Every year, we see a new group of young players dominate the college football landscape. From true freshmen like Jeremiah Smith and Ryan Williams to veteran guys who just needed time to develop, like Joe Burrow. The goal here is to identify one player for each FBS team that will break out in 2025.
Not all teams are created equal, and as such, breakout players for lower-level teams don’t have the same expectations as those on CFP teams or national powerhouses. With that being said, each selection will have a category assigned to them based on the level of breakout I expect for the player: Sleeper, Next-Up, Instant Impact, Climber.
Sleeper breakout players are those who haven’t received much publicity or expectations; Next-Up are those with baked-in expectations who have flashed lots of potential in limited playing time; Instant Impact are the true freshmen who will come in and dominate early; Climbers are the ones that started at an FCS or G5 school and is going to make an impact at the P4 level.
Air Force Falcons: Samuel Floysand, RT
Sleeper
The Air Force Falcons ranked 12th-worst in pressure rate allowed as an offensive line. With four starters returning, Samuel Floysand will be the only one who didn’t see significant playing time last season.
He allowed five pressures in 54 pass-blocking snaps last season and could look to help new quarterback Josh Johnson stay upright. This is of utmost importance after finishing 125th (of 134) in points per game.
Akron Zips: Jordan Gant, RB
Climber
Jordan Gant saw limited playing time with the Tennessee State Tigers last season. In 2023, however, Gant was named an FCS Freshman All-American after rushing for 555 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Tigers.
This season, it looks as if he has the potential to crack the starting lineup for the Akron Zips offense. The Zips will need a Gant breakout if they want to improve from their 117th-ranked 3.5 yards per carry in 2024.
Alabama Crimson Tide: Keon Keeley, EDGE
Sleeper
As usual, the Alabama defensive line is stacked with talent. LT Overton is the clear leader along the edge rusher position for the team but I think Keon Keeley can become a key player for the defense and breakout this season for the Crimson Tide.
After the first practice opened to the media, there was a lot of chatter on sophomore EDGE Keon Keeley.
Since we last saw him, it appears he has become more comfortable working with the defensive line. There was still lots of hands-on coaching from Freddie Roach, but Keon had a… pic.twitter.com/yCddyg65US
— Henry Sklar (@HenryOSklar) March 21, 2024
Formerly a 5-star recruit at the outside linebacker position in 2023, Keeley is now entering his second year as a defensive lineman and has gotten some good reviews from teammates and others. Pairing up Keeley’s 6’5″ 277 277-pound frame with the athleticism to originally be an outside linebacker could make for a dangerous edge rusher in due time.
Appalachian State Mountaineers: Tyriq Poindexter, LT
Climber
Tyriq Poindexter played three years at the Virginia Military Institute, where he steadily improved each season, culminating in an impressive 0.03 pressures allowed per pass-blocking snap.
This ranked 78th of 344 offensive tackles with over 300 pass-blocking snaps in FBS/FCS football. Protecting AJ Swann’s backside will be a much tougher task than he is used to seeing at the Military Institute.
Arizona Wildcats: Luke Wysong, WR
Up-Next
Finishing 66th among 521 FBS pass-catchers, Luke Wysong totaled 836 receiving yards in his 2024 season with the New Mexico Lobos. Replacing Tetairoa McMillan is not an easy task.
McMillan was the first wide receiver (Travis Hunter is a “hybrid” to me) in the draft this past season and commanded 130 targets in both of the last two seasons with the Arizona Wildcats.
Chris Hunter is returning to play the X for the Wildcats, so Wysong should get his chance to break out from the slot, where he is comfortable playing. The most important aspect of Wysong’s breakout will be his touchdown capabilities. Despite 214 targets and 134 catches in his career, he has just three touchdowns.
Arizona State Sun Devils: Jimeto Obigbo, LG
Climber
Jimeto Obigbo has played 2500 snaps in his college career, starting at Incarnate Word and then moving to Texas State. Ignoring the injury-riddled season in 2024, Obigbo posted a 73.7 or better PFF pass-blocking grade in the past three seasons. Surprisingly, his most recent experience comes at right tackle, having not played guard since his first year at Incarnate Word.
With the way the Arizona State offensive line has shaped up, they have returners at every position except for center. Luckily, Ben Coleman has taken over the center position for a Sun Devils offense that will be expected to dominate this season as well as last.
Despite ranking 94th in the FBS in pressure rate allowed per pass blocking snap, they ranked 30th in points per game, and Obigbo is a great candidate to help keep them at that high level.
Arkansas Razorbacks: Scott Starzyk, K
Instant Impact
Freshman Scott Starzyk is set to start as the place kicker for the Arkansas Razorbacks this season. He was a MaxPreps All-American as a sophomore in high school and went 71 of 74 on PATs his junior year. He should be an instant impact player for an Arkansas special teams unit that ranked 90th last season in field goal percentage.
Arkansas State Red Wolves: Bryan Whitehead II, EDGE
Next-Up
Bryan Whitehead II finished with four sacks and 44 pressures on 301 pass-rushing snaps last season for the Arkansas State Red Wolves. More than 95% of his production came from the latter half of the season, where he dominated Georgia State with two sacks and finished with a sack in three of his last four games.
With eight of the 11 projected starters on the defense being transfers, Whitehead has the opportunity to build on his strong finish to the 2024 campaign and quickly become a leader on this defense. The Red Wolves ranked 65th last season in pressure rate, with Whitehead finishing 27th among 435 defenders with over 200 pass-rushing snaps.
Army Black Knights: Dewayne Coleman, QB
Next-Up
Dewayne Coleman has gigantic shoes to fill for the Army Black Knights. Bryson Daily finished his senior season with over 1600 yards rushing and 32 rushing touchdowns on top of his 1000 passing yards and nine passing touchdowns.
In his extremely limited playing time, Coleman has flashed some brilliance, including a completion percentage of 68.8% and some big-time throws. If Army wants to be anywhere near as successful as last season, Coleman will have no choice but to break out.
Auburn Tigers: Jay Crawford, CB
Next-Up/Instant Impact
The Auburn Tigers are loaded with young talent for the 2025 season. Both Cam Coleman and Malcom Simmons are going to be fantastic this season and Keldrick Faulk also looks to make a name for himself along the defensive line. With that being said, I am picking true sophomore Jay Crawford as the breakout player for the Tigers in 2025.
Crawford finished his freshman season with five pass break-ups, one interception, and two touchdowns on just 267 coverage snaps. He also only allowed 13 catches on 32 targets for a passer rating of 67.1. This is all while playing on the outside.
Crawford’s next step from here is to become a household name that puts himself into the 2027 NFL Draft Conversation for top corner.
Ball State Cardinals: Kiael Kelly, QB
Sleeper
Kiael Kelly was solid for the Ball State Cardinals in 2023, leading them to a 3-3 record with over 700 yards rushing and seven touchdowns. In 2024, he started off trying to earn playing time as a defensive back and ended up back on the offense as a gadget player, rushing the ball, playing wideout, and at times quarterback.
With him committed to playing quarterback this season, I expect Kelly to take strides in both passing and rushing.
Baylor Bears: Sawyer Robertson, QB
Next-Up
After a 3,000-yard and 28-touchdown campaign in 2024, I fully expect Sawyer Robertson to thrust himself into the Heisman candidacy with another big step in production.
The top two most targeted receivers are back in 2025 alongside returning tight end Michael Trigg, transfer Kobe Prentice, and true freshmen Taz Williams Jr. This Baylor offense is poised to match its 19th-best scoring offense.
With that being said, Baylor’s win total is +110 at 7.5. Robertson is also +6000 to win the Heisman. Lots of good value bets for a guy that played lights out last year and has all the tools at his disposal to continue.
Boise State Broncos: Maddux Madsen, QB
Next-Up
Replacing Ashton Jeanty’s production in the run game is an impossible feat for the Boise State Broncos to do. In spite of this, Maddux Madsen is a really talented quarterback who has shown the potential to step up and return this team to the highs of playoff contention yet again.
After a 3,000-yard and 23-touchdown campaign, I fully expect Madsen to throw for much more than just 397 attempts this season without his partner in crime.
Boston College Eagles: Turbo Richard, RB
Sleeper
Turbo Richard is a fantastic name for a running back. Despite only 55 attempts last season, Richard made the best of his opportunities by averaging over five yards per carry and breaking off eight 10+ yard runs. This would have ranked 95th of over 300 rushers. This 14.5% run rate is much higher than Boston College’s starter last year, who topped out at 9.7%.
Bowling Green Falcons: Drew Pyne, QB
Sleeper
In Drew Pyne’s lone starting season at Notre Dame, he finished with eight yards per attempt, an 8.6% touchdown rate, and a 2.4% interception rate. Comparing this to Connor Bazelak in 2024, who had 7.6 yards per attempt, a 4.5% touchdown rate, and a 1.3% interception rate, we can see they are definitely in the same ballpark.
The stark difference is that Pyne faced a Notre Dame schedule that was ranked 33rd in strength of schedule, and Bowling Green’s schedule was ranked 100th. With a couple of years to develop and a much easier group of opponents, I think Pyne has a good opportunity to break out and lead the Falcons to some wins.
Buffalo Bulls: Jonathan Capo, S
Sleeper
Jonathan Capo played just 206 snaps for the Buffalo Bulls in 2024 but finished with an impressive 82.8 PFF run-defense grade, which included 10 tackles and just two missed tackles. He also chipped in with two defensive touchdowns and was targeted 10 times while only allowing four catches.
As his playing time starts to ramp up, I expect a great season from the Buffalo defensive back.
BYU Cougars: Keanu Tanuvasa, DT
Sleeper
Primarily a 3-tech for Utah, BYU Cougars transfer Keanu Tanuvasa provides great run support in the middle for the 2025 season. It’s hard to quantify defensive tackle impact in college football statistically, especially in the run game.
Even so, his ability to plug gaps in the run game will fall right in line with BYU’s defensive identity last season, where they ranked 44th in yards per rush allowed.
California Golden Bears: Dazmin James, WR
Sleeper
Dazmin James is one of many transfers slated to start for the Cal Bears in 2025. While he only has three targets in his entire college career, there are several reports out there that talk of him as being one of the fastest players in the nation.
He was a state champion in both the 100 and 200 meters in high school. Perhaps this speed could give new quarterback Devin Brown a shiny new weapon to target.
Central Michigan Chippewas: Trey Cornist, RB
Sleeper
Trey Cornist touted the rock just 22 times at Tulane last year but managed 6.7 yards per carry and a touchdown. At Central Michigan, they ranked 108th in points per game and 92nd in yards per carry. If Cornist can build on his small sample size, there is a clear opportunity for a breakout season for the transfer running back.
Charlotte 49ers: Tyler Gibson, RT
Next-Up
Tyler Gibson played just 39 snaps for the Charlotte 49ers last season but completely looked the part. On what PFF charted as 19 “opportunities”, Gibson gave up zero pressures and will now have the full-time starting role on the right side of the line.
Cincinnati Bearcats: Logan Wilson, SS
Sleeper
Logan Wilson is still listed as the second-string safety for the Cincinnati Bearcats this season, but I think he will eventually take over the starting role and break out as a pivotal defender for this defense. In 285 snaps last season, Wilson allowed a passer rating of 92.3 with five pass breakups and an interception.
Splitting his time in the box and in the slot, Cincinnati will also likely start him at Kick Returner as well. He returned 16 kicks for 336 yards last season, an average of 21 yards per return. That ranked 106th out of 205 kick returners in the FBS.
KEEP READING: 2025 Way-Too-Early College Football Top 25 Power Rankings
Clemson Tigers: Sammy Brown, LB
Instant Impact
As seen in the play above, true sophomore linebacker Sammy Brown has good instincts, great range, and great athleticism. As a true freshman, Brown finished with 10 pressures and five sacks on just 38 pass-rushing snaps. An inside linebacker, he also added 57 solo tackles and 17 assisted tackles with only 9 missed tackles (10.8%).
He’s got some work to do in coverage, giving up 18 receptions on 22 targets at 13 yards per reception. But overall, Brown was a super effective linebacker for the Clemson Tigers last season and will only add to his snap count and skill set in 2025.
With Peter Woods, TJ Parker, and Amare Adams on the defensive line, Brown is going to be given the opportunity to swarm opposing offenses.
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers: Jameson Tucker, WR
Next-Up
Jameson Tucker led Coastal Carolina in targets last season with 57. His 576 yards and six touchdowns both led the team as well. With the other two starters coming in being transfers, I expect Tucker to continue on his success from last season and really become the guy for the Coastal offense.
Colorado Buffaloes: Jordan Seaton, LT
Instant Impact
Jordan Seaton didn’t play well statistically last season. His pass-blocking numbers were around average, giving up three sacks and 30 pressures on 612 pass-blocking snaps (159th/346 tackles). He also had 15 penalties last season, ranking third most in FBS. All of this is to say, he has lots of room to grow.
This growth should come naturally as we look at the upside of Seaton. He started every single Colorado game at left tackle as a true freshman. It’s rare to start as a freshman. It’s even rarer to do so on the offensive line. I think this season, we see Seaton get much more comfortable and emerge as one of the top tackles in the nation.
Colorado State Rams: Armani Winfield, WR
Next-Up
Colorado State wide receiver Tory Horton has been a superstar for the team in the last three seasons. Unfortunately, his 2024 season was riddled with injuries, meaning someone else needed to step up.
Armani Winfield was that guy, finishing with 38 catches for 341 yards and two touchdowns. With Horton going pro, this leaves Winfield as the guy. Expect Winfield to continue his success from 2024 but on a grander scale.
Connecticut Huskies: Camryn Edwards, RB
Sleeper
Camryn Edwards led the Connecticut Huskies in rushing last season with 830 yards and eight touchdowns. Yet, his playing time was heavily split with two other running backs, both playing almost as much as he did.
With only one of them still on the roster, I expect for Edwards to establish himself as the alpha running back for the Huskies, rather than a 1a. His four yards after contact per rush ranked 42nd out of 277 running backs in the FBS.
Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens: Zach Marker, QB
Climber
As Delaware begins their first season in FBS, it will look to make a stamp on the big boy world just like James Madison did. They get that opportunity in their second game of the year by playing Colorado. The breakout player for this team is Zach Marker.
Playing in just four games last season, Marker threw for 1022 yards (7.6 YPA), 10 touchdowns, zero interceptions, and a 104 NFL passer rating. While the competition is going to be a large step-up, Marker has shown that he has the potential to be a very good quarterback at the D1 level.
Duke Blue Devils: Darian Mensah, QB
Next-Up
Darian Mensah is a red-shirt sophomore who started for Tulane in the 2024 season. He finished with 2722 yards passing, 22 touchdowns, six interceptions, and a big-time throw rate of 5.6% (26th of 156). Beyond just the big-time throws, his average depth of target was an absurd 11.3 yards.
That ranked 17th in the nation. This shows up in his adjusted completion percentage, which ranked 27th in FBS. His best came from the medium passes, 10-19 yards down the field. In these spots, he finished with 990 yards, 10 touchdowns, one interception, and a 64% completion percentage.
The Duke Blue Devils ranked 49th in passes of 20+ yards last season, an area I expect Mensah to take big strides in for 2025. The big time throws were there (14 on 55 throws of 20+ yards), but so were the bad throws (8 turnover-worthy plays).
East Carolina Pirates: J.D. Lampley, EDGE
Next-Up
J.D. Lampley put in two and a half sacks and 39 pressures as a defensive lineman for the East Carolina Pirates in 2024. He played a variety of alignments along the defensive line, including 26% of his snaps as a 3-tech, 17% of his snaps over the tackle, and 57% of his snaps outside as a true edge rusher.
Most impressively, Lampley finished 17th out of 435 pass rushers in pressure rate generated at 17.2%. Among defenders over 17%, he is the only one that didn’t register over five sacks.
This is one of the biggest reasons I believe he will be the breakout player for this team. He already has shown the ability to get to the quarterback, now he just has to finish the job.
Eastern Michigan Eagles: Terry Lockett Jr., WR
Sleeper
Terry Lockett Jr. led the Eastern Michigan Eagles in receiving yards with 669 despite being targeted 19 fewer times than the number one receiver. His 14.5 yards per reception ranked 148th of 521 pass-catchers in 2024. He did all of this while lining up as the Z on over 80% of his snaps.
The other two receivers in transfer Petey Tucker and Porter Rooks are nowhere near as talented as Lockett Jr. so I expect him to be the go-to guy for this Eastern Michigan offense.
Adding to this, Eastern Michigan ranked 49th in FBS in passing attempts, showing their clear willingness to get receivers the ball. They also lost 164 targets between the two transfer wideouts as well.
Florida Atlantic Owls: Zion Paret, CB
Instant Impact
Zion Paret is a 3-star recruit out of Miami who plays the corner position. Already listed on the two-deep for the Florida Atlantic Owls, Paret looks to make an instant impact after disrupting opposing offenses all over the field in high school. He had 18 tackles, five pass breakups, and an interception in his junior season of high school, which showcased his ability with the ball in play.
Florida International Golden Panthers: Keyone Jenkins, QB
Sleeper
Keyone Jenkins is entering year three as the starting quarterback for the Florida International Golden Panthers. He showed immense progress from year one to two, doubling his touchdowns from 11 to 22, dropping from 11 interceptions to eight, increasing both his completion percentage and adjusted completion by 3%, and increasing his yards per attempt by 1.3.
Perhaps the most solidified improvement was his pocket presence improvements. His time to throw went from 2.67 to 2.65, meaning his decision-making was relatively similar. But his feel for pressure coming at him and overall ability to make plays increased substantially. He went from taking 40 sacks to just 17, and his pressure-to-sack rate dropped from 28.8% to 15.5%.
This isn’t because he isn’t scrambling, either. He scrambled relatively the same amount from 2023 to 2024. His deep ball is really special as well. In 2024, he went for 768 yards, 13 touchdowns, and just one interception on passes of 20+. I expect national attention from Jenkins this year as he hopefully takes another step forward.
Florida Gators: Dallas Wilson, WR
Instant Impact
Dallas Wilson will join the long list of stud wide receivers from last year to make an impact early and often as a true freshman. In the Florida Gators’ blue and orange game, Wilson had 10 catches, 195 yards, and two touchdowns. Six of his 10 catches were 20+ yards, showcasing his ability deep down the field.
If he doesn’t start right away (unlikely), expect him to make plays as a reserve until he finally sees the field full-time. Either way, Wilson is incredible and will make a huge impact for sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway.
Florida State Seminoles: Osumane Kromah, RB
Instant Impact
After finishing 132nd out of 134 FBS teams in rushing yards per play at 2.9, Florida State would be wise to start Osumane Kromah right away. His 445-pound squat in high school gives shades of Nick Chubb and Saquon Barkley as a gym rat running back.
He also totaled 1356 yards and 15 touchdowns in his senior year of high school, 471 receiving yards, and eight touchdowns in the pass game.
Fresno State Bulldogs: Jacob Spomer, C
Sleeper
Before the injury, Jacob Spomer was dominating at left tackle in the 2023 season. In 407 pass-blocking snaps, he allowed just 10 pressures and two sacks. Once he finally got healthy in week 10 of the 2024 season, he didn’t miss a beat again. On 254 offensive snaps, he turned in an 85.4 PFF grade, including an 89 in pass-blocking.
Despite his flashes of brilliance at tackle, he will actually be playing center for the upcoming season. His smaller frame, at 6’3″, 290 pounds, should allow him to dominate on the interior.
Georgia Bulldogs: Micah Morris, RG
Next-Up
Micah Morris has a chance to become the next NFL offensive lineman for the Georgia Bulldogs. After seeing both Jared Wilson and Tate Ratledge leave for the draft, Morris is set to take over at left guard.
On 272 pass-blocking snaps last season, he allowed just four pressures. If he can improve in the run game, he will be a very well-rounded offensive lineman for the Georgia playoff push in 2025.
Georgia Southern Eagles: Chandler Strong, C
Sleeper
The next offensive line breakout player is currently listed as the second-string center for the Georgia Southern Eagles. In 2024, he played 435 snaps at center and was promising in both the run and pass game.
The starter above him is a better pass-blocker, but Strong’s presence in the run game should allow him to compete and eventually take over the starting job. Once he gets there, expect strong performances from Strong.
Georgia State Panthers: Fuches Lewis II, DT
Sleeper
The Georgia State Panthers were horrible defensively in 2024. Part of this was the run defense that ranked 120th in FBS. The breakout player for this team is a defensive tackle who plays mostly 3-tech and is a relatively stout run-defender. He ranked 280th of 537 defensive linemen in run-stop percentage last season.
Fuches Lewis II also plays next to Henry Bryant on the defensive line, which should free him up for some one-on-one opportunities.
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Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: Brayden Manley, EDGE
Climber
Brayden Manley dominated at Mercer the past two seasons, amassing 13 sacks and 71 pressures on 489 pass-rushing snaps. Now he transfers over to set the edge for Georgia Tech. In the video below, you see some of his success rushing the passer. He pulled an inside spin move for the first sack and a swim move to the inside for the second one.
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors: Nick Cenacle, WR
Sleeper
Nick Cenacle totaled 63 catches for 723 yards and six touchdowns for the Hawaii football team in 2024. The last few games of 2024 really showed what Cenacle has in store for 2025. In the final four games, he had over six catches in three of the four and over 70 yards in all four. This includes a 12-catch, 113-yard, two-touchdown performance against Fresno State.
Houston Cougars: David Ndukwe, LT
Sleeper
David Ndukwe played 480 snaps for the Houston Cougars at left tackle last season, and he dominated the pass-blocking game, allowing just one sack and seven pressures on 241 pass-blocking snaps.
He joins wideout Stephon Johnson as the only starters on offense who weren’t transfers. Ndukwe will need to be a leader along the offensive line to get the transfers up to speed.
Illinois Fighting Illini: Hudson Clement, WR
Sleeper
Hudson Clement posted two good and efficient seasons on limited playing time with West Virginia before transferring to Illinois. Playing 91% of his snaps on the outside, Clement turned in 73 catches for 1221 yards and nine touchdowns on 108 targets in 2023 and 2024. His 21.8 yards per reception was third in the nation among 461 receivers with over 30 targets in 2023.
Enter 2025 and he will be catching passes from Luke Altmyer, a quarterback that everyone expects to take a leap this season. This could be a sneaky good team in the Big Ten and I expect Clement to be the man in the pass game.
Indiana Hoosiers: Fernando Mendoza, QB
Next-Up
After some summer scouting, Cal transfer Fernando Mendoza is ranked third in my 2026 quarterback rankings. He gets the ball out very quickly, which seems to come from his stellar processing and diagnoses of the defense pre-snap.
He also does a good job of extending plays and is tough to bring down on the first hit. There was a glaring issue of trying to play too much hero ball which led to taking a lot of sacks in 2024.
Luckily, this can be improved. Playing for Curt Cignetti and the Indiana Hoosiers will give Mendoza the chance to shoot up rankings and enter QB1 conversations for 2026. Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr. were also considered breakout players on the Hoosiers, which means the offense should have sky-high expectations.
Iowa Hawkeyes: Max Llewellyn, EDGE
Next-Up
Max Llewellyn played 203 pass-rushing snaps for the Iowa Hawkeyes last season. Roughly half of them came in a 5-tech or wider and the other half standing up. At 6’5 258 pounds, Llewellyn is the prototypical size for a stand-up edge rusher.
With a couple of seniors graduating, Llewellyn will have the opportunity to start this year and should quickly make a name for himself.
In those few snaps, he managed six sacks and 35 pressures. His pressure rate of 17.9% ranked 12th in the nation among 436 defenders with over 200 pass-rushing snaps. Llewellyn is a name that many people are going to have to figure out how to spell and pronounce after his breakout this upcoming season.
Iowa State Cyclones: Chase Sowell, WR
Climber
Chase Sowell averaged 2.76 yards per route run in his 2024 season at Eastern Carolina despite only getting targeted 58 times. Sowell ranked 12th in the FBS in yards per reception last season at 19.8.
His deadliest skillset is the deep ball where he hauled in eight catches on 14 targets for 351 yards, two touchdowns, and had the 37th-best PFF grade.
This was an ideal transfer for the Cyclones who just lost both deep ball studs in Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. With those two gone, it also means Sowell has a clear shot at a lot more targets this year, hence the breakout prediction.
Jacksonville State Gamecocks: Cade Cunningham, QB
Sleeper
Tyler Huff didn’t have gaudy numbers in his 2024 campaign with the Jacksonville State Gamecocks, but he did lead them to the 34th-best passing EPA (expected points added) as a team. His strength came from the run game, where he rushed for over 1400 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Insert Cade Cunningham, who hasn’t played a game in college football just yet. It’s hard to tell how a player will turn out when he hasn’t played a single snap of college football despite being eligible for four years now.
Regardless, he balled out in their spring game, and I think it will be his job to lose for what was a very tough Jacksonville State team last season.
James Madison Dukes: Dylan Williams, WR
Sleeper
Dylan Williams remains behind a couple of transfers in the depth chart, but I think that could change quickly for the sophomore wide receiver at James Madison.
As far as playing time in actual games, he has seven catches for 63 yards and two scores on 11 targets. Williams could make a name for himself in the James Madison offense if given the opportunity.
Kansas Jayhawks: Bryce Foster, C
Next-Up
Bryce Foster started at center last season for the Kansas Jayhawks after leaving Texas A&M, where he played his first three years of collegiate ball. He did pretty well last season, earning second-team All-Big 12 honors.
But I believe this season, he will solidify himself as one of the top interior offensive linemen in the draft after an offseason of dropping weight and continuing to get better.
Kansas State Wildcats: Jaron Tibbs, WR
Sleeper
Jaron Tibbs pulled in 305 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 25 catches and 42 targets last season for the Boilermakers. This year, he gets to catch passes from a much-improved quarterback in Avery Johnson while hopefully taking more snaps from the slot.
Kennesaw State Owls: Dexter Williams II, QB
Sleeper
Dexter Williams II didn’t get much playing time at Georgia Southern last season but his performances were promising when he did. The singular game where he played more than 10 snaps was against Marshall where he went 10 of 15 for 135 yards and a touchdown. He also ran the ball three times for 20 yards and a score that game too.
With Kennesaw State’s bottom-five ranked pass offense last year, the only way from here is up.
Kent State Golden Flashes: Jamarcus Hill, RT
Climber
Jamarcus Hill played left tackle for the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks for two seasons. In his 2024 season, he allowed two sacks and 11 pressures on 201 pass-blocking snaps and will be given the opportunity to start for Kent State this season at right tackle rather than left.
Kentucky Wildcats: Jamarion Wilcox, RB
Sleeper
While Dante Dowdell is likely going to start at running back for the Kentucky Wildcats, I expect Jamarion Wilcox to build on his 2024 season and potentially become the A to Dowdell’s B in the dynamic duo relationship. He averaged over six yards per carry in his limited playing time and has hopefully learned how to tie his shoes by now.
Liberty Flames: Ethan Vasko, QB
Sleeper
Ethan Vasko showed a lot of promise in his two seasons at Coastal Carolina but just couldn’t quite put it together. If he cleans up the turnovers and continues to hit on his medium and deeper level passes, the Liberty Flames could unlock an offense that was average last season.
Louisiana Ragin Cajuns: Walker Howard, QB
Sleeper
After not getting any playing time at LSU and Ole Miss, Walker Howard is expected to start for the Ragin’ Cajuns in his home state of Louisiana. He was a very highly rated recruit coming out of high school, throwing for over 2000 yards and 25 touchdowns in his senior season.
Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks: Aidan Armenta, QB
Sleeper
Aidan Armenta had a rough season last year. He threw more interceptions than touchdowns and had a completion percentage below 55% despite only 6.7 yards per attempt. Luckily, he is only a redshirt sophomore this season and has had the entire offseason as the starting quarterback to continue to build momentum for 2025.
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs: Alonzo Jackson Jr., LB
Sleeper
Alonzo Jackson Jr. only played in 14 snaps last season and got to redshirt. But in those 14 snaps, he had three tackles and a forced fumble which really showed his knack for the ball as an inside linebacker. He won’t start right away for the Bulldogs but look for Jackson to continue earning snaps as the 2025 season progresses.
Louisville Cardinals: Caullin Lacy, WR
Climber
Before transferring to Louisville, Caullin Lacy dominated at South Alabama. His final year there, he finished with 91 catches for over 1300 yards and seven touchdowns. He would have been the perfect breakout candidate for the Cardinals last season if it wasn’t for him breaking his collarbone. Miller Moss will have a very solid slot receiver to work with in 2025.
LSU Tigers: Patrick Payton, EDGE
Next-Up
Patrick Payton had a really disappointing season at Florida State last year that coincided with all of the other slop going on over there at the time. Many analysts thought Payton was going to elevate to that top tier of pass-rushers in 2024. Well there is an old adage that says, “Never wrong. Just Early.”
I think 2025 is going to be the year for Payton. He joins the LSU defense that already has playmakers like Whit Weeks and Harold Perkins, plus Dominick McKinley working on the interior of the defensive line. Payton’s best season was seven sacks and 44 pressures in 2023, and I expect him to best both of those marks with the Tigers in 2025.
Marshall Thundering Herd: Braydin Ward, EDGE
Sleeper
Braydin Ward managed four pressures and a sack in his very limited playing time for the Marshall Thundering Herd last season. With Mike Green in Baltimore on Sundays, Marshall will need someone along the defensive line to step up and replace that production.
While I don’t think Ward will reach the levels of Green, he absolutely will step-up and produce for the defense.
Maryland Terrapins: Malik Washington, QB
Instant Impact
Malik Washington has been receiving immense amounts of hype this off season for Maryland football. After dominating in the spring game, it’s only a matter of time before head coach Mike Locksley officially names him the starter. Even if it comes mid-season, the kid has some special talent.
Proof of this off the field comes after the fact that Locksley allowed Washington to speak to the media as a true freshman for the first time in seven years. Lookout for the four star to bring Maryland back to relevancy in football.
Memphis Tigers: Jerry Cross, TE
Sleeper
Jerry Cross was unfortunately behind arguably the best tight end in football last year at Penn State. They also have stud Luke Reynolds on the roster for 2025 as well, so it makes sense that Cross would transfer to Memphis, which has more of an opportunity.
He was a highly touted recruit out of Wisconsin in high school and is absolutely enormous for a pass catcher at 6″5″, 267 pounds.
Miami Hurricanes: Charles Brantley, CB
Sleeper
Charles Brantley allowed just 14 catches on 37 targets last season at Michigan State. He also gave up zero touchdowns, nabbed three interceptions, had five pass break-ups, and allowed a passer rating of just 16.6. His season was cut short due to injury, but he should make an immediate impact for the Miami Hurricanes when he’s healthy.
Miami RedHawks: Dequan Finn, QB
Climber
After an injury-hampered Dequan Finn early for the Baylor Bears, the former Toledo quarterback will start for the Miami RedHawks this season.
Before the injury, Finn looked like he was about to build on his success at Toledo, dominating in Baylor’s first game. With enough time to rehab the shoulder, I expect Finn to break out this year for Miami Ohio.
Michigan Wolverines: Bryce Underwood, QB
Instant Impact
I don’t think this one will come as a surprise to anyone. One of the more coveted quarterback prospects is coming to Michigan and will likely start immediately. After such a disappointing season in 2024, Bryce Underwood will be expected to return Michigan back to its championship contender status and I think he will do that but in due time.
While I don’t think they are quite championship-level at the moment, I do think Underwood will find success early and often for Michigan.
Michigan State Spartans: Nick Marsh, WR
Instant Impact
In his freshman season at Michigan State, Nick Marsh posted a 41, 649, and three touchdowns stat-line. As many of you already know, last year’s freshman WR class is insanely stacked and could end up an all-timer. I fully expect Marsh to contribute to this as he and Aidan Chiles get started in year two together.
I think part of what makes Marsh so special was his contested catch ability. On 11 contested targets, he caught seven of them. On deep balls, he caught three of four which contributed to his overall eight catches, 301 yards, and two touchdowns on passes of 20 or more yards.
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders: Nicholas Vattiato, QB
Sleeper
Nicholas Vattiato had a really solid 2024 season, throwing for over 3000 yards in his second-straight season. While he had seven fewer touchdowns (16) than he did in 2024, he managed to cut his interceptions down from 13 to 10 while maintaining similar stats elsewhere.
The Middle Tennessee quarterback led the Blue Raiders to a very average 90th-ranked passing offense using EPA as the measurement. Fortunately, he is back for year five (three as starter) and looks poised for a breakout season where he leads the Blue Raiders to a bowl game.
Minnesota Golden Gophers: Nathan Roy, LT
Sleeper
After playing a lot of time at left tackle with the first team in the spring, Nathan Roy looks poised for a breakout for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. He only played in 20 snaps last season, where he allowed a single pressure (sack). Nonetheless, he is a mauler in the run game and honestly has the size and frame to succeed at guard if tackle doesn’t work out.
Mississippi State Bulldogs: Tyshun Willis, EDGE
Instant Impact
A 4-star recruit out of the state of Mississippi, Tyshun Willis has a background in track where he dominated shot put after winning the Mr. Football Award in 1A Mississippi Football. He finished his senior season with an absurd 18 sacks, 62 tackles, and four forced fumbles defensively.
He then added 983 rushing yards, 14 touchdowns, 479 receiving yards, and seven receiving touchdowns.
A man amongst boys in high school, Willis is a bit undersized as an edge rusher and could likely be moved to linebacker at 6’1 230 pounds for the Bulldogs. Wherever he plays, he should be an instant impact for that defense with his crazy motor and strength.
Missouri Tigers: Donovan Olugbode, WR
Instant Impact
True freshman wide receiver Donovan Olugbode is already being listed as one of the two-man for the Missouri Tigers. While I don’t think he will start right away, his ability after the catch makes him a special gadget player they could use as well as a special-teams guy. Very similar to how Zachariah Branch was used in his freshman season at USC.
Missouri State Bears: Dallas Winner-Johnson, LB
Sleeper
With a name like Dallas Winner-Johnson, it’s hard not to succeed. After being named Freshman All-American in the FCS, Johnson will get his chance to play with the big boys. The Missouri State Bears have joined Conference USA and even have USC scheduled for this year. Johnson finished with 43 tackles, including an impressive 24 for no gain or a loss.
Navy Midshipmen: Ben Purvis, LG
Sleeper
Ben Purvis started at left guard for the Navy Midshipmen last season, playing a pivotal role in the run game that is so fundamental to the Navy offense. Overall, he was a solid run-blocker, but as one of the more experienced linemen on this team, I expect him to take his level a step further and help open interior holes for Blake Horvath and company.
In fact, last season Navy ran 73 times between the left tackle and left guard and between the left guard and the center. On those plays, they averaged an impressive 5.34 yards per carry and had seven touchdowns and 15 first downs.
NC State Wolfpack: CJ Bailey, QB
Instant Impact
CJ Bailey came in for Grayson McCall after a mid-season medical retirement and never looked back. Bailey finished with 2400 yards passing, 17 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 390 yards rushing, and five rushing touchdowns.
Despite being a true freshman, he completed 64.9% of his passes and had an incredible adjusted completion percentage of 77.5% (14th of 156) after adjusting for depth of target (8.7) and drops (18!). He averaged 2.90 seconds to throw (49th of 156) and took 23 sacks for a pressure-to-sack rate of 20%.
Luckily for Bailey, this flaw of holding onto the ball too long can and has been fixed, and he has plenty of time to do so as he is only entering year two in college. I think my favorite play of Bailey’s freshman campaign was this play on third and goal of a close fourth-quarter game between NC State and Cal.
His ability to step up in the pocket initially, then, when things break down, keep the play alive and find his guy was incredible.
Nebraska Cornhuskers: Williams Nwaneri, EDGE
Sleeper
Williams Nwaneri had a disappointing 2024 season with Missouri. He ended up only playing 38 snaps and registering just one sack and three pressures on 20 pass rushing snaps. Luckily, it was only his FRESHMEN YEAR!! So while the expectations were high for him, he absolutely has room for growth.
His incredible athleticism and frame make him a clear candidate for a breakout. He is one of those guys that can gain weight and play both interior and edge. It’s hard telling whether or not Nebraska will ask him to do so but having the ability to is very valuable.
New Mexico State Aggies: Jr Hecklinski, LG
Instant Impact
Starting on the offensive line straight out of high school is an impressive feat that Jr Hecklinski is being projected to do for the New Mexico State Aggies at left guard. With a squat of 545 pounds and a bench of 325, Hecklinski possesses the strength to be able to compete with the big boys on the defensive line.
At 6’2 280 pounds, he has the smaller frame to get out into space for some pulling action.
North Carolina Tar Heels: Pryce Yates, EDGE
Sleeper
Pryce Yates joins the North Carolina Tar Heels defense after spending three years at the University of Connecticut. In his time there, he was productive, rushing the passer, amassing 14 sacks and 77 pressures on 767 pass-rushing snaps.
The key to his breakout will be playing alongside a more talented group of teammates instead of being the main focus at Connecticut.
North Texas Mean Green: Evan Jackson, FS
Sleeper
Evan Jackson is the lone projected starter in the North Texas secondary who isn’t a transfer. In 2024, Jackson was tied for fourth on the team in tackles with 48. In coverage, he had the second-most interceptions and pass break-ups with three and four, respectively.
This season, I expect him to play a lot more in the slot as Indiana transfer DJ Warnell Jr. will likely take over the box safety position.
Northern Illinois Huskies: Grayson Barnes, TE
Sleeper
Grayson Barnes has gotten significant playing time in his two years at Northern Illinois. In 2024, he finished with 31 catches for 338 yards and five touchdowns. His best game of the season was the bowl game against Fresno State, where he went for six catches, 57 yards, and two scores.
He isn’t the world’s best run-blocker, but should see continued improvement in the pass game as he enters yet another season as the Huskies’ tight end.
Northwestern Wildcats: Hayden Eligon II, WR
Sleeper
Hayden Eligon II only had eight targets in extremely limited playing time with Northwestern last season. With that being said, he is expected to step up in his sophomore season and take over a larger role within the pass offense. He also offers special teams experience, which is the reason he didn’t redshirt in 2024.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish: Bryce Young, EDGE
Next-Up
Bryce Young was a freshman for Notre Dame who actually got meaningful snaps before his injury. With 208 pass-rushing snaps, Young managed 17 pressures and three sacks. He also chipped in with 21 total tackles and was only credited with a single missed tackle in his playing time.
The true sophomore has a gigantic frame at 6’7 260 pounds and lined up primarily as an edge rusher with his hand in the dirt outside of the tackle. Back from injury and playing in the playoffs, Young showed off what he can do with this combination of size and explosiveness. I expect a lot more of this in Notre Dame’s future.
Ohio Bobcats: Kam Wright, C
Sleeper
Kam Wright played in just 39 snaps as the Ohio Bobcats’ center last season. In those 39 snaps, he showcased his run-blocking chops. On runs with Wright in, the Bobcats averaged 5.25 yards per carry, running the ball up the middle on 69% of those plays. With Wright firmly in the starting role for this season, I expect a big breakout season from him.
Ohio State Buckeyes: Julian Sayin, QB
Up-Next
This is likely going to be considered a copout answer because of the expectations that come with being the new quarterback for the reigning champions. But I genuinely believe he is set to have a fantastic season.
He beat out the competition for the starting job, has looked impressive in the Spring practices/game, and has arguably the best receiving core in the nation to throw to.
Oklahoma Sooners: Jaren Kanak, TE
Sleeper
After three seasons as a linebacker for the Oklahoma Sooners, Jaren Kanak is going back to his high-school glory days to play tight end. It might be a bit of a learning curve, but Kanak is a natural athlete and at 6’2 223 pounds is small enough to probably play a little out of the slot as well.
Overall, I think Kanak is going to make plays for the Sooners whenever he gets that opportunity.
Oklahoma State Cowboys: Malik Charles, OLB
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Malik Charles racked up 23 pressures and six sacks in his time with the West Georgia Wolves. Playing more so as a true outside linebacker than your typical edge rusher, Charles also impacted the run and got five plays in coverage as well. On those five coverage plays, he was targeted twice and did not give up a reception.
It’s unclear whether Charles will start right away for the Oklahoma State Cowboys, but I do know that whenever he gets playing time, he is going to bring the juice as a pass rusher, and you can switch it up with him as well. This is a special trait to have at 6’5 “255 pounds.
Old Dominion Monarchs: Colton Joseph, QB
Instant Impact
Colton Joseph started at quarterback as a true freshman for the Old Dominion Monarchs. In his young campaign, he ended with 1625 passing yards, 11 passing touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and a 59.9% completion percentage.
He also added 719 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns on 7.2 yards per attempt. This dual ability is what makes Joseph the perfect candidate for a breakout season.
Joseph’s goal to thrive is to stay in his pocket and not use his legs too much. Joseph went 19 of 41 for 249 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions on plays outside of the pocket. Joseph was 114 of 181 inside the pocket for 1376 yards, 10 touchdowns, and just two interceptions.
Ole Miss Rebels: Da’Shawn Womack, EDGE
Sleeper
Da’Shawn Womack transferred from LSU after being underutilized the past two seasons. In 2024 and 2023, Womack played a total of 116 pass-rushing snaps and had 19 pressures and three sacks. Womack’s 6’5 260 260-pound size is ideal for an outside-the-tackle edge rusher, and he will benefit greatly from playing alongside Princely Umanmielen and Jamarious Brown.
Oregon Ducks: Dakorien Moore, WR
Instant Impact
Introducing to you the Jeremiah Smith to Dallas Wilson’s Ryan Williams. Dakorien Moore was highly sought after recruit and is already receiving the Jeremiah Smith treatment in spring practices and games around Oregon.
Anybody that you talk to around the campus will rave about how special this guy is. It’s looking very likely that Moore will end up as the first true freshman to start a regular-season game at Oregon under Dan Lanning.
Oregon State Beavers: Maalik Murphy, QB
Sleeper
Maalik Murphy transferred out of Duke after Darian Mensah transferred in. This was despite playing relatively well for the Blue Devils last season, throwing for 2900 yards, 26 touchdowns, and just 12 interceptions. This included a pretty deep ball where he had 900 yards, 10 touchdowns, and four interceptions on 20+ yard throws.
Another valuable asset Murphy brings to the Oregon State Beavers this season is sack avoidance. His pressure to sack rate at Duke was just over 14%. Oregon State finished 58th in FBS in pressure rate allowed and had a time to throw of 2.92 seconds, good for 91st in speed.
Murphy’s career time to throw of 2.26 seconds means he is going to bring quick processing to the Oregon State offense.
Penn State Nittany Lions: Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE
Next-Up
With Abdul Carter gone, Dani Dennis-Sutton takes over the reins as the leader of the Penn State defense. He finished with nine sacks and 45 pressures last season and has progressed immensely throughout his three years on the team.
He is a lot bigger than Carter at 6’5 266 pounds, but still played the majority of his snaps as an edge rusher lined up outside of the offensive tackle.
Pittsburgh Panthers: Rasheem Biles, LB
Next-Up
Rasheem Biles played both edge rusher and inside linebacker for the Pittsburgh Panthers last season. He finished with 16 pressures, six sacks, 53 solo tackles, and 42 tackles for no gain or a loss.
What he does need to work on is his coverage skills. He allowed 19 catches on 29 targets for 182 yards, which are not the worst numbers, as he also had five pass break-ups, one interception, and an 80-yard passer rating.
Purdue Boilermakers: George Burhenn, TE
Sleeper
George Burhenn was hurt on play number one of the day 11 scrimmage for the Purdue Boilermakers. Before that, he was clearly and away the number one tight end and considered to be one of the top overall players on the team.
This is especially important for a team that just lost stud Max Klare to Ohio State. Luckily, Purdue thinks Burhenn will be back in time for game one, which means we get to see a second straight tight end breakout year for the Boilermakers.
Rice Owls: Sean Sullivan, LT
Sleeper
Sean Sullivan played almost all of his snaps at left guard for the Yale Bulldogs in the past three years. Due to some injuries, weeks four and five of the 2024 season allowed Sullivan to get some action at left tackle against Holy Cross and Cornell.
In those 70 pass-blocking snaps, he allowed just one pressure and zero sacks. Moving back to guard, he continued this dominance, only allowing five total pressures on the season and ranking 104th of 2129 FBS/FCS offensive linemen in PFF pass-blocking grade.
With Sullivan manning the left tackle position, the Rice offense should hopefully be able to dominate with their new option offense.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights: Ian Strong, WR
Sleeper
Ian Strong had 43 catches for 676 yards and five touchdowns for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in 2024. With Dymere Miller no longer on the team, Strong will be the number one option and hopefully take the majority of Miller’s 103 targets. Ranking 169th out of 518 FBS pass-catchers in drop percentage, one of Strong’s top qualities is his sure-fire hands.
One of the more impressive features that gives me the confidence in a Strong breakout is his ability to perform from all portions of the field. He posted a 90+ PFF grade on passes behind the line of scrimmage, short (0-9 yards), medium (10-19), and deep (20+).
He also thrives on the contested catch with his 6’3 211 211-pound frame. Strong had the seventh-most contested catch targets (31) in the FBS despite only 77 targets. He ran 48 go routes and racked in six catches for 163 yards and three touchdowns on those in the 2024 season as well.
Sam Houston Bearcats: Keelan Cox, EDGE
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Keelan Cox had 23 pressures and five sacks on 282 pass-rushing snaps for the Texas Southern Tigers in 2024. In 2025, he looks to replace Chris Murray for the Sam Houston Bearcats after Murray transferred over to play for Auburn.
A bit undersized at 247 pounds, Cox will likely continue playing with wider techniques to allow his speed to take over at edge.
San Diego State Aztecs: Trey White, EDGE
Next-Up
Trey White finished fifth in FBS in sacks with 12.5 and added a 14.6% pressure rate on top of that. At 6’2 245 pounds, White plays on the line of scrimmage but without his hand in the dirt, similar to Joey Bosa, TJ Watt, and other 3-4 edge rushers. While you could argue White has already broken out, I think he has another gear and level to reach.
On plays where the time to throw was under 2.5 seconds, White managed three sacks with a 6.7% pressure rate. 2.5 seconds is the standard for quick pressures. Any pressure in under that time is registered as a quick pressure.
White finished 42nd in the FBS in this stat, showcasing that he has the chops for super-star level status in college football. This is especially impressive as he ranks 12th for those doing so under 250 pounds.
San Jose State Spartans: Danny Scudero, WR
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Danny Scudero has a tall task ahead of him. Nick Nash was one of the nation’s best receivers and had unreal production for the San Jose State Spartans in 2024. Scudero has experience with primarily slot production at Sacramento State, where he had 54 catches for 680 yards and five touchdowns on 95.5% slot routes.
His two yards per route run average will come in clutch for the Spartans, who have a completely new receiving core this season.
SMU Mustangs: Jalen Cooper, WR
Instant Impact
SMU had a fantastic 2024 season, but unfortunately, lost over half of the receiving production for 2025. Luckily, Jalen Cooper looks like he is ready to compete as a true freshman.
He and teammate Daylon Singleton are expected to contribute immediately after having fantastic spring ball performances, mainly with the second team and some with the first team.
South Alabama Jaguars: Damyrion Darby, CB
Sleeper
Damyrion Darby will look to start at an outside corner position for the South Alabama Jaguars after top corner Jordan Scruggs left for West Virginia in the offseason. Darby got limited playing time but looked the part in his eight coverage snaps.
Giving up just one catch for 11 yards on three targets, Darby will look to use his speed as an advantage on the outside due to his small size (5’10 169 pounds).
South Carolina Gamecocks: Boaz Stanley, C
Sleeper
Boaz Stanley played both center and right tackle for the Troy Trojans in 2024. His first half of the season at right tackle was dissatisfying, as he allowed 17 pressures and wasn’t as dominant.
When they moved him to center, he allowed just two pressures the rest of the way, and the Trojans averaged 6.1 yards per attempt on rushes that Stanley was directly responsible for (both A gaps).
With the South Carolina Gamecocks pretty much set for the season on the offensive line, Stanley will provide them with much-needed help at center. Playing next to Tree Babalade at guard will also help Stanley solidify his status as one of the top centers in the FBS
South Florida Bulls: Michael Williams II, EDGE
Sleeper
Michael Williams II will be fighting for the defensive end position with transfer Josh Celiscar in 2025. At 6’3 260, Williams got playing time all over the defensive line, ranging from the A gap all the way to outside the offensive tackle.
He racked up 37 pressures and two sacks on 258 pass-rushing snaps but will need to limit his missed tackles in order to truly break out for the South Florida Bulls this season.
Southern Miss Golden Eagles: Braylon Braxton, QB
Sleeper
The Southern Miss Golden Eagles are expected to start nine transfers on the offense, which means this entire off-season is about gaining rapport with each other. This starts with the most important position, where former Marshall quarterback Braylon Braxton will look to lead the Golden Eagles.
Braxton earned second-team All-Sun Belt honors after his fantastic performance at Marshall. He came off the bench and threw for 1631 yards (7.9 YPA), 16 touchdowns, and just two interceptions while adding 663 yards and four scores on the ground (5.0 YPA).
Braxton avoids pressure well (14% P2S), throws a beautiful deep ball, and can hurt you on the ground. Southern Miss has a stud leading this team for 2025.
Stanford Cardinals: Caden High, WR
Sleeper
Caden High put up an impressive 62 catches, 905 yards, and seven touchdowns for the South Carolina State Bulldogs in 2024. Now looking to compete for targets at Stanford, it helps that Elic Ayomanor is graduating.
High will need to put on some weight this offseason because his five of nine contested catches aren’t replicable at 160 pounds with the tougher competition in the FBS.
Syracuse Orange: Darrell Gill Jr., WR
Next-Up
Darrell Gill Jr had 31 catches for 553 yards and two touchdowns with Syracuse as a rotational wide receiver. Last year’s team saw three pass catchers garner over 100 targets, and none of them will be playing with the Orange for 2025.
That means Gill is now the most experienced wide out on the team after they didn’t sign any transfers that will start immediately.
TCU Horned Frogs: Josh Hoover, QB
Next-Up
Josh Hoover was much improved in his second year starting for the TCU Horned Frogs. He increased his yards per attempt by 0.9 while improving his completion percentage by 4% and throwing for 12 more touchdowns. That being said, he had turnover issues last season, and fixing those could go a long way toward Hoover taking the jump to the next level.
Temple Owls: Jalen Stewart, LB
Sleeper
The Temple Owls lost their top three tacklers after a season in which they gave up 35.4 points per game (124/134) and ranked 110th in defensive rush EPA. Insert Jalen Stewart, who had a great season for UMass in 2024, amassing four sacks, 68 total tackles, and ranked 14th among 454 linebackers in missed tackle percentage.
Stewart can’t do it alone, but he should absolutely be able to lessen the blow of their losses.
Tennessee Volunteers: David Sanders Jr., RT
Instant Impact
David Sanders Jr. has been making incredible progress this spring with Tennessee. With Lance Heard slated to start at left tackle, it’s all but certain that Sanders will take over the right side of the offensive line after his performance in the past months. Volreport details his weight gain (up to 300 pounds!) and the overwhelming good reviews from teammates and coaches.
Texas Longhorns: Arch Manning, QB
Next-Up
I don’t think this one should come as a surprise to literally anyone paying attention to the college football world. With the small sample size considered, Arch Manning has looked the part for the Texas Longhorns, and the entire world will be watching as they take on the defending national champions in Columbus, Week 1.
As far as talent, Manning has it. He’s athletic, accurate, strong arm, and makes all the right reads while also being a willing risk-taker when needed. His average depth of target was 11.1 last year, and his average yards per attempt was 10.4. The real question will be how he handles much tougher defenses; only time will tell. For the record, I’m all in. I think he is number one overall pick level.
Texas A&M Aggies: Kevin Concepcion, WR
Sleeper
Kevin Concepcion had a bit of a disappointing 2024 season after dominating as a true freshman and game one of his sophomore campaign.
NC State WR Kevin Concepcion picked up where he left off last fall. He has two touchdowns on the first four drives.
It’s his sixth multi-touchdown performance of his career in just his 14th college football game.
Elite talent.pic.twitter.com/hpFUG8DQ6G
— Noah Fleischman (@fleischman_noah) August 30, 2024
Even then, it’s almost impossible to deny his talent. The speedy wide receiver makes a living out of the slot on 10-19 yard routes. With a fresh restart ahead on the Texas A&M Aggies, I think Marcel Reed will have a new favorite target.
Texas State Bobcats: Kalil Alexander, EDGE
Sleeper
Kalil Alexander had quite the productive season, racking up 41 pressures and seven sacks. The most impressive part about Alexander is his skills rushing the passer at just 205 pounds. On the official roster supplied by Texas State, he’s listed at 225, but the rosters are known to be exaggerated, and even then, that is still severely undersized for an edge rusher.
In spite of his size, the seven sacks weren’t the ceiling for Alexander. With a 19.3% pressure rate, Alexander finished eighth among all FBS defenders with over 200 pass-rushing snaps. He also finished first in quick pressures, registering a pressure in under 2.5 seconds 12% of the time!
If he can work on finishing tackles (19.4% missed tackle rate), Alexander will reach new heights of dominance.
Texas Tech Red Raiders: Howard Sampson, LT
Sleeper
Howard Sampson transferred from North Carolina after a mediocre season at left tackle. He allowed five sacks and 19 pressures, but was overall an average tackle in both pass and run blocking. This should be a welcome upgrade from the left tackle situation for the Texas Tech Red Raiders in 2024.
They had two guys rotating in and out of the lineup who both allowed 17 pressures each and three sacks in total. Sampson’s a clear upgrade in the run game and looks to be a slight upgrade in the pass game as well. With a 6’8′, 325-pound frame, Sampson has the potential for being even better than just average.
Toledo Rockets: Jacob Petersen, TE
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Jacob Petersen is projected to start for the Toledo Rockets after a four-year career with Holy Cross. In 2024, Petersen hauled in 35 catches for 503 yards and six touchdowns while also being a plus run-blocker. Toledo’s 2024 tight end had similar production receiving, but was a liability blocking for the team.
Petersen has a lot stiffer competition to bloc,k but I believe in his ability to be an inline tight end for the Rockets in 2025.
Troy Trojans: Matt Henry, RG
Sleeper
Matt Henry gave up four pressures and zero sacks on 224 pass-blocking snaps for the Troy Trojans last season. With a decent amount of experience running-blocking in both zone and gap schemes, Henry will provide the Trojans’ new transfer at Center a lot of help as he gets acclimated to Trojan football.
Tulane Green Wave: Shazz Preston, WR
Sleeper
Once a highly touted recruit, Shazz Preston never got a chance at Alabama with a slew of other talented receivers staying ahead of him in the rotation. In 2024, he was set to get some legitimate playing time with Tulane before an injury prevented him from playing until late in the season.
In 2025, I expect Shazz to finally get his chance and become the wide receiver that everyone expected him to be in college.
Tulsa Gold Hurricane: Elijah Green, CB
Sleeper
Elijah Green got significant playing time with Tulsa as a true freshman. In 321 snaps, Green registered 21 tackles and allowed 15 catches on 32 targets for a passer rating of 65.8. He also hauled in two interceptions as well. Green is a lengthy 6’2 corner who plays primarily outside, and I think he takes a huge step up this season as a leader of the Tulsa secondary.
UAB Blazers: Eli Ennis, LB
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Eli Ennis was an absolute monster against the run for Nicholls in 2024. He finished with 106 total tackles, two sacks, three interceptions, and three forced fumbles. In 2025, he will likely start for UAB, where he can hopefully put on some weight and stay in the box. He is best when he gets downhill and can blitz every once in a while.
UCF Knights: Tayven Jackson, QB
Sleeper
Tayven Jackson has gotten very limited opportunities at Indiana, where he flashed some real talent but never got an extended chance to start and develop. In 2025, he will get exactly that as he is set to start for the UCF Knights. Everybody but the right guard and right tackle are transfers, so this UCF attack will look very different than last season.
UCLA Bruins: Julian Armella, RG
Sleeper
Julian Armella was once a promising three-star prospect for Florida State. Whatever the reason, he only played 104 snaps in two seasons, all at tackle. Fast-forward to now, and he will be one of the most important pieces in the revamped UCLA run game, which is 128th in the FBS in rushing yards per play.
UMass Minutemen: Grant Jordan, QB
Sleeper
Grant Jordan put on one solid show in the short amount of time he started for the Yale Bulldogs. He threw for 1942 yards (7.8 YPA), 22 touchdowns, three interceptions, and added 364 yards and five scores on the ground. As you can see in the video below, he has a quick release and a nice compact throwing motion.
Most importantly, Jordan doesn’t put the ball in harms way very often which is an essential part of the UMass offense. They ranked 33rd in the FBS last season in least amount of epa lost due to turnovers.
UNLV Rebels: Denver Harris, CB
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Denver Harris allowed just eight catches on 21 targets with a passer rating of 70 in his time with the UTSA Road Runners. This season, he is expected to start for the UNLV Rebels, a team that ranked 55th in defensive pass EPA. Harris looks to be a direct upgrade from the corners last year, as he has true lock-down capabilities.
USC Trojans: Jayden Maiava, QB
Next-Up
Jayden Maiava looked pretty impressive with lots of potential in his first few starts for the USC Trojans last season. Going against Notre Dame and Texas A&M to close out the season is never an easy task.
Maiava finished with 1200 yards, 11 touchdowns, and six interceptions in 2024. His most impressive feat was sack avoidance. His 8.2% pressure-to-sack rate is incredible.
One thing that is key for Maiava to breakout in 2025 is him getting more comfortable outside of the pocket. He only attempted 27 passes (16%) of his passes outside of the pocket and was pretty good when he did so. I think part of this will come with more experience.
Utah Utes: Caleb Lomu, LT
Next-Up
Caleb Lomu forms one half of the best offensive tackle duo in football. The Utah Utes have edge rushers in Alcatraz with Lomu and Spencer Fano.
With the rare combination of size and athleticism that Lomu possesses, he has the ability to subvert fast and strong pass-rushers. Not only this but Lomu possesses control as he only had a single penalty last season.
Utah State Aggies: John Miller, LB
Sleeper
With a defense that tends to focus on linebacker play and speedy defensive linemen, Utah State will need a linebacker to break out if it has any hopes of fielding a decent defense. With that being said, my best bet would be John Miller.
He had 51 total tackles and a forced fumble last season and is an improved tackling form away from developing into a better linebacker.
UTEP Miners: Hahsaun Wilson, RB
Sleeper
Hahsaun Wilson averaged 6.1 yards per carry with Charlotte in 2024, finishing with 559 yards and seven touchdowns. This year, he joins the UTEP backfield that was rather successful last season, ranking 41st in the FBS in rushing EPA. With their top rusher gone, the backfield is wide open for Wilson.
UTSA Roadrunners: Cameron Blaylock, DT
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Cameron Blaylock was a stout run defender for the Tennessee State Tigers before transferring to UTSA. His PFF run-defense grade of 77 ranked 177th out of 1012 defensive tackles in both the FBS/FCS. He also adds some juice to the interior pass-rush, managing two sacks as a 3-tech.
Vanderbilt Commodores: Eli Stowers, TE
Next-Up
Eli Stowers did well for Vanderbilt in 2024. He finished with 50 catches for 644 yards and five touchdowns and was a nice safety blanket for Diego Pavia. This season, his expectations are higher, and I think he could establish himself as a tight end good enough to get drafted into the NFL.
Stowers plays primarily from the slot at 6’4 235 pounds. His best ability comes after the catch, where he ranked 11th out of 85 FBS tight ends in yac per reception at 7.5 yards. He also possesses strong hands with only two drops compared to 86 catches in his collegiate career.
Virginia Cavaliers: Xavier Brown, RB
Sleeper
Virginia running back Xavier Brown is poised for a 2025 breakout with his explosiveness and efficiency on display in limited snaps last year. He averaged 6 yards per attempt and averaged 4.32 yards after contact per rush. If he can keep this up with more volume, Virginia should be able to improve upon their 76th-ranked rushing offense.
Virginia Tech Hokies: Arias Nash, DT
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Arias Nash dominated the FCS at Mercer as a 3-tech. He had 47 pressures and nine sacks on 416 pass-rushing snaps and was also one of the highest-ranked run-defenders as well. This fits well with the Virginia Tech identity, allowing just 3.9 yards per rush last season.
With Antwaun Powell-Ryland no longer on the team, Virginia Tech will look to Nash to lead both the pass-rush and the run defense.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons: Fa’alili Fa’amoe, RT
Sleeper
Fa’alili Fa’amoe has had very clear growth while being an offensive lineman for Washington State. In the 2024 season, this growth showed the most with his play at right tackle, where he allowed just two sacks and 12 pressures on 300 pass-blocking snaps.
His run-blocking has been lacking all three year,s but with the growth as a pass-blocker, Wake Forest will likely see stout pass-blocking for Robby Ashford at quarterback.
Washington Huskies: Demond Williams Jr.,QB
Next-Up
Demond Williams Jr. looked good in his debut with Washington last season. Outside of a horrendous game against Oregon where he took 10 sacks (unreal), Williams looks like he possesses the tools to breakout. It’s hard to judge anything based off the small sample size, but outside of the sack avoidance things look promising.
Washington State Cougars: Caleb Francl, SS
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Caleb Francl is quickly going to make a name for himself at Washington State. While at South Dakota State, he racked up 85 total tackles and allowed a passer rating of 86.2. Surprisingly, Ourlads has him listed as a linebacker rather than a safety. Luckily for Francl, he has experience in the slot and in the box, so it shouldn’t make a difference.
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West Virginia Mountaineers: Oran Singleton Jr., WR
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Oran Singleton Jr. turned in a 65 catch, 639-yard, two-touchdown performance in 2024 for Eastern Michigan. The savvy route runner will look to dominate from the slot position for West Virginia in 2025. He will be competing with Rodney Gallagher, who led the team in slot routes last season.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers: Demarko Williams, FS
Sleeper
Demarko Williams is one of the few non-transfer players expected to start for Western Kentucky this season. Williams ranked 4th among 504 safeties in catch percentage allowed and 7th in passer rating allowed. Williams is a Swiss-Army knife for the Hilltoppers, playing in the box, over top, in the slot, and even at times as a corner. I expect him to continue this dominance in coverage this season while also helping out more in the run game.
Western Michigan Broncos: Jalen Buckley, RB
Sleeper
Jalen Buckley turned in a solid 2024 performance for the Western Michigan Broncos. He finished with 5.4 yards per attempt and nine touchdowns while also fumbling zero times on 127 attempts. This season, I expect him to get more volume while also being a more focal point of the pass-game, where he posted an efficient 15 catches for 112 yards last season.
Wisconsin Badgers: Matthew Traynor, FS
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Matthew Traynor will start at free safety for the Wisconsin Badgers after playing for Richmond in 2024. Traynor was active in the run game, totaling 65 tackles and 30 of them for a loss or no gain. He also only allowed a passer rating of 56.4 and had two interceptions. If Traynor can replicate this for Wisconsin, that should help them improve their 45th-ranked pass defense from last year.
Wyoming Cowboys: Kaden Anderson, QB
Sleeper
Kaden Anderson played very limited football for the Wyoming Cowboys in 2024 but will take over in 2025 with Evan Svoboda no longer with the team. Wyoming’s offense ranked 111th in the FBS in pass efficiency, so Anderson will have his work cut out for him.
In week 10 against New Mexico, Anderson went 20 for 29 with 342 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. The Cowboys will need performances like that in order to improve on their 3-9 record from last year and I believe Anderson has the potential to replicate that play.
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