Week 1 of the college football season had a lot of excitement. For the second installment of Future Broncos, let’s take a look at three incredible prospects everyone should be watching this weekend.
Last week in my Future Broncos series, I took a look at the slate of selections the Denver Broncos possess in the 2025 NFL Draft and pontificated on their top long-term needs. This week, I’d like to mix it up and give you all three prospects to watch in Week 2 of the college football season. Feel free to discuss these players in the comments section. Even better—give me your Top 3 so I can take a closer look at them and how they would fit in with the team as the year rolls on.
Ashton Jeanty, RB — Boise State Broncos
If you didn’t catch Jeanty’s incredible performance in Week 1 of the college football season you missed out on a special treat. His 267 yard and six touchdown performance against Georgia Southern was one of the best in FBS history which etched himself in the school’s record books. Size, speed, vision, and agility—Jeanty has it all—and is unquestionably the crème de la crème of running back prospects for next year’s draft.
The franchise has a good stable of running backs and I expect their production this year to be much better than last season. However, Javonte Williams will be a free agent at season’s end. If he isn’t brought back into the mix, I could see a scenario where the team continues to add talent to the room despite having Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estime, and Blake Watson.
While it’s definitely not a critical need and where I certainly don’t believe the Broncos will draft a running back early in the 2025 NFL Draft, there is no doubt Jeanty would be a dynamic back in Sean Payton’s offense. I think he is going to be a special player in the National Football League and one who can earn Pro-Bowl and All-Pro accolades on a regular basis.
For me, it really just comes down to return on investment. It’s not hard to find talented backs in the draft, but it’s also not easy to find top-tier ones like Jeanty. He can truly take over a whole game on his own. That’s rare at the position. If you’re a fan of scouting running backs or enjoy a fierce rushing attack offensively, checking out Jeanty as the Broncos take on the Oregon Ducks is an absolute must.
Is Ashton Jeanty the best RB in College Football? pic.twitter.com/5IK0M8P5Zr
— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 5, 2024
Tetairoa McMillian, Wide Receiver — Arizona Wildcats
Offensive tackle, defensive line, and edge rusher and a focus on upgrading the trenches remains my top three wish list for the Broncos. However, right outside that is finding a wide receiver capable of being a true #1 threat in Sean Payton’s offense. Don’t get me wrong, I like the talent the Broncos have at the position, but in the AFC West or the AFC as a whole—it’s an arms race and acquiring as much offensive firepower as possible is a must.
One player I mentioned last week to keep note of was Arizona Wildcat Tetairoa McMillian. He hit his stride early on as a freshman in 2022 by reeling in 39 catches for 702 yards and 8 touchdowns. That was followed up with an impressive sophomore campaign accruing 90 catches for 1,402 yards and 10 touchdowns that was good enough to net him All-Pac 12 second-team honors.
The Wildcats switched to the Big 12 Conference this season but played New Mexico in their season opener. It didn’t go well for the Lobos who were destroyed by a score of 61-39. McMillian’s efforts played a big part in that. He had 10 catches for 304 yards and 4 touchdowns and easily the best performance of any receiver last weekend.
At 6’5, 210 pounds, McMillian’s a lengthy target, but he is smooth after the catch and has deceptive long-striding speed. Long story short, I think he is the total package and the type of alpha receiver you can build a top-flight aerial attack with. There is still a lot of football to play this collegiate season, but if McMillian keeps it up, there is a good shot he winds up a Top 15 selection in the upcoming draft.
A part of me would like him to cool it down just a little bit, because the prospect of him in Payton’s offense is just too much fun to think about. If there was any early candidate for “my guy” for the Broncos in this year’s first round, McMillian would certainly be atop the list.
Tetairoa McMillan put up MONSTER NUMBERS with 304 YARDS, 10 RECEPTIONS, 4 TDS as Arizona (21) DEFEATS New Mexico
McMillan (6’5, 210 lbs) is considered the #2 WR prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft ⭐ pic.twitter.com/4dITZOQDEz
— Football Forever (@fballforeverhq) September 1, 2024
Malaki Starks, Safety — Georgia
When the Denver Broncos released Kareem Jackson toward the end of last season and Justin Simmons this offseason, it signified a changing of the guard at the backend of their secondary. Those two played together for five years and proved themselves to be quite the duo, but the franchise opted to go in a younger and more affordable direction at the position.
They added Brandon Jones in free agency and have a handful of younger players at the position, but it’s safe the unit lacks a prospect with top-tier potential that could help rebirth the No Fly Zone in the Mile High City. Goergia has put out a lot of talent over the years especially in the secondary. Safety Malaki Starks is next on the list of Bulldogs to make a case for themselves this season and earn first-round consideration in ‘25.
Starks was a 5-star recruit of out Jefferson, Georgia and considered one of the best players in his recruiting class. He was an impact performer with the Bulldogs as a freshman and followed it up with a tremendous sophomore campaign. His all-around play last year got him on the Jim Thorpe Award watch list which goes to the nation’s best defensive back.
At 6’1 and 205 pounds, Starks has NFL size and truly the cover skills of a cornerback. Opposing quarterbacks only have a 58.3 rating when targeting him and he has a penchant for forcing turnovers. Overall, I feel he is a player that does very well in both zone and man and is strong against the run. If the aforementioned Jones and P.J. Locke struggle this year; Starks is a guy I’d love to see on the Broncos if he declares early.
Malaki Starks…no words to describe that pick @StarksMalaki | @GeorgiaFootball
(via @georgiafootball)pic.twitter.com/H5QASBeWxK
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) August 31, 2024