Everyone has seen the highlight reel at cornerback for Heisman Trophy-winner Travis Hunter, and rightfully so, but Cobee Bryant has put on a show of his own at the position throughout his collegiate career. At 6’0″, 175 pounds, Bryant might lack the size desired by some NFL scouts in man-heavy schemes. Put into a zone scheme, Bryant’s nose for the ball and fearlessness make him an exciting prospect in the defensive backfield.
During the Shrine Bowl, all eyes will be on Sanders’ performance — so goes the story of Kyle McCord, who has been oft overlooked. After one season as the starter with the Ohio State Buckeyes, McCord transferred to Syracuse, leading the Orange to their first 10-win season since 2018. The quarterback class is thin this cycle, so McCord will have a chance to display his talent, which helped him rack up 34 touchdowns and almost 5,000 passing yards this season.
Chris Paul Jr., aka “Pooh,” played just one season for the Ole Miss Rebels after coming over from the Arkansas Razorbacks. That one season under Pete Golding was enough to firmly put him in the conversation as the best linebacker in college football last season. Paul anchored the second level of arguably the best defense in the country. His size will scare some teams off, but there is no denying Paul’s skill at the linebacker position.
The 6’5″ EDGE Tyler Baron spent one season playing for the Miami Hurricanes after four years in the SEC as a member of the Tennessee Volunteers. The EDGE position is loaded for the 2025 NFL Draft, but Baron has the tools to compete with the best. He is physically gifted and has the strength to push through the line, but he has to be more consistent in his tackling going forward.
Nazir Stackhouse is a trendy prospect heading into the 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl. His sheer size alone is enough for an NFL scout to pay attention. The 6’3″, 320-pound defensive tackle from the Georgia Bulldogs is an immediate impact player stopping the run. His inability to consistently get to the quarterback is his biggest downfall.
The senior cornerback from the California Golden Bears led the country in interceptions in 2024 and was tied for fifth in pass breakups. His 6’1″ and 200-pound frame allows him to be physical with receivers at the line and through their routes. Nohl Williams struggles against routes that cause him to turn multiple times, but if asked to jam outside receivers, he won’t hesitate.
Zah Frazier was inside the top four in both pass breakups and interceptions in 2024 as a member of the UTSA Roadrunners. At 6’3″, his length is all-around disruptive for pass catchers. He is unpolished in man coverage, relying heavily on his wing span at times, but Frazier could have an immediate impact in a zone scheme.
Kenneth Grant is a defensive tackle prospect from the Michigan Wolverines with great size. While he has the strength in his 6’3″ and 340-pound frame to win 1-on-1 battles, he struggles to put consistent pressure on the quarterback. As a rookie, Grant will bring an immediate presence to short-yardage and running downs as he holds up well at the line.
Jordan Phillips is a major upside prospect. The former Tennessee Volunteer turned Maryland Terrapins lineman has high-end athleticism to accompany his massive frame. Although his college numbers do not pop off the page, as Phillips never stuffed the stat sheet, the 6’3″, 320-pounder could shoot up draft boards after the NFL Scouting Combine.
All eyes will be on Sanders in this one. He has below-average size for an NFL QB, and his unwillingness to utilize his athleticism on scrambles might cause some scouts to grade him lower than most. Despite playing behind a porous offensive line, Sanders proved to be one of the most accurate passers, even under pressure. The question will be whether he can do it against significantly more athletic defenses than Colorado faced over the last two seasons.
