Mel Kiper Jr. names 2025 QB prospect who’s trending upward

The college football season began with many labeling the 2025 NFL Draft quarterback class as one of the weakest in recent memory.

But through three weeks of the season, that perception may be changing.

Before suffering an abdominal injury in Saturday’s 56-7 win over UTSA, Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers was not only the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, but he was also one of the biggest risers in terms of the 2025 draft.

Ewers was so impressive during his first few games that ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. stated he was beginning to view the junior QB as a top-10 prospect next year.

“There's some uncertainty now, but let's look at what he has done on the field: 691 passing yards, 73.4% completion rate, eight touchdown passes and two interceptions,” Kiper Jr. said .

“Last season, he went to Alabama and had a huge early outing. This season, he had a marquee game against Michigan in Week 2, throwing three TDs in the Big House. I really like what I've seen from the 6-foot-2, 210-pound junior, and I recently slid him up to No. 9 on my Big Board.”

Ewers began the season as a projected second-round pick by most scouting services.

Many analysts, including Dane Brugler of The Athletic, had Ewers as the No. 3-ranked QB in the 2025 class behind Georgia’s Carson Beck and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders.

All three could be in contention to be the first QB off the board next April, though Ewers’ stock could take a bit of a hit depending on how much time he misses with his abdominal injury.