2024 NFL Draft Stock Up
Travis Hunter, CB, Colorado
Hunter is one of the top prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft, and he got his season off to a tremendous start with a massive night to help the Buffalos avoid an upset in the season opener. Early in the game, Hunter caught a short pass in the flat, and he dodged a cornerback to explode down the field for a 41-yard touchdown. Later, he got open in the end zone to reel in a 12-yard touchdown. Hunter made a good adjustment, cutting back to the inside of the cornerback to get open for his quarterback. They liked up again for a critical conversion in the early fourth quarter. To cap that drive, Hunter made a highlight reel catch along the sideline in the end zone, showing his fantastic ball skills. Hunter was being knocked to the ground and was able to hold onto the pass despite his momentum taking him in the other direction. It was a fantastic catch by Hunter and a highlight reel play.
On defense, Hunter showed his willingness to defend the run coming downhill and making a tackle in the flat to limit the back to a gain of one. He was solid in coverage and did not allow anything of significance through the air. As a wide receiver, Hunter caught seven passes for 132 yards with three touchdowns. Hunter did severe damage as a receiver, showing the speed to get vertical, route adjustment, strong hands, and excellent ball skills. Hunter’s ball skills are incredible and extremely rare. This tape was that of a first-round pick at cornerback or wide receiver.
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Versus North Dakota State, Sanders completed 26-of-34 passes for 445 yards with four touchdowns and an interception. The Buffalos were down entering the second half and Sanders was able to bring his team back. There is no doubt that Sanders can be a starting quarterback as a pro. Sanders has a quality arm, is very accurate, has superb ball placement, is athletic enough to scramble, and can kill teams from the pocket. Sanders shows advanced development for the NFL. Not only does he have an excellent I.Q. and football instincts, but Sanders also has advanced technique. He has the footwork of a pro starter and can operate with a snap count instead of signaling for the ball with a clap. This tape will help Sanders to be a high first-round pick next April.
Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Michigan was in a closer game than expected, taking on Fresno State, but Johnson put the game away in the second half. With the Wolverines backed up, Johnson read the play well and jumped a route for an interception. He exploded down the field for an 86-yard pick-six and locked up the win for Michigan. Johnson has a lot of fans in the scouting community, and he got his season off to a great start.
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
McMillan was going against an easy opponent in New Mexico, but he had a game for the games that rewrote record books. In the season opener, McMillan totaled ten receptions for 304 yards and four touchdowns. He had a 78-yard reception and was utterly unstoppable. This tape will help McMillan to be a first-round pick next April.
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Similar to McMillan, Jeanty had a game for the record books with an incredible performance in Week 1. But unlike McMillan, Boise State needed Jeanty to carry the team to a close shootout win over Georgia Southern. Jeanty ran for 267 yards on 20 carries (13.4 average) and had six touchdowns. Jeanty could be the headliner in an excellent class of running back talent for the 2025 NFL Draft.
2024 NFL Draft Stock Down
Rara Thomas, WR, Georgia
Thomas made the stock down before any game was played as he was kicked off the Georgia team during training camp. Thomas was known to be a talented player that has early-round potential for the NFL, but now he will have significant character concerns. Thomas should transfer to another school and play there rather than enter the 2025 NFL Draft. It would help him to have a good season of production and staying out of trouble before entering the draft.
Trevor Etienne, RB, Georgia
Etienne hurt himself with a suspension to open the 2024 season. The reasons weren’t clear, but this is now an issue that Etienne will have to explain to every team in the NFL during the draft process. Etienne now needs a strong season on and off the field to help make up for this suspension.
