Welcome to the thick of the pre-draft process. With just a week until practices kick off in Mobile, Alabama, I’ll be providing a layered look into each positional group set to compete at the 2025 Senior Bowl—the draft cycle’s premier showcase which presents prospects with the opportunity to don their respective college helmets one final time.
Let’s get rolling with a peek into the headlining players set to compete at wideout.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Xavier Restrepo, Miami
Restrepo enters the draft process as one of the ACC’s most productive wideouts in the conference’s history and Miami’s all-time leader in receptions (207). There has to be an appreciation for just flat-out good football players, and Restrepo fits the script to a T. He understands the nuances of separation, plays larger than his frame, has the creativity to create chunk yards in space, and is tough as they come at the WR position. He’s a personal favorite of mine in the class who I expect to make an impact the moment he steps into an NFL facility.
Chimere Dike, Florida
A call-up from the Hula Bowl a few weeks ago, Mobile will be another opportunity for Dike to raise his draft stock. A transfer to Florida after four seasons at Wisconsin, Dike is an exciting perimeter playmaker with excellent twitch to operate inside-out for an NFL attack.
Arian Smith, Georgia
If Smith can fix the drops, he has a chance to quickly become one of the NFL’s premier vertical threats. A Florida state title winner in the 200M and the winner of the boys' elite 100M race at the 2019 Nike Elite Prefontaine Classic, it’s not hard to see why he’s been talked about as one of the fastest players in the 2025 class. With a verified track background, including a blazing 10.18-second 100M time during his collegiate career, his straight-line speed isn’t just elite, it’s world-class. What I’m interested in seeing is his nuance as a route-runner and ability to get off the line against corners that fail to award him with a free release. If he can check those boxes, and again, hold onto the football, he’ll leave Mobile as a major ‘riser.’
Pat Bryant, Illinois
A big body at 6-foot-3 on the outside, Bryant enjoyed a breakout year in his senior season. While much of the talent out of the Illinois program has centered around the defense over the last few years, Bryant enters the process as one of the premier pass-catchers out of the Big Ten.
Jayden Higgins, Iowa State
Another physically impressive talent on the perimeter, Higgins’ story is an inspiring one after transferring in from Eastern Kentucky. He quickly took his opportunity in the Big 12 and ran with it, becoming one of the country’s premier ‘X’ wideouts. He enters the draft with more than 3,000 yards receiving and 28 touchdowns.
Jaylin Noel, Iowa State
A dynamic inside-out weapon for the Cyclones, Noel is expected to get some work at both receiver and on special teams in Mobile. He’s explosive with the ball in his hands and is an athlete who plays much larger than his 5-foot-11 frame—a trait that teams love.
Tai Felton, Maryland
A four-year contributor for the Terrapins, Felton exploded onto the scene in 2024, becoming one of college football’s most productive pass-catchers. The Maryland offense went as Felton went, and his game should translate quickly to the NFL level. A Biletnikoff award finalist this fall (nation’s top WR), Felton is a twitchy, creative playmaker who has the blend of size and speed that projects as a top-two wideout within an NFL offense.
Tez Johnson, Oregon
Johnson is going to be a nightmare to counter in one-on-ones. There aren’t many players in the class who can take it the distance on every touch, but Johnson has the route-running and top-end burst to force secondaries to play at increased depth. In the right offense, Johnson could quickly become one of football’s most exciting playmakers.
Jamaal Pritchett, South Alabama
Competing in his home stadium, Pritchett is the lone product from South Alabama that is expected to compete in Mobile. A versatile playmaker at 5-foot-8, Pritchett has 17 touchdowns in the last two seasons and will be a fit for an offense that prioritizes creativity and designated touches.
Elic Ayomanor, Stanford
One of the headlining names at the position, Ayomanor has a chance to solidify himself as an early-day-two pick with a good week. If you are unfamiliar with his game, check out his tape against projected top-three pick Travis Hunter from Stanford’s game against Colorado in 2023.
Jack Bech, TCU
An LSU transfer, Bech is a ballplayer the public will be talking much more about after Mobile. He’s physical, nuanced, blocks his tail off, and is a long strider that eats up ground to step on the toes of opposing corners. His best football is still to come.
Bru McCoy, Tennessee
Another name out of the Volunteers pipeline at WR, teams will enter Mobile with a bit of a ‘prove it’ mindset when it comes to McCoy’s week. A former highly recruited talent, McCoy has all the tools and traits to become a featured weapon, yet his up-and-down collegiate career has scouts wanting more.
Jalen Royals, Utah State
Royals is electric after the catch. While he doesn’t project as a WR1 at his performance ceiling, he’s the type of player that rounds out a receiving core that also should earn snaps on special teams due to his ability in the open field. A small school product, opportunities like the Senior Bowl allow talents like Royals to showcase why his game matches up against anybody in the country.
Da’Quan Felton, Virginia Tech
A transfer to Tech from Norfolk State, Felton is a physically impressive prospect (6-foot-5) but is a player who has room for progression in a multitude of areas at the position. He’s a physical target who looks the part of an NFL wideout, but his production has remained inconsistent in 2024. There remain a few traits NFL teams will sell themselves on when it comes to Felton’s projection.
Jaylin Lane, Virginia Tech
Lane had day-two grades from teams entering the summer. While his 2024 production failed to match expectations, the skill set is there for him to thrive in the right scenario. Much of the Hokies’ offense featured Lane on dig routes, outs, rails out of the backfield, and slot fades. All of that is to say he is a player who has the route-running ability to handle a more expansive route tree, and thus, heavier volume.
Kyle Williams, Washington State
Williams won’t be the most dynamic athlete on the field, but his route-running and maturity at the position showcase a well-versed prospect that will round out a receiving core. In his final game as a Cougar against No. 21 Syracuse, Williams caught 10 passes for 172 yards, breaking Dez Bryant’s Holiday Bowl single-game receiving yards record.
