Shilo Sanders rises while an SEC star and elite Big 12 QB see their 2025 NFL Draft stock fade in bowl games
The holiday season marks a crucial opportunity for 2025 NFL Draft prospects to stand out in front of scouts before the offseason whirlwind begins. Christmas week featured the largest number of bowl games in December, and only a few matchups remain, showcasing some of the most well-known programs in the country. While everyone enjoyed the […]
The holiday season marks a crucial opportunity for 2025 NFL Draft prospects to stand out in front of scouts before the offseason whirlwind begins.
Christmas week featured the largest number of bowl games in December, and only a few matchups remain, showcasing some of the most well-known programs in the country. While everyone enjoyed the festive season, we took the time to assess each bowl game from the previous week.
The increasing number of opt-outs that impact bowl games played a significant role in our analysis of players whose stocks rose and fell during this time. Our top 300 players were well-represented, providing a fitting conclusion as many standout athletes wrapped up their college careers on a positive note.
Now, let’s take a closer look at three players whose 2025 NFL Draft stock improved and those who experienced a decline.
CFB Bowl Game Risers
Eric O'Neill, EDGE, James Madison
Stats: 9 pressures, 1 sack, 3 tackles
This past week’s standout defensive player was no surprise to those following the Group of 5 closely. Eric O'Neill has emerged as one of the top two defenders that many people across the nation have yet to notice, racking up 58 quarterback pressures and 14 sacks this season. At 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds, the senior has received minimal national media attention.
O'Neill had an impressive debut season at James Madison after transferring from the Long Island Sharks, where he spent three years. Without missing a beat, he established himself as an elite pass-rusher, seamlessly adapting to the higher level of competition. Most weeks, he appeared to be a man among boys.
Even though he recorded at least two sacks in four games, his performance against Western Kentucky may have been his most noteworthy. Throughout that game, he consistently disrupted plays in the backfield and garnered his second-highest number of pressures for the season. PFF recognized his remarkable win rate of nearly 18%.
If he performs well at the combine, O'Neill is likely to be selected early on Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft. Despite his rapid rise in competition, he showcases the qualities of a dominant player from a smaller school and possesses enough athleticism to potentially make an impact in the NFL.
Rahjai Harris, RB, East Carolina
Stats: 17 carries, 220 yards, 1 TD
Relatively unrecognized as the 2024 season entered its second half, Rahjai Harris has rapidly emerged as one of the most talked-about late-round running backs. Standing at 5-foot-11 and weighing 214 pounds, he made a significant impact in Week 2 with 141 yards and two touchdowns against Old Dominion but remained quiet until Week 9. Following his performance against Temple, East Carolina began to maximize the potential of this powerful tailback.
In four of his last six games, Harris exceeded 114 rushing yards, putting him in a strong position to receive draftable evaluations. On the season, he averaged an impressive 3.72 yards after contact per carry, contributing a total of 766 of his 1,177 rushing yards. His ability to maintain a low pad level and keep his feet moving helps him compensate for his limited top-end speed and previous seasons of limited production.
The big question is whether scouts will disregard his part-time status from 2020 to 2023 in favor of his impressive late-season surge. They might do just that, as Harris finished the season as one of the nation's top running backs.
Shilo Sanders, SAF, Colorado
Stats: 6 tackles, 1 PBU
Although he is Deion Sanders' son, safety Shilo Sanders hasn't received the same optimistic NFL outlook as his brother, Shedeur. Shilo is a physical, hard-hitting defender who excels in the run game but has some athletic limitations when it comes to coverage. He has also been known to make mental errors, such as incurring penalties and taking poor pursuit angles.
Concerns about Sanders arise from his career statistics, which include a 16% missed tackle rate and 10 penalties. However, the second half of his senior season showed significant improvement compared to his earlier performances at South Carolina, Jackson State, and now Colorado. His tackling improved, and he made far fewer coverage mistakes.
His solid showing against BYU added to this positive trend. To enhance his chances of being drafted, Sanders must overcome various obstacles, including having played six years of college football, but he does offer valuable potential for special teams and as a backup player.
CFB Bowl Game Fallers
Will Sheppard, WR, Colorado
Stats: 1 receptions, 4 yards
Out of the 102 draft-eligible receivers who have participated in the bowl season so far, Will Sheppard ranks fifth-lowest in receiving yards. Colorado's passing attack struggled against BYU, and Sheppard was unable to contribute effectively. His performance over the past two years has significantly impacted his draft prospects.
Initially seen as a potential top-60 pick in 2022, Sheppard's outlook is now much less certain. Although he had a few decent games with Colorado in 2024, he never surpassed 100 receiving yards in a single game. His inability to create separation and limited athleticism have become more apparent compared to his time at Vanderbilt from 2020 to 2023.
At 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, he possesses great body control and a wide catch radius, but the trend for tall, slower receivers is currently out of favor. While there may still be an opportunity for Sheppard in the NFL if he can raise his game, this season and his performance did not inspire much optimism.
Gavin Sawchuk, RB, Oklahoma
Stats: 13 carries, 67 yards, 1 TD
A hamstring injury sidelined what was expected to be a breakthrough season for Gavin Sawchuk. He had an impressive performance in 2023, racking up 744 yards and nine touchdowns on 120 carries, which led to Tawee Walker transferring to Wisconsin.
However, instead of Sawchuk taking on the full workload, he finished the regular season with just 61 yards before the bowl game.
In the bowl game against Navy, he managed to have his most productive outing of the year, finishing with 67 yards and a touchdown. Despite this, it was a tough and lackluster game, with only one carry exceeding 10 yards. His speed seems to be lacking for him to be a more dynamic running back.
There is potential for a revitalized Sawchuk in 2025, which could showcase improved skills. While hopes of him becoming a mid-round pick in this draft appear unrealistic now, shifting expectations from 2024 to 2025 might lead to a more successful season than what he experienced last fall.
Rocco Becht, QB, Iowa State
Stats: 22/36, 270 yards, 3 TDs
Rocco Becht, a potential mid-round candidate for the 2025 draft class, has not been widely regarded as a strong option despite showcasing numbers and skills typical of an NFL starter. Similar to Brock Purdy, Becht lacks elite athleticism and playmaking ability. He excels at executing the fundamentals, but his style is not particularly flashy.
Standing at 6 feet 1 inch and weighing 210 pounds, Becht experienced a rough finish to the 2024 season, and his performance in the bowl game against Miami was only marginally better, marked by an abundance of checkdowns against a secondary that seemed disengaged. His accuracy suffered as he rushed throws when under pressure.
While a standout performance might not have changed his trajectory much, Becht's best strategy is to focus on improving for the 2026 NFL Draft. His smaller frame, absence of exceptional raw talent, and disappointing conclusion to the season are likely to lead scouts to place him on the back burner.
