Patrick Payton, EDGE, Florida State
Florida State EDGE Patrick Payton possesses all the tools required to establish himself as an elite pass rusher this season. The No. 29 overall selection in our latest NFL mock draft, Payton utilizes length and athleticism to stress opposing backfields.
Payton recorded a career-high 7.0 sacks last season. The Seminoles are hoping for a step forward after losing defensive linemen Jared Verse and Braden Fiske to the 2024 NFL Draft. Payton is the most talented player on the Week 0 slate.
DJ Uiagalelei, QB, Florida State
Florida State will be DJ Uiagalelei’s third stop on his college football tour. The former five-star prospect played three seasons (2020-22) at Clemson before a one-year stop at Oregon State (2023). Uiagalelei hasn't met the hype, but he displayed progress for the Beavers last season, throwing for a career-best 2,638 yards while averaging a personal-high 8.4 yards per attempt.
Uiagalelei will replace Jordan Travis as FSU's starter this season. It'll certainly represent his final opportunity to prove he deserves to have an NFL future. Getting off on the right foot versus Georgia Tech on Saturday is critical.
Zeek Biggers, DT, Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech defensive tackle Zeek Biggers is entering his senior campaign in 2024. He's been a steady performer for the Yellow Jackets’ defense over the past two seasons. Biggers recorded 40 tackles, four tackles for loss, and three pass breakups in 2023.
The 320-pound Biggers excels at controlling the line of scrimmage by physically dominating his gaps. After recording just one sack in three seasons, Biggers will attempt to prove he possesses more pass-rushing potential than he's flashed to date. A nationally televised opportunity against Uiagalelei and the Seminoles awaits.
Preston Stone, QB, SMU
SMU quarterback Preston Stone chose the Mustangs over some fellow big-time programs. The Dallas, Texas native received offers from Alabama, Auburn, and Arizona State, to name a few. Stone never wavered in his commitment to SMU.
Stone was absolutely electric for the Mustangs throughout 2023, throwing for 3,197 yards and 28 touchdowns. The competition will be amplified this season with SMU officially making the move from the AAC to the ACC. Head coach Rhett Lashlee possesses a brilliant offensive mind and he believes Stone is a special quarterback prospect.
Kitan Crawford, SAF, Nevada
Safety Kitan Crawford transfers to Nevada for his fifth season after playing four previous campaigns (2020-23) at Texas. Crawford was an outstanding special teams player for the Longhorns, but he's attempting to make strides as a defender. The Tyler native accumulated 61 tackles and four pass breakups at Texas via limited action.
Crawford is listed as the starting strong safety on Nevada's depth chart. This is the opportunity he's been waiting for. First-year head coach Jeff Choate coached Crawford at Texas last season and convinced him to join him at Nevada. Defensive coordinator Kane Ioane also has an impressive resume after serving as co-DC at Boise State for the last three seasons.
