Patriots Prospect Preview: Eight College Players To Watch In Week 3

Welcome to the Patriots Prospect Preview, our annual series where we talk about the club’s future picks before literally anyone else! Let’s jump into the slate for Week 3.

The New England Patriots dropped their season-opening matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders, which gave us an early look at some cracks that might be forming in and around the roster.

Christian Gonzalez was obviously missing from the lineup, but there were some serious mistakes made in the defensive backfield. Garrett Bradbury wasn’t effective in the running game. Kayshon Boutte was the only receiver to stand out, leading the way for a group that still lacks explosive playmakers.

I’d like to see some of those things eventually be addressed, and these eight prospects could be tasked with doing just that:

Germie Bernard (#5), WR, Alabama

Week 3: vs. Wisconsin (12 p.m. ET on ABC)

Germie Bernard has been something of a college journeyman, finally finding his way to Alabama following short tenures with Michigan State and Washington — stepping into larger roles along each stop.

Bernard has finally broken out as one of the better catch-and-run receivers in the entire country, pacing the Crimson Tide in catches (11) and receiving yards (213) in 2025. It’ll be interesting to see how he holds up against a veteran secondary, which includes another player worth keeping an eye on…

Ricardo Hallman (#2), CB, Wisconsin

Week 3: @ Alabama (12 p.m. ET on ABC)

Ricardo Hallman is the opposite of a journeyman, spending each of the last four seasons with Wisconsin and looking to return to form after posting one of the most prolific defensive seasons in program history — recording seven interceptions and being named an AP All-American — in 2023.

Hallman’s numbers fell off the face of the earth in 2024, but that’s because he was only targeted 33 times in 319 coverage snaps — by far the least in college football.

Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell will ask his veteran cornerback to erase Bernard, so this should be a fun matchup to watch.

Christen Miller (#52), DT, Georgia

Week 3: @ Tennessee (3:30 p.m. ET on ABC)

I don’t want to cheat and put Georgia defenders on this list every week, but it’s ridiculous to pass over some of these guys given what they’ve shown when taking the leap to the NFL.

Christen Miller isn’t nearly as exciting as Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Devonte Wyatt or Mykel Williams (there are like nine more names that could be added to the list), but the numbers lie when it comes to his impact.

The Bulldogs line him up in the middle of the defense and base everything they do off his responsibilities — it’s amazing to watch in real time. I’d stay tapped into this guy, as he could be of interest come the offseason.

Joshua Josephs (#19), EDGE, Tennessee

Week 3: vs. Georgia (3:30 p.m. ET on ABC)

Joshua Josephs is perhaps the biggest beneficiary of Tennessee’s talent turnover from 2024 to 2025 — as it’s now up to him to provide the defensive pressure.

James Pearce Jr. and Omar Norman-Lott are out of the equation, which will allow for some added playing time for the senior, which he has consistently taken advantage of over the last four seasons. Josephs is already an incredibly disruptive run defender, and has started adding more to his pass-rush bag this season.

Josh Celiscar (#63), DL, South Florida

Week 3: @ Miami (4:30 p.m. ET on The CW Network)

South Florida has the best resume in the entire country, defeating Boise State and Florida during the first two weeks of the season before trying to do the impossible and knock off Miami.

Josh Celiscar, along with another slew of graduate transfers playing on the defensive line, have turned that defense into a legitimate problem — which could help them all get on some draft boards.

The Bulls assigned our subject the No. 63 — honoring him as the embodiment of integrity, leadership, athletic achievement, academic excellence and service to others — to reflect the core values of the program’s patriarch Lee Roy Selmon.

It’s a cool story. It’s a cool team. You should watch.

Eugene Wilson III (#3), WR, Florida

Week 3: @ LSU (7:30 p.m. ET on ABC)

Yes, he’s the offspring of that Eugene Wilson.

Mansoor Delane (#4), CB, LSU

Week 3: vs. Florida (7:30 p.m. ET on ABC)

Mansoor Delane is quickly making an argument to be CB1 in 2025.

Delane is a transfer from Virginia Tech, where he transitioned from safety to cornerback and became one of the most feared defenders in the ACC. LSU brought him aboard and immediately asked him to become a lockdown cornerback in the SEC — and this is another big test.

Ar’maj Reed-Adams (#55), OL, Texas A&M

Week 3: @ Notre Dame (7:30 p.m. ET on NBC)

The Patriots, who we haven’t talked about specifically in this story, need to continue building depth along the offensive line. Bradbury, as we mentioned earlier, isn’t a long-term solution and will eventually give way to Jared Wilson.

Ar’maj Reed-Adams is the kind of offensive lineman who could find success filling that gap at guard, where he’s started double-digit games at both Kansas and Texas A&M. Reed-Adams is an absolute unit, and will have his hands full against Notre Dame’s daunting defensive front.

Let’s see what the kid’s got.

If you’d like to hear about any prospects in particular, leave us a comment or send a note @KeaganStiefel on X!