History tells us that talent can be found anywhere. Mississippi Valley State’s Jerry Rice, Texas Southern’s Michael Strahan, and Eastern Washington’s Cooper Kupp are a few names that come to mind. Every year, a handful of prospects remind us that you don’t need to play at a Power Five program to hear your name called in the NFL Draft.
This year’s draft class has no shortage of talent flying under the radar. Some prospects are late risers, while others have produced consistently throughout their college careers. Here are some small-school sleepers to know heading into the 2025 NFL Draft.
2025 NFL Draft Small-School Sleepers
Darius Alexander, DT, Toledo
Standing at 6’4″, 310 pounds, Darius Alexander boasts a rare blend of size, explosiveness, and raw power that you don’t often see from interior linemen outside of the Power Five. A Second-Team All-MAC selection and a member of Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List,” he turned heads with elite testing numbers — including a 4.80 40-yard dash at over 300 pounds and a 400-pound bench press — that reflect his freakish athletic potential.
Alexander plays with heavy hands, natural leverage, and an aggressive get-off that allows him to penetrate gaps and disrupt plays early. He’s versatile enough to line up across multiple spots along the defensive front and has flashed the ability to shed blocks and generate interior pressure.
While his technique remains a work in progress, the flashes are there. His traits could translate into a valuable rotational piece early on, with upside to develop into a long-term starter.
Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State
A two-year starter at Utah State, Jalen Royals made a massive impact in a short amount of time, leading all FBS players in receiving touchdowns during his breakout junior campaign. His production speaks for itself, but his electric play style and versatility could make him a draft-day steal.
Royals is a vertical threat first and foremost — with explosive straight-line speed, sudden acceleration, and the body control to win downfield. What makes him truly dangerous is what he does after the catch. He’s a twitchy, instinctual ball carrier with excellent vision, balance, and the ability to make defenders miss in space.
Royals has the makings of a high-upside WR2 who can line up inside or out, stretch the field, and give creative offensive coordinators a weapon capable of flipping the momentum of a game in one play.
Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green
In a league that increasingly values versatility and mismatches, Harold Fannin Jr. fits the mold of the modern-day offensive weapon.
While he may not check every box for a traditional in-line tight end, Fannin brings a rare blend of route-running savvy, hands, and after-the-catch creativity that makes him one of the most intriguing under-the-radar prospects in this class. He led all FBS tight ends in receiving production last season, showcasing his natural feel for spacing, his ability to separate against both man and zone, and his strong, consistent hands.
Fannin projects as a high-upside TE2 or move tight end who can make an immediate impact in the passing game. While his limitations as a blocker may keep him from being a full-time in-line player, his ability to win from the slot, create separation, and produce after the catch gives him the potential to be a major contributor in the right offensive system.
Tory Horton, WR, Colorado State
Tory Horton may not be the most polished receiver in this class, but his ability to stretch the field and generate explosive plays makes him a compelling sleeper with real upside.
Before a knee injury cut his 2024 season short, Horton consistently showcased the traits of a vertical threat who can win deep with his speed, route tempo, and natural ball-tracking ability.
Horton isn’t an elite technician who can run every route in the tree, but he brings a clear role: vertical juice. Teams can deploy him as a field-stretcher who forces defenses to account for his speed on every snap. His ability to separate with quickness and burst out of breaks also hints at untapped potential with more refinement.
Charles Grant, OL, William & Mary
Charles Grant’s game is built on traits that translate. A former wrestler with elite length and natural leverage, Grant plays with a rare mix of balance, mobility, and grit that gives him long-term starting potential at either tackle spot. While he still needs to get stronger to bang in the NFL, the technical foundation is already in place.
Grant thrives in movement-based schemes, particularly zone-blocking systems that reward athleticism and technique over brute strength. He flashes solid footwork, body control, and the ability to climb to the second level. Grant is also reportedly a high-character guy who has a competitive edge and strong film against FCS competition.
David Walker, EDGE, Central Arkansas
After starting his career at Division II Southern Arkansas, David Walker exploded onto the FCS scene with Central Arkansas and became one of the most decorated defenders in school history. He capped off his college career with a Buck Buchanan Award, three straight First-Team All-American honors, and eye-popping stats: 31 sacks, 63 tackles for loss, and 55 pressures across three seasons.
Walker’s compact 6’1″, 263-pound frame and explosive get-off allow him to win early in reps. His game is built on leverage, power, and relentless effort, making him a disruptive force in one-on-one situations. While he lacks the prototype length of a traditional edge rusher, Walker’s game fits well in a 3-4 system where he can be deployed as a stand-up outside linebacker. Still, his athleticism offers scheme versatility.
Jackson Slater, G, Sacramento State
Over 44 career starts, including stints at guard and even center, Jackson Slater developed into one of the most decorated linemen in school history, earning three consecutive First Team All-Big Sky honors and 2024 First Team AP All-American recognition.
At 6’4″, 316 pounds, Slater has the frame, movement skills, and football IQ to thrive in zone-blocking schemes, where his smooth footwork and spatial awareness consistently shine.
A November knee injury halted a dominant 2024 season (zero sacks or QB hits allowed through nine games), but his total body of work suggests his best football may still be ahead of him. Slater may not be a top-tier athlete, but he’s a polished, high-floor interior offensive lineman. He’s tough, technically advanced, and a dependable pass protector.
Chase Lundt, OL, UConn
At 6’8″, 305 pounds, Chase Lundt stands out for his movement ability and positional IQ. His pass protection fundamentals are clean, and he was a major reason UConn finished among the nation’s top-10 teams in fewest sacks allowed in 2023.
His run-blocking impact is just as noteworthy — Lundt was instrumental in a 2022 rushing attack that averaged over 190 yards per game. His combination of experience, size, and growth trajectory could be enticing to NFL teams.
Lundt can be vulnerable to speed-to-power rushers, and he lacks elite length for an NFL tackle, so a move to guard could be in the cards and would ease his transition to the pro game. He’s fluid in space, has excellent contact balance, and solid footwork to compensate for some of the deficiencies in his game. Given his tools and experience, Lundt has a relatively high floor.
Nick Nash, WR, San Jose State
Nick Nash is a high-upside athlete with a unique developmental path and proven production. Originally recruited as a dual-threat quarterback, Nash reinvented himself at San Jose State, evolving into one of the most productive wide receivers in the country.
He exploded as a senior, hauling in 96 catches for 14 touchdowns while becoming a constant mismatch for opposing defenses. He wasn’t just productive — he was reliable. In nearly every game of the 2024 season, he posted at least 75 receiving yards and a touchdown.
At 6’3”, Nash has the frame and catch radius to win in contested situations. He has natural body control, strong hands, and leaping ability that make him dangerous on vertical routes and red-zone targets. Though he’s not an elite burner or separator, he consistently wins at the catch point.
As a former QB, Nash sees the game differently and brings that processing ability into his route running and play recognition. With an expanded route tree, he has three-level-threat upside.
Kitan Crawford, S, Nevada
Explosiveness was Kitan Crawford’s calling card throughout his college career. While he didn’t start many games at Texas, he consistently flashed on film with his speed, burst, and physicality. In his lone season with the Wolf Pack, Crawford started 12 of 13 games and led the team with 76 tackles, adding two interceptions.
Crawford is compact, fast, and explosive, showing out at the combine with top-tier long speed. As a former offensive player, he’s a natural mover in coverage. While he may need to refine his tackling technique, Crawford is not afraid to come downhill and hit.
He was a special-teams standout in college, and that could be his easiest path to early playing time, but his athletic traits offer upside to become a starter down the line.
Carson Vinson, OT, Alabama A&M
Carson Vinson anchored Alabama A&M’s offensive line for 48 straight starts. The 6’7″, 305-pound tackle was the only HBCU player invited to the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl. He put together an impressive 2024 season, allowing just one sack on the year. He possesses a rare combination of size, athleticism, and advanced technique.
There will be questions about the level of competition, and he’ll need time to continue developing his strength and anchor. However, he’s shown flashes of a player rooted in fundamentals who continues to put it all together, including an impressive performance against Auburn. Given Vinson’s raw physical tools and experience, he should have a high floor with plenty of upside.
Zah Frazier, CB, UTSA
Zah Frazier checks a lot of the boxes that teams covet — size, speed, ball production, and scheme versatility. But he’ll likely fly under the radar due to limited starting experience in college. At 6’3″, 189 pounds, Frazier boasts prototypical length and long speed for an outside corner. Though he only started one season at UTSA, he made the most of it, racking up 15 pass breakups and six interceptions in 2024.
Frazier’s journey included stops at JUCO and multiple programs, and while he’s an older prospect (turning 25 during his rookie season), his play shows a cornerback who is just now beginning to tap into his full potential. His long arms and leaping ability help him disrupt passing lanes and contest at the catch point.
He’s also an aggressive run defender with a willingness to play downhill. Frazier could be an ideal Day 3 target for teams looking for a developmental outside corner with real upside.
Marcus Yarns, RB, Delaware
Marcus Yarns is a dynamic, dual-threat running back whose versatility, big-play potential, and production make him a legitimate Day 3 sleeper. Despite playing at the FCS level, his numbers jump off the page: over 2,000 career rushing yards, 800+ receiving yards, and 34 total touchdowns, including 18 in his breakout 2023 season alone.
In 2024, he continued to showcase his explosiveness with nearly 300 receiving yards and five touchdowns through the air.
Yarns is capable of making defenders miss in space, hitting home runs with his speed, and creating mismatches in the passing game. He’s a smooth, one-cut runner with natural acceleration, capable of turning the corner or taking a screen pass the distance. His ability to line up as a receiver adds another layer of value.
His acceleration and agility make him dangerous on outside runs, while his soft hands and route creativity give him immediate third-down upside. He isn’t the biggest back in the class (5’11, 195), but his traits can cause mismatches in the right system.