NFL Combine
2/21/25
10 min read
2025 NFL Draft: 5 Biggest Sleepers Heading Into NFL Combine
The 2025 NFL Combine is set to begin next week, and that event always helps separate some of the talent from one another. Bad athletes fall to the bottom of boards, and players with elite measurables start to creep up toward the top. Who are some of the most underrated players in the class going into next week?
For the purposes of this article, we are looking at five players who are ranked outside of the top 100 players on the consensus board. And two of the players listed are ranked outside the top 250. We are diving deep, so without further ado, here are our five deep sleepers from the 2025 NFL Draft heading into Indianapolis:
5 Biggest Sleepers Heading Into NFL Combine
Antwaun Powell-Ryland, EDGE, Virginia Tech 
Consensus Ranking: 117
The 2025 draft is loaded with defensive line talent, which could push some talented, productive players into Day 3. One player who could be had later in the draft and who could end up being really productive in the NFL is Antwaun Powell-Ryland from Virginia Tech.
Powell-Ryland played three seasons at Florida (2020-2022) before transferring to Virginia Tech. That was a great move for his NFL projection, as he was incredibly productive with the Hokies. In two seasons with Virginia Tech, he racked up 34 tackles for a loss and 25.5 sacks. During the 2024 season, he had the third-most sacks (16) and sixth-most tackles for a loss (19) in the NCAA.
One thing we know about pass rushers is that production matters for collegiate prospects. Of the top-10 sack leaders during the 2024 NFL season, they averaged 17.1 tackles for a loss and 10 sacks during their best collegiate season. Obviously, Powell-Ryland exceeded those numbers, which is a great sign for his long-term outlook.
The biggest question remaining for Powell-Ryland is his athleticism. He has average NFL size (6-2, 253 pounds), but we’ve seen plenty of rushers be successful at the NFL level at that size. In fact, the average weight of the top 10 sack leaders in 2024 was 253.6 pounds. Again, nothing to worry about there.
The concern is the speed. Many in the scouting community expect him to run in the low 4.7s in the 40-yard dash. That’s not a terrible time, but it’s just slightly above average for a smaller, shorter EDGE rusher. If Powell-Ryland can run in the mid 4.6s, he’ll have a chance to go inside the top 100 with the upside to be a starter.
He is a polished pass rusher with the production to prove that. He’s got plenty of different moves at his disposal, and he does a great job of using his smaller frame to dip around the edge to pressure the quarterback. He isn’t one of the more discussed pass rushers in this class, but he is among the most productive and is worth keeping an eye on during the on-field drills in Indianapolis.
Danny Stutsman, LB, Oklahoma 
Consensus Ranking: 133
There are several quality linebackers in the 2025 NFL Draft, including Jihad Campbell and Carson Schwesinger. However, after the top two linebackers, there is a considerable gap in talent, and we might not see another linebacker come off the board until Round 3. One name to keep an eye on is Danny Stutsman, a three-year starter at Oklahoma.
Stutsman was a wide receiver in high school, catching 44 passes for 891 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior. Still, his best football came on the defensive side as a linebacker. It didn’t take long for him to become an every-down player for Oklahoma, and by the time he left school, he was easily its best player on defense.
In a league full of sub-230-pound linebackers, Stutsman is a throwback linebacker at 6-foot-4, 245 pounds. His 40-yard dash time will likely be average (4.65ish), but he has all the traits you would want as a three-down linebacker at the next level. He’s started 37 games during the last three seasons and has played more than 2,400 snaps. He never comes off the field, which will endear him to coaches.
Danny Stutsman (LB, Oklahoma) looks much more physical this year.
— Tyler Brooke (@TylerDBrooke) October 4, 2024
Intriguing prospect at 6-foot-4, 241 pounds with length and athletic ability. pic.twitter.com/SlSidpVGxy
Stutsman’s production is outrageous. During the last three seasons, he racked up 338 tackles and 35 tackles for a loss. As one of the nation's top linebackers, he was named a consensus All-American during the 2024 season.
There aren’t a lot of flaws in Stutsman’s game, but he has all of the traits to be an every-down linebacker in the NFL. As of right now, he is ranked as the No. 131 player on the consensus board, which just doesn’t make a lot of sense, given his size and production.
He played at a big-time program and has multiple years of elite production, which is usually a tell-tale sign that a player will work out at the next level. With a good showing at the NFL Combine next week, he could easily be a top-100 pick and could be in the conversation for the third off-the-ball linebacker off the board.
Brashard Smith, RB, SMU
Consensus Ranking: 181
One of the most productive running backs from the 2024 NFL Draft was Tyrone Tracy, who transitioned from receiver at Iowa to running back at Purdue. He was a 25-year-old rookie but instantly productive for the Giants and projects as their starter going into the 2025 season.
Another player who will attempt to have the same success at the next level is Brashard Smith from SMU. Smith spent the first three seasons of his collegiate career playing receiver for Miami, catching 69 passes for 770 yards and four touchdowns. However, he transferred to SMU before the 2024 season, saving his career.
Smith was moved to running back and instantly had success, rushing for 1,332 yards and 14 touchdowns. And, of course, he was involved in the receiving game, catching 39 passes for 327 yards and four scores. What’s most surprising about Smith is that, as a player still learning the position, he has outstanding vision and anticipates where the holes will open up.
Brashard Smith Folks 📈🔥 #NFLDraft2025 #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE pic.twitter.com/BlZ3O5gDme
— NFL Draft (@NFLDraftOG) January 29, 2025
Smith is far from a polished back and will need some time to learn the finer points of playing running back, but his quickness and ability to make defenders miss in the open field are impressive. He is a smaller running back (5-9, 195), but he has the frame to add some bulk if needed.
The combine will be big for Smith, as he should run a sub 4.50 40-yard dash and excel in all of the agility drills. Another reason why teams might be attracted to Smith is his limited workload. Smith has just 253 total carries in four seasons, which means there is still a lot of tread left on the tires.
In a good, deep running back class, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Smith fall to the fifth or sixth round since he’s not ready to be a feature back. Instead, he could be a valuable part of a committee and can excel on passing downs and spread offenses. Smith’s best football is still ahead of him, and there is no reason to believe he can’t have a career path similar to Tracy's.
Dont’e Thornton Jr., WR, Tennessee
Consensus Ranking: 298
This is a fairly weak wide receiver class, and there is a good chance only three are picked in Round 1. The overall depth of the class isn’t much better, but there are some intriguing options that could be had in the later rounds.
One name to watch during the next two months is Dont'e Thornton Jr., a massive receiver (6-4, 215) from Tennessee. Thornton caught 17 passes for 366 yards (21.5 yards per reception) for Oregon in 2022 before transferring to Tennessee. He missed some time with an injury during the 2023 season, but he led the SEC in yards per reception (25.4) during his final season with the Volunteers.
The analytics community loves him because he scores so well against man and zone coverage. Plus, his yards per route run in 2024 (3.72) is among the third-best in this year’s class. Take a look at how Thornton performed against man and zone coverage during the 2024 season:
Not only did Thornton lead the conference in yards per reception, but he led the nation in yards after the catch per reception at 8.94. He doesn’t have a ton of wiggle to his game, but his size and long speed make him a threat to score on any touch.
How fast will Thornton run at the NFL Combine? We’ll see, but he claims that he hit 24.3 mph during his time in Oregon. That number would translate to a low 4.3 40-yard dash, which would put him in a similar height-weight-speed range to Brian Thomas Jr. He is nowhere near the same caliber of player, but Thornton could be a Marques Valdes-Scantling caliber of player in the NFL.
Shaun Dolac, LB, Buffalo
Consensus Ranking: 311
The lowest-rated player on this list by the consensus board, Shaun Dolac, didn’t receive an invite to the NFL Combine. That’s a pretty good sign that he won’t be drafted until Day 3 or not at all. However, that doesn’t mean he can’t play. A big chunk of NFL rosters are made up of undrafted free agents, and Dolac has a chance to have an impact at the next level.
Dolac transferred from Utah State to Buffalo but played five seasons for the Bulls. He was dominant during the 2024 season, leading the MAC in tackles (82), tackles for a loss (19), interceptions (5), return yards (177), and defensive touchdowns (1). He did a little bit of everything for Buffalo, including rushing the passer and recording 11 sacks in the last three seasons.
The production is off the charts, and that’s what you want to see from a small-school prospect. He was named the 2024 MAC Defensive Player of the Year and was even named a first-team All-American this season. Most scouts believe that small-school prospects need to “walk on water” to get drafted, and Dolac just about reached that level in Buffalo.
So why is he being undervalued? He doesn’t have great size (6002, 225 pounds) and is expected to run in the low 4.7s. While that isn’t a killer for a prospect, all three numbers are below average for an NFL linebacker. And you can see it on tape. He’s just not an explosive athlete, but he makes it work.
Are you serious, Shaun Dolac?!?#UBhornsUP🤘 | #BullMarket📈 pic.twitter.com/DeyQmF4joY
— UB Football (@UBFootball) November 21, 2024
How he tests during his pro day process will go a long way in determining his final value, but the production through multiple years is good enough to get him drafted. If he runs in the 4.8s at 225 pounds, most teams will pass because he doesn’t hit their thresholds. But if he can get in the 4.7 range, Dolac's options will widen.
NFL teams might view him more as a part-time player or just a sub-package player who rotates in early during his career. He also figures to be on every special teams unit and should excel there as he fights for playing time on defense.
Dolac probably won’t become a high-level starter in the NFL because most of the players at that position are high-end athletes, but don’t rule him out having a role; he always seems to be in the right spot. He’s got an excellent feel for zone coverage, and he is fantastic at dipping under blocks and getting to the ball carrier.
If your team needs linebacker depth, you could do a lot worse than Dolac in the later rounds.
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