The Hunt Report: Get to know some of the top international prospects, plus FCS players to watch during Week 0

Welcome back to another college football season!

This year figures to be one of the more exciting and intriguing seasons in quite some time, at all levels of the sport. It's also great to welcome you back for another season of The Hunt Report, where each week we will give you some under-the-radar gems to keep an eye on throughout the season, as we march right along toward the 2025 NFL Draft.

With it being Week 0, I also wanted to include some international prospects who are currently in their season, as a few may end up making their way to this side of the world to continue their football journey when it is all said and done.

There's no better place for NFL Draft content than right here at CBS Sports, as we don't leave any stones unturned in search for football talent!

European League of Football

Winding down the regular season of Season 4 of the ELF, it's been a fantastic year across the league. There are 17 teams across nine countries in Europe, with some recognizable names and brands of former NFL Europe teams. What's unique and cool about the ELF is that it is primarily a homegrown league, as teams are only allowed four Americans on each team, two on each side of the ball.

What we're seeing overseas with the growth and progress of the NFL International Games, as well as the International Player Pathway program, is the significant growth of the sport overseas -- which comes with the growth and development of international players/prospects.

This season I've been on the broadcast for many games in the ELF. Here's an example of what the ELF games look and feel like.

DE Alejandro Fernández (Madrid Bravos)

• Age: 22
• Height: 6-foot-2 
• Weight: 231 pounds

Fernandez, known as the "Ice Man," is one of the best pass rushers in the ELF, totaling 31.5 career sacks in three years of professional football. Invited to the 2023 CFL International Combine, he has been on the radar for a few years now. Armed with above average twitch, bend and most importantly, upside because of his age, it'll be interesting to see when he decides to take his talents across the pond to North America. Fernandez made his 2024 debut this past weekend against the Paris Musketeers.

RB Lucas Candido (Hamburg Sea Devils)

• Age: 21
• Height: 6-foot
• Weight: 195 pounds
• College: College of the Canyons (2022 season)

Candido is a German-born tailback who has thrived in his home country for the Hamburg Sea Devils, leading the team in rushing so far this season with more than 600 yards for a healthy 5.3 yards per carry average. I was on the broadcast for his game against Cologne, and what really stood out to me was his lateral quickness and agility. He is able to combine those two with a terrific burst that helps him rip off long runs. Candido is someone who projects as a kickoff returner and as a prospect who could thrive in an outside zone scheme.

USports College Football (Week 1)

USports is the governing body for Canadian college athletics, similar to the NCAA/NAIA here in the United States. Every May, approximately two weeks after the NFL Draft and the week of the CFL Draft, they hold their Senior Bowl for some of the top prospects in the following draft class in an event called the East-West Bowl.

It is a great opportunity to get a jumpstart on the upcoming Canadian draft prospects, some of which you'll see trickle down into postseason All-Star games in the United States. We've seen 11 players since 1966 drafted in the NFL Draft directly from Canadian colleges, with Giovanni Manu of University of British Columbia selected in the 2024 draft by the Detroit Lions in the fourth round.

I've attended seven East-West Bowls in person, but have followed the event since 2007. This year's event was held in Waterloo, Ontario, on the campus of the University of Waterloo, who were terrific hosts and had fantastic facilities.

QB Taylor Elgersma

• Height: 6-foot-5
• Weight: 220 pounds
• College: Wilfrid Laurier
  
• Next game: vs. McMaster (Aug. 24)
  

I got the chance to check out Elgersma up close at the 2024 USports East West Bowl this past May. He's a terrific pocket passer who is able to make every throw on the field, particularly with both timing and anticipation on a consistent basis. During the week of practice at the all-star game, I was a big fan of how his mechanics and timing are in unison. That's why he was able to find chemistry with the receivers at the event so quickly. He makes really good decisions on what type of throw to make with regards to both the route and situation.

EDGE Jeremiah Ojo

• Height: 6-foot-2
  
• Weight: 238 pounds
• College: University of Montreal
• Next game: vs Sherbrooke (Aug. 24)

Ojo is the top edge rushing prospect in the USports ranks this season. He's got the natural leverage, which allows him to be able to dip under offensive tackles and then flatten and close on the quarterback. What I consider his most impressive trait is his heavy hands with regards to swiping at the ball. He does a fantastic job of getting the ball out of the QB's hands consistently. During the East-West Bowl, he was able to showcase a variety of pass-rushing tools in his toolbox, even showing some potential in playing in space when asked to drop into coverage. 

College Football Week 0

DT Darren Cook

• Height: 6-foot-1
• Weight: 300 pounds
• College: Delaware State
• Next game: vs. Hawaii (Aug. 24)
  

Last season I was the color analyst for Cook's game against Morgan State and he really stood out, filling up the stat sheet with seven tackles, two tackles for loss and a half sack. Cook has good core strength, and combined with his natural leverage, he's able to hold the point of attack vs. double team blocks well. The activity he shows with his hands allows him to quickly disengage and make the play. Delaware State only has one FBS game this season, so this week vs Hawaii will be an excellent chance for Cook to showcase his talents to a national audience against upper-level competition. 

WR Darius Cooper

• Height: 5-foot-11
• Weight: 190 pounds
• College: Tarleton State
• Next game: vs. McNeese (Aug. 24)
  

Cooper plays primarily the X position for the Texans and handles that role rather well. I believe he plays bigger than his listed size, as he's able to consistently win above the rim. He's got a strong set of hands that are equally as confident, able to pluck the ball away from the defender. I really like how he doesn't panic when the ball is in the air coming his way; he has total disregard for the defender as his sole focus is the football.

RB D'Angelo Durham

• Height: 6-foot-0
• Weight: 208 pounds
• College: McNeese
• Next game: vs. Tarleton (Aug. 24)
  

Durham burst onto the college football season as a star freshman runner at Savannah State in 2019, rushing for over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns. He transferred to McNeese in 2022 and started to showcase that form he had at SSU last season. He's got a great feel for the inside run game -- a very fluid runner in that regard. With good pad level and body lean, it makes him difficult to tackle, and he's able to pick up speed as he continues to travel downhill. One important aspect shown on film is his solid ability in pass pro, which goes a long way with pro scouts.

CB Kendall Bohler

• Height: 5-foot-11
  
• Weight: 195 pounds
• College: Florida A&M
  
• Next game: vs. Norfolk State (Aug. 24)

Two words: Strap. City. Bohler is arguably the best matchup corner in the FCS this season, for sure amongst HBCU prospects. He's a boundary side corner who does a fantastic job of mirroring the receiver while also being able to keep his eyes locked on the quarterback. He's got good length to play the ball through the receivers hands and is an above-average player in run support. Bohler possesses good, choppy footwork that affords him the ability to play any type of coverage necessary.

QB Paxton DeLaurent

• Height: 6-foot-5
• Weight: 220 pounds
  
• College: Southeast Missouri State
  
• Next game: vs. North Alabama (Aug. 24)

DeLaurent does a really good job of spraying the football around the field. He doesn't lock onto a single receiver; the open guy will get the ball. I like that he's able to adjust post-snap when the pre-snap picture changes. His accuracy on anything in-breaking is impressive stuff, showing an ability to hit the receiver on target in-between the numbers.

DE Brody Grebe

• Height: 6-foot-2
• Weight: 250 pounds
• College: Montana State
• Next game: 

As an undersized defensive end, Grebe does a great job of owning the point of attack, which speaks to his functional strength. He's able to shock and extend, locking out the offensive tackle before reading and disengaging from the block to make the play. His bull rush is very effective, as he's able to walk linemen back into the quarterback. I like that he's gotten better each season, showcasing the ability to rush from both sides of the defensive line. He's got future SAM backer written all over him. Next Game: Aug. 24th vs New Mexico