An Ohio State secret weapon, a pair of Notre Dame pass rushers, more Arch Manning talk, and other CFB breakout stars in 2025

With the transfer portal closed, and spring practice behind us, the College Football landscape is mostly settled heading into the 2025 season. As evaluators, we are left to make sense of that landscape, project teams from across the country, and the next waves of individual stars. 

Heading into the 2025 season, there are a few potential breakout stars that already have my full attention. Some are obvious, while others are a little more of deeper pulls. Here are some extremely talented players that everyone needs to get on their radars heading toward the fall. 

TE Max Klare - Ohio State 

With wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate returning for the Buckeyes, you can expect there to be another potent passing attack in Columbus this fall. Along with junior Brandon Inniss, the wide receiver room under Brian Hartline will garner a lot of attention. That could cause for former Purdue transfer Max Klare to go under the radar, but not for long. 

Hidden as a part of a putrid Purdue passing attack, Klare was outstanding in 2024. He ended that season with 51 receptions for 685 yards and four touchdowns. The 6-4, 236-pound tight end has a lot of parallels to NFL standout Zach Ertz, possessing an impressive catch radius, underrated fluidity, and separation skills. 

QB Arch Manning - Texas

Some may find the Manning hype exhausting, but the talent certainly warrants it. The main backup to quarterback Quinn Ewers last season, the then redshirt freshman flashed some huge upside in limited opportunities. He managed to throw for 939 yards and nine touchdowns, while only throwing two interceptions and completing over 67 percent of his passes. Manning also managed to rush for four more scores on the ground. 

In those limited chances, Manning has already shown that he is one of the more gifted deep ball throwers in all of college football. At 6-4 and 220 pounds, he looks like your prototypical pocket passer. Manning is also an extremely gifted athlete that brings some unique dual threat abilities as a player. The hype is very, very real.