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On3 Impact Rankings: The Top Risers from Week8

wam1Wl2j_400x400by: Clark Brooks2 hours agoClarkBrooks_On3
Monroe Freeling Georgia
Georgia offensive lineman Monroe Freeling (57) during Georgia’s game against Kentucky at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky., on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (Conor Dillon/UGAAA)

Now past the midpoint of the 2025 season, the grind is starting to take its toll.

For teams, coaches, and fans alike, motivation can fade, desire can overtake discipline, comfort zones offer refuge from growing pains.

As the days get shorter and darker, the ones that are able to separate themselves — step by step and rep by rep, embrace the adversity that comes from the day in, day out grind.

As far as our On3 Impact Rankings are concerned, let’s celebrate some of the players from Week 8 that stood out and are riding high entering the back half of the schedule!

Impact Riser of the Week: OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia

Previous Rank: OT 28, Player No. 245
Current Rank: OT 10, Player No. 74

Monroe Freeling has been on a tear the last month of SEC play. In one of the marquee matchups from this weekend, all 39 of his pass sets were clean against Lane Kiffin’s No. 5 Ole Miss squad. Though Gunner Stockton deserves love for his flawless second half, having a well-protected blindside helped a lot. Plus, Freeling chipped in helping the Dawgs total over 200 yards on the ground.

Since Week 5, he’s the only conference tackle to not surrender a single pressure. And on the year, his 98.2% Clean Set Rate is a top5 mark among P4 bookends. The former On3 five star has been a clear stabilizing force for a Georgia offensive line that’s had to deal with dings and derailments; hence his ascension into the top10 spot in our Impact Rankings.

No. 2: RB Mike Washington, Arkansas

Previous Rank: RB 44, Outside Top300
Current Rank: RB 23, Player No. 277

Despite an 0-2 record under Bobby Petrino, the Hogs offense is humming. Taylen “the Alien” Green is undisputed driver, but Mike Washington’s hard rushing style has given an already dangerous unit even more teeth with which to threaten opponents. In the two October games, Washington has put up 300 total yards. While averaging nearly 8 yards/carry, over two-thirds of his production have come after contact. Roughly 23% of his attempts have gained at least 10 yards. And, he’s ripped off a +30 yarder in each of those games, too. No doubt, the former two-star is making the most of being the Razorbacks’ RB1.

Clearly having a career year, the 6’2 230 pounder has the build pro scouts crave. And while he’s an “old man” as a fifth-year senior, this fall is setting up to be his first season with over 160 attempts. If he can continue to shed defenders and offer home runs down the stretch, he’s certainly worthy of draft board deliberation, considering the lack of wear and tear.

No. 3: EDGE Nyjalik Kelly, UCF

Previous Rank: EDGE 52, Outside Top300
Current Rank: EDGE 26, Player No. 210

Boy, was Nyjalik Kelly impactful against West Virginia! He racked up 7 hurries, 2 sacks, 3 stops, and forced a fumble en route to UCF’s 45-13 thumping of the Mountaineers. Play like that has seen him make a steady rise up the Impact Rankings, as he continues to live up to his blue chip pedigree. Frankly, he’s emerged as one of the most well-rounded edges in the major conferences. His 49 combined havoc plays and defensive stops are the 5th-most in the P4 at the position. Plus, the 6’5, 250 pounder’s 84.7 PFF Defensive Grade is top15-worthy.

No. 4: QB Yhonzae Pierre, Alabama

Previous Rank: EDGE 85, Outside Top300
Current Rank: EDGE 58, Outside Top300

Usually when a player is named SEC co-Defender of the Week, great stats ensue. And, Yhonzae Pierre was no exception. While helping the Tide capture their fourth-straight top25 victory, his three sacks were the most by an Alabama defender in a game the last four seasons. Coming into the Third Saturday of October, Tennessee had only surrendered four sacks all season. Additionally, Pierre logged 3 pressures and 3 defensive stops against the Vols. And while this week boosted his bottomline, his cumulative 16.5% Impact Rate ranks 12th among P4 edges ahead of Week 9.

No. 5: WR Braylon Staley, Tennessee

Previous Rank: WR 73, Outside Top300
Current Rank: WR 49, Outside Top300

Braylon Staley is another player having an objectively good October. Part of Tennessee’s Cerberus of pass catchers, he was the most productive receiver for either team in Saturday’s 37-20 slip up against Alabama. And over the last two games, Staley’s 16 catches have yielded 200 yards. Exiting the weekend, his 529 yards are now 5th-most in the league and 20th-most in the P4.

No. 6: Dylan Riley, Boise State

Previous Rank: RB 66, Outside Top300
Current Rank: RB 50, Outside Top300

In a battle between the Mountain West’s two best teams, Boise State’s bell cow was the game’s best player. Dylan Riley only needed 15 touches to top 200 yards. UNLV simply couldn’t contain him. Nearly 86% of his production came on breakaway runs.

Since the Broncos’ loss to Notre Dame three weeks ago, Riley has amassed over 300 yards and has broken 11 tackles across his 33 carries. On the year, his 695 yards are the 10th-most in the country. But no ball carrier can challenge his 8.7 yards/touch, which is a half-yard better than any one else. Moreover, Riley is the only RB to sit inside the nation’s top3 in both yards/carry (8.1) and YAC average (5.64). The second-year scamperer is bound to have a big pay day come portal season with those kinds of metrics.

No. 7: LB Mani Powell, Purdue

Previous Rank: LB 38, Outside Top300
Current Rank: LB 24, Player No. 269

Purdue’s football team might not have much to write about. Fresh off getting shutout vs Northwestern, the Boilermakers have suffered five-straight losses behind its anemic offense and leaky defense. Resolutely, this is one of the worst teams in the P4. But, linebacker Mani Powell has shown promise, resolve, and value and developed into a clear bright spot.

The Barry Odom pupil — who has followed his coach from Arkansas to UNLV to Purdue — has shown a knack for finding the football and securing defensive wins. Over the last three games, Powell has recorded 26 tackles — 21 of which qualified as stops.

Since Week 6, no one in college football has more. And including all games, his 38 stops– in addition to his 52 total impact plays — are the most of any P4 player at the position.

No. 8: TE Rohan Jones, Arkansas

Previous Rank: TE 48, Outside Top300
Current Rank: TE 31, Outside Top300

Rohan Jones is one of the top bang-for-buck TEs around. On his largest workload of the season, he came through hauling both of his opportunities in Arkansas’ high-octane loss to Texas A&M. Despite only playing a little more than 100 snaps this year and totaling 9 catches, the Montana State-transfer has 281 yards and 3 scores.

Small sample sizes be damned, no Y-man dons a preferable yards per route run (5.8), yards/target (28.1), RAC average (15.6), or First Down+TD Rate (90%). Plus, PFF grades him with a top35 run block grade at the position.

Blue Chip Shoutout: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

Previous Rank: QB 6, Player No. 49
Current Rank: QB 1, Player No. 28

Fernando Mendoza keeps taking care of business. And through the first 8 weeks of 2025, he’s been the most consistent and bankable passer in college football. So, he’s been bestowed the QB1 moniker in our Impact Rankings.

Though he still has plenty to prove, the Hoosier is coming off a showing where he completed 24-of-28 of his passes for 332 yards in a 38-15 victory against a conference foe. Saturday was his fourth game this fall of tossing at least 4 tuddies.

Mendoza has generated a conversion or a score on 46.2% of his dropbacks so far this year, which is the top mark in the P4. But, his efficiency doesn’t stop there. He also sports the silver medal in Expected Points Added/dropback (0.40) and bronze medal in Passing Success Rate (60.4%). Subsequently, his draft stock and Heisman odds have never been better.