Texas QB Quinn Ewers made a triumphant return to the lineup last week when he lead the Longhorns to a 34-3 trouncing of old-rival Oklahoma in the annual Red River Rivalry game. However, Ewers and his mates didn’t have much time to rest on their laurels as they’ll host 5th ranked Georgia Saturday evening in one of those games that are every bit ‘The Game of the Year’ material. And while Ewers had a solid outing last week against the Sooners, albeit after a somewhat rocky start during which he had his first pass picked off after a bad overthrow, he still has lots to prove to pro scouts in this one. In particular, while he is a gifted college QB, to date he hasn’t been asked to ill very many NFL type throws. Meanwhile, as much as Ewers will be under the gun on Saturday, Georgia’s Carson Beck may be facing even more pressure, at least from a draft perspective. Beck entered the season as the top-rated prospect at the position, but really hasn’t played that way to date and has seen some erosion to his grade.
Of course, this being Texas and Georgia, the QBs are far from the only prospects who NFL personnel people will be watching closely this weekend. Indeed, Ewers may not actually be the Longhorns top prospect for 2025 as OT Kelvin Banks (#78, 6-4, 320) is arguably the top tackle prospect and has top 5 potential of his own. Meanwhile, speedy WR Isaiah Bond (#7, 5-11, 180), an Alabama transfer who some think could give former UT WR Xavier Worthy’s record 4.21 40 clocking at the combine a run for its money, gives QB Ewers a big play target. In fact, Texas could lead the league in intriguing prospects as scouts are also intrigued to see DE Trey Moore (#8, 6-3, 245), who transferred from Texas-San Antonio after posting 14 sacks last fall, the second most in DI football. Meanwhile, other Texas prospects to watch include S Andrew Mukuba (#4, 6-0, 190), a Clemson transfer who figures to be one of the leading prospects at that position next April, DT Alfred Collins (#91, 6-5, 320), DE Barryn Sorrell (#88, 6-4, 260), S Jahdae Barron (#7, 5-11, 200) and LB David Gbenda (#33, 6-0, 235).
There is something of a similar story at Georgia where QB Beck also may not necessarily be his team’s top prospect as DE Mykel Williams (#13, 6-5, 265), who has all the tools to be the next great pass-rusher in the NFL, has been getting some props as the first player to be selected this year. Williams, though, has been dealing with a foot injury and like Beck has not really lived up to the billing this fall, but the elite talent will still be very hard to ignore next April. Those two could also be joined in next year’s opening round by safety Malachi Starks (#24, 6-0, 205), one of the most dynamic impact defenders in college football. The Bulldogs also feature one of the best offensive lines in the country anchored by LT Earnest Greene (#71, 6-4, 320), another possible first rounder next fall, while OG Dylan Fairchild (#53, 6-4, 315) and RT Xavier Truss (73, 6-6, 320) have mid-round potential. Same for RB Travis Etienne (#1, 5-9, 205), DT Nazir Stackhouse (#78, 6-3, 320), WR Dominic Lovett (#6, 5-10, 190) and TEs Oscar Delp (#4, 6-4, 245) and Ben Yurosek (#84, 6-4, 245). At the same time, LB Smael Mondon (#2, 6-2, 235), another mid-round prospect, will not play because of a foot injury.
Jalen Milroe (#4, 6-2, 220). Beck, for example, could ultimately get some consideration to be the first player selected next April, while Milroe, an athletic dual-threat type, is currently one of the hot prospects in this year’s draft class. Alabama’s record streak of having at least one player selected in the first round for 17 straight years could very well be in some jeopardy this coming April as no one on the roster is considered to be a lock at this time to be selected in the opening round in 2025. Even QB Milroe, who is clearly the Tide’s best prospect at this time isn’t quite yet a lock. However, what Alabama does have is a solid group of early to mid second-day type prospects including OG Tyler Booker (#52, 6-4, 325), C Parker Brailsford (#72, 6-2, 290), MLB Jihaad Campbell (#11, 6-2, 245), ER Deontae Lawson (#0, 6-2, 240), safeties Keon Sabb (#3, 6-1, 210) and Malachi Moore (#13, 6-0, 205), DTs Jaheim Oatis (#10, 6-5, 325) and Tim Smith (#50, 6-3, 315), and TE CJ Dippre (#81, 6-5, 265). Booker, Brailsford, Campball, Sabb and Moore are each among the top prospects at their respective positions; however, they all play positions that are not usually considered high-value at the draft. Meanwhile, scouts will also be keeping an eye on freshman WR Ryan Williams (#2, 6-0, 175), who won’t be draft eligible for several more years, but has already shown some big play ability as he’s averaging almost 30 yards a catch thru the Tide’s first three games.
