SNS 2025 College Football Offensive Tough Guys
(Diego Pavia / QB / Vanderbilt)
In compiling the various lists, notes, and observations that get listed here on a weekly basis, certain college prospects catch the eye of SNS for various reasons – size, speed, athleticism, leaping ability, and explosiveness are the attributes that mostly stick out. But the players who display grit, toughness, and a never say die attitude really pique interest. Some of these prospects will never play a down of pro football due to skill limitations but they all show NFL levels of toughness.
Diego Pavia / QB / Vanderbilt
Pavia just led Vanderbilt to the biggest win in school history in Vanderbilt’s upset of #1 Alabama. The primary reason may well be Pavia, the transfer from New Mexico State. Pavia is listed as 6 feet tall, which seems like a stretch as he looks 5’9” tall, but he has a level of grittiness and toughness that cannot be measured. And this is not an isolated case. Last season, Pavia led New Mexico State to a 31-10 upset of Auburn on the road while leading NMSU to a rare 10-win season. Pavia consistently raises the level of play of those around him and demonstrates great leadership skills on the field. Pavia is a great candidate to be asked to switch to slot WR or safety and looks like a great CFL QB prospect. He is unlikely to get drafted but his level of moxie and toughness are rare and hard to duplicate. So, it would not be wise to bet against Pavia. Just ask Auburn and Alabama.
Cam Skattebo / RB / Arizona State
Skattebo is built like an old school NFL RB, in the mold of John Riggins and Larry Csonka – thick frame, built like a bull, and a run through the wall playing style that coaches love. He is physical, strong, and tough. He earns every yard by driving his legs and acting like a battering ram on inside runs. He has good balance and is hard to knock off his feet. Skattebo is a very good receiving back who gains quality yards after the catch and is a reliable outlet receiver. Skattebo does not possess great foot speed but his other skills seem NFL-ready. Whichever NFL team signs Skattebo will find releasing him a difficult decision to make.
Ja’Quinden Jackson / RB / Arkansas
Jackson was a highly sought after 4-star high school QB recruit who signed with Texas and then transferred to Utah. After losing out in the QB competition against Cam Rising, Jackson switched positions and showed promise before suffering injury. Jackson transferred to Arkansas, after Rocket Sanders took his talents to South Carolina, and has become a bruising, difference maker at RB for the Razorbacks. Jackson has a big, thick trunk and legs and he loves to deliver punishment – almost as much to himself than the opponent. He is difficult to deny on short yardage situations and is like a raging bull near the end zone, scoring ten TDs through six games this season. His bruising style leads to a lot of injuries but he is tough and willing to work through pain. He could fit a similar role in the NFL to what Brian Robinson has in Washington.
Brennan Presley / WR / Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State has struggled this season going from a favorite to win the Big 12 to looking like also-rans halfway through the 2024 season. But Presley has been a bright spot and is one of the best slot WRs in college football and one of top slot prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft. Presley is undersized but is extremely quick and feisty. He is tough and makes difficult catches across the middle even when he knows he is going to get hammered. Presley is a tough runner on jet sweeps and designed runs and is an aggressive stalk blocker on the perimeter. Presley fits what NFL offensive coordinators like in their slot receivers and should be drafted in the middle rounds next April.
Ricky White / UNLV
The best prospect nearly no one knows about is the talented Running Rebels WR. White, a transfer from Michigan State, is quick and explosive. He uncovers easily due to great agility and cutting ability and has the speed to take the top off the defense. He is also a very good stalk blocker on the perimeter who is effective despite lacking great size. But what truly makes White unique is his special teams ability – he has recorded two blocked punts and influenced a mishandled snap on a third, already this season. His elite first step and closing burst are traits that transfer directly to getting a clean release off the LOS and finishing at the catch point. White is a prospect that is likely to rise up draft boards this winter when NFL teams set their draft priorities.
Tyler Warren / TE / Penn State
One of the most versatile players in college football, the Penn State TE has the ability to line up as an in-line blocker, as an H-back, lined up out wide or in the slot, lined up at FB, and even on occasion, takes snaps as the QB. What the NFL will like about Warren is that he looks like another Penn State TE that the NFL has gotten familiar with, namely Pat Freiermuth (Pittsburgh), Brenton Strange (Jacksonville), and Theo Johnson (NY Giants). Warren has very good length, a solid frame for an in-line TE with good hands, athleticism, and speed to threaten the defense deep. Warren looks like a future NFL starter who will likely warrant mid-round grades when he enters the draft.
Robbie Ouzts / TE / Alabama
Ouzts is the #2 TE in Alabama’s offense and is deployed wherever needed in the Tide’s offense – as an in-line TE, lined up at FB, or lined up in the slot. Ouzts possesses very good size and good hands. He is limited athletically but he is a glue type of player who leads by example. He plays through pain, plays with a non-stop motor, and is a battering ram in short yardage situations. Ouzts may lack the athleticism and foot speed to play in the NFL. But he has the heart and grit that every coach loves.
Xavier Truss / OT / Georgia
Truss is a versatile and experienced offensive lineman who has started at guard and now tackle for the Bulldogs. He is a massive man (6’7” / 320 pounds) with grapevines for arms who plays with a serious mean streak and a nasty edge. Truss is strong and can bully defenders around when he gets his hands on them. He is a waist bender who can overextend and fall off blocks. He also suffers from occasional balance issues and finds himself on the ground more than he should. But Truss is a guy who can be trusted to get nasty and mean, especially in run blocking. Offensive line coaches in the NFL will love the chance to work with Truss.
Nick Reimer / OT / Bowling Green
One of the best individual performances observed so far this season was the effort provided by Reimer against the dangerous Penn State pass rushing duo of Abdul Carter and Dani Dennis-Sutton in Bowling Green’s near upset of the Nittany Lions. Reimer has a great frame with solid mass and very good overall length. Although he was stressed by their speed, neither Nittany Lion seemed to make much headway against the former Merrimack Warrior. Reimer effectively used his length and athleticism to wall off and give veteran QB Connor Bazelak the time to carve up the Penn State secondary. Reimer has issues from a scouting stand point. Namely, he is a waist bender who falls off far too many blocks. But Reimer’s competitive spirit and playing tenacity gives him a chance of playing professionally on Sundays.
Hayden Conner / IOL / Texas
Conner is part of arguably the best offensive line in college football that dominated Michigan’s NFL quality defensive line in Texas’ victory over the Wolverines. And whereas left tackle Kelvin Banks gets the lion’s share of the credit for the quality of the Longhorn line, Conner looks every bit of the NFL prospect that Banks is with the size, reach, and playing style that works on the NFL level. Conner more than held his own against highly ranked DTs Kenneth Grant and Mason Graham, and pulled and led on many outside runs that were successful against Michigan. Conner plays with a nasty demeanor and looks like a high quality mid-round pick next April.
Connor Colby / IOL / Iowa
Colby has experience at guard and tackle and like most offensive line prospects coming out of Iowa, he looks like a long-term NFL contributor. He has good size with a large wingspan and big mitts. He is well-schooled and fundamentally solid playing with good bend and a wide base. Colby is a very good athlete who should work out well during the postseason scouting evaluation period. But his playing style and versatility will win him fans around the NFL.
Willie Lampkin / IOL / North Carolina
If you were just to evaluate a player on how well he performs on Saturday afternoons, Lampkin would earn a mid-round draft grade next spring. But the NFL looks for the perfect physical specimen in its prospects and want the desired “triangle numbers” of height, weight, and speed, and when it comes to these numbers, Lampkin does not measure up. Or more specifically, the UNC offensive lineman only stands 5’11” tall and weighs only 290 pounds – drastically undersized by NFL standards. But Lampkin has started at Coastal Carolina and is in his second year starting in Chapel Hill and he has been productive, consistent, and durable at both schools. And despite his lack of height, he has very long arms and a significant wingspan that makes getting around him quite a journey. Lampkin is unlikely to get drafted but his playing style, long arms, and natural leverage makes him a candidate to make an NFL roster next fall.
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