SNS 2025 NFL Draft - Scout's Notebook (December 6, 2024)

(Abdul Carter / EDGE / Penn State)

2024 College Football Draft Defensive Prospect Trends

As we enter the conference championship weekend of an entertaining and surprising college football regular season, the introduction of the expanded twelve team playoff field and the continuing impact that the NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) has had on the management of college rosters, is making the game unpredictable and entertaining on the field for fans of non-traditional powers such as Indiana and SMU that have overachieved this year and heartbreaking and ego smashing for fans of traditional powers like Michigan, Florida State, and Alabama that have stumbled this season. Similarly, several players who entered the season as intriguing prospects have climbed up draft boards and have elevated their status as next April approaches including QB Cam Ward (Miami, Fl), RB Ashton Jeanty (Boise State), TE Tyler Warren (Penn State), EDGE Mikhail Kamara (Indiana), and CB Quincy Riley (Louisville). Likewise, prospects QB Carson Beck (Georgia), RB Ollie Gordon (Oklahoma State), and EDGE Patrick Payton (Florida State) have underperformed and left the scouting community scratching their collective heads, wondering what is going on. Let’s take a look at a few of the draft trends that the 2024 college football revealed.

2025 EDGE Rusher Class Quality is in the Eye of the Beholder

A premium position that is always in poor supply relative to demand, the 2025 EDGE Rusher class has quite a few potential difference makers but similar to the 2025 QB class, the top EDGE Rushers all have issues that may keep them from reaching their potential. In other words, there is a lack of a complete EDGE Rusher who has both the size to set a strong edge in the run game and the agility and burst to bend, flatten, and close on the QB. That is not to say that there is a lack of talent in the potential top EDGE rushers in this class but rather that all of these prospects are a work in progress and still need development to reach their potential. Nic Scourton (Texas A&M) is as close to a complete prospect as there is in this class with the size and length desired at the position. He is one of the best run stuffers amongst the top prospects at the position. Scourton makes a living in the backfield and is effective pushing the pocket with a combination of power and closing burst. Scourton needs to add some pass rush moves to become more effective and consistent but the former Purdue Boilermaker looks like an NFL starter as a rookie. Abdul Carter (Penn State) may be the best athlete in the class with elite agility, quickness, bend, and burst that every NFL team covets at EDGE. He has excellent range and hustles and chases plays well from the backside. His instincts are still developing and he has a tendency to be over-aggressive and too easily fooled, and he has some difficulty when ran at, but his upside is intriguing and makes him a likely Top 10 pick next April. Mykel Williams (Georgia) was a 5-star recruit and widely considered the top prospect in his high school class but has battled injuries and inconsistency during his time in Athens. But he has a great frame with solid mass and a large wingspan that fits what the NFL is looking for at EDGE. He has improved, especially over the course of this season, and is starting to reach his potential as Georgia enters the SEC Championship game on Saturday afternoon. Williams needs to add some pass rush moves to his arsenal but looks to be a better pro than college player.  JT Tuimoloau (Ohio State) is a fundamentally solid, experienced, and well-rounded 4-3 DE who sets a strong edge and possesses a powerful bull rush. He has limited foot quickness and does not bend and flatten as well as desired. But Tuimoloau is very strong and is a high-quality run defender. He should contribute as a rookie. Ashton Gillotte (Louisville) has the frame, mass, and length desired for a 4-3 DE and plays with a great base and power. He is stout against the run and converts speed to power well. Gillotte is not overly elusive or quick and has only an average closing burst but he gives maximum effort and leaves it all on the field. Donovan Ezeiruaku (Boston College) has rebounded from a disappointing 2023 season and has become one of the most productive pass rushers in the nation this year recording 16.5 sacks and 21 TFLs on the year. Ezeiruaku lacks the size to line up down in, down out on the defensive line in the NFL and will need to prove he has the athleticism and speed to play in space as an off the ball LB on early downs to be more than a situational pass rusher. But Ezeiraku is a disruptive player who will push for playing time as a rookie. Landon Jackson (Arkansas) has been invited to the Senior Bowl partially based on his career production and steady improvement over the course of his career in Fayetteville, but also because the NFL loves prospects who checks the boxes of height, weight, and arm length for defensive linemen and Jackson checks those boxes perfectly. Jackson has a game that could fit either an even or an odd man front where he can line up outside on run downs and inside on run downs. He could be an ideal fit as a 5T but has played well as a traditional 4-3 DE and has excellent size for those duties. There are several other intriguing NFL prospects who may declare between now and February including James Pearce (Tennessee), Jordan Burch (Oregon), Jack Sawyer (Ohio State), Tyler Batty (BYU), and Ahmed Hassanein (Boise State) who could generate a lot of draft buzz between now and April.

The IDL class looks like it could offer a bunch of difference makers

Where the 2025 EDGE class has question marks, the class of interior pass rushers and run stuffers are the type of players that provides answers for defensive coordinators to employ at the NFL level. Most of these guys come ready-made for NFL football with a combination of size and athleticism that the league desires. Walter Nolen (Ole Miss) has steadily risen up draft boards over the course of this season after transferring in from Texas A&M where he entered college as the most sought-after recruit in the country. Nolen has finally played up to his immense potential this season in Oxford and has the combination of size, length, and first step quickness to excel in the NFL. Nolen needs additional experience but his raw skills are enticing. Another year of college would be beneficial but the promise of a Top 15 selection may tempt into the draft. Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant (Michigan) form the best tandems of defensive tackles in college football…and potentially the NFL, too and both look like high first round draft picks who should start from day one as rookies. Graham has a fantastic combination of size, quickness, and burst that makes him a candidate to go first overall next April. Graham has been utilized as a stand-up EDGE rusher at times by longtime NFL coach Wink Martindale and although he does not figure to do that much at the next level, it indicates how much of a mismatch piece he can be on the defensive line. Grant has an extraordinary mix of strength and length that makes him a pass blocking fiend up front. His natural power and experience make him a candidate to play the 0, 1, 3, or 5T positions in an odd or even man front. This potential versatility makes him a candidate to go in the top half of the first-round next spring. Omarr Norman-Lott (Tennessee), a transfer from Arizona State, has great size and mass and has excelled as the Volunteers look to make a playoff drive later this month. Lott, a Senior Bowl invitee, is difficult to unroot out of the middle when he plays with good leverage and bend. He is a very effective hands fighter who has a powerful bull rush to overwhelm undersized interior players. Lott is quickly rising up draft boards and could make waves as the draft process winds through the postseason all-star circuit, combine, and pro days. Aeneas Peebles (Virginia Tech) an undersized transfer from Duke who relies on quickness and a fantastic first step to generate pressure up the middle, is an excellent hands fighter who sheds blocks despite his lack of strength and size. Peebles will not fit every defensive system and his lack of size is an issue when he is run at, but his quickness and burst could make him a sub-package nightmare to be incorporated by creative defensive coordinators in the NFL.

The NFL is becoming a running league again (sort of), so there will be an increased emphasis on stopping running attacks

Once upon a time amongst the grass fields and frozen tundra(s), there roamed the beasts known as linebackers who caused fear and shut down run lanes. Names such as Butkus, Huff, Singletary, Nitschke, and Lewis are not just legends enshrined in Canton but are becoming relevant again as linebackers are becoming cool again. The 2025 NFL LB class has some potential impact players at the position who may not be the next Butkus but who have the skills and athleticism to play LB in the NFL, an increasingly important job as teams turn to running the ball to control the clock. Cody Simon (Ohio State) looks like the classic, old school Mike backer who fills the run alley hard. He is a dangerous blitzer with a nice closing burst on the QB. Simon has ideal size to match up with TEs in coverage but still needs to prove he has the athleticism in space to become a starter in the NFL. Jaishawn Barham (Michigan) looks the part of the prototype desired at LB – ideal frame, solid mass, and outstanding length with a large wingspan for his size. Barham is light on his feet and has great range to play in the dime defense. His speed is effectively used on the blitz where his closing speed on the QB is impressive. Barham still gets stuck on blocks too much and needs to increase his core strength, but his athleticism fits the NFL model. Jailin Walker (Indiana), who transferred to IU from James Madison after coach Curt Cignetti was hired, has great length and range and matches up well in coverage against TEs and RBs. Walker lacks some desired size and strength but is an impactful tackler who throws his body into the ball carrier and generates turnovers through sheer force of will. Walker’s lack of strength is noticeable when run at but he works to the finish and has an impressive motor in backside pursuit. Danny Stutsman (Oklahoma) looks the part of the modern-era middle linebacker with the frame, mass, and length desired inside. Stutsman has very good range and foot speed and matches up well in space with most TEs. He has very good instincts and is rarely fooled by motion, sets, or play action. He possesses quality shedding skills and gets off blocks well. Stutsman lacks some desired playing strength and power for stopping the inside run and his read and reaction skills too often leads him to the wrong hole but he is highly experienced and is ready to contribute at the NFL level as a rookie. Nick Martin (Oklahoma State) declared for the upcoming NFL Draft despite missing the latter half of the season with a knee injury. The Cowboys had a disappointing season, exemplified by the injuries suffered to EDGE Collin Oliver and Martin, winning only three games after entering the fall as a favorite to win the Big 12. Martin has only marginal size for the NFL game but is an incredibly instinctive LB who always seems to be near the ball. He breaks down well in space and is a reliable open field tackler. Martin has plenty of good tape but a return to health where he can work out for NFL teams will help determine when Martin gets selected in Green Bay, Wisconsin next April.

2025 Notable Draft Declarations

Riley Leonard / QB / Notre Dame (Accepted invitation to Senior Bowl)

Cam Ward / QB / Miami, Fl (Accepted invitation to Senior Bowl)

Will Howard / QB / Ohio State (Accepted invitation to Senior Bowl)

Max Brosmer / QB / Minnesota (Accepted invitation to Hula Bowl)

Will Rogers / QB / Washington (Accepted invitation to Hula Bowl)

Kaleb Johnson / RB / Iowa

Donovan Edwards / RB / Michigan (Accepted invitation to Senior Bowl)

Kalel Mullings / RB / Michigan (Accepted invitation to Senior Bowl)

RJ Harvey / RB / UCF (Accepted invitation to Senior Bowl)

Jarquez Hunter / RB / Auburn (Accepted invitation to Senior Bowl)

Luther Burden / WR / Missouri

Pat Bryant / WR / Illinois (Accepted invitation to Senior Bowl)

Xavier Restrepo / WR / Miami, Fl (Accepted invitation to Senior Bowl)

Jordan Moore / WR / Duke (Accepted invitation to Hula Bowl)

Elijah Badger / WR / Florida (Accepted invitation to Hula Bowl)

Elijah Arroyo / TE / Miami, Fl (Accepted invitation to Senior Bowl)

Gavin Bartholemew / TE / Pittsburgh (Accepted invitation to Senior Bowl)

Will Campbell / OT / LSU

Jalen Rivers / OT / Miami, Fl (Accepted invitation to Senior Bowl)

Ozzy Trapilo / OT / Boston College (Accepted invitation to Senior Bowl)

Jordan Williams / OT / Georgia Tech (Accepted invitation to Hula Bowl)

Seth McLaughlin / OC / Ohio State (Accepted invitation to Senior Bowl)

Miles Frazier / OG / LSU (Accepted invitation to Senior Bowl)

Garrett Dellinger / OG / LSU (Accepted invitation to Senior Bowl)

Jonah Monheim / OG / USC (Accepted invitation to Senior Bowl)

Timothy McKay / OG / North Carolina State (Accepted invitation to Hula Bowl)

Jordan Burch / EDGE / Oregon (Accepted invitation to Senior Bowl)

Donovan Ezeiruaku / EDGE / Syracuse (Accepted invitation to Senior Bowl)

Shemar Stewart / EDGE / Texas A&M (Accepted invitation to Senior Bowl)

Collin Oliver / EDGE / Oklahoma State (Accepted invitation to Senior Bowl)

Aeneas Peebles / IDL / Virginia Tech (Accepted invitation to Senior Bowl)

Sean Martin / IDL / Pittsburgh (Accepted invitation to Shrine Game)

Eric Gregory / IDL / Arkansas (Accepted invitation to Shrine Game)

Zeek Biggers / IDL / Georgia Tech (Accepted invitation to Shrine Game)

Devin Vann / IDL / North Carolina State (Accepted invitation to Hula Bowl)

Junior Tafuna / IDL / Utah (Accepted invitation to Hula Bowl)

Demetrius Knight / LB / South Carolina (Accepted invitation to Senior Bowl)

Greg Penn III / LB / LSU (Accepted invitation to Shrine Game)

De’Rickey Wright / LB / Vanderbilt (Accepted invitation to Shrine Game)

Travis Hunter / ATH / Colorado

Quincy Riley / CB / Louisville (Accepted invitation to Senior Bowl)

Tommi Hill / CB / Nebraska (Accepted invitation to Senior Bowl)

Shavon Revel / CB / East Carolina (Accepted invitation to Shrine Game)

Jonas Sanker / S / Virginia (Accepted invitation to Senior Bowl)

Major Burns / S / LSU (Accepted invitation to Hula Bowl)

2025 All-Star Game Dates

Hula Bowl

January 11th

Orlando, Florida

East-West Shrine Game

January, 30th

Arlington, Texas

Senior Bowl

February 1st

Mobile, Alabama

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