The end of the university season is fast approaching and with that, the last registrations for the draft are expected in mid-January.
This is a great opportunity to take an overview of the forces present, focusing on a top 10, initially offensive, by position.
For certain positions, the preferential role is provided in parentheses. Just like the supposed and anticipated projection. The defensive top 10s will be published subsequently.
QUARTERBACKS
1. Shedeur Sanders (Colorado, Top 15)
2. Cameron Ward (Miami FL, 1st round)
3. Jalen Milroe (Alabama, 1st-2nd round)
4. Quinn Ewers (Texas, 1st-2nd round)
5. Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss, 3rd-4th round)
6. Dillon Gabriel (Oregon, 4th round)
7. Riley Leonard (Notre Dame, 5th round)
8. Will Howard (Ohio State, 5th-6th round)
9. Kurtis Rourke (Indiana, 5th-6th round)
10. Kyle McCord (Syracuse, 5th-6th round)
We have already seen more exciting draft classes… In a year where quite a few teams would be tempted to bet on a new quarterback, taking a rookie will not be without risk, because ALL of the main prospects have areas for improvement on or off the field. A global uncertainty which undoubtedly convinced Jalen Milroe, although on alternating current at the end of the season, to leave the university benches rather than return. The Dillon Gabriel case is also divisive. Extremely productive in academics, he nonetheless remains a profile that divides, between his age, his size, his physical problems and the relative mobility that results from them. Quite the opposite of a Riley Leonard who is not very sharp in the air, but whose football IQ could be appreciated by a staff between rounds 4 and 6 (a priori). Finally, let us mention Jaxson Dart and his reputation as a player very focused on verticality, but who will have to polish his game to have a notable role in the league.
RUNNING BACKS
1. Ashton Jeanty (Boise State, 1st round)
2. Omarion Hampton (North Carolina, 2nd round)
3. Kaleb Johnson (Iowa, 2nd-3rd round)
4. Quinshon Judkins (Ohio State, 2nd-3rd round)
5. TreVeyon Henderson (Ohio State, 2nd-3rd round)
6. Nick Singleton (Penn State, 2nd-3rd round)
7. Dylan Sampson (Tennessee, 3rd round)
8. Ollie Gordon II (Oklahoma State, 4th round)
9. Devin Neal (Kansas, 4th round)
10. Damien Martinez (Miami FL, 4th-5th round)
Jeanty's crazy season ended against Penn State's big defense, and he appears to be the ball carrier who reassures the most, if a team lets itself be tempted on Thursday. Behind, it's a bit of a traffic jam with great versatility that some will put on their CV, like Omarion Hampton, Tre'Veyon Henderson or Nick Singleton. The class remains quite deep, with names like Phil Mafah (Clemson), Woody Marks (USC) or Kyle Monangai (Rutgers) who have the resources to insert themselves effectively into a committee.
Elic Ayomanor, an insolent youth who is popular among receivers.
RECEIVERS
1. Travis Hunter (Colorado, Top 15)
2. Tete McMillan (Arizona, Top 15)
3. Luther Burden III (Missouri, 1st round)
4. Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State, 1st round)
5. Tez Johnson (Oregon, 1st-2nd round)
6. Isaiah Bond (Texas, 1st-2nd round)
7. Tre Harris (Ole Miss, 2nd-3rd round)
8. Xavier Restrepo (Miami FL, 2nd-3rd round)
9. Elic Ayomanor (Stanford, 2nd-3rd round)
10. Jayden Higgins (Iowa State, 3rd round)
If he remains a trained cornerback, Travis Hunter remains listed as a receiver, because it is undoubtedly in this position that he will be most valued financially. The athletic profile of the last Heisman Trophy (best university player of the season) leaves little doubt about his future top 3 status (even more so with a fairly ordinary quarterback class) even if McMillan, and in a lesser degree, Burden and Egbuka, present guarantees in their register. Speaking of areas of predilection, slot receivers should maintain a certain rating, after the first months of Ricky Pearsall and Ladd McConkey in California. The names of Tez Johnson and Xavier Restrepo should often be heard in the mouths of scouts.
TIGHT ENDS
1. Colston Loveland (Michigan, 1st round)
2. Tyler Warren (Penn State, 1st round)
3. Harold Fannin Jr. (Bowling Green, 1st-2nd round)
4. Terrance Ferguson (Oregon, 2nd-3rd round)
5. Mason Taylor (LSU, 3rd round)
6. Gunnar Helm (Texas, 3rd-4th round)
7. Jake Briningstool (Clemson, 4th round)
8. Luke Lachey (Iowa, 4th round)
9. Elijah Arroyo (Miami FL, 4th-5th round)
10. Oscar Delp (Georgia, 4th-5th round)
The slender Loveland and the imposing Warren… Without playing the same part, the two main tight ends have infallible assets to please their future franchise, which seems to give them a head start. Harold Fannin Jr. is not far away, however, with a great season and even some reference matches, such as against the Penn State defense at the start of the season. Between rounds 3 and 5, this position could offer comfort choices to franchises, between rather traditional blockers (Lachey, Delp), certified receivers (Ferguson, Arroyo) or even red zone threats (Briningstool).
Charles Grant (60), solid in pass protection, but capable of holding up at the next level?
TACKLES
1. Kelvin Banks (Texas, Top 15)
2. Will Campbell (LSU, Top 15)
3. AirEontae Ersery (Minnesota, 1st round)
4. Wyatt Milum (West Virginia, 1st-2nd round)
5. Josh Conerly (Oregon, 1st-2nd round)
6. Cameron Williams (Texas, 1st-2nd round)
7. Josh Simmons (Ohio State, 2nd round)
8. Gray Zabel (North Dakota State, 2nd round)
9. Emery Jones (LSU, 2nd round)
10. Armand Membou (Missouri, 2nd-3rd round)
The draft process should not be neglected in such a position, but apart from his slight size deficit compared to other prospects, few elements seem to penalize Kelvin Banks as the main tackle of this vintage. The big intrigue of this group is of course called Gray Zabel, the University of North Dakota State often releasing profiles cut for the NFL but rather for the interior of the line. It's up to him to shape a future on the outside, he who excels on the ground game.
GUARDS / CENTERS
1. Jonah Savaiinaea (G, Arizona, 1st round)
2. Tyler Booker (G, Alabama, 1st-2nd round)
3. Tate Ratledge (G, Georgia, 2nd-3rd round)
4. Donovan Jackson (G, Ohio State, 2nd-3rd round)
5. Jared Wilson (C, Georgia, 3rd round)
6. Charles Grant (G, William & Mary, 3rd-4th round)
7. Jaeden Roberts (G, Alabama, 3rd-4th round)
8. Jonah Monheim (C, USC, 3rd-4th round)
9. Dylan Fairchild (G, Georgia, 4th round)
10. Seth McLaughlin (C, Ohio State, 4th-5th round)
The center position will clearly not be the sexiest to follow in 2025. Which does not prevent us from finding some beautiful babies in this group of interior linemen. Mainly tackle in recent months, Jonah Savaiinaea remains a player with a lot of room for improvement, but who can be tested in different positions during the draft course. Like Zabel, William & Mary lineman Charles Grant will be the big curiosity coming from the second university division, he who only allowed one small sack during the entire 2024 campaign.
