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On3 Impact Rankings: The Top Risers from Week 1

wam1Wl2j_400x400by: Clark Brooks09/03/25ClarkBrooks_On3
Syndication: The Greenville News
Louisiana State University cornerback Mansoor Delane (4) reacts during the third quarter at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C. Saturday, August 30, 2025.

Can you smell that? That’s the distinct aroma of football in the air, my friends. That familiar smell of pageantry, passion, and pride-filled performances that fills our lungs is far more than welcome after suffering through the doldrums of the Talking Season. 

The whole sport is abuzz with new narratives, fresh faces, and bankable brands that demand our attention. But while fans, coaches, and X’s and O’s play their parts, the Jimmies and Joes still are at the center of it all; especially impact players. 

Whether it’s a dynamic quarterback leading a late-minute comeback, a lockdown defender erasing a wideout, or an explosive playmaker scoring a touchdown, these players are often crucial to a team’s success. They can be the difference between a mediocre season and a great one.

And with Week 1 of the 2025 season officially in the books, I wanted to give some love to some of the top risers within our On3 Impact Rankings, which aim to laud college football’s best performers. Though the year is still young and pre-season biases still exist within our tiers, some dudes clearly deserve a special shoutout due to showing tantalizing traits that translate and metrics that matter.

Impact Riser of the Week: Mansoor Delane, LSU

Previous Rank: CB 25, Player No. 230
Current Rank: CB 11, Player No. 100

No other player improved his stock as much this weekend as LSU’s lockdown corner. Tasked with slowing down the surgical pass game of what many labeled as the top offense in the nation, Mansoor Delane more than rose to the occasion. Clemson QB Cade Klubnik is better than most at navigating tight coverage, but he struggled mightily to bypass the Tigers’ CB1.

Delane denied a completion on 7 of his 8 targets, tallying a pick and a pair of key pass breakups in the process. His lone failed defended pass came on a crafty pick screen design. And as it stands, he’s college football’s only coverageman with at least 5 targets to surrender a Catch Rate under 15% exiting Week 1. Such play merits a spot among the Impact Rankings top-dozen cornerbacks. 

No. 2: Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, Cal

Previous Rank: QB 40, Outside Top300
Current Rank: QB 18, Player No. 149

Already inside our Top40 QBs ahead of this fall, we at On3 were prepared for Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele to make a little noise. However, I don’t think anyone was fully expecting such fireworks from a freshman out of the gate, regardless of whether they were five-star or not. The rookie gunslinger didn’t need much time to rouse up sickos and late-night degenerates, thanks to nailing several downfield passes with his terrific timing and a smooth release.

No starter exited this weekend with a higher PFF pass grade than his 95.5 or totaled as many as his 5  ‘big time throws’. All the while, Sagapolutele didn’t toss an interceptable pass nor take a sack. The takeaway is loud and clear: Kid can ball (and already has the attention of programs looking for a portal passer this off-season).

No. 3: Arvell Reese, Ohio State

Previous Rank: LB 44, Outside Top300
Current Rank: LB 18, Player No. 151

The Texas-Ohio State game had a lot of things going for it – a Top 3 matchup, marquee QBs, star receivers – but one defender stole the show. Arvell Reese and his 6-foot-4, 240-pound frame were all over the tape, blowing up plays, holding his ground, and being an all-around badass; a bit of a throwback considering backers are seemingly getting lighter and leaner by the year.

Still, scouts are constantly on the lookout for difference-makers with size, speed, and skill at LB. And Reese appears to check all of those boxes. He wound up with 4 pressures, 4 defensive stops, and a tackle for loss. And again, he wasn’t doing that against Poop State or FCS Southwest. He did it against the No. 1 team in the country, hinting there’s plenty more where that came from. 

No. 4: Braelin Moore, LSU

Previous Rank: IOL 30, Outside Top300
Current Rank: IOL 11, Player No. 152

Though offensive line can be – and usually is – a thankless job, Braelin Moore absolutely deserves some shine for helping stabilize LSU’s front. Clemson’s strength at DLine is well-documented. Yet, he didn’t allow a single pressure and routinely won his battles in the trenches.

As the big toe in the middle of the formation, he was the only center to score a +67 run block and +85 pass block grades this week, per PFF. Not bad for his first effort on the road against a title contender in a hostile environment with guys he’s never played with before. Folks at the league office also took notice naming him the SEC Offensive Lineman of the week.

No. 5: Daniel Lyons, Florida State

Previous Rank: DL32, Outside Top300
Current Rank: DL12, Player No. 153

Daniel Lyons has been a rather mercurial 3-technique for the Seminoles in recent years. Unfortunately for the Crimson Tide, they just happened to catch him on an upswing. His 6 pressures – which included a strip sack – were the most of any P4 interior in Week 1. In fact, none of his peers had more than 4, and only one other top-league D-Lineman presently can claim a higher total.

For good measure, his 17.8% Impact Rate (havocs plus stops) sits inside the position’s top10 among players with at least 30 snaps. Continued productive and efficient play like that will do wonders for his draft stock.

No. 6: Mario Craver, Texas A&M

Previous Rank: WR 61, Outside Top30
Current Rank: WR 32, Player No. 268

Mario Craver was a late rising 4-star in the 2024 recruiting cycle and quickly emerged as Mississippi State’s favorite deep threat as a true freshman. But mellow numbers and being overshadowed by fellow TAMU transfer WR KC Conception had him firmly flying under the radar ahead of this fall. And even though his teammate tallied a pair of tuddies himself, Craver’s performance saw him make one of the biggest leaps of any pass catcher this weekend.

Switching his modus operandi to more of an outlet option, 7 of his 10 targets came behind the line of scrimmage, which put an extra onus on him to produce after the catch. Well, he responded by nabbing the most YAC yards (105) along with a share for the most receptions that netted either a conversion or a score (7) in the Power4. And for good measure, he hauled in his lone deep target, hinting he’s capable of winning all over the yard within the Aggies scheme. 

No. 7: Tobi Osunsanmi, Kansas State

Previous Rank: EDGE 23, Player No. 200
Current Rank: EDGE 13, Player No. 88

The former top225 prospect in the 2021 class has stuffed the statsheet for two-straight weeks and, subsequently, has steadily climbed up the Impact Ranking in the process. A former blazer on the track, Tobi Osunsanmi has a twitchy launch that allows him to explode out of his stance and generate havoc. To start the year, he already has 3 sacks, 6 defensive stops, and 5 hurries.

And, he’s yet to miss a tackle. Plus, his 14.4% Impact Rate just falls outside the top12 among P4 edges with at least 32 snaps. 

No. 8: Steven Soles, Kentucky

Previous Rank: Unranked
Current Rank: EDGE 57, Outside Top300

Steven Soles was arguably the most bang-for-buck defender from Week 1. Despite only being on the field for 20 snaps versus Toledo, his motor and zeal conjured 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 3 stops. He even stuffed a target in coverage. Only a couple of defenders boast a higher Impact Rate than his mighty 35% figure.

Moreover, the folks at PFF rewarded him with a 96.8 overall grade, the highest mark of any P4 defender. Though he’s still a situational player, his capacity for generating chaos could see his role increase; especially considering the Wildcats have comfortably finished in the back half of the SEC each of the last two years in Pass Havoc Rate with a clip in the single-digits. 

Honorable Mention: Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

Previous Rank: WR 3, Player No.19
Current Rank: WR 2, Player No. 6

Jordan Tyson wasted no time reminding people why he deserves to be in the WR1 discussion ahead of April’s draft. His connection with Sam Leavitt is as dangerous and fruitful as any in college football. Against inferior competition, Tyson was routinely a bucket Saturday night. The duo linked up on 12 of 16 targets for a couple of scores. And, Tyson’s 141 receiving yards were the most of anyone in the P4.