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ESPN names under-the-radar player that will emerge for each Top 25 team in 2025

by:Alex Byington18 hours ago

_AlexByington

Top 25 CFB under the radar players

Every season is a new opportunity for college football players all around the country to take their game to the next level and make a significant impact on their respective teams. But while these “under-the-radar” players might be seen a surprise for most casual fans, for their teammates, it’s often just affirmation of what they’ve already known about these “sleeper” prospects.

With that in mind, ESPN unveiled its list of the most likely “under-the-radar” player from each projected Top 25 team that could emerge this upcoming season, which kicks off in less than two months.

Be they talented true freshmen like Ohio State‘s Jeremiah Smith or Alabama WR Ryan Williams last season, or oft-injured veterans that just needed an opportunity at consistent playing time like Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty or Arizona State RB Cam Skattebo in 2024, ESPN has identified each Top 25 team’s top “sleeper” contenders ahead of the 2025 college football season.

Check out ESPN’s full list of under-the-radar college football players from each Top 25 team that will emerge in 2025:

1. Penn State: Nick Dawkins, C

While offensive linemen are often overlooked when it comes to “sleeper” candidates, Dawkins proved just how important a reliable center can be for a program, establishing himself as the heart of the Nittany Lions’ offensive line while earning All-Big Ten honorable mention honors in 2024.

If Penn State is going to live up to its projected preseason No. 1 ranking (at least according to ESPN), and ultimately win its first Big Ten title since 2016 and be in the mix for its first national title in nearly 40 years, it’s going to need to protect senior QB Drew Allar. And that starts with Dawkins.

2. Clemson: Tyler Brown, WR

Tyler Brown-Clemson
Tyler Brown (6) | Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Tigers are once again serious national championship contenders after winning the ACC and making the College Football Playoffs last season. Much of that preseason hype revolves around a loaded Clemson offense that returns senior QB Cade Klubnik and a talented receiver room led by WR Antonio Williams.

But Brown shouldn’t be overlooked after the 2023 freshman All-American redshirted in 2024 with an ankle injury. If Brown can return to form in 2025, the Tigers could be four-deep at WR, providing Klubnik an array of playmaking options that will make Clemson difficult to slow down for every defense it faces.

3. Texas: Jack Endries, TE

With Arch Manning ready to take the reins as the Longhorns’ starting QB, Texas’ offense could be on the verge of a breakout season, especially given the wealth of playmaking talent at his disposal. That includes returning WRs Ryan Wingo and DeAndre Moore and RBs Tre Wisner and CJ Baxter.

But the one ‘Horns playmaker that could open eyes in 2025 is Endries, who transferred in after a breakout season at Cal, where he racked up 623 receiving yards on 56 receptions in 2024. Endries immediately fills the loss of fouth-round NFL Draft pick Gunner Helm, who led Texas with 60 receptions last season.

4. Georgia: Bo Walker, RB

The first true freshman on this list, Walker is a four-star signee according to Rivals, which ranked him as its No. 3 overall running back in the 2025 class. But after adding Illinois transfer Josh McCray to a room that also includes returning starter Nate Frazier, Walker is the definition of an “under-the-radar” candidate.

At 215 pounds, Walker is already turning heads during offseason workouts and could make a serious push for playing time as a true freshman — much like Frazier did a year ago — especially if injuries continue to plague the Bulldogs’ RB room like it did last season.

5. Ohio State: Carnell Tate, WR

Carnell Tate-Ohio State-Ohio State football-Buckeyes
Carnell Tate (17) | Adam Cairns-Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

While superstar freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith continues to get all the headlines out of Columbus, don’t discount the veteran Tate, who ranked third on the Ohio State roster with 52 receptions for 733 yards and four scores in 2024.

Given the NFL departure of Emeka Egbuka, Tate immediately becomes the Buckeyes’ No. 2 receiving option and has the natural playmaking ability to take advantage of the extra attention Smith is likely to receive in 2025 after his breakout 2024 campaign.

6. LSU: Barion Brown, WR

Following three somewhat disappointing seasons at Kentucky, the 6-foot-1 Brown transferred to LSU this offseason as part of the Tigers’ WR room rebuild along with former Oklahoma WR Nic Anderson.

A dynamic speedster who also contributes on special teams, the 6-foot-1 and 180-pound Brown has the makeup of a true breakout candidate in 2025, especially with senior QB Garrett Nussmeier throwing him the ball in LSU’s high-powered offensive attack.

7. Notre Dame: Bryce Young, DL

No, this isn’t the former Alabama QB and No. 1 overall pick of the Panthers. This Bryce Young turned heads in the middle of the Fighting Irish’s defensive line as a freshman last season, including with a team-high three blocked kicks.

The son of Notre Dame All-American alum Bryant Young, Bryce Young is a physical beast at 6-foot-7 and 273 pounds and will be counted on to anchor the middle of the Fighting Irish’s defensive front seven as a sophomore in 2025.

8. Oregon: Malik Benson, WR

Malik Benson
Malik Benson (10) | Melina Myers-Imagn Images

Much like LSU’s Brown, Benson is a former four-star recruit that felt the need to transfer to get a better opportunity. And with uber-talented Dante Moore taking over as the Ducks’ QB1 in 2025, the 5-foot-11 Benson should get that opportunity in Eugene.

Add to the fact that Oregon already lost returning leading receiver Evan Stewart to a season-ending injury, Benson immediately slots into the Ducks’ WR1 role in OC Will Stein‘s high-powered offense in 2025.

9. Alabama: Bray Hubbard, S

Entering his third season in Tuscaloosa, Hubbard is primed to breakout in the backhalf of the Crimson Tide defense alongside a healthy safety Keon Sabb, who missed the final six games of 2024 with an injury.

At 6-foot-2 and 208 pounds, Hubbard has the build of an imposing strong safety that is more than just a solid tackler after finishing last season tied for the team-lead with three interceptions after starting the final six games of 2024 in place of an injured Sabb.

10. BYU: LJ Martin, RB

Given the expected transfer of returning starting QB Jake Retzlaff, who was set to receive a multi-game suspension for violating BYU’s school code of conduct, the Cougars offense will undoubtedly rely heavily on Martin as the team breaks in a new QB1 early in 2025.

Martin has combined for more than 1,200 rushing yards through his first two seasons in Provo, including a team-high 718 yards and seven touchdowns in 2024, and should get even more opportunities in Year 3.

ESPN’s under-the-radar players for each Top 25 team, Nos. 11-25:

South Carolina EDGE Bryan Thomas Jr. celebrates during the win over Vanderbilt (Photo: CJ Driggers | GameccockCentral.com)
South Carolina EDGE Bryan Thomas Jr. | CJ Driggers-GameccockCentral.com

11. Illinois: Miles Scott, S
12. Arizona State: Nyland Green, CB
13. South Carolina: Bryan Thomas, EDGE
14. Iowa State: Elijah O’Neal, DL
15. SMU: Derrick McFall, RB
16. Texas Tech: Romello Height, DL
17. Indiana: Roman Hemby, RB
18. Kansas State: Tobi Osunsanmi, EDGE
19. Florida: Myles Graham, LB
20. Michigan: Zeke Berry, CB
21. Miami: Zechariah Poyser, S
22. Louisville: D’Angelo Hutchinson, S
23. Texas A&M: Tyreek Chappell, CB
24. Ole Miss: Cayden Lee, WR
25. Oklahoma: Zion Kearney, WR