College Football 2025 NFL Draft Stock Up Week 14: Vernon Broughton, Josh Conerly Jr. & Chris Paul Jr.
We're wrapping up the college football regular season with a look at the top performing 2025 NFL Draft prospects
The 2024 college football regular season is a wrap. Many high-ranking prospects who didn’t make their conference championships or qualify for the College Football Playoff won’t suit up for bowl season. Instead, they’ll turn their eyes to the 2025 NFL Draft process. Let’s jump into the final Stock Up column that covers a full slate of games.
Please keep in mind that consensus top prospects aren’t eligible for Stock Up because there’s not much room for them to improve their status. Players like Abdul Carter, Travis Hunter, Ashton Jeanty, and Tyler Warren won’t make appearances despite performing well over the weekend.
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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: Vernon Broughton, IDL Texas
Alfred Collins receives most of the attention on this year’s star-studded Longhorns defensive line, but Broughton stepped up with a massive performance against Texas A&M. He finished the revived rivalry match with five pressures, including two sacks and a quarterback hit, and a fumble recovery. His pass rush plan includes converting speed to power, club-swims, chops, and two-handed swipes.
Broughton is on the leaner side for a defensive tackle with his (unofficial) 6-4, 305 lb. frame, but that contributes to the long-limbed redshirt senior’s explosiveness and sudden movement skills. He’s an impressive athlete with some traits bordering on rare territory. Broughton projects as a developmental penetrating 3-tech at the next level with Day 2 upside based on his frame and athleticism.
Broughton’s movement skills and rush plan popped on Saturday night. Watch him sit down left tackle Trey Zuhn III with a club-swim before finishing the sack on the second play of this clip. Broughton used his hand usage and quickness to live in the Aggies backfield. He also showed off the power to displace linemen and force gaps open.
Ethan Burke made the game-ending 4th down stop of the goal line in the fourth quarter, but Broughton was also on track to make the tackle for loss. Burke just happened to get there a step faster.
Broughton is still a developing prospect relying on flash moments and a few big games, but it’s easy to fall in love with his traits and the progress he showed this season as a first-year starter.
Stock Up: Chris Paul Jr., LB Ole Miss
Paul doesn’t carry the same name recognition as Barrett Carter, Deontae Lawson, or Danny Stutsman, but there’s a good chance he goes ahead of all three on the draft’s second night. Paul recorded six tackles, including a sack, and an interception to help Ole Miss win a close game in the Egg Bowl.
Paul is a fluid, speedy linebacker with flashes of brilliant anticipation fitting the run. His springiness helps him sift through blockers as he works downhill until he can find a clean line and use his closing burst to reach the ball carrier. When the box gets muddy, Paul uses his patience and vision to mirror the running back and make the stop.
Paul’s loose and explosive movement skills translate to coverage, where he can drop into zone and read the quarterback’s eyes to undercut throwing lanes. His athletic advantage also helps him take on man coverage assignments against running backs or tight ends running wheels, rails, or short routes to the flat. Paul is developing his instincts in coverage.
Paul is still developing as a block shedder and in coverage, but his raw athleticism and flashes of next level playmaking hint at a future NFL starter.
Stock Up: Josh Conerly Jr., LT Oregon
I generally wouldn’t classify Conerly as a powerful tackle, but he looked like one against Washington. He added weight this year to anchor better in pass protection, and all that offseason work has paid off. Conerly is still a little undersized, and concerns about his length could lead to him playing guard at the next level. He should be a top 50 selection.
Conerly is an explosive athlete with nimble and quick footwork to mirror and match the pacing of pass rushers. He suddenly redirects to take away delayed blitzes and drives defenders around the pocket. Conerly framed his blocks well against Washington and reset his hands when needed to keep the rushers locked within his frame. The Huskies rarely challenged his anchor.
Conerly is a smooth mover with the speed to land blocks in open space, pull on gap runs, and climb to the second or third levels. Check out the key block he lands on this touchdown run.
Conerly sustains and finishes blocks against smaller defenders more than 15 yards downfield on long runs. He made a few of those downfield blocks against the Huskies but also generated nice displacement at the line of scrimmage to create off-tackle opportunities and open B-gap run lanes.
Stock Up: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge Boston College
Ezeiruaku wrapped up his breakout regular season with a season-high 12 pressures, including 3.5 sacks, against Pittsburgh. The undersized senior projects as a second round selection in a deep edge class with almost 20 different pass rushers who could hear their names called in the top 100 selections.
Ezeiruaku’s explosiveness off the line and bend at the arc’s peak made him difficult for Pitt’s offensive tackles to mirror. He’s a loose and fluid rusher who flexes at his hips and ankles to lower his pad level and play below the tackle’s hands. Once past the tackle’s outside shoulder, Ezeiruaku makes a nearly 90 degree turn to puncture the pocket and sack the quarterback with his closing burst.
Ezeiruaku wins with more than just speed. He made a sack early in the fourth quarter where he used a swim move to beat the tight end through the C-gap and another swim move to evade the pass protecting running back. His pass rush plan also includes chops, cross-chops, ghosts, and spins.
Ezeiruaku is verified at 6-2 3/8, 241 lbs. with 34 5/8-inch arms. That’s great length but questionable size, which translates to beatable play strength at the point of attack. Ezeiruaku struggles to contribute against the run game in a crowd but has the agility, change of direction, and linear burst to mirror and chase down ball carriers in space.
Stock Up: Garrett Nussmeier, QB LSU
Nussmeier went to the locker room after taking a big blindside sack from Oklahoma’s R Mason Thomas. It looked like another setback in a lost season for LSU that featured plenty of downturns for the Tigers and Nussmeier’s standing in the 2025 draft class. Then, the redshirt junior retook the field and started putting on a clinic.
Nussmeier finished the game with 22 completions on 31 attempts for 277 yards and three touchdowns. It was his first three-touchdown game with no interceptions since UCLA in late September.
Nussmeier worked through his progressions with good timing to take the air out of the Sooners pass rush for most of the game. He climbed and negotiated the pocket well and delivered tight spirals on throws outside the numbers.
Nussmeier connected with Chris Hilton Jr. on a pair of 40+ yard touchdowns. The first was a back shoulder-esque pass at the front pylon, and the second traveled more than 50 air yards and hit a diving Hilton on a deep post. He also hit a 42-yard hole shot to tight end Ka'Morreun Pimpton late in the third quarter.
Nussmeier was in full control of the game after returning from the locker room. He needed a game like this to put some of the miscues from earlier in the year behind him as he looks forward to returning for the 2025 college football season.
Stock Up: Bradyn Swinson, Edge LSU
Swinson produced six pressures and a tackle for loss in LSU’s win against Oklahoma. He’s been a dominant pass rusher this year, dipping into his bag of chops, rips, swims, two-armed bull rushes, two-handed swipes, and B-gap counters. Swinson is an explosive athlete with an excellent speed rush and enough bend to flatten his arc to the quarterback. He can also fire through the B-gap.
Swinson drives impressive power through his long arms to displace offensive linemen and pry open the B-gap. His speed to power creates havoc along the offensive line and opens all kinds of gaps.
Swinson struggles to anchor at the point of attack but is excellent working in space. He’ll make you pay if you put him in the option because he has the burst and speed to run with quarterbacks like Jalen Milroe on keepers and the change of direction to redirect and make a play on the running back.
Swinson’s football IQ and recognition make him such a unique and special player in this class. Watch him recognize the trick play and take away the throwback to the quarterback, which forces an ill-advised throw and interception downfield.
Stock Up: Johnny Walker Jr., Edge Missouri
Walker continues to be a menace for the Tigers. He amassed seven pressures, including a sack, a half tackle for loss, and two forced fumbles in a strong showing against Arkansas. Walker lacks the bend to sharply flatten his rush angle but possesses the strength and knockback power to blow open the B-gap or bull rush offensive tackles into the pocket.
The pop in Walker’s hands showed up several times while working against Arkansas’ right tackle. He makes linemen lose their balance by prying up their pad levels and lifting them out of their stances with his power and a long-arm. Walker uses his long strides to counter into the B-gap or stress offensive linemen vertically from wide alignments.
Walker is less dominant in run defense but still uses his long arms to stack and shed blocks. He has a good motor and a nose for the football. He’s forced three fumbles in consecutive seasons.
Stock Up Week 14 Honorable Mentions
Bryce Boettcher, LB Oregon
Boettcher popped a few times this season, but I think this is the first time I’ve written about him since the Oregon State game. The former Oregon center fielder and 2024 MLB Draft selection amassed 11 tackles, including a sack and an additional tackle for loss, and a forced fumble against Washington.
Boettcher showcases good instincts and fluidity working downhill. Watch him shoot the B-gap and force the fumble on Jonah Coleman. His play recognition caught my eye a few times, even if he didn’t make the tackle on the play. Boettcher’s closing speed helps him shoot gaps or hammer blockers in space on off-tackle plays.
Boettcher is on the lighter side for an off-ball linebacker, which helps with his range but limits his ability to stack and shed offensive linemen who work to the second level. He projects as a Day 3 selection who can help his stock through the pre-draft interview process and by showing out at the Combine at a higher weight.
The whole Oregon defensive front ate against Washington. Jordan Burch made 2.5 sacks, and Derrick Harmon added five pressures, including a sack, and a fumble recovery. Harmon is a toolsy prospect who projects as a top 50 selection. Burch lacks ideal length but is a superb athlete who projects as a third or early fourth round pick.
Jalen McLeod, Edge Auburn
McLeod is an undersized former Appalachian State transfer. His 6-1 5/8, 234 lb. verified frame and 32 3/4-inch arms don’t meet the league’s preferred thresholds for a pass rusher, but there might be a niche role for him at the next level. McLeod made a sack and stripped Jalen Milroe twice on Saturday.
McLeod quickly releases from the line of scrimmage and uses his instant acceleration to test offensive tackles vertically. His pass rush plan includes cross-chops, swims, and converting speed to power through a long-arm. McLeod’s relentless motor and closing burst make him a nightmare for quarterbacks once he creates a clear path into the pocket.
Over the past three seasons, McLeod has applied pressure on 16.45% of his pass rush attempts. That includes the last two years at Auburn. The Tigers have lined him up at off-ball linebacker for several dozen snaps this year, but he’s a true pass rushing outside linebacker.
Dont'e Thornton Jr., WR Tennessee
The 2025 class includes several Day 3 vertical threat specialists with impressive height & speed combinations, including Traeshon Holden, Quentin Skinner, and Thornton. Thornton’s three-catch performance against Vanderbilt went for 118 yards and two touchdowns. Fans were posting images and gifs of Randy Moss’ Thanksgiving Day game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Vanderbilt’s game plan to play open-field coverage backfired in the first half against the Volunteers. Thornton scored on a free access 28-yard touchdown and came back with an 86-yard catch-and-run for a score. Unfortunately, he suffered an upper body injury and was ruled out for the second half.
Thornton isn’t a high-volume option, but he’s produced a play of at least 40 yards in seven of his 12 appearances this season. He also finished two games without a catch, so there’s some volatility built into his profile. Still, Thornton has the big-play ability to punish open-field coverages on slants and posts.
Omarr Norman-Lott, IDL Tennessee
Norman-Lott made an impact on Tennessee’s defense when he arrived at the program last year but took his pass rush to a new level in 2024. He produced three pressures, including half a sack, in a win against Vanderbilt.
Norman-Lott is a freaky athlete with impressive bend and lateral explosiveness. He uses euro steps, skips into accelerated dips, and angle-flattening elongated strides to alter his tempo and rush path. It’s disorienting for offensive linemen to face such a fluid interior rusher who plays a very free, loose style of football.
Norman-Lott’s hands relentlessly attack the offensive lineman’s hands to keep his pads clean or create a clear path to the quarterback. Playing a limited number of snaps per game allows Norman-Lott to maintain his high motor style and elite pass rushing efficiency.
Norman-Lott also wins with power by dominating the leverage battle and resetting the line of scrimmage. He doesn’t appear to have elite length but outreaches linemen by using excellent hand placement to establish superior inside leverage. This helps with Norman-Lott’s potent bull rush and stacking blocks in the run game. Norman-Lott is also impressive pursuing the football downfield with his speed.
Quincy Riley, CB Louisville
Riley has been buried in a deep cornerback class, but the redshirt senior still has some of the best ball production in the country. Over the past two seasons, he’s amassed five interceptions and 25 passes defensed, including an ACC-leading 13 this year. He reached that total despite battling an ankle injury earlier in the fall.
Riley is on the smaller side at a verified 5-10 1/2, 196 lbs. with 31 1/8-inch arms. That size will likely necessitate a move to the slot for the sixth-year former Middle Tennessee transfer, but it’s worth noting that Riley’s quick feet, ball skills, and elite speed have held up fine on the outside against Power Four opponents.
Riley hits above his weight at the line of scrimmage with solid jams that slow the receiver and throw off the route’s timing. His speed makes him comfortable playing in close quarters, and he’s confident that his leaping ability will allow him to compete at the catch point against larger receivers.
It’s a cliché to say a cornerback ran the route for the receiver, but Riley’s play matches that description. He often finds himself in better position at the catch point than the intended receiver or arriving in time to break up the pass thanks to his leverage, route recognition, and closing burst. Those recognition skills also translate to his work attacking and blowing up wide receiver screens.
Riley solidified his season totals on Saturday against Kentucky, adding a one-handed interception and pass breakup. He did have a coverage mishap that led to a short touchdown pass for the Wildcats.
Tyler Baron, Edge Miami
The Hurricanes benched Baron last week against Wake Forest. After dominating early in the season, the Tennessee transfer basically vanished along with Miami’s pass rush. He reemerged against Syracuse, contributing four pressures, including a sack, a forced fumble, and an additional tackle for loss in just 15 snaps.
On his sack, Baron locked out the left tackle by extending both arms before retracting his hands, dipping around the outside, and flashing his closing burst on the chase down. On the strip, Baron attacked the right guard with a cross-chop and arm pin that caused the less athletic lineman to get grabby and fall down. Baron flattened his rush and poked the ball out with his long arms.
Baron transferred to Louisville over the summer before re-entering the portal and signing with Miami. His behavior while with the Cardinals reportedly wasn’t well received. Those concerns could cause Baron to go undrafted despite posting more than 40 pressures in consecutive seasons.
When Baron is locked in, he has the combination of speed, power, and motor to be a top 150 prospect.
Big Time Players Making Big Time Plays
Ulysses Bentley IV, RB Ole Miss
Most of Bentley’s 136 rushing yards against Mississippi State came on an 89-yard sprint to the end zone. As a sixth-year prospect, Bentley is one of the class’ oldest running backs, but his limited workload has left a lot of tread on his tires. His one-cut ability, explosiveness, and home run potential make him an ideal rotational option at the next level.
Bentley’s lack of usage at Ole Miss has drawn questions throughout the season. He doesn’t have the size to create against loaded boxes consistently, but big plays tend to follow when he gets enough touches.
Caden Prieskorn, TE Ole Miss (Scouting Report)
Another long-time college football veteran, Prieskorn contributed four receptions for 53 yards and a touchdown that iced the Egg Bowl for Ole Miss. That touchdown grab showed off his ball tracking and concentration at the catch point. Prieskorn releases from the line with good speed. That release speed and his inside route stem helped him generate a step of separation against the off-man coverage, and Jaxson Dart delivered a well-placed throw.
Prieskorn is a mid-Day 3 prospect who might slip into the late rounds because of his age and lack of dominant athletic traits.
R Mason Thomas, Edge Oklahoma
Thomas blew past LSU left tackle Will Campbell (Scouting Report) for a speed rush sack early in the second quarter. He’s produced quite a few sacks this year with his explosiveness and bend. The blindside hit actually sent Garrett Nussmeier to the locker room for a short while. Thomas also scored on a fumble recovery after Gracen Halton bullied the center for a strip-sack.
Thomas’ elite athletic traits give him a top 100 ceiling in the draft, but there’s a strong possibility that he will return to school for 2025.
Heisman Ladder
1. Travis Hunter, CB/WR Colorado
2. Ashton Jeanty, RB Boise State
…
3. Cameron Ward, QB Miami
4. Dillon Gabriel, QB Oregon
5. Shedeur Sanders, QB Colorado
…
6. Omarion Hampton, RB North Carolina
7. R.J. Harvey, RB UCF
8. Harold Fannin Jr., TE Bowling Green
9. Tyler Warren, TE Penn State
10. Kaleb Johnson, RB Iowa