2025 NFL Draft stock report: Rivalry Week Risers and Sliders – Denzel Burke’s slide, Coach Prime’s standout WR, and more
Rivalry weekend offered us an interesting slate of games on the college football schedule. None is more interesting than Michigan versus Ohio State where the Wolverines, 21-point underdogs, beat the Buckeyes for the fourth consecutive season.
It’s now on to championship weekend where conference title games will help determine the pecking order for the twelve-team college football bracket.
And on the NFL prospect front, it was pass catchers and a few unheralded pass rushers who stood out. Here for the final time this season are the risers and sliders, week 14 edition.
2025 NFL Draft stock: Risers after Week 14 of college football
#1 LaJohntay Wester (WR/Colorado)
With so much attention surrounding Travis Hunter, many are unaware Colorado has three other NFL-worthy receivers, Wester being the highest-rated of the trio. Though presently second on the CU receiver list behind Hunter, his 70 receptions for 880 yards and 10 TDs would lead most college teams in the nation.
Wester is a legitimate deep threat with 7 catches of 25 yards or longer this season. He separates from defenders with speed or quickness and helps out returning punts.
Wester has a slight build and is better suited as a slot wideout but his speed and big play ability will be appealing during next year's draft.
#2 Nick Nash (WR/San Jose State)
In beating crosstown rival Stanford, the San Jose Spartans guaranteed themselves a bowl berth for the third consecutive year, the first time that’s happened in school history. And for a team driven by offense, record-setting receiver Nick Nash has been the star.
The sixth-year senior finished with a career high 104 receptions, 1382 yards and 16 TD’s, doubling many of his numbers from last season. He caught less than five passes in just a single game this season and caught 16 passes against Washington State earlier this year.
Nash has nice size (6-foot-2.5 inches, 195 pounds), hands of glue and he’s smart as a whip on the field. He plays to one speed and will be 25 years old, both red flags for several teams.
Still, Nash will be a terrific selection late in the draft and has the skills necessary for a timing offense in the NFL.
#3 Seth Hannigan (WR/Memphis)
Hannigan capped off a terrific college career last week by becoming the all-time passing leader in the American Athletic Conference.
He set the record by throwing for 218 yards and 2 TDs against Tulane, a game in which he completed almost 76% of his passes.
Hannigan’s college career has been characterized by accuracy and ball security. He threw for more than 3000 yards in each of his four years as a starter at Memphis, with a career completion percentage of 64% and 100 TD passes to just 29 interceptions.
Hannigan is an intelligent and methodical timing passer who will be drafted in the middle part of day three of the draft next year.
#4 Kalel Mullings (RB/Michigan)
Entering the season Mullings received draftable grades from scouts despite being the number three back on the Wolverines' depth chart last year. This season he’s proven to be more than worthy of the grade. Mullings finished the regular season with 948 yards and 12 TDs on 185 carries.
Included in those numbers were 116 yards and 1 TD against the stout Ohio State defense this past weekend.
His 27-yard run on 3rd and 6, when Mullings was initially stopped behind the line of scrimmage yet did not give up on the play, set up Michigan for the game-winning field goal.
He's a bigger (225-pound) ball carrier who picks up a lot of yards off contact and is tough to tackle. Mullings will be a solid day three pick for a team needing a short-yardage or goal-line ball carrier.
#5 Jackson Hawes (TE/Georgia Tech)
It was an epic battle that will go down as one of the all-time classics in the rivalry between Georgia Tech and Georgia.
After being down by 17 points Georgia fought back to eventually win the contest- after eight overtimes! Bouquets could be handed out to many players for terrific performances in this game but Hawes is a prospect that has shown consistent progress this season.
The transfer from Yale caught a career-best 15 receptions for 188 yards this season. And while those numbers are pedestrian, Hawes has stood out as a blocker.
Effective on the line of scrimmage or blocking in motion, Hawes has done a great job opening things up for the Yellow Jackets running game, which is exactly what he did against a stout Georgia defense.
He’s an athletic prospect who measures almost 6-feet-4, 260 pounds, and times the forty in 4.65 seconds. Hawes' upside is incredible and his development on the field this season is a promising sign.
#6 CJ Nunnally (Edge/Akron)
Coming to Akron by way of Jackson State, Nunnally has caught the attention of NFL scouts with his ability to penetrate the line of scrimmage and disrupt the action.
This season he’s totaled 11 TFLs, 6 sacks, and additionally 5 QBHs to go along with 56 tackles. Nunnally displays a lot of quickness and explosion up the field as well as the ability to immediately change direction and get to the ballhandler.
The lack of size and pure speed will likely keep him from being drafted yet Nunnally will compete for a roster spot next season as a pass rush specialist.
#7 David Walker (LB/Central Arkansas)
Entering the season Walker was graded as a street free agent yet after another big year in which he showed a more rounded game, Walker is on his way to the Senior Bowl and is receiving late-round consideration.
He finished the year with 68 tackles, 23 TFLs, and 10.5 sacks. But Walker also broke up 6 passes and forced 4 fumbles this season. Over a three-year career at Central Arkansas, Walker accumulated 31 sacks.
The question surrounding Walker’s game is his next-level position. He measures 6-foot-1, 265 pounds, and is expected to run the forty in a time of 4.70 seconds.
Is he a linebacker in the NFL? A one-gap defensive end? A pass rusher who stands over tackle? Scouts hope these questions will be answered at the Senior Bowl but Walker has done enough to warrant scouts wanting answers to these questions.
2025 NFL Draft stock: Sliders after Week 14 games
#1 Denzel Burke (CB/Ohio State)
Burke was a consensus day two pick entering the season with many, including yours truly, believing he could sneak into the first round. Yet his play this year has been anything but top-100 worthy, and Burke’s draft stock is going in the wrong direction.
He’s shown a lot of indecision in his game, he’s late transitioning off the line and too often chases receivers around the field and Burke struggles making plays with his back to the ball.
There are a lot of questions at the cornerback position in next April’s draft and Burke’s poor play this season will surely move him into the third tier of prospects.