NFL Draft
11/25/24
7 min read
2025 NFL Draft Stock Report: Should Jalen Milroe Return to Alabama?
As we dive into the final weeks of the college football season, every game has serious implications. Players all over the country are competing for spots in conference championships and the College Football Playoff. This is a key time for the 2025 NFL Draft class to shine and show off their skills on film.
In our Week 13 rundown, we’re noticing some players whose stock is on the rise while others are slipping a bit. We've been keeping an eye on the top 300 prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft, so we have a pretty good idea of what to expect if they choose to enter the draft. Plus, it’s becoming clear which players might be better off sticking around for another year of college football.
Let's examine the three stars who pushed their 2025 NFL Draft stock up and those who fell.
CFB Week 13 Stock Up Players
We saw enough quality performances to name a couple of other risers who dominated their competition. Here are three more players who caught our eyes in Week 13.
Honorable Mentions
- Will Howard, QB, Ohio State
- Elijah Badger, WR, Florida
- Keith Mullings, RB, Michigan
DEVIN NEAL WOULDN'T BE DENIED 😤@KU_Football strikes first vs Colorado pic.twitter.com/g1ndDbTcOk
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 23, 2024
📈Devin Neal, RB, Kansas
Stats: 37 carries, 207 yards, 3 TDs; 4 receptions, 80 yards, 1 TD
The star of the week was Devin Neal of Kansas. The Kansas Jayhawks are red hot, playing way above their pay grade as a five-win team. Turning to Neal more after starting the season slowly, this looks like the Jayhawks squad that earned top-20 hype entering 2024.
Neal would've been in the mix to be RB1 in the 2024 NFL Draft class had he opted to enter, but the senior surprised everyone by returning to school. The slashing 215-pounder is quicker than fast, causing havoc on defenders who overcommit one direction as they anticipate his movement. However, that's a fatal mistake, as Colorado learned throughout Saturday's upset.
On pace for a career-high in carries, yards, and touchdowns, Neal is pushing his way into the top few backs in this loaded rusher class. No longer thought to be pigeonholed as a third-down threat and clearly capable of keeping his pace throughout an entire game, Neal has to be a top-100 pick at this point.
HIM HIM HIM 😈
— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) November 23, 2024
📺 ESPN
📻 https://t.co/0CMltGlRNn pic.twitter.com/L1wOZciFjZ
📈Cam Skattebo, RB, Arizona State
Stats: 28 carries, 147 yards, 3 TDs
A star at Sacramento State for two years before coming to Arizona State, this season has been a revolutionary breakout for Cam Skattebo with the Sun Devils. The senior sometimes drags this offense to success, but he's more than just a grinder. He's simultaneously a workhorse and also a well-rounded threat who contributes to the passing game.
As mentioned many times throughout this season, the 2025 running back crop will redefine the NFL's approach to building an offense. Skattebo is a late riser who evaluators knew little about until this monstrous season, despite being productive for three years before. Now, after producing his fourth game with at least 147 yards in his last six outings, Skattebo will force us to rethink his standing.
His barreling style is complemented by viable quickness up to an average top speed. He erases tackling angles and keeps his feet moving better than most, enhancing his actual power level. He's a three-down contributor now and has the tools to stick on NFL rosters for a long time as a backup.
PAT BRYANT SCORES THE GAME-WINNING TD ON 4TH DOWN! 😱@IlliniFootball pic.twitter.com/ndso5u3X8B
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) November 23, 2024
📈Pat Bryant, WR, Illinois
Stats: 7 receptions, 197 yards, 1 TD
Throughout the loaded slate, you might've missed Illinois' 38-31 firefight against Rutgers, but it was a great game. Pat Bryant took over for Illinois, continuing a stellar senior campaign that has seen him set new career highs across the board. All the 6-foot-3 playmaker needed was a gutsy quarterback to throw the ball his way.
Bryant's terrific frame profiles as an ideal X-receiver at the next level. He has the "my ball" attitude, length, and hand strength. But it was his speed and athleticism that won the game for Illinois, catching a dig route in the middle of the field with about nine seconds left and then sprinting 22 yards into the end zone for the win.
Separation ability for big-bodied receivers is rare. While Bryant doesn't seem to play faster than a 4.5 pace, he is functionally fast, a long-strider, and instinctive with the ball in his hands. That's enough to earn Day 3 consideration.
CFB Week 13 Stock Down Players
JALEN MILROE INTERCEPTION LEADS TO AN OKLAHOMA TD 😳
— ESPN (@espn) November 24, 2024
SOONERS UP 14 IN THE SECOND HALF 👀 pic.twitter.com/o0qI1YRTwe
📉Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
Stats: 11/26, 164 yards, 3 INTs; 15 carries, 7 yards
There's much more wrong with Alabama than just Jalen Milroe being uncomfortable, but it's becoming clear that Milroe has not taken to Kalen DeBoer's scheme. Milroe is a premier athlete who will garner top-10 consideration regardless of some of his stats, and it's possible he has a Josh Allen-esque ascension if he's given time and great coaching. However, it's fair to wonder if he's best off going back to Alabama and soaking in DeBoer's teachings.
Milroe's brain simply does not trust what his eyes see. He's a tick slow getting into his passing motion as opposed to making the pre-snap read, quickly confirming it post-snap, and then rifling off an accurate throw. At his best, Milroe is an elite creator and offensive engine, but we're not seeing that version of Milroe.
His turnovers and missed throws are ugly enough, stifling the offense before it can even find a rhythm. However, the mistakes have bled into his rushing decisions, and defenses are stuffing Milroe more often than not as the season progresses.
Transferring seems out of the question, but it'd be nice to see Milroe embrace the challenge of developing through discomfort rather than escaping to the NFL when he's not ready.
📉Kurtis Rourke, QB, Indiana
Stats: 8/18, 68 yards; 7 carries, -33 yards
Indiana had the nation's most efficient offense until running into a buzzsaw in Columbus. The Hoosiers were outmanned before losing two offensive line starters, and the surrounding factors with a loud crowd and aggressive defense made things even more difficult. The biggest loser was Kurtis Rourke.
Rourke, who is a relative statue in the pocket, can eviscerate defenses when he can plant and step into a throw. His back-shoulder throws are the best in the nation, but Ohio State rarely gave him a clean launch pad and comfortable pocket. The result was almost as bad as it could've been, even if Rourke avoided throwing an interception.
Unfortunately, Rourke's physical limitations and struggles to produce against immense pressure reveal a significant ceiling cap for his future. Being a Day 3 prospect who could be a quality backup is still a huge improvement from where Rourke was graded at Ohio, but the Buckeyes stole some of the shine off the senior.
📉Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M
Stats: N/A
There were some flashes on film of Shemar Stewart's immense physical gifts on Saturday against Auburn, but Stewart failed to register a stat and was otherwise invisible.
It's shocking to say that for someone who had been playing so well and is creeping into the first round of 2025 NFL mock drafts. The 6-foot-6, 290-pounder is simply too gifted to let this happen.
It's not as if Auburn just ran out the clock and limited snaps. The Tigers ran the Aggies out of the building in a defensive struggle. Stewart watched his teammates rack up impressive numbers, but the versatile linemen failed to penetrate the line and finish opportunities that could've helped net a win.
Shemar Stewart's Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp
