Mel Kiper shakes up Big Board Top 25 player rankings for 2025 NFL Draft ahead of CFP quarterfinals

With Christmas officially in the rearview mirror, ESPN‘s Mel Kiper Jr. spent Boxing Day wrapping up his latest Big Board Top 25 ranking of the best available college football prospects ahead of next April’s 2025 NFL Draft.

That included an interesting move in the Top 10, with Kiper elevating Miami quarterback Cam Ward — a likely Top-2 overall pick given his positional value — into the Top 5 this week.

While there was no change at No. 1 overall and little significant movement overall, Kiper’s decision to elevate Ward signal even greater movement in the coming weeks. Check out Kiper’s latest Big Board Top 25 below:

1. Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado

It’s no surprise Kiper has the newly-crowned Heisman Trophy winner at No. 1 overall, he’s been there all along. Still, the Buffs’ two-way superstar is a unique talent after dominating on both sides of the ball this season. Hunter also won the Bednarik Award as college football’s best defensive player after hauling in four interceptions and 10 pass breakups, to go along with the Biletnikoff Award as the best receiver after hauling in 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2024.

Kiper: “I really think he has a chance to play both sides of the ball early in his pro career and make an impact both ways, though I’m ranking him as a receiver right now. … Hunter has tremendous hand-eye coordination and elite ball skills. His physical traits and quickness are off the charts.”

2. Abdul Carter, OLB, Penn State

Carter is a physical freak at 6-foot-3, 252-pounds and has proven himself an elite pass rusher with 11 sacks, 52 pressures, 22.5 tackles for loss and 85 tackles through 14 games this season, his third straight with at least 60 tackles in Happy Valley.

Kiper: “Carter is versatile and has plenty of experience effectively operating as an off-ball linebacker. … But the hope this season was he would make a dent … as a pass rusher off the edge. Mission accomplished. Carter has the traits to wreak havoc there. … He is instinctive and fast flying to the football.”

3. Shedeur Sanders, QB Colorado

The son of NFL legend Deion Sanders, Shedeur has more than lived up to the hype in his second season in Boulder, leading the FBS-level with a 74.2 completion percentage to go along with 3,926 yards and 35 touchdowns through the air in 2024.

Kiper: “You won’t find a tougher or more resilient quarterback prospect than Sanders. … I’m always impressed watching him throw on the move, rolling either left or right. He is very accurate in those spots and has the arm to drive the ball. When his mechanics and footwork are sound, he can pick apart a defense.”

4. Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

The powerful 6-foot-3, 320-pound Graham was the heart of Michigan’s defense this season, tallying 52 tackles, 26 pressures, 7.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks, including two in a September game vs. Minnesota.

Kiper: “I love Graham’s technique. His leverage gives him an advantage at the point of attack, and interior offensive linemen struggle with his power and quickness. Graham has strong and active hands, and he has proved effective against the run and pass from inside.”

5. Cam Ward, QB, Miami (+3)

Ward gets the biggest bump in Kiper’s latest ranking after finishing fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting. And Ward more than earned it by spearheading the ACC’s No. 1 offense with a FBS-leading 36 passing touchdowns and ranking second nationally with 4,123 passing yards and a 67.4 completion percentage.

Kiper: “Ward has an unorthodox delivery, but he throws with accuracy and velocity from different arm angles. … When things break down around him, Ward can extend plays with his legs, either throwing on the move or picking up first downs as a runner.”

6. Will Johnson, CB, Michigan (-1)

Despite routinely being the No. 1 rated cornerback on Kiper’s board, Johnson fell another spot due to his continued absence after missing six games this season with a turf toe injury. Still, the 6-foot-2 cornerback is a true defensive playmaker with nine career interceptions, including returning his two INTs this season for touchdowns prior to his injury.

Kiper: “Johnson is so instinctive in coverage, and his ability to read quarterbacks jumps out when you watch him. He has great quickness in his transition, allowing him to make plays on the ball.”

7. Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State (-1)

The Heisman Trophy runner-up finished closer in the balloting than many expected and its all a credit to his record-chasing 2024 campaign. Ahead of Boise’s New Year’s Eve date with Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl, Jeanty is just 132 yards shy of eclipsing Barry Sanders‘ NCAA single-season rushing mark (2,628 yards in 1988) and leads the FBS with 111 missed tackles this season.

Kiper: “Jeanty displays excellent contact balance and toughness, which help him skirt past the first line of defense and through traffic. … And don’t sleep on his receiving skills. Jeanty has sure hands out of the backfield and can be a true all-purpose back in the NFL.”

8. Mykel Williams, OLB, Georgia (-1)

Another in a long line of defensive specimen to come out of Athens, the 6-foot-5 and 265-pound Williams has flashed elite potential despite not necessarily lighting up the stat sheet with just 24 tackles, 10.5 for loss, 19 pressures and five sacks – two of coming in overtime of the SEC Championship game.

Kiper: “Williams is extremely explosive and wins as a pass rusher with speed-to-power. His bend off the edge is outstanding. The tools are all there, and his upside is immense. Scouts just wanted to see more consistency in his game and some improvement in his sack totals.”

9. Malaki Starks, S, Georgia

The 6-foot-1 Starks has been the leader of Georgia’s secondary since arriving on campus as a five-star 2022 signee, and has flashed superior playmaking ability with 65 tackles, three for loss, four pass breakups and an interception against Clemson in Week 1.

Kiper: “Starks has the skill set to affect the game in a variety of ways. He’s a force against the run from the back end and doesn’t miss many tackles. He closes so fast in coverage, allowing him to break up some passes, and he has spent time lined up over the slot.”

10. Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas

The 6-foot-4, 320-pound Banks has locked down the left side of the Longhorns’ offensive line since landing in Austin as the No. 2 overall tackle in the 2022 class. Banks’ best attribute is his consistency, surrendering only three sacks over 40 career starts in his three seasons with Texas.

Kiper: “He has the mobility to quickly block off the edge and then the frame and strength to take care of power rushers. He just needs to become more consistent in the run game as a blocker.”

Mel Kiper Jr.’s Big Board No. 11-25

11. Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
12. Will Campbell, OT, LSU
13. Jalon Walker, MLB, Georgia
14. Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
15. Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
16. Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina
17. Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
18. Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
19. Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
20. Jihaad Campbell, MLB, Alabama
21. Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
22. Nic Scourton, DE, Texas A&M
23. Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
24. James Pearce Jr., OLB, Tennessee
25. Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota