Biggest risers in the final 2025 On300 rankings

The 2025 recruiting cycle will finally be closed next week during the second signing period, and On3 has updated its player rankings for the final time.

That includes a few dozen prospects who have made moves up the list since the last release in November. A few in particular made large leaps after strong performances during the end of their senior seasons and through the postseason all-star circuit.

Below, On3’s national scouting and rankings team breaks down what made each of these 10 prospects jump out to them as they assembled the final list:

EDGE Hayden Lowe – Miami

Previous Ranking: No. 284
New Ranking: No. 27

Scout’s Take: “One of the dominant EDGE defenders in the 2025 cycle this past season was Miami signee Hayden Lowe. The 6-foot-5, 250 pound edge rusher has 34-inch arms and 10-inch hands and carries a frame that will add some substantial mass at the next level. His production as a senior was extremely impressive collecting 18 tackles-for-loss and 16 sacks this past season. Lowe was also one of our “Stock Up” performers after showing out at the Navy All-American Bowl where he displayed impressive athleticism and a diverse pass rush arsenal. His ability to bend and fire off the line of scrimmage at his size gave offensive tackles fits for the entire week of practice. If he can develop some mass throughout his frame and become more powerful at the point of attack at the next level he will have one of the more complete skillsets of any edge defender in the country.” — Cody Bellaire, On3 National Scout

OT Drammodd Odoms – SMU

Previous Ranking: No. 233
New Ranking: No. 43

Scout’s Take: “Going into the Navy All-American Bowl we had Dramodd Odoms circled as someone we really wanted to focus on. The SMU signee’s size is genuinely elite standing in at 6-foot-6, 300 pounds with freakishly long 35.5-inch arms and a 7-foot wingspan and he carries his 300 pounds perfectly. But one of the questions we had going into the week was just how balanced and under control can he play? We believed in the size, the movement skill and the tenacity… but could he play with proper balance and not lunge and lose control when attempting to block defenders? Odoms answered that question emphatically during the Navy All-American Bowl by abusing defenders the entire week. Whether it was in the run game or the passing game, Odoms was imposing his will on any defender who dared cross him. His ceiling is through the roof and has one the higher upsides of any offensive lineman in the cycle.” — Cody Bellaire, On3 National Scout

EDGE Donovan Darden – South Carolina

Previous Ranking: No. 122
New Ranking: No. 52

Scout’s Take: “In terms of physical and athletic traits, there may not be a more well-rounded specimen coming off the EDGE this cycle than Donovan Darden. The Gamecocks signee actually perked our ears up during his junior track and field season by jumping nearly 22 feet in the long jump and throwing over 45 feet in the shot put at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds. And as a senior, Darden put up gaudy production numbers tallying 24 tackles-for-loss, 11 sacks and 29 hurries. The twitch, the bend, the closing speed all jump off the tape emphatically as he buries ball carriers over and over again on his senior tape. As he physically develops and gets stronger, he will only become a more complete player off the edge.” — Cody Bellaire, On3 National Scout

RB Ousmane Kromah – Florida State

Previous Ranking: No. 108
New Ranking: No. 58

Scout’s Take: “The battle for the number two running back in the country was a highly contested one with multiple running backs in contention since the inception of the 2025 class ranking. But one back was always hovering around the top of that conversation and that was none other than Florida State signee Ousmane Kromah. The 6-foot, 205 pound back from Georgia is one of the most well-rounded backs in the 2025 cycle and truly excels on all three downs. Kromah’s vision as a ball carrier combined with his violent running style and contact balance allows him to create yardage no matter if there is a clear running lane in front of him or not. The wiggle and burst for his size makes him a pain in the ass to bring down for defenders every time he touches the football. But his complete skillset is on full display whenever he is split out to catch the football. Kromah added 700-plus receiving yards and 8 receiving touchdowns to his impressive rushing stats as a senior this past season further cementing his status as true three-down back at the next level.” — Cody Bellaire, On3 National Scout

TE DaSaahn Brame – Tennessee

Previous Ranking: No. 166
New Ranking: No. 62

Scout’s Take: “Brame is a headlining riser within the tight end group on the heels of a great senior season and strong showing at the Polynesian Bowl earlier this month. The Tennessee signee put together some outstanding senior film, showing effortless ball skills and functional athleticism. Brame is strong at the catch point, easily plucking passes away from his frame. He shows the ability to separate as a route-runner and pick up yards after the catch. It’s not every day you see a top tight end prospect take three punt returns to the house. The strong senior season and film puts Brame within the top tier of tight end prospects for On3.” — Charles Power, On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings

DL Christopher Burgess – Notre Dame

Previous Ranking: No. 216
New Ranking: No. 66

Scout’s Take: “Burgess rises following a great week at the Navy All-American Bowl, earning Top Performer honors from On3. The 6-foot-3.5, 265-pounder is a physical, athletic presence capable of lining up at multiple spots on the defensive line. We also came away impressed with his motor and effort level after watching him practice In San Antonio. Burgess was very productive as a senior totaling over 100 tackles, while lining up as an off-ball linebacker and defensive end. He gives the Irish a versatile, physical player along the defensive front.” — Charles Power, On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings

OT Killian Registe – TCU

Previous Ranking: No. 185
New Ranking: No. 73

Scout’s Take: “When projecting offensive tackles to the next level two of the biggest factors that play into it are size and movement skills and TCU signee Kilian Registe has both in bunches. At 6-foot-6, 300 pounds Registe moves and plays in space with effortless mobility. He is so smooth, balanced and under control when functioning in the open field, but he also has the hand strength and power to move defenders from their spot with ease. His skillset and physical traits marry together so beautifully and it allows him to be an enforcer in the run game and the passing game. His versatility along the offensive front will pay dividends for him at the next level and beyond.” — Cody Bellaire, On3 National Scout

CB Maison Dunn – Ole Miss

Previous Ranking: No. 149
New Ranking: No. 86

Scout’s Take: “Dunn is a smooth moving, jumbo defensive back who has the size and cover skills to develop into a top corner in the SEC. At 6-foot-2, 180 pounds with arms that measure over 33 inches, Dunn is one of the more physically imposing corners in the cycle. He’s been very strong in coverage over the past two seasons and had a strong final campaign this fall.” — Charles Power, On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings

WR TaRon Francis – LSU

Previous Ranking: No. 212
New Ranking: No. 89

Scout’s Take: “Francis had a very strong senior season, accounting for over 1,100 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns while leading his New Orleans (La.) Edna Karr squad to an undefeated season and state title. Francis flashed improved route-running ability as a senior along with strong hands at the catch point. He has projectable size and speed, running a sub 11.0-second mark in the 100 meters at 200 pounds. The physical traits, production, and improved skill level have us bullish on the LSU signee.” — Charles Power, On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings

DL Malcolm Simpson – Nebraska

Previous Ranking: No. 181
New Ranking: No. 97

Scout’s Take: “We’ve always viewed Malcolm Simpson as a top physical talent. Simpson showed flashes of his high-end potential as a senior, after transferring to Hitchcock (Texas) High. The Nebraska signee is a twitched-up, explosive athlete at around 6-foot-3, 260 pounds. He put together strong senior films showing the ability rush the passer and run sideline-to-sideline. He’s been a two-sport star throughout his high school career, so there’s room for continued development once he fully focuses on football in Lincoln.” — Charles Power, On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings