NFL Analysis
9/13/24
14 min read
2025 NFL Draft: Which 10 Programs Boast Most NFL Draft Talent?
Was Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season unkind to your team? Are you mulling over the future and focused on draft picks already? If so, you’re in luck.
Yes, college football can take a lot of work to keep up with. Players don’t stay with programs for more than a few years, and now, with the expansion of the transfer portal, players can be on the move even more often.
But as we near the quarter mark of the college football season, what do we think we know about the spring ahead? Who has the horsepower to make a splash for the rest of the season, this offseason, and for your team in the future?
Here are the top 10 most NFL Draft-eligible programs in the country.
>> READ MORE: Latest 2025 NFL Mock Draft
CFB Teams With Most NFL Draft Talent
10. Ole Miss Rebels 
Coach Lane Kiffin has no shortage of toys to make his offense go. The measure of how all that talent converts to the NFL level is undoubtedly a significant question — but the talent is undeniable with the Rebels' passing attack.
Dart is on a torrid pace to open the season, averaging nearly 15 yards per attempt, and has one less incompletion than touchdown pass through two games. Harris and Wells Jr. are explosive weapons. Harris is a height/weight/speed threat with experience in the system, which is showing early this season.
However, I am particularly intrigued by Harris and how he has come along. He’s a transfer from South Carolina who popped as a freshman but suffered a broken foot in 2023 and played in just a handful of snaps.
The transfer portal was kind to Ole Miss on defense, too, landing a pair of standout defensive linemen in Nolen and Umanmielen. Both were disruptive players in their former stops at Texas A&M and Florida. But there’s another gear both can tap into that would skyrocket their draft profiles. If it all clicks this year, Ole Miss will rank higher in the amended rankings at the end of the season.
9. Oregon Ducks 
I’m not sure that Oregon’s top talent is equal to Ole Miss', but it is close enough that some of the depth of Oregon’s prominent eligibles puts them in front.
CB Jabbar Muhammad is a combative ballhawk with 22 total passes defensed since the start of the 2023 college season. WR Evan Stewart has teased his potential during the past two seasons in College Station with the Texas A&M Aggies — Oregon feels like the right place to realize his potential. Fellow pass catchers Johnson and Ferguson are intriguing talents that should also find production from QB Dillon Gabriel.
The trenches feel like the safer, cleaner projections for Oregon’s draft outlook — OT Josh Conerly Jr. and DE Jordan Burch have prototypical tools to work with, which should offer them a sturdy floor as top-100 caliber talents next spring.
8. Miami Hurricanes 
This group is all about the ceiling. QB Cameron Ward appears to be headed on a first-class trip to the upper echelon of the quarterback class after his splendid debut against Florida. Even if his performance tapers off, the momentum is there, and the questions about many of the other quarterbacks eligible at the top will likely keep Ward’s name in the mix.
Don’t sleep on Ward’s supporting cast. During the last two seasons, Xavier Restrepo has turned into a chain mover with his eyes firmly set on the Hurricanes’ career record for receptions (182). Transfers Damien Martinez and Tyler Baron are giving the Hurricanes a lot of juice on either side of the ball.
Martinez pairs with Ward and a monstrous Miami offensive line to create a lot of headaches for opposing defenses. Baron is halfway to a new career high in tackles for loss after posting five and a half through Miami’s first two games. He was excellent against Florida.
I am also intrigued by Jalen Rivers, a powerful lineman who has been operating the left tackle spot for Miami since the start of the 2023 season. He played left guard before that, which was a better fit for his athletic profile. Injuries marred his early career, so his resume is predominantly at left tackle despite what I believe is a better fit inside.
7. Alabama Crimson Tide 
Surely you didn’t think we’d get through a list of top schools with NFL talent and not see the NFL factory Nick Saban forged during nearly two decades, right? Alabama may be down vs. the peak of the Saban dynasty in Tuscaloosa, but their “down” year is better than most on a good year.
This group has three potential starting offensive linemen and a dual-threat quarterback to watch. QB Jalen Milroe is steadily building upon the athleticism he leaned heavily on when he first got into the lineup. The question here is how quickly he can grow.
The offensive line is anchored by Parker Brailsford, who came with coach Kalen DeBoer from Washington via the transfer portal. Brailsford has guard/center flexibility, but his stature feels like a center option at the pro level. His linemate, Tyler Booker, has much more of the SEC lineman vibe — he’s a dense player listed at 325 pounds and projects favorably to guard in the pros. Alabama’s other interior lineman, Jaeden Roberts, is rocked up and offers loads of power.
Alabama’s defensive outlook for this draft is highlighted by the usual spots you’d expect from the Saban-era Crimson Tide teams: linebacker and safety. The NFL pipeline at both places has been impressive — 2025 figures to be more of the same.
6. Penn State Nittany Lions 
Penn State’s crop of eligible talent is fascinating. There are things we think we know about several of these players, but their status is fluid. A big season in 2024 could go a long way in pushing Penn State’s status among these schools higher.
QB Drew Allar has all the tools, and he’s looked promising through the early slate, including some wow throws against West Virginia. His pass catchers include one of the better tight end prospects in the country, Tyler Warren. Warren was a big touchdown target in 2023 and looks to be adding more volume to his plate.
Penn State boasts a two-headed monster in the backfield. Nicholas Singleton wowed as a rookie sensation, but the 2023 campaign took some air out of the hype balloon. Thanks to a renewed big-play ability, he looks to be back in a big way early on this season. Kaytron Allen is more of a hammer and offers the physical running ability to help wear down tacklers.
Defensively, Penn State boasts two potential first-round talents: Abdul Carter, an edge rusher, and safety Kevin Winston Jr. — both are blessed with rare physical ability.
Carter is looking to kick his game into a different gear with a move to the edge in 2024. He’s played the role of a defensive weapon in the past but was charged at times playing off the ball prior to this season. Winston Jr. is in the running for the top safety in the class; he’s a long and explosive athlete who pops with instinctual play.
5. LSU Tigers 
This season, the top prospects for LSU generally fit into one of two buckets: a high-floor talent or a total wild card. Tackles Emery Jones Jr. and Will Campbell don’t offer a lot of questions, and teams looking for powerful linemen should have their eyes on both.
Defensive star Harold Perkins was a sensation as a freshman in 2022. Things have been a little more rocky since then, and the early returns in 2024 don’t offer a lot of confidence that LSU has found a way to unlock his rush potential.
The ultimate wild card in this draft class may be Nussmeier. He’s a fourth-year Tiger who hadn’t thrown more than 84 pass attempts in a season before this year. Following up on the heels of the Heisman Trophy winner and No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels isn’t easy, but Nussmeier shows that he’s got the goods after developing during the past few seasons.
He’s got a live arm, good athleticism, and some weapons to throw at with Kyren Lacy and Mason Taylor.
4. Michigan Wolverines 
Setting an NFL Draft record with 13 players drafted in the 2024 NFL Draft should be a crown jewel for the Wolverines. The fact they have enough leftover talent to rank No. 4 on this list is incredible.
The Wolverines have a deep pool of talent and two of the country's five best NFL draft-eligible players, with CB Will Johnson and DT Mason Graham. I fully expect Kenneth Grant’s name also to be called on Thursday night this spring. Will Colston Loveland have to wait until Friday due to positional value? If there is a need, we could be staring at another four Wolverines in the first round this offseason.
Here’s hoping we can see safety Rod Moore this season, too. Moore suffered a knee injury in the spring that cost him the start of the season, but he’s a gifted defender and reliable tackler. Moore is one of several “other” defensive talents for Michigan I’m watching this year beyond the consensus top three.
So, too, is edge rusher Josaiah Stewart, a compact pass rusher making his debut as a starter in 2024 after transferring from Coastal Carolina ahead of 2023. Edge rusher Derrick Moore is a bit more of the prototype from a build perspective — will he break out this season after a 5-sack performance as a sophomore in 2023?
3. Texas Longhorns 
Take a bow, Steve Sarkisian. The Longhorns offense will mow some teams down this year — as evidenced by a convincing handling of Michigan in the Big House. Veteran QB Quinn Ewers leads the charge. He’s looking more refined and less chaotic early on in 2024; that would be a massive development for his NFL Draft outlook.
However, the offense is powered by star power elsewhere. Thanks to his length and athleticism, OT Kelvin Banks Jr. is one of my favorite prospects in the country. WR Isaiah Bond looks like a massive hit via the transfer portal.
Texas hauling him from Alabama appears to be a significant steal within the SEC. This offensive line has to be considered one of the favorites to win the 2024 Joe Moore Award, given to the country's best offensive line. Banks Jr. anchors the group at left tackle but has three draft-eligible starters with experience on the inside.
I’m fascinated to see how edge rusher Trey Moore settles into the Texas front after transferring in from UTSA this offseason. Moore posted 22 sacks and 35.5 tackles for loss during the last two seasons for the Roadrunners. He and former Clemson safety Andrew Mukuba add athleticism to the defense, and both could enter the top 100 conversation or higher by April.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes 
The Ohio State Buckeyes look like a national championship contender. They can thank the transfer portal for some key additions that have upgraded their outlook from last season, particularly in the backfield with QB Will Howard (Kansas State) and RB Quinshon Judkins (Ole Miss). Both are draft talents to watch for 2025, particularly Judkins.
However, the Buckeyes’ NFL Draft chops are much more potent on defense. The defensive line trio of Jack Sawyer, JT Tuimoloau, and Tyleik Williams all have top-50 overall ability. CB Denzel Burke is off to a hot start amid a 2024 campaign that can also affirm his as a first-round pick.
Ohio State’s 2025 eligible crop is exciting, given the talent that elected to return to school this past season in hopes of another leap in draft stock. That includes Burke but could also be expanded to include Williams, Sawyer, Tuimoloau, OG Donovan Jackson, WR Emeka Egbuka, and safety Lathan Ransom.
The law of averages suggests not all of them will experience “the leap.” Who does?
1. Georgia Bulldogs 
Georgia’s collection of NFL draft-eligible talent isn’t as robust as in years past, but the Bulldogs have a loaded roster on both sides of the football. Potential first-round talent is present, including QB Carson Beck, edge rusher Mykel Williams, and safety Malaki Starks.
My initial 2025 NFL Draft prospect rankings also featured LB Jalon Walker among the top 50 eligible talent.
Still, you gain an appreciation for what Georgia’s roster offers when you probe deeper. Several potential Day 2 talents are in the trenches, including nearly the entire offensive line. TE Oscal Delp is an optimal sleeper — I believe his skill set transcends his role at Georgia, and there are the makings of a more productive pro player than he’s shown in the passing game.
Georgia takes home the top spot thanks to the blend of top talent, the depth of eligible prospects on the roster, and the presence of one of the country's top quarterbacks.
>> READ MORE: What Makes Starks So Special
