2025 NFL Draft 7 Round ranking (Edited 3/24/24)

[Ozzy]

2025 NFL Draft 7 round ranking.  

 

This draft does have a deeper more talented DT group and arguably a deeper more talented edge rushing group top to bottom.  Also more proven high end corners at the top but of course tons can change still.  

 

1st
Quinn Ewers Texas RS JR QB
Will Johnson Michigan JR CB
Kelvin Banks Jr. Texas JR OT
Jalen Milroe Alabama RS JR QB
Harold Perkins Jr LSU JR OLB
Tetairoa McMillan Arizona JR WR
Travis Hunter Colorado JR CB
Will Campbell LSU JR OT
Deone Walker Kentucky JR DT/DE
Abdul Carter Penn State JR OLB
Kenneth Grant Michigan JR NT
Mason Graham Michigan JR DT
Luther Burden III Missouri JR WR
Shedeur Sanders Colorado JR QB
Tyler Booker Alabama JR OG
Patrick Payton Florida State RS JR DE
Carson Beck Georgia RS SR QB
Tyleik Williams Ohio State RS JR DT
Riley Leonard Notre Dame JR QB
Deontae Lawson Alabama RS JR ILB
Quinshon Judkins Ohio State JR RB
Barrett Carter Clemson SR OLB
Mykel Williams Georgia JR DE
Malaki Starks Georgia JR CB/S
Benjamin Morrison Notre Dame JR CB
Landon Jackson Arkansas SR DE
Ollie Gordon II Okalahoma State JR RB
Colston Loveland Michigan JR TE
JT Tuimoloau Ohio State RS JR DE
Nic Scourton Texas A&M JR DE/OLB
Mello Dotson Kansas RS SR CB
Emeka Egbuka Ohio State SR WR

 

2nd
TreVeyon Henderson Ohio State SR RB
Micah Pettus Ole Miss RS JR OT
Denzel Burke Ohio State SR CB
Nicholas Singleton Penn State JR RB
Jay Higgins Iowa RS SR ILB
Emery Jones LSU JR OT
Nick Jackson Iowa RS SR LB
Earnest Greene III Georgia RS SOPH OT
Donovan Edwards Michigan SR RB
Jamon Dumas-Johnson Kentucky SR ILB
Walter Nolen Ole Miss JR DT
Joshua Gray Oregon State RS SR OT
Jack Sawyer Ohio State RS JR DE
Cooper Mays Tennessee RS SR C/OG
Riley Mahlman Wisconsin RS SR OT
Kobe King Penn State RS JR ILB
Bryce Foster Texas A&M SR C
Jeremiah Byers Florida State RS SR OT/OG
Nick Emmanwori South Carolina JR S
Hollin Pierce Rutgers SR OT
Malachi Moore Alabama SR CB/S
Princely Umanmielen Ole Miss RS SR DE
Collin Oliver Ok State SR OLB
Jabbar Muhammad Oregon RS SR CB
Fentrell Cypress II Florida State RS SR CB
Tyler Warren Penn State RS SR TE
Smael Mondon Jr Georgia SR LB
Jonah Monheim USC RS SR OT
Josh Conerly Jr Oregon JR OT
James Pearce Jr Tennessee JR OLB/DE
Tre Harris Ole Miss RS SR WR
Billy Bowman Oklahoma  SR S

3rd
Kaidon Salter Liberty RS SR QB
Xavier Truss Georgia RS SR OT/OG   
Dani Dennis-Sutton Penn State JR DE
Ricardo Hallman Wisconsin RS JR CB
Jah Joyner Minnesota RS SR
Damien Martinez Oregon State JR RB
Caleb Etienne BYU RS SR OT
Nash Hutmacher Nebraska SR DT
Fadil Diggs Syracuse RS SR DE/OLB
Anthony Belton NC State RS SR OT
Xavier Watts Notre Dame RS SR S
Tez Johnson Oregon RS SR WR
Jordan Hancock Ohio State RS JR CB
Jordan Burch Oregon RS SR DE
Bear Alexander Georgia JR DT
Aireontae Ersery Minnesota RS SR OT/OG
Raheim Sanders South Carolina SR RB
Dante Trader Jr Maryland SR S
Andrew Mukuba Texas SR S
Marcus Tate Clemson SR OG
Tyler Batty BYU RS SR DE
Seth Coleman Illinois RS SR OLB
Ty Robinson Nebraska RS SR DT/DE
Howard Cross III Notre Dame RS SR DT
Bru McCoy Tennessee RS SR WR
Mason Taylor LSU JR TE
Cameron Ward Miami FL RS SR QB
Jonah Savaiinaea Arizona JR OT/OG
Mohamed Toure Rutgers RS SR OLB  
Justin Walley Minnesota SR CB
Trevor Etienne Georgia JR RB
Shemar Turner Texas A&M SR

4th
Danny Stutsman Oklahoma SR OLB
Mitchell Evans Notre Dame SR TE
JJ Pegues Ole Miss RS SR DT
Jason Marshall Jr Florida SR CB
Antwane Wells Jr Ole Miss RS SR
Tory Horton Colorado State RS SR WR
Jeremy James Ole Miss RS SR OT   
Lathan Ransom Ohio State RS SR S
Will Pauling Wisconsin RS JR WR
Germie Bernard Alabama JR WR
Zeke Correll NC State RS SR C
Will Sheppard Colorado RS SR WR
Cody Lindenberg Minnesota RS SR OLB
Josaiah Stewart Michigan SR DE
Cobee Bryant Kansas SR CB
Lawrence Arnold Kansas RS SR WR
Cameron Rising Utah RS SR QB
Jared Ivey Ole Miss RS SR DE/DT
Jaydn Ott Cal JR RB
Tahj Brooks Texas Tech RS SR RB
JJ Weaver Kentucky RS SR OLB
Johnny Walker Jr Missouri RS SR DE/OLB
Cal Haladay Michigan State RS SR LB
Rivaldo Fairweather Auburn RS SR TE
Isaiah Bond Texas JR WR
Kyle Monangai Rutgers SR RB
Kaimon Rucker UNC RS SR OLB/DE
Caden Prieskorn Ole Miss RS SR TE
Ashton Jeanty Boise State JR RB
DJ Uiagalelei Florida State RS SR QB
Mason Richman Iowa RS SR OT
Woodi Washington Oklahoma RS SR CB 

5th
Nate Kalepo Ole Miss RS SR OG
Jaheim Oatis Alabama JR DT
Danny Striggow Minnesota RS SR DE
Jerand Bradley Boston College RS JR WR
Yahya Black Iowa RS SR DT
Gabe Jacas Illinois JR DE/OLB
Tim Keenan III Alabama RS JR DT
Ethan Downs Oklahoma SR DE
Jack Nelson Wisconsin RS SR OG
Ethan Burke Texas JR DE
Shilo Sanders Colorado RS SR S
Jacolby George Miami FL SR WR
Quinn Carroll Minnesota RS SR OG/OT
Barion Brown Kentucky JR WR
Greg Penn III LSU SR ILB
Daniel Jackson Minnesota RS SR WR
KJ Jefferson UCF RS SR QB
Jake Renfro Wisconsin RS SR C
Quinn Schulte Iowa RS SR S
Oronde Gadsden II Syracuse SR WR/TE
Jonah Coleman Washington JR RB
Markevious Brown Purdue SR CB
Brady Cook Missouri RS SR QB
Marques Cox Kentucky RS SR OT
Ashton Gillotte Louisville SR DE
Jordan Turner  Michigan State RS SR ILB
Sebastian Castro Iowa RS SR LB/S
Kole Taylor West Virginia RS SR TE
Roydell Williams Florida State RS SR RB
RJ Oben Notre Dame RS SR DE
Graham Mertz Florida RS SR QB
Silas Bolden Texas SR WR

6th
Barryn Sorrell Texas SR DE
Julian Fleming Penn State RS SR WR
Ty Hamilton Ohio State SR DT
Kalel Mullings Michigan RS SR RB 
Benjamin Yurosek Georgia RS SR TE
Jestin Jacobs Oregon RS SR LB
Xavier Restrepo Miami FL RS SR WR
Andrew Armstrong Arkansas RS SR WR
Chip Trayanum Kentucky RS SR RB
Rashod Owens Oklahoma State RS SR WR
Myles Hinton Michigan RS SR OT
Kyle Morlock Florida State RS SR TE
CJ Dippre Alabama SR TE
Francisco Mauigoa Miami FL SR ILB
Montrell Johnson Jr Florida SR RB
Tate Ratledge Georgia RS SR OG
Greedy Vance Jr Florida State RS SR CB
OJ Burroughs Kansas SR S
Alfred Collins Texas SR DL
Jalen Catalon UNLV RS SR S
KeAndre Lambert-Smith Penn State RS SR WR
Tyler Baron Louisville RS SR DE
Garrett Dellinger LSU SR OG
Rylie Mills Notre Dame RS SR DT
Jalin Conyers Texas Tech RS SR TE
Makari Paige Michigan RS SR S
Colbie Young Georgia SR WR
Maliq Carr Michigan State RS SR TE
Caleb Warren Ole Miss RS SR OG/C    
Trey Amos Ole Miss RS SR CB
Brennan Presley Oklahoma State RS SR WR
Will Howard Ohio State RS SR QB

7th
Jimmy Horn Jr Colorado SR WR
Cam Jackson Florida RS SR DT
Ajani Cornelius Oregon RS SR OT
Beau Freyler Iowa State SR S/LB
Tahveon Nicholson Louisville RS SR CB
Jaylin Noel Iowa State SR WR
Reuben Fatheree II Texas A&M SR OT
Logan Diggs Ole Miss SR RB
Simote Pepa Utah RS JR DT
Desmond Watson Florida SR DT
Curtis Dunlap Jr Rutgers RS SR OG
Beaux Collins Notre Dame SR WR
Jake Majors Texas RS JR C 
Van Fillinger Utah SR DE
Nazir Stackhouse Georgia RS SR DT
Peny Boone Louisville RS SR RB
Jack Henderson Minnesota RS SR CB/S
Josh Williams LSU RS SR RB
Moose Muhammad III Texas A&M SR WR
Chris Tyree Virginia RS SR WR
Trikweze Bridges Florida RS SR CB
Eric Gentry USC SR OLB
Tyler Van Dyke Wisconsin RS SR QB
Octavious Oxendine Kentucky RS SR DT
Grayson McCall NC State RS SR QB
Jalen Berger Michigan State RS SR RB
Jake Chaney Wisconsin SR ILB
Kydran Jenkins Purdue RS SR OLB/DE    
Kyle Kennard South Carolina RS SR OLB
Brant Kuithe Utah RS SR TE
Nate Noel Missouri RS SR RB
Mario Williams Tulane SR WR

 

(*Added prospects for compensatory selections in the 3-7th rounds which increases the overall number.)  
JJ Jones UNC SR WR
Bryce Benhart Nebraska RS SR OT
Dontae Manning Oregon SR S
Robert Scott Jr Florida State RS SR OT
JaTravis Broughton TCU RS SR CB
Dorian Singer Utah SR WR
Luke Grimm Kansas SR WR
James Thompson Jr Wisconsin RS SR DL
Warren Brinson Georgia RS SR DE
Jared Bartlett Cincinnati RS SR OLB
Hudson Clark Arkansas RS SR S/CB
Steve Linton Baylor RS SR OLB
Carson Bruener Washington SR ILB
Reggie Grimes Oklahoma RS SR DE
Kyle McCord Syracuse SR QB
Seth McLaughlin Ohio State SR C
Deshawn Pace UCF RS SR S
Cody Simon Ohio State RS SR ILB
Tim Smith Alabama RS SR DE
Triston Newson Missouri SR OLB
Quandarrius Robinson Alabama SR LB
Junior Uzebu USF RS SR OT
Pat Williams Illinois SR WR
Mac McWilliams UAB RS SR CB
Dillon Gabriel Oregon RS SR QB
Mason Tharp Texas Tech SR TE
Gunner Maldonado Arizona RS SR S
Darius Hodges Tulane RS SR OLB/DE
Asa Turner Washington RS SR S
Micah Bernard Utah RS SR RB
Johnny Langan Rutgers RS SR TE 
Tony Grimes UNLV SR CB
Levani Damuni Utah RS SR ILB 
Gavin Bartholomew Pitt SR TE
Patrick Herbert Oregon RS SR TE

 

 

 

2024

2023

2022

2020

2019

Edited March 24 by Ozzy
Edited 3/24/24

[Ozzy]

Here is a list of 100 players so far, all players I had at one point or another including in the 2024 NFL draft.   Odd thing about the 2025 draft are all the guys who returned, some of which were RS SR players and returned for a sixth year.  Others transferred with that other year as well or some took a fifth year with a COVID year.  Pretty nuts and it is in no real order, basically in order or when it was announced or I found out.   Unprecedented amount of returning talent in college that has not been seen in quite so time, easily not for the past 10-15 years.  

 

Xavier Truss Georgia RS SR OT/OG
Brennan Presley Oklahoma State RS SR WR
Caleb Warren Ole Miss RS SR OG/C
Jeremy James Ole Miss RS SR OT
Levani Damuni Utah RS SR ILB
Woodi Washington Oklahoma RS SR CB
Shilo Sanders Colorado RS SR S
Mohamed Toure Rutgers RS SR OLB
Curtis Dunlap Jr Rutgers RS SR OG
Johnny Langan Rutgers RS SR TE
JJ Weaver Kentucky RS SR OLB/DE
Kaimon Rucker UNC RS SR DE/OLB
Kydran Jenkins Purdue SR OLB/DE
Jack Henderson Minnesota SR CB/S
Cooper Mays Tennessee SR C/OG
Howard Cross III Notre Dame SR DT
Rylie Mills Notre Dame SR DT
Nick Jackson Iowa RS SR LB
Quinn Schulte Iowa RS SR S
Warren Brinson Georgia SR DE/DT 
Sebastian Castro Iowa RS SR LB/S
Makari Paige Michigan SR S
Donovan Edwards Michigan JR RB
Alfred Collins Texas SR DL
Marques Cox Kentucky RS SR OT
Benjamin Yurosek Georgia SR TE
Tez Johnson Oregon SR WR
Zakhari Franklin Ole Miss RS SR WR
Tory Horton Colorado State SR WR
Cameron Ward Miami FL SR QB
Junior Uzebu USF SR OT
Marcus Tate Clemson JR OG
Joshua Gray Oregon State RS JR OT
Seth Coleman Illinois RS JR OLB/DE
TreVeyon Henderson Ohio State JR RB
Jabbar Muhammad Oregon RS JR CB
JT Tuimoloau Ohio State RS SOPH DE
Jordan Burch Oregon SR DE
Lawrence Arnold Kansas RS JR WR
Luke Grimm Kansas SR WR
Bryce Foster Texas A&M JR C
KeAndre Lambert-Smith Penn State SR WR
Ricky Barber UCF RS SR DT
Jordan Burch Oregon SR DE
Jonah Monheim USC RS JR OT
Mello Dotson Kansas RS JR CB
Lawrence Arnold Kansas RS JR WR
Luke Grimm Kansas SR WR
Emeka Egbuka Ohio State JR WR
Quinn Ewers Texas RS SOPH QB
Justin Walley Minnesota JR CB
Daniel Jackson Minnesota SR WR
Quinn Carroll Minnesota RS SR OG/OT
Tyler Batty BYU JR DE
Nazir Stackhouse Georgia SR DT
Bru McCoy Tennessee RS SR WR
Malachi Moore Alabama SR CB
Tyleik Williams Ohio State RS SOPH DT
Deontae Lawson Alabama RS SOPH ILB
Jay Higgins Iowa SR ILB
Caden Prieskorn Ole Miss RS SR TE
Jared Ivey Ole Miss DE/DT
Barrett Carter Clemson JR OLB
KJ Jefferson UCF RS SR QB
Brant Kuithe Utah RS SR TE
Robert Scott Jr Florida State RS JR OT
Michael Carmody UCLA SR OT
Doneiko Slaughter Arkansas SR CB
Jeff Sims NA SR QB
Tyler Baron Ole Miss SR DE
JaTravis Broughton TCU RS SR CB
Chip Trayanum Kentucky RS JR RB
Fadil Diggs Syracuse RS JR DE
Julian Fleming Penn State SR WR
Jalen Catalon UNLV RS SR S
Will Sheppard Colorado SR WR
Antwane Wells Jr Ole Miss SR WR
Dillon Gabriel Oregon RS SR QB
Jamon Dumas-Johnson Kentucky JR ILB
JJ Pegues Ole Miss JR DT
Seth McLaughlin Ohio State SR C
DJ Uiagalelei Florida State SR QB
RJ Oben Notre Dame RS SR DE
Graham Mertz Florida RS SR QB
Grayson McCall NC State RS SR QB
Zeke Correll NC State SR C
Chris Tyree Virginia SR WR/RB
Reggie Grimes NA SR DE
Will Rogers Washington RS SR QB
Tyler Shough Louisville RS SR QB
Cam Jackson Florida JR DT
Raheim Sanders South Carolina JR RB
Cameron Rising Utah RS SR QB
Oronde Gadsden II Syracuse JR WR
Jalen Berger Michigan State RS JR RB
Jestin Jacobs Oregon RS SR OLB
Mario Williams Tulane JR WR
Jake Renfro Wisconsin RS JR C
Jack Sawyer Ohio State RS SOPH DE
Hank Bachmeier NA RS SR QB
Desmond Watson Florida JR NT

Edited February 10 by Ozzy

[Shylo3716]

On 2/10/2024 at 6:24 PM, Ozzy said:

2025 NFL Draft 7 round ranking.  

5th

Barion Brown Kentucky JR WR 

I am higher on Barion Brown than many talent evaluators out here. I believe that he is Ted Ginn Jr. 2.0

Edited February 14 by Shylo3716

[Ozzy]

On 2/13/2024 at 10:11 PM, Shylo3716 said:

I am higher on Barion Brown than many talent evaluators out here. I believe that he is Ted Ginn Jr. 2.0

I had him a lot higher as well but he disappointed big time for me last year.  Drop a ton of footballs and did not perform all that well I thought.  Will be curious how he does next year with a not so proven QB.

 

Also to compare him to Ted Ginn Jr who was a massive disappointment in the NFL, not sure that is a great thing either and no way Brown is the 9th pick overall.  Sure he returns a bit but not sure he was near as dynamic as Ted Ginn was on Ohio State and he played DB also a little bit.  

[Shylo3716]

3 hours ago, Ozzy said:

I had him a lot higher as well but he disappointed big time for me last year.  Drop a ton of footballs and did not perform all that well I thought.  Will be curious how he does next year with a not so proven QB.

 

Also to compare him to Ted Ginn Jr who was a massive disappointment in the NFL, not sure that is a great thing either and no way Brown is the 9th pick overall.  Sure he returns a bit but not sure he was near as dynamic as Ted Ginn was on Ohio State and he played DB also a little bit.  

Spoiler

This may or may not mean anything to you, but Barion Brown’s DB traits were on display within this footage. Ted Ginn Jr. is my comparison for Brown due to his style of play. Also, there is nothing wrong with being compared to an athlete who was a converted player that lasted 14 years on the professional level.

 

[Danger]

Just announced today, OLB Abdul Carter is switching to EDGE

[Ozzy]

6 hours ago, Danger said:

Just announced today, OLB Abdul Carter is switching to EDGE

I assume that is because Dani Dennis-Sutton is the only other quality edge guy they have on the roster currently.  Carter I like his range in coverage and ability to do a variety of things, especially in the NFL of today where both Super Bowl teams have rangy linebackers who can run.  Just sticking him on the DL edge all game seems like a waste to me, doubt he will ever have the power Parsons has as a rusher, and not sure Carter can physically take that type of bounding consistently either.

 

Great athlete though and maybe they are just trying some new things to see if it sticks  

[Ozzy]

Added these guys to the list:

 

Jeremiah Byers Florida State RS SR OT/OG:  Super talented, has guard versatility or could possibly play either tackle spot and is a mauler out there with good feet, is part of possibly one of the top OLs in the nation along with LSU and Ole Miss.  Florida State has a ton of experienced returning talent on that OL.

 

Marcus Tate Clemson SR OG/C:  Forgot to include him, thought he could have declared this past year.  Tough guard who can move people and has a good base.

 

Nate Kalepo Ole Miss RS SR OG:  Another transfer Ole Miss got, he impressed last year for Washington and will only add to an already solid Ole Miss OL with Warren and James returning along with Pettus.  

 

Xavier Restrepo Miami FL RS SR WR:  Love his route running ability and toughness, should be solid again this year.

Andrew Armstrong Arkansas RS SR WR:  Very good athlete for his size, could have a big year for them and is a good deep threat.  

 

 

[BetterCallSaul]

On 2/10/2024 at 6:24 PM, Ozzy said:

Quinshon Judkins Ohio State JR RB

Thought he was a sleeper. Freaking super stud. 

[sparky151]

I'm a Buckeye fan and looking forward to seeing Judkins this season. He's already had a lot of carries so splitting with Henderson should work out for him. He'll get most of the short yardage carries that Miyan Williams or Chip Trayanum had the last couple of years.

[Ozzy]

3 minutes ago, sparky151 said:

I'm a Buckeye fan and looking forward to seeing Judkins this season. He's already had a lot of carries so splitting with Henderson should work out for him. He'll get most of the short yardage carries that Miyan Williams or Chip Trayanum had the last couple of years.

It is an odd switch, especially with Ole Miss being so talented as well and also a National Title contender.  Why Judkins left Ole Miss I have no idea much less goes to a team with a RB just as talented as he is, the move was long before Chip Kelly was hired as the OC unless they already knew that would be the case.  And it is not like Ole Miss is not paying big money to recruits to come considering the ton they already got just like Ohio State obviously is.  It makes a lot more sense with that OC switch, because typically Ohio State was more of a pass focus offense but clearly with those two super star backs they will be more run centered.  

Originally I assume Judkins was maybe going to be split out wide at times and used possibly as a slot WR or a DJ Moore type to improve his NFL stock but not sure if that will be the case.  In terms of short yardage, my guess is Will Howard if he wins the QB job will get a lot of those carries in that zone read.  

 

Will be interesting who is the QB, Will Howard is a very big QB who can run, makes sense with Chip Kelly and that zone read type offense for sure, and the lack of a true elite WR which Ohio State typically has had for the last five years or so it seems.  That run game will be a focus for sure.  Either way they are so far and away the top team, Ole Miss is improved a lot in that front seven defensively but no way they are even close to Ohio State and that Defensive backfield, sure Ole Miss added Amos but he could not even play on Bama last year at CB, and Key/Moore are just ok at safety where Caleb Downs is arguably the best safety in the nation with continued progression.  If there is a downfall to Ole Miss it will be that secondary for sure.

[sparky151]

Judkins transferred in at a time when everyone thought Henderson (and a bunch of other juniors) were off to the NFL. Williams did go to the NFL and Pryor and Trayanum transferred out so OSU was thin at RB at that point with just Hayden and some freshmen. I'm sure we made Judkins a good offer. 

Howard will almost certainly be the starting QB with a slight chance it's Brown. The O-line could use some upgrades, especially at tackle but I suspect Chip Kelly will have them playing physically by the start of the season. Hopes are pretty high here in Columbus as we expect to have the best defense in the country and have a lot of offensive skill talent. 

[Ozzy]

14 minutes ago, sparky151 said:

Judkins transferred in at a time when everyone thought Henderson (and a bunch of other juniors) were off to the NFL. Williams did go to the NFL and Pryor and Trayanum transferred out so OSU was thin at RB at that point with just Hayden and some freshmen. I'm sure we made Judkins a good offer. 

Howard will almost certainly be the starting QB with a slight chance it's Brown. The O-line could use some upgrades, especially at tackle but I suspect Chip Kelly will have them playing physically by the start of the season. Hopes are pretty high here in Columbus as we expect to have the best defense in the country and have a lot of offensive skill talent. 

I thought Judkins transferred when Henderson announced he was returning.  I looked it up and found articles about Judkins on the 9th on January and about Henderson on the 12th of January.  No way they never talked to each other at any point but who knows.  And of course they paid big bucks to get Judkins just like they paid big bucks to get Downs.  Pretty sad state of college football where you just straight pay players to come to a successful program and try to win a title, when really 11 out of the 12 teams fan bases in the playoff next year are going to be super pissed off.  Nick Saban is dead right about that, in the bowl game system used to be 50% fan bases were happy their team won and 50% were not, now 90% of the top programs in the nation and their fan bases are going to be pissed off.

It just seems odd, sure playoff is great and all but reality is you are not going to have some Cinderella team like in March Madness that makes some huge run because sure you can do that one game, not what three games in football. Top four teams would sit 1st round in the 12 team playoff, but you would still could of had similar results or matchups that you had last year with the four team playoff.  Would Florida State all of a sudden win because they got in and a 12 team playoff?  No they would have still got killed because they were on their 3rd string QB.  Michigan and Washington were the top two teams according to the seeding so that technically would have happened if the BCS was still around anyway.

 

 

As for the defense, there is almost zero chance they are not great defensively.  If that Ohio State team does not win the title that will be a massive bust, that defense should potentially break records in fewest yards allowed.  They have talent at every level, LB sure is a bit weak but they might only play two and they have Simon returning and Styles has big time potential and range, and Downs is a great in the box safety so they should be fine across the board and should be great.  

[sparky151]

I'll guess they keep Styles at safety rather than LB. I think Hicks will start next to Simon. That leaves Ransom and Hancock splitting time depending on the opponent and formation. 

[Ozzy]

29 minutes ago, sparky151 said:

I'll guess they keep Styles at safety rather than LB. I think Hicks will start next to Simon. That leaves Ransom and Hancock splitting time depending on the opponent and formation. 

Burke and Igbinosun the boundary corners, then Hancock as the slot or backup boundary.  Having Ransom and Downs at safety makes a lot more sense then having Styles and Ransom at safety and sitting Downs or playing Downs as a LB but with his in the box ability my guess is he is the down close to the line safety and Ransom is deep coverage.  Sonny Styles is 6-4 230, Downs is 6-0 205, makes sense keeping Styles as the coverage type LB but still moving him around if need be. 

 

Either way neither one should be off the field ideally so putting Styles at LB makes that possible yet both will do similar things is my guess.  They are by far the deepest secondary in the nation, Hancock did more than well when the other boundary corners went down.  And Styles has so much athletic ability but sure might not be physical enough to play LB but has the body for it.  They could toy at putting Styles as a slot corner type depending on the matchup but really he would just be a LB in coverage.