The SEC has made a name for itself as a machine for producing NFL Draft prospects. Next off the conveyor belt are a talented crop of players who have consistently been among the best in college football throughout their careers.
How many SEC prospects will be first-round selections on the opening night of the 2025 NFL Draft? We examine the current lines and odds to determine which players are likely to be called early.
How Many SEC Players Could Be Selected in the 2025 NFL Draft First Round?
The SEC has dominated the NFL Draft in recent seasons, with 155 players selected in the first round since 2010. This is twice the number of players chosen from the next closest conference, the Big Ten, which had 77 selections. It is an incredible run for the conference, which has been a hotbed for talent that NFL teams consistently turn to to elevate their franchises.
The trend is expected to continue during the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, with over a dozen prospects from SEC teams projected to hold first-round grades.
Will Campbell, Malaki Stark, Jalon Walker, Jihaad Campbell, Armand Membou, Shemar Stewart, Walter Nolen, Mykel Williams, Tyler Booker, Kelvin Banks, Jahdae Barron, and James Pearce Jr. are expected to be sure-fire first-round selections.
At the same time, analysts have become increasingly confident that Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston will also be drafted on the opening night.
That is 14 players who will likely hear their name called by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in Green Bay on Thursday night, but the over/under line is currently set at 14.5 SEC players to be drafted in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft with the over currently set as the favorite on DraftKings at -250.
Which side of the over/under fence you sit on depends on your views on Ole Miss Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart and South Carolina Gamecocks defensive back Nick Emmanwori.
Dart has constantly been in 2025 NFL mock drafts since the turn of the year, and he is a valid wildcard. Some analysts think the New Orleans Saints could draft him with the ninth overall selection.
Others believe he could fall out of the first round altogether. The Rebels’ passer had originally accepted an invite to be in Green Bay for the draft, but has since pulled out of being in attendance.
This may hint that Dart may not be drafted as high as initially thought. If the Ole Miss prospect is drafted in the first round, it would be viewed as a significant over-draft. But, quarterbacks go, and they go early. Six were drafted in the 2024 NFL Draft, including LSU’s Jayden Daniels.
The other wildcard is Nick Emmanwori. The Gamecocks’ safety rocketed into first-round conversation after an explosive NFL Combine performance, but the hype has leveled out as we head towards April 24th.
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However, with teams such as the Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills who need safety help drafting in the second half of the first round, it is possible he sneaks in.
Additionally, two players that bettors should feel confident in are Alabama Crimson Tide prospects Booker and Campbell. The Tuscaloosa side has had at least one player selected in the first round in the last 16 drafts, which is the longest streak in NFL Draft history.
Over 14.5 SEC prospects drafted in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft may be the play. 14 prospects look like a shoo-in to be first round selections, and it would only take one of Dart or Emmanwori to be taken highly.
Additionally, prospects such as Luther Burden III and Nic Scourton are seen as potential outsiders for first-round selections. Playing the odds, the chances of one of these being taken appear favorable.
Which SEC Players Could Be Selected in the 2025 NFL Draft First Round?
The CSN 2025 NFL Draft Top 300 Big Board has 20 ranked in the top 50, but only 13 went in the first round in our latest 2025 NFL Mock Draft.
Outsiders such as Burden, Scourton, and even LSU Tigers’ tight end Mason Taylor have also been linked with the first round previously, and their talents should not be overlooked as potential Day 1 selections.
- Will Campbell, OL, LSU
- Malaki Starks, SAF, Georgia
- Jalon Walker, EDGE/LB, Georgia
- Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
- Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M
- Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
- Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
- Tyler Booker, OL, Alabama
- Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
- Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
- James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
- Jahdae Barron, DB, Texas
- Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
Other Potential Names
- Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss
- Nick Emmanwori, SAF, South Carolina
- Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
- Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
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