College Football 2024 Stock Up Week 5: Ashton Jeanty, Jalen Milroe & Donovan Ezeiruaku

Check out 2025 NFL Draft prospects who stood out in Week 5 of the college football season

It’s early Monday morning, and my alarm is set to go off for work in four hours. I’m going to keep this introduction simple. Below are roughly 20 college football players who raised their stock in the 2025 NFL Draft with outstanding performances this week. Expect a new top 200 big board to drop this evening or tomorrow morning.  

For people who are new to this series, I try to avoid writing up top prospects. There’s really no way for players like Travis Hunter or Mason Graham to raise their stock since they’re already top five prospects. The goal is to highlight players operating below that level.

Week 0 l Week 1 l Week 2 l Week 3 l Week 4

Only draft-eligible players appear in this series. All heights and weights are unofficial and shared by football programs unless specified. Pressure data, targets, and snap counts are courtesy of Pro Football Focus. Sacks and other official stats are from publicly available box scores.

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Stock Up: Ashton Jeanty, RB Boise State (Scouting Report)

It’s quietly become an unwritten rule that either Jeanty or Bowling Green’s Harold Fannin Jr. (Scouting Report) need to make an appearance in the top section of this column. Neither college superstar is at a Power Four program, but both are on their way to All-American seasons and top 100 selections in the 2025 NFL Draft. Fannin will likely go in the third round, while Jeanty could go as high as the late first round.

Jeanty entered one-man-army mode against Washington State. He carried the ball 26 times for 259 yards and four touchdowns. This is the second time in four games that Jeanty produced at least 250 yards and four touchdowns in a game. He generated 234 yards after contact, broke 17 tackles, and produced five runs of ten or more yards.

Jeanty is an explosive, twitchy 5'9", 215 lb. walking highlight. He has the contact balance to run between the tackles and force consecutive missed tackles while navigating crowded run lanes. Once he hits the second level or finds the edge, it’s goodbye. His burst erases pursuit angles, and his long speed lets him finish home run plays.

Jeanty had one of the best runs of the season against Washington State. Watch him shake off five or more Cougars defenders in the box before breaking away for a score. Jeanty also wins by bouncing runs outside with his twitchy jump cuts and stiff arms. I underrated his contact balance when I reviewed his tape in the summer. Sometimes there’s no one who can bring him down.

Stock Up: Jalen Milroe, QB Alabama (Scouting Report)

I was skeptical of Milroe’s NFL projection heading into the season. He had some moments against USF that seemed to justify those concerns, but the 6'2", 225 lb. redshirt junior has been lights out the past two games. Milroe needs to maintain this level of play to keep the conversation rolling, but I want to point out that players with his caliber of physical tools rarely fall past the top 40 selections.

Milroe torched Georgia’s vaunted defense, especially in the first half. He completed 27 of 33 pass attempts for 374 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception and ran 16 times for 117 yards and two additional scores. Milroe has run for two touchdowns in each game this season. His interception was an inaccurate pass, but his intended target gifted the ball to Georgia with a bad tip.

Milroe throws the ball on a frozen rope. His elite velocity allows him to access tight windows all over the field, and he has the arm strength to put the ball on target 60 yards downfield. Milroe still needs to develop his touch passing, but he’s shown flashes of improvement in that area. His anticipation and ball placement have taken a massive step forward this season.

Milroe’s elusiveness and explosiveness as a runner make him the best dual-threat quarterback in the 2025 class. He can make defenders whiff in the pocket, beat former track athletes like Malaki Starks to the corner, accelerate to erase pursuit angles from defensive backs, toss aside smaller defenders with stiff arms, and cause just as much chaos cutting horizontally as he does vertically.  

Stock Up: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge Boston College

Ezeiruaku is wondering if Boston College can play Western Kentucky again next week. He played 77 defensive snaps for the second time this season and made the most of his opportunities by amassing three sacks, two quarterback hits, and a forced fumble against the Hilltoppers. He was also credited with ten solo tackles, making a massive impact in the run game.

Ezeiruaku showcased the full extent of his explosiveness and bend, freely whipping around and under Western Kentucky’s offensive tackles. He also bamboozled linemen with spins, swims, and ghosts around the edge and through the B-gap. Ezeiruaku is lean and light but has the frame to add weight and sports impressive arm length.

Ezeiruaku’s work in run defense was the most unique element of performance. His agility, change of direction, and linear burst popped as he chased down running backs and made tackles in space. He made several plays while operating on the boundary side of the field but also made the long run to chase down ball carriers on plays beginning on the far hash.

Ezeiruaku looked like a linebacker the way he pursued the ball. He also made a tackle for loss as a backside defender and stacked the pulling center on a gap run before bringing down the running back.

You can check out all of his best plays from the game at this link.

Stock Up: Dane Key, WR Kentucky (Scouting Report)

Key’s teammate Barion Brown (Scouting Report) received more hype over the offseason. Brown is certainly an explosive weapon with his track speed and experience as a return man, but Key’s projection to the NFL is cleaner. He checks all of the boxes with his build (6'3", 210 lbs.) and could be an All-SEC candidate if he continues seeing 10+ targets per game like he has over the past two weeks.

Key proved a challenging matchup for Ole Miss cornerback Trey Amos, who is contending for a top 100 selection in the draft. Key fought off Amos ripping at his arms to maintain a touchdown catch with his strong hands. The play gave Kentucky the lead going into halftime. Key forced Amos to commit defensive pass interference twice throughout the game, including once in the end zone.

That first half touchdown finished a long drive that included Key converting on a 1st and 20. On the All-22, you can see him use a head and shoulder fake to make the cornerback think he’s breaking outside. The corner loses his balance when Key breaks inside, and there’s plenty of space for the reception.

Key is smooth turning to work back down the stem and is a clean mover with limited to no stiffness. His quick feet help him change directions suddenly and make sharp cuts. He excels at finding holes in zone coverage and providing his quarterback with an open target, especially over the middle of the field.

Key isn’t a freak athlete but has enough speed and elusiveness to generate yards after the catch as a one-cut runner.

Stock Up: Kamari Ramsey, S USC

Ramsey didn’t have a good game last week against Michigan. He took out his frustrations on Wisconsin with several eye-catching plays. Ramsey made several timely stops, including a tackle for loss when Wisconsin ran the ball on 4th and 1 at USC’s 33-yard line. Ramsey came flying in as a backside run defender to make the play.

The UCLA transfer also blew up a swing pass to wide receiver Will Pauling in the flat on a 3rd and 5. It was one of the hardest (legal) hits of the weekend. Listen to how the crowd reacts to Ramsey making the play.

The moment didn’t just fire up the fans, it also made an impact on Ramsey’s teammates. USC linebacker Mason Cobb commented on the play after the game, per Antonio Morales for The Athletic.

"That got us fired up ... The importance of that hit,” said Cobb. “It could've been just a regular play but the emphasis of everyone getting hyped up, the whole Coliseum turning up really put momentum our way."

Ramsey has excellent closing burst to make plays coming downhill. He’s better in coverage than he’s given credit for. He can play off-man against tight ends and some slot receivers. Ramsey is patient at the top of the stem to mirror the pass catcher’s breaks. He anticipates and deciphers route combinations and reads the quarterback’s eyes to jump passing lanes.

Stock Up: Tre Harris, WR Ole Miss

I put off writing about Harris in previous weeks because Ole Miss hadn’t played anyone (sorry Wake Forest). I’m bummed we missed out on him matching up with Maxwell Hairston, but excited we got a big game. Harris posted 11 receptions on 15 targets for 176 yards and a touchdown. He leads the FBS with 804 receiving yards. No one else even has 650.

The first thing that jumps out about Harris is his 6'3", 210 lb. frame, but his route running and work after the catch overshadow his play at the catch point. Harris isn’t a burner, but he creates chunk plays after the catch with decent speed and a nasty stiff arm. He broke a big 48-yard touchdown on Saturday, but the play began with his route running. Harris set up the YAC opportunity with his footwork at the top of the stem that shook the corner and gave him inside leverage.

Harris left a few Wildcats off balance and stumbling with his route running. His head fakes and route fakes at the top of the stem had Kentucky defensive backs biting and losing the leverage battle. Ole Miss uses Harris in the short game frequently, but he’s best working the intermediate level after threatening defenses vertically with his build up speed and size.

Stock Up: Jonah Coleman, RB Washington

Coleman had his best game against a Power Four opponent this season in Washington’s failed comeback bid against Rutgers. He carried the ball 16 times for 148 yards, generating six runs of ten or more yards, seven missed tackles, and 109 yards after contact. Coleman’s 5'9", 229 lb. frame and explosive athleticism make him a handful to bring down.

Coleman uses sharp cuts to make defenders miss in the hole or bounce runs outside into space. His burst carries him past the second level and threatens to overtake safeties. Coleman’s explosiveness is rare for a running back with his dense build. Safeties have to worry about his elusiveness in addition to his size and speed. Coleman uses some wiggle to leave defenders grasping at air in the open field.

Coleman’s 36 missed tackles forced rank fourth in the FBS, and he leads the FBS with 21 runs of ten or more yards.

Stock Up: Will Lee III, CB Texas A&M

Lee didn’t have the season opener he was hoping for against Notre Dame, but he played inspired football against Florida a few weeks ago and against Arkansas on Saturday. Lee broke up four passes against the Razorbacks. He allowed just two receptions on seven targets for 13 yards. Even the catches Lee allowed were contested with tight coverage.

Lee sports a lean, tall frame with impressive arm length. He is comfortable in press-man coverage and drives outside releases into the sideline with his long arms. Lee has the speed to stay in phase on vertical routes and is a sticky man coverage defender who plays aggressive football.

Lee’s long arms and vertical leap give him a large defensive radius at the catch point. He rakes the receiver’s arms to rip passes out. Lee projects as a Day 3 prospect in a deep 2025 corner class but could boost his stock with big games against LSU, Missouri, and Texas.

Stock Up: Easton Kilty, LT Kansas State

Kilty transferred to Kansas State after three seasons starting at North Dakota. This is his second season playing exclusively left tackle. Kilty primarily played right guard in 2020 and 2022 and split snaps between right guard and right tackle in 2021. In Kansas State’s last three games, all of which were against Big 12 teams, he allowed just one pressure (to BYU).

Kilty is a stud in pass protection. He plays too high at times, which exposes his lean lower half and slightly high-hipped frame, but he compensates with his barrel-chested upper body and hand usage. Kilty throws powerful punches that stall rushers, quickly resets his hands, and uses snatch-traps and swipes to destroy the defender’s rush plan. Oklahoma State didn’t test his anchor often on Saturday.

Kilty’s lean lower half helps with his mobility, and the Cowboys didn’t have a rusher capable of testing him around the arc consistently.

Stock Up Week 5 Honorable Mentions

Harold Fannin Jr., TE Bowling Green (Scouting Report)

As much as I love Fannin, I can’t give him a full Stock Up segment every week. You can read my write-ups on his games against Penn State and Texas A&M if you want the full breakdown. Fannin made 12 receptions on 12 targets against Old Dominion for 188 yards and two touchdowns.

Fannin is undersized at 6'4", 230 lbs., but that’s what makes him special. He lines up out wide, in the slot, in-line, at H-back, and in the wildcat. Fannin has the elusiveness to make defenders miss in space or shake defensive backs at the top of the stem to create a ton of separation. He has impressive ball skills too. Fannin is the heart of Bowling Green’s offense and the ultimate matchup nightmare for defenses.

Hopefully Fannin lands with an NFL coaching staff that’s willing to make the most of his unique athleticism.

Collin Wright, CB Stanford

Wright spent Stanford’s first three games at outside corner before kicking inside to play nickel against Clemson. Assuming Stanford has the horses on the outside to replace Wright, I think he should see more time inside. He was all over the field against the Tigers and played a crucial role in stalling Clemson’s offense until it finally found its rhythm late in the game.

Wright made six tackles, including one for loss, and allowed just 11 total yards on the four plays Clemson targeted him. He also baited Cade Klubnik into throwing into double coverage early in the second quarter. Wright read the quarterback the whole way and made the easy interception.

Dillon Bell, WR Georgia (Scouting Report)

Bell could sneak into Day 2 with a strong finish to the year. Check out this in-and-up (or dig-and-go) that Keon Sabb bit hard on. If Carson Beck (Scouting Report) gets the ball there sooner, it’s a runaway touchdown. Fortunately, Bell shrugged off Sabb’s tackle attempt and reached the end zone anyway for a 67-yard score.

Bell has the dense build (6'1", 210 lbs.), physicality, and contact balance to take snaps in the backfield or on schemed touches but still has enough fluidity to separate and win as a true receiver.

Tyreem Powell, LB Rutgers (2023 Scouting Report)

Rutgers’ game against Washington was Powell’s second match since a broken wrist ended his 2023 campaign and a torn Achilles derailed his spring training. Powell offers excellent verified size at 6'5", 240 lbs. and arm length for a position that continues to get smaller in the NFL. He made five tackles against the Huskies and broke up two passes.

Powell’s size doesn’t interfere with his mobility. Watch him bail out of a mugged up look to cover Denzel Boston up the seam. There’s no separation there for Boston to work with. Powell ran that same coverage multiple times throughout the game and was successful on each play. He needs to develop his instincts in zone but has the arm length and range to make an impact in coverage.

Marcus Harper II, RG Oregon

Harper and right tackle Ajani Cornelius (Scouting Report) were moving UCLA Bruins during Big Ten After Dark (it just doesn’t have the same ring to it). UCLA doesn’t have anywhere near the defensive line talent it did in 2023, but surprisingly explosive nose tackle Jay Toia can be a handful. Harper anchored well against Toia and did a nice job keeping the B-gap open for runs.

Harper plays low to the ground with a sturdy lower half and a wide base. He flashes heavy hands that pack some pop. Harper improved his stunt recognition from 2023 to 2024. He still gets caught over his skis or leaning on defenders in the run game sometimes.

Princely Umanmielen, Edge Ole Miss (2023 Scouting Report)

Umanmielen totaled four pressures, including 1.5 sacks, and 1.5 additional tackles for loss in his best game of the year against a Power Four program. I thought he would’ve been a top 60 selection if he declared for the draft last year, but the decision to return puts him in the top 40 discussion. Umanmielen has the ideal combination of arm length, bend, and explosiveness to provide consistent production as a pass rusher.

Umanmielen got off to a slow start against Kentucky. The Wildcats lined up a running back or a tight end to his side several times to chip him. Eventually he got through to collect his 1.5 sacks.

One of the big knocks against Umanmielen entering 2023 was his mediocre play in run defense, but he’s really turned it up over the past year and a half. He made a bunch of stops against Georgia in 2023 and had a nice showing against Kentucky. That level of production in the run game is an excellent complement to what Umanmielen offers as a pass rusher. He’s a potential late first round pick, depending on how the year plays out.

Barrett Carter, LB Clemson

On Saturday, Carter had one of his best games since transitioning into more of a traditional off-ball linebacker role after playing a hybrid role in 2021 and 2022. He’s one of the rangiest linebackers in the upcoming class with true sideline-to-sideline playmaking ability. That horizontal pursuit showed up against a Stanford team that ran the ball 44 times.

Stanford leaned heavily into their quarterbacks’ mobility. In the second half, Carter’s closing burst was a nice counter to prevent them from scrambling. He has the speed and mobility to line up over slot tight ends and navigate immense space in coverage.

Carter still needs to stack and shed blocks better to provide more help in run support between the tackles. His athleticism sometimes lets him dodge or duck around climbing linemen to fit gaps. He must set a better edge when isolated with a tight end or pulling blocker on off-tackle runs, but he made a few nice plays against outside runs versus Stanford.

Bhayshul Tuten, RB Virginia Tech

Tuten has four consecutive 100-yard rushing performances, including his recent 19-carry, 141-yard day against Miami. He produced four runs of ten or more yards and broke ten tackles. His longest play was a 55-yard burst where he broke a linebacker’s tackle near the line of scrimmage before tapping into his elite speed.

Tuten doesn’t have a rare build, but he can shimmy and shake to make defenders miss in space and possesses impressive one-cut ability. His acceleration to blow past the defense’s second level pops once he decides to cut upfield. Tuten also offers value returning kicks and catching the ball out of the backfield.

Tuten’s 20 runs of ten or more yards are tied for the second-most in the FBS.

Additional Names to Know

Octavious Oxendine, IDL Kentucky

At 6'1", 278 lbs., Oxendine is an undersized interior lineman who plays a high-usage rotational role for the Wildcats. He produced three pressures, including two sacks, against Ole Miss. Oxendine has powerful, combative hands and long strides that put pressure on interior linemen.

Arian Smith, WR Georgia

Dillon Bell and Smith couldn’t be more different. Smith is a fifth-year player on the smaller side (6'0", 185 lbs.) and a former high school track state champion. Bell is a true junior who uses his size (6'1", 210 lbs.) to line up all over the field, including some reps in the backfield.

The two receivers combined for 11 receptions, 232 yards, and two touchdowns as Georgia’s comeback bid fell just short against Alabama. Smith had a couple of miscues (drops and improper routes). He projects as a traits-based late Day 3 pick.

Dorian Singer, WR Utah

Singer was a breakout star at Arizona in 2022 before disappearing on USC in 2023. He seems to be back to his best self with Utah. Singer made nine receptions for 155 yards against Arizona, including a 37-yard play working against cornerback Tacario Davis.

Le'Veon Moss, RB Texas A&M

There was some buzz last year and this past spring about Moss’ potential breakout. Program instability caused a delay in the junior’s rise, but Moss asserted himself with two 100-yard performances in the past three weeks. He carried the ball 13 times for 117 yards against Arkansas, including 102 yards after contact, five forced missed tackles, and three runs of ten or more yards.

Big Time Players Making Big Time Plays

Kyle Monangai, RB Rutgers

Monangai carried the ball 25 times for 132 yards and a score against Washington. The projected fourth round pick had one of the toughest runs of the weekend. He broke free from at least five would-be tacklers on a 40-yard play that got Rutgers out of a bad field positioning situation.

Jalen Catalon, S UNLV

Third time’s the charm. Catalon’s injuries derailed his Arkansas career, and things just didn’t work out at Texas. His decision to transfer to UNLV is paying dividends. He has four interceptions this season, including this ridiculous sideline snag against Fresno State. Here’s another angle of the play.

Will Sheppard, WR Colorado

Sheppard had a tough start to his Colorado career. He hasn’t separated well this season, but separation might not matter if he makes catches like this one. The UCF defender thought he had an interception before Sheppard laid out for the ball.

Daniel Jackson, WR Minnesota

Jackson is a fourth round player on my board and was a fifth round player for Dane Brugler over the summer. He just doesn’t get much attention because of how Minnesota’s offense operates. Check out the concentration on this spinning touchdown reception that gave the Golden Gophers life versus Michigan.

Upon Further Review

This section acknowledges prospects who had outstanding performances the previous week but weren’t included as Stock Up players. Basically, players who I needed a few extra days to get to on film.

Blake Miller, RT Clemson vs. North Carolina State

Similar to former Washington right tackle Roger Rosengarten, Miller (Scouting Report) lacks the mass and anchor of a normal tackle but compensates with his movement skills and explosiveness. Miller got rolling early against North Carolina State, generating horizontal displacement to create massive run lanes for Phil Mafah.

Miller used his hand placement and body positioning to win the leverage battle and drive defenders out of their gaps. Miller might not have the size to maul defenders consistently, but he attacks them and plays with a nasty mentality. The junior’s mobility makes him a good fit for outside zone or gap schemes. He’s comfortable climbing on inside zone runs to pick off second level defenders too.

Miller is doing a better job sustaining and finishing run blocks this year.

Miller allowed a quarterback hit on a nickel blitz but otherwise had a clean day in pass protection. The Wolfpack rarely challenged his agility and speed up the arc. He did a good job establishing his clamp early and framing blocks. Davin Vann made little to no progress as a rusher when facing Miller.  

Heisman Ladder

1. Travis Hunter, WR/CB Colorado

2. Ashton Jeanty, RB Boise State

3. Cam Ward, QB Miami

4. Jalen Milroe, QB Alabama

…

5. Tre Harris, WR Ole Miss

6. Quinn Ewers, QB Texas

7. Shedeur Sanders, QB Colorado

8. Harold Fannin Jr., TE Bowling Green

9. Jaxson Dart, QB Ole Miss

10. Ryan Williams, WR Alabama