Future Broncos: 3 Prospects to Watch in the College Football Playoffs

Here are three prospects worth keeping in mind during the College Football Playoffs.

The end of December is near, and the New Year is coming right up. It’s officially the holidays. That means there will be a lot of college football to watch over the next few weeks while you’re getting together with friends and family.

We have covered and discussed quite a few different prospects this year, but here are three more to keep your eyes on tomorrow during the College Football Playoffs.

Grey Zabel, Offensive Lineman — North Dakota State Bison

The FBS gets most of the love during Bowl Season, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t good football being played elsewhere. Infact, the FCS has had an expanded playoff method for quite some time. It’s always fun to watch and in my humble opinion, offers some of the best games out there.

While the FBS first-round playoff games are just starting, today we near the final stretch in the FCS. Two heavyweights square off when North Dakota State Bison host the South Dakota State Jackrabbits in a Missouri Valley Conference showdown in the semifinals. The Bison have won nine of the last thirteen championships, but the Jackrabbits have secured back-to-back titles down in Frisco, Texas.

Due to their success, both programs have had talent get drafted into the National Football League. For the Bison in particular, one position group they’ve been producing a lot of talent lately is the offensive line. The trend started years ago with Billy Turner and in recent years Joe Haeg, Dillon Radunz, Cordell Volson, and Cody Mauch have all paved their way to the pros.

Next in line for the Bison to hit the big-league trenches is fifth-year senior Grey Zabel. With over 50 games of underneath his belt, the 6’6” and 303-pound left tackle from Pierre, SD is a battle-tested offensive lineman who has played in a lot of big games. If you’re looking for a tough and physical player who is well-rounded as a pass protector and run blocker? Zabel should be high on your wish list.

If you value a player with versatility that has played numerous positions during his stellar career, you can add plus marks in your column next to him because that’s the type of player, he is. Lauded not only for just the play on the field, Zabel draws rave reviews for his football IQ and passion for the game. The Bison are a well-coached team with a winning tradition.

With that in mind, I believe his playstyle and demeanor would line up soundly with the direction the franchise is heading under Sean Payton and Zach Strief. What’s not to like about a player who could start down the road at any position on the offensive line? He is easily a Day 2 player in my book.

The winner of today’s matchup will take on University of South Dakota or Montana State for the FCS Championship. If you can’t catch the game today at 11:00 (CST) on ABC, he’ll be a participant at this year’s Reese’s Senior Bowl.

Barrett Carter, Linebacker — Clemson Tigers

Linebacker is a position I’ve been quiet about for a few months since I raved about Oklahoma’s Danny Stutsman earlier this season. With Justin Strnad having his worst game of the season against the Los Angeles Chargers and the fact he and Cody Barton are free agents at year’s end—perhaps it’s time to get a little bit more serious about the top linebackers available in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Barrett Carter is a player I’m excited to see more of today in the biggest moment of his career. Carter decided to come back for his senior season with the Tigers whereas Jeremiah Trotter Jr. entered the draft and wound up being a fifth-round draft selection.

It was a good decision for Carter who put together a quality season and likely will be drafted earlier than his teammate. He put together his best season as a senior posting 76 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 7 passes defended.

At 6’1” and 230 pounds, Carter’s on the smaller side for an inside linebacker. However, his athleticism and range really stand out on tape. Often deployed as a blitzer and manning up in various coverage looks, Barrett gets a lot of work in the Tigers’ defense and rarely comes off the field. I like his closing speed and think he has legitimated three-down potential in an off-ball role.

However, the feel for moving downhill and being more instinctual in the running game is still a work in progress. If he can do a better job taking on and shedding blockers, the sky will be the limit for him at the next level. As of n ow, I’d consider him a Day 2 draft selection. You can catch Barrett in action against the Texas Longhorns at 3:00 (CST) on TNT.

Brashard Smith, Running Back — SMU Mustangs

Last week I talked about making a splash at running back. A few names were mentioned, but Brashard Smith of SMU was left off the list. That’s just how deep of a class this is, and Smith just might be a diamond in the rough.

After spendings three years with the Miami Hurricanes as a receiver and return specialist, Smith transferred to the Mustangs for his 2024 campaign. Not only that, but he also switched positions. Converting to running back seemed to do the trick for his draft aspirations as he went on an absolute tear this season.

For his senior season, he amassed 1,270 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. He also showed his versatility as a receiver hauling in 35 receptions for 303 yards and 4 touchdowns. His performance this year earned him invites to both the East-West Shrine Bowl and Senior Bowl.

At 5’10 and 196 pounds, Smith is probably not going to be the highest volume back in Sean Payton’s offense. He’s likely just a change of pace back but could be a versatile weapon to add some boost to the offense. Some might argue he has a similar skillset to Blake Watson who went undrafted, and that we already have Marvin Mims being utilized in a unique way. Therefore, overlap might be a concern.

That’s fair, but he’s a good prospect and would be worth a role of the dice on Day 3 if he’s available then. With Smith, I see jaw-dropping speed, the ability to make defenders miss in the open field, and an elusive back with homerun threat potential. I have no problem adding that to Denver’s offense. Despite a smaller size, I think he shows some power and decisiveness on gap runs and his quick to plant and go.

I’m excited to see how he does in his biggest game of his collegiate career. You can catch SMU taking on Penn State today at 11:00 AM (CST).