Pok’s Football Week in Review: First Look Toward the 2025 CFB Season

In the words of WWE’s Karrion Kross, tick tock. The overall football landscape continues its march toward the regular season, as the sands of time inch closer toward the beginning of training camps. And, as always, we have you covered here with the latest edition of the column.

The “Player of the Day” heads out west, as a potential riser in Sam Leavitt offers some fascinating upside. With training camp almost a month away, we will start looking at the positional situations for the FIU Panthers, USF Bulls, and Florida Atlantic Owls, with the quarterbacks being up first this week. And, as always, we have the “Recruiting Roundup,” the “Quotes of the Week,” and the “Grab Bag” of other football notes from the week that was.

It is a fun, jam-packed column once again. Grab a drink, take a rest, or whatever makes you feel good before you read. Without further ado, it is time for another edition of Pok’s Football Week in Review!

Player of the Day: Sam Leavitt, QB, Arizona State

If I were going to give Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt a nickname, it would be the Wild Horse. But before we get there, we need to provide some background on him.

Leavitt, a former four-star prospect who transferred from Michigan State to Arizona State, started for the first time in 2024 and played in 13 games for the Sun Devils. In those football games, Leavitt threw for 2,820 yards and 24 touchdowns, notching him an 82.2 PFF passing grade. He had 8.1 yards per attempt, an ADOT of 9.3, and 13 big-time throws. He also added 502 rushing yards, five touchdowns, 34 missed tackles forced, and no fumbles. On the negative side of things, Leavitt had six interceptions and 13 turnover-worthy plays.

Leavitt, when he is playing somewhat under control, has some really high-level traits and abilities. Throughout my typical four-game watch (Arizona, Texas, BYU, Iowa State), here are what I viewed as the positives from the Arizona State quarterback:

• • Leavitt has a cannon of an arm. He is willing to let it rip over the middle of the field.
  • Leavitt has a beautiful ball when he is on target. His mechanics, whether it is his lower body or upper body, are very solid on these throws, too. 
  • He is very good at throwing the ball deep down the field.
  • Leavitt has the potential to play smoothly in the pocket and make good movements within it. 
  • Leavitt is a good runner of the football and is very slippery in the pocket.
  • He can throw on the run very well. 

However, one cannot earn the moniker of the Wild Horse without some negatives to their game. In looking at the same four games, here are what I felt were the negatives in Leavitt’s game in 2024:

• His overall decision-making is very, very scattershot.
• Leavitt plays very wild, especially when under pressure. There are many times when he plays wildly or bails too quickly. On other plays, the quarterback senses the pressure too late. 
• He needs some better football IQ on some of his plays lol. Leavitt can play like a Madden QB on speed at times. 
• Odd footwork on certain plays. 
• Can occasionally get his WRs killed in traffic. Needs a changeup in his arsenal. 

When looking at the whole picture of who he is as a player, Leavitt is an extremely wild watch. He puts some of the best throws of the entire 2026 draft class on tape, whether it is attacking the middle of the field or perfectly placing a ball between defensive backs 30 yards down the field. At the same time, Leavitt will attempt to pull off ridiculous escape theatrics in the pocket, which would likely get him smoked at the NFL level.

The Arizona State quarterback, however, is not even 21 years old yet. He has all of the tools to be an upper-level prospect while also having a great head coach and offensive mind in Kenny Dillingham. It is likely that 2024 is the floor for Leavitt, and that 2025 could cause him to emerge as an even better quarterback.

Leavitt needs to continue to improve on his pocket presence, ensure that his mechanics are consistent, and learn how to unleash the “Wild Horse” at the correct moments of the game. If he can combine that with the upper-level traits he showed in 2024, Leavitt, like Arch Manning, will be in a great position for both the 2026 and 2027 drafts.

Brandyn’s 2025 Football Preview: The Quarterbacks

What was spring has now turned to summer, and will soon turn to fall. In other words, football season is right around the corner for FAU, FIU, and USF.

Ahead of the start of training camps, I will be providing some short previews of different players and discussing some key aspects surrounding the teams. And to start things off, we will cover the quarterbacks!

All three programs have very interesting signal callers that could have big seasons in store in 2025, for a variety of different reasons. If you are looking for a full, in-depth breakdown, make sure to check out my player profiles here(put link here). With that out of the way…

FAU: Caden Veltkamp

Background: Caden Veltkamp was a top-50 quarterback in the 2022 class, according to the 24/7 composite rankings. In his high school career, he had 2,733 passing yards, 31 passing touchdowns, and only six interceptions. Veltkamp had offers from Western Kentucky, Akron, Kentucky, Indiana State, Miami (OH), and North Dakota State. He also had reported interest from Indiana.

2024 Recap: In 12 games, Veltkamp threw for 3,097 yards and 25 touchdowns. He had 15 big-time throws, an ADOT of 8.5, and added 272 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. Veltkamp also had 15 fumbles, 10 interceptions, and 13 turnover-worthy plays.

Key Traits: As a passer, Veltkamp is extremely comfortable in the pocket. He has solid footwork and throwing mechanics that are usually replicated in a game setting. He understands how to read pressure, sliding and shifting around while always keeping his eyes downfield.

More often than not, Veltkamp is accurate with his throws, allowing the offense to keep the chains moving. When he had to throw downfield, Veltkamp displayed nice touch and accuracy. He showed an understanding of how to give his receivers the best ability to make a play, while also not letting the defender make an easy deflection.

Additionally, Veltkamp usually keeps his solid mechanics when on the move. He delivers the ball in stride to his targets and makes smart decisions on when and where to deliver the ball.

Veltkamp is a good runner of the football who has the frame to take hits and execute in short-yardage situations. Veltkamp can shrug off pass rushers or make them miss while trying to make a big play downfield.

Prediction: Veltkamp has a chance to be elite. And, he has the tools and coaching in place to take him there. Most importantly, he has the matchups that could ensure that he firmly arrives on the scene.

To achieve this status, though, Veltkamp will need to fix the inconsistencies that prevented his ascension in 2024. If he accomplishes this, though, you could see a dark horse to be one of the best quarterbacks in the country. Most of all, you could have a player who the NFL draft community starts to keep a bit of a closer eye on, along with his head coach.

USF: Byrum Brown

Background: Byrum Brown was a three-star quarterback in the 2022 class and the 73rd-ranked quarterback in the country. Additionally, Brown was the 29th-ranked football player in the state of North Carolina in his class. Befiore committing to USF, Brown had offers from Appalachian State, Dartmouth, Florida A&M, Furman, Georgia State, Furman, Elon, Miami (OH), North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central, and Old Dominion. In his senior season, Brown threw for 3,703 yards, 43 touchdowns, and only four interceptions. He also rushed for 1,182 yards and 13 touchdowns.

2023/2024 Recap: 2024 was a bit of a lost season for Brown, who suffered a lower leg injury against Tulane in Week 5. Before the injury, the North Carolina native had 837 yards passing and two touchdowns. On the ground, Brown had 356 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He also added a receiving touchdown in his short stint in 2024.

In 2023, though, Brown had his breakout season with the Bulls. He threw for 3,315 yards and 26 touchdowns, while also having 11 interceptions. He had 20 big-time throws, converted 160 first downs, had 22 turnover-worthy plays, and took 45 sacks. As a runner, Brown had 1,020 yards, 11 touchdowns, 50 missed tackles forced, and 723 yards after contact.

Key Traits: Brown has all of the traits and skills to execute at a high level. He has a cannon of an arm that he uses to fit the ball in all types of windows and attack all levels of the field. In 2023, 1,128 of his passing yards came from throws 20 yards or more. He has the velocity to beat defensive backs and understands how to hit his different receivers in stride.

However, Brown’s skill as a passer is not just limited to his arm strength. While he is not perfect, the USF quarterback displays nice touch and accuracy down the field. Brown has different pitches and arm angles in his arsenal. When he is able to get to them, it can create some special throws on the field.

Additionally, Brown is a strong and effective runner of the football. He has the speed to gain chunk yards and the power to pick up the tough ones in short-yardage situations. This allows him to be a threat in every area of the game.

Prediction: Brown is not a perfect player at the position. He has some inconsistencies with his arm mechanics, which can lead to some slight overthrows and inaccuracies. He is reckless with the ball at times, staring down targets and forcing throws that are not there. Additionally, he has to work on sliding as a runner and avoiding hits that leave him on the sidelines.

However, Brown is still such a young player. Despite his experience, he is still 20 years old and will not turn 21 until September 29. He has a good culture and coaching staff around him at USF, and he should be even more comfortable with another year of the team’s offensive system under his belt. The team also made significant additions to the offensive line and weapons to help him this season.

Similar to the quarterbacks at FIU and FAU, Brown has the talent and opportunity to take another significant leap. He also has a schedule that could put him on the national radar, as USF faces Boise State, Florida, and Miami to start the 2025 season.

The USF dynamo needs to clean up some of the smaller warts in his game ahead of this season. But if he makes the progress that is well within his grasp and stays healthy, Brown is going to be one of the most well-regarded quarterbacks in the country in 2025.

FIU: Keyone Jenkins

Background: A two-year starter for the Panthers, Keyone Jenkins was a member of FIU’s 2023 recruiting class, choosing the Panthers over Auburn and Morehouse College. The quarterback attended Miami Central High School and was a standout football player throughout his time at the school. According to his 24/7 Sports profile, Jenkins completed 89 of 142 passing attempts for 21 touchdowns and three interceptions while also adding four rushing touchdowns in his 2022 senior season. In 2021, Jenkins had 1,283 yards passing and 17 touchdowns, helping his school win a Florida 5A state title.

2024 Recap: The quarterback threw for 2,560 yards, 22 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions. He raised his big-time throw total to 19 while dropping his turnover-worthy play total to 15. He also raised his ADOT to 10.6, took 17 sacks compared to 40 in 2023, and dropped his average time to throws. Jenkins also added 197 yards and two touchdowns in 2024.

Key Traits: The FIU quarterback is decisive over the middle of the field and has a quick trigger. Jenkins is also accurate when he decides to throw the ball. Whether he sees the routes open or anticipates them, he lets the ball rip into tight windows and puts the ball in the passing window of his pass-catchers.

Jenkins also has the arm strength to make plays happen down the field. The FIU starter can hit go routes in stride, nail post routes with anticipation, and make impressive throws outside of the numbers to his wideouts. The numbers back this up, too. Jenkins had 768 yards, three touchdowns, and only one interception on throws 20 yards or more down the field.

On top of his impressive throwing abilities, Jenkins can make full use of his athletic ability at the quarterback position. He can easily escape pressure from defenders, showcasing an impressive ability to keep his eyes downfield or take off running. He can make throws from all types of platforms and has a good ability to reset his feet outside the pocket. Jenkins is also a good threat as a runner, using his speed to pick up yards on designed runs or scrambles.

Prediction: Jenkins is in a familiar environment returning to FIU this season. He also has what should be good coaching around him, with talent surrounding him at key positions. And, he has taken strides forward in every year of his career and improved in key categories.

I think that the highs of Jenkins will be on full display this season. How his overall season will pan out, though, is predicated on how he cleans up the turnovers, fumbles, and poor throws. If he does that, Jenkins could be a sleeper pick to become one of the most exciting quarterbacks in college football.

College Football Recruiting Roundup

As usual, there was plenty of action on the recruitment side of things for USF and FIU.

USF Bulls

The Bulls saw recent addition Zion Crumpton decommit and flip to Mississippi State this past week. It was a pretty decent loss for USF (and a great gain for Hail State), as Crumpton is the 95th-best player at the position and the 24th-best football player in Alabama. However, USF still retains a very fun group of playmakers at the WR and TE positions for its 2026 class.

Speaking of playmakers, USF landed another one in the form of wideout Rhys Dorsey. Dorsey, an Alabama native, was previously committed to Memphis and holds offers from Wake Forest, Western Kentucky, and more. The wideout racked up 450 yards and six touchdowns in 2024, while also contributing as a returner on special teams. With dynamic moves as a ball carrier and upper-level speed, it is clear why the Bulls valued Dorsey in this class.

On top of Dorsey, the Bulls made some additions in the trenches for 2026 in the form of offensive tackle Mason Mathis, offensive tackle D’Nileyon Taylor, and defensive lineman Noah Mercer.

Mathis, a Milton, Florida native, had 22 offers and has ideal size for the offensive tackle position.

Meanwhile, Taylor also has ideal size and projectability on the offensive line. The Ohio native had 15 offers, including a P4 offer from West Virginia. Both players display a nice power profile and high upside in the passing game. In short, the Bulls landed two more players who could be fun pieces on the offensive line in future years.

Mercer, an edge rusher who has also spent time at offensive line and tight end, displays some nice plays of speed and power as a defender. I am interested to see his overall progression as a player and where he ultimately lands on the Bulls’ roster, especially when he gets onto campus.

Additionally, USF added a very fun cornerback in Syncere Berry. An Atlanta native, Berry earned offers from California, Kentucky, Texas A&M, West Virginia, FIU, James Madison, and more. Berry has the length, speed, and coverage skills to thrive at the college level. He racked up 48 tackles, two tackles for loss, four interceptions, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and seven pass breakups. As I have said before, he would be a great addition for the future of the Bulls. And with his commitment, USF has a great piece for their 2026 secondary.

FIU Panthers

The Panthers picked up multiple players at the secondary positions and in the trenches. In the secondary, FIU added Eric Johnson Jr. and Jahmani Chin-Suer, while they added edge rushers Jalen Anderson and Michael Smarts.

Johnson Jr., who attends Grayson in Georgia, has garnered 14 offers from across the ranks of college football. In addition to FIU, the defensive back had Army, Buffalo, and Miami (OH), among others, with offers out to him.

Chin-Suer, a Fort Lauderdale native, had offers from FIU and Eastern Michigan. Both players displayed nice speed, ball skills, and an impressive ability to make plays downhill in the run game. The Panthers are prioritizing athleticism at skill positions, and these two defensive backs definitely fit that bill. I am very excited to see how Johnson Jr. and Chin-Suer develop in the 305 once they arrive on campus.

 

Smarts is a Fort Lauderdale native who has garnered six overall offers, including from the likes of Charlotte and Alabama State. On top of strong run defense, Smartt has shown off a fun spin move and an understanding of other pass rushing moves.

Anderson, who attended Pearl River Community College, also showed off solid run defense with his strength. However, the Mississippi native wins with more bend than Smarts. He displays good hand usage and a good foundation to rush the passer with. Similar to the defensive back commits, Smarts and Anderson are both very projectable edge rushers with very high potential. With a very good coaching staff in place, these are two more players I am interested to see develop in Miami.

On top of their defensive additions, FIU added two players on the offensive side of the ball and gained the commitment of a very well-regarded specialist.

The Panthers landed offensive lineman Riley Wilson and tight end Davis Brown. Brown, the brother of standout USF quarterback Byrum Brown, held 10 offers from the likes of USF, Maryland, James Madison, Coastal Carolina, and more. He had four touchdowns in 2024 and has six overall touchdowns in his high school career. A basketball player as well, Brown has solid strength and technique as a blocker in the run game. And while he is not an overall fast player, Brown is a smooth mover as a route runner and displays solid hands. With room to grow and develop as a player, FIU has a very fun addition in Brown.

Wilson is a Florida native who will be attending Tampa Bay Tech in 2025. He held four offers in total, with Florida Atlantic, Florida A&M, and Troy. He is a road-grating tackle in the run game, legitimately trying to bury his opposition in the dirt on a wide variety of plays. As a pass blocker, Wilson has calm feet and shuts down pass rushers when he gets his hands on them. Combined with Sean Kentish, Jordan Davis, and Kaleb Barnes, the Panthers have a fun collection of linemen for their 2026 class.

On special teams, kicker Noah Sidan formally committed to play for the Panthers. Choosing FIU over the Ohio State University, Sidan gives the program a high-upside kicker for the foreseeable future.

Quotes of the Week

FAU DB Commit Tyson Stroud on his favorite coverage: “My favorite coverage is man. I love man coverage, and the reason is because I feel that I play it different than others. Most people like playing it all pressed up on the receiver. I can up-press, soft-press, or be off seven yards. And I am an athlete, so I can play it all. I have the technique to guard any receiver and definitely play man.

Stroud on playing with his childhood friend Eric Parks at FAU: “It’s so crazy to think about it, because we have been playing together since Little League. It has been our dream to go D1 and go play college ball, but our ultimate goal was to play together. It’s so crazy how it just fell into place, and look at us now, we are playing together. It means a lot to play with Eric, and they are going to get a dog out of us.”

FIU OL Commit Kaleb Barnes on how he attacks being a pass blocker: “So, any defensive end that gives me a wide-nine, I have to give you at least two kick steps so I can quick set you and scare you. I have to get my hands on you; I do not want you to beat me, and now my quarterback is dead. It is really just practicing and experiencing the game. The more you play and watch the game, the more information you can soak up. So when you are on the field, you can know some things that other opponents may not know about it.”

USF OL Commit Jordan Harrison on what his favorite play call is: “I am a big puller guy. I like to get out in space and punish little guys on the outside. So that’s definitely very exciting for me.”

FIU DB Commit Eric Johnson Jr. on why he chose the Panthers: “The school is in a great location. Miami, Florida, is a place that everybody wants to be in. That’s one of the biggest things that made the school stand out. Leading into my commitment, they were a school that was recruiting me hard from the day they offered me. I remember the day that Coach Gilstrap came down to see me work out, and I got the offer. Since then, they have made me feel that I was a top priority for them. On my OV, it felt like a second home to me the second I stepped off the plane. The family-oriented area made me feel welcome, and  I am just really pleased with the new coaching staff. I feel that I fit really well into the new defensive scheme. On top of that, the culture was so strong down there, and the whole football team averaged a 3.0 GPA and up. All around, it felt like the right place at the right time with the right energy. Everything there was just perfect for me.”

FAU DB Sean Williams on what he wants to accomplish/showcase in 2025: “I just want to showcase me being a dog. I want to go out there and be the star on the field. I want to be somebody you can count on to make a play in a big-time moment. OI just want to show out. But the main goal for the year is to win the ring. Win the 15th game, get over the hump. That is the main goal for me. Keeping the main thing the main thing. I want to lead our region in interceptions and win Defensive Player of the Year for the region. I have some big goals for the upcoming year, but the main goal is to win the 15th game.”

Grab Bag: Other Football Notes from the Week

As always, here are my other football notes from this past week!

• Jordyn Tyson, the wideout from Arizona State, is amazing. He does everything that a pro-level wideout needs to do, and does it at a very high level. If Leavitt takes the steps he has the potential to do, Tyson could be in store for a monster year.
• After watching lots of Caden Veltkamp this past week, one thing came to mind: Easton Messer is an awesome wideout. If you are not ready for a big-time season from him, get ready for it. Because it is on the way in 2025.
• FAU had some football players named to the Phil Steele Preseason All-AAC Teams:
  • Easton Messer: 1st Team Offense, 4th Team Specialists
  • Logan Lupo: 1st Team Specialists
  • Caden Veltkamp: 2nd Team Offense
  • CJ Doggette: 2nd Team Defense
  • Garrison Smith and Jackson Lee; 3rd Team Specialist
  • Alex Atcavage: 4th Team Offense

• The Pac-12 has formally extended an invitation to Texas State, which, according to Chris Vannini, will be formalized on Monday. And with that salvo, the next wave of college football realignment begins. I am fascinated to see how this plays out.

• FAU’s Korel Smith served as a Defensive Backs Intern with the Ravens for the 2025 Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship. It is very cool to see someone on the Owls’ new staff gain very valuable experience and get recognized for their work up to this point.

• The unmatched Pablo Torre unearthed and revealed a secret NFL document that allegedly covers up collusion between owners. It also dives into some very interesting stories surrounding the NFLPA. If you have not checked out the podcast yet, I highly suggest that you do.

And that is a wrap on the week! Thank you for checking out a new edition of the column, and we will catch you next week! Until then, have a great weekend!