2025 NFL Draft Stock Up
Bradyn Swinson, DE, LSU
Swinson has had a very good season for the Tigers, and his strong play continued against the Gators. After being suspended for the first quarter for “not meeting team standards,” Swinson made an excellent play in run defense, pushing his blocker back and starting a gang tackle for no gain. Later, Swinson forced a third-down incompletion with a speed rush around the right tackle, and in the third quarter, he pushed through a block from the left tackle to get a tackle for a loss. Early in the fourth quarter, Swinson burned the left tackle with a speed rush, but D.J. Lagway stepped up to pull away from Swinson’s hand on his shoulder.
The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Swinson is a tough defender at the point of attack. He is strong to shed blocks and has the speed to run around the corner. In 2024 Swinson has 47 tackles with eight sacks and two forced fumbles. At 6-foot-4, 250 pounds, Swinson is not big but has some size to him where he could play in a 4-3 or 3-4 defense. Swinson looks like a future NFL starter who could be a first- or second-round pick next April.
Deonte Lawson, LB, Alabama
Lawson has been a tough defender for the Crimson Tide in 2024, making a lot of plays in the ground game and contributing some plays in pass defense. He has 74 tackles with two sacks, one forced fumble, an interception, and three passes defended. In 2023, he had 67 tackles with three sacks and four passes defended after recording 51 tackles and four passes broken up. The 6-foot-2, 230-pounder looks like a starting inside or outside linebacker in the NFL. He could be a day-two pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
L.T. Overton, DE, Alabama
Overton has been a solid defender for Alabama this season with 29 tackles, two sacks, one forced fumble, and one pass broken up. The 6-foot-5, 284-pound Overton is a strong and thick defender at the point of attack. He has the versatility to play end or tackle. With his strength and length, he is a great fit in a 4-3 or 3-4 defense. Overton could be a day-two prospect.
Jared Ivey, DE, Ole Miss
This season, Ivey has had a big presence for the Rebels, forming a dangerous tandem with Princely Umanmielen. Ivey has 31 tackles with seven sacks and two forced fumbles. He has been a tough defender for the Rebels, showing pass rush ability with quickness and strength. The 6-foot-5, 279-pounder can line up at end or tackle and is a versatile defender at the point of attack.
Alfred Collins, DE, Texas
Collins has 35 tackles, one sack, and four passes batted thus far. While Collins is not a sack producer, he does contribute to the rush by getting a push into the pocket. Collins is strong, physical, and very tough as a run defender. The 6-foot-5, 313-pounder could be a mid-round pick that turns into a solid pro and a good contributor in defending the ground game at the pro level.
Mike Green, DE, Marshall
Green has been a monster for the Thundering Herd this season, with a ton of big plays for the Marshall defense. Thus far in 2024, Green has 15 sacks with three forced fumbles, 68 tackles, and a pass batted. The 6-foot-4, 248-pounder has serious speed and explosion off the edge. If Green does well at the Senior Bowl and Combine, he could be a potential late first-round pick.
2025 NFL Draft Stock Down
Will Campbell, LT, LSU
Emery Jones Jr., RT, LSU
Tigers left tackle Will Campbell and right tackle Emery Jones Jr. are early-round prospects, but their tape against Florida will not help either of them. In the first quarter, Will Campbell showed his quickness and athleticism to get to the second level for some key blocks that sprung his back for chunk runs. However, he hurt that promising drive with a false start. In the third quarter, Nussmeier stepped up in the pocket, and Campbell’s rusher raced back toward the line of scrimmage to chase Nussmeier down for a sack. Shortly later, a similar play happened where Campbell blocked his man, but when Nussmeier stepped up in the pocket, the defender was right there to push off Campbell and get a sack. Jones gave up some pressures with Gator defensive linemen using speed and quickness to get upfield against him. Jones gave up a sack late in the fourth quarter as an end shed his block and collapsed the pocket to get a hard hit on Nussmeier. Both players hurt their grades by allowing pressures and sacks and not keeping a clean pocket for Nussmeier.
