As the 2025 season rolls along, so will our weekly previews of games and NFL prospects to watch. This will come in addition to our NFL Draft coverage over the course of the fall and winter. Whether you’re a fan of the draft or just a college football fan, this series looks to give you an idea of what to watch each week.
Windy City Gridiron’s Lead Draft Analyst, Jacob Infante, will be taking a look at what to expect in Week 9 of this year’s college football campaign.
Blue-chip of the week
No. 4 Alabama LT Kadyn Proctor
@ South Carolina, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, 2:30 p.m. CST
Kadyn Proctor entered the 2025 season as a top-five player on my board in the 2026 NFL Draft. He’s since slipped a couple spots, as he’s my No. 11 prospect in the class, as of this writing. That’s due to the slow start he had to this season, as well as the rise of players like Jordyn Tyson, Fernando Mendoza, and Arvell Reese up my board. However, Proctor has picked things back up in recent weeks, and he’ll have the chance to continue his recent momentum if he fares well against a South Carolina defensive line that notably features stud sophomore edge rusher Dylan Stewart.
Proctor is listed at 6’7” and 366 pounds, and he looks every bit that size on tape. He’s a massive tackle with long arms, elite height, and tremendous raw power proportioned well throughout his frame. He packs a powerful punch at the point of attack, and his sturdy anchor allows him to absorb power rushes with ease in pass protection. In addition to being a mammoth of a man, he lands his strikes with encouraging timing and placement, and he brings very good size-adjusted athleticism to the table. Proctor is prone to making highlight plays, as he’s had a couple instances in which he’s been able to block two guys at once, and Alabama has also used him as a runner and receiver on trick plays. He’ll need to lose some weight to improve his conditioning and lateral quickness in the NFL, but the potential is there for him to be a monster in the pros.
Prospect matchup to watch
No. 20 LSU CB Mansoor Delane vs. No. 3 Texas A&M WR KC Concepcion, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, 6:45 p.m. CST
I covered Mansoor Delane in a prospect matchup a few weeks back, and he’s only continued to strengthen his case to being an All-American since then. Through seven games, he’s tallied an interception and six pass deflections, with an allowed completion percentage of 26.1% and an allowed passer rating of just 22.9.
Texas A&M’s offense has been tough for opposing teams to stop; there’s a reason they’re the betting favorites despite playing LSU on the road. KC Concepcion is one of their most explosive weapons, as he’s an athletic receiver with the deep speed needed to take the top off the defense. He’s a bit smaller and doesn’t have the traditional WR1 frame teams historically looked for, but his agility and creative vision after the catch override that. He’s more athlete than polished route-running technician, but he has the raw explosiveness to project well as an NFL separator with good coaching. I’d also keep an eye on the Aggies’ sophomore receiver Mario Craver, who isn’t eligible for this upcoming draft but certainly looks the part of an early-round pick for the 2027 class so far.
Sleeper highlight
No. 11 BYU K Will Ferrin @ Iowa State, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, 2:30 p.m. CST
I usually use my sleeper highlight section to break down a Group of 5 prospect or a player who comes from the FCS, Division II, Division II, or NAIA level. That isn’t going to be the case this week, but I’ll be covering a special teamer in this spot this go around. Will Ferrin from BYU is one of the top kicking prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft. With the inconsistency that Michigan’s Dominic Zvada has shown this year, Ferrin stakes a reasonable claim as the best kicker in this year’s class.
As of this writing, Ferrin is 13-for-16 on field goal attempts with a long from 56 yards out. In 2024, he hit four of his five attempts from beyond 50 yards. He has a strong leg with a reliable, repeatable approach that should see him translate mechanically well to the NFL level. He’s a little inconsistent on kickoffs, but he’s proven hitting accurate kicks from widened collegiate hashmarks and should be a solid starter in the pros.
