Biggest risers in the updated 2025 On300 recruiting rankings

Nearly a month into the high school football season, On3 has updated its player rankings for the 2025 recruiting class.

Among those updates are a number of major risers since the last rankings update in July, brought on largely by their early-season performances. The list includes two prospects who are now hovering around five-star range and could be in contention for one of those 32 elite spots by the end of the cycle in February.

With those moves, On3 National Scout Cody Bellaire breaks down what has made each of the six prospects stand out this fall:

4-star LB Elijah Barnes – Texas commit

Previous Ranking: No. 61
New Ranking: No. 33

Scout’s Take: “Elijah Barnes has arguably the strongest tape of any off-ball backer at this early point in the 2025 class senior season. Barnes has shown the ability to be a consistent disruptor in the backfield totaling a ridiculous amount of solo tackles and TFL’s only a couple games into Skyline high school’s (TX) senior season. His range and ability to cover sideline to sideline is extremely impressive pairing with strong track times during the spring. He seems to have become one of the most complete backers in this 2025 cycle and is seeing a deserved rise in his ranking.” – Cody Bellaire, On3 National Scout

4-star WR Jerome Myles

Previous Ranking: No. 143
New Ranking: No. 34

Scout’s Take: “Jerome Myles has always been a physical and athletic creature at the receiver position, but we wanted to see more development in overall receiver traits from his senior tape. It took all of one game for Myles to show off his development as a deep ball tracker and overall ball skills. Combine that with his already established YAC ability and top-end speed? Myles could make a case as the biggest senior riser in the entire country regardless of position come signing day. We hope to see him bounce back from an early season knee injury.” – Cody Bellaire, On3 National Scout

4-star LB Matai Tagoa’i – USC commit

Previous Ranking: No. 114
New Ranking: No. 76

Scout’s Take: “Matai Tagoa’i’s film has always been one of the strongest out of the off-ball backers in the 2025 recruiting cycle. However, one of the bigger questions with Tagoa’i was size and if he was able to retain his movement skills after adding necessary mass throughout his frame. This offseason we were able to see Tagoa’i in person and we can confirm he looks the part of a next level inside backer. So going into this season, we wanted to make sure the movement skills have not lessened since adding the necessary mass and they certainly have not. He still has tremendous twitch and the ability to close that makes him a menace on the defensive side of the ball.” – Cody Bellaire, On3 National Scout

4-star EDGE Jaquavious Dodd – South Carolina commit

Previous Ranking: No. 140
New Ranking: No. 98

Scout’s Take: “Jaquavious Dodd is someone that On3 has been higher on than the industry. Early on in his high school career, we felt that the physical and athletic tools were there and we’ve been waiting to see them reach their full potential. Fast forward to his senior season and early returns have shown that Dodd has become a complete game wrecker. His length combined with his burst and power are rare coming off the edge. He still needs to fill out his frame and become a more complete run defender, but his ability as a pass rusher and willingness in the run game with his size and fluidity are extremely strong indicators towards future success.” – Cody Bellaire, On3 National Scout

4-star LB Pierce Mooberry — Nebraska commit

Previous Ranking: No. 225
New Ranking: No. 186

Scout’s Take: “The inside backer from Millard North high school (NE) is a two-way weapon. Pierce Mooberry‘s athleticism shines on both sides of the ball, but the fluidity and top-end speed has really shined as a pass catcher on offense. On the defensive side, we see his physicality and violence when making plays at the line of scrimmage and taking on blockers. Early in his senior season, Mooberry has been one of the most productive linebackers in the country and has shown off his impressive overall athleticism in all phases of the game on Friday nights.” – Cody Bellaire, On3 National Scout

4-star EDGE Daeden Hopkins — Missouri commit

Previous Ranking: No. 278
New Ranking: No. 238

Scout’s Take: “The Hermann High School (MO) edge defender appears to have filled out more of his 6-foot-6 frame while continuing to fly off the ball and make plays in the backfield. Daeden Hopkins has bend and ability to turn the corner for his size that is impressive for the position and looks more confident at the point of attack early on in his senior season. He appears to be a stronger run defender and has much more pop in his pads than he did last season.” – Cody Bellaire, On3 National Scout