Mel Kiper shakes up Big Board Top 25 player rankings for 2025 NFL Draft ahead of College Football Playoff

Ahead of the College Football Playoff, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. took the opportunity to shake up his Big Board rankings, looking ahead to the 2025 NFL Draft.

There’s a fascinating mix of players within Kiper’s Top 25. Some are preparing to participate in the Playoff, while others are focusing on their respective bowl games or preparing for the NFL Draft. While there’s bound to be some movement over the next couple of months, Kiper has settled on his rankings, for now.

There was no change at No. 1 overall for Kiper, but he’s made some interesting moves in the rest of his Top 25. With that in mind, check out Kiper’s full Big Board Top 25 below, with the Heisman Trophy recipient kicking things off.

1. Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado

Travis Hunter was named the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner this past Saturday, and he also remains Mel Kiper’s No. 1 overall player. Like most of college football, Kiper is enamored with Colorado’s two-way superstar, and believes Hunter has a real shot to play on both sides of the ball in the NFL.

Kiper: “Hunter has tremendous hand-eye coordination and elite ball skills. His physical traits and quickness are off the charts, but he also thinks about the game at a high level. He is a highly competitive prospect who works hard to maximize his potential.”

2. Abdul Carter, OLB, Penn State (+1)

Carter is a physical freak at 6-foot-3, 252-pounds and has proven himself an elite pass rusher with 10 sacks, 49 pressures, 20 tackles for loss and 79 tackles through 13 games this season, his third straight with at least 60 tackles in Happy Valley.

Kiper: “Carter has the traits to wreak havoc there, getting pressure on 18.3% of his pass-rush snaps. He is instinctive and fast flying to the football. Carter’s 20 tackles for loss this season rank third in the nation.”

3. Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado (+1)

The much-ballyhooed son of NFL legend Deion Sanders, Shedeur has 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.”

4. Mason Graham, DT, Michigan (+1)

The imposing 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. Will Johnson, CB, Michigan (-3)

Johnson dropped a couple of spots on Kiper’s Big Board, but that’s likely more to do with Johnson missing the final five games of the regular season with a turf toe injury. Nevertheless, 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.”

6. Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

If not for Travis Hunter’s iconic season, Jeanty would’ve been the Heisman Trophy winner amid his record-chasing 2024 season, currently sitting just 132 yards shy of eclipsing Barry Sanders‘ NCAA single-season rushing mark (2,628 yards in 1988). Along with his FBS-best 29 rushing touchdowns, Kiper also cited Jeanty’s shiftiness with an FBS-leading 111 missed tackles this season.

Kiper: “Jeanty displays excellent contact balance and toughness, which helps 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.”

7. Mykel Williams, OLB, Georgia

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 during the SEC title game vs. Texas.

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.”

8. Cam Ward, QB, Miami

The Heisman Trophy finalist has been a revelation in his lone season with the Hurricanes, 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. … He displays solid game management traits, and while he had some ball security issues last season at Washington State, that hasn’t been an issue in 2024.”

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 39 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 Nos. 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 (+9)
17. Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State (+6)
18. Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
19. Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan (-2)
20. Jihaad Campbell, MLB, Alabama (-4)
21. Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
22. Nic Scourton, DE, Texas A&M (-3)
23. Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri (-3)
24. James Pearce Jr., OLB, Tennessee (-2)
25. Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota (NR)

As you can tell, Mel Kiper Jr. has made some tough decisions throughout his Top 25, and it’s bound to fluctuate throughout the College Football Playoff and beyond. It’ll be fascinating to see where each player ends up, but this is where the ESPN NFL Draft guru is ranking them at the moment.

On3’s Alex Byington contributed to this article.