As you scan the recently updated Draft Network Top 100, a list containing our board of the top 100 NFL draft-eligible athletes in the upcoming 2025 class, you may come across a few names you may be a bit unfamiliar with. Surely you know who Travis Hunter and Ashton Jeanty are, but in this piece, we’ll dive into a few names for you to become increasingly familiar with as the pre-draft process kicks into high gear.
No. 28 (CB3): Jabbar Muhammad, Oregon
It’s still early in the process, but I'm not sure if there’s another secondary player I’m going to pound the table more for than Jabbar Muhammad, a devastating cover corner who projects inside to nickel (5-foot-9 verified). Ranked behind only the aforementioned Hunter (No.1 player overall) and Michigan’s Will Johnson (No. 3) in the corner pool, Muhammad can eliminate varying body types on the perimeter due to sensational instincts, quick twitch, and high-level man-to-man coverage ability.
Looking back to the last time we saw Muhammad in game action against Ohio State, he was targeted just three times on the evening (39 coverage snaps), allowing two catches for 51 yards and just one yard after the catch. And over his last 90 coverage snaps, the former Washington, by way of Oklahoma State, transfer has been targeted a total of nine times. Targeting Muhammad consistently is a gameplan no offense in the country has or is expected to deploy. He absolutely has a shot to hear his name called on night one in April.
No. 33 (SAF3): Billy Bowman Jr., Oklahoma
Billy Bowman Jr. fits the modern NFL to a T. He can play up top as the centerfield free safety, has no issue coming into the box, and has the instincts in coverage to make plays on the football. The glue, alongside LB Danny Stutsman, that holds the Sooners’ defense together, if you like Tyrann Mathieu or Jalen Pitre, I promise you’ll like Bowman Jr. He projects as an immediate contributor in multiple phases (defense and special teams) and is someone who plays a fast and physical brand of football that will boost a back seven.
No. 34 (TE2): Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green
Expected to represent the Group of Five’s top NFL prospect this cycle, flip on some Bowling Green tape when you get a chance to check out the 6-foot-4 Harold Fannin Jr. He’s gone over 100 yards in all but two games this fall, including back to back weeks where he accrued 11 catches for 137 yards and a touchdown against Penn State, then followed up with eight more receptions for 145 yards and a score against Texas A&M. Michigan’s Colston Loveland is expected to be the first flex weapon to hear his name called in April, but as the season progresses and teams get up close with Fannin Jr., don’t be shocked if the Bowling Green product becomes TE1 in the class.
No. 48 (EDGE6): Ashton Gillotte, Louisville
Ashton Gillotte is a powerfully built, alignment-versatile defensive lineman with an outstanding combination of speed and strength that allows him to live in the opposing backfield. He has an excellent get-off at his size that drives through his lower half and he plays with excellent leverage (walked back Notre Dame’s LG six yards into the pocket in 2023). Against the run, Gillotte is a highly productive run defender whose alignment versatility also shows up on early downs (14.5 TFLs in 2023).
There are some questions surrounding Gillotte as he’s a bit of a tweener at this time, and it’s unsure whether he’ll make his most immediate impact as a primary EDGE or within the interior. He fits the mold of a larger, heavier, throwback edge prospect, but is too light to live within the heart of a defensive line. However, his success at a variety of spots could mask those questions for teams in need of a versatile and athletic playmaker at nearly 270 pounds. He’s totaled 21 pressures in his first six games this fall as a primary 4i (head up on the OT) and 5-tech (outside shoulder of the OT).
No. 67 (OT7): Marcus Mbow, Purdue
There’s some risk/reward to Marcus Mbow (pronounced like ‘bow’), but the pros overwhelmingly outweigh the cons. In all sports, success starts with footwork, and Mbow’s ability at 300-plus pounds to slide and shuffle is easy on the eyes to study. As fluid and free-flowing as he is in pass pro, he isn’t hesitant to knock defenders on their backside or displace a linebacker five yards out of the alley at the second level in the run. If there’s any tackle in the class that could rise into a top-20 pick when it’s all set and done, it could be Mbow.
No. 97 (EDGE15): Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
Arguably the most impressive pass-rusher in the country through seven weeks, Donovan Ezeiruaku has seen his stock rise as much as anyone in the class. Currently fifth in college football in total pressures (26) through seven weeks, the 6-foot-3, 232-pound (verified measurements) Ezeiruaku projects as a twitched-up pass-rusher on third down with an evolving skill set as a run defender.
As a pass rusher, Ezeiruaku showcases good bend and ankle flexion to threaten the outside shoulder and will flash a bull rush and an inside two-hand swipe. He’s best when aligned as a wide-nine rusher with a direct route to the pocket. At such a tight angle, his ability to force lineman to turn their shoulders square to his frame allows him to showcase an inside move that has proved successful on multiple occasions.
While he has continued to show improvement in 2024, he currently projects as more of a hybrid rusher who looks to win as an athlete, instead of technically by offering unique looks to opposing tackles. With continued production in conference play, Ezeiruaku has a legitimate shot to continue to rise as teams search for more from the projected names at the top of the EDGE class.
