The weeks continue to tick by as it pertains to the college football regular season, which means fewer and fewer opportunities for top NFL prospects to make their mark.
Regardless, ESPN NFL Draft guruMel Kiper Jr.is watching their every move closely, as he tries to separate the best of the best ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft. With a handful of weeks left to play this season, he’s once againupdatedhis Top 25 Big Board.
There’s some interesting movement up and down the list, including a quarterback rising throughout his Top 10. With that in mind, check out his full Top 25 Big Board below.
1. Colorado CB/WR Travis Hunter
There is no change at the top for Kiper. His No. 1 overall player remains Hunter as the Heisman Trophy favorite continues to impress for Colorado.
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Debates will roll on about what position Hunter will play at the next level. But that’s a problem to figure out once drafting him, potentially with the first pick.
2. Michigan CB Will Johnson
Johnson has been on NFL radars since he stepped foot on campus. Michigan has relied on the cornerback through a great deal of success and it’s paid off in a big way.
Injuries have derailed this year for Johnson as he will not play in the season finale against Ohio State. The next time he suits up, it will be for an NFL team.
3. Penn State EDGE Abdul Carter
Micah Parsons will be a name thrown around when discussing Carter. Wearing No. 11 and playing for Penn State certainly helps the comparison.
You can even go a step further by looking at position. Carter was an inside linebacker for his first two years before spinning down to edge. Parsons has had an immense amount of success doing so and Carter is hoping for the same.
4. Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders
Finally, a quarterback all the way down at No. 4. Sanders did not see his position change in Kiper’s opinion and has a chance to be drafted higher than his big board spot.
Coach Prime has stated his son will be put into a good situation, a similar move to what Eli Manning did back in the day. You have to imagine plenty of teams will be lining up to draft him, though.
5. Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty
For a few years, selecting a running back with a first-round pick was not something NFL teams would do. The trend has certainly changed course as guys like Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs have found success.
Kiper projects Jeanty as the next one to do so. His Heisman Trophy-worthy season at Boise State is not quite over but Jeanty might translate to the NFL quite quickly.
6. Michigan DT Mason Graham (+1)
Another key defensive piece to Michigan’s recent run, Graham is part of a dynamic defensive tackle duo. Although, he is a few spots higher than his partner in crime.
Top 10
- 1Bears fire Matt EberflusThomas Brown to serve as interimBreaking
- 2Memphis shakes up CFPTigers upsets changes CFP picture
- 3Charles WoodsonMichigan legend opines on Sherrone Moore
- 4A Twisted MessBig 12 Championship scenarios
- 5Saban chirpedBig 12 comes after GOATTrending
Graham is the highest-ranked interior defensive lineman on Kiper’s board. In what appears to be a good group at the top end, a high honor for the future first-round pick.
7. Georgia OLB Mykel Williams (-1)
With Graham moving up, Williams is the one dropping a spot. A slight change for Kiper between two guys both playing on the line of scrimmage.
Some had Williams as the top overall prospect entering the 2024 season. His draft position will be quite high as NFL teams can never get enough quality pass rushers.
8. Miami QB Cam Ward (+2)
Ward could have left college football for the NFL last season. Instead, he decided to make one final stop and play for the Miami Hurricanes.
The move has certainly paid off as Kiper has Ward as his second quarterback on the board. Plenty of quarterback-needy teams will wind up in the top 10 and give Ward a real look.
9. Georgia S Malaki Starks
Georgia has produced plenty of talent in the secondary and Starks has a chance to be the best. His head coach, Kirby Smart, has been highly complimentary throughout his time in Athens.
Rarely do we see safeties selected this high but Starks is considered a special talent. Kiper agrees and slots him just inside the top 10.
10. Texas OT Kelvin Banks
Steve Sarkisian has relied on Banks to be his left tackle since Day 1. The third-year starter was a huge part of Texas’ rebuild and now rise to compete for a national championship.
Kiper does point out one area Banks can improve — in the run game. Pass protection has never been a problem as only three sacks given up are on Banks’ college resume.
Players Nos. 11 through 25 in 2025 NFL Draft
11. Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan (+2)
12. LSU OT Will Campbell (+4)
13. Georgia LB Jalon Walker (-1)
14. EDGE Nic Scourton (-6)
15. Alabama LB Jihaad Campbell (-1)
16. Oregon DT Derrick Harmon (-1)
17. Ole Miss DT Walter Nolen (NR)
18. Michigan DT Kenneth Grant (-1)
19. Missouri WR Luther Burden (-1)
20. Penn State TE Tyler Warren
21. Michigan TE Colston Loveland
22. Texas OT Cameron Williams
23. Tennessee EDGE James Pearce (-4)
24. East Carolina CB Shavon Revel (-1)
25. Notre Dame CB Benjamin Morrison (-1)
On3’s Steve Samra contributed to this report
