It might be just February, but who cares, it is never too early to talk about college football. Let's take some time to do an early preview for the 2025 season. We are going to spend the offseason talking about all the returning talent, the known commodities. Like always, there will also be some breakout stars who could help to reshape the college football landscape.

Earlier this week, I dropped my prediction for some offensive breakout stars heading into next fall. Here are the defensive players who could also make that type of ascension. The talent is plentiful. 

EDGE Damon Wilson (Ohio State)

Wilson transferred from Georgia this offseason, and was once upon a time considered a five-star recruit in the 2023 recruiting class. The 6-4, 250-pound pass rusher served a part time role for the Bulldogs last season but was very productive in the snaps he received, finishing with six tackles for loss, three sacks, and two forced fumbles. Wilson has tremendous athletic upside, and could develop into the next great Buckeye pass rusher.

EDGE LT Overton (Alabama)

This one is slightly cheating, but not really. Overton had some flashy moments in 2024, but he collected 42 total tackles, three tackles for loss, and two sacks. There is a level that Overton can still reach. At 6-5 and 283 pounds, he can do a lot for a versatile defense.

EDGE Will Heldt (Clemson)

Heldt might not be a breakout for the film junkies out there, but from a national perception, it definitely would be. The 6-6, 265-pound pass rusher finishes with 56 total tackles, 10 sacks, and five sacks for an awful Purdue team last fall. Playing all over the defensive line for Clemson, he has a chance to be special.

EDGE James Williams (Florida State)

Although he was apart of a deep rotation, Williams was still able to make some plays behind the line of scrimmage, including six tackles for loss and five sacks. At 6-6 and 250 pounds, Williams has a fantastic frame and a lot of upside to tap into. That’s what made him such a hot commodity in the portal this offseason coming from Nebraska.

DT Dominick McKinley (LSU)

McKinley didn’t get a ton of playing time in 2024, but when he did, he was very productive. The former five-star player showcased all of his talent during the game against Oklahoma, where he collected two sacks. His combination of size and athleticism is what LSU was missing last season.

DT Eddrick Houston (Ohio State)

We saw Houston get increased playing time down the stretch of the season once he moved inside. With both Tyleik Williams and Ty Hamilton off to the NFL, there’s a good chance he could become the next star inside. Continuing to add good weight to his frame is the key.

LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa (Notre Dame)

We saw some big flashes from Viliamu-Asa as a true freshman in 2024, ending the season with 37 total tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, and one interception. There’s a strong chance that KVA ends up starting at WILL linebacker in 2025, and could become a versatile weapon for the Irish.

CB AJ Harris (Penn State)

Harris was a good player for Penn State last season after transferring over from Georgia. With another good offseason under his belt, Harris could ascend to being potentially the best cornerback in the Big Ten. He is extremely physical, and possesses good overall athleticism.

CB Malik Muhammad (Texas)

Overshadowed playing alongside Jahdae Barron, Muhammad showed a lot of promise as a first year starter in 2024. The sophomore finished the year third on the team with eight pass breakups. He heads into the fall as the best cornerback on the team, and has the chance to become one of the better ones in all of college football.

S Brandyn Hillman (Michigan)

It has been a very deep safety room for Michigan the last couple of years, but we saw reps for Hillman begin to increase at the end of the season. His best game came against Alabama in the bowl game, where he recorded four total tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack, and a pass breakup. Hillman’s combination of size and explosiveness is going to be fun to watch on the back end. 

Predicting 10 offensive breakouts who could reshape college football heading into the 2025 season and reach superstar status

Predicting 10 breakout offensive stars in CFB