Gene Clemons broke down the 2025 NFL Draft prospects from small schools.

With the NFL Combine now in our rear view we look at so many of the prospects that have helped or hurt themselves throughout the week. For many small school athletes the NFL and HBCU combines represented the final time to make an impression in front of the most eyes. For these prospects, everything is hyper focused and every win, no matter how small or large, can mean moving up in the draft. Similarly, every small loss can be a major hit to their draft stock. There is usually very little margin for error in their pursuit of hearing their name called during draft weekend. With these prospects so close to realizing their dream, we take a look at a few of them who see their arrow pointing up after the past couple weeks of combine activity.  

Stock Up On These Small Schools Prospects

Grey Zabel | OL | NDSU

Zabel did not run the 40 at the NFL Scouting Combine, but it is the only thing he did not impress during his time in Indianapolis. He was a standout at his media interview as he discussed the importance of playing multiple positions along the offensive line. On the field he exhibited quality change of direction as he went through the linemen drills. He showed balance and the ability to operate on both sides of the football. He also showed explosiveness with a 36.5-inch vertical jump, the highest among all of the linemen who participated. He also recorded a 9-foot-3 broad jump. Even his 26 reps on the bench press showed quality strength with room to grow. He likely solidified himself as a late Day 1 or early Day 2 selection. 

Marcus Yarns | RB | Delaware

Yarns did the hard part at the NFL Combine, showing legit sub-4.5 speed. His 4.45 was 11th among a fast group of backs. The easy part for him was showing his versatility on the field. He showed fluidity going through all the running back drills, he caught every pass in sight and he even stayed to go through receiver drills with evaluators. He was able to get in and out of breaks with ease. He was also impressive during media availability. 

He was held up finishing his medical evals so he missed his interview window, but he came back later to fulfill his time. There were several people, including a reporter from Delaware, who were thankful for him giving his time. He discussed having several offers to go to FBS programs, but discussed staying loyal to the team that gave him his chance. 

Elijah Williams | DL | Morgan State

Williams was strangely left off the invite list to the NFL Combine, but he did go to the HBCU Combine and participated in the Legacy Bowl. Williams was the most dominant defender at the event. Similar to his entire illustrious career at Morgan State, offensive linemen had a difficult time blocking him. He made NFL-caliber plays throughout the week. 

He did not run the 40, but he hit the weights and repped 225 pounds 30 times, while also recording a 29.5-inch vertical and 9-foot broad jump. Most importantly, his 6-foot-2, 294-pound frame is bigger than some believed he would measure. He is not a nose guard, but rather a multidimensional defensive lineman who can be moved around and take advantage of matchups. 

Carson Vinson | OT | Alabama A&M

Vinson is an impressive specimen from the moment he walks into a room. His 6-foot-7 314-pound frame is imposing. His performance at the combine definitely made him money. He ran a respectable 5.12 40-yard dash, he jumped 28.5 inches in the vertical and 9-foot-3 in the broad jump, and he even ran the three-cone drill in 7.51 seconds. Where he began to stand out was his on-field workout. 

His feet looked very quick and his movements looked fluid going through the different drills. He exhibited good balance and always looked in control of his body, which is impressive for a man his size. Add to that 34.5-inch arms and 10.25 hands, and there is no way a team is not taking a chance on him on Day 3 of the draft. It does not matter what his competition was like in college. 

Stock Down After Combine Week

Charles Grant | OL |William and Mary

Charles Grant checked all the boxes with his measurements. His 34.75-inch arms and 10.25-inch hands are elite measurements, but unfortunately those were the only elite things we were able to see from Grant. He did not participate in any of the on-field testing or the drills while he is recovering from injury. Any time you come to the combine with an injury hanging over your head, it is a red flag. Teams want to know how you bounce back from injuries and more importantly how long it takes you to bounce back. Hopefully Grant is healthy enough to display his skills at William and Mary’s pro day, but he now has only that opportunity to impress and it is questionable how much he has been able to prepare while rehabbing an injury. 

Isas Waxter | DB | Villanova 

Waxter looked the part during their measurements. A 6-foot-1, 209-pound defensive back would garner some attention. Unfortunately for Waxter, the athleticism for the defensive back group was through the roof. His 4.56 40-yard dash time was second worst among all the corners who tested and there were 12 safeties who ran faster. 

His 35-inch vertical and 10-foot-4 broad jumps were good for only 10th and ninth among corners who tested. They were not the type of numbers that force coaches and evaluators to go back to the film and rewatch. Hopefully at his pro day he can improve on his numbers and give evaluators something else to think about. 

David Walker | Edge | Central Arkansas

Nobody will argue Walker’s production while at Central Arkansas, he was a menace for the Bears. But when you measure in at 6-foot-1 and 263 pounds, people want to see that lack of length or size paired with freakish athleticism. 

Many thought that would show up in the form of explosive movements for Walker, but that did not happen. His 4.69 was not slow but was not blazing, and his 1.65 10-yard split was equally mediocre compared to other edge rushers who are bigger or longer. His 35-inch vertical and sub-10-foot broad jump did not leap off the page or look impressive live. Obviously hustle makes up for a lot, but the opportunity to raise his profile through his workout was lost and it is difficult to see his pro day producing much different results.