With the 2024 college football season ending, it’s time to look towards the 2025 Draft. For the next four months, the big names like Cam Ward and Travis Hunter will be thrown out a lot, but here are some group of five players who you should keep an eye on.
Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green Tight End
Harold Fannin had a breakout season for the Bowling Green State Falcons in 2024. He nearly had the triple crown as a tight end. He lead the nation in receptions and yards; 117 catches for 1,555 yards. The only area he didn’t lead the nation in was touchdowns, with ten. But he still led all tight ends in that category. He was a consensus All-American tight despite not winning the Mackey award.
🇺🇸 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙨 𝙄𝙨 𝙄𝙣 🇺🇸
Harold Fannin Jr. is the 2024 Consensus All-America Tight End 🥇
He is the first Falcon football consensus All-American in Bowling Green history ✅#ToTheMoon 🟠🟤 pic.twitter.com/BpTWcxWN9c
— BGSU Football (@BG_Football) December 19, 2024
Fannin is the perfect mold of a modern day NFL tight end. On top of his elite receiving ability, he also a more than willing blocker. Per Pro Football Focus, Fannin received a 74.5 run-blocking grade, which is much high than projected first round picks Tyler Warren (52.3) and Colston Loveland (54.3).
Fannin is slightly undersized at 6’3″ 230 pound, but if he can weigh in at around 240 at the combine, he should be in fine shape. The only real knock on Fannin is that he played in the MAC conference. But that knock can be easily debunked, Bowling Green took on two power-five opponents this year and Fannin showed out in those games. Against Penn State he recorded 11 catches for 137 yards and a touchdown, and against Texas A&M he recorded 8 catches for 145 yards and a touchdown.
Fannin checks every box going into the 2025 NFL Draft, and could easily sneak into the end of the first round.
Tory Horton, Colorado State Wide Receiver
Horton broke onto the scene after his ten-catch, 133-yard game against the Colorado Buffaloes in 2023. Horton went on to have a spectacular 2023 with 96 catches for 1,136 yards and 8 touchdowns. Horton was so good for the Rams that it was rumored Kansas State offered him a $600,000 NIL offer to be a Wildcat in 2024, along with his quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi.
But both players doubled-down on their commitment to CSU and remained in Fort Collins for the 2024 season. After a promising start to the season, Horton found himself riddled with injuries. After a win over San Jose State in early October, Horton wasn’t seen on the field the rest of the season.
The draft buzz around Horton died after his injury, and there hasn’t been much talk around him. Teams do still have Horton on their radar, as he is still projected to be a late third to early fourth round pick. That could easily rise during the combine as many around the Colorado State program believe Horton will run a 4.3 40-yard dash. He also stands at 6’3″ and racked up 3,615 yards and 27 touchdowns in five-year career.
Mike Green, Marshall Edge Rusher
After a monster season with the Marshall Thundering Herd, Mike Green may be the most underrated player in the 2025 draft. Green led all of college football with 17 sacks. He also had 81 total tackles, which is very unusual for an edge rusher.
Green has already garnered some NFL Draft buzz, and it’s not just because of his sack total. He has shown an ability to win in many different ways. He has a deep bag of pass rush moves and finds ways to win on the inside and outside. He can bend with the best of them, has a quick first step, and most importantly he has an insanely high motor.
Shavon Revel Jr., East Carolina Cornerback
Shavon Revel is a unique group of five prospect. Unlike the other players on this list he’s gotten first-round buzz since August. Unfortunately Revel suffered a torn ACL in September, which complicates his draft stock.
But the tape speaks for itself. At 6’3″ 193 pounds Revel has incredible recovery speed. Revel isn’t necessarily a “lock down corner” but rather a corner who is elite at baiting passers to throw his way. He closely compares to future hall of famer Aqib Talib.
Revel just has a nose for the football. In his only three games this season Revel had two interceptions. He also has blocked two kicks in his career and has two defensive touchdowns. Revel should be the third cornerback taken behind Travis Hunter and Will Johnson, and whoever gets him is getting a ballhawk for years to come.
Jackson Woodard
Woodard was the heart and soul of the UNLV defense the past two seasons. In those two seasons he recorded 251 total tackles, six sacks, and five interceptions. Woodard was regularly the best player on the field and that led him to winning Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year.
𝘿𝙚𝙛𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙔𝙀𝘼𝙍 – 𝙅𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙒𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙙 😤 pic.twitter.com/bclSlQ6wWn
— Mountain West (@MountainWest) December 3, 2024
Woodard is a jack of all trades at linebacker. On top of racking up tackles, he has the speed to cover tight ends and running backs out of the back field. He also has a knack for blitzing the quarterback and slipping back bigger offensive linemen. All around Woodard is a stud, and he’s not afraid to hit. Every play he flys towards the ball and makes his presence felt. Woodard will be a great addition to whatever team drafts him. He’s currently projected to be a fourth-round pick, but with a good combine and pro day, he could be picked day two.
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