CFB Zeitgeist · Fan Intelligence · 2025

Him Watch

Aura is how much fans talk about a player; production is what the tape says (weighted EPA). We rank both as percentiles within position, and the gap — aura tax — is the story. Positive = more hype than tape; negative = quietly producing. QBs and RBs only for now (we don't have an honest receiving production metric yet). Players under 8 mentions are withheld.

The Board — most aura

#PlayerAura (perception)ProductionAura tax
1Brendan Sorsby QB 100 92+8
2Brendan Sorsby QB 100 92+8
3Brendan Sorsby QB 100 92+8
4Brendan Sorsby QB 100 92+8
5Kewan Lacy RB 100 84+16
6Mark Fletcher Jr. RB 100 84+16
7Mark Fletcher Jr. RB 100 84+16
8Mark Fletcher Jr. RB 100 84+16
9Jeremiyah Love RB 100 94+6
10Arch Manning QB 99 60+39
11Bryce Underwood QB 99 64+35
12Bryce Underwood QB 99 64+35
13LJ Martin RB 99 78+21
14LJ Martin RB 99 78+21
15Arch Manning QB 99 60+39
16Dante Moore QB 99 97+2
17Dante Moore QB 99 97+2
18Dante Moore QB 99 97+2
19Jeremiyah Love RB 99 94+4
20LJ Martin RB 99 78+21
21Jeremiyah Love RB 99 94+4
22Jamal Haynes RB 98 2+96
23Trinidad Chambliss QB 98 93+5
24Bryce Underwood QB 98 64+34
25Arch Manning QB 98 60+38

Paying aura tax — hype outruns the tape

PlayerAura (perception)ProductionAura tax
Jamal Haynes RB 98 2+96
Jamal Haynes RB 94 2+92
Jamal Haynes RB 91 2+89
Jamal Haynes RB 90 2+88
Joe Jackson RB 96 9+86
Joe Jackson RB 96 9+86
Joe Jackson RB 96 9+86
Jeff Sims QB 82 9+72
Joe Jackson RB 79 9+70
Jaylen Raynor QB 75 6+69

Underrated — the tape outruns the hype

PlayerAura (perception)ProductionAura tax
OJ Arnold RB 3 90-87
Anderson Castle RB 2 88-86
Evan Dickens RB 12 88-76
Athan Kaliakmanis QB 4 80-76
Walker Eget QB 8 83-75
Dequan Finn QB 4 78-74
Noah Whittington RB 27 97-70
Cameron Dickey RB 11 78-67
Marcellous Hawkins RB 23 88-65
Noah Kim QB 8 72-64
Method: perception = season mention volume, percentile-ranked in position cohort · production = wepa (weighted EPA per play), same cohort · cohort = ≥100 snaps · full methodology → · sealed capsules →