Five Group of Seven players that will be drafted in 2025

The NFL draft is where dreams are made and college football players find their professional homes. However, the players drafted are mostly from the Power Four conferences.

But what about the group of seven you ask?

To that I bring you five Group of Seven players I believe will be drafted in this year's NFL draft.

No. 5: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

Let’s state the obvious, Ashton Jeanty is going to be a first-round pick.

And for good reason, Jeanty has lit the college football world on fire this season and has asserted himself into Heisman contention.

Jeanty leads the nation in both rushing yards with 1,525 and rushing touchdowns with 20. His incredible season has pushed Boise State into the AP Top 25 and to their highest ranking since 2011.

With the rising value of running backs in the NFL this season, it is possible that Jeanty could sneak to a needy team in the top 10 of the draft.

No. 4: Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green

Fannin Jr. Is a player that I believe is flying under the radar of many college football fans.

He diced up both the Penn State and Texas A&M secondaries early in the season, nearly leading Bowling Green to upsets over both squads.

Fannin Jr. has been a weapon in the receiving game this season tallying 947 receiving yards along with 6 receiving touchdowns. He also has a carry of 31 yards that he took for a touchdown against Akron.

He has also proven to be a more than serviceable blocker but concerns about his size could impact his stock a little bit. I see him as a late first-round early second-round pick.

No. 3: Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State

Royals transferred from the Georgia Military College in 2022. Since then he quickly rose to become Utah State’s best receiver.

Last season Royals tallied 1,080 receiving yards along with 15 touchdowns. So far this season, he has racked up 834 receiving yards with six touchdowns. His best performance came against Boise State where he posted 211 receiving yards and two touchdowns on just nine receptions.

Royals has solid measurables and physical features, but the major concern is the level of competition he has played in his career. Regardless, I still see him as a late second-round pick in the draft.

No. 2: Ben Bell, DE, Texas State

Bell is a little undersized when compared to NFL defensive ends, but his production in college is why I believe an NFL team will take a shot at him in this draft.

Bell registered 10 sacks last season, along with 57 total tackles. He hasn’t matched that production this season, only tallying 3.5 sacks with 13 tackles.

As stated before Bell would be undersized coming into the NFL, but many NFL players enter the league considered undersized. Bell would be a fun player to watch his career develop. I project him as a sixth or seventh-round pick.

No. 1: Bryson Daily, QB, Army

Hear me out, Daily could become the next Taysom Hill.

Now obviously this is a lofty comparison to throw out for a guy that hasn’t even graduated yet, but what Daily has done has been nothing short of spectacular this season.

He has rushed for 909 yards while reaching the end zone 19 times as a rusher. He has also thrown for 629 yards and seven touchdowns.

A guy like this can be utilized in multiple ways on an NFL field. Maybe we will see him catching, throwing and running on an NFL field next season. I think a guy with the talent that he has deserves to be drafted as a late-round pick.

Luke Stefanisko is a first-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email ljs6415@psu.edu.