A lot has changed since the beginning of the college football season regarding the 2025 NFL Draft stock of many prospects.
Plenty more will change before Roger Goodell starts calling names next April — including the draft order — but momentum is starting to build for the potential top picks.
With conference championship games, bowls, and the 12-team playoff here to end the season, here’s resetting the overall and positional rankings ahead of the pre-draft evaluation process.
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He’s the unique “freak” of next year’s class with his mega size and athleticism that makes him a strong cover man and almost equally adept receiver when called upon, which happened more with his snap count later in the Buffaloes’ season.
Graham has powerful run-stopping qualities to go with unique disruptive skills for an interior pass rusher.
Johnson has the potential to be a pure shutdown corner with his great coverage ability and fluidity for his size.
McMillan is the classic size-speed prospect who can stretch the field well, and he uses his size to position himself nicely in the red zone.
Carter can play from the inside or out and get to the quarterback with great pass-rush results, and he also shows great range vs. the run.
There’s nothing Starks can’t do vs. run and pass, and he has a knack for making big plays and cleaning up everything in front of and lateral to him.
Jeanty crept into the high first-round workhorse conversation with some compact pop as a power runner while packing explosive speed, too.
Sanders can do everything as a pinpoint pocket passer and has a knack for making big plays when needed most.
Ward is a fluid, big-armed pocket passer, but he also has the ability to extend plays with his legs and has the athleticism to be a more dynamic dual threat in the NFL.
Campbell is a smooth pass protector who can be a long-term rock at left tackle.
Williams is a power-based inside presence who can be an absolute load vs. big blockers on the pass rush.
The Alabama transfer has been a speedy vertical threat — a nice program follow-up to record-setting speedster Xavier Worthy playing with Quinn Ewers.
Burden is a dangerously quick open-field receiver who is versatile enough to thrive outside or in the slot. He has special after-the-catch burst, too.
Banks is another great, agile pass protector in this class, just behind Campbell in that capacity.
Scourton is a devastating pass rusher who can create mismatches with his powerful yet athletic frame.
Pearce is a naturally explosive and super athletic pass rusher who can become more dangerous with more polish and a wider repertoire.
Walker has used the season to garner more appeal as a do-everything versatile linebacker in the Nick Bolton mode.
Milroe has had some ups and downs in the new offense, but overall, he brings some intriguing dual-threat upside with his arm and top-flight athleticism.
Morrison is a sound coverage man with good technique and high on-ball playmaking skills. He should recover well from his hip injury ahead of the pre-draft process.
Emmanwori flies around the field and plays like an extra linebacker against the run and is getting some first-round consideration because of plus coverage skills, too.
Grant formed a literally massive 1-2 punch with Graham with his sturdy frame against the run and his pass-rush power.
Williams has some big upside as a compact, quick inside pass rusher and made a good decision to return to school to round out his game.
Loveland has the complete look as the NFL’s next athletic, impact tight end, and he should get strong first-round consideration.
Egbuka is another Buckeyes’ route-running technician with great hands and quickness to reliably make big plays.
Walker has rare athleticism for his massive frame that allows him to be uniquely devastating in the pass rush.
Warren is a classic tight end who settles in well down the seam with his routes and has the athleticism to cause some slot WR-like coverage issues.
Harris is a steady big target who knows how to get open in clutch situations, including on third down and in the red zone, while working outside.
Revel has caught the attention of many scouts with how well he uses his size and physicality while covering big outside receivers.
Ersery has the tantalizing upside to put together his power and athleticism into the complete left tackle package.
Jackson projects as a nasty, mauling interior lineman made for consistently strong NFL run blocking.
Sawyer has a strong calling card as a pass-rusher, but his real strength is how he balances that with elite play against the run, too, keeping him on the field as an every-down playmaker.
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Saviinaea can play either inside or outside with his natural pass-protecting agility, and he has the frame to become a much bigger asset in the running game.
Ewers is right there behind Sanders in terms of pocket passing. He’s very accurate and can make all the downfield throws with high efficiency.
The Ole Miss transfer has gotten more attention in Columbus for packing a serious power-running punch in his frame and also coming through when needed as a receiver.
Perkins can play in a variety of spots on a front seven. He has the versatility to get to the quarterback outside or inside as an impactful rotational player.
Stewart is right behind Egbuka with his quick route-running and after-the-catching playmaking upside.
Burke was wise to return to school to become a more polished, well-rounded cover man who can handle any downfield assignment.
Milum has shown a great blend of athleticism, handwork, and footwork to be a very effective zone blocker in the NFL.
Jones projects as the ideal, powerful run blocker with some pass-protection upside at right tackle.
Tuimoloau can be special with his frame and athleticism. He was wise to come back to college to develop more front-line consistency.
Jackson, because of his monstrous size, can be a terrific versatile defensive line asset in a 4-3 base front.
Johnson is a quick downhill runner who has some workhorse potential because of his improving receiving skills.
Winston is a great clean-up man against the run who also can handle himself well as a consistent slot cover man in any scheme.
Ezeiruaku has incredible burst and zip as a pass rusher and can quickly further develop the other aspects of the game.
Stutsman is a tackling machine and a growing asset in coverage, showing more consistency and improved technique.
Stewart is an extremely stout outside run defender who’s getting more attention for his underrated physical pass-rush pop.
Sanders has great size, strength, and versatility, and he’s capable of blowing up running plays and rushing the passer in any alignment.
Barton is the ideal speed linebacker who covers a lot of ground vs. the run and pass.
Williams got on the board with his power and has used the season to show fine athleticism on the same line as Banks.
Conerly is another tackle with a great combination of mauling and finesse blocking skills.
Collins is showing that he can use his power and strength to flash as a destructive force.
Simmons has gotten into the early draft conversation with Williams and Conerly thanks to showing the ideal balance between power and agility.
Hampton helps make this a much stronger running back class early than 2024 because he also has three-down potential thanks to his power, quickness, and hands.
Overton is rather big for a quick pass rusher, and he uses that frame to his full advantage in overpowering blockers.
Harmon is a solid all-around interior force who can work best inside in a 4-3.
Fannin has had an exceptional pass-catching season and has the ability to excel in that capacity working inline or as a “move.”
Umanmielen is an intriguing 3-4 pass-rush prospect and can be moved around well to produce in that particular scheme.
Booker is known for his powerful run blocking, but he also has nimble, quick feet for his size.
Beck has fallen a bit because of his inconsistency and tentative decision-making, relying too much on shorter routes vs. finding his deeper pass accuracy. But his experience and production as a pocket passer say he can still thrive in the right system, such as any offensive extension of Sean McVay.
Gillotte’s unique blend of power and strength makes him another versatile 4-3 defensive lineman to consider early along with Jackson, potentially as high as the first round.
Allar has some downfield passing prowess as a prototypical pocket passer in the vein of the Titans’ Will Levis, who once played for the Nittany Lions.
Castro is a smart, physical outside or slot corner who plays bigger than his size and can still improve in coverage.
Watts is the complete package as a playmaker with his quickness, aggressiveness, and toughness, and he can keep rising up boards.
Ivey is a powerful defensive end made to complement a big-time pass rusher well in a 4-3.
Delp isn’t on the level of former teammate Brock Bowers, but he does offer speedy and quick field-stretching at times on top of being a red-zone asset.
Restrepo has stood out as a slot receiver who can thrive with his quickness and toughness.
Green is getting more attention for his pure explosiveness in getting after the quarterback.
Gordon has great size as a power back and also has massive burst between the tackles. He has some three-down qualities behind Jeanty and Johnson.
Kennard is a high-energy relentless pass rusher who explodes through the whistle.
Ayomanor has a good blend of power and speed to think he could be a nice X or Z complement to a No. 1.
Carter has the typical do-everything range. He finishes well against the run but also stays on the field as a coverage ace.
Nolen is a little behind an early strong class at the position because he’s a run-stopper first who’s still developing as an inside pass rusher.
Singleton does a little of everything well to the point he can be a strong committee back regardless of who he’s complementing.
Lawson is an outstanding run-pursuit tackler who can still grow in coverage.
Mbow is also on the rise, standing out on a bad team with a powerful, mean frame that pushes interior defensive linemen out of the way.
Johnson is a diminutive dasher with great speed and quickness who can make big plays in the Tank Dell mold.
Sampson has become a hot sleeper with his big-time season for the Volunteers and also can excel in any scheme or capacity in the NFL.
Hairston is a technically sound and big physical cover man who can be more effective if he improves his playing speed.
Campbell can be a huge asset vs. the pass, having the athleticism to fly upfield at the quarterback or ace downfield coverage.
Barron is a terrific chess piece for the Longhorns who can go from extra linebacker to nickel back status depending on what’s needed.
Mullings projects as a reliable power back with underrated big-play burst.
Grant excels at using his hands and feet when blocking and has rare athleticism for his size.
Horton projects as a speedy, field-stretching receiver who complements possession route-runners well on the outside.
Henderson is a bit overshadowed by Judkins on his own team, but he can’t be forgotten as an attractive asset in the passing game on top of solid running.
Watch for Nussmeier’s continued rise as a strong-armed, confident passer with great intangibles and the ability to make every throw from the pocket with accuracy.
Hill has a blend of intriguing physical skills to go with an ideal frame to handle either bigger or smaller receivers.
Mukuba, the former Clemson star, has transitioned well to the Longhorns defense with his rangy quickness and swift scheme diagnosis to make clutch plays.
Lacy is a smart, smooth outside route runner with some starting “X” upside.
Helm is a well-rounded receiver and blocker who represents an old-school option at the position with ideal size.
Muhammad can pass some of the bigger corners in this class, as his sound coverage technique gives him a high floor. His active ballhawking also sets up a high ceiling.
Mondon has proved to be an equal asset vs. the run and pass to the point that he can do everything asked in any defensive scheme.
Cross’ relentlessness and quickness suggest he can make a lot of plays vs. the pass and run in a 4-3.
Membou fights hard to win his blocks with great toughness and quick feet.
Dennis-Sutton is a well-rounded defender, but there’s still room to grow as a pass rusher and be more consistent vs. the run.
Taylor is a versatile, back-like receiver who gets open well in short areas.
Delane is a smooth-looking agile cover man who has untapped upside with his size.
Bowman should be on the radar to rise with his all-out versatile on-ball playmaking.
Davis is a fluid big corner prospect who uses his wingspan and physical frame to his full advantage in coverage.
Through the pre-draft process, more 4-3 teams will find it hard to refuse the quickness and pop he can offer.
Gabriel has a great blend of experience, accuracy, intangibles, and athleticism, but his size and lack of elite arm strength will only get him initial interest as an intriguing developmental backup.
