NFL Draft
1/27/25
8 min read
2025 Senior Bowl: Biggest Sleepers At This Year's Event
The college football season is officially over and the Super Bowl is in the near future. That means we're on the cusp of solely focusing on the NFL offseason. The 2025 NFL Draft is the best, most exciting experience of the next few months.
For some of us, the evaluation process has been well underway, but for others, the 2025 Senior Bowl is the first major exposure to the best players in the country. The Senior Bowl has been a pinnacle of the draft process for decades, as the top competitors in the country take part in a busy week of on-field and off-field action.
Here are five players I'm higher on than the consensus who I think will emerge as major winners from the 2025 Senior Bowl.
Top 5 2025 Senior Bowl Sleepers
5. RJ Harvey, RB, UCF 
It might seem silly to say the class' fifth-leading rusher is a sleeper at any event, but the buzz around RJ Harvey is startlingly low. Maybe it's because he's coming from UCF and not Ohio State or that he's only 5-foot-9 and 208 pounds. However, underestimating Harvey for his size or his level of competition is exactly why he'll prove to be a valued gem.
Producing 2,999 yards and 38 touchdowns on the ground during the last two years, Harvey is a devastating zone runner with his combination of quickness and contact balance. His smaller stature defies logic as he utilizes his low pad level and muscle-filled frame to break through arm tackles and erase pursuit angles. Harvey has been remarkably consistent in creating around 3.68 yards per carry after contact in his career because this is a key part of his playing style.
All-American RJ Harvey 2024 Highlights pic.twitter.com/0QY29H5mhy
— UCF Football (@UCF_Football) December 16, 2024
While Harvey isn't an effective pass blocker compared to his peers, he's the ideal RB2 and complimentary player for one-cut run schemes. His elusiveness and toughness through contact will shine through in one-on-one drills as a runner, while his quickness and hands will elevate him above his Senior Bowl peers in the pass-catching drills against linebackers and safeties.
4. Savion Williams, WR, TCU 
Producing 138 catches, 1,669 yards, and 14 touchdowns in five seasons isn't the best stat line you'll see from most seniors, but Savion Williams brings a unique skill set and frame to the table. The 6-foot-5, 225-pounder transitioned to a new role in 2024, and it was his most successful year yet. Instead of being viewed as only an X-receiver who is a vertical threat, Williams redefined himself.
After topping out with only 12.8 percent of his snaps coming in the slot before this past season, Williams spent almost a quarter of his time lurking in the middle of the field. This led to more explosive plays, a higher catch rate, and new possibilities beyond being a catch-point merchant. His yards after the catch swelled from 189 to 407 as he forced 18 missed tackles.
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) November 17, 2024
Combining his success in the slot with his contested catch rate of 75 percent on 36 targets over his career gives Williams a profile with immense value. This receiving class is lacking Day 2 options. If Williams can show separation ability in drills against a good group of corners, he'll fight to earn a top-100 investment.
3. Omarr Norman-Lott, DT, Tennessee
The defensive tackle class is arguably the best or second-best strength of this year's crop of eligible talent. There will be a handful of late Day 2 to Day 3 picks who emerge as either high-end rotational pieces or starters early in their careers. Omarr Norman-Lott is my favorite of the bunch who should be taken in that range.
The 6-foot-3, 315-pounder split his time between being a 3-4 end and 4-3 under tackle, showing excellent pass-rush chops at both spots in 2024. Tennessee maximized his effectiveness by giving him more space to operate next to James Pearce Jr., and Norman-Lott became a penetrating tackle with the best win rate in the country.
In fact, it wasn't close, as Norman-Lott's pressure rate was 3.4 percent higher than the second-best mark from Derrick Harmon, and his win rate bested Harmon by 1.2 percent and Mason Graham by 4 percent.
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) January 22, 2025
Some of his efficiency can be attributed to the fact that Norman-Lott was sparsely used in a deep rotation. He averaged only 17 snaps a game, allowing him to stay fresh and be in advantageous situations more often than full-time players. Nevertheless, Norman-Lott's quickness and length are easily-projectable.
His run defense struggled in 2024, but his 2023 run defense was more consistent in terms of positioning, reads, and tackling efficiency. He wasn't used much differently, but his explosiveness improved as his body matured. If he can show the ability to marry the best of both his run and pass defense this week, Norman-Lott should be solidified as a top-100 pick.
2. Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami
It's rare for young tight ends to enter the NFL and make a difference within their first few years. The physicality of the position requires maturity and commitment to withstanding repeated hits as a blocker and receiver. Most tight ends drafted flame out after their rookie deal.
Being a capable blocker is critical to seeing the field early. With this in mind, the best under-the-radar option in this class is Elijah Arroyo. He's built and experienced as a traditional tight end at 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds, but will also test and play like a power slot receiver who is a mismatch in coverages.
Arroyo's usage at Miami in 2024 gave a perfect snapshot of his potential in the NFL. On top of catching 35 passes for 590 yards and seven touchdowns, Arroyo gained valuable experience in various alignments. He spent almost 57 percent of his snaps in the slot or out wide and about 40 percent inline.
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) December 17, 2024
The key is he was effective enough as a blocker to survive in the NFL despite only playing about 350 snaps from 2021 to 2023. PFF graded Arroyo as an average run blocker and above-average pass blocker, giving up three penalties and two pressures in his 274 blocking snaps. Assuming he's as effective in the NFL, he could be a full-time starter.
The Senior Bowl allows him to dominate as a receiver and hold his own as a blocker. With this class having a wide-open race for TE4, don't sleep on Arroyo potentially boosting his stock.
1. Azareye'h Thomas, CB, Florida State
This is a great cornerback class in terms of top-end talent and depth, but there's always room for a sneaky first-round value. Azareye'h Thomas is my top candidate to get there. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder was a lockdown defender for the Seminoles during the last few years and is oozing with potential to flourish even more if his ball skills improve. At worst, they don't, and he's an ideal No. 2 corner.
Thomas has excellent physical gifts and honed in on his technique throughout the 2024 season. He uses his length without getting overly grabby or desperate when targeted. His coverage stats accurately reflect his positioning, and they're impressive.
Azareye’h Thomas is my favorite press-man CB in this class (if he declares). Effortless mover at 6’2", A+ ball skills & route ID, it's hard to find a weaknesses in coverage. QBs have avoided him this year so he hasn’t been as productive, but I have a 1st round grade on him atm pic.twitter.com/Ez9JDfitQO
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) October 24, 2024
Allowing only 17 receptions and 141 yards on 33 targets in 2024, Thomas allowed a passer rating of only 50.2. He routinely disrupted receivers throughout the entire route stem, starting from establishing his hands in press to transitioning into coverage. It's not an accident his effectiveness greatly improved during his three-year career.
Coaches will want to see how cleanly Thomas will play against quicker receivers in drills. He avoided penalties incredibly well and was only called for three this past season. If he continues that trend and shows off the foot speed necessary to hold up in man coverage, he'll rise.
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