After a brief teaser last week, the college football season kicks off in earnest this weekend, officially marking the meat of draft season. While this week likely won’t produce much good tape, some matchups will test players who fit the Las Vegas Raiders‘ needs. Here are a few to keep an eye on this weekend.
Ify Obidegwu, CB, Oregon
Obidegwu is a young cornerback I’m personally high on. The redshirt sophomore began to break out last year after beating out veteran Theran Johnson, who has NFL hopes of his own. He’s a prime candidate to be one of those third-year cornerbacks who comes out of nowhere and rises up draft boards this year.
At 6-foot-1 and 203 pounds, Obidegwu has an NFL build to go with NFL-caliber athleticism. He should get plenty of work this week against Boise State, as the Broncos will likely try to avoid Oregon’s other stud corner, Brandon Finney. This will be a great opportunity to see whether Obidegwu looks NFL-ready or whether we should start thinking about him as part of the 2028 class. We’re in an era now where if a guy isn’t a first-rounder, he’s probably coming back to school.
Staying at cornerback for our next guy.
Elijah Green, CB, Tulsa
This is another young corner who may not come out this year, but someone we should take a look at. Green popped off as a sophomore last year, racking up five interceptions. At 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, he has the lankiness teams covet. His coverage skills are impressive as well, and he isn’t afraid to mix it up at the line of scrimmage against the run.
Quality of competition is a concern for Green, which is why this is a big week for him. Oklahoma State is one of just two Power Four teams on Tulsa’s schedule this year, and the Cowboys provide an added test with NFL hopeful Drew Mestemaker at quarterback.
Time to jump to the offensive side of the ball.
TJ Moore, WR, Clemson
At 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, Moore offers the prototypical “X” receiver build that the Raiders currently lack. He began to emerge as Clemson’s No. 1 receiver last year and should be able to build on that this season. Moore is a smart route runner who does a great job creating separation, and he also has solid hands.
One thing to watch for this weekend is whether the junior receiver has bulked up at all in the offseason. His slight frame can sometimes give him trouble against more physical corners, and this matchup with LSU should be a great test. Right now, he’s a potential Day 2 target for Las Vegas.
For our next guy, we’ll jump to the other sideline of this Clemson-LSU matchup.
Princewill Umanmielen, EDGE, LSU
Rather than go to the NFL, Umanmielen decided to follow Lane Kiffin to LSU for one more year, and he’ll be a problem for any college offense this season. At 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, Umanmielen has a deadly combination of length and explosiveness, which culminated in nine sacks in 2025. There’s some versatility to his game as well—once upon a time, Umanmielen was an off-ball linebacker at Nebraska, where he flashed some ability in coverage and in run fits. He could become a great complement to Maxx Crosby at outside linebacker in Rob Leonard’s 3-4 defense.
The one issue to keep an eye on is his run defense. Umanmielen is a bit thin to hold up well when NFL offenses run right at him. However, he has the frame to bulk up, and even if he doesn’t, he could have a long career as a designated pass rusher.
Finally, let’s check out a player in one of those West Coast games that doesn’t start until half the country is in bed.
Related: The narrative surrounding Fernando Mendoza now shifts
Rodrick Pleasant, CB, UCLA
At 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, Pleasant is even smaller than the Raiders’ rookie corner, Hezekiah Masses. The two are also similar in that both are undersized outside corners. However, Pleasant’s skill set is much more likely to translate into a nickel role at the next level. His quick feet and fluid hips allow him to stay with opposing slot receivers very well.
This is another player we hope to see bulk up a bit. If he’s going to play more nickel in the NFL, that means being more active in run support, and it’s hard to do that at 175 pounds. For now, Pleasant is a solid Day 2 prospect to keep an eye on.
Before you go, here are a few more names to watch for this weekend.
Honorable Mention
Jordan Seaton, OT, LSU
Whit Weeks, LB, LSU
Keshaun Singleton, WR, Auburn
Byrum Brown, QB, Auburn
Ahmad Moten, DL, Miami
Justice Haynes, RB, Georgia Tech
DJ Lagway, QB, Baylor
*Top Photo: Getty Images