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Comparing the volatility of the NFL Draft and the stock market is kind of cliché, but there's a good reason for it.
A player's draft stock can go up or down based on the smallest details.
Four years of elite film and production can seemingly be wiped out by one bad 40-yard dash or three-cone drill. Just look at how the conversation around Miami wide receiver Xavier Restrepo has shifted since he ran a slower-than-expected 40-yard dash at the Hurricanes pro day.
For other players, question marks have turned into exclamation points based on how they ran or measured during the pre-draft process.
The first round of the NFL Draft is April 24.
Here's where the draft stock of five draft prospects from Florida high schools stands heading into the draft:
Taylor (St. Thomas Aquinas) has elite genes as both his father (Jason Taylor) and uncle (Zach Thomas) are Pro Football Hall of Famers. The 20-year-old has an outstanding pro day, running a 4.65-second 40 and doing 28 reps on the bench press. Both numbers would have placed him second among tight ends at the NFL Combine. Taylor, the most prioductive tight end in LSU history, is the No. 3 tight end in the draft on most rankings and is being slotted as a second-round pick.
Horn (Sanford-Seminole) followed up a strong performance at the NFL Combine with a starring role at Colorado’s pro day. With all 32 NFL teams in attendance because of teammates Travis Hunter and Sheduer Sanders, Horn ran a 4.40-second 40-yard dash and also had an impressive grab on a deep ball that he punctuated with a back flip. Horn has been projected as a late round pick but could move up on Day 3 thanks his pre-draft work.
The stock for Thomas (Niceville) was on a steady upward climb after his performances at the Senior Bowl. He followed it up by checking every box from a measurables standpoint — 6-foot-1½, 10-inch hands, 78-inch wingspan — at the NFL Combine. The only real knock against Thomas right now is his 4.58 40-yard dash at Florida State’s pro day. Considering the health concerns of some of the other cornerbacks in the draft, Thomas could still be a late first round or early Day 2 pick.
Who's No. 1? Top 25 NFL Draft picks from Florida high schools of past 25 years
Farmer (Gadsden County) is another player who saw his stock rise after the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine. Farmer’s loud 40-yard dash (5.11 seconds official time, 11th-best among defensive lineman) at the combine went viral and he did well at positional drills. Some analysts dropped Farmer in their rankings after he didn’t test at Florida State’s pro day, but he certainly looks like a Day 2 pick.
This a classic case of whether NFL teams will trust years of film or overreact to one 40-yard time. Restrepo (Deerfield Beach) ran an unofficial 4.83 seconds in the 40 at Miami’s pro day. Miami’s all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards isn’t known as a burner but that still is a very slow time for a receiver. Restrepo tried to do damage control on X (formerly known as Twitter) by saying his right hamstring tightened up on him during workouts. Restrepo was being talked about as a likely second-round pick before Miami’s pro day. The question now is if he’ll still be a Day 2 pick.
Here's where other prospects from Florida high schools could have their names called during the NFL Draft.
Campbell (IMG Academy) was a very productive off-ball linebacker in 2024, but some teams like the possibility of what he could bring as an edge rusher. Linebacker has been devalued in the first round, but Campbell’s versatility looks like it will land him as a first-day pick.
Stewart (Monsignor Pace) is a polarizing prospect. He has elite measurables and put on a show at the NFL Combine that almost certainly locked up his status as a first-round pick. But has a total of 4.5 sacks in three years and has struggled against the run. Teams will bank on his size and belief that they can fully unlock him.
Booker (IMG) was an All-American at Alabama is one of the top guards in the draft. He looks like one of the safer picks as a plug-and-play starter.
Higgins (Westminster Christian) stated his career at Eastern Kentucky and went on to earn All-American honors at Iowa State where he caught 87 passes for 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns in 2024.
Gillotte (Boca Raton) was an All-ACC selection in 2023 and recorded 43 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in 2024.
Brooks (IMG) who signed with Alabama out of high school, as a first-team All-ACC selection in 2024 when he caught 61 passes for 1,013 yards and nine touchdowns.
Belton (Florida High) was a three-year starter for NC State. He was tied for the team lead with 51 pancake blocks in 2023.
Bryant (Atlantic Coast) earned All-Big Ten and All-American honors in 2024 after catching 54 passes for 984 yards and a school-record 10 touchdowns.
Stutsman (Foundation Academy) as a consensus All-American and Butkus Award finalist in 2024 when he made 109 tackles and eight tackles for loss.
Harvey (Edgewater) earned first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2024 and finished his college career with 3,792 rushing yards and 47 total touchdowns.
Dotson (Mainland) was an All-American and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year finalist in 2024 when he recorded 49 tackles, five interceptions and returned two interceptions for touchdowns.
Roberts (Columbus) had 37 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and earned All-ACC honorable mention in 2024.
Sanders (Rockledge) was named the College Football Comeback Player of the Year and earned second team All-SEC honors in 2024. He finished the season with 881 rushing yards and 14 total touchdowns.
Smith (Miami Palmetto) rushed for 1,332 yards and 14 touchdowns, caught 39 passes for 327 yards and four touchdowns, and earned First-Team All-ACC honors in 2024.
Brinson (IMG) recorded 26 tackles, a career-best six tackles for loss and two sacks in 2024.
A two-time first-team All-ACC selection, Borregales (Chaminade-Madonna) connected on 18 of 19 field goal attempts and all 62 of his extra point attempts in 2024.
Phillips (Ocoee) earned All-Big Ten honors in 2024 when he started all 12 games, recorded 29 tackles and one tackle for loss.
Gadsden (American Heritage) was an All-American in 2024 and was a two-time first-team All-ACC selection. He caught 73 passes for 934 yards and seven touchdowns this past season.
McWilliams (Pine Forest) recorded 32 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and one interception in 2024.
Wester (Palmetto) was an All-American punt returner and All-AAC wide receiver at FAU before transferring to Colorado in 2024. He had 74 receptions for 931 touchdowns and 10 yards in 2024.
Rivers (Oakleaf) started eight games in 2024 and earned All-ACC honors each of the past two seasons.
Smith (Lakeland) was the Bulldogs leading receiver in 2024 when he caught 48 passes for 817 yards and four touchdowns.
Smith (Sebastian River) started all 13 games in 2024 and finished the season with 35 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and five quarterback hurries.
George earned All-ACC honors in 2023 and 2024. He caught 53 passes for 752 yards and eight touchdowns this past season.
Tate (Tru Prep) earned second-team All-ACC honors in 2024 when he started 10 games and helped the Tigers win the ACC championship.
Hill (Edgewater) was limited by injuries in 2024 and finished the season with 21 tackles, one interception and one pass breakup in seven games.
Marshall (Miami Palmetto) He had 20 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, four pass breakups and three quarterback hurries in five games in 2024.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: NFL Draft 2025: Florida prospects whose stock is rising, falling
Continue reading...
A player's draft stock can go up or down based on the smallest details.
Four years of elite film and production can seemingly be wiped out by one bad 40-yard dash or three-cone drill. Just look at how the conversation around Miami wide receiver Xavier Restrepo has shifted since he ran a slower-than-expected 40-yard dash at the Hurricanes pro day.
For other players, question marks have turned into exclamation points based on how they ran or measured during the pre-draft process.
The first round of the NFL Draft is April 24.
Here's where the draft stock of five draft prospects from Florida high schools stands heading into the draft:
Stock Up
Mason Taylor, LSU TE
Taylor (St. Thomas Aquinas) has elite genes as both his father (Jason Taylor) and uncle (Zach Thomas) are Pro Football Hall of Famers. The 20-year-old has an outstanding pro day, running a 4.65-second 40 and doing 28 reps on the bench press. Both numbers would have placed him second among tight ends at the NFL Combine. Taylor, the most prioductive tight end in LSU history, is the No. 3 tight end in the draft on most rankings and is being slotted as a second-round pick.
Jimmy Horn, Colorado WR
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Horn (Sanford-Seminole) followed up a strong performance at the NFL Combine with a starring role at Colorado’s pro day. With all 32 NFL teams in attendance because of teammates Travis Hunter and Sheduer Sanders, Horn ran a 4.40-second 40-yard dash and also had an impressive grab on a deep ball that he punctuated with a back flip. Horn has been projected as a late round pick but could move up on Day 3 thanks his pre-draft work.
Holding Steady
Azareye’h Thomas, Florida State CB
The stock for Thomas (Niceville) was on a steady upward climb after his performances at the Senior Bowl. He followed it up by checking every box from a measurables standpoint — 6-foot-1½, 10-inch hands, 78-inch wingspan — at the NFL Combine. The only real knock against Thomas right now is his 4.58 40-yard dash at Florida State’s pro day. Considering the health concerns of some of the other cornerbacks in the draft, Thomas could still be a late first round or early Day 2 pick.
Who's No. 1? Top 25 NFL Draft picks from Florida high schools of past 25 years
Joshua Farmer, Florida State DL
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Farmer (Gadsden County) is another player who saw his stock rise after the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine. Farmer’s loud 40-yard dash (5.11 seconds official time, 11th-best among defensive lineman) at the combine went viral and he did well at positional drills. Some analysts dropped Farmer in their rankings after he didn’t test at Florida State’s pro day, but he certainly looks like a Day 2 pick.
Stock Down
Xavier Restrepo, Miami WR
This a classic case of whether NFL teams will trust years of film or overreact to one 40-yard time. Restrepo (Deerfield Beach) ran an unofficial 4.83 seconds in the 40 at Miami’s pro day. Miami’s all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards isn’t known as a burner but that still is a very slow time for a receiver. Restrepo tried to do damage control on X (formerly known as Twitter) by saying his right hamstring tightened up on him during workouts. Restrepo was being talked about as a likely second-round pick before Miami’s pro day. The question now is if he’ll still be a Day 2 pick.
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Here's where other prospects from Florida high schools could have their names called during the NFL Draft.
First Round
Jihaad Campbell, Alabama LB
Campbell (IMG Academy) was a very productive off-ball linebacker in 2024, but some teams like the possibility of what he could bring as an edge rusher. Linebacker has been devalued in the first round, but Campbell’s versatility looks like it will land him as a first-day pick.
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Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M EDGE/DL
Stewart (Monsignor Pace) is a polarizing prospect. He has elite measurables and put on a show at the NFL Combine that almost certainly locked up his status as a first-round pick. But has a total of 4.5 sacks in three years and has struggled against the run. Teams will bank on his size and belief that they can fully unlock him.
Tyler Booker, Alabama IOL
Booker (IMG) was an All-American at Alabama is one of the top guards in the draft. He looks like one of the safer picks as a plug-and-play starter.
Second/Third Round
Jayden Higgins, Iowa State WR
Higgins (Westminster Christian) stated his career at Eastern Kentucky and went on to earn All-American honors at Iowa State where he caught 87 passes for 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns in 2024.
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Ashton Gillotte, Louisville EDGE
Gillotte (Boca Raton) was an All-ACC selection in 2023 and recorded 43 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in 2024.
Fourth-Seventh Round
Ja’Corey Brooks, Louisville WR
Brooks (IMG) who signed with Alabama out of high school, as a first-team All-ACC selection in 2024 when he caught 61 passes for 1,013 yards and nine touchdowns.
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Anthony Belton, Boston College OT
Belton (Florida High) was a three-year starter for NC State. He was tied for the team lead with 51 pancake blocks in 2023.
Pat Bryant, Illinois WR
Bryant (Atlantic Coast) earned All-Big Ten and All-American honors in 2024 after catching 54 passes for 984 yards and a school-record 10 touchdowns.
Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma LB
Stutsman (Foundation Academy) as a consensus All-American and Butkus Award finalist in 2024 when he made 109 tackles and eight tackles for loss.
R.J Harvey, UCF RB
Harvey (Edgewater) earned first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2024 and finished his college career with 3,792 rushing yards and 47 total touchdowns.
Mello Dotson, Kansas CB
Dotson (Mainland) was an All-American and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year finalist in 2024 when he recorded 49 tackles, five interceptions and returned two interceptions for touchdowns.
Elijah Roberts, SMU DL
Roberts (Columbus) had 37 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and earned All-ACC honorable mention in 2024.
Raheim Sanders, South Carolina RB
Sanders (Rockledge) was named the College Football Comeback Player of the Year and earned second team All-SEC honors in 2024. He finished the season with 881 rushing yards and 14 total touchdowns.
Brashard Smith, SMU RB
Smith (Miami Palmetto) rushed for 1,332 yards and 14 touchdowns, caught 39 passes for 327 yards and four touchdowns, and earned First-Team All-ACC honors in 2024.
Warren Brinson, Georgia DL
Brinson (IMG) recorded 26 tackles, a career-best six tackles for loss and two sacks in 2024.
Andres Borregales, Miami K
A two-time first-team All-ACC selection, Borregales (Chaminade-Madonna) connected on 18 of 19 field goal attempts and all 62 of his extra point attempts in 2024.
Jordan Phillips, Maryland DL
Phillips (Ocoee) earned All-Big Ten honors in 2024 when he started all 12 games, recorded 29 tackles and one tackle for loss.
Oronde Gadsden Jr., Syracuse TE
Gadsden (American Heritage) was an All-American in 2024 and was a two-time first-team All-ACC selection. He caught 73 passes for 934 yards and seven touchdowns this past season.
Late Rounds/Undrafted Free Agent
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Mac McWilliams, UCF CB
McWilliams (Pine Forest) recorded 32 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and one interception in 2024.
Lahjontay Wester, Colorado WR
Wester (Palmetto) was an All-American punt returner and All-AAC wide receiver at FAU before transferring to Colorado in 2024. He had 74 receptions for 931 touchdowns and 10 yards in 2024.
Jalen Rivers, Miami OT
Rivers (Oakleaf) started eight games in 2024 and earned All-ACC honors each of the past two seasons.
Arian Smith, Georgia WR
Smith (Lakeland) was the Bulldogs leading receiver in 2024 when he caught 48 passes for 817 yards and four touchdowns.
Tim Smith, Alabama DL
Smith (Sebastian River) started all 13 games in 2024 and finished the season with 35 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and five quarterback hurries.
Jacolby George, Miami WR
George earned All-ACC honors in 2023 and 2024. He caught 53 passes for 752 yards and eight touchdowns this past season.
Marcus Tate, Clemson OT
Tate (Tru Prep) earned second-team All-ACC honors in 2024 when he started 10 games and helped the Tigers win the ACC championship.
Tommi Hill, Nebraska CB
Hill (Edgewater) was limited by injuries in 2024 and finished the season with 21 tackles, one interception and one pass breakup in seven games.
Jason Marshall, Florida CB
Marshall (Miami Palmetto) He had 20 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, four pass breakups and three quarterback hurries in five games in 2024.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: NFL Draft 2025: Florida prospects whose stock is rising, falling
Continue reading...
