As the college football season arrives, who are some of the best Mountain West prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft? Heading into the year, here’s how the list looks for one of the more underrated lower conferences.
Top 2025 NFL Draft Prospects in the Mountain West
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Ashton Jeanty is by far the highest-graded prospect in the Mountain West. And in fact, he enters the season as PFN’s RB1. At 5’8″ and 217 pounds, his blend of elusiveness, agility, contact balance, spatial awareness, and flexibility is truly special.
Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State
A certified separation god who scored double-digit touchdowns in 2023, Jalen Royals has early-round potential. He moves with eye-catching quickness and foot speed in short areas, and despite his average size, he competes well at the catch with his body control.
Tory Horton, WR, Colorado State
Tory Horton could be the mid-round gem of the 2025 NFL Draft — a Dontayvion Wicks type of WR prospect who combines unnatural proportional length, efficient physicality, terse short-area twitch, and sure hands. He’s been a steady producer for years on end.
Nofoafia Tulafono, C, Wyoming
In a thin center class, Nofoafia Tulafono is a name to watch. The 6’2″, 320-pound blocker holds up extremely well at the point of attack with his strength and leverage, and he’s a mauler in open space who has enough range to climb the second level and attack.
Ricky White, WR, UNLV
After starting his career at Michigan State, Ricky White has morphed into a force at UNLV. He’s coming off an 88-catch season with 1,483 yards and eight scores. At a lanky 6’1″, 185 pounds, White has speed, quickness, route running flexibility, and great tracking skills.
Mikey Keene, QB, Fresno State
While he has average size and tools, Mikey Keene is a gamer, who was very productive in his first season with Fresno State in 2023. He threw for almost 3,000 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, showing off accuracy as one of his defining traits.
Dean Clark, S, Fresno State
A sixth-year veteran, Dean Clark could be on the radar for teams in search of a quality PFA with versatility and support ability. The 6’1″, 206-pound Clark once eclipsed 115 total tackles in a season, and he scored a career-high three interceptions in 2023.
Jalen Catalon, S, UNLV
Injuries have marred Jalen Catalon’s stock since his time at Arkansas, but the veteran safety is still worth keeping tabs on. At 5’10”, 201 pounds, he brings plenty of willing physicality downhill
Tony Grimes, CB, UNLV
Tony Grimes was once a former five-star recruit at North Carolina, with draftable buzz in the 2023 cycle. Consistency is an issue that’s whittled away at his stock, but he still has the gliding athleticism, change of direction, and length to become a buy-low bargain in 2025.
Brayden Schager, QB, Hawaii
Along with Keene, Brayden Schager is another Mountain West sleeper to watch at QB. The 6’3″, 220-pound Schager — who racked up 3,542 yards in 2023 — is the rare gunslinger who can also work efficiently within the confines of the offense. He could be a PFA.
Other Top Prospects in the Mountain West
- Marquez Cooper, RB, San Diego State
- Cameron Camper, WR, Boise State
- Nick Nash, WR, San José State
- Kage Casey, OT, Boise State
- Wyatt Bowles, G, Utah State
- Jacob Gardner, G, Colorado State
- Ahmed Hassanein, DL, Boise State
- Bryce Phillips, CB, San Diego State
- A’Marion McCoy, CB, Boise State
- Cam Lockridge, CB, Fresno State
- Jamari Bellamy, CB, Air Force
- Virdel Edwards II, S, Hawaii
- Tavian Combs, S, New Mexico
- Wyett Ekeler, S, Wyoming
- Robert Rahimi, S, San José State
