New 2024 and 2025 NFL Draft prospects pop up weekly, while some fly under the radar. With the bowl season almost here, our focus shifts to a mixture of 2024 prospects, transfer portal entrants, and 2025 emerging names.
In this edition of Scouting the Nation, we look at an under-the-radar cornerback in the transfer portal, Ohio State’s best offensive lineman, and a West Coast cornerback for 2025.
Emerging 2025 NFL Draft Prospects After CFB Week 13
Will Lee III, CB, TBD
After one season as Kansas State’s top cornerback, Will Lee III entered the transfer portal.
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He brings a great blend of size, length, and athleticism. For a bigger cornerback, Lee is incredibly fluid. He doesn’t struggle to change direction and isn’t tight, which are rare traits for a 6’3” cornerback. His length is a huge plus and led to several pass breakups on film.
Lee will be very good in press-man coverage because of his physicality at the line, but he will also excel in off-coverage, where his quick trigger downhill to make plays is elite. For a first-year Power Five starter, Lee’s instincts were very impressive. He makes plays and always looks in control.
His tape against Missouri and Texas, who loaded at receiver, was fantastic. Lee will be a high pick because of his coverage ability, but he is also one of the best run defenders in the country. He is an enforcer in that regard, shedding blocks and then consistently wrapping up running backs.
Teams that value run support are going to love Lee. If he can build upon his 2023 campaign, he will be one of the first cornerbacks off the board in 2025.
Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
Ohio State’s best offensive lineman was Josh Simmons, who took over as left tackle for Paris Johnson Jr. A San Diego State transfer, Simmons played right tackle for the Aztecs in 2022, where his foot quickness and balance stood out in pass protection.
For it being his first year as a left tackle, Simmons showed that he has NFL potential, which is why a premium program like Ohio State coveted him in the portal. Simmons steadily improved throughout this season after switching positions. That same foot quickness and balance he had at right tackle were evident, but his overall range and ability to adjust to counters have improved.
His punch timing is perfect in pass protection, and he has kept his hands tighter to his frame. His clamp strength and ability to displace defenders in the run game was all over his film at San Diego State and has translated to the Big Ten.
When asked to block in space or at the second level, he plays with control and quickly identifies defenders to block. He is one of the best left tackles in the country, and if Simmons returns to school, he’ll be the top tackle in the Big Ten.
Tacario Davis, CB, Arizona
Arizona has become one of the country’s best programs, with several top-tier prospects for the 2025 draft. Tacario Davis is 6’4″ with the movement skills of a 6’1″ cornerback. He changes direction with ease and has no issue turning to run.
Davis has zero strain running vertically, and he uses his size to limit the space receivers have to work with vertically. At the line of scrimmage, Davis is patient and has the quick feet to stay attached to receivers after release.
Offenses tended to avoid him, and for good reason — Davis consistently blanketed wideouts. He didn’t miss tackles and was a willing run defender on film. Davis is scheme versatile, an incredible athlete for his size, and was elite in coverage while contributing to the run game.
He’d be a first-round pick if he were eligible for the 2024 draft, but he has the chance to cement himself as one of the best players in the country next season.