2025 NFL Draft: 5 prospects who can boost their stock in championship weekend

The nine conference championship games slated for Friday and Saturday night will provide plenty of early round NFL Draft talent, but at this point in the season, scouts are focusing less on the established blue-chip prospects and more on potential Day 2 and 3 steals.

So, with all due respect to Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter (the top-rated prospect playing this weekend) or the arms race in the SEC title game between Georgia’s Carson Beck and Texas’ Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning, let’s dig a little deeper and identify some prospects who might truly catapult their draft stock this weekend.

[Related: Picking the winners of every conference title game]

Here are my favorite five to do so, listed in the order of their games.

Jackson Woodard, OLB, 6-3, 230, UNLV

It goes without saying that most watching the Mountain West championship game Friday night (on FOX at 8 p.m. ET) between UNLV and Boise State will be focusing on the Broncos’ projected first round running back Ashton Jeanty — and Woodard will be, as well. The reigning Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year racked up a season-high 14 tackles against Jeanty and the Broncos in a back-and-forth 29-24 loss back on Oct. 25, and the stakes are even higher in the rematch.

Woodard is one of a handful of former Arkansas Razorbacks who elected to follow their former defensive coordinator Barry Odom to Las Vegas, transferring to the Rebels and immediately proving to be a star. Woodard was wasted on the bench in Fayetteville, registering just 16 tackles in three seasons there. He flourished once with the Rebels, however, earning First Team All-Mountain West honors last season, finishing second in the league with 117 total tackles and leading UNLV with nine tackles for loss.

This season he’s been even better, registering 114 tackles in two fewer games with an eye-popping 17 tackles for loss. Better yet, he’s shown significant improvement in pass defense, racking up nine passes defended and four interceptions, as well as recovering two fumbles — one of which he returned for a touchdown.

For a relatively inexperienced player, Woodard shows impressive instincts. He attacks the line of scrimmage, showing excellent diagnostic skills, as well as quickness, agility and awareness of the big bodies around him, slipping blocks and making sure tackles. His fantastic seasons in Las Vegas all but assure that Woodard will be drafted next spring, but he can boost his stock that much more with another flashy showing amid Friday night’s bright lights.

Darien Porter, CB, 6-4, 200, Iowa State

NFL scouts are attracted to untapped potential like a moth to a flame, and Porter certainly has demonstrated that, emerging as one of the Big 12’s better cornerbacks after spending the first half of his college career at wide receiver and on special teams. A year ago, Porter’s biggest claim to fame was the fact that he had recorded three blocked kicks at Iowa State. This season, he’s shown the same playmaking chops at cornerback, snaring three interceptions and already earning an invitation to the prestigious Senior Bowl.

As one might suspect given his massive 6-foot-4 frame, Porter is at his best up close in press coverage, using his long arms to corral receivers at the line of scrimmage. He is surprisingly fluid in reverse, easily turning his hips and running stride for stride with receivers downfield. Porter’s agility also shows up with his downhill closing speed. Further, he may very well wind up with the longest arms of any cornerback measured at this year’s combine, showing the ability to shield pass-catchers from the football, even when in a trailing position. Opposing quarterbacks have found it nearly impossible to complete passes against Porter this season. In fact, according to Pro Football Focus, Porter has allowed just three first down receptions all year long and he hasn’t allowed a single touchdown.

Iowa State will be facing an explosive Arizona State offense on Saturday (noon ET); one that has scored at least 30 points in seven of their 10 wins so far this season. Scouts will be eager to see if Porter can continue his lockdown 2024 campaign against a gifted young quarterback in Sam Leavitt, who has already tossed 21 touchdowns against just five interceptions this season.

Cameron Williams, OT, 6-5, 335, Texas

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