RJ Harvey and Savion Williams headline our top 2025 Senior Bowl stars to watch

The college football season has wrapped up, and with the Super Bowl approaching, we’re shifting our attention to the NFL offseason. The 2025 NFL Draft promises to be the most thrilling event in the coming months. While some of us have been evaluating players for a while, the 2025 Senior Bowl will serve as many […]

Ian Valentino National College Football Writer
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Dec 30, 2023; Miami Gardens, FL, USA;Florida State Seminoles defensive back Azareye’h Thomas (20) reacts after the 2023 Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images © Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

The college football season has wrapped up, and with the Super Bowl approaching, we’re shifting our attention to the NFL offseason. The 2025 NFL Draft promises to be the most thrilling event in the coming months.

While some of us have been evaluating players for a while, the 2025 Senior Bowl will serve as many fans' first real chance to see the nation’s top talents in action. For decades, the Senior Bowl has been a highlight of the draft process, showcasing the leading players who engage in a week full of both on-field and off-field activities. 

I believe five players are underrated and will stand out as significant winners at the 2025 Senior Bowl.

RJ Harvey, RB, UCF

It may seem strange to label the fifth-leading rusher in the class as a sleeper, but the lack of buzz surrounding RJ Harvey is quite surprising. Perhaps it's due to his background at UCF instead of a more prominent program like Ohio State, or it could be attributed to his smaller stature at 5-foot-9 and 208 pounds. 

However, underestimating him based on size or competition level is precisely why he'll turn out to be a valuable find.

Over the past two years, Harvey has amassed 2,999 rushing yards and scored 38 touchdowns, showcasing his prowess as a dynamic zone runner thanks to his speed and ability to maintain balance through contact. His diminutive size belies his effectiveness, as he skillfully utilizes a low pad level and a muscular build to break arm tackles and evade defenders. 

Throughout his career, he has consistently gained about 3.68 yards per carry after contact, which is integral to his style of play.

Though Harvey may not excel at pass protection compared to his counterparts, he serves as an ideal RB2 and a complementary back in one-cut running schemes. His elusiveness and resilience in the face of contact will stand out during one-on-one drills, while his speed and catching ability will help him outshine others in Senior Bowl pass-catching drills against linebackers and safeties.

Savion Williams, WR, TCU

Producing 138 receptions, 1,669 yards, and 14 touchdowns over the course of five seasons may not be the most impressive stat line for a senior, but Savion Williams offers a distinct skill set and physical presence. Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 225 pounds, he embraced a new role in 2024, which turned out to be his most successful season to date. 

Rather than being limited to an X-receiver primarily known for his vertical threat, Williams successfully redefined his game.

Previously, he had only 12.8% of his snaps in the slot, but this season, he spent nearly a quarter of his time operating over the middle of the field. This adjustment resulted in more explosive plays, an improved catch rate, and expanded opportunities beyond just being a catch-point specialist. His yards after the catch jumped from 189 to 407 as he managed to force 18 missed tackles.

By combining his success in the slot with a career-contested catch rate of 75% on 36 targets, Williams showcases a profile with significant value. This receiving class lacks strong Day 2 prospects. If Williams can demonstrate his ability to create separation during drills against a solid group of cornerbacks, he could position himself as a candidate for a top-100 pick.

Omarr Norman-Lott, DT, Tennessee

The defensive tackle class is arguably the strongest, or at least among the strongest, in this year's draft prospects. Several players expected to be selected in the late Day 2 to Day 3 range have the potential to develop into high-quality rotational contributors or even starters early in their careers. Among them, my top choice is Omarr Norman-Lott, who is likely to be picked within that range.

Standing at 6 feet 3 inches and weighing 315 pounds, Norman-Lott showcased his versatility in 2024 by playing both as a 3-4 defensive end and a 4-3 under tackle. He demonstrated impressive pass-rushing abilities at both positions. 

Tennessee leveraged his strengths by positioning him with plenty of space alongside James Pearce Jr., which allowed Norman-Lott to thrive as a disruptive tackle, boasting the highest win rate in the nation.

In fact, his performance was significantly ahead of the competition; his pressure rate was 3.4% higher than the second-best performer, Derrick Harmon, and his win rate outperformed Harmon by 1.2% and Mason Graham by 4%.

Some of his success can be attributed to the fact that he was used sparingly in a deep rotation. Averaging just 17 snaps per game allowed him to remain energetic and put him in favorable situations more frequently than players on the field full-time. Still, Norman-Lott's speed and reach are highly projectable.

While his run defense in 2024 was inconsistent, he demonstrated more reliable positioning, instinctive reads, and tackling efficiency in 2023. Although he was deployed similarly, he showed improved explosiveness as he continued to develop physically. If he can effectively combine his run-stopping and pass-rushing skills this week, Norman-Lott is likely to secure a spot as a top-100 pick.

Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami (FL)

It's uncommon for young tight ends to make a significant impact in the NFL during their first few years. The position's physical demands require a level of maturity and resilience to handle the constant hits that come with being both a blocker and a receiver. Many tight ends drafted fail to make it past their rookie contracts.

Being a proficient blocker is crucial for early playing time. With that in mind, Elijah Arroyo stands out as the best sleeper option in this year's class. Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 245 pounds, he possesses the build and experience of a traditional tight end while also demonstrating the skills of a power slot receiver, making him a challenging matchup for defenders.

In 2024, Arroyo's performance at Miami showcased his potential for the NFL. He recorded 35 receptions for 590 yards and seven touchdowns while also acquiring valuable experience in different alignments on the field. Notably, he spent nearly 57% of his snaps split out in the slot or wide, with around 40% in-line.

Importantly, Arroyo showcased enough blocking effectiveness to remain viable in the NFL despite only playing around 350 snaps from 2021 to 2023. PFF rated him as an average run blocker and an above-average pass blocker, with just three penalties and two pressures over his 274 blocking snaps. If he carries this performance into the NFL, he could become a full-time starter.

The Senior Bowl will provide him with an opportunity to excel as a receiver while demonstrating his blocking capabilities. With the competition for TE4 being wide open in this class, Arroyo could significantly improve his draft stock.

Azareye'h Thomas, CB, Florida State

This cornerback class is particularly strong in terms of both elite talent and depth, but there's still an opportunity to unearth a surprising first-round value. Azareye'h Thomas stands out as the leading candidate in that regard. 

Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 200 pounds, he was a standout defender for the Seminoles and has significant potential for growth, especially if he can enhance his ball skills. Even if those skills don't improve, he has the potential to be a solid No. 2 corner.

Thomas possesses impressive physical attributes and refined his technique during the 2024 season. He effectively utilizes his length without becoming too grabby or anxious when targeted. His coverage statistics accurately represent his solid positioning and are quite impressive.

In the 2024 season, he allowed just 17 receptions and 141 yards on 33 targets, resulting in a passer rating of only 50.2 against him. He consistently disrupted receivers throughout their routes, starting with his hand placement in press coverage and smoothly transitioning into coverage. His improvement over his three-year career is noteworthy.

Coaches will be keen to see how well Thomas can match up against faster receivers in drills. He managed to avoid penalties remarkably well, being flagged only three times this past season. If he maintains this trend and demonstrates the foot speed needed for man coverage, his draft stock should rise.