When Heisman winner Travis Hunter, his Colorado team-mate Shedeur Sanders and fellow quarterback Cam Ward declined to take part in the NFL Combine in Indianapolis last week, you might have feared that the showpiece event was sliding down the pecking order. 

Like many top prospects in recent years, that star trio decided to wait for their schools’ respective pro days to show off their on-field skills, leaving what’s derisively known as the ‘Underwear Olympics’ to 300 other NFL hopefuls.

But instead of diminishing the Combine, their absence at workouts had quite the opposite effect. Without the football world fixating on Sanders and Ward, it was a bevy of quarterback alternatives who stepped forward, proving this draft is about more than just two pᴀssers.

Hunter had his choice of participating as either a receiver or defensive back, but was instead overshadowed by breakout stars who are now find themselves shooting up mock drafts. 

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the week in Indianapolis wasn’t any one single player, but two key positions that are now on the verge of a rebirth that should benefit NFL offenses and fantasy owners alike. 

After speaking with league insiders, agents, and a bevy of league hopefuls, here are the Daily Mail’s biggest breakout performers from the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine:

 

There are more than two quarterbacks in this draft, as Jaxson Dart proved in Indianapolis 

1. JAXSON DART, QB, Ole Miss

Of the six quarterbacks chosen in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, only the Washington Commanders’ Jayden Daniels and the Denver Bronco’s Bo Nix were able to guide their team to the playoffs as rookies.

The problem for most teams is they don’t have the second overall pick, as the Commanders did a season ago.

Rather, more teams entering this year’s draft can identify with the 2024 Broncos, who were in desperate need of a quarterback when they chose Nix, even as some viewed the former Oregon star as a ‘stretch’ with the No. 12 pick.

Denver has since been vindicated for reaching, but the ability of another team to replicate that success is questionable at best.

Fortunately, for quarterback hungry teams, some options presented themselves on Saturday at Lucas Oil Field, where Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart put on an absolute clinic.

A product of the Manning Pᴀssing Academy, Dart was easily the biggest standout while completing 18 of 23 pᴀsses as his receivers dropped a few catchable balls. Not only did he show off a strong, accurate arm, but also threw the prettiest ball of anyone at the Combine.

He still has a ways to go to move into the first round, we’re told, but Dart now heads into his pro day as a viable third option behind Ward and Sanders at quarterback. 

BEST FIT: New York Jets, second round, No 42 overall

 

Will Campbell’s remarkable athleticism should calm any fears over his short arms  

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2. WILL CAMPBELL, DT, LSU 

Already projected to be the first offensive lineman taken in next month’s NFL Draft, LSU left tackle Will Campbell sparked concern among fans when his arms came in under 34in, which is generally considered the minimum for the position.

He has the height (6ft 6in) and weight (315lb), but there are fears his short arms might make him more desirable as a guard, which isn’t a premium position in the way that left tackle is.

But don’t expect NFL teams to be deterred here. Campbell’s arms were already known to be short dating back to his days as a high school player in Monroe, Louisiana. The fact he became a consensus All-American in spite of his short arms has already answered concerns surrounding any perceived physical limitation.

Besides, by the time Campbell’s measurements were being revealed on Sunday, all of Indianapolis was still marveling at his jaw-dropping performance in Saturday’s workouts.

Campbell absolutely stunned with a sub-5.0 40-yard dash and a 32-inch vertical, putting himself in company with the San Francisco 49ers’ Trent Williams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tristan Wirfs — two decorated left tackles with similar builds.

His experience, athleticism and overall talent should be hard for any teams with young pᴀssers to ignore. The New England Patriots stand out as a destination.

BEST FIT: New England Patriots, first round, No 4 overall

 

South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori’s 43in vertical, 1.49sec 10-yard split, and 11ft 6in broad jump were the best of the week for all players

3. NICK EMMANWORI, S, South Carolina

While 32.5in arms might be short for a left tackle, they were the second-longest among safeties, giving South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori a major advantage of others at the position.

But it’s his 6ft 3in, 220lb frame coupled with his unworldly athleticism that had everyone raving in Indianapolis, where his reps became appointment viewing for all in attendance.

His 4.38sec 40-yard dash time was second among safeties and fourth among all defensive backs, while his 43in vertical, 1.49sec 10-yard split, and 11ft 6in broad jump were the best of the week for all players. Remarkably, since 2003, he’s one of only four players 6ft 3in or taller to run a sub-4.40 40-yard dash.

Emmanwori was seen as a late first-round pick entering the combine, but may be moving into the top-20 selections, particularly after Georgia safety Malaki Starks posted a disappointing 4.5sec 40-yard dash time.

BEST FIT: Atlanta Falcons, first round, No 15 overall

 

It’s one thing to run a sub-4.5 40-yard dash at 200lb, but Judkins did it at 220

4. QUINSHON JUDKINS, RB, Ohio State

Good news, fantasy football fans: The running back is, well, back. After years of marginalizing the position and splitting carries between an increasing number of nameless, faceless backs, NFL teams learned to value talented runners in 2024.

High-priced free-agent running backs like Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley and Baltimore’s Derrick Henry proved to be the best signings of the offseason, while former eighth overall pick Bijan Robinson ranked third in the NFL in rushing.

For NFL teams, it’s a clear sign to devote resources like cap space and draft picks to the position.

Ashton Jeanty could be among the top 15 players taken at next month’s draft thanks to a sensational college career as both a runner and receiver out of the backfield

‘[Barkley] did a great job putting on for all the running backs,’ said Boise State running back and Heisman finalist Ashton Jeanty. ‘It’s a great time to be coming in this league; you can see the value of running backs is definitely going to go back up. Definitely coming back in at a perfect time.’

Fantasy owners, meanwhile, should get a new menu of options after years of trying to piece together a running game with part-time players.

For starters, Jeanty could be among the first 15 players taken at next month’s draft thanks to a sensational college career as both a runner and receiver out of the backfield. He stands under 5ft 9in, but has arms, shoulders and legs that could be compared favorably with Robocop’s, making him one of the most intriguing prospects.

But while he skipped workouts in Indianapolis, NFL talent evaluators were thrilled with the depth at the position in Indianapolis. As one of the league’s premier running back coaches told the Daily Mail it could be the deepest talent pool at the position in years.

Namely, Ohio State Buckeyes team-mates TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins both ranked among the most impressive running backs at the Combine, but it was the latter who did the most to quiet critics.

NFL.com had previously claimed Judkins had ‘below-average speed’ only for him to post an impressive 4.48sec 40-yard dash time. Throw in his 11ft broad jump — the best at the position — as well as his 220lb frame, and it’s easy to see why Judkins had as much buzz of any player in Indianapolis last week.

BEST FIT: Pittsburgh Steelers, first round, No. 21 overall

 

Originally projected to be a Day 3 pick, Oregon’s Terrance Ferguson is creeping into Day 2

5. TERRANCE FERGUSON, TE, Oregon

We’re already seeing the emergence of the next generation of тιԍнт ends at the NFL level.

With Kansas City Chiefs legend Travis Kelce entering what could be his final season, Las Vegas Raiders тιԍнт end Brock Bowers is coming off one of the most impressive rookie performances ever compiled at the position.

And that brings us to the 2025 NFL Draft, where both Penn State’s Tyler Warren and Michigan’s Colston Loveland are expected to go in the first round.

But while neither participated in workouts in Indianapolis, talent evaluators still had their plates full with an extraordinarily deep position group. And just like in 2013, when Kelce slid into the third round after four other тιԍнт ends came off the board, there is real hope of discovering a major talent with a later pick.

Take Oregon’s Terrance Ferguson, who ran the fastest 40 time at the position (4.63sec), while showing off good hands and a solid 6ft 5in, 247-pound frame. Furthermore, he had the highest vertical at the position (39in) and tied Notre Dame’s Mitchell Evans for the best 10-yard split time at 1.55sec.

His performance may have been impressive enough to move Ferguson from Day 3 of next month’s draft into Day 2.

Keep an eye out for Denver, who could look to reunite Ferguson – a Colorado native – with his college quarterback in Nix.

BEST FIT: Denver Broncos, third round, No. 85 overall