Week 13 NFL Draft intel: May Colorado’s Hunter play each methods?
Every week, Yardbarker is monitoring the 2025 NFL Draft, scheduled for April 24-26 in Inexperienced Bay.
From Colorado’s two-way star to Kansas’ explosive operating again, listed below are 5 gamers we’re monitoring:
Will Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter nonetheless be a two-way star within the NFL?
Hunter — Tankathon’s No. 1 prospect — just lately introduced he’ll enter the 2025 NFL Draft and needs to maintain enjoying each methods within the NFL.
“Hunter has terrific endurance, and I feel he may play each methods in some capability,” wrote ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. Monday. “He’ll possible have a major place within the NFL however get sprinkled on the opposite facet of the ball for particular packages in sure appears, particularly on the finish of video games.”
Hunter (6-foot-1, 185 kilos) has excelled at each positions. In 11 video games, he has profession highs in landing catches (11) and passes defended (9).
Nonetheless, the staff that drafts him most likely will not play him extensively at large receiver and cornerback. Per Professional Soccer Focus, he has performed on 1,301 offensive and defensive snaps this season. That snap rely might exhaust him all through a 17-game NFL common season.
Would Miami QB Cam Ward be an ideal match for this NFC East staff?
The Giants appear to be within the Hurricanes QB, who leads the FBS in TD passes (34 in 11 video games). In response to Fox Sports activities’ Jordan Schultz, the Giants and a number of other different groups watched Miami’s Week 13 dwelling recreation vs. Wake Forest, and Ward was a “key focus.”
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler thinks the Giants ought to take Ward (6-foot-2, 223 kilos) in the event that they’re focusing on a QB.
“Along with his arm expertise and elusiveness within the pocket, Ward is an thrilling participant who can maintain performs alive and sling the ball to each inch of the sector,” wrote Brugler in a Wednesday roundtable.
The Giants should discover a franchise QB after just lately releasing Daniel Jones. Scouting Ward early within the draft course of to find out if he is the man is sensible and never surprising.
The place does WR Emeka Egbuka rank amongst former Ohio State stars?
Ohio State has produced a number of star wideouts in recent times, together with Garrett Wilson of the New York Jets and Jaxon Smith-Njigba of the Seattle Seahawks. The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner advised Egbuka may very well be higher than each in his Tuesday column.
“He is not essentially the most athletic receiver the Buckeyes have ever had. There have been flashier gamers who’ve made larger splashes, to make certain,” wrote Baumgardner. “However when the smoke clears, there will be no receiver within the storied historical past of Ohio State’s program who has been a extra full soccer participant than Egbuka.”
In 4 seasons with the Buckeyes, he is second in program historical past in receptions (180), fifth in receiving yards (2,549) and is tied for eighth in TD catches (23).
Egbuka (6-foot-1, 205 kilos) may proceed to point out why he is one of many class’ prime WRs in Saturday’s dwelling recreation vs. Michigan. The Buckeyes — No. 2 within the Faculty Soccer Playoff rankings — goal to snap a three-game shedding streak to their rival.
Kansas RB Devin Neal is a late riser
Neal (5-foot-11, 215 kilos) completed with 287 yards (207 speeding and 80 receiving) and 4 TDs (three speeding and one receiving) in a 37-21 Week 13 upset over Colorado.
“What stands out most about Neal is how expert he’s in organising missed tackles,” wrote Brugler Tuesday. “He most likely will not be one of many prime testers within the pre-draft course of, however his means to learn pursuit angles, make a reduce and go away defenders off stability is what makes him productive.”
Neal’s productiveness might alleviate potential considerations about his athleticism. Via 11 video games, he ranks seventeenth within the FBS (1,133) in speeding yards and is tied for tenth in speeding TDs (15).
Texas LT Kelvin Banks Jr. may showcase expertise in rivalry recreation
On Tuesday, Banks was named an Outland Trophy finalist, awarded to the most effective inside O- or D-lineman in school soccer. The nomination strengthens his case as one of many prime prospects within the class.
On his up to date massive board, PFF’s Trevor Sikkema rated Banks (6-foot-4, 320 kilos) as his No. 2 OT behind LSU’s Will Campbell. In response to PFF, the Longhorns standout has allowed simply one sack in 11 video games.
Banks will play a pivotal function in No. 3 Texas’ street recreation towards No. 20 Texas A&M on Saturday.
The Aggies protection includes a potential first-rounder in edge-rusher Nic Scourton, who has 14 tackles for loss and 5 sacks in 11 video games. Whereas the matchup may very well be difficult for Banks, it ought to give him one other alternative to spice up his inventory.
