2025 NFL Draft: 5 prospects who could raise their stock on championship weekend

The nine conference championship games scheduled for Friday and Saturday night will provide early NFL Draft talent, but at this point in the season, scouts are focused less on established blue-chip prospects and more on potential Day 2 and 3 steals.

So, with all due respect to Penn State’s edge rusher Abdul Carter (the top running back playing this weekend) or the SEC title game arms race between Georgia’s Carson Beck and Texas’ Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning, let’s dig a little deeper. and pinpoint some prospects that could really improve their draft stock this weekend.

[Related: Picking the winners of every conference title game]

Here are five of my favorites to do so, ranked in order of their games.

Jackson WoodardOLB, 6-3, 230, UNLV

It goes without saying that most watching Friday night’s Mountain West championship game (on FOX at 8 p.m. ET) between UNLV and Boise State will be focused on projected first-round Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty — and Woodard will be the focus as well. . The reigning Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year had a season-high 14 tackles against Jeanty and the Broncos in a back-to-back 29-24 loss back on Oct. 25, and the stakes are even higher in a rematch.

Woodard is one of the few Arkansas Razorbacks who chose to follow their former defensive coordinator Barry Odom to Las Vegas, transferring to the Rebels and quickly proving to be a star. Woodard was wasted on the Fayetteville bench, registering 16 tackles in three seasons there. He thrived with the Rebels, however, earning First Team All-Mountain West honors last season, finishing second in the league with 117 tackles and leading UNLV with nine tackles for loss.

This season he was even better, registering 114 tackles in two fewer games with 17 tackles for a loss. Better yet, he showed great improvement in pass protection, notching nine passes defensed and four interceptions, as well as picking up two fumbles – one of which he returned for a touchdown.

For a player with so little experience, Woodard shows incredible brilliance. He attacks the line of scrimmage, showing excellent diagnostic skills, as well as quickness, agility and awareness of the big bodies around him, smooth blocks and sure-footed execution. His stellar seasons in Las Vegas all but guarantee that Woodard will be drafted next spring, but he could boost his stock significantly with another sparkling showing under the bright lights of Friday night.

Jackson Woodard (7) has an impressive mindset for a rookie, registering 114 tackles with 17 tackles for a loss this season. (Getty Images)

Darien PorterCB, 6-4, 200, Iowa State

NFL scouts are drawn to untapped potential like a moth to a flame, and Porter has certainly shown that, emerging as one of the Big 12’s better backs after spending the first half of his college career in wide receivers and special teams. Last year, Porter’s biggest claim to fame was recording three blocked kicks at Iowa State. This season, he’s shown similar playmaking chops at cornerback, catching three interceptions and already earning an invitation to the prestigious Senior Bowl.

As one might suspect given his massive 6-foot-4 frame, Porter is at his best around media coverage, using his long arms to corral receivers at the line of scrimmage. He is incredibly versatile, easily turning his hips and running forward with receivers downfield. Porter’s quickness is also reflected in his closing speed. In addition, he may end up with the longest arms of any player rated at this year’s combine, showing the ability to protect pass catchers on the ball, even in the backfield. Opposing quarterbacks have found it nearly impossible to complete passes against Porter this season. In fact, according to Pro Football Focus, Porter has allowed just three first down receptions all year and never allowed a single touchdown.

Iowa State will face an explosive Arizona State offense on Saturday (noon ET); one that has scored at least 30 points in seven of their 10 wins so far this season. Scouts will be eager to see if Porter can continue his 2024 campaign against a talented young quarterback in Sam Leavitt, who has already thrown for 21 touchdowns against just five interceptions this season.

According to Pro Football Focus, Darien Porter has not allowed a single touchdown this season. (Getty Images)

Cameron WilliamsOT, 6-5, 335, Texas

Most of the players featured in this article are seniors with extensive playing experience, but Williams — who enters the 2024 season with one career start — is unique in more ways than one.

Among the best players in the country, Williams emerged as one of the nation’s leading offensive players, allowing just three sacks in 449 passing games. Now, one of those sacks has been handed to Georgia in the Bulldogs’ 30-15 win over the Longhorns in Austin on Oct. 19, making his rematch Saturday (4 p.m. ET) against some of the strongest passing arguments in college football. that is very interesting.

Williams may have a freezer belt, but he walks like a man with 50 pounds to lose. The Longhorns’ right tackle is quick and shows impressive lateral grip and balance. Like many long tackles, Williams can pause in his kick-slide, throwing off his power and leaving him vulnerable to the opposition. He needs to tighten up his technique, but scouts are impressed with his upside. In fact, of all the players in this article, Williams is currently playing a key role in the draft, flashing form that could earn a first-year starter a top-50 — or perhaps first-round — pick, if he chooses to go to the team. they are beautiful at the beginning of the year.

Scouts are impressed with the upside of Cameron Williams, who could play his way into a first-round pick. (Getty Images)

Drew AllarQB, 6-5, 235, Penn State

As you’ve no doubt learned by now, the 2025 class of quarterbacks is lacking compared to most recent crops at the position. Allar is one of the few signal-callers with the traits to excite scouts, and he’s more than a “typical” quarterback with a cannon of a right arm. Allar’s career 47-7 touchdown to interception ratio and huge improvement this season in completion percentage have scouts paying close attention.

Watch: Drew Allar throws a 59-yard TD pass to Omari Evans

Allar signed with Penn State amid much fanfare, playing in 10 games as a true freshman. And while he was very popular last year when he threw 25 touchdowns in just two games, he completed only 59.9% of his passes and struggled in high-profile matchups against Ohio State, Michigan and Mississippi in the Peach Bowl, all which was Penn. Losing the country.

This season, however, Allar has made significant strides as a pocket passer, completing 71.6% of his passes. If the Nittany Lions are going to have a chance to upset No. 1 Oregon in the Big Ten Championship game (8 p.m. ET Saturday), Allar will need to play like a future NFL starter. Quarterback needing teams throughout the NFL are hoping he will do just that.

Drew Allar has made significant strides in passing in the pocket this season, completing 71.6% of his passes. (Getty Images)

Elijah RobertsDL, SMU6-4, 295

Even casual football fans may know the aforementioned Allar, but, aside from scouts, few outside the ACC are likely familiar with Roberts, a gifted runner with 21 tackles for loss and 14 sacks recorded over the past two seasons.

Roberts signed with his hometown Miami Hurricanes as a four-star prospect back in 2020 but struggled to find consistent playing time, transferring to SMU with 21 tackles and just one sack in three seasons at The U. He exploded for stops 37 tackles, including 13 for a loss and 10 sacks last year against the Mustangs, and has been more disruptive this year than he’s letting on. statistics (27 tackles, including 10 for loss and four sacks) can suggest, the command has plenty of two teams from his opponents.

The Mustangs allow Roberts to be a little more independent, allowing him to run both left and right and often get out of a two-point situation. Regardless, he shows a level of burst that will be appreciated by scouts, teasing potential defenders with his leg drive and showing impressive burst of coverage. Opponents “feel” Roberts, as he plays aggressively and knows, clubbing blockers and ball players with long, strong arms that have helped him register four forced fumbles over the past two seasons.

SMU enters the ACC Championship Game as a 2.5-point favorite, but many expect the more familiar Clemson to win at the line of scrimmage and give head coach Dabo Swinney his ninth ACC title. Roberts has shown the ability to play well in SMU’s biggest games so far. A good performance against the Tigers on Saturday night (8 pm ET) could give him the momentum needed to challenge for a Top 100 selection next spring.

Since transferring from Miami, Elijah Roberts has tallied 21 tackles for loss and 14 sacks over the past two seasons at SMU. (Getty Images)

Rob Rang is an NFL Draft analyst for FOX Sports. He has been covering the NFL Draft for more than 20 years, with work at FOX, Sports Illustrated, CBSSports.com, USA Today, Yahoo, NFL.com and NFLDraftScout.com, among others. He also works as a scout with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. Follow him on Twitter @RobRang.

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