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2027 Draft Talk, Top 50 and more with Dane Brugler · Scouting the League

• Rodrik David @RightStepAdv: As we sit here in September, we are still a long way away from the 27 NFL Draft, but just like some construction going on outside here, the draft boards are always under construction. So today, Neil and I sit down with one of the OGs of the draft world, Dane Bruegler. Dane joins us to talk his top 50 that he's got out, some risers, some fallers, what he wants to see. As well as some cleanup questions through the process. So make sure you stick around as we get into the 2027 NFL draft. Before we jump in, make sure you head over, like, subscribe, share this podcast wherever you're listening. And hopefully watching today on YouTube as we get some nice clips of some of these prospects we talk about. So hit those buttons, comment, let us know what you think, where you agree, where you disagree. Get those questions in for next week when we sit down with Jordan Reed, talk more NFL draft. So make sure you get it all in. Share it with a friend. Do All the things. Follow us everywhere where you can follow us. I'm Roderick David at Wrightstep ADV, my website rsafootball.com, is where you can find me. Neil Stratton joins us today. He is at Inside the League. Follow him there. Check out his website at inside the league.com. Of course, Dane Brugler on the athletics website as well as at DP Brugler on Twitter. So make sure you give him a follow. Quick message here from Right Step Scouting, the best spot to get the reports no matter where they're at. So Right Stepscouting.com is that spot for you to get your reports, full reports, video evows, one-liners, whatever it is, from the eye of a scout, somebody that's gonna reach out, get information, talk you through the process, write stepscouting.com. And the scouting community, I talked about it on the soapbox yesterday, sorry, on Monday with development scouts, aspiring scouts. Make sure you check out the scouting community.com. You can find that on my website, rsafootball.com. And Last but not least, blue maca.com. The insoles that will upgrade every pair of shoes you have. Use code Scouting20 at checkout to left demo we sent you and get a little discount on that order. No matter who you are, player, scout, agent, coach, anybody in between, the blue maca.com insoles will upgrade what you have. So let's get in today with Dane Brugler of the Athletic. He is at DP Brugler, the top 50. Check the show notes if you want to follow along with us here. We talk prospects offense. Defense of course, plenty of quarterback talk, so let's get into it with Dane. Well, it's time to get back into our draft talk with one of the experts in the industry. He is friend of Scouting the League, Dane Brugler. At DP Brugler, we've got a couple questions that we've gotten from from fans out there, I guess we'll call them other scouts, other people in the industry. But Dane, welcome back to Scouting the League. Dane Brugler: Well, thanks so much for having me guys. It's always fun when we whether it's early in the season, close to the draft, it's always fun talking with you guys. Rodrik David @RightStepAdv: Yeah, well, your top fifty Neil Stratton @InsidetheLeague: The head of Rodrik David @RightStepAdv: has been out for a little bit now. We're going to talk some of those top fifties, how you get to those top fifties, risers, fallers, as well as again, three, four weeks into the season. Yeah, you're not finishing any reports, but you can start to feel better about where these guys are ultimately trending. And that's kind of where I want to start is recent conversations I've had. It's like, no, I'm not looking at 2025 film anymore. I am done with it. There's other people like, you know, I'm still watching quite a bit of it because again, we're getting a lot of cupcake games. Now we're getting into conference play now, which is good. What's your philosophy if you have an overall one at this point in the year on old 2025 film versus watching new stuff? Dane Brugler: Yeah, I I think the 2025 film is so important because it really sets that foundation for the eval. And I I think so much critical work is done over the summer. And I don't I don't think fans realize how much. because it gives evaluators a sense of the skill set, the talent. that way when you go into 2026, there are expectations. you know, you there's a frame of reference. So if a player struggled in one area in 2025. Is he getting better in 2026? Or maybe that's just who he is? maybe he regresses in in an area that you know you can point to. So the tape doesn't lie, but context is so important. And the best way to contextualize is just watch as much tape as you can as you try to figure that out. So I mean, you know, the I think the the comparison to always make is that prospects are jigsaw puzzles and some are 100-piece puzzles, others are thousand-piece puzzles. some are a little more complex. And so the more tape you watch, the more information you gather, the more puzzle pieces that you collect. And it just helps you give a a more clear picture. So I think when you're trying to balance that that good old tape and the disappointing new tape, it's I what I always come back to is reasons versus excuses and trying to figure that part out. You know, Josh Allen, when he was coming out as a prospect, two year starter at Wyoming He burst onto the scene that first year and looked great. The flashes were impressive. it really set high expectations. And then that second year, he didn't come close to the numbers that he put up the previous year. and it just didn't look the way you expected it to look based off of that first year of exposure. So you know, you go back and you look, okay. Well, he lost his top rusher, his top two receivers, his top offensive linemen, and they weren't able to replace that production at a school like Wyoming. So for For me, when you look at that, okay, those are more reasons than excuses. and I we did the same thing with Jordan Love when he's coming out of Utah State. plenty of other examples at other positions as well, where it's just it's it's not easy to do, but you have to decipher the reasons versus excuses. And the best way to do that is to get as much film as you can. And for me, I there's so much new film to watch in 2026. So I'm usually focused on that. And I've kind of put the 2025 film to bed. But there are times where I find myself going back and say, Okay, wait, this is new. Or or maybe I need to go back to twenty five twenty twenty five and see if or did did he do this or was this something that popped up? And so it's it's always a reference point. But for the most part, I think I've moved on to twenty twenty six. Rodrik David @RightStepAdv: Yeah. Yeah. I think Cam Coleman this year is going to be one of those players where hard to get a great foundation as bad as Auburn football was at quarterback. They struggled. They struggled to get him the ball in good positions. Now, again, it hasn't been necessarily clean so far at Texas, but man, the opportunities have been there. And again, we're going to see him with again another quarterback. We're going to talk about Narch Manning. So again, he's one of those guys where again Foundations can be tougher. And it's like, man, I'm just really excited to see him play in Sark's offense here in Texas. So again, it's it's always a a great conversation point where focused on twenty twenty six now come postseason. Now we're really digging into let's watch third downs, let's watch anything he's running vertical routes, let's watch any press man is again you really start getting into the specifics of what a specific team wants. Hey Again, I don't care about off coverage. I want to see his press man. Now we need to go and it enlarge that sample size. Let's look at it in twenty five and twenty six, which is where again, we're not gonna get into the PFF grade debate, but where services like PFF with just the micro data, I want to see anything where he's lined up in a three tech in press coverage from deep half where you can really get to a lot of film really fast, be efficient, which is ultimately allows you to do what you said, watch more film. So, Your your top fifty's out. We referenced that. You can find that. Again, check the show notes, click on that. It's over on The Athletic. I believe you send that one out for the world to see for free, which is great for you know some of us who are a little bit more penny pinchers. But again, top fifty's out there, go check it out. It it's something we talk about come closer to the draft time where Dane there is a balance of what Dane thinks and what the NFL team think. And sometimes there is a balance like, hey, I'm a little lower. But I know this guy's gonna go higher. We're gonna push him up in our top fifty. At this point, this is a hundred percent Dane's grades, or is there still that balance early in the year? Dane Brugler: I mean, I think first and foremost, there rankings are always my grades. You know, I I put my name on it. I'm if I'm gonna be wrong, it's gonna be because I'm wrong based off of what I think, not because I trusted somebody else's eye. Right. And I so I think first and foremost, it's my grades. Now, subconsciously, there might be some of that because we don't do this in a vacuum, right? And so if a scout recommends a player to me, and you know, I know how he feels, because that's that's a big part of my summer is It's tape and then it's just talking to scouts and bending the near, seeing how they feel about a player, you know, trading information, wherever it may be. but it's it's hard to not know how people that I trust feel how they feel about a player. And so, you know, maybe does that creep into my own rankings at times? Possibly. You know, I think subconsciously that's it, it's just human nature, right? It's it's hard to Rodrik David @RightStepAdv: Yeah, yeah. Dane Brugler: totally just yeah, I I wish in a we could do this in a vacuum where I wouldn't know how anybody else thought about a player until April. That'd be great, but that's just not realistic. So, but I do purposely avoid everyone else's rankings on the internet. That that is something that I can I can do because I I don't I don't care what, you know, Mel Kuiper thinks about a player. I I I I just focus on, especially now. Like I I want to focus on how I see these guys. I want to talk to teams, see how they feel about them. So for the most part, it's my rankings, but I mean, I'd be lying if I said, maybe some of what scouts think don't they don't creep into how maybe I rank a player, at at least especially at this point in the process. Rodrik David @RightStepAdv: Yeah. Yeah. And again, that's that's something that again, scouts have to battle as well. When you get an NFS or Blesto list early in the year, again, and i i it's one of the practices I say all the time, talking myself into a player and out of a player based on kind of that initial judgment. A guy's got his huge grade, I'm like, All right, I'm gonna be I'm gonna go in with kind of a a wet hat, a wet jacket on and try to talk myself. It's like, nope, this guy's really good or again on the other side where it's like, Man, they're low on this and I remember seeing him in person. I'm gonna try to like him a little bit more just to see if you can kind of balance those scales. But again, it's that human element. It's part of scouting. Again, at the end of the day, you've got to be able to go back and stand on what I saw. I remember seeing this against this game against this opponent, which again that top fifty ranking. again, it's it's it's a fantastic way. I'm not gonna do a mock draft on the third week of September when we don't even, you know. You're two and you're 0-2. Everybody's got a chance still, so it doesn't matter. but again, it's a it's a great top 50. But let's let's get into it again as we start thinking about this top 50. Biggest risers and fallers right off the bat. Is there anybody that's man, they've gone from outside this top 50, a guy that maybe just missed it, and all of a sudden, hey, he's sitting here top 20, top 15, or hey, man, this guy was top 10 and he is really struggled. Anybody that comes to mind right off the bat. Dane Brugler: Yeah, I don't I don't think we have enough of a sample size yet to say to go that far where a player has absolutely fallen out of the top twenty or absolutely has risen that high. I mean, I think and that's it's it's right now September I always say is the toughest time to talk about players because it's not a cop out, but it is we're because you're still trying to figure out okay what's real and what's not. based off of okay, of all twenty twenty five film and then September comes and based on maybe some guys have easier competition. Maybe some guys ha just get out to a hot start, but then they fizzle. so I think that September you're battling the what is real. And, you know, the both sides of the coin too. It's some some guys will get off to those hot start and then fizzle. Other guys will start slow, but then finish strong. And so that's why for me, I, you know, if it was up to my editors, we would be doing a mock draft and rank to a new top fifty every week. But I I fight I don't do an updated top fifty until after Halloween. Usually in November is when I do my updated top fifty, because give me at least two months to really get a sense for okay, this guy's really taking a turn where he's he he's playing so much better. He's seeing the field better. you know, whate whatever it may be, he is really vaulted himself up. So honestly, right now, I don't I wouldn't say there's a major riser or faller at this point. Now, there have been some players that maybe not like top fifty worthy, but have come on my radar that I didn't really know about over the summer or I didn't really think high of. the Utah left tackle, you know, it's not easy to replace a guy like Spencer Fano, but they had a guy in the pipeline who is sitting the bench ready to go and he's played outstanding the first three three weeks. Looks like a looks like a an an NFL draft pick in April and a guy that I didn't know anything about until September started. So there's it's more about guy finding guys like that who have burst onto the radar and and we've had quite a few of those guys. Neil Stratton @InsidetheLeague: Dane, let's you're right, that's a fair disclaimer, and it is very early, and Roger can I have you on in September and sometimes I feel like that's un unfair. But let's talk about the biggest game of the of this century, which was played this past weekend. I'm and I I'm exaggerating a little bit. I I've I watch one millionth of the of the film that you do, but I can't not be impressed by Trinidad Shamless the more that I watch him. He makes the plays when they need to be made. He made a throw where he the safety was coming over. He had to fit it in there at the, I think it was the end of the first first half that really impressed me. He can make plays with his feet. I thought that was, I thought he he was a special player. Whereas I watched the Ohio State, Texas game. I keep waiting for Arch Manning to take the team on his shoulders. Even though that they he brought them back in the second half, it looked more like a running back-engineered kind of half to me. Maybe I'm wrong. Am I wrong? Are are those guys I guess give me your rel you've got you've got Chandless at thirty five, you've got I think Arch at four. Again, this was published the last week of August and I'm not trying to hold you too well through those things. But where do you see those guys moving right now relative to each other? Dane Brugler: Yeah, no, and I think, okay, with Arch, I I was so impressed with Arch Manning over the final seven games of last season. I wrote a story on the athletic and I used clips from last year from the tape to just illustrate what was so impressive. It was the pocket movement, it was the athleticism, it was his anticipation as a passer. I just clear reasons to be excited about a guy that's, you know, his size, you know, he's six four, two hundred and twenty five, two hundred and thirty pounds. To have that type of athleticism, that type of arm, that type of pedigree, and then to also be doing these things that show an ascending player. so you come into the year with expectations. And I would say through three games, I'm in a holding pattern with Arch because I don't think he's taken a giant step in his development. But at the same time, I'm not, I don't think he's hurt himself either. I mean, he he's done enough where I'm just I'm still highly intrigued. it was interesting to hear all the different interpretations after the Texas Ohio State game because I think a large percentage of my mentions on social media, they just they don't see it with him. And you know, I get it. With the last name Manning, and when you are kind of pegged to be that number one type of quarterback from an early part of the process, you want to see it in blinking lights. You wanna make you wanna you want it to be obvious to you. And with Arch against Ohio State, he didn't even hit a hundred yards passing until the fourth quarter. But when you watch it, you say, okay, there's the Ryan Wingo touchdown drop that changes the box score. Cam Coleman, that drop that turned in an interception, that changes the box score. and Neil Stratton @InsidetheLeague: No. You're right. Dane Brugler: it changes how the course of that game goes. I mean, there are five total drops in that game. And so I think that plays a part into how we are thinking about that performance. But I came away from that game with more positives than negatives because of how the fourth quarter went. the fourth down completions, they gotta have it. throws that that he had. There the with two minutes left in the third quarter was the fourth and eight from their own 42. And if he doesn't get it, the gate the game's over. I it's still 23 to three at that point. He gets flushed immediately, somehow finds the tight end while he's getting pulled down. I it it was those type of plays that are just okay, you've got my attention and you're keeping my attention when you can do stuff like this. Now, this past weekend he goes out he doesn't look as impressive against UTSA. So it's like okay, he looked unsure of what he's reading And it's I I'm back to I'm just I'm not completely bought in, but I'm not giving up my stock. Right. And so you focus on the traits and the tape. And I don't know how you can't be intrigued, but still you're waiting for him to maybe really wow you in terms of I wanna be totally I don't I don't have any question marks about you being the top quarterback this year. So I'm not drastically changing my eval based off of what we've seen so far. But the in and this goes back to what I was saying about September. You look at that Texas schedule, they've got Tennessee this weekend, at Nealan, so not an easy place to play. They still have Oklahoma, which bad offense, good defense. They have Florida, they have Ole Miss. They go to Baton Rouge to face LSU. So like I said, September is the hardest time to talk about quarterbacks because we're still figuring out what's real and what's not. By the end of the year, I think we'll have a much better idea of of Arch. But I think and To your original question with Chambliss, I don't know how you can't be impressed with what he's done. He's been lights out. And we and we could talk the rest of the podcast about just him alone. I mean, there just there isn't much conventional about Chambliss, but history, I I think and Neil Stratton @InsidetheLeague: Yeah. Dane Brugler: people get so hung up on drafting on precedent and you know what they think the cookie cutter quarterback should look like. But history tells us that drafting conventional, that shouldn't be the goal either. I mean, drafting a Texas tech quarterback. Wasn't conventional until Pat Mahomes. They took him in the top 10. So you look at Chambliss, he's 5'11 and 7'8s. he's gonna turn 25 years old as an NFL rookie. and he's coming from an offense that traditionally makes things easier for the quarterback. So okay, the the there's things working against him, but then you watch him play, you watch the tape. Explosive arm. I love the release. So compact, so twitchy. The ball just shoots out of his hands. He's so decisive in the way that he plays so he can rip it between coverages. the mental toughness, the confidence, their clear qualities and things that you want to bring in to your quarterback room. So it's gonna be a fascinating U val the rest of the year. And I I bet I will bet at this time next year, he's starting NFL games. I I I think that he has that ability. I think he has that to him. It's but the question will remain what is his draft value? Where do you to draft a player like this? Is he going to be a top fifteen pick? Is he someone that you can get early day two as a second rounder? I I think the rest of how the season plays out will give us that answer. But I don't know how you can't be impressed by what Chambles has done so Rodrik David @RightStepAdv: Yeah. Again, with with all these quarterbacks, and again it's it's a piece that, you know, we we've talked about before is that character piece, the person of the quarterback matters so much. Again, it's why I know a lot of scouts have given the nod to Archman and kept him up there because again, talk about a a high bar to clear and doing it with maturity and poise and all those things. Like it's not an easy thing to do what he has done. Again, there was a little bit of it with With the you know, draw a blank on his name name here that was pri Quinn Ewers. Quinn was kind of anointed before he ever took a snap because of what he did going to Ohio State. So you do that. Chambliss a little bit different path. Again, hey, lobbying for the extra year, coming back, taking all miss through it. But again, that that person of the quarterback matters so much. and again, that's a big piece of what teams are trying to do. Can we put him in our market? Can we send him to Cleveland? Can we draft him in Cleveland? based on what he needs, or again, any of these other spots. It's it's hard to win anywhere. It's hard to be a quarterback anywhere in the league. So that that person matters so much, which is why again, Arch, Trinidad, it makes a lot of sense that hey, these guys they've been calloused a little bit because of again the situation they've been been in, which is good. another guy that's in this category is your six overall quarterback, Dante Moore. Again, a rough start to the year for this Oregon team. Now Oregon's put up some points. They put up some numbers. Dante Moore again has been a part of it, but they lost to Oklahoma State, who all of a sudden they've got a big time quarterback. What about Dante Moore in this group? Is he again one of those guys where I know people are wanting to, you know, slide him down the slide? Is he still a guy like man, still number two quarterback for you? Dane Brugler: Yeah, I'm not gonna drastically change things yet, but I I think that I don't think he's helped himself. I think it's been a slow start for him. I going back to the reasons versus excuses, I do think his supporting cast has been more of a reason than ex an excuse why it's been a slow start. The offensive line has not played great. he was missing his top target, tight end Jamari Johnson, in that Oklahoma State loss. And you have a first year offensive coordinator who is still finding his footing calling plays. So I I think there's a lot new about that Oregon offense that you're just still trying to piece things together. So the Oregon that we see at the end of the year, I think will look a lot different, and that will give us a better sense of how we really view more as a prospect. but I I don't I and I say that not to completely absolve more from the some of the early season struggles. the I think the read timing has been inconsistent, which for a player that is a Going into a second year as a starter, you would expect it to be better. you know, you watch that Oklahoma State game. There were some throws that he turned down that he needs to make. or maybe he doesn't get to the backside read in time where he needs to needs to be there. I think he's added weight. I I know he's added weight, which is which is good. He's up twelve pounds from last year, but he's not a twitchy mover. And that shows when he's trying to elude the pass rush, and something that, you know, you you you can feel him start to f to to feel the rush. pretty quickly and it's maybe a lost in trust with the offensive line, but it's something we saw last year when he was going up against Texas Tech and you know Bailey in that group. something we saw against Indiana last year. So keeping him comfortable and being able to read and navigate the pass rush, that is something we want to see get better at as we get going. And it'll be interesting this weekend. they they go to USC. so we'll see how that plays out. Later in the schedule, they've got Ohio State, they've got Michigan. So I I'm not giving up on my Dante Moore stock yet, but I think there are s you know a few reasons to be concerned based off of how the first three games have played out. Rodrik David @RightStepAdv: Yeah, so again hitting on quarterbacks. You've got seven in your top fifty. Again, obviously Dante and Arch. You've got CJ Carr, Notre Dame at twenty-seven, Drew Mestmaker from Oklahoma State at 30, Chambliss at 35, Lenora Sellers, South Carolina at 37, Darien Mensa, who maybe he's leading the Heisman, but I mean he's he's looked incredible. and then no Julian Saiyan. Again, a guy that that quarterback matchup in that game was touted. Is that a I wasn't ready to put Julian in this class or he just missed my top fifty. So hit on Julian, hit on the rest of these quarterbacks real quick before we move on and talk about other positions than quarterbacks. Dane Brugler: Yeah, and and real quick quick on Mesti Maker. I that was one of the best wins of the year so far with what they did against Oregon. he had so many awesome throws on that tape. just such a rare I mean Trinidad Chambliss is a rare story and and background with coming from D two and transferring the SEC but as a backup. Almost, almost. Rodrik David @RightStepAdv: Almost Mount Union, right? Almost a Mount Union guy. Dane Brugler: Yeah. I mean, because he was he was more of a basketball kid in high school. he was a Big time point guard, big time shortstop, which not surprising when you watch him play quarterback. But yeah, he didn't have many offers. Some some FCS schools reached out, then pulled back. It was during COVID. Mount Union did offer him. And then like a week before signing day is when Ferris State, D2 football powerhouse, brought him in. So yeah, it's just weird how things play out. And and Mestimaker not starting in high school at quarterback and to come in and look As impressive as he has last year at North Texas, and then you watch his Oregon tape. It's just I'm blown away by his ability. And it's not just the physical traits, but the confidence that he plays with. I I'm I'm really impressed. And he still feels like more of a 2028 guy just because of lack of football experience. But we'll see how he finishes the year. with Saiyan, I you know, I I think that he is a I I like Saiyan. And this is I did a lot of Columbus Radio after I did that top my top fifty came out and They wanted to know why Saiyan wasn't on there. I like Julian Saiyan as a quarterback. but I think there are a few things about his skill set that that do concern me in terms first and foremost is the ability to move his feet and still be successful. you know, that's we know in the NFL, things rarely go according to plan. You have to be able to move your feet, whether it's climbing, whether it's buying time out of structure and going and making plays. And that's something he just wasn't able to do. You watch you you you hold Indiana to 13 points in the Big Ten championship game, you have to win that game, but they scored 10 points. Go up against a Miami team where you know that defense is going to get after you, you have to be able to find those second chance plays. And Julian Sane wasn't able to do that. So I you know, and there are times this year where he's looked a little bit better using his feet, but I need to see him work on the move, buy time, make plays. I need to see him do it more. before I'd be comfortable putting him in my top fifty. But like I said, I there's so much to like about his processing, his accuracy. he has a not an amazing arm, but a good enough arm. We saw that on the the skinny post touchdown that he had against Texas. So I there's a lot to like about Saiyan. but yeah, he did just miss my top fifty. Rodrik David @RightStepAdv: Yeah. With saying again, it's it's I I I go back, I think about th they went from Kyle McCord who looked uncomfortable, never looked like the guy in that offense, they choose to go to Will Howard. And, you know, Kyle McCord obviously develops at Syracuse, has you know had a cup of coffee in the NFL. Will Howard comfortable in control. Again, that's one of the things I was really looking for for Julian from last year to this year, is like, hey, this guy is in control. He's Got it. You bring in Arthur Smith to run that offense. And again, probably gonna still take a little bit more time. Again, really one throw in that Texas game on that RPO. Again, changes the game. Now you're up, I think 30 to 3 at that point. Again, kind of the comeback. And again, a lot of it goes into a big end. Like you said, with some of these quarterbacks, and again, the day and age we are where you know NIL money is there. Again, we're gonna get more of these guys coming back, which is good for them in a lot of ways. It's good for College football. again, CJ Carr in that group as well, Darien Mensa. were were there major concerns with both those guys? Athletic. again, obviously Mensa changes schools, heads down to Miami. The again, he's got he doesn't have Jeremiah Smith, number one player, best player in the country. Like, let's let's not forget about that. But he does have a really good player in Malachi Tony. Is there something that you're seeing on Julian? Darien, CJ, where it's like, man, they they rely a little bit too much on a specific target. Dane Brugler: Well, so real quick, I I I think that I'm glad you brought up Jeremiah Smith because I think that is one of the difficult parts of the Saiyan evaluation is how do you divorce the quarterback from the receiver here? I mean, Julian Saiyan is playing with a a true superstar at receiver, the best player in college football. I will be shocked if he's not the first non quarterback drafted this year and someone that was should come in and be a true difference maker earlier in his career. He has that type of ability. So how do you grade Saiyan and evaluate him independent of having that type of weapon? It's it's this is nothing new. This is something that we, you know, we did this with Alabama quarterbacks when they had, you know, the long list receivers there, other Ohio State quarterbacks with, you know, it it's not the first time a really talented quarterback has had awesome receivers to throw to. But this is the problem I think some will have with Julian Saiyan is okay, if we remove Jeremiah Smith from this offense, are we still seeing an efficient quarterback? Are we still going to see a someone that's moving the the team, the offense up and down the field? And and that is that it that is a hard thing to do. I think you could talk to, you know, five very smart evaluators and get it in five different answers about how you handle that with a with a superstar like Jeremiah Smith. but yeah, I think with You know, CJ Carr, Darry Mensa. I mean, Carr, he's been solid this year. I I think that they're still trying to figure out what that passing offense is gonna look like. They don't really have a a dynamic passing threat as part of that offense Neil Stratton @InsidetheLeague: Yeah. Dane Brugler: just yet. They're trying to figure it out. And so luckily for Notre Dame, the the schedule really i it it's gonna be friendly for the next month at least. and then really until they face Miami, and I can't wait for that game. I think November seventh, I think when it is. I mean, it's a shame that we have to wait so long before we really feel like these teams are going to be tested. But that's how it feels like with Miami, especially when you have this offense that feels like they can score at will. Darien Mensa, the the ball doesn't explode off his hand like Chambliss or some of these other guys. But he it he just has a really natural feel for where to go with the football. Pre post snap, just understands this is the vulnerable part of the field. This is where I can attack. And he's been accurate so far working within this offense. And so I've been impressed with the Miami offensive line. They had some new starters up there, they've settled in nicely. But like I said, I the you know body of work matters, no question about it. But you think of Darien Mensa and you think of that Miami offense, they're going to be judged largely on Notre Dame, that tape, and then the college football playoffs. It'll be pretty shocking if Miami doesn't make the college football playoffs. How do they react when they have to face an upgrade in it in defense and what they've seen all season, that's something that will matter a ton when it comes to Ments' evaluation. Rodrik David @RightStepAdv: We were talking ninety percent completion rate, ninety-three percent completion rate, eighty-eight percent completion three rate, your first three games, which again goes back to like, okay, yeah, you haven't played anybody, you better look like you haven't played it. Again, weight came back and played him tough, and yet I was almost looking at the numbers, like feeling like, okay, yeah, like it must not have been near as good in the second half. his numbers were still really good in the second half when that game got a little bit closer. So again. Almost impossible to maintain those numbers. But again, he's doing what you say he's expected to do. Beat up on the teams you should beat up on. Be accurate. Get the b again, get the ball to your best player, whoever it is, Malachi Tony for Miami, Jeremiah Smith, Cam Coleman. Get the ball to your best players. That's a big part of your quarterback's job is let your playmakers make plays. Again, same thing for it's gonna be for Notre Dame. You lose the running game. Now the O line is in pretty good shape. Again. Just need to make sure you're doing and eliminating some of those head scratching plays that it seemed like he had in 2025. Just play good, efficient offense, you know, from here on out and allow Notre Dame not to have any hiccups before they get to that Miami game, which is which is gonna be good. Dane, not gonna hold you to it, but again, historic quarterback class at this point. We're gonna have 10 guys in the first round. Again, reality number's probably five or six. If we were if we were gonna put the number at five, are you over or under five quarterbacks in the first round come twenty twenty seven NFL draft? Dane Brugler: I'll say under. and that's that's me being Neil Stratton @InsidetheLeague: Really? Dane Brugler: cynical, but you know, I think that there's a good chance that we see several of these guys go back to school, whether it's Mesti Maker, CJ Carr, you know, Saiyan, I and who knows with Arch. You know, I I I I think that there's there's just no guarantee that a lot of these guys come out, especially with NIL dollars and you know, just these guys having more options. and I j I I hope we have more than five quarterbacks in the first round. That's just it makes it a lot more fun to talk about. And NFL teams are crossing their fingers that some of these guys really show that hey, we I belong in the first round. And you know, because there's several NFL teams that are banking on this being that type of historic quarterback class. You know, like we i in hindsight, the twenty twenty four class when we had six in the top twelve, in hindsight, that's not working out great for several of those teams. But at the same time, it if you have the optimism on draft night, gives you a little bit of faith about moving forward. So yeah, I I I will take the under, but I hope I'm wrong. Neil Stratton @InsidetheLeague: Dane, obviously Jim Jeremiah Smith's a special player. But I look at some of the Ohio State receivers that have gone on the draft pretty high in the last few years. And it's kind of a mixed bag. You I think Chris Olave stepped up. I think he's on the way to being a a a wide receiver one. But I look at Marvin Harrison, I don't think he had a catch last week. Now, given I I I I acknowledge that the Cardinals have had inconsistent quarterback play, but Do you think Smith steps in and is the player that we expect him to be next year in the pros? Dane Brugler: I do. I mean, I I just he's he's for a guy that's six three, two twenty-five to have that size but still run, he's gonna run the four threes. he has that type of speed and acceleration to him, and that's just the physical traits. Then you focus on the the skill that you need at receiver in terms of running routes, in terms of at the catch point. he is outstanding in those areas. And then you talk about the character. This guy works harder. than just about anybody in that Ohio State program. He it is unbelievable how much how hard he works. and the just the the competitive fire that he plays with. I'm just I I I'm completely sold on him being a true number one when he gets to the NFL. 100%. Now I I I can hear people listening to this and saying, well, I'm sure people said that about Marvin Harrison Jr. and this. And and look, I them I I think of all the Ohio State receivers, really it's just Marvin Harrison Jr. I mean, obviously Smith and Jigba's been awesome. Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave have been awesome. Abuka has been good. So I think it's really just Marvin Harrison Jr. And when you watch, if you watch Marvin Harrison Jr. this year and then you watch his last year at Ohio State, they're two different players. Completely two different players. One, you are seeing effort, you're seeing urgency, you're seeing somebody that's playing with peak confidence. The guy you're watching in the NFL, you're not seeing any of that. And I don't know if it's just he's facing adversity and he's not responding in the way you need him to. you know, a young player that's trying to work himself out of this hole that he's in. I I I don't have an answer in terms of why, but nothing about Marvin Harrison Jr. is having me worried about what Jeremiah Smith is gonna look like as a Rodrik David @RightStepAdv: Yeah. Jeremia Smith, Julio Jones. I mean, Julio was a rare human. I gotta see it live up close. Again, he did things that again when you see a six foot, two hundred and five pound wide receiver do it, it's like, that's good. And then you see Julio do it, it's like, okay, yeah, that's like that's another thing. Is this the closest guy over all the years that you've done this? Like, all right, Julio was special. Jeremiah Smith is on that same level as as Julio was. Dane Brugler: Yeah, I that I it's it's almost hard to talk about Jeremiah because you just you sound hyperbolic, right, when you talk about him. Cause the names we're talking about are Andre Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald and Julio Jones. And I I remember Julio Jones being I was, you know, I was a young scout, still trying to figure out how to balance tape with testing numbers. And I remember Julio Jones being one of those first, like, okay, tape's good. You know, I really like the tape. but Holy crap. The testing numbers. This guy was 6'3, 220 pounds. He ripped off a 4'4 in the 40, 11, 3 broad, 666, 3 cone. Like just unbelievable numbers for a guy that size and that ability. And I remember like, I don't I I I I struggled with okay, how do I do I boost him up that much more because of these testing numbers? Or is the tape already good enough? So this confirms that. I remember that being one of the first, like, conundrums that I had as a young scout trying to how do we balance this because Julio Jones was such a freak. but yeah I mean that that's these are the names that we're talking about with Jeremiah and I don't want to put you hate to put like those Hall of Fame expect expectations on a young player like this, but yeah he he looks every bit the yeah you know one of the highest grades that I've ever given to a receiver. It's not a perfect prospect. I wish there was more yak. to his to his game, the ability Rodrik David @RightStepAdv: Yep. yeah. Dane Brugler: to make guys miss and turn some of those five yard plays into 25 yard plays. And so I mean there there's things about his profile that I wish were a little bit better. And I'm sure we'll nitpick him the, you know, as we go through the process. That's just how this Rodrik David @RightStepAdv: a hundred percent. Dane Brugler: works, right? But yeah, he he's he's awesome. And it's just he he makes Ohio State a reason. I don't care if they're playing Kent State or Texas. They're a reason to watch every week just to watch number four. Rodrik David @RightStepAdv: Yeah. Neil Stratton @InsidetheLeague: If we can take a break from quarterbacks, we we we're almost running out of time. We haven't moved off on position. but we love to talk about tackles on this podcast. It's been a pretty good tackle draft last couple of years. Is it trending to be another good one this year? I again in the early going day. Dane Brugler: I think it it it certainly can be. It's got the potential to be. you know, Trevor Goosby from Texas, had the early season injuries, but he settled in fine. the right tackle, Melvin Ciani, who was transferred from Wake Forest, he's playing himself into a guy that looks like a first round pick with had to be that size and have those movements. Really, really impressed. The Longhorns have easily I think the best tackle tandem in i in in college football. I think Yeah, a Seton at LSU, you can see the talent. Consistency is not there, but you see the talent. I I think that he'll it it we know in the in the draft, if you're a talented tackle and you just pass a certain bar in terms of what's expected out of you, you're gonna go because we'll coach you up when you get here. But if you just have to be a certain hitting certain marks in terms of ability and skill level, and I think Seaton, you know, passes that. Lauk at Iowa, I'm a big fan of him. Jacarius Peak, this probably the top senior tackle. He got back on the field this past weekend again for South Carolina. He was banged up over the offseason. So we'll see if how he progresses this year. He has the athletic tools and the length to be a a first round tackle. We'll see if the play strength can catch up and just the overall consistency. So this tackle class, I think, has a chance to be a good group, but I'm not completely sold on it just yet. Rodrik David @RightStepAdv: Dane, as your evaluation of tackles has evolved over the year, and I think this is a pretty good group. And again, you mentioned it a couple of them in Lauk and Seaton, where I would argue the traits are different, but the polish is different. Again, the polish, the technical side, again, that's what's going to push Trevor Luck up to where he's going to get drafted. Jordan Seaton has traits for days, but man, it's just like hey, if you could use your hands, if the hips looked better, if if it was all more consequences, again. it just becomes one or the other, like all right, which is it gonna be the polish or the traits? What's gonna push a guy up for you, you know, a a as you've gotten, you know, gone over the years with these tackles? Dane Brugler: Yeah, and you know, we s we talked a lot about this last year with a guy like Keaden Proctor coming out of Alabama, who, you know, size, traits. I I've just never seen such an explosive player at that size. okay, that's great, but why wasn't the film more consistent? but yet, you know, Proctor still went twelfth overall. so you know, if you again you have that ability, you're you're gonna go. I Ameris Mims loved him coming out of Georgia because of how uniquely gifted he was. but you know, you knew he's still raw in areas. He was going to take time and fast forward to what is this, his third year in the NFL? He he looks like he's about to emerge as, you know, maybe a guy that's going to push for Pro Bowls. and so with with with with tackles, Iden identifying those traits and the requisite ability. And then okay, is he coachable? Is he going to put in the time? And do we have the infrastructure within our offensive line room? to get him to the finish line. You know, these are all the important questions you have to ask with tackles, but we know that 32 teams are looking for tackle help, right? And so if you have just a whiff of starting ability, you're gonna go on draft day. Neil Stratton @InsidetheLeague: Do you you know, I think it w I guess last year, Campbell Will Campbell is a clear number one, but there was discussion that maybe he's a guard. Are all the tackles that we're talking about today, are they all outside guys or are they or do some of them project more inside? Dane Brugler: I think that we'll probably have that conversation with with Laucat Iowa, who I I don't have verified length on him, but he looks like a guy that might be you know, 32 and a half at the combine, then 33 and an eighth at the pro day, that kind of thing, right? where it it's just we're not quite sure exactly, but I I I the way I come away with it is I'm gonna trust the tape. Will Campbell, he he played like a left tackle. when you watch at LSU tape and you know then you watch him this year and when he's healthy, okay, he looks more like a left tackle this year as opposed to what we saw down the stretch last year where he was rushed back from an injury, banged up and you know, just had a tough time. I don't think it was an indictment of his ability to play tackle. It was more just a rookie trying to fight through some things that it's just it's not easy to do. So I I I do think that with Lauk we'll have that conversation. I based off of what we've seen so far Certainly looks like a left tackle to me, but as we get into the meat of the schedule, I will, you know, they they play Ohio State, they play some other tough opponents. We'll get a better idea of him and and Kate Piper, who's arguably one of the top interior offensive linemen that we have in this class. Rodrik David @RightStepAdv: Yeah, certainly. So we spent a lot of time on the offensive side of the ball, but defense wins championships. There's some really good defensive players in this class. Again, Leonard Moore, clear-cut cornerback one. We're going to come back to him because I want to get your thoughts on the corners. But the other spot, edges. We know edges are going to go high. And it's Dylan Stewart, who, again, they're kind of easing him into the year, I guess you could say. Colin Simmons at Texas. You've got Dylan at four. Colin, I believe is it seven. talk about this edge group, talk about these two guys in particular and again what what kind of your your think your thoughts are. Dane Brugler: Yeah, I I think that like tackle, if you're a good edge rusher, yeah, you're gonna go, right. and so with w with Dylan Stewart, I'm interested just he's working his way back from that back injury. That you never wanna hear back injury when it comes to anybody, but especially a pass rusher that you're considering taking as a top five player in the draft. this past weekend was his first time. back on the field and they had a pitch count on him. I think he only had 14 snaps, but he made an impact on those fourteen snaps. He plays a lot tougher and stronger than a guy that's two hundred and forty five pounds. So I hopefully the as they ease him in, and South Carolina needs him bad. just for you know, Beamer to keep his job and for South Carolina to be a factor in the SEC this year. They need him. They need his presence on the defensive side. And so we'll be, we'll be seeing more of Dylan Stewart as we go. But talent-wise, absolutely Slam Donk is a top 10 pick. Colin Simmons from Texas is a better player, I would argue, than Dylan Stewart right now. Just doesn't have maybe the same type of ceiling, but he's a really good player. I think he's He's someone that you can you would draft in the top ten, not think twice about it, and then plug him into your your your your front seven and and feel good about what he's gonna give you for the next ten years. Rodrik David @RightStepAdv: Yeah, it's a fun edge roopie. And Dylan Stewart, I mean, the the traits just jump off the film on him. Like he is, again, he he he plays a little bit bigger. You see that you see the frame again. You look at that frame art. How much could we put on it again becomes a question? It it was tough as a scout because it's like, man, let's put 15 pounds on him, and then you talk to people that actually know what a body type is like. Yeah, I don't know if that's gonna happen. And again, scouts across the country say, yeah, we're gonna add ten pounds, don't mean he's gonna be able to play three, four outside. again, you gotta take the player. You need people a lot smarter than some of the scouts from a body composition standpoint to tell you exactly where he should be. Dane Brugler: I will I will say with this with this edge group, I am a little bit worried about the depth. like there are a lot of names, but I d I haven't been blown away. Like if if we're gonna say Stewart and Simmons are that top tier, that next tier, I haven't been blown away by that group yet. Now maybe that'll change as we get going. you know, Jan Z Pierre at Alabama, I think is as violent as a pass rusher as you could have, and he's somebody that I think is in that group. Will Helt from Clemson has been okay. but he's a certain type of pass rusher. He's gonna win with power. He's not someone that's gonna bend the edge. Treori at Notre Dame, I think is he's got some juice to him. So I'm I'm looking at that second tier and say, okay, I wanna see who really separates himself. Can we can this be a strong if this is gonna be a strong edge group, I think it's gonna depend on that second tier and how many guys that we can get into that first round conversation. And I'm I'm a little bit skeptical at this point in the process that we're gonna get there. Neil Stratton @InsidetheLeague: What about if we move inside and look at three techs and and and D tackles in general? How's this class looking there, Dane? Dane Brugler: I I think it's a so far so good type of group. I I love Will Eccles at Ole Miss and he just demolished that LSU offensive line over the weekend. He was dominant, unstoppable. he beat up on that left guard who and that's you know, f competition matters when we talk about prospects, obviously. And I Neil Stratton @InsidetheLeague: Fourth. Dane Brugler: don't I don't think that left guard is necessarily an NFL guy, but he still when he went up against Jordan Seaton, he ha found success. And so The thing I love about Eccles is I mean, his hands are like sticks of dynamite. it my i i how it and it doesn't doesn't matter if it's a run play, pass play, he's equally impactful. he just has a really good feel for the blocking scheme, what they're trying to do to him, and then his responsibility within that scheme to make an impact. So Eccles started the year as my my DT one, and I don't think he's disappointed. I I think he's lived up to that. and then behind him, I I think there's plenty of names. But it's a matter of, okay, who's gonna fight to be the next guy. Is it you know, David Stone from Oklahoma? If you grade to the flashes, you love David Stone. But then you watch the body of work and you're not as impressed. And he just was injured this week. So we'll have to see what that means for him. I I I think Amari Washington's been a guy for Oregon that's been banged up. But and the ability's awesome. He's been a Bruce Feldman freaks list guy for three years now. The ability's great, but Why isn't showing up more in the box score? Why isn't showing up more in terms of football production on tape? I I know he's been banged up a little bit, but we want to see more from Amari Washington. Justin Scott at Miami has been had a good year. But it again, I I I see you're explosive. I see you have ability. I just I want to see you impact the game a little bit more than you have been. So for me, it's been Will Eccles and then a group of talented defensive tackles that I just I want to see more from them. I want to see you take that next step, something that I'll be watching for the rest of the year. Rodrik David @RightStepAdv: Yeah. Again with these Oregon DTs, again, Barry Alexander Amari Washington, like again, is one of these guys gonna all of a sudden get hot, maybe at the expense of the other one, again, which may mean that guy's getting a lot of attention. Ahmad Molten Senior down at Miami, again, getting a little more attention inside. Does that translate all of a sudden you lose some of those edge guys? You can focus a little bit tighter. So it it's a good D line group. Again, it's gonna be as as we're sitting here in September. A lot still to tell us about all these guys. Again, conference play, better competition, true game planning every week. As again, we know again, Texas isn't necessarily doing a lot of game planning for UTSA. Let's go do what we need to and let's think about future opponent. It's the same for all these. Hey, let's just go and put put traits on film. one guy that you can just stick out there, line up, go cover that guy. Again, I think the numbers dictate it. He's again, I I really like Gyllen Stewart. Most people will tell you Leonard Moore is defensive player one on this board. A lot to like. Again, you start getting into some of the hyperbole of Jeremiah Smith with Leonard Moore. What are your thoughts on this corner at Notre Dame? Dane Brugler: If it wasn't for Jeremiah Smith, we'd be talking about Leonard Moore as kind of that top guy. As all right, this is the top, should be the first non quarterback drafted. and I it it's a lot of the same things we talked about with Jeremiah Smith, where you like, I mean, you really like the physical traits. It that that's great in terms of his length, his speed, but it's the position specific skill that I think gets you the most excited. His ability to run routes better than the receiver because he understands. what the offense is trying to do. He understands tells. He understands the the leverage that he needs to gain. It's high level stuff. I I feel like I'm watching a graduate level course of how to play the position when I'm watching Leonard Moore. and it's something that gets you really excited. That's something that, okay, this is gonna translate to the next level. So I you know, we don't see corners go top three very often, but he's the type of talent where I don't think anybody would flinch to to to make him that high of a draft pick. He's he he belongs it for me it was pretty clear when I did my top fifty. It was Jeremiah Smith at one, Leonard Moore at two, and then okay, let's figure out the rest. it's just it's a good year to be picking at the top of the draft. Rodrik David @RightStepAdv: Leonard Moore Neil Stratton @InsidetheLeague: What about safety? Go ahead, go ahead, Rodney. Rodrik David @RightStepAdv: I want to talk real quick before Leonard Moore, Jeff Okuda went really high. Pedigree, that was when Ohio State was rolling him through. He hit all the ideas, long lanky, press corner. Again, there's a fluidity difference between what Leonard Moore, the way he moves, and what Jeff Okuda did. Does that raise the concerns of like, man, this guy went really high and didn't pan out? Do you start thinking about those comps? Or again, as a scout, you always try to separate Leonard Moore, Leonard Moore. Jeff Okuda, Jeff Okuda. Have you had any thoughts, comparisons with those two? Dane Brugler: Yeah, I mean, I think it's always tough because on one hand, you you you can't let past mistakes dictate future decisions. But if you're not learning from the past, then what are we doing? Right. So it's it's a fine line of, you know, you have to balance both. And I I I I I haven't really necessarily thought of Okuda specifically when it comes to more. I I think there's you know, you because I could just as easily say, well, you know, Patrick Sertan, you know, he was that type of guy. Where there's some similarities to Moore and look how that's played out. I so I think there's there no no player is bust proof, right? It no matter how much conviction you have in a player, there's always a way it could go wrong based off g we just don't know that transition to the NFL going up against just high caliber players at the NFL level. You just never know. But with a player like Leonard Moore, I think we've seen enough. This is his third year now as an as an impact player for the Irish. He's gone up against some some big time talents, including Jeremiah Smith. So I I think that we've seen enough from him where I feel comfortable putting him on that type of pedestal that high. But I again I say that with the caveat that we just never know for sure. you know, we it it we you can have as much confidence and more as I think you possibly can without always having the back of your mind that, you know, it that there's always a way it could go wrong. Rodrik David @RightStepAdv: Yeah, yeah. And again, that's the the the the Neil Stratton @InsidetheLeague: This time last year. Rodrik David @RightStepAdv: traits, the person, all that kind of stuff with Leonard Moore, man. It's again, it's one of those ones where again, find a reason not to like him, bring it to the table. But man, it you you may be digging for a while to find that. Go ahead, Neil. Neil Stratton @InsidetheLeague: time last year we hadn't ruled out k the idea of Caleb Downs as maybe no number one overall. He was a superior safety prospect and a real impact player. Safe to say there are any safeties in this draft that rival him as far as being a prospect. Dane Brugler: no, not for me personally. Others might feel differently. I just I haven't been wowed enough by one of these safeties to to put him that high. and I think even we knew with Caleb Downs, like he's a safety, and that's gonna matter on draft day, where he might be the third best player in the class, he might be the fourth best whatever, but we know he's probably not gonna go that high just because of the position that he plays and the fact that he was in a draft with edge rushers and tackles that were maybe gonna go higher than him. And with this year's safety class, I'm more impressed with the potential depth than necessarily saying, yeah, there's an absolute stud at the top who, you know, is a defense-changing type of prospect. you know, KJ Bolden at Georgia, one of those guys that stepped in as a freshman and was making plays. you see the closing speed, you see the the natural ability, but I'm more impressed with the read react. the ability to trigger and just the way his mind works and how that's tied to his athleticism. Tay Johnson at Notre Dame, you know, I think he's his ability to hunt the football and be disruptive. That's something that shows up often when you watch him on tape. And I you you think that'll translate to the next level. Luttmer at Iowa is one of those guys. I'm I'm interested with the seniors. I I think Jelani McDonald has been he's taken his game to a little bit of another level this year for Texas with how fast he plays. Ty Benefield from LSU coming over from Boise State, he has a lot of the physical traits that I think are going to help him during the draft process next spring in terms of the size, the length. I think he's gonna test really well. but he needs to cut down on the missed tackles that showed up often on the Boise State tape. Can he do that in the SEC going up against theoretically much better competition? I think so far so good for Ty Benefield. So can he keep that up throughout the year? So this safety class, I don't think has a Caleb Downs necessarily, but I am pretty bullish on the depth or the potential depth of what it could look like this year. Rodrik David @RightStepAdv: Yeah. Well again, it's a it's it's a good group, depth group. Again, we talk about you know big time schools. Again, I it's the way it's going. We don't get to talk about the boisey. Boise by way of LSU now. It seems like that is the case for a lot of these guys, but again, it still makes for really good football. Dane, we didn't get to running back, so you've got three in your top thirty one and Jaden Bach, Juan Lacey, and Matt Hardy. It's a good group. Again, maybe Ba is gonna be a first rounder. Again, we'll see. running back conversation. It's gonna be the same with linebackers, good quality group of linebackers, maybe no sunny styles, maybe no special guy that you know moves up the board. We'll see somebody, some freak testers, somebody and we there's always there's always the highlight guys, the guys that impress at the combine to get her sneak in there. But as we wrap up, is there somebody, one, two players that we didn't talk about, maybe different position that again, I'm excited about these guys. Maybe the the general consensus, even Dane Bruegler didn't know about them but is really excited about now. Dane Brugler: I I well, I mean, you mentioned Baugh. L let me just hit on him real quick because he's been so good this year for Florida. He's been over a hundred and thirty yards rushing each of the first three games. And he was already kind of a first round pick type of guy coming into the year. But one of the reasons I didn't have him higher, I think he was what, like twenty-five or something in my top fifty. Rodrik David @RightStepAdv: Yeah, twenty six. Dane Brugler: Yeah. So one of the reasons I didn't have him hire was the lack of home run plays. you watch him last year, he didn't have a single game over thirty yards. This year he has one he has at least a carry of over 50 yards in each of the first three games. So, okay, you're gonna add this to your ability as you're gonna tell me you not only you hitting singles and doubles, you're hitting triples and home runs too. Okay, that that is gonna bump you up a little bit. For a guy that's 230 pounds, he has just such an impressive cutting ability. And sometimes he'll make one cut too many, or he's a little too urgent when he needs to be patient, or he's running too high. And there there's things about him you can nitpick, but then you you take a little bit of the bad for a whole lot of good with his ability to make guys miss, and just his natural feel for running with the football. ball is it he's just a lot of fun to watch. And it's a it's a bummer that sounds like Kawan Lacey's gonna miss this upcoming game with Florida Ole Miss. could have been a nice kind of running back matchup with Baugh and and Lacey, but banged up his shoulder against LSU. Sounds he'll miss a few weeks. We'll see. But Yeah, this this running back class doesn't have a Jeremiah Love, but it looks like it's gonna be a much deeper group in the, you know, first round, second round, third round than what we had last year with Baugh and Lacey and Ahmad Hardy we haven't seen on the field yet for Missouri, so working his way back from the offseason incident. but LJ Martin at BYU, I think is a really good player. I mean, the the the two kids at at Texas, Relique Brown and Hollywood Smothers are both draft picks. So there's A lot of running backs in this group that I think are gonna make it a much deeper, stronger group in the top four rounds than we saw last year. Rodrik David @RightStepAdv: Yeah, well that explosive ability, run, pass, again, all this stuff matters for these running backs. And it's gonna be a good group. And again, we didn't even hit on, you know, we didn't have any Heisman talking. A Malachi Tony, special, special player. Again, no matter how you use him, he's just making plays. again, it's we could we could keep going, but we can't keep you forever. For all of Dane's stuff, again, make sure you're following him at DP Brugler over on Twitter. If you're listening to this podcast, watching You probably already are. You you you're you know, subscribing to all Dane stuff, which is awesome. Dane, getting out on the road, going to any live games, any in person, or is it, hey, sitting there where you're at and getting stuff done? When can we expect that? You said next top fifty, I believe November. What can we look forward to? Dane Brugler: Yeah, I mean, like I said, I'm gonna wait until get more you know, two months, at least two months before I update the top fifty. But every week doing doing articles, do a f had a film room come out yesterday with just my thoughts from five, six players from the weekend based on and I post the film so you can see exactly what I'm talking about, what I'm trying to illustrate with that player. you know, we got a lot of fun matchups in college football coming up that you know, we'll be talking about, writing about. So you can find it all at the athletic and Yeah, we're we're it's hard to believe. We're waiting for, you know, football to get back and now it's we're s full speed ahead. It feels like it's going fast and it's like, you know, just just hold on and cause it's it's a juggernaut. Rodrik David @RightStepAdv: Yeah, absolutely. Well we always appreciate you being on. We will certainly have you back on whether it's later in this year, into twenty twenty seven as we get closer to the draft, but we'll definitely be following you. We always appreciate you being on with us, Dane. Dane Brugler: No, I can't wait. Thanks, guys.