2025 Top 10 Prospects
Players to watch this college season
It is never too early to start thinking about the next NFL draft! Below are my early frontrunners to be top ten picks in next year’s draft. This list will change a lot over the next year as players get a whole extra season of experience under their belt, but right now they are the most talented prospects in the 2025 class. While 2024 was the year of the quarterbacks and wide receivers, 2025 will be all about pass rushers and corners. It might become one of the best defensive line drafts that we have seen.
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James Pearce Jr., DE Tennessee
Play style comp: Kayvon Thibodeaux
Pierce might be the best all around defensive prospect that I have ever scouted. At 6’5 and 242 pounds he has the ideal body to be an NFL defensive end, and his numbers last year speak for themselves. 9.5 sacks, 18 tackles, 14.5 tackles for a loss, 2 forced fumbles, an interception, and a better than 21% pressure rate. He is still raw and has room to develop more creative pass rushing moves, but his instincts and athleticism are unmatched. One clip in particular stood out to me from his film.
Pearce was lined up 1-on-1 with JC Latham, the man who just went 7th overall in the last draft. Pearce bull rushes Latham straight into the backfield, and then proceeds to strip sack the QB using only one hand. It is one of the most awesome displays of raw power that I can remember, and it is just a taste of what this man can accomplish throughout his career. I expect him to go first overall barring a setback, and become a star in the league for years to come. If his turnover and sack numbers remain high, we may be looking at a Heisman candidate here as well in a down year for skill position players.
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Mason Graham, DT Michigan
Play style comp: Derrick Brown
Graham, the Rose Bowl defensive MVP, is a surefire top pick in next year’s draft. He had a 16% pass rush win rate to go along with 22 run stops in college last year, something no other defensive tackle in the country was able to do. The ideal 3-tecnique prospect, if he were to carry those numbers over to the NFL he would immediately become a top 10 player at the position. He wasn’t just stat padding either, as he wracked up no less than 5 pressures in the National Championship against Washington’s great offensive line. Graham still has room to improve on finishing tackles, but his high motor and talent will attract many front offices next April. Also, while he might look like a nerd off the field, once he throws on the eye black the vibes go through the roof.
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Will Campbell, OT LSU
Play style comp: Taylor Decker
In addition to being a proud member of the no sack club, Campbell is the best run blocker in the class. His hand usage is absolutely elite and my favorite part about his game. Strong, fast, and well placed, he is fantastic at keeping pass rushers away from his body and extending to reach linebackers without getting off balance. From a technical perspective he is incredibly solid as well. I think Campbell will be the first offensive lineman off the board in the next draft, especially after he develops some more this season.
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Will Johnson, CB Michigan
Play style comp: Patrick Peterson
Johnson is big for a corner at 6’2 and 202, and his numbers are crazy. He allowed 0 touchdowns, and when throwing against him QBs had only a 45% completion rate, 29.1 passer rating, and a Raw QBR of 4.6. He is physical and aggressive with very fluid movement in space. My one criticism is that he can get a little carried away sometimes trying to make the big play, rather than staying disciplined. It has been a few years since an elite lockdown corner has been available, and I bet franchises will be clamoring to add Johnson to their squads.
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Carson Beck, QB Georgia
Play style comp: Tom Brady
Finally, a skill position player! I know that Beck is not the most exciting prospect ever, but he is still a very polished quarterback. He had a 72% completion percentage resulting in 24 TDs, 6 INTs, and an 86.0 QBR, all whilst running a very pro style offense. He is an accurate passer with great touch, although his arm strength is nothing to write home about. Carson also managed four rushing touchdowns this year, suggesting that he can be an effective scrambler. He is listed at 6’4 and 223, the exact dimensions that Brady played at for most of his career. The Giants and Raiders would both love to have Beck, and potentially the Titans and Panthers as well.
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Luther Beck, WR Missouri
Play Style Comp: Jaylen Waddle
If your team missed out on a top WR this year, Beck is the answer. He is highly dangerous with the ball in his hands, putting up 710 yards YAC and 32 broken tackles, both good enough to be top five in the country. These traits combined with his deep ball skills make him an elite prospect at the next level, as he caught 7 out of 11 contested targets over 30 yards last season. A great route runner who can change direction on a dime, there is a lot to love here. Burden is a little small but his speed and versatility to play from the outside or the slot will earn him a top pick.
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Kelvin Banks, OT Texas
Play style comp: Dion Dawkins
Banks has missed only a couple of snaps in two full seasons, giving up just two sacks in 1,800 plays. That is Joe Thomas level of durability. He moves very well for his size, and is ferocious at finishing blocks. He is still a little raw, but the talent and athleticism shine on film. When he makes contact in the second level he can absolutely obliterate a linebacker, but I have seen a few outright whiffs on his tape as well. Once Banks cleans that up, he will be a franchise guy at a very important position in the league.
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Benjamin Morrison, CB Notre Dame
Play Style Comp: Xavien Howard
Morrison is an elite man cover corner. He sticks to receivers like glue, and is especially dominant at the line of scrimmage. He has nine interceptions over the last two years to go along with 13 pass breakups, while only giving up one completion of more than 20 yards (courtesy of Caleb Williams). He would fit best in an aggressive press scheme, similar to what is run in Jacksonville and and Kansas City. Receivers at the NFL level are only getting faster and stronger, and Morrison would slow them down enough to be a great addition to any secondary.
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Deone Walker, DT Kentucky
Play Style Comp: Dexter Lawrence
Walker is an absolute monster at 6’6 and 350 pounds, yet he jumps off the snap like a guy 40 pounds lighter. He led all FBS tackles in pressures last year, and even lined up at the end position a few times. A one man wrecking ball who can swallow double teams whole, there is a ton to like in Walker. Like many tall players he can be too upright at times, and I am curious to see how he will adapt to facing NFL style zone run schemes. If Deone lives up to his potential, I might seem silly for having him outside the top 5.
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Travis Hunter, CB/WR Colorado
Play Style Comp: Devin Hester
The scouting world seems split on whether Hunter would do best as a corner or wide receiver in the NFL, but I say “Why not both?” His athleticism and playmaking ability are off the charts, and I think teams will want him on the field as much as possible. We are talking about unparalleled levels of versatility here. Even if he is only a WR3 and nickel corner, the option to slot him in on either side of the ball in the case of injury would be a huge boost to a franchise. He is incredibly explosive, quick, and fluid, reminding me of an elite defensive shortstop in the way that he attacks the ball. I know the Colorado boys have been falling down draft boards with their recent social media antics, but Hunter’s upside is too high to pass up.