NFL Draft
12/23/24
7 min read
2025 NFL Draft Stock Report: Stars Flex In College Football Playoff
Bowl season is in full swing, and the first round of the College Football Playoff brought plenty of action to enjoy. Even as every game was a blowout, this was the perfect chance to see how the best competition in the world would affect performances. Even playmakers on losing teams stood out.
How these games play out can be a cherry on top showing after a career. Others are looking to make a statement to scouts that their future will be even better at the next level. It's all part of a complex puzzle.
Let's examine the three stars who pushed their 2025 NFL Draft stock up and those who fell.
CFB Bowl Games Stock Up Players
Honorable Mentions
We had so many standout stars that we had to include an honorable mention list of risers.
- Xavier Watts, SAF, Notre Dame
- Gunnar Helm, TE, Texas
- Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson
- Seth Henigan, QB, Memphis
JAYDON BLUE, HOW DO YOU DO?!?! 🔥
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 22, 2024
A 77-YARD TOUCHDOWN TO MAKE IT A TWO-SCORE GAME VS. CLEMSON 😱 pic.twitter.com/cCzmh6V5W2
📈Jaydon Blue, RB, Texas
Stats: 14 carries, 146 yards, 2 TDs; 2 receptions, 31 yards
Texas had little problem handling Clemson in the trenches, and no one benefitted more than Jaydon Blue. The speedy 200-pound back delivered a season-best performance in the most crucial game of Texas' season yet. Despite expectations of Blue blossoming into a superstar, Blue had only three games with more than 83 yards rushing.
That might be changing now that Blue is healthy and isn't dealing with a quarterback clearly hampered by his own injuries. Blue's explosiveness was on full display against Clemson, ripping off a 77-yard touchdown run and a 21-yard reception. He looked like a completely different back than the one who was limited with an ankle injury and coughed up four fumbles throughout the year.
With a terrific first step and acceleration, Blue is one of the most dangerous ball carriers eligible for the 2025 NFL Draft. Just a junior, Blue can carve out an argument to become a top-100 pick despite the setbacks. His three-down potential and comfort fitting into modern NFL offenses are unique claims that help offset some of the size and lack of experience concerns.
DDS + DOM = SACK 🦁
— White Out Weekly (@whiteoutweekly) December 21, 2024
Dani Dennis-Sutton and Dom Deluca SWARM SMU QB Kevin Jennings for the sack #WeAre | @thedanidennis | @dominic_deluca9 pic.twitter.com/YgVYumGPzz
📈Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn State
Stats: 4 tackles, 1.5 sacks
Penn State bullied SMU early and often, relying on their superior athletes and athletic advantages to get ahead and play keep-away. While Abdul Carter's name will be a household one for years to come, as he's destined to be a top-10 2025 NFL Draft pick, his partner in crime against blockers is fighting to be an early Day 2 selection. Dani Dennis-Sutton gave evaluators a lot to think about on Saturday.
The 6-foot-5, 272-pound junior had only four sacks entering this game but has been a consistent pressure creator. He fits the mold of previous Penn State pass-rushers who struggled to notch a high sack total despite looking the part and having the profile of a monstrous presence. While he's not on Carter's and Micah Parsons' level of a player, Dennis-Sutton gave reason to think he's more than an advanced stats darling.
With NFL-ready power and size, Dennis-Sutton showed more situational and play awareness and better hand control in this outing. He'll have to continue his trajectory during the playoffs, as he was relatively invisible against Ohio State and Oregon.
📈TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State
Stats: 10 carries, 80 yards, 2 TDs; 4 receptions, 54 yards
One of the fascinating developments throughout the 2024 season has been TreVeyon Henderson's ascension beyond his teammate, Quinshon Judkins. Judkins has been fine as a Buckeye but has struggled to adjust to the team's battered offensive line. His usual patience and agility haven't been maximized behind a line unable to create a consistent push.
Meanwhile, Henderson has simply lowered his shoulders and pounded his way through the mess, and used his speed as soon as there was space. Judkins will still star in the NFL in a different situation, but Henderson looks like the overall better talent. He's an ace in pass pro and as a receiver, plus he has the toughness and breakaway speed to be a home-run threat.
As he did against Indiana, Henderson scooted for a finishing long run late in the outing. If he had more green space to sprint to, Henderson's 29-yard touchdown could've been a 99-yarder. He's that dangerous, and it will translate to the next level.
CFB Bowl Games Stock Down Players
📉Dylan Sampson, RB, Tennessee
Stats: 2 carries, 6 yards
A hamstring injury early in the game caused Dylan Sampson to miss most of Tennessee's disastrous showing. While Sampson fought to get back on the field, doing sprints and warming up at halftime, going back onto the field after ESPN reported he had a lower-body injury on the broadcast, and catching a short pass in the third quarter, the Volunteers' best player was a non-factor. Dinging Sampson for being hurt would be unfair, but it was more about this being a missed opportunity.
While Henderson made the most of his touches, Sampson would've benefitted from doing the same. The 2025 running back class is incredible, but Sampson's whimper of a final performance left questions as to where he stands. Instead of fighting for RB3, Sampson could easily tumble to RB7 or 8.
His explosiveness and nose for the open field are especially attractive for more spread offenses. But we wanted to see his toughness, vision, and versatility on third downs pay dividends. Those parts of his game still have questions.
Whoever takes DJ Uiagalelei in the 2025 NFL Draft is getting a DAWG pic.twitter.com/YKL82XgqAU
— CFB Kings (@CFBKings) December 16, 2024
📉DJ Uiagalelei, QB, Florida State
Season stats: 53.8% completion rate, 1,065 yards, 4 TDs, 6 INTs
Nothing was funny about DJ Uiagalelei's lone season at Florida State unless you're a Gators fan, but it was somewhat laughable when his 2025 NFL Draft decision was announced. Coming off an unfathomably bad season with horrible decision-making, poor accuracy, and being overwhelmed in his new situation, the idea that Uiagalelei should go to the NFL didn't seem plausible. It made more sense Uiagalelei would transfer to his fourth school in as many years.
Instead, the 6-foot-4, 252-pounder opted to take his chances at getting drafted late or becoming a camp arm and fighting for an NFL career. Despite his impressive career debut in 2020 with Clemson, nothing has come consistently easy for Uiagalelei. His passing mechanics, lack of natural accuracy, and slow processing have barely improved.
His lone season at Oregon State was the most promising of his five-year journey. In hindsight, capitalizing on the execution of his game manager role would've been wise.
Enjoy 8 and a half minutes of Nic Anderson highlights.#LSU got a good one🔥 pic.twitter.com/TL2y3C2pPc
— Mik’d Up (@Mikdup_8) December 18, 2024
📉Nic Anderson, WR, LSU
2023 stats: 38 receptions, 798 yards, 10 TDs
There aren't many more talented vertical receiving threats in the nation than Nic Anderson. The former Oklahoma star bolted to LSU last week instead of opting for the NFL Draft.
The redshirt sophomore missed the entire 2024 season with a torn quadriceps injury, so his decision is understandable. Plus, even if he played, Oklahoma's quarterback situation was awful.
Anderson's decision to go to LSU could pay off wonderfully as he pairs with Garrett Nussmeier and a pass-happy attack. However, I think better landing spots existed. Consider that LSU's top receiver, Kyren Lacy, failed to break the 1,000-yard mark in the regular season. Anderson is a higher variance player than Lacy, and Nussmeier's deep ball isn't the hallmark of his game.
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