The newest crop of school stars are about to embark on the NFL. With the pre-draft analysis course of all however wrapped up forward of Thursday’s first spherical of the 2025 NFL Draft, let’s get to know among the high prosects out there by figuring out which NFL participant is their greatest comparability.
Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado (6-1, 188)
Professional comp: Justin Jefferson/Trevon Diggs
It’s uncommon to have a prospect with All-Professional potential at a number of positions, however Hunter is in contrast to any prospect now we have seen within the fashionable period. The Heisman Trophy winner is a scoring machine who flashes big-play potential at any time when he touches the ball. Given his playmaking abilities as a defender, groups could be smart to put money into the soccer model of Shohei Ohtani on draft day.
Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State (6-3, 250)
Professional comp: Micah Parsons
The All-American sack artist is an explosive edge rusher with uncommon velocity, energy and athleticism. Carter breezes previous blockers, using varied finesse maneuvers to win from the perimeters. As groups search for defensive gamers with the potential to create large performs all around the subject, the Penn State star might tilt the sector along with his playmaking abilities.
Cam Ward, QB, Miami (6-2, 219)
Professional comp: Steve McNair
The silky-smooth signal-caller oozes swagger as a gifted playmaker with the instruments, toughness and tenacity to take the league by storm. Ward’s alpha dawg temperament might spark a right away cultural change for any franchise that selects him to deal with the QB1 duties for the subsequent decade.
Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State (6-6, 256)
Professional comp: George Kittle
The previous highschool quarterback has reworked into an unstoppable offensive weapon as a “Y” tight finish with distinctive abilities as a playmaker. Warren’s versatility, toughness and route-running abilities overwhelm opponents ill-equipped to cope with a 6-foot-5, 256-pounder with an old-school recreation and reversion mentality.
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State (5-9, 211)
Professional comp: Frank Gore
After almost eclipsing Barry Sanders’ single-season dashing report, Jeanty is poised to set the NFL on hearth as a dynamic workhorse runner with distinctive stability, physique management and burst. The 2-time Mountain West Offensive Participant of the 12 months is a menace to attain at any time when he touches the ball, but additionally shows the aggressive stamina to deal with the heavy workload anticipated of a function again. With an electrifying recreation and old-school method, Jeanty might shortly change into a celebrity as a professional.
Mason Graham, DT, Michigan (6-4, 296)
Professional comp: Christian Wilkins
The All-American is a “hard-hat-and-lunch pail” defender with heavy fingers and a high-revving motor. Graham outworks and outlasts defenders on the line of scrimmage, using varied power-based maneuvers to whip opponents on essential downs. As a relentless competitor with a blue-collar mentality and blue-chip traits, the Michigan standout is a disruptive pressure on the level of assault.
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado (6-2, 212)
Professional comp: Jared Goff
The flamboyant persona and eye-popping bling may rub some evaluators the flawed method, however traditionalists ought to love Sanders’ basic, drop-back recreation. The Huge 12 Offensive Participant of the 12 months is a “dime dropper” who shows excellent contact, timing and anticipation as a pocket passer. Although he lacks elite arm expertise, Sanders’ excessive IQ and fast processing abilities allow him to play at an elite degree regardless of his deficiencies.
Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia (6-1, 243)
Professional comp: Roquan Smith
The hybrid defender, with sideline-to-sideline vary and dynamic pass-rushing abilities, is a harmful pressure with splash-play potential. Walker’s disruptive influence potential as an off-ball linebacker and pass-rushing specialist makes him a singular defensive expertise to construct round. With few “true” linebackers possessing Walker’s versatility and big-play capability, the Georgia standout is a unicorn on the place.
Will Johnson, CB, Michigan (6-2, 194)
Professional comp: Jaycee Horn
The playmaking cowl nook is a pure ball hawk with the instincts, consciousness and ball abilities to select off passes at a excessive charge. As a “pick-six” machine with excellent imaginative and prescient and explosive transitions, Johnson is a “see ball, get ball” defender ideally suited to enjoying in a zone-based scheme. Given his spectacular takeaway prowess and stable fundamentals, the Michigan product is an All-Professional ready to emerge on the subsequent degree.
Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina (6-0, 221)
Professional comp: Joe Mixon
The 2-time All-ACC performer posted back-to-back 1,500-yard dashing seasons, exhibiting excellent stability, physique management and burst rumbling between the tackles. As an influence runner with pitter-pat and wiggle, Hampton is a uncommon discover as an enormous again who can win with pressure or finesse within the gap. With the second-team All-American additionally displaying comfortable fingers and underrated receiving abilities, the 2025 class might produce one other celebrity on the place.
Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss (6-4, 296)
Professional comp: Ed Oliver
As an pressing athlete with violent fingers and a high-revving motor, Nolen is a disruptive pressure on the level of assault. He creates chaos on passing downs with a “bull in a china store” method that mixes physicality and finesse to overwhelm blockers. Given his sack manufacturing (11.5 profession sacks over three seasons) and run-stopping prowess (25 profession tackles for loss), the previous five-star and No. 1 total highschool recruit might emerge as a big-play specialist on the subsequent degree.
Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State (6-1, 202)
Professional comp: Amon-Ra St. Brown
The ultra-smooth playmaker might terrorize opponents from the slot or out broad as a lead receiver. Egbuka’s impeccable timing and wiggle as a route runner will make it simple for an offensive coordinator to give you inventive methods to get him the ball on the perimeter. As extra groups function “inside-out” passing video games with slot receivers featured prominently within the recreation plan, the Ohio State standout is completely fitted to a lead position in a pass-heavy scheme.
Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina (6-4, 220)
Professional comp: Kam Chancellor
The additional-large defensive again is an element punisher and half playmaker as a combo security who’s snug enjoying within the field or as a roaming centerfielder within the deep center. Emmanwori’s distinctive dimension, athleticism, instincts and ball abilities make him the prototypical security that defensive coordinators covet in the midst of the sector.
Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss (6-3, 223)
Professional comp: Jalen Hurts
As a dual-threat quarterback with big-time arm expertise and rugged operating abilities, Dart exams the self-discipline and consciousness of opposing defenses. The Ole Miss product expanded Lane Kiffin’s playbook whereas showcasing a dynamic recreation that piques the curiosity of inventive offensive play-callers trying to construct round a brand new faculty playmaker with pocket abilities and a few pizzazz.
Luther Burden, III, WR, Missouri (6-0, 206)
Professional comp: Deebo Samuel
The dynamic “catch-and-run” playmaker is a multi-purpose menace on the perimeter, possessing the velocity, quickness and burst to show the nook on defenses with crossing routes, bubble screens and jet sweeps. Burden’s explosive operating abilities complement a rock-solid recreation rooted in flawless fundamentals (route-running and pass-catching). As an electrical playmaker with the potential to attain from wherever on the sector, the Missouri standout is the offensive weapon each offense wants within the secure.
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona (6-5, 219)
Professional comp: Mike Evans
The acrobatic cross catcher is a nightmarish matchup because of his distinctive dimension, leaping capability and ball abilities. McMillan dominates defenders in soar ball conditions, exhibiting NBA-like ball abilities on lob passes. His capability to win repeatedly on “50-50” balls makes him almost inconceivable to protect on back-shoulder throws alongside the boundary and finish line. In a league the place factors are coveted at a premium, McMillan is the above-the-rim scorer each offense wants.
Bucky Brooks is an NFL analyst for FOX Sports activities. He additionally breaks down the sport for NFL Community and as a cohost of the “Shifting the Sticks” podcast. Comply with him on Twitter @BuckyBrooks.
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