2025 NFL Draft: College Football Game Recaps – Week 13

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers is one of the top quarterback prospects for the 2024 NFL Draft. Ewers has arm talent and has led a resurgence for the Longhorns program. However, team sources have concerns about how Ewers handles pressure situations and his propensity to get rattled. Kentucky has a tough defense, so this had the potential to be an interesting game to see how Ewers is progressing in maintaining his composure.

On the game’s opening drive, Ewers had beautiful anticipation on a throw to convert a third-and-11 with a 19-yard gain. Ewers threw the ball before the receiver made his break with his back still turned towards Ewers, but when he turned for on the comeback route, the ball was right in his chest for the conversion. To end the drive, Ewers threw a strike in the back of the end zone for a touchdown to tight end Gunner Helm. Just before halftime, they connected again in the end zone as Ewers laid out a beauty to the back of the end zone for a score from about 20 yards out. While Ewers led the Longhorns to a 24-7 lead, he was walking and hobbling with a right leg injury.

The injury really seemed to affect Ewers in the second half. He could not move well in the pocket and the offense stalled. Ewers helped to get Kentucky back in the game on an ugly play. He held the ball well after an attempted strip, but as he stepped up in the pocket, the ball fell out of his hand, and a Wildcats defender caught the fumble in the air with a return of about 20 yards for a touchdown. Ewers finished completing 20-of-31 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns with the fumble.

For the NFL, Ewers has starting ability with next-level passing talent. Ewers is an accurate passer that throws a very catchable ball. He has a quick release, throws with anticipation, and does a good job of getting the ball out without holding it too long. Ewers needs to show that he can play in the clutch and not get rattled when Texas takes on tough opponents in the college football playoff.

Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston was ballhawk and pick-six machine during the 2023 season, but he has missed the majority of this year with an injury. Hairston returned to the field against Texas and was seeing a future NFL speed receiver in Isaiah Bond.

In the first quarter, Hairston recovered to close the gap on a deep post after Bond had a step separation. Hairston lept and high-pointed the ball well to slap it away for an incompletion in the end zone. Shortly later, Hairston recovered again on a deep pass, but this time he didn’t play the ball, and he got away with shoving the receiver to help force an incompletion. Hairston was lucky that it was not flagged for a pass interference. Later in the first half, Hairston was punched after a third-down incompletion in the end zone. Hairston punched the receiver back and was flagged. Unfortunately for Kentucky, the incompetent officials missed Hairston being punched first. The extra first down led to a Texas touchdown.

Hairston has the next-level ability with good speed, ball skills, and athleticism, and they can recover after giving up some separation. Overall, this was a good tape for him, but it would probably be in his interest to return to Kentucky next year to put together a healthy season before moving on to the NFL.

Kentucky defensive tackle Deone Walker missed last week’s game, but he returned to the field against Texas. In the first half, Walker did a decent job of plugging some running lanes and stopping the ground game. In the third quarter, Walker had a nice play where he got off a block and stuffed a run for no gain. Shortly later, he had a good pass pressure and was pursuing to the ball on a run play and that paid off as he dove on a fumble. Overall, Walker was active and had some good moments.

Walker has a good skill set with massive size and unusual quickness for such a giant defensive lineman. However, Walker tends to play too high and doesn’t overwhelm blockers with his mass. Walker seems to think he is a smaller, super-athletic pass rusher. Walker looks like an early-round pick for the 2025 NFL Draft.

Ohio State defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau has not produced up to his skill set during a lot of his collegiate career. However, in this huge game against No. 5 Indiana, Tuiumoloau came through with a clutch performance to help shut down the Hoosier’s offense.

In the second quarter, Tuimoloau used speed to get past the left tackle, and he chased down Kurtis Rourke for a sack when he retreated backward. Tuimoloau followed that up getting upfield to get a tackle for a loss. Late in the third quarter, Tuimoloau got another sack when he was too fast to dart past a pulling guard and running back for a loss of seven yards.

Tuimoloau is strong at the point of attack and can hold his ground in the ground game. He has enough speed to get upfield with a burst to close when free. However, Tuimoloau has issues getting off blocks and needs more pass-rushing moves. He could be a power rusher as a defensive end in the NFL that also provides some quality run defense. Tuimoloau could be a day-two pick with upside but some boom/bust potential.

Indiana defensive tackle C.J. West was phenomenal against Ohio State. In the first half, West was an animal making plays in the backfield. He helped make a fourth-and-goal stop for a loss to get the ball back for his offense. Shortly later, West burst into the backfield to get a tackle for a loss on a zone read run. On the very next play, West knocked the guard off balance and then fired down the pocket to get pressure on Will Howard to force an inaccurate throw. The ball was deflected and intercepted by the Hoosiers. In the third quarter, West plugged up a running lane as Ohio State tried to stretch the Hoosiers to the left side, but West got a push and started a gang tackle for no gain.

West is an impressive defender at the point of attack. He is a thick, strong, and quick tackle. West has a burst to close and fires off the ball. With a strong build, he has the strength to knock blockers back and shed blocks. This tape will really help his draft grade with NFL scouts.

Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka came through with some clutch catches to help Ohio State open up a lead after Indiana took an early lead. In the second quarter, Egbuka ran a good route from the slot, swimming past a defender and then using speed to create separation, running into the middle of the end zone to get open for a 10-yard touchdown catch. After halftime, Egbuka ran another impressive route with a corner post to gain about 25 yards. Early in the fourth quarter, Egbuka got open on a crossing route for 26 yards. Egbuka had seven catches for 80 yards and a touchdown.

Egbuka is a polished receiver with quality size and quickness to be a No. 2 or 3 receiver in the NFL. While he is not overly fast or overly big, Egbuka could be a solid contributor to a pro offense. As a second-day pick, he could be a reasonably safe selection to not be a bust.