College football Week 11: Draft prospects to watch for the Giants

SB Nation

Good morning New York Giants fans! Happy Saturday and welcome to week 11 of the 2025 college football season.

The 2025 season has slipped away from the Giants as they enter the second half of the season with

a 2-7 record. It’s a familiar place for the Giants, but the good news is that 2025 was always — at least in part — about 2026 and beyond. The play and long-term development of Jaxson Dart was always the most important part of this season. And while Dart is 2-4 as a starter, he looks like he could be the Giants’ next Franchise Quarterback. That means the Giants can turn their attention to building on Dart as the foundation of the team.

So with that in mind, we’re shifting gears slightly to look at college prospects who could fill specific needs. As things stand now, the Giants’ biggest needs going forward are:

Interior offensive line
Wide receiver
Linebacker
Cornerback

Penn State vs. (2) Indiana

We just looked at Indiana a couple weeks ago, and it’s looking increasingly like Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza will be the first quarterback off the board and maybe the first player off the board.

This game, however, I want to highlight the Penn State roster. Guard Olaivavega Ioane could be on the Giants’ radar if he lasts to the top of the second round. He’s a big, powerful, and well-rounded lineman with experience at both left and right guard. Meanwhile, cornerback A.J. Harris and safety Zakee Wheatly could appeal if the Giants need to add another player to their secondary due to losing Cor’Dale Flott or Dane Belton in free agency.

Players to watch

Penn State

Olaivavega Ioane (OG – 71)
Drew Shelton (OT – 66)
Nicholas Singleton (RB – 10)
Dani Dennis-Sutton (EDGE – 33)
A.J. Harris (CB – 4)
Zakee Wheaton (S – 6)

(2) Indiana

Fernando Mendoza (QB – 15)
Carter Smith (OT – 65)
Elijah Surratt (WR – 13) *questionable
Mikail Kamara (EDGE – 6)
D’Angelo Ponds (CB – 5)
Amare Farrell (S – 1)

(22) Missouri vs. (3) Texas A&M

ABC – 3:30 p.m.

Mizzou running back Ahmad Hardy is going to be the main attraction in this game, at least from a pure “football” perspective. But we’re looking at this from a draft perspective, and Hardy is a sophomore. Instead, I want to focus on the two team’s interior offensive lines.

Since folks will already be watching Hardy, we’ll shout out Missouri left tackle Cayden Green. Green has a versatile frame at 6-foot-5, 325 pounds, and experience at left guard as well as left tackle. Green will likely be a mid-round pick, and his versatility could lend itself to a move inside to guard for the Giants.

Texas A&M left guard Chase Bisontis could be on the Giants’ radar as well. He has limited experience on the right side, playing 62 snaps at right guard, and 540 snaps at right tackle, in 2023. That said, he’s a solid run blocker and a reliable pass protector who’s given up 14 hurries, 1 hit, and 1 sack in 18 games (530 pass protection snaps) over the last two seasons. Bisontis could be a good value in the middle rounds if the Giants don’t already have a plan to replace Greg Van Roten.

Players to watch

(22) Missouri

Cayden Green (OT – 70)
Brett Norfleet (TE – 87) *questionable
Zion Young (EDGE – 9)
Damon Wilson Jr. (EDGE – 8)

(3) Texas A&M

Chase Bisontis (OG – 71)
Kevin Concepion (WR – 7)
Cashius Howell (EDGE – 9)
Taurean York (LB – 21)
Will Lee III (CB – 4)

(4) Alabama vs. LSU

This is ordinarily one of the most anticipated games on the calendar. It still should be anticipated from a draft perspective, as both teams are recruiting powerhouses. But this year’s matchup has added drama after LSU fired head coach Brian Kelly at the end of October.

It looked as though Alabama’s early stumbles could have knocked them out of the post season conversation, but they’re once again right back in it. LSU, meanwhile, will be going through another transition as they try to claw their way back into the national conversation.

Even though LSU isn’t ranked, this is still one of those games where I recommend just watching and enjoying the game while taking note of any players that jump out in particular.

Considering the Giants’ specific draft needs, I might recommend trying to watch Alabama linebacker Deontae Lawson wearing “0”. He’s a bit undersized, but an athletic and well-rounded off-ball linebacker who can cover as well as come up to fill gaps in the run game. Safety Bray Hubbard is nearly linebacker sized (6-foot-2, 215 pounds) and is one of the best run defending DBs in the country with 15 run stops to go with his 3 interceptions.