2026 Draft prospects for the Giants in College football Week 9

SB Nation

Good morning New York Giants fans! Happy Saturday and welcome to Week 9 of the 2025 College Football season.

This is an interesting week in college football, with few “must watch” games. But while we lack

big marquee matchups this week, we several opportunities to see some under-the-radar prospects. The Giants have done a good job in recent years of adding role players on the third day of the draft. Players like Daniel Bellinger, Dane Belton, Micah McFadden, D.J. Davidson, Tyrone Tracy, Theo Johnson, Darius Muasau, Marcus Mbow, and (obviously) Cam Skattebo all emerging from the fourth round — and later — to be contributors.

Keeping an eye on the smaller programs can help us identify players who could emerge as later round steals.

(2) Indiana vs. UCLA

Fox – noon

Raise your hand if you predicted Indiana being the second-ranked team in the country at any point this year?

Okay put your hand down, liar.

But anyway, here we are and the Hoosiers are favored by 25.5 points over the Bruins.

Indiana’s ascension is due in large part to the rise of quarterback Fernando Mendoza. The Giants (probably) aren’t going to be interested in Mendoza, but he’s provided a foundation for Indiana’s other players to blossom. This game probably won’t add to the chaotic pile of upsets we’ve enjoyed this year, but it’s a solid opportunity to get a look at some players we’re going to hear a lot of this year. In particular, the Giants might want to pay attention to WR Elijah Sarratt and OT Carter Smith.

Players to watch

(2) Indiana

Fernando Mendoza (QB – 15)
Carter Smith (OT – 65)
Pat Coogan (OC – 78)
Elijah Sarratt (WR – 13)
Mikail Kamara (EDGE – 6)
D’Angelo Ponds (CB – 5)

UCLA

Nico Imalavea (QB – 9)
Garrett DiGiorgio (OL – 72)
Rico Flores (WR – 1)
Gary Smith III (iDL – 58)
Cole Martin (CB – 21)

Iowa State vs. (11) BYU

Fox – 3:30 p.m.

BYU doesn’t have many prospects who are highly regarded at this point in the process. They have a bunch who are (currently) expected to be later round picks, and yet they’re currently ranked 11th in the country. That suggests a team that’s well-coached and playing at a high level. They could be a very good team to keep an eye on for role players who can contribute from the back end of the draft.

Iowa State has an extensive injury report and unfortunately defensive lineman Dominique Orange is listed as doubtful for the game. He’s a very stout interior lineman at 6-foot-4, 325 pounds and would probably be the best player on either team in the game. He could be of interest to the Giants if they want to add more beef to their defensive interior behind Dexter Lawrence and Darius Alexander.

Players to watch

Iowa State

Rocco Becht (QB – 3)
Benjamin Brahmer (TE – 18)
Gabe Burkle (TE – 84)

(11) BYU

LJ Martin (RB – 4)
Chase Roberts (WR – 2)
Weylin Lapuaho (iOL – 61)
Keanu Tanuvasa (iDL – 57)
Jack Kelly (LB – 17)

(24) Arizona State vs. Houston

I wouldn’t blame anyone for watching the game between (20) LSU and (3) Texas A&M in this slot (ABC, 7:30 p.m.). But we’ve already taken quite a few looks at LSU this year (including just last week against Vanderbilt) and I want to focus a bit on the smaller programs.

Unfortunately, Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson is out of the game with a hamstring injury. He’s in contention to be the first receiver off the board in the 2026 NFL Draft, and should be on the Giants’ radar unless they make a move to trade for a “WR 1b” before the trade deadline.

So with Tyson out, I’d like to highlight Houston TE Tanner Koziol. Koziol is a big, long tight end at 6-foot-7, 250 pounds, but moves more like a wide receiver. He’s able to stretch the field or attack the seam, as well as pick up yards after the catch. He’s also remarkably sure handed, currently leading the nation in contested catches while also not having any drops on the season. The Giants don’t need a tight end right now, but that could change if they let Daniel Bellinger walk in free agency.

The Giants could also be interested in Arizona State cornerback Keith Abney II. He has solid size at 6-foot, 190 pounds, and is allowing a completion percentage of just 47.4 when targeted.