Ranking the best 2025 NFL Draft prospects in the SEC
Sure, it’s too early to really know what the top of the 2025 NFL Draft will look like. But now that the 2024 classmates have found their professional homes, it’s time to turn the attention to next year’s prospects.
In the SEC, 59 players were selected in the 2024 draft. That represented the most of any conference and marked the 18th consecutive year the SEC led the way in that regard. The SEC also had 11 first-rounders. The conference might lose its crown in next year’s draft, with the Big Ten adding 4 new schools to the SEC’s 2, but the league could very easily produce the most first-rounders yet again.
Looking ahead, the pool of 2025 draft-eligible prospects is loaded. (Other news: water, wet.) Whittling things down to a top 10 wasn’t easy, but here’s how I view the class.
These are the SEC’s 10 best 2025 NFL Draft prospects:
10. Harold Perkins Jr., linebacker, LSU
There’s a question as to what role Perkins plays in the NFL. He’s an athletic freak, but not quite big enough to be a full-time edge. That’s what makes his move back to inside linebacker this spring so interesting. If new defensive coordinator Blake Baker is able to unlock Perkins’ vast potential, he’ll be 1 of the SEC’s very best defenders. In 27 career games, Perkins has 147 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, 9 passes defended, 7 forced fumbles, and 2 interceptions.
9. Malaki Starks, safety, Georgia
The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Starks is an outstanding tackler who gets downhill and plays the run well. He was a consensus first-team All-American in 2023 after posting 52 tackles, 10 passes defended, and 3 interceptions. In 2 seasons with the Bulldogs, Starks has 120 tackles, 19 passes defended, and a career missed tackle rate of just 6.2%. Last fall, his 89.8 tackling grade (per PFF) was top-5 among qualified Power 5 safeties.
8. Nic Scourton, edge, Texas A&M
A 6-foot-4, 280-pound junior, Scourton transferred to Texas A&M from Purdue this offseason. Last fall, he had 15 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 3 pass breakups, and 42 quarterback pressures. His 90.9 pass-rushing grade was the fourth-best among Power 5 edge defenders, and Purdue dropped him into coverage a ton. Scourton is powerful enough to set the edge as a 5-tech and twitchy enough to be a tenacious pass-rusher.
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7. Deone Walker, defensive tackle, Kentucky
Walker is a 6-foot-6, 348-pound brick wall who moves better than any man his size should reasonably be allowed to. Proficient both against the run and the pass, Walker led the Wildcats with 12.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks last fall. He ranked fourth among all SEC players in quarterback pressures (51) — the only interior defensive lineman inside the top 15.
6. Kelvin Banks Jr., offensive tackle, Texas
In his first 2 seasons at Texas, Banks has appeared in and started all 27 of the Longhorns’ games. He has been named an FWAA Freshman All-American, a second-team All-Big 12 performer as a freshman, and a first-team All-Big 12 performer as a sophomore. He has spent every snap of his career at left tackle and has given up just 3 sacks in more than 1,000 pass-protection snaps.
5. Luther Burden III, wide receiver, Missouri
The Missouri star’s 91.0 receiving grade last fall (per PFF) was the third-best among FBS wideouts. The 5-foot-11 Burden led the Tigers in receptions (86), receiving yards (1,212) and touchdowns (9) to earn first-team All-SEC and second-team All-America honors. He’s one of the most explosive receivers in the country, and a nightmare to tackle in the open field. He was third in the FBS in yards after the catch and forced 20 missed tackles. Even with average size, another big season in Columbia could turn Burden into a top-5 pick.
4. Mykel Williams, edge, Georgia
Another in a long line of promising defenders loaded with tools and coveted physical attributes. A 6-foot-5, 265-pounder, Williams has 28 career appearances and 46 career tackles. He has produced 6.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in each of his first 2 years with the program.
3. Carson Beck, quarterback, Georgia
Georgia’s starting quarterback finished the 2023 season with a 72.4% completion rate (fourth nationally) and an 85.2 Total QBR (seventh). Had he come out of school in the 2024 class, he could have very well been the fourth quarterback off the board. Instead, he’s back at Georgia hoping to lead a title charge. Beck has prototypical size and already looks polished enough to be QB1 in the 2025 class.
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2. Will Campbell, offensive tackle, LSU
Like Banks at Texas, Campbell has been in the starting lineup since stepping foot on campus. He has 26 career starts at left tackle and only 2 sacks allowed in more than 1,000 pass-pro snaps. He was much better as a run-blocker last fall, too. Another year of improvement and Campbell will be a consensus top-3 pick across the mock draft industry. LSU has promised a revamped run game as it seeks to replace Heisman Trophy-winner Jayden Daniels, and the 6-foot-6, 320-pounder is going to play a huge role in that shift.
1. James Pearce Jr., edge, Tennessee
Pearce is my favorite prospect in the country next season. He’s a 6-foot-5, 242-pound junior who produced 14.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 2 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles, and an interception last fall. Pearce has all the tools to develop into a top-flight pass-rusher. And even though he still needs to add some weight to his frame and add some counters to his game, he’s already been able to produce at a high level. In some ways, he has been winning on raw talent. His 21.3% pressure rate ranked third among FBS edge defenders (per PFF) while his 91.0 overall defensive grade ranked fourth and his 88.0 coverage grade ranked seventh.
Honorable Mention (in no particular order): Texas QB Quinn Ewers, Ole Miss DL Walter Nolan, LSU OL Emery Jones Jr., Georgia OL Earnest Greene III, Oklahoma WR Deion Burks, Texas A&M DL Shemar Turner
Barring injury, Beck will be at the top of the list by season’s end.
In O’Gara’s related article he left Starks out, Peterson must have read my comments and didn’t want to produce the same brain faart.
Other Dawgs that could sneak onto this list with a stellar 2024 season – Earnest Greene (I’d already take him over Campbell and Banks), Jalon Walker, Smael Mondon, Dominc Lovett, Etienne
Greene over Campbell? Sure. Only you.
Campbell – 2022 Freshman All-America, 2022 Second-Team All-SEC
nfldraftbuzz – In 2022 as a freshman Campbell saw action in 12 games and played a total of 824 snaps for the Tigers. He allowed 9 QB hurries, 3 QB hits, and 2 sacks while playing at left tackle.
Greene – 2023 Fist Team Freshamn All-American, SEC All-Freshman Team. Starting LT for the SEC’s #1 ranked and Nationally #7 ranked O-line.
nfldraftbuzz – In 2023 as a freshman Greene saw action in 13 games and played a total of 799 snaps for the Bulldogs. He allowed 8 QB hurries, 4 QB hits, and one sack while playing at left tackle.
I never said Campbell wasn’t good it’s just Greene is better, more upside.
Wrong again.
We’ll see at the end of 2024, Greene will be the higher ranked LT
So…you’re saying these guys are pretty evenly matched, right?
You could be correct, but I do believe general consensus is that Campbell has earned the right and distinction of being the best returning tackle in the SEC and the country until someone outperforms him.
You are all wrong with your comparisons. If I’m not mistaken, they came out of HS together. Greene redshirted his freshman year while Campbell started every game at LT. Both were in their seconds seasons with their programs last year. Campbell was better. Nice try at spin though.
Gomer,
Earnest Greene suffered a hamstring injury and had to have back surgery his freshman year at UGA, he missed the 2022 season.
“You are all wrong with your comparisons … Nice try at spin though”
lol, talking about thinking you had a zinger only to be left holding your d1ck in your hand and looking like a moron, that was a doozy Gomer!!!!!!
Regardless – I never criticized Campbell, I have only stated that I think Greene has more upside and will ultimately be the better player. I hope both of them have great careers and a lot of success.
Do your guy is injury prone and you think that is a plus. Nice.
So. That’s a typo. You’re welcome.
Wow TDOW…if it were your compiled list, you would have the Top 25 spots going to Georgia Bulldog players. Bunch of nonsense.
I’ve listed 3 UGA players – Beck, Starks and Williams as 1st rounders, top-10 SEC type players.
I’ve listed 5 UGA players that could become 1st rounders if they have stellar seasons in 2024.
Where did you get “you would have the Top 25 spots going to the Georgia Bulldogs” from my post?
Are you that stuupid 24/7 or do you just get all bent out shape when you are emoting? Go take a Midol and S*T^F-U
For someone who can sure dish out the poking and prodding, you sure cannot take it. That’s a sign of narcissism.
project much?
“2. Will Campbell, offensive tackle, LSU”
Dude is a BEAST. Want/need on my NFL team.
Will Campbell at No. 2 and Emery Jones as an HM and LSU has the best O line since 2019, easily. This team is probably more top-heavy than that line too, but I doubt this unit has same the across-the-board depth like they did.
Never underestimate the power of a great O-line.
1. Quinn Ewers QB-Texas
2. Will Campbell LT-LSU
3. James Pearce Edge-Tennessee
4. Carson Beck QB-Georgia
5. Luther Burden WR-Missouri
6. Mykel Williams DT-Georgia
7. Kelvin Banks OT-Texas
8. Harold Perkins LB-LSU
9. Deone Walker DT-Kentucky
10a. Emery Jones RT-LSU
10b. Malaki Starks Safety-Georgia
Next 5:
Nic Scourton DE-Texas A&M
Deion Burks WR-Oklahoma
Walter Nolen DT-Ole Miss
Malachi Moore CB-Alabama
Shemar Turner Edge-Texas A&M
Ewers will not be the #1 SEC draft pick, not even close.
Ewers 1st season as a starter wasn’t anything to write home about – 2177 yds, 58% cmp, 132 RTG etc
When you compare Beck’s 1st season as a starter to Ewers 2nd season as a starter Beck had a rating of 167.9 vs Ewers’ rating of 158.6. Beck beat Ewers across the board in all the passing categories. Beck even had the better rushing stats.
Beck is bigger than Ewers, has a stronger arm than Ewers and Beck is considered elite in his ability to read defenses, get the offense in the right formation and play called, go through his progressions etc.
Barring injury Beck will be the 1st SEC player off the board in 2024, well ahead of Ewers.
Within the SEC Jackson Dart is better than Ewers and Brady Cook has a good chance of passing Ewers in 2024.
Ewers might not even be Texas’s starter by the end of the 2024 season and I’m not talking about due to injury. One little hiccup by Ewers and Texas fans will be screaming for Manning
Beck had the benefit of a better starting OL than Ewers. But, teams will draft who they think is better for their team. My pick is Ewers over Beck unless Beck clearly outperforms Ewers in 2024.
For instance, who would you have drafted #1? Williams or Jayden Daniels?
If Beck has a hiccup, who will Georgia fans be screaming for? Anyone better than Manning? Beck will probably be the started all year regardless because who is proven behind him? Your team is in the same boat as Texas, LSU, Alabama, Ole Miss, Missouri, about every SEC team with unproven options behind your starter.
…TDOW has nothing to rebut.
“…TDOW has nothing to rebut”
Lol, that’s why you had to sign on and make that post, because I have “nothing to rebut”, right?
Put your money where your mouth, I’ll take Ewers not being the first SEC player drafted and you take Ewers being the first SEC player drafted – what’s the wager?
“If Beck has a hiccup, who will Georgia fans be screaming for? … Your team is in the same boat … with unproven options behind your starter.”
Jake Fromm was unproven until he started, Stetson Bennett was unproven until he started and Carson Beck was unproven until he started.
I’d say UGA is better off than most teams in terms of backup QB.
Gunner Stockton is entering his 3rd season in the program and has had some good moments in game situations and Rashada brings Power-5 staring experience to the QB room. Both kids had great HS school careers and were elite recruits, both very athletic with a lot of upside and potential.
So, any team in the SEC could have a great QB waiting in the wings…not just UGA.
As for Ewers, that’s just my opinion. I could be wrong, and have always been man enough to say it. It’s people’s opinions…not FACT. smh
Rashada underperformed at Arizona State. LSU brought in AJ Swann. Who has more experience, and experience playing against the most NFL talent in the country? Swann does. In the right system, Swann would be a very good QB, like I anticipate him to be for LSU..just as you anticipate Rashada, Stockton, or whoever to be for Georgia.
I’ll take Beck over Ewers.