Rob Rang
NFL Draft Analyst
For followers of the vacations and NFL scouts, alike, it truly is the perfect time of the yr.
The 46 bowl video games this winter present expertise evaluators and school soccer followers with fairly the smorgasbord of tasty matchups. And, after all, this yr is totally different from the previous, with the introduction of the School Soccer Playoff, offering the nation’s finest 12 groups with a real path to a nationwide title.
[NFL Mock Draft: Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders, to go 1-2?]
Even probably the most passionate school soccer followers would possibly discover themselves overwhelmed by this many bowl video games, nevertheless. So, we have waded by way of the gauntlet to determine the highest NFL prospect at every place to assist focus your personal scouting, avoiding the gamers who’ve already introduced their intentions to both choose out of the bowl recreation to start their preparation for the draft, or these electing to return to varsity soccer subsequent yr.
Sanders, after all, wants little introduction for many school soccer followers. He and his father, “Coach Prime,” have helped Colorado go from bottom-feeder to bully in simply two years, with the quarterback successful the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and the Huge 12’s Offensive Participant of the Yr this season. Sanders is poised and exact from the pocket, main the nation with a glowing 74.2% completion price and the Huge 12 in each passing yards (3,926) and touchdowns (35) towards simply seven interceptions. BYU is an intriguing remaining matchup for Sanders within the Alamo Bowl, because the Cougars quietly rank among the many stingiest move defenses within the nation, permitting simply 187 yards and 0.9 touchdowns by way of the air per recreation.
Projected NFL Draft Grade: 1st spherical
The best way to watch him: Alamo Bowl vs. BYU, Saturday, Dec. 28 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Due to the punishment inherent to the place, top-tier working backs ceaselessly choose out of bowl video games, however this yr’s Heisman Trophy runner-up has lots to play for with the Broncos within the playoffs. It’s nearly as onerous to explain Jeanty with out venturing into hyperbole as it’s to sort out him. The back-to-back Mountain West Convention Offensive Participant of the Yr, he is scampered for 4,665 yards and 50 touchdowns in three seasons at Boise State, displaying off the imaginative and prescient, contact-balance and breakaway pace that has earned him comparisons from scouts to New Orleans Saints’ All-Professional Alvin Kamara.
Projected NFL Draft Grade: 1st spherical
The best way to watch him: CFP quarterfinal on the Fiesta Bowl vs TBD, Tuesday, Dec. 31 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Ashton Jeanty 2024 Boise State Broncos Full Season Highlights
4 Buckeye receivers have been chosen within the first spherical of the previous three drafts, and Egbuka is a stable guess to proceed that streak. A savvy route-runner who excels out of the slot, Egbuka is likely one of the few pro-ready receivers on this class, displaying wonderful physique management, imaginative and prescient and braveness by way of site visitors, and dependable fingers. He lacks the eye-popping dimension and pace of a few of this yr’s different prime receivers, so he could not win the exercise portion of the pre-draft course of. However he initiatives as a direct and long-time NFL starter.Â
Projected NFL Draft Grade: 1st-2nd spherical
The best way to watch him: CFB First Spherical Playoff at residence vs. Tennessee, Saturday at 8 p.m. ET
Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka exhibits off pace on 68-yard TD
Warren is amongst a trio of tight ends to crack the primary spherical in my up to date mock draft, however the one one enjoying in a bowl recreation this winter. It is not typically that tight ends are so productive that they’re within the Heisman Trophy dialog, however Warren was, ending seventh in voting after main the playoff-bound Nittany Lions in nearly each receiving class. His 88 catches are practically 50 greater than Penn State’s subsequent receiver (wideout Harrison Wallace III). Warren is not probably the most fleet-of-foot, however he possesses pillow-soft fingers and wonderful physique management to beat out defenders on contested throws. He is additionally beastly after the catch, displaying stability and toughness to slide tackles.
Projected NFL Draft Grade: 1st-2nd spherical
The best way to watch him: CFB First Spherical Playoff at SMU, Saturday at midday ET
Banks has been cash at left sort out for the Longhorns the previous three seasons, rising as a real freshman to win the Huge 12’s Offensive Lineman of the Yr. He missed the SEC championship recreation towards Georgia attributable to a left ankle sprain, however Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian appears optimistic that his star move blocker will likely be again this weekend towards Clemson. As a result of he’s a tad shorter than your typical sort out (he’s listed at 6-foot-4 on the Texas site) and possesses simply common arm size, he might face the identical sorts of questions that led many to query whether or not Rashawn Slater might stay on the surface within the NFL. Slater has since emerged as a Professional Bowl left sort out for the L.A. Chargers and Banks possesses related gentle toes, core energy and technically-sound hand placement.
Projected NFL Draft Grade: 1st Spherical
The best way to watch him: CFB First Spherical Playoff vs. Clemson, Saturday at 4 p.m. ET
Kelvin Banks possesses related gentle toes, core energy and technically-sound hand placement as Chargers sort out Rashawn Slater. (Getty Photographs)
It might be Kalen DeBoer calling the pictures in Tuscaloosa now, however the 6-foot-5, 325-pound Booker was recruited to Alabama by Nick Saban, and he’s exactly the huge bulldozer we have come to count on from his program. Booker signed with Alabama as a five-star recruit out of Connecticut and earned quick enjoying time, rising as a starter late in his first season on campus. He earned Second Crew All-SEC accolades in 2023 and graduated to First Crew and All-American honors this yr. He is surprisingly fast off the snap, however it his energy and girth that stand aside. Booker is an old-school people-mover at his finest in a downhill dashing assault.
Projected NFL Draft Grade: 1st-2nd spherical
The best way to watch him: ReliaQuest Bowl vs. Michigan, Tuesday, Dec. 31 at midday ET
Essentially the most skilled participant on this article, Majors’ begin towards Clemson within the opening spherical of the 2024-25 playoffs on Saturday would be the 52nd of his school profession. And it is not simply his expertise as a starter that has scouts , as Majors was matching up towards elite defensive tackles — together with 2024 top-40 picks Byron Murphy II and T’Vondre Sweat — every single day in observe, as effectively. Majors possesses a professional NFL-caliber body at 6-foot-3 and 315 kilos. He is additionally savvy, successful battles inside with good stability, hand placement and anticipation. Majors is not an elite athlete, and he might even slide to the third day of the draft, however nobody must be shocked if he emerges as a longtime NFL starter, even when drafted within the center rounds.
Projected NFL Draft Grade: 4th-Fifth spherical
The best way to watch him: CFB First Spherical Playoff vs. Clemson, Saturday at 4 p.m. ET
The NFL is all about upside, and few prospects eligible for the 2025 draft provide extra of it than Williams, an imposing 6-foot-5, 265-pound junior simply scratching the floor of his potential. Williams has the burst and bend to be an efficient move rusher, however at present he’s overly reliant on his energy. Given his dimension and pro-ready energy, nevertheless, that is a wonderful start line. A Grade Two left ankle sprain restricted Williams’ effectiveness earlier within the yr, however he is performed higher because the season has gone on, recording two sacks towards Texas to assist Georgia win the SEC Championship and earn a first-round bye within the playoffs.
Projected NFL Draft Grade: 1st spherical
The best way to watch him: Sugar Bowl vs TBD, Wednesday, Jan. 1 at 8:45 pm ET
Mykel Williams has the burst and bend to be an efficient move rusher, however at present he’s overly reliant on his energy. (Getty Photographs)
Michigan’s Mason Graham would be the first defensive sort out chosen within the 2025 NFL Draft, however he opted out of the ReliaQuest Bowl to start his exercise prep early, creating extra of a platform for his Huge Ten rival. Harmon, a Detroit native who started his school profession at Michigan State, is much more highly effective than his listed 6-foot-5, 310-pound body suggests. He wins with girth, energy and pad degree to anchor towards double-teams, and boasts sufficient agility to separate gaps, incomes AP All-American honors whereas racking up career-highs in tackles (42), tackles for loss (9), sacks (5), passes damaged up (4) and compelled fumbles (two).
Projected NFL Draft Grade: 1st spherical
The best way to watch him: Rose Bowl vs TBD, Wednesday, Jan. 1 at 5 p.m. ET
Dan Lanning discusses the keys to Oregon’s Huge Ten title
With the switch portal and NIL {dollars} protecting many underclassmen in school soccer, the 2025 NFL draft is missing in blue chip prospects. Ought to Carter, a junior, quit his remaining eligibility to go to the NFL, I consider he’ll emerge as considered one of them. In his first two seasons in Blissful Valley, Carter performed in an off-ball linebacker function, however he transitioned to extra of a move rush specialist this season for Penn State, displaying the explosive burst and energy that may earn him at the least the same grade as his former teammate, Chop Robinson — who was chosen twenty first general by Miami final spring. Carter led the Huge Ten in tackles for loss this season with 20, together with 10 sacks and a few compelled fumbles. He is obtained the perfect toes of any rusher on this class.
Projected NFL Draft Grade: 1st spherical
The best way to watch him: CFB First Spherical Playoff vs SMU, Saturday, at midday ET
Among the many extra underrated contributors to the Geese’ No. 1 rating is Bassa, a former security who has grown right into a full-service linebacker, recording 231 tackles, together with 14 for loss over his profession. He’s not as stout on the level of assault as among the different prime linebackers on this class and is probably generously listed by Oregon at 6-foot-2 and 235 kilos. However the NFL is not on the lookout for “simply” run-stuffers at linebacker. Bassa’s consciousness and athleticism stand out in protection, and he is a slippery move rusher, as effectively. An early Senior Bowl invitee who will carry out effectively in exercises, count on Bassa’s inventory to rise because the draft approaches.
Projected NFL Draft Grade: 2nd-Third spherical
The best way to watch him: Rose Bowl vs TBD, Wednesday, Jan. 1 at 5 p.m. ET
People, I have been evaluating NFL prospects for a very long time, and I’ve by no means seen somebody fairly like Hunter, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner. I toyed with the thought of itemizing him at vast receiver as a result of, frankly, he is a star on that facet of the ball, as effectively. However the 6-foot-1, 185-pounder is at his finest on protection, displaying the mirroring expertise to venture as a Day 1 lockdown cowl nook. Most drafts boast a possible Professional Bowl cornerback or two, however hardly ever does one come together with Hunter’s instincts and ball expertise. It is not typically that I really feel so strongly a few participant that I write about him after watching him play one recreation. That was the case with Hunter again in Sept. 2023, when it was already apparent that he was “him.”
No cornerback has ever been chosen No. 1 general within the NFL draft, and since the league prioritizes quarterbacks and move rushers greater than defensive backs, maybe that may proceed. However there isn’t a query in my thoughts that Hunter, a real junior, is the elite prospect doubtlessly eligible for the 2025 draft.
Projected NFL Draft Grade: 1st spherical
The best way to watch him: Alamo Bowl vs. BYU, Saturday, Dec. 28 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Whereas the aforementioned Hunter has understandably dominated all discuss first spherical picks amongst defensive backs, Starks is simply as clearly this draft’s elite security prospect. Frankly, it’s onerous to search out fault in Starks’ recreation. The 6-foot-1, 205-pounder strikes like a cornerback, displaying the notice and athleticism to shrink passing lanes, in addition to uncommon ball expertise for the place, breaking apart 17 passes (intercepting six of them) in simply three seasons of motion. Additional, he is aggressive and extremely bodily towards the run, triggering downhill for giant hits and dependable open-field tackles. It is not typically that safeties generate top-10 choices, however ought to Starks, a real junior, head to the draft, he deserves that form of consideration.
Projected NFL Draft Grade: 1st spherical
The best way to watch him: Sugar Bowl vs TBD, Wednesday, Jan. 1 at 8:45 pm ET
Rob Rang is an NFL Draft analyst for FOX Sports activities. He has been overlaying the NFL Draft for greater than 20 years, with work at FOX, Sports activities Illustrated, CBSSports.com, USA In the present day, Yahoo, NFL.com and NFLDraftScout.com, amongst others. He additionally works as a scout with the BC Lions of the Canadian Soccer League. Comply with him on Twitter @RobRang.
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