With the advent of the 12-team College Football Playoff, and opt-outs now the norm, college football bowl season isn't what it used to be. But the silver lining is that some underrated prospects have the opportunity to garner more attention before trying their luck in the NFL.
With back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons, White has been a playmaker for the Rebels in myriad ways. At 6 feet 1 and 180 pounds, he is much thinner than ideal for his position, which especially shows in traffic, but his short-area quickness makes him a threat to elude tacklers and create.
Not only did White earn first team All-Mountain West honors as a receiver, but he also was named the conference's special teams player of the year with four blocked punts. Wide receiver is a crowded position in the 2025 class, so having that type of special-teams resume will help separate White on Day 3 of the draft.
If NFL grades were based only on production and character, Nash would be a top-10 pick. Working exclusively out of the slot, the 6-2, 192-pounder leads the FBS in catches (104), receiving yards (1,382) and receiving touchdowns (16).
Nash doesn't have the traits to be a top-10 pick but is an easy prospect to like because of his hands, routes and adjustment skills. Though it shouldn't be this simplistic, where (or if) he is drafted might come down to his 40-yard dash time -- anything around 4.50 seconds would be considered a win.
Based on Bartholomew's true freshman season, when he caught passes from Kenny Pickett, NFL scouts were expecting big things from him. But he didn't eclipse 350 receiving yards in any of his four college seasons, and he is averaging only 8.2 yards per carry as a senior.
Even so, the athleticism that put Bartholomew on the radar as a freshman remains highly intriguing. It won't be surprising if he boosts his draft stock at the Senior Bowl -- but first, evaluators are eager to see if he can finish strong against safety Maxen Hook and the Toledo defense.
The last calendar year hasn't gone according to plan for Powell, who missed time with a wrist issue late last season and then suffered an Achilles injury in the offseason, the latter of which has affected his play in 2024.
Powell (6-5, 245) is an outstanding athlete for his size and shows the speed and range that NFL coaches covet. Facing one of the top rushing offenses in the country, this bowl matchup against Rutgers is the type of test scouts want to see for Powell.
Four years ago, Stowers was a highly recruited quarterback expected to flourish as a passer under Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M. A few injuries, multiple transfers and a position change later, he is now knocking on the NFL's door.
After Stowers caught passes from Diego Pavia at New Mexico State in 2023, both players transferred to the SEC and remained teammates this season. Stowers led Vandy with 45 receptions for 583 yards and four touchdowns. Now he is looking to prove he belongs in the top-100 draft conversation.
McCord has more fans in the NFL than you probably think. And if you focus on the positives in his game, it isn't that surprising. PFF has a passing stat called "big-time throws," which represents downfield throws that have perfect placement in tight windows. McCord leads the FBS with 31 such throws this season, and that ability shows on tape.
On the other hand, McCord also sits among the nation's leaders in turnover-worthy plays this season, including his five-interception performance against Pitt. After that game, however, he finished the regular season with a combined 11 touchdowns to only one interception. His ability to throw with pace, placement and anticipation has the attention of NFL evaluators.
A four-year starter at right tackle, Lundt feels underrated right now -- but I'll bet many will be jumping on the bandwagon after the Senior Bowl. With 48 starts under his belt, the Arlington, Texas, native has played a lot of football, and his coaches say he brings the same "nose to the grindstone" attitude each day.
With 33 1/8-inch arms, Lundt isn't super long, which gets him in trouble when his strike timing is off. But he stays light on his feet with the hips and movements to mirror pass rushers or execute run-game blocks.
Robinson (6-5, 311) is a boulder of a man and stout at the point of attack, making him hard to move in the run game. His hands aren't consistently violent or explosive as a pass rusher, but he can create force using his natural power. Those types of players usually stick at the next level.
Robinson primarily has fourth-round draft grades from NFL scouts, but it won't be surprising if he sneaks into the top 100 and proves to be a valuable rotational lineman.
A pass-rush prospect who has boosted his stock this season, Jones has played almost the same number of snaps as last season but more than doubled his pressures created. At 6-5 and 280 pounds with 33 1/2-inch arms, he uses his long levers to work his way through roadblocks.
In a crowded edge rush class on Day 3, Jones (who will be just 21 on draft weekend) has the foundational talent to continue getting better throughout his NFL rookie contract.
Nobody in the FBS had more tackles during the regular season than Dolac, who posted 159 total tackles in 12 games (13.3 per game). And good luck finding missed tackles on his tape. His ability to break down and finish through his target is among the best I have seen this season in college football.
Dolan added 16.5 tackles for loss and five interceptions, enough to earn him MAC defensive player of the year and a first team All-America nod. He isn't expected to be a top tester as a prospect, but his instincts and play personality can keep him on an NFL roster.