The 2024 college football season is gloriously underway, and what a Week 1 it was. But before the season really gets going, I’m presenting my “pre” season Top 50 Big Board for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Now, of course, these rankings will be fluid. Incredibly so. But doesn’t hurt to provide a big board at the outset of a new year in college football, before we get five months of action.
1. James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
2. Luther Burden, WR, Missouri
3. Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
4. Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky
5. Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
Pearce arrived on the scene in the SEC in 2023, destroying blocker after blocker with a variety of pass-rush moves en route to his 10-sack, 14.5 tackle for loss season at Tennessee that featured a gargantuan 52 pressures on 246 opportunities to get after the quarterback. Length, burst, flexible lower half, it’s all there with Pearce. With some added strength, he can be a No. 1 overall selection at the edge spot.
With Burden I got Amon St. Brown vibes one play, Ja’Marr Chase vibes the next. He had over 1,400 yards as a sophomore in 2023 with a whopping 20 forced missed tackles in the SEC, no easy task.
Johnson is long, fluid, instinctive, press-man corner who can put the clamps on dynamic wideouts. Minimal limitations athletically of course. Walker gave me Dexter Lawrence flashbacks in 2023 at Kentucky. Mauler against the run game and preposterous upfield rush ability at his mammoth size. Speaking of mammoth size, Williams is in a similar mold to 2022 No. 1 overall selection Travon Walker. Thick, stupidly long, and powerful at the point of attack. He could ascend to the top pick on sheer physical upside alone.
6. Travis Hunter, CB, Colorado
7. Mason Graham, DL, Michigan
8. Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
9. Barrett Carter, LB, Clemson
10. Carson Beck, QB, Georgia
Hunter is a rare cat. And so much of that statement is about his conditioning….
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2025-nfl-draft-top-50-big-board-loaded-edge-rusher-group-highlighted-in-sec/
Author : Chris Trapasso
Publish date : 2024-09-02 13:01:19
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