While we have to wait another six weeks or so until games kick off around the country, much of the focus around college football has already centered around the country’s high-profile names and projected first-round picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.
However, each year, a list of underrated prospects rise through the ranks, capturing the attention of scouts in every corner of the country. While some are household names for fans within their region, most remain vacant from the national spotlight.
Below, we’ll get into ten prospects to become familiar with who could significantly boost their draft stock if all comes to fruition this fall.
The 2025 NFL Draft class doesn’t have the level of first-round certainty at QB that we had heading into the 2024 NFL Draft cycle.
However, there is potential energy for players to rise, and Donovan Smith is one of the top candidates.
At 6’5″ and over 230 pounds, he looks the part. Considering his dual-threat ability, arm talent and evolving skill set, he plays the part, too. One of just eight Power five QBs in 2023 with 250+ completions, 2,500+ passing yards, 20+ passing touchdowns and five or more rushing touchdowns, Smith’s game fits the modern offense.
Annually, Houston produces one of the top offenses in college football. Smith will have every opportunity to take advantage in an offense rooted in its aerial principles and focus on creating chunk plays.
A program known for its production of quarterback talent, Jaydn Ott is looking to become the first California RB to be drafted in the top 100 selections in nearly fifteen years.
An electric playmaker in space, Ott led the Pac-12 in rushing last fall (1,311 yards), yards after contact (833) and finished third in rushes of 10 or more yards (32).
Slight of build at 5’10”, what Ott lacks in a physical profile he makes up for in his short-area quickness and burst. He’s a nightmare for defenses to counter in open space.
With Cal making the jump to the ACC, you east coast folks won’t have to pull an all-nighter to see the talent of Ott on display. He’s the straw the stirs the drink for the Golden Bears offense, and a name to highlight as we get into the weeds of the 2025 NFL Draft.
A transfer from Houston, wide receiver Samuel Brown checks off many of the boxes NFL teams look for in a perimeter starter.
A smooth-moving pass-catcher with excellent route-running, hands, and a high-level athletic profile, Brown has experience as both a boundary (near sideline) and field (far sideline) wideout.
While the Hurricanes offense returns its two top wideouts in Xavier Restrepo and Jacolby George, the addition of Brown will further expand the playbook for a loaded position group.
Quarterback Cam Ward (Washington State) is also a new face under center. The uber-talented signal-caller has bounced around college football after starting his career at Incarnate Word, but is someone with the talent to evolve into a sneaky Heisman trophy candidate by seasons end.
Ward’s arm, combined with Brown’s route-running and creativity after the catch (20 missed tackles in 2023 ranked second in the Big 12) should be a tandem that produces fireworks early and often in the ACC this fall.
Brown’s overall performance ceiling and athleticism at 6’2″ should remain highly intriguing to teams in search of fresh legs at wideout.
Under new leadership in OC Kade Bell, the Pittsburgh offense should reach new height this fall. Bell, the coordinator of the top-ranked FCS passing offense at Western Carolina last fall, is expected to sling it early and often this fall.
Long story short, more opportunities for playmakers to do what they do best.
Although Konata Mumpfield’s production remained modest in 2023 (576 yards and five touchdowns), the flashes shown a year ago have set the stage for what should be a productive senior campaign.
A former transfer from Akron, Mumpfield’s dynamic aerial ability, body control and fluid route-running could produce one of the ACC’s budding stars as the draft process kicks into gear.
Don’t look now, but the Virginia Tech Hokies look to be all the way back, folks.
Headlined by QB Kyron Drones, the Hokies could surprise not only the ACC, but the entire country this fall.
A program littered with draftable talent on either side of the football, wideout Jaylin Lane is looking to become to the first Hokies wide receiver drafted in the top 100 selections since 2008 (Eddie Royal). Hard to believe considering the level of talent that is annually produced out of the Newport News area, a hotbed for the Hokies in recruiting.
While Lane won’t ‘wow’ with size, his electric playmaking ability at 5’9″ have made him a constant topic of conversation as the 2024 campaign approaches.
A former transfer from Middle Tennessee, finding consistency in his production should allow Lane to continue to rise on league-wide draft boards.
A riser in the community and we have yet to see games kickoff this fall, Aireontae Ersery enters the 2024 campaign with a massive spotlight on his game.
An AP First Team All-Big Ten selection in 2023, Ersery’s blend of size (6’6″) and movement skills will force waves of scouts to Minnesota this fall. As a junior, Ersery allowed just two sacks (both against Michigan), 15 pressures and five QB hits.
With New Hampshire transfer Max Brosmer now in place under center, the Golden Gophers are expected to expand their offensive playbook this fall. And more pass attempts means more snaps on an island for Ersery.
While the Kansas City, Missouri native in Ersery finished in the top 90 among all Power Five tackles last year in total pass pro snaps, seeing that number jump will provide more opportunities for him to dominate, and thus, raise his draft stock further.
The Big Ten leader in rushing yards last fall (1,263), Kyle Monangai is one of the top running backs in the country you probably haven’t heard too much about.
Although the RB position is one that is continually devalued, the presence a ball-carrier that can take pressure off of a quarterback is a must-have on the offensive side of the ball.
Monangai doesn’t project as a three-down, bell cow type of ball-carrier at this point in time, but his production on early run downs showcases an experienced prospect that can create chunk plays against a variety of fronts.
Whether it was rushing for 159 yards (6.6 YPA) against a talented Ohio State front seven or another 163 (6.5 YPA) against the hybrid Miami Hurricanes front, Monangai’s knack for creating chunk plays can often pave the way to snaps at the next level.
It’s been nearly a year since we’ve seen De’Corian Clark after appearing in just two games in 2023.
But when healthy, he remains one of the country’s premier playmakers at wideout. A second-team All-Conference USA selection back in 2022, Clark’s combination of size, hands and strength in contested catch situations paint the picture of a future NFL pass-catcher.
Following campaigns that saw Clark combine for over 1,400 receiving yards and 15 TDs (2021/2022), working back to his production from years past will be crucial in finalizing his evaluation.
While UTSA fails to rank among the blue blood programs in the country, 16 players have earned opportunities at the NFL level since 2015. 2022 fourth-round OL Spencer Burford (33 starts in his first two seasons for the 49ers) and CB Riq Woolen (2022 Pro Bowler for Seattle) are the most recent headliners to come out of HC Jeff Traylor’s program.
If Clark is able to stay off the shelf in 2024, he should once again rank among the top wideouts in Conference USA and a player to bold as the draft process kicks into high gear.
If there’s any player in the class that has popped during summer evaluations, it’s been Nick Martin.
An absolute missile when working downhill in the run game, Martin’s blend of physicality and athleticism is matched by few in the entire country.
In his first season as the full time starter in Stillwater, Martin earned first-team All-Big 12 honors, led the Big 12 in tackles per game and his 140 total tackles and 83 solo tackles were both also the most by any Big 12 player since 2018.
Martin fits the mold of where the linebacker position is moving at the NFL level. He has the instincts and tackling ability to live at linebacker on run downs, the athleticism to cover running backs and flex weapons in space and the electric trigger and movement skills to live on all three downs at varying depths.
Considering Martin’s skill set and production in his first year as a starter last fall, he has a ceiling as lofty as any linebacker in the country and is someone who should be prioritized for teams in need of a dynamic athlete in the middle of a defense.