2025 NFL Draft big board 2.0: Cornerbacks take top 2 spots, with QB1 a close call

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Happy Halloween! The weather gets crisper, football season is in full swing, why not a midseason top 50 big board for the 2025 NFL Draft to contribute to your sugar rush?

While the quarterback and wide receiver class isn’t as top-heavy as last year, there are still plenty of good and interesting players at those spots with real depth and talent on the defensive side of the ball. And, not so much a trick but more of a real treat, there are two special cornerbacks that sit at the top of the board.

He has battled injuries in 2024, but Johnson’s talent still shines when he’s on the field. A long player with good size, Johnson has the build and athleticism of a prototypical modern NFL cornerback. Johnson uses that size to smother wide receivers, and that’s not the only way he can do it. Whether it’s zone or man coverage, Johnson is able to constantly stay in the pocket of wide receivers, even smaller ones, with his excellent combination of quickness, burst and body control.

Johnson does not have a glaring weakness, has excellent traits and plays with advanced technique and understanding of the position, giving him the upside of a true shutdown No. 1 cornerback on the outside. And I think he can achieve early in his pro career, too. It’s lofty praise, but he has a lot of similarities to Pat Surtain II.

One of the most dynamic players in the country, Hunter plays cornerback and wide receiver in college, but I think his best path as a professional is just on defense. Hunter can consistently stay sticky to his coverage assignment, showing off the quickness and body control to thrive in man-to-man situations, with the excellent burst to make plays on the football and nullify the receiver. He plays with a high level of intelligence for the position, and will take calculated gambles to fall off his coverage assignment and even bait quarterbacks into potential interception opportunities. Hunter seems to make a play in every quarter of the game.

That quickness and body control shows up when Hunter plays wide receiver, too, but he is more raw at the position, lacking the refinement that he shows on the other side of the ball, though he has rapidly improved this season. This makes two-way play at the next level a real possibility, even if it’s for a small package of play. Just a helluva football player.

Williams has battled back from an ankle injury and has started to ramp up his production, finally turning the flashes of tantalizing traits into sustained impact on the game.

Like most recent defensive line and edge prospects from Georgia, it’s all about seeing what Williams does when he is on the field as part of Georgia’s deep rotation up front. After a part-time role at the beginning of his Georgia career, Williams’ package of traits and impact play is instantly apparent now with more extended snaps. In the run game, he is constantly blasting offensive linemen back with his explosive strength and twitch, and when rushing the passer he flashes an evolving move set with the get-off and bendy athleticism to turn the corner on offensive tackles.

Williams has the size, athleticism, technique and competitiveness to be a true ace pass rusher from the edge for a defense that is also an impact player against the run. He also has the versatility to kick inside for snaps to create matchup advantages (which he has shown already in college). He still has to show more consistency and diversity with his pass rush moves, but Williams is an impressive player who should keep adding layers to his game with more playing time, and will benefit from more snaps on the outside this season.

When a Penn State defender now gets the No. 11 jersey, he is inevitably going to get compared to Micah Parsons, which is such a high bar and unfair for any player. The thing is, Carter might just be worthy of those comparisons. He is a twitchy pass rusher who can bend around corners and somehow stay on his feet despite contorting his body like Gumby.

Carter is still adding layers to his usage of hands and how to keep blockers off-balance, but he has the package of length, quick-twitch athleticism, bend, play strength and effort level to give him the upside of an elite ace edge defender with double-digit sack potential at the NFL level — with prior experience as an off-ball linebacker and interior pass rusher to boot. He still has to work on discipline in the run game, but it’s hard to find this amount of true pass rushing juice.

Plus, he does cool things with tape on his facemask.

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A smooth technician who seldom gets out of position with his feet or body as a blocker, Campbell already shows off very good hand usage and the ability to recover against defensive counters because of his calm and quick footwork.

LSU often puts Campbell on an island in dropback situations that will help his game translate to the next level, and he plays with good eyes and awareness as a run blocker and in protection, often anticipating defensive stunts and quickly adjusting. His funky stance often does his actual athleticism a disservice, as he’s able to thrust underneath his blocks with ease.

Campbell doesn’t seem to have the longest arms, but it hasn’t hindered him so far against longer defenders in college because of his hand placement, technique, and ability to constantly create leverage on his blocks. He’s an extremely smart player, too, often calling out blitzes and defensive movement on his side of the ball.

The human hand grenade, Graham is constantly exploding off the ball and creating havoc in the middle of an offense. Graham’s excellent first step, quick hands, balance and strength will let him get in the backfield in the blink of an eye, ending plays or forcing them to go off script right after the snap.

Graham is not an undersized gap-shooter who can get moved in the run game. He has good size (listed at 6-3, 318 pounds) and solid length that would allow him to align at a few different spots at the next level, with that strength showing up again as he works against double-teams in the run game. Graham is an explosive play machine for the defense. He does the dirty work stuff as well to make him so much more than a boom-or-bust player.

One of my favorite players in the draft. Walker plays both as an off-ball linebacker and an edge defender on the line of scrimmage in Georgia’s rush packages. He plays a little bit of everywhere, so much so he calls himself an “HLB” which stands for “hybrid linebacker.”

As an off-ball linebacker, Walker is a strong tackler and good athlete who is consistently quickly diagnosing plays. He can run, chase and has no issues taking on and shedding climbing offensive linemen, and has the athleticism to be a plus player in coverage. Walker is also a talented and productive pass rusher, and shows off his bend, strength and quickness when getting after the QB. Walker plays with his hair on fire and can hang as an off-ball linebacker who can stay on the field for all three downs and be a positive player against the run and pass, with the pass-rush ability being a giant cherry on top.

A human highlight reel. Jeanty isn’t the tallest (listed at 5-8), but he has a good build (217 pounds) and is a strong runner of the football. Jeanty has excellent speed and burst, but is more than willing to do his work between the tackles, where he shows off his rare contact balance and clean vision for running the football. He is also excellent at tempoing his runs, slowing to let blocks develop and then accelerating through the hole just as it opens, which shows up on Boise State’s gap schemes featuring pulling offensive linemen.

Jeanty is explosive, tough, well-rounded (he’s a natural catcher of the football and has a great feel on screens) and a great pass protector, and has the size, speed and vision to handle any type of run concept. Running back value is always a discussion, but Jeanty is worth a lottery pick. He can stay on the field and impact the game, in true needle-moving ways, on every single down. That’s valuable.

Banks is an experienced blindside blocker who is always under control. He is broadly built and seldom gets out of whack because of his light feet, very good base, strength and balance. He’s a competitive and tough player who can move people in the run game, and coordinators will have no qualms with running behind him. He’s even more fun to watch as a pass protector. Banks already uses his hands well, taking advantage of his length to strike defenders on the inside of their pads, allowing him to control and nullify them.

Banks lacks ideal height for the position (listed at 6-foot-4), but he has the length to help compensate for that. His intelligence, two-way play, quickness and strength, along with potentially having 40 games under his belt when he enters the NFL, give Banks the profile of a high-quality offensive line prospect who can hit the ground running as a professional. There is a part of me that wants to see him at guard at the next level, but his play this season has more than earned him the shot to stay out at tackle.

A strong and stout player who loves to drive offensive tackles backward, Scourton took his patented spin move (he might be the true successor to the Kerry Von Erich “Texas Tornado” moniker) to College Station in 2024 after spending two seasons at Purdue.

Scourton has a thick lower body and is a tough player to unroot for offensive linemen in the run game because of his strength and balance, while also being a good athlete who is light on his feet and can explode off the snap and toward the ball carrier. Scourton’s spin move is a great weapon that he uses effectively. He still has to develop more weapons to his pass rush arsenal and has been a bit inconsistent so far in 2024. But you appreciate that he plays hard on top of his talents and he played well against LSU.

(Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports)(Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports)

(Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports)

He’s a modern two-way safety who can align all over the field, make plays and provide answers for his defensive coordinator. On just one drive watching Starks, you will see him play as a split-field safety; deep in the post; as a robber; in the box; and in the slot. (Georgia even tasked Starks with covering Missouri star Luther Burden III in man coverage situations when they played in 2023.)

Starks is big, smart, athletic, versatile, a good tackler and can stay sticky in coverage against receivers and tight ends. He fits every type of scheme and every NFL defense would love to have him.

A monster on the outside, McMillan is a smooth athlete with very good hands and ball skills that give him true X-receiver upside. McMillan consistently creates yards with the ball in his hands because of his strength and balance and plenty of burst in such a big frame. He is also a good route runner who can sink and still has plenty of burst and speed to create separation on the intermediate levels. McMillan has been dominant in 2024 and has the makings of a match-up nightmare at the next level.

I had a more extended look at Nussmeier recently, so make sure to check that out. I really like his combination of aggressiveness, throwing creativity, anticipation, and ability to avoid sacks. His size (6-2, 200) is just average for the position, so I will be curious what his weight would be in the pre-draft period. But he has a real understanding for playing the position, is a better athlete than his rushing numbers indicate, and has performed in clutch moments for LSU. It’s a wide open QB class, and Nussmeier has made as good of a case as anybody so far this season, even if it isn’t all perfect for the first year starter.

Cam Ward exudes calmness when you watch him. Whether it’s in his pocket movements or executing in big moments, Ward is more than happy to try and make tough throws or attempt trick shots, and has no qualms continuing it even when punished. He has a good frame, a good arm with a quick sidearm delivery that can attack all three levels, and he can create with his legs or off-platform when needed and make the higher-difficulty plays. He can get a little too carried away with his heat check moments and have some throws get away from him, but Ward has continued to add layers to his game at each stop of his college career and makes everyone around him better. Ward and Nussmeier are two gunslingers that are just fun to watch.

A hoss (listed 6-6, 348 pounds) on the defensive line, but don’t let Walker’s size fool you. He has the athleticism and light feet to line up across the defensive front — he lines up at defensive end as much as defensive tackle in Kentucky’s three-down scheme— with hand quickness and pass rushing ability that make him much more than your typical XXXXL plugger.

Walker is a unique combination of size and finesse that would allow him to be a three-down defender who can eat up blockers or explode for tackles for loss and sacks from different spots up front. His game is just built on more finesse than you’d think given the frame, as he prefers to shoot gaps than bludgeon double teams. So don’t pigeonhole him as just another space eater and think of him more as a 3-4 defensive end or 4-3 defensive tackle than the next Mount Washington playing at nose tackle.

Morrison thrives in man coverage and pressing wide receivers. He’s not just trying to jam them and overwhelm opponents with strength. Instead, Morrison is a technician at cornerback. He has the balance and quickness to stay sticky with wide receivers, where his tight footwork and technique are highlighted even against bigger receivers, with his speed and burst allowing him to stay with routes that work away from him.

The fact he’s already shown the ability to not only hold up with the tough task of playing as a man cornerback but to thrive in those situations speaks to his talent and the maturity with which he plays the position. His size, in terms of bulk, isn’t ideal, and he is out for the rest of the season with a hip injury. But his play has kept him up on the board and his clean technique helps him overcome size limitations.

Revel has the ideal size (6-3, 193) and length of a starting outside cornerback in the NFL. He has good foot quickness and can start and stop to keep up with receivers and has the ball skills to smother receivers. Revel has to miss the rest of 2024 after an ACL injury early in the season, but his traits and small sample of play were strong enough that he actually has risen up my board from the preseason.

An easy mover in a large and long frame, Ersery has real starter potential as a blindside tackle at the next level. Ersery plays with solid technique and his hand placement is much better and more consistent than you will see with a majority of college tackles, which makes sense given his extended time as a starter. He is an asset in the run game because of his athleticism and quickness, being able to consistently cut off defensive linemen on the backside of runs and also climb to the second level. He displays good strength in his play, too. Even though he is long-limbed, he can bring some real movement and pop when he connects with his hands in the run game, making him a viable player to run behind.

It’s hard to find this package of length, size and athleticism at left tackle and the prospect actually have some polish to his play as well.

The definition of a speed rusher, Pearce has excellent burst and get-off and can get his way around offensive tackles in the blink of an eye. He can heat up the quarterback with explosiveness around the edge or use his good length to bullrush tackles into the quarterback. He is not as dynamic as a run defender, best knifing inside as opposed to taking on blockers, as he is as a pass rusher because of his just-adequate strength. But he has good length and a frame that he can keep adding bulk to, which gives you optimism he’ll improve in the area. He even has nice plays dropping into coverage, though his game will always be primarily built around getting after the passer. He reminds me a bit of Leonard Floyd.

Conerly has good length and plays light on his feet. He can really move in the run game because of his explosive get-off at the snap and has the ability to recover consistently as a pass protector because of his athleticism.

You can see Conerly working on his hand placement and technique while he plays, and he has greatly improved in this area so far this season. It’s encouraging that Conerly can still win on his blocks despite the inconsistencies, and we must be reminded that he’s still so young (he turns 21 in November). He has rapidly improved over the first two months of the season and will hopefully keep ascending and add even more layers to his technique. I was really impressed by how Conerly played in October.

An explosive slot wide receiver who can create first downs and touchdowns out of nothing, Burden has a good frame and is a weapon on manufactured and underneath touches. He can also win deep because of his very good speed and hand-eye coordination. Burden still has to show more as a route runner and whether he can win consistently on the outside and against press (he has mostly played from the slot or after being put in motion), but he has the ability to create explosive plays that NFL teams covet, with the ball skills to pluck the football from a variety of angles.

The biggest riser on my board. Harmon is a transfer from Michigan State that will align across the defensive line for the Ducks and is a strong defender against both the run and pass. And it’s his ability to impact the game in different ways, and on every down, that makes me like him so much. He has the size to play in the interior, with the strength to two-gap and enough explosive athleticism to create edginess along the offensive line when asked to slant across a lineman’s face or shoot the gap. Harmon has the foot speed and balance to be a rusher as a looper and can stay on the field for all four downs because he is an overall viable pass rusher (he even has winning snaps from a wide end position), but mostly wins with his strength and burst. Harmon’s rise up the board may have only just started.

Mason Graham is sitting higher on the board, but Grant is a talented player in his own right on Michigan’s front.

Grant won’t always fill up the box score with his play, but he’s a 340-pound nose tackle that can devour blockers with his size and strength, but has light feet and plenty of quickness to do more than just push the pocket or lean into the block. He still isn’t always consistently productive, but there are real snaps of Grant dominating the play (ask USC), and he is a consistent finisher on plays. He could keep ascending with more sustained play in the back half of the year.

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Our first Buckeye for the list (strap in!). Williams is a monster in the middle for the Ohio State defense. He has very good size (322 pounds) and is a strong run defender who seldom gets put out of position by the blocker.

Williams is a quick mover for his size. He is valuable on defensive line games and twists, and can loop around the edge and get in the backfield at a quicker pace than most players with his frame. That quickness also applies to his hands; he is an active pass rusher who really works and will also get his hands up when quarterbacks look to throw quickly. Players with size and skill on the interior like Williams will grow on every evaluator.

Simmons was putting together an excellent season before suffering a knee injury that ended his 2024 campaign. Long and light on his feet, Simmons is a quick mover in the run game who stays balanced when climbing to the second level and is able to consistently get across inside defenders on the backside of zone runs. His technique and strength in pass protection had improved this season, and he even brings some pop in the run game. Here’s hoping for a healthy recovery for Simmons.

More unrefined than his LSU teammate Will Campbell, Jones is a very good athlete with long arms who got rapidly better in 2023 and has maintained that improved play so far in 2024.

Like Campbell, LSU often puts Jones in one-on-one situations and he does an admirable job of holding his own, even against tougher competition. The best part of Jones’ game currently is his strong run blocking. He can get movement on double-teams and can really move in space. He is mostly good in pass protection, but still has to work on ducking his head. Jones has tools and a frame (6-6, 332 pounds) you can’t teach, and he is also a competitive player that looks to finish plays. A fun combination that coaches would love to work with.

You read that right: The Bowling Green Falcons are on the board! Fannin’s production is bonkers for any college pass catcher, but especially so for a tight end (66 receptions, 947 yards, seven total touchdowns already this season). Fannin’s presence is immediately apparent when watching Bowling Green’s offense; even when playing talent-laden schools like Texas A&M and Penn State, Fannin will look like the best player on the field.

Fannin doesn’t have prototypical tight end bulk (listed at 6-4, 230 pounds), but his play strength, superb contact balance, and sheer explosive athleticism make him a tough cover at all three levels and a tough player to tackle once the ball is in his hands. Fannin snatches the football, able to make plays away from his frame and make himself an even bigger target while also being a real weapon as a ball carrier (he gets designer plays like screens, designed runs, and even passes dialed up for him). He is athletic enough to split out wide and also constantly makes the first defender miss, with agility or strength both being paths to success for him. And that strength shows up as a blocker, where Fannin is viable even from in-line positions (he was able to take Nic Scourton one-on-one on a couple of snaps). Check Fannin out on an upcoming Tuesday night of #MACtion.

Loveland is a matchup nightmare who is a terror up the seams and the intermediate area of the field. He has good height and a frame that he can keep growing into and adding strength to, with the speed, body control, quickness and route-running polish to win across the formation, even on the outside. Loveland has good hands and catching range and can create yards after the catch because of his athleticism, but is still a work in progress as an in-line blocker. Still, the spark and advantages Loveland provides as a receiver make him a strong prospect and one of the best overall pass catchers in this class. The production hasn’t been there in 2024 because of shoddy quarterback play in Ann Arbor, but Loveland’s talent hasn’t gone anywhere.

Sanders has improved on his play this season, especially with his feel in the pocket and the timing that he plays with on concepts. Sanders is tough, has a good arm, and is more than willing to challenge defenders on tougher throws like in-breakers over the middle. When in rhythm, he can let his pass catchers thrive because of his friendly ball placement. Sanders has below-average size and is just an adequate athlete, which shows up when asked to create, but his markedly better pocket movement (although he still has a tendency to drift backward, his sack rate has cut drastically) combined with his arm strength has really solidified his prospect profile.

Shedeur Sanders is a first-round QB prospect at this point. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)Shedeur Sanders is a first-round QB prospect at this point. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Shedeur Sanders is a first-round QB prospect at this point. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) (Christian Petersen via Getty Images)

Ezeiruaku doesn’t have overwhelming size (listed at 6-2, 247 pounds), but is a disruptive pass rusher with a devastating swim move. He is a productive player that can consistently affect the passer and has twitchiness and enough length to overcome his lack-of-ideal size, but he can still get smothered by larger offensive tackles, especially in the run game. While this might limit his every-down projection at the next level, everyone loves pass rushers, and Ezeiruaku plays hard, is disruptive and get after the passer in a hurry.

Savaiinaea has a good, thick build and never looks out of sorts as a player. He’s able to stay in balance and in control as both a run and pass blocker (although he gets a tad too high at times in the run game). He’s a smart player with consistent hand placement and can really surprise pass rushers with his quickness.

Savaiinaea played at right tackle for the games that I studied, but he will be best served as a guard in the NFL (a position he has also played in his time at Arizona). He has good size and technique, but I do think quicker NFL edge rushers will give him issues. It’s funny how much of Savaiinaea’s game and how I view him remind me of his former teammate (and Packers 2024 first-round selection) Jordan Morgan.

Egbuka is ol’ reliable at the wide receiver position. He checks a lot of boxes as a prospect, even if none of his tools are elite. He is strong with good size, and is a sound and clean route runner who can play in the slot and outside with a great feel against zone and how to make himself friendly to the quarterback. Egbuka has good hands, speed and body control to consistently create YAC with the burst to split defenders. He might not have the highest ceiling for a prospect, but he is an extremely smart player with a very high floor and enough athleticism to keep tapping into. I’m a fan.

A part of the Rebels’ tenacious front, Nolen has finally started to hone his talent into more consistent play after transferring to Oxford from Texas A&M. Nolan is a very good athlete whose explosion, balance and bend standout, he is consistently able to keep his feet while working through and shedding blocks and is a true weapon on defensive line twists and games.

Hampton is already over 1,000 yards rushing this season and currently leads FBS in carries (181) and touches (204). While there is some concern about the wear and tear Hampton is taking this season, there’s a reason why North Carolina is giving him the ball so much. Hampton has very good size (6-0, 202) and runs with balance a great base. He constantly keeps his shoulders square to the line and uses jump cuts to set up blocks and work his way through holes. He’s not a big plodder, either. Hampton can accelerate through the hole and quickly to the second level when he does plant his foot to get upfield.

Milroe is massively improved compared to his 2023 campaign. Like, dramatically so. Even in recent Alabama loses, Milore was quickly making decisions and getting rid of the ball in a timely manner, or simply tucking and running when his options aren’t up to snuff. Playing quicker (while under control) has allowed him to showcase his upper-echelon arm talent and athleticism combination. It’s still not all all the way consistent (it’s remarkable how many times he’s thrown the ball while past the line of scrimmage in his career), but he still has plenty of time to showcase that he’s starting to gauge his cannon arm more consistently.

Sawyer is a (forgive me here) Jack-of-all-trades for the Buckeyes’ defense. He can play the run, rush the passer or drop into coverage at a plus-level and fill multiple roles throughout the front seven. Sawyer is a good athlete with burst off the ball, and his hands are constantly working and that helps him win over and over again against blockers. He might not have a singular standout trait, but Sawyer’s ability to align across the defensive front on any give down will make him an interesting skeleton key-type player for a creative NFL defensive coordinator.

Tuimoloau was flirting with the first round if he declared after the 2023 season. He decided to return to Columbus for a last hurrah. Tuimoloau plays with very good strength against the run and pass, and loves pushing the pocket (and poor offensive tackles) back into the quarterback. He can consistently set the edge and disrupt offenses in the run game and maintain position because of his strong hands and power. He has just adequate bend, but his overall pass rushing skills and strong and competitive play style make him a valuable player on a front. I see him as more of a strong secondary edge than a true ace.

Jack Sawyer (33) and JT Tuimoloau are two Ohio State defenders with futures in the NFL. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Jack Sawyer (33) and JT Tuimoloau are two Ohio State defenders with futures in the NFL. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Jack Sawyer (33) and JT Tuimoloau are two Ohio State defenders with futures in the NFL. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Time for an offensive Buckeye. Jackson might have to kick out to left tackle after Josh Simmons’ injury, but he is definitely a guard at the next level. A powerful and explosive one at that. Jackson has become a more consistent player as both a run and pass blocker this year, with more proper inside hands and balanced sets, letting him get some real movement on contact.

Zabel has clean technique, tons of experience (at multiple spots along the line, too) and never plays out of control. Zabel doesn’t have ideal bulk, but he is a good athlete and his calm play style lets him stay in balanced positions where his strong hands latch on and win rep after rep.

Judkins is strong and runs with a fantastic combination of power and grace. He can pull by defenders or run them over. The Ole Miss transfer can quickly get to fourth gear (maybe not fifth) and into the secondary in a hurry. He’s not a back that relies on just his speed, consistently showing the ability to tempo his runs and set up blockers with good vision and use his burst to take advantage. Judkins is also a good receiver with sticky hands who is a viable player to draw up plays for out of the backfield, with those sticky hands applying to his lack of career fumbles.

Overall, Judkins has the size, explosive play ability and hands of a high-end three-down running back who can be used in any situation and in any scheme. He might not have home run speed, but he can be a consistent doubles hitter on the ground or through the air in any offense.

Warren is a modern-day ‘Slash” for the Nittany Lions, lining up all across the formation, even as a quarterback on designed read plays. Warren is a talented athlete who can win against defensive backs when lined up in the slot and is a clean route runner with strong hands, while also being a real threat with the ball in his hands. The No. 44 jersey and explosive play ability just has me thinking Dallas Clark.

Davis has the outlandish size (6-4, 190 pounds) and frame that will have every former Legion of Boom coach drooling. Davis plays with good bend that lets him stay with smaller receivers and does a great job of using his length to make plays on the football (although his shaky hands are definitely why he doesn’t play receiver).

Henderson’s ability to affect the game on all three downs, especially in pass protection, will give him a path to success alone at the next level. Combined with solid hands and real home run speed, with an efficient running style that lets him get downhill in a hurry, he’ll be a strong contributor in any NFL offense.

Leonard has good size and is an excellent athlete who is a weapon on designed runs and in the open field. He has a great feel in the pocket with an ability to mitigate sacks and pressure, something he has shown behind two shaky offensive lines at Duke and now behind (forgive the pun) a green Notre Dame unit. He is an accurate thrower underneath and can drive the ball over the middle and outside the numbers, with some real flashes of layering throws, but his deep ball remains a gigantic question mark. Leonard’s tools and ability to avoid negative plays make him intriguing to me, and his overall passing has really picked up over the past few weeks as Notre Dame’s offense and personnel have started to mature. But he still has to show that he can execute those complex throws on a more consistent basis.

One of the most improved players in college football, Allar has really started to tighten his top-tier arm talent. When comfortable in the pocket, Allar can make any throw imaginable. He will still have sprays, especially when moved off-platform (he is still poor throwing on the move), as well as robotic play that crops up a bit too often. Allar is currently battling an injury, and may be best served with another year of refinement, but his size and tools, with just enough athleticism, are an intriguing combination. Especially if he continues to sharpen his accuracy and decision-making.

Taylor has strong pedigree being the son of Jason Taylor and nephew of Zach Thomas. He has a good frame and is a clean route runner that can quickly transition from receiver to runner. Taylor will compete as a blocker, but still has to add more play strength. Taylor was an instant contributor when he started college and LSU’s dropoff in receiver talent has allowed him to be highlighted more this season.

A big, strong people mover, Booker is a power guard that does his best work in gap schemes where he can use his strength to block down on defenders. Booker isn’t the quickest player, but consistently stands under control to land his powerful blows. He reminds me of former Raiders guard Gabe Jackson.

Williams has excellent size (6-5, 335 pounds) and long arms that make him stand out right away. He has to work on his consistency as a player, but his 2024 play has the arrow pointing way up. There just aren’t many players, at any level, that are built like Williams while also being able to bend and move in space as easily as Williams does.

Bond can simply roll. He gets north in a hurry and can quickly accelerate and create the always-valuable explosive play, sometimes out of nothing. He has below-average size which gets him knocked off routes at times, but his play speed translates to any offense.

A linebacker that actually plays in the box! At least most of the time. Stutsman is asked to do quite a bit in Oklahoma’s defense, but he is, at the very least, solid in all of those roles. As an off-ball player, he does a nice job of diagnosing run plays and staying disciplined, with adequate play strength to take on blocks and wrap up ball carriers. He’s also a sound player in zone coverages with enough athleticism to hold up in man situations.

  • Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford

  • Austin Barber, OT, Florida

  • Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama

  • Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss

  • Landon Jackson, Edge, Arkansas

  • Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa

  • Wyatt Milum, OG, West Virginia

  • Devin Neal, RB, Kansas

  • LT Overton, DL, Alabama

  • Kevin Winston Jr., S, Penn State



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About The Author

Avatar of Michele Paul
Michele Paul is the news writer for Stated Podcast. She has written about everything from arts and construction to automotive and travel, as well as real estate and fashion. Michele also writes about her hobbies: cooking, watching movies with her husband and hanging out with her family.

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