Yearly in the course of the draft course of, I prefer to establish my 10 favourite gamers within the draft. Sometimes, I don’t like having the most effective prospects within the class be my favourite gamers; I choose deciding on guys who I charge greater than the consensus and who I discover to be underrated.
With that mentioned, listed below are my 10 favourite gamers of the 2025 draft class:
Damien Martinez, RB, Miami
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Since I first watched Martinez, my comparability for him has been younger Kareem Hunt. Martinez is a bowling ball runner who will run by way of contact and physicality, however he additionally has good imaginative and prescient and may make cuts in house. Martinez — like Hunt — lacks elite dimension of top-gear pace, however their explosiveness between 0-20 yards is robust and makes every dynamic.
My favourite half about Martinez is his utility in a number of offenses. At Oregon State, he was profitable in an under-center, exterior zone scheme. At Miami, he operated effectively from the gun and on Duo runs, the place he was focusing on the inside. Martinez is a scheme-versatile again who is predicted to have an extended profession.
Grade: Spherical 2
Jordan James, RB, Oregon
I haven’t written about James this draft season, however I’m an enormous fan of him. After I watched James, I stored remarking that whereas he doesn’t have the elite high gear to make explosive performs, he would discover any strategy to get six yards. He has sufficient bounce to achieve success operating exterior zone or between the tackles. He’s explosive when he first touches the ball and runs with wonderful endurance and imaginative and prescient. James can’t explode into open house for giant performs, however is an environment friendly runner who can carve out yards. I see a beginning operating again for a very long time.
Grade: Spherical 3
Tory Horton, WR, Colorado State
I watched Horton for the primary time final Thursday and added him to this listing afterwards. Horton tore his ACL in the course of the 2024 season, limiting him to 5 video games. When he’s wholesome, he’s superior. Watching his sport towards Travis Hunter in 2023, you see him succeed towards high-level competitors. He’s received a launch bundle to get off press and win downfield. Horton has lengthy legs that permit him to press a vertical launch and be explosive, however he has good deceleration to create separation.
Horton has elite ball expertise. His coordination in monitoring and bringing down passes is superb. Horton has nice arms basically. He can catch a slant with the ball behind him or exterior his body and immediately get upfield. He’s a easy athlete who appears pure operating routes.
Horton does want to enhance his route operating, however he can create separation, achieve yards after the catch, and catch the ball by way of contact. In case you’re apprehensive about his damage, he ran a 4.46 on the mix in March after getting damage in-season.
Oronde Gadsden II, TE, Syracuse
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I’ve been decrease on this tight finish class than the consensus, however I get pleasure from Gadsden. Gadsden has a number of seasons of elite manufacturing, together with the 12 months after a critical damage. Gadsden is a large receiver convert, and you may see that in his sport. He’s received lengthy legs and good vertical pace as a downfield route runner.
Gadsden performs a majority of his snaps from the slot, operating slot fades and vertical routes from there, however as his profession went on, he’s performed extra inline tight finish. Gadsden nonetheless wants work on his blocking, however his body suggests he may achieve extra weight, and he’s already improved his blocking.
Marcus Mbow, OL, Purdue
I haven’t written about Mbow, however he was probably the most enjoyable gamers to observe. Mbow performed proper deal with for Purdue, however his lack of size will push him inside, which is a superb match for his ability set. Mbow is extremely athletic and explosive in house. He can attain angles on the second degree that many can’t. Mbow additionally has highly effective arms that may knock defenders off his ft. I believe Mbow is a pure match at middle or guard. His vary and pace make him excellent for an out of doors zone middle, however he’s robust sufficient to play guard. I need this man on my offensive line.
Princely Umanmielen, DE, Ole Miss
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Umanmielen is a sick participant to observe on tape. His cross rush bag is deep. He has a wide range of strikes he can use to get across the nook and sequences his strikes effectively. Umanmielen is extra agile than explosive, however he can bend or spin inside and make tackles look simple. He actually lacks energy and size, however he’s a Day 1-ready cross rusher that can add a dynamic, quick-winning piece to your entrance.
Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
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I’ve known as Nolen the most effective inside cross rusher of this class. Nolen’s flashes are wild. When he explodes right into a block along with his arms, he can knock any offensive linemen over. His burst and bend at that dimension is absurd. Nolen’s consistency is a knock, and he can play too far upfield, however the strikes he can carry out and the flashes are particular. If Nolen will get with a very good coach, he has All-Professional upside along with his pass-rush means.
T.J. Sanders, DT, South Carolina
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Sanders didn’t have a big position on the South Carolina protection, however I felt he was their greatest participant. Sanders is a dynamic cross rusher. His agility and explosiveness are elite. Sanders can make the most of gradual guards along with his quickness, however he mixes in a very good bull rush to spherical out his sport. Sanders should show he’s competent towards the run, however I purchase his cross rush means translating.
Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss
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Amos feels so protected to me. He’s a wise zone nook with nice instincts and ball expertise, however he’s additionally purposeful in man protection. Amos lacks the perfect dimension to jam, however his footwork and agility are robust sufficient to match releases. Amos will discover a position in any protection, and I really feel protected about his ground.
Andrew Mukaba, S, Texas
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Mukaba positively has limitations. I wouldn’t need him masking an excessive amount of vary in protection. Nonetheless, his run protection is elite. He’ll crash into the run match from depth in Quarters or can play within the field vs. blocks. Mukaba has some large hits on movie and can make you earn every little thing. With the league trending in the direction of Quarters defenses, Mukaba has a ability set that may work in lots of spots. He shall be a tonesetter on your protection.
