The Week 4 college football slate has come and gone, and with it, there’s a new batch of 2025 NFL Draft risers to review.
Quarterbacks Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders gave evaluators plenty to like in their respective matchups, and several first-round prospects announced themselves again.
Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
The clash between Michigan and USC was an action-packed struggle between ranked teams, and the Wolverines’ top prospects were placed under the spotlight again. Will Johnson scored a pick-six, but Mason Graham was the star of the day.
On the stat sheet, Graham had six tackles and a sack. And somehow, that didn’t do justice to the impact he had against the Trojans. The 6’3″, 318-pound defender was rerouting the line the entire day, using his explosiveness, heavy hands, and strength to obliterate blocks.
Try to block Mason Graham at your own risk.
He’ll beat you with athleticism, strength, power, and leverage all in one. Awesome job stacking and shedding on this one-gap play. DT1 on my board.
— Ian Cummings (@IC_Draft) September 21, 2024
Graham entered the season as DT1 on Pro Football Network’s 2025 NFL Draft Big Board, and that’s where he remains after his spectacular outing. He has the tools to be a difference-maker on an NFL interior.
Cam Ward, QB, Miami (FL)
Another week, another game in which Cam Ward put up true video game numbers for the Miami Hurricanes. This time, South Florida was the victim, and Ward was the bringer of controlled chaos, achieving incredible results.
Ward hit a season-high 404 yards this time around and passed for three touchdowns and one interception. On the year, he’s up to 1,439 yards, 14 TDs, and just two picks in four games, completing 72.4% of his passes at 11.7 yards per attempt.
Ward’s always been a high-level throwing talent — with unnatural off-platform freedom and creation capacity. Yet, this year, he’s channeled those traits with a level of discipline we haven’t seen from him. It’s paying off on the field and on the NFL Draft board.
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Shedeur Sanders is always on the watch list, but Week 4’s game against Baylor was particularly important for his early-season stretch. Baylor has a strong rush rotation with Steve Linton and Garmon Randolph, and we got to see Sanders navigate that.
Ultimately, Sanders had his best game yet in 2024, helping lead Colorado to a close conference win. He completed 26 of 41 passes for 341 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions.
Sanders has had productive games before, but this game displayed promising diagnostic growth. He used his legs more often — both to produce on the ground and work off-script. He calculated testing opportunities downfield and finding check downs, and he didn’t faze under pressure.
If Sanders can keep playing at this level and stay steady as an offensive leader, Round 1 remains on the table.
Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
Emeka Egbuka has been ramping back slowly ever since injuries marred his 2023 campaign. Week 4 felt like the first time that Egbuka has truly been “back” since then. The highly touted talent racked up five catches for 117 yards and a score against Marshall.
Egbuka’s best play was a 68-yard touchdown reception from Will Howard, on which the receiver’s long-strider speed at 6’1″, 205 pounds sealed the deal.
Assuming he can stay healthy, Egbuka still has merit as a first-round prospect, with the three-level utility and role versatility to serve as a schematic safety blanket.
Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa
In back-to-back weeks, Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson is on our list of 2025 NFL Draft risers. In fact, he’s been a riser all through the four-week stretch to kick off the season.
Against Minnesota, Johnson accrued 206 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries. Four weeks into the season, he’s averaging almost 175 yards and over two touchdowns per game.
The 6’0″, 225-pound slasher has a unique combination of long-strider burst, flexibility, and finishing physicality — all of which conglomerates one of the class’ more complete rushing profiles.
Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford
The Stanford Cardinal introduced themselves to the ACC with a win over the upstart Syracuse Orange in Week 4. Not only was it a valuable fight to become the best college football team with a singular tense nickname, but it was also a spotlight showing for WR Elic Ayomanor.
Ayomanor was clutch all day against Syracuse, racking up seven catches for 87 yards and a score. The 6’2″, 210-pound pass catcher routinely went back to his awe-inspiring body control and hand-eye coordination — on both chain-moving conversions and on his TD catch.
Jermari Harris, CB, Iowa
Jermari Harris will be a 25-year-old rookie, but the Iowa Hawkeyes’ veteran is experiencing a late-career resurgence this year. In Week 3, he scored a pick and two pass deflections, and in Week 4, he thrived as a primary boundary defender against Minnesota’s passing attack.
Playing against the Golden Gophers, the 6’1″ Harris showed off the ability to manage intermediate zones on his pedal, as well as press and match receivers off the line. His technical versatility, playmaking chops, and experience should earn him a chance.
Pat Bryant, WR, Illinois
Pat Bryant is embarking on a breakout season, after a strong 2023 campaign that first piqued evaluator interest. The 6’3″, 200-pound WR is coming off back-to-back two-touchdown weeks, and he was particularly important in Illinois’ win over Nebraska.
Bryant’s first touchdown came off an expertly crafted delayed diamond release, on which he was able to offset his defender and then explode upfield. But throughout the game, he also displayed exceptional body control, fluidity, and composure against physicality.
Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall
In the early weeks of the college football season, smaller-school prospects always have the opportunity to show their skills against higher-level opponents. Marshall EDGE Mike Green did that in Week 4 against Ohio State, keeping his streak of pressure generation going.
Green’s best play against the Buckeyes was a smooth sack against right tackle Josh Fryar, on which Green baited his blocker inside, then won with a crisp, efficient spin move. He then ran down Howard with his brisk closing speed at 6’4″, 247 pounds.
Green already has 4.5 sacks so far this season, and his success as a speed rusher could earn him mid-round consideration.
Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson
Cade Klubnik was a renowned five-star recruit who broke records in high school. It’s taken a bit for his career to get off the ground at Clemson, but now — in his first season of eligbility — he’s starting to string together good games.
Klubnik most recently fueled Clemson’s domination over conference opponent NC State in Week 4, amassing over 270 total yards and four total touchdowns. His best play of the day was the TD pass below — an off-platform dime to Antonio Williams.
Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik had one of his best career games against NC State. 270 total yards and four total touchdowns — along with this beauty to Antonio Williams.
Recognizes interior pressure, rolls out, and delivers a 40-yard off-platform rope with touch. pic.twitter.com/lvUK2jZPrb
— Ian Cummings (@IC_Draft) September 23, 2024
Time will tell if Klubnik can truly enter the mix in the 2025 NFL Draft class or if he still needs more time. But thus far, in 2024, he’s been playing the highest-quality football of his career, and the talent is starting to show.