Do not be surprised when these potential college football risers are making a major impact next season.
The next wave of college football superstars is already upon us as the focus turns to the 2025 season. The 2025 NFL Draft is filled with elite talents who have been the face of the sport in recent years, creating ample opportunity for fresh faces to rise and make a significant impact. Some of these rising names are already well-known, but who are the lesser-known players primed for a breakout campaign next fall?
Director of scouting Andrew Ivins and national recruiting analyst Cooper Petagna of 247Sports identified those potential breakout stars on a recent episode of «The 105″ podcast. There were a few guidelines in place for this task, limiting it to second-year players — either those entering their true sophomore or redshirt freshman season — who played fewer than 200 offensive or defensive snaps. The list also excludes Top247 five-star prospects.
So, who are the potential breakout second-year players to know on the offensive side in 2025?
Below is a closer look at the 10 potential breakout second-year offensive players identified by Ivins and Petagna for the 2025 season:
Micah Alejado, QB, Hawaii
Micah Alejado set a Hawaii freshman single-game record with 469 passing yards and five passing touchdowns, while also breaking program records for most completions (37) and pass attempts (57) by a first-time starting quarterback in program history during the regular-season finale last November. Alejado rated as a low three-star prospect coming out of Las Vegas Bishop Gorman in the 2024 class.
«This guy has some Noah Fifita to his game,» Ivins said. «He is undersized. He is small, but man he is productive. … I’m a Group of Five guy. Had to get a Group of Five dude on here. I know there are a lot of people in the college football sphere that found themselves late on a college football Saturday watching Hawaii. Mich Alejado, remember the name man.»
Christian Bentancur, TE, Clemson
Christian Bentancur played just 17 offensive snaps in six games of action while redshirting at Clemson in 2024. He caught one pass for seven yards, but could be primed for a much larger role for the Tigers in 2025. Bentancur rated as the No. 4 tight end nationally coming out of the 2024 class.
«Here’s my thought process: Jake Briningstool is off to the NFL. You have Olsen Patt-Henry there as well,» Petagna said. «I think this guy can do a lot of different things. I think he can attach, detach, played a little bit last year—only 17 snaps. I think this guy, coming out of the postseason events, was maybe one of the more ready tight ends in the country, and I think he entered a pretty healthy situation in Clemson. That being said, I think he’s going to be relied upon a little bit more this year. Now, I’m not expecting a huge jump, but in terms of that trust being built with Cade Klubnik, Garrett Riley, this is a guy that I’ve always thought has a high floor—dependable, know what you’re getting—and I think we’re going to get more of that in Year 2.»
Elyjah Thurmon, OT, Clemson
Elyjah Thurmon actually made one start as a true freshman at Clemson in 2024, finishing the season with 146 snaps from scrimmage across eight games. The 6-foot-4, 310-pound offensive lineman suffered an injury in mid-November at Pittsburgh that sidelined him for the remainder of the season. Thurmon rated as a Top247 prospect in the 2024 recruiting class.
«We graded him coming out of high school as an IOL,» Petagna said. «I still think that’s what he’s going to be, but you and I talk about this: If you have the ability to play tackle, that’s where you’ll play. At this level, he can play tackle. I think he can play either side. I also think that he is going to excel if Clemson decides to make the move to put him inside. He’s on the outside looking in. I don’t think he’s even slotted to start next year, but I think the fact that he played as much as he did, he’s going to be the first lineman in that six-man rotation.»
Jordan Lyle, RB, Miami
The skill positions for Miami will look much different in 2025, with former Georgia quarterback Carson Beck transferring in. The Hurricanes are poised to have a strong one-two punch in the backfield, led by sophomore Jordan Lyle, who brings dynamic big-play ability. His 91-yard run from scrimmage last season as a true freshman stands as the longest in Miami history. Lyle was a Top247 prospect coming out of high school.
«Hurricanes lose Damien Martinez, Mark Fletcher is back. I think he’s more of the thunder, Jordan Lyle is more of the lighting,» Ivins said. «You think about Miami’s offensive line, it, in my opinion, could be the best in the ACC. … I just think about Miami, Carson Beck coming in, I think they’re going to want to run the football as they kind of find the bearings in a re-tooled offense, losing receivers, new quarterback. So for me, I got Jordan Lyle.»
Joshisa Trader, WR, Miami
While Jordan Lyle expects to see more touches in the Miami backfield, Joshisa Trader could emerge as the go-to target at receiver for the Hurricanes. In seven games played as a true freshman, Trader caught six passes for 91 yards and a touchdown, averaging 15.2 yards per catch. He was a top-100 prospect coming out of the 2024 recruiting class.
«I think this one has more to do with they need him to step up,» Petagna said. «They just need him to step up. I mean, you look at Miami: (Xavier) Restrepo gone, (Isaiah) Horton, Alabama, Sam Brown, gone, Jacolby George, gone. They bring in CJ Daniels, and it’s like, ‘Okay, who’s going to be next up for Carson Beck?’ I think Josiah Trader, coming off the bowl game—obviously, he flashed in that game—but was a guy that did a little bit of everything, two-way prospect, really liked mature football game, a guy that we thought could impact the ‘Canes pretty early. Now, going into Year 2, was given time to breathe, develop, now it’s time.»
Carter Nelson, WR, Nebraska
Carter Nelson could go from 8-man high school football prospect to breakout offensive player at Nebraska in just two years. The hybrid wide receiver-tight end was on 247Sports 2024 Freaks List as a top-50 recruit in the class coming out of Ainsworth (Neb.) Nelson saw action in all 13 games for the Huskers last season, catching 10 passes for 86 yards and a touchdown.
«I was really encouraged just in terms of the athlete, seeing the player in space, seeing the route-running ability, and then putting it into context and saying this man was playing 8-man football just a year ago,» Petagna said. «So, you knew Year 1 was going to be really, really big for him — just wide-eyed. It was a lot playing Big Ten football. … What’s the relationship going to look like on the field between Carter Nelson and Dylan Raiola? I like the way they utilize him. I mean, you can utilize him in the slot, you can flex him out. He is a really, really natural athlete.»
Weston Davis, OT, LSU
Nearly the entire LSU starting offensive line from last season is gone, which means new pieces — whether that be internal risers or transfer portal additions — will have to step up. Weston Davis projects to be in the mix to fill one of the tackle spots after playing 21 snaps in 2024. The former Top247 recruit has the tools to develop into a key contributor.
«Lot of length, more than a functional athlete, above-average athlete,» Petagna said. «Technically, and from a play-strength standpoint, has a ways to go. We’ll see — we will see — what the spring portal brings, and if there’s a tackle out there, I would expect LSU to be aggressive because I think they’re trying to find some competitive depth. As of right now, he’s slotted in on the right side.»
Mike Matthews, WR, Tennessee
All three of the top pass-catchers for Tennessee will not return in 2025, leaving the Volunteers in need of playmakers to step up as reliable targets for former five-star quarterback Nico Iamaleava. Former top-50 prospect Mike Matthews could help fill that void after hauling in seven passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns as a true freshman in 2024.
«I think expectations when he arrived at Rocky Top were sky-high,» Ivins said. «We said it: Generational year at wide receiver, and Matthews is a longtime five-star prospect for us. But when we locked in the 32, he didn’t have a spot inside the 32. So he checked in at No. 40. Got a ton of pushback, but that does not mean we don’t like the player and what he can be.»
Brandon Baker, OL, Texas
Texas must learn to reload quickly if it wants to contend with the best of the best. The Longhorns lost four starting offensive lineman to the 2025 NFL Draft. Former top-50 prospect and projected starting right tackle Brandon Baker assumes a massive role in 2025. He did see a total of 65 snaps in five games of action this past season, giving up zero pressures on 14 pass-blocking opportunities.
«Texas is going to have its third different starting right tackle in three seasons,» Ivins said. «And from what I’ve gathered, Brandon Baker looks to be the favorite to win that position battle. Remember, UT is losing Cam Williams, Kelvin Banks off to the NFL. Brandon Baker is cream… I think there could be some baptism by fire when it comes with Brandon Baker, but we’ve said it with Steve Sarkisian and kind of talked about this with Dan Lanning: If you are going to be at the top of the food chain, right, what made Nick Saban so good, what made Kirby Smart so good, is they lose guys to the NFL and it’s next man up right away.»
Jordan Marshall, RB, Michigan
Michigan has established an impressive pipeline at running back, with five players set to be selected in the NFL Draft since 2021. With Donovan Edwards and Kalel Mullings moving on, the door is open for soon-to-be sophomore Jordan Marshall to emerge as the Wolverines’ featured back. The Ohio native and former Top247 prospect made his mark with 100 yards on 23 carries in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Alabama on New Year’s Eve.
«I think Jordan Marshall is going to be a name to know as UM kind of rebuilds and restructures that offense,» Ivins said. «And we’ve seen them ride with two different running backs. You think about, okay, is Bryce Underwood stepping in? They’re refortifying, retooling that offensive line. Sherrone Moore, power-based system. I think Jordan Marshall—we could look up after the first few weeks of the season — and the national perception is going to be, ‘Alright, Michigan, once again, very talented at running back, and it starts with Jordan Marshall,’ and then obviously Justice Haynes.»