The Detroit Lions won’t be on the field this weekend, but their scouting staff should have plenty to keep tabs on after Thursday night’s 41-31 loss to the Buffalo Bills. That defeat put Detroit’s defensive issues in plain view, especially in the secondary, where Josh Allen had his way and Buffalo piled up more than 200 rushing yards.
So while the Lions rest, the evaluation work keeps rolling. Week 3 college football offers a strong slate, and a few prospects stand out as names Detroit ought to have circled.
One of the most interesting defenders on the board is UCLA linebacker Viliamu-Asa, who missed the season opener against Wisconsin while recovering from a knee injury before returning against Rice. He comes into a matchup with Michigan State as the no. 11 ranked linebacker in PFF rankings in 2025. The Spartans are 29.5-point underdogs, but they do bring the Big Ten’s leading rusher in Cam Edwards.
Viliamu-Asa has the kind of profile that can pop for NFL teams. His 94.0 grade against the run last season was the best in the FBS, and he added 23 pressures as a pass rusher in 2025. He looks like a true all-around linebacker, which makes him a name worth tracking for Detroit.
Louisville edge rusher Lubin is another player who deserves a long look. He was carrying day two grades for the 2026 NFL Draft before choosing to return to the Cardinals instead of turning pro. Lubin had transferred up from Coastal Carolina, where he posted 9.5 sacks against Group of Six competition in 2024, then followed that with 8.5 sacks against the Power Four in 2025.
This season, the production hasn’t shown up in the sack column yet, but he has already forced two fumbles. Saturday gives him his first ACC game of the year against Southern Methodist. The New York native was rated top 10 in the FBS among EDGE rushers last season, so the talent is clearly there.
Clemson has another defensive back prospect with real attention-grabbing traits in Ashton Hampton. At 6-foot-2, he has the kind of size teams want on the outside, and he’s already built a reputation for getting under opponents’ skin while making plays.
Hampton has one interception and three pass deflections so far this year, and his PFF WAA grade ranks second among corners on the young season. He has also shown he’s willing to get involved in run support, missing just three of his 40 tackle attempts in 2025.
With Detroit looking like a team that may struggle in coverage, Hampton is the type of corner the Lions should be studying closely. Clemson hosts Bill Belichick’s UNC team at noon EST.
Another defensive back to watch is Benefield, the former Boise State transfer who brings real versatility to the table. He has played in the box, at slot corner and at safety, and has found a way to make an impact everywhere he lines up. In 2025, he was credited with more than 100 tackles for the Broncos.
He doesn’t have one elite calling card, but he’s a sturdy, well-rounded defender at 6-foot-3 and nearly 220 pounds. That kind of “tweener” profile always comes with questions, especially with the recent history of players who have struggled to translate, including Isaiah Simmons.
Benefield is in the biggest game of the weekend, the “Lane Kiffin Bowl,” at 7:30 p.m. EST.
And then there’s Buffalo receiver Morrow, whose name may not thrill Detroit fans on sight, but who has been one of the more intriguing pass-catchers in the country. He transferred from Louisville and spent the last three seasons climbing the depth chart before breaking out this fall.
Morrow opened the season with three touchdowns against FCS Albany, piling up highlight-reel and contested catches that pushed one of those plays to No. 3 on SportsCenter. Last week, he followed that up with 11 catches for 170 yards and two more scores against Florida International. His five touchdowns are tied for the national lead, and his 18 receptions rank third.
At 6-foot-4, he has the size NFL teams want on the outside. This week, he gets his best chance yet to make another statement when Buffalo heads to Penn State. A big performance there could help lock in All-Star bowl attention as the pre-draft process starts to take shape.
In Other News...
Lions Fans Had Another Reason To Be Furious During Bills Loss
The Lions already had plenty to stew over after Thursday nights 41-31 loss to the Bills, but the frustration did not stop with the scoreboard. As Buffalo pulled away behind Josh Allens five total touchdowns, the broadcast managed to add another jolt for Detroit fans when a graphic incorrectly listed the Bills at 3-0 and the Lions at 1-2.
It was the kind of small but glaring mistake that tends to feel bigger in the middle of a disappointing national showcase. For Lions supporters, it only sharpened an already sour night, one where the team left with a loss and the broadcast booth gave them one more reason to grumble. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Rookies Suddenly Have A Chance To Fix A Growing Secondary Problem
The Lions first game at their new stadium did more than hand them a 41-31 loss to Buffalo. It also underscored how much youth and depth matter on a secondary that is still sorting itself out, with several rookies sidelined or inactive while the team tried to piece together its back end. First-round pick Blake Miller missed the game with a knee injury, and cornerback Keith Abney was inactive as Christian Izien returned, leaving Detroit with fewer young options than it had hoped to evaluate in a high-profile setting.
Avonte Maddoxs foot injury only adds to the uncertainty, because the Lions are now looking at a defensive backfield that could use quick answers. For a team that has leaned on development at key spots, the situation creates an opening for rookies to get back into the mix and potentially stabilize a problem that became harder to ignore in a lopsided home debut. [Read more 🡒]
Jahmyr Gibbs Just Gave Lions Fans An Uncomfortable Week 1 Issue
Jahmyr Gibbs Week 1 tape added a little extra edge to an already eventful start for the Lions, with the NFL deciding after the fact to punish a play that officials let go in the moment. The running back was fined $23,027 for lowering his helmet and making forcible contact with a Saints cornerback, a ruling that puts a spotlight on how closely the league is watching contact at the point of attack.
The fine was the biggest of the 20 handed out across the league after the opening week, and it serves as an early reminder that even routine-looking runs can carry consequences once the league office reviews them. For Detroit, it is the kind of small but uncomfortable development that can linger for a player whose impact depends on physicality and timing, especially when the next few weeks are already about settling into the season. [Read more 🡒]