The Big 12 is wide open heading into 2025, and after an underwhelming 2024 campaign, the Kansas Jayhawks will hope to rebound into contention.
They’ll get their start a week before most of the conference. The Jayhawks play host to the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday night, taking part in the Week 0 festivities as two-touchdown home favorites.
Further, Saturday will also be both sides’ first shot at improving their 2026 NFL Draft stocks this autumn. Kansas has more pedigree, but Fresno State has some talent worth watching, too. Here’s who I’m keeping an eye on in Fox’s first broadcast of the year.
Prospects to watch in Kansas vs. Fresno State
Kansas
Easily the best prospect on the Jayhawks is redshirt senior center Bryce Foster. The veteran lineman excels in pass protection and has promising physical tools. He’s flashed in zone but does his best run-game work as a puller, perhaps opening the door to guard versatility at the next level.
He has some questions to answer on the ground. Still, his consistency, processing, and finishing are enticing.
Good Lord this gets me fired up! Watch Kansas Jayhawks center Bryce Foster hustle to pick up the corner blitz and keep Jalon Daniels clean 🔥@BryceFoster5 pic.twitter.com/xdHnKnlwuP
— Benjamin Hodge (@benjaminwhodge) August 20, 2025
Foster is a high-level athlete who doesn’t sacrifice size. A big enough 2025 could push him into Day 2, but his pre-transfer struggles against SEC competition at Texas A&M and a limited runway to development (turns 24 in his rookie year) might cap his upside.
While Foster is polished and experienced, Clements is anything but. His frame (6’7″, 315) and athleticism earn him some optimism, and he’s in line to start for a full season for the first time.
Kansas could see real progress from him in 2025 and reap the benefits up front. With that said, there is a lot of work to be done. His performance in the run game was hardly playable last season, despite his tools. He had trouble navigating the second level and struggled with hand placement.
As things stand, Clements isn’t draftable. This upcoming season will revolve around developing enough to earn a Day 3 dart throw.
Hurley isn’t on NFL Draft radars entering the year. He has fewer than 20 defensive snaps to his name in college. Yet, as a former four-star recruit who transferred from Alabama, he remains a name to watch in 2025. Hurley is long and athletic, but it isn’t clear how much playing time he’ll get in the coming months.
Fresno State
Foreman will begin the year as a priority UDFA on my board. However, improvement in 2025 could convince a team to take a flier on him. He’s got the recruiting pedigree — 247’s third-best recruit from 2021 — but three frustrating seasons at USC have dampened his stock.
MORE: Sporting News 2025 college Preseason All-America team
Between injuries, inconsistencies, and poor production, Foreman has a lot to prove. As a part-time player with the Bulldogs, Foreman was surprisingly good against the run and showcased some of the juice that made him a must-have recruit.
Foreman’s profile is laden with concerns. His talent might erase them, giving him a chance to re-emerge 230 miles north of where he started his college career.
All eyes will be on Warner this season. The son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner, Fresno State’s starter has already transferred twice, from Temple to Rice to the Bulldogs’ starting lineup. Perhaps a Warner sequel is in store. He needs it to save his stock.
Warner is already behind the eight ball, given his six-foot-nothing frame. He looked uncomfortable in the pocket and struggled against Power Four competition. His combination of size and arm talent makes everything look difficult, and while he’s a strong athlete, he lacks the outlier physical or intangible skills necessary to compensate at the next level.
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