Notable CFB Defensive Players Who Could Help Their Draft Stock During 2024-25 Season
All eyes are on the upcoming 2024 NFL draft, but it's never too early to start looking ahead to next year's event.
There are a number of college football players returning next season who will have a chance to dramatically improve their stock with a big 2024 campaign.
Some need more reps to catch the eye of NFL scouts, while others just need to prove they can stay healthy. Some have been buried on bloated depth charts and need a breakout campaign, while others will need to be more consistent than they have been to date.
Although there aren't too many 2025 mock drafts out there, we'll stick to guys who appear to be on the outside of the top 10 picks, and focus on ones who can still improve on their respective stocks. We'll also exclude players who have consistently put up big numbers throughout their careers, since there isn't too much doubt about what they can do.
Last week, we looked at the offensive players who could boost their draft stock in 2024. This week, it's time for the defensive names to step up.
Talented Safeties to Watch Next Season
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Ethan Burke played in 11 games as a true freshman for Texas in 2022, finishing with six total stops. But he emerged as a breakout player for the Longhorns during their 2023 CFP run. He finished eighth on the team with 41 tackles, nine stops for loss and first with 5.5 sacks, adding a forced fumble and recovery.
It's pretty special what Caleb Downs did as a true freshman at Alabama last season. He finished first on the Tide defense in tackles, getting 107 total stops with 3.5 for loss and two interceptions. He was the first Bama freshman since at least 1970 to lead the defense in tackles. Following Nick Saban's retirement, Down transferred to Ohio State.
With Downs headed to Columbus, new Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer should rely on safety Malachi Moore as a leader in 2024. Over the last four seasons for Alabama, he's had 143 tackles, 12.5 for loss and five interceptions. He's coming off a career-best season in 2023.
Michigan Has Plenty of Defensive Stars Returning in 2024 Too
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The Wolverines should be a playoff contender in 2024, even with first-time head coach Sherrone Moore at the helm. It should help that he gets some experience back on defense.
In the secondary, he will be counting on guys like safety Rod Moore and cornerback Will Johnson.
Moore had a breakout season in 2022, leading all Wolverine DBs with 71 tackles and four interceptions. An injury he suffered last offseason caused him to miss the first four weeks of the campaign, but he still finished with 38 stops and two interceptions and three passes defended.
Johnson has had a productive pair of seasons, getting 54 tackles with seven interceptions in total and adding a pick-six against Minnesota last year.
Michigan defensive lineman Mason Graham looks like he could have his best season yet in 2024. Over the last two seasons in Ann Arbor, he's totaled 63 tackles with 5.5 sacks and two passes defended.
Georgia Safety Malaki Starks, Linebacker Jalon Walker
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As Georgia reloads in 2024 to make the College Football Playoff, a couple key names on defense will also be looking to boost their respective draft stocks. Safety Malaki Starks and linebacker Jalon Walker have a great chance to do so in 2024.
Both are entering their third seasons on Georgia's defense, and they are expected to have a bigger role within the unit.
Starks, a former 5-star recruiting prospect, played in 15 games as a true freshman for the Bulldogs in 2022, accounting for 68 total tackles and two interceptions with seven passes defended. Last season, he finished with 52 total tackles, three interceptions and another seven passes defended.
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart has noticed his improvement over the last two seasons, just as NFL scouts surely have:
"He's gotten tougher and more physical with his tackling. He's much more knowledgeable and confident in his abilities. He understands the check system. He gives us the luxury of being able to do extra things that maybe people can't do. A lot of safeties can't really tackle well and play man. He gives us the ability to do both those things. He's done nothing but get better and lead since getting here."
Walker looks primed for a breakout season in 2024. The No. 4-ranked linebacker prospect in 2022, per 247Sports, played in 15 games as a true freshman that year. He finished with nine total tackles, including two for loss with a sack.
Last season, he finished with 20 total tackles, led the team with five sacks and added a forced fumble and recovery.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Ohio State DE JT Tuimoloau, CB Denzel Burke
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Both of these guys were expected to be big names in the 2024 NFL draft. Instead, they have opted to return to Ohio State for 2024, and the Buckeyes have a loaded roster heading into next season.
We'll start with JT Tuimoloau, who is a versatile pass-rusher capable of disrupting both the opposing run and pass game. Over his three seasons in Columbus, he's racked up 83 total tackles, 22 for loss with 12 sacks. He also has two interceptions—one returned for a touchdown—and seven passes defended.
Showing off his versatility once again next season should boost his stock even higher for 2025.
Like Tuimoloau, Denzel Burke has seen consistent reps since his true freshman season in 2021. That year, he finished with 17 tackles, 4.5 for loss and 3.5 sacks. He also had a pick-six against Rutgers:
In 2022, he finished with 28 total tackles, 10.5 for loss with 3.5 sacks and two interceptions.
He missed a few games last season due to injury, which could partially explain his decision to return for 2024. Despite missing those games, he still had 24 total tackles and an interception, including nine passes defended.
If Burke can stay healthy in 2024, having his best season yet would certainly help his stock.
Linebackers Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma; Deontae Lawson, Alabama
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Alabama linebacker Deontae Lawson had a productive season in 2023, even after missing three games due to an ankle injury. He finished second on the team in total tackles behind Downs, with 67, including 5.5 for loss and three sacks. He added four passes defended, too.
Lawson will be one of the few returning starters at linebacker for the Tide next season, so he's expected to lead a young unit in 2024.
Oklahoma linebacker Danny Stutsman is hoping an injury-free campaign in 2024 could give him his most productive season yet. In 2022 as a sophomore, he led the Big 12 in total tackles with 124 stops, 70 that were solo.
He missed some time last season due to an ankle issue, so his numbers dropped a bit. It was still a productive year, though, getting 104 tackles with three sacks and an interception returned for a touchdown against Tulsa.
As Oklahoma looks to compete in the SEC for the first time next season, the Sooners will rely on a defensive leader like Stutsman at linebacker.
Ole Miss DL Walter Nolen, DE Princely Umanmielen
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Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin will be relying on some talented transfer portal products to lead his defensive line in 2023.
We'll start with defensive lineman Walter Nolen, who was a 5-star prospect from the class of 2022 and signed with Texas A&M as the No. 1 defensive lineman in his class.
Playing in 10 games as a true freshman for the Aggies in 2022, he finished with 29 stops with one sack and a forced fumble and recovery. His numbers went up significantly last year, getting 37 tackles, 8.5 for loss and four sacks.
"My favorite thing about Ole Miss is really just the at-home culture," Nolen said of his decision to join the Rebels, per Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports. "I just felt like, I felt more love at Ole Miss. I could tell in the locker room it was sincere. I don't think I have no relationship with no other players like that except with a couple guys on my last team at Texas A&M."
Like Nolen, former Florida defensive end Princely Umanmielen is looking for a fresh start at Ole Miss. The rising senior had a solid last two seasons with the Gators, but the unit finishing 97th and 71st in total defense in 2022 and 2023, respectively, hasn't helped him jump off draft boards.
In his first two seasons, he played in 11 games and had 20 total tackles with three sacks. But he's had breakout seasons with his last two in Gainesville, combining for 78 stops, 21 for loss and 11.5 sacks.
Playing on a team that looks primed to make a playoff run in 2024 could be just what Umanmielen needs to improve his stock.
Clemson LB Barrett Carter
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Although Clemson linebacker Barrett Carter was eligible to enter the 2024 NFL draft, he's running it back with the Tigers for one more season.
There is room for Carter to improve in 2024—specifically, he will no longer be overshadowed by the outstanding play of Clemson linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr., who is headed to the NFL.
After playing in five games as a true freshman in 2021, Carter had solid seasons in 2022 and 2023. Over those two years, he combined for 177 total tackles with 12 sacks, four interceptions and three forced fumbles.
If Carter can step into the leading role on defense left by Trotter, he should have his best season yet. Another thing that might help? Helping the Tigers' defense compete for a championship in 2024.
"I felt like I had some unfinished business here," he told reporters. "Felt like I left a lot of meat on the bone this past year. I came here to win a national championship...I love this university, I love this team and I love these people, I couldn't leave yet."
ESPN's Matt Miller already has Carter as his top linebacker in the 2025 NFL draft.
LSU LB Harold Perkins Jr.
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Harold Perkins Jr. had a breakout season as a true freshman in 2022. Playing primarily as a pass-rushing linebacker for LSU, he finished with 72 total tackles, 7.5 sacks and four forced fumbles.
But entering the 2023 season, LSU coaches decided to move him to an off-ball linebacker spot. He struggled to be as effective in this position, and he had just three total tackles with zero sacks in the season-opener against Florida State.
Following LSU's 55-49 loss to Ole Miss in late September, the Tigers' coaching staff decided to switch things up defensively. LSU moved to a four-linebacker scheme, and Perkins' numbers increased significantly week in and week out.
A week later, he had an interception against Missouri, and a forced fumble against Florida four weeks later. One of his best games came against Texas A&M at the end of the regular season, when he accounted for nine total tackles, six solo stops with 1.5 for loss.
If Perkins can play consistently well like he did as a true freshman in 2024, he'll show off his versatility to scouts as a linebacker.
Colorado CB Travis Hunter
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Colorado's Travis Hunter plays on both sides of the ball, so it's a bit unclear if he'll have to pick one once he gets to the NFL. With the Buffaloes, though, we get to watch him as a dual-threat player, which is a whole lot of fun.
He accounted for 30 total tackles with two for loss on defense in 2023. He also tied for the most interceptions on the team, getting three on the season, including five passes defended. At receiver, he had 57 receptions for 721 yards and five touchdowns, catching passes from signal-caller Shedeur Sanders.
Obviously, Hunter's numbers as a pass-catcher stand out more from last season, but his numbers can definitely improve as a cornerback in 2024. Colorado head coach Deion Sanders has already predicted Hunter and Sanders will be high picks in the 2025 NFL draft.
"Did I say that we may have the first and second pick of next year's draft?" he told ESPN's First Take (h/t Thomas Goldkamp of On3Sports). "Did I say that? That plays for Colorado? Did I mention that? OK, I just wanted to mention that."
We'll see if Hunter can play both sides of the ball in the NFL as he has at Colorado and Jackson State.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
