The college football season is upon us, which can only mean that draft evaluations are about to begin in earnest. In preparation for the upcoming campaign, Ryan Wilson, Chris Trapasso, Mike Renner and I compiled our summer scouting grades to create the initial Top 50 overall prospect rankings.
1. Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
2. Travis Hunter, CB, Colorado
3. Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
4. Mason Graham, DL, Michigan
5. James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
6. Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
7. Deone Walker, DL, Kentucky
8. Luther Burden, WR, Missouri
9. Carson Beck, QB, Georgia
10. Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Johnson is arguably the cleanest cornerback prospect since Patrick Surtain II. It will be interesting to see how NFL teams approach Hunter because he plays both sides of the ball. Although I personally feel he would be better as a cornerback at the next level, what happens if Hunter explicitly informs teams of his theoretical preference to play wide receiver, or vice versa? Hunter is also the highest-rated transfer as he began his collegiate career with Jackson State.
Pearce and Williams profile as potential impact performers. Texas' Byron Murphy II was the first interior defender drafted (No. 16 overall) in the 2024 NFL Draft, but Walker and Graham could come off the board sooner. Michigan has had a front seven player drafted in the top 100 every year over the past six drafts; that is expected to continue with Graham.
Beck is the highest-graded quarterback while Burden is the highest-graded wide receiver.
11. Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
12. Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
13. Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
14. Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
15. Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
16. Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
17. Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
18. Harold Perkins, LB, Louisiana State
19. Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
20. Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State
Burden is a faster, more sudden athlete but McMillan is a tall ball-winner who should deliver some of the most remarkable catches in college football this fall. Egbuka was a surprise return from last year's Ohio State team. He is a consistent performer who's been well-coached. Scourton is a powerful pass rusher in the mold of Jared Verse.
Sanders is the second-ranked quarterback. There has already been conversation that his father, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, could attempt to control where his son plays at the next level. Perkins is an uber-athletic talent who has fulfilled a few different roles for the LSU team. Loveland is the highest-rated tight end.
21. Jack Sawyer, EDGE, Ohio State
22. Barrett Carter, LB, Clemson
23. Jonah Savaiinaea, OT, Arizona
24. JT Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State
25. Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
26. Tyleik Williams, DL, Ohio State
27. Tyler Booker, IOL, Alabama
28. Emery Jones, OT, LSU
29. Landon Jackson, EDGE, Arkansas
30. Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State
There are seven edge rushers in the top 30 overall with the inclusion of Sawyer, Tuimoloau and Jackson. Ewers is the third-ranked quarterback, but his offense will look a lot different this year without wide receivers AD Mitchell and Xavier Worthy, as well as tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders and running back CJ Baxter.
Judkins is the highest-graded running back in the aggregate; although mine is Boise State's Ashton Jeanty.
31. Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss
32. Riley Leonard, QB, Notre Dame
33. Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
34. Conner Weigman, QB, Texas A&M
35. Kenneth Grant, DL, Michigan
36. Smael Mondon Jr., LB, Georgia
37. Kevin Winston Jr., S, Penn State
38. Dani Dennis-Sutton, DL, Penn State
39. Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia
40. Tory Horton, WR, Colorado State
Two more quarterbacks are included in this group as Leonard and Weigman get the nod. Leonard transferred from Duke this offseason. Weigman was limited to four games last season after suffering a season-ending foot injury in September.
41. Ashton Gillotte, EDGE, Louisville
42. Danny Stutsman, LB, Oklahoma
43. Evan Stewart, WR, Oregon
44. Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss
45. Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State
46. Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
47. Wyatt Wilum, OT, West Virginia
48. Damien Martinez, RB, Oregon State
49. Xavier Nwankpa, S, Iowa
50. Bear Alexander, DL, USC
The run on running backs continues in the final grouping as three more join the fray. The first running back drafted in 2024 was Texas' Jonathon Brooks at No. 46 overall -- the latest the first running back has been drafted since Bishop Sankey was taken No. 54 overall in 2014.
Dart is also the sixth-ranked quarterback in the top 50 overall. An NFL Draft-record six quarterbacks were taken in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Green Bay is scheduled to host the 2025 NFL Draft from April 24-26.
