I post this every year and highlight the UCF players. As I have been highlighting the last few years, every year there really just aren't many UCF guys who are going to get drafted high, which is why we have been mid over these past few years. It really is that simple, we have not had many difference making players.
Copy and pasting is a little strange so bare with some of the weird errors in the write-ups.
UCF Players
RJ Harvey RB 8 3rd round
BACKGROUND: Robert "RJ" Harvey Jr., who has two sisters (Brianna and Alaina), was born and raised in Orlando with his parents (Robert andJuliet). He grew up with a football in his crib and started playing the first year he was eligible, at age 5. His father was his coach in flag football andthen in tackle football for the Orlando Outlaws. Harvey was a quiet kid, so his father put him at quarterback to force him to talk more — and hestayed at quarterback throughout little league (also played on defense). At age 7, Harvey was named the 2008 Ofensive Player of the Year inMidget league. His younger sister (Alaina) was a standout high school softball player and just finished her freshman season as a pitcher and thirdbaseman at Allen (S.C.) University.Harvey enrolled at Edgewater High, which produced 2016 first-round safety Karl Joseph. He moved up to varsity as a sophomore and sharedquarterback duties for a team that went winless (0-10) in 2016, losing its games by an average of 41 points. Under a new coaching staf, Harveybecame the full-time starting quarterback as a junior and led a major turnaround, earning first-team all-county and leading Edgewater to a 9-3record and the 2017 district title. As a senior, he led Edgewater to 12 wins and the 2018 7A state semifinals. Harvey finished his final season with1,787 passing yards, 1,376 rushing yards and 48 total touchdowns (25 rushing, 23 passing). He also lettered in weightlifting and track at Edgewater.He had personal bests of 11.29 seconds in the 100 meters, 23.58 in the 200 and 18 feet, 5 inches in the long jump.A three-star recruit, Harvey was 36th-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the 2019 recruiting class and the No. 216 recruit in Florida. He receivedinterest from colleges as a running back but had been a quarterback his entire life and was committed to staying at the position in college. After hisjunior season, Harvey received his first scholarship ofer (South Alabama) in February 2018, followed by ofers from Appalachian State, CoastalCarolina and Georgia State. Several ACC programs entered the mix, including North Carolina, Syracuse and Virginia. His hometown UCF alsoofered him, but as a running back. Harvey ofcially committed to Virginia in July 2018. He signed as a quarterback and was the 23rd-ranked (out of23) recruit in Virginia's 2019 class.Harvey was homesick during his redshirt season, though, and entered the transfer portal in July 2020. The first school he heard from was UCF,which still wanted him as a running back. Harvey was more open to the position change by that point and joined the Golden Knights in August2020. Because it was so late in the calendar, Harvey had to walk on with the promise from former head coach Josh Heupel that he would be put onscholarship after the season. Heupel left UCF for the Tennessee head coaching job in January 2021 but kept his promise and put Harvey onscholarship before he left. Harvey took advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted because of the pandemic and returned to UCF for a sixthseason in 2024. He earned AAC All-Academic honors in 2022 and graduated with a degree in interdisciplinary studies (May 2023). He is pursuing asecond degree in pre-management. Harvey accepted his invitation to the 2025 Senior Bowl.
STRENGTHS:
● Patient eyes at the line to settle, scan and allow blockers to do their jobs
● Makes abrupt lateral cuts and loose lower body helps him hop from one gap to another
● Excellent proximity awareness and skillfully maneuvers around moving pieces
● Elusive burst creates more yardage than expected (FBS-best 23.3 percent of his 2024 carries resulted in gain of 10 or more yards)
● Can spin out of tackle attempts and maintain balance through contact
● Makes sharp cuts in open field to disrupt pursuit (35.1 percent of his 2024 carries resulted in a first down or touchdown)
● Solid foundation to become a better pass catcher
● Ofers kick-return experience, having averaged 16.4 yards per return in college (seven attempts for 115 yards
)● Consistently productive — finished No. 2 in school history in all-time rushing yards (surpassed 100 yards rushing in 16 of final 20 games)
● Voted 2024 team captain; described as "lowkey" and "quietly confident" by
WEAKNESSES:
● Average run power— arm tackles can halt his momentum
● Guilty of making extra cut instead of driving downhill when bottled up
● Quicker than fast — linebackers can track him down on stretch plays
● Squares in pass pro but too much of a catch blocker and can be bowled over by blitzers
● Sluggish getting his head turned on screen targets (lack of urgency led to pick six on 2024 Utah tape)
● Sufered non-contact ACL tear in left knee (August 2021) during preseason camp, requiring season-ending surgery (Sept. 2021)
● Will be 24 years old on draft weekend
SUMMARY: A two-year starter at UCF, Harvey was the lead back in head coach Gus Malzahn's multiple run scheme. A quarterback his entire life,he'd never taken a snap at running back before joining the Golden Knights (Harvey: "I didn't even know how to take a handof."). Even so, he rushedfor 75 or more yards in each of his final 21 games at UCF, and only Ashton Jeanty, Omarion Hampton and Tahj Brooks had more rushing yards in theFBS over the past two seasons.Though he doesn't have the power to drive through the first level, he is a dynamic make-you-miss runner with his tempo and burst (54 carries of 10or more yards in 2024), which made him a frequent visitor to the end zone (UCF-record 48 total touchdowns). He is below average as apass-protecting blocker but has the tools to be a weapon catching the ball on screens and wheels. Overall, Harvey needs to develop betterconsistency on passing downs, but he is skilled at patiently settling his feet and changing lanes with his instinctive field vision and lateralquickness. Similar in ways to Tyjae Spears, he projects best in a timeshare role in the NFL
GRADE: 3rd round (No. 93 overall)
WR #34 Kobe Hudson
SUMMARY: Kobe Hudson grew up in the Atlanta suburbs and played quarterback in youth football. He later played at receiver his first two years atTroup County High before returning to quarterback for his junior and senior seasons (combined for 75 total touchdowns). A four-star recruit,Hudson signed with Auburn (had grown up a Cam Newton fan) and caught passes from Bo Nix. After two years, he transferred to UCF and reunitedwith his childhood friend, Javon Baker. He led the team in receiving as a super senior.Hudson quickly enters his routes and works himself open, doing some of his best work selling double moves or forcing corners to commit theirhips before making hard left/right turns. On most other routes, however, he finds himself stuck to coverage and struggling to finish crowdedtargets. I was expecting him to have more juice and elusiveness after the catch, too. Overall, Hudson will face even tighter separation windowsagainst NFL defenders and must improve his catch-point focus, but his toughness and traits suggest he could be productive in acomplementary role (similar to K.J. Osborn).
GRADE: FA
CB20 Mac McWilliams
BACKGROUND: Dacarrion "Mac" McWilliams grew up in Pensacola, Fla., with his parents. He developed a love for football from a young age, whileplaying for the Pensacola Browns pee wee team, and it quickly became his dream to play in the NFL. He was "always a wide receiver" growing upand became childhood friends with Devon Witherspoon, the No. 5 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft (Seattle Seahawks). McWilliams' brother (Fish), whois 18 months older, influenced his football journey. Fish played at West Florida High, so the two didn't play together in high school, but they reunitedat UAB. Fish was a defensive lineman for the Blazers (2018-23); the brothers both served as team captains in 2023.McWilliams attended Pine Forest High in Pensacola, where he was teammates with Witherspoon and Martin Emerson (Cleveland Browns). Hestarted out on the freshman team before moving up to JV, primarily as a wide receiver. After seeing varsity action on ofense as a sophomore,McWilliams made the transition to defensive back as a junior in 2018 and posted 61 tackles and three interceptions, playing in the same secondaryas Witherspoon and Emerson. With Witherspoon of to Illinois and Emerson to Mississippi State, McWilliams became the defensive leader as asenior, helping Pine Forest to an 8-3 record and the 2019 5A district title. He finished his final season with 60 tackles, two forced fumbles andeight interceptions (218 interception return yards and five touchdowns). McWilliams added a punt return touchdown and kick return touchdown in2019. He also lettered in basketball and track. He qualified for the 2019 state championships in the 100 meters (personal-best time of 11.10seconds).A two-star recruit, McWilliams was the 240th-ranked cornerback in the 2020 recruiting class and the No. 352 recruit in Florida. Having so manyeyes on Witherspoon and Emerson in the same secondary helped McWilliams get noticed by college programs, as he transitioned to cornerback in2018. After his junior season, McWilliams collected FBS ofers from Coastal Carolina, Jacksonville State, Marshall, Middle Tennessee, SouthAlabama, Southern Miss, Troy and Western Kentucky. With his older brother at UAB, though, he was drawn to the Blazers' ofer and committed thesummer before his senior season. He was the 15th-ranked recruit in UAB's 2020 class.After four years, he entered the transfer portal (April 2024) and "felt the most love" from UCF. McWilliams accepted his invitation to the SeniorBowl.
STRENGTHS:
● Excellent speed and transitional quickness in both man/zone coverage
● Open-field movements are abrupt and clean (very strong positional work at combine)
● Patient in process and doesn't panic downfield (zero penalties in 2024)
● Has a knack for raking ball out of receiver's hands and creating late disruption
● Former wide receiver; caught the ball naturally in the gauntlet
● Sudden out of his pedal to drive on throws in front of him
● Quick to support the run, both outside numbers and in the nickel
● Played on kick coverage and brings punt return experience (11.6 yards per return)
WEAKNESSES:
● Average size and falls below desired arm/hand measurements
● Stays focused on face-guarding and doesn't consistently get head turned
● Needs to become more confident with look-and-lean techniques
● Can be outmatched in jump-ball situations
● Finds himself stuck on perimeter blocks
● Missed five games as freshman because of thumb injury (Oct. 2021); missed final six games as sophomore with leg injury (Oct. 2022); missedBYU game as senior because of injury (Oct. 2024)THE BEAST |
SUMMARY: A one-year starter at UCF, McWilliams played outside cornerback in former defensive coordinator Addison Williams' multiplecoverage scheme (Cover 2, Cover 3 and press man). He played outside at UAB in 2022 before moving to the slot in 2023, then back outside aftertransferring to UCF for his senior season — he was outstanding inside and outside during Senior Bowl practices.McWilliams moves with controlled feet to mirror early and the deep speed to stay within arm's length deep (didn't allow a catch of more than 20yards in 2024; allowed just two longer than 15 yards). Though he shows disruptive instincts, you'd like to see him find the ball to create interceptionopportunities for himself. Overall, McWilliams lacks ideal length to match up with size on the outside, but he fits well in the slot with hisstop-start quickness to stay attached and play through the hands of targets. He is ready to compete for an immediate role as an NFL rookie.
CB31 BJ Adams
BACKGROUND: Brandon "BJ" Adams grew up outside of Atlanta with his parents. His father (Rico) introduced him to football, and he playedmultiple positions throughout youth levels. His younger brother (Christian) is a safety recruit out of Eagles Landing High in the 2026 recruitingclass. Adams attended Arabia Mountain High in DeKalb County, Ga. (east of Atlanta). After playing primarily on JV as a sophomore, he moved up tovarsity as a junior and collected 20 tackles as a cornerback and safety. Adams also played quarterback and wide receiver in 2019, accounting forthree touchdowns (two passing, one receiving). As a senior, he helped Arabia to four wins and again played both ways as a quarterback (fourpassing touchdowns) and defensive back.A three-star recruit, Adams was the 85th-ranked safety in the 2021 recruiting class and the No. 92 recruit in Georgia. He saw his recruitment kickinto high gear between his junior and senior seasons with an ofer from Troy (April 2020), followed by ofers from Air Force, Akron, Charlotte,Cincinnati, Indiana, Kent State, UCF, Washington State and a number of FCS programs. Adams ofcially committed to UCF in July 2020 and wasthe fourth-ranked recruit in former head coach Josh Heupel's 2021 class. A month after early signing day, Heupel left for the head-coaching job atTennessee and was replaced by Gus Malzahn. Adams graduated with a degree from UCF (Dec. 2024). He accepted his invitation to the SeniorBowl.
STRENGTHS:
● Above-average height and length to match up with NFL size
● Covers a lot of air space to swipe away throws
● Plays physical brand of football with punchy jam
● Efcient opening his hips from press to ride routes
● Flashes an extra gear late when closing on catch point
● Improved ability to throttle down and sting as tackler
● Played on kick and punt coverages all four seasons (371 career special teams snaps)
WEAKNESSES:
● Thinly built with very little definition on his frame
● Average movement skills on tape — testing numbers back that up
● High cut and gets a tad gawky in coverage transitions
● Footwork and technique are all over the place, both in press and of coverages
● Flagged 16 times in college, including three pass interference penalties in 2024
● Underwhelming college ball production● Spends too much time attached to wide receiver blocks
SUMMARY: A one-year starter at UCF, Adams was an outside cornerback in former defensive coordinator Addison Williams' multiple coveragescheme (Cover 2, Cover 3 and press man). He worked his way into the starting rotation as a true freshman and played in 48 games over the pastfour years, although he never had more than four passes defended in any of those seasons.Adams puts his length to good use when he redirects receivers at the line and makes them uncomfortable throughout the route. He can take awaypassing windows with his size, but his tape doesn't show natural ball instincts, and he must become more disciplined in his process. Overall,Adams is long-limbed with enough athleticism to match routes from press, but he plays wild and upright in his movements, and his freelancing technique leads to spacing issues that NFL receivers will exploit. He is a developmental option for man-heavy teams
GRADE: 6th-7th round
Other draft eligible players who will not be drafted
Penny Boone RB 47 UDFA
Johnny Richardson RB 168
Jacoby Jones WR 214
Evan Morris TE 137
Amari Kight OT 38
Ricky Barber DT 52
Deshawn Pace LB 51
Ethan Barr LB 78
Sheldon Arnold S 68
Ladarius Tenison S130
Some other notes
QB9 Dillon Gabriel
BACKGROUND: Dillon Gabriel, the second of three boys, was born and raised in Mililani, Hawaii, on the island of Oahu, with his parents (Garrett andDori). He grew up in a football family and developed a passion for the quarterback position at age 4. Garrett played quarterback in college at Hawaii(1986-90) and left as the school's all-time leading passer (5,638 yards and 47 touchdowns). He is now a school counselor and coaches the MililaniHigh basketball team, but he also coached all three of his boys in diferent sports throughout the youth levels. Each of the Gabriel boys is namedafter an NFL player: Garrison (Garrison Hearst), Dillon (Corey Dillon) and Roman (Roman Gabriel).Dillon was a quarterback throughout pee wee and Pop Warner and led the Manoa Paniolos to the 2012 Division II Pop Warner Super Bowl. He alsoplayed baseball and basketball throughout both elementary and middle school. Gabriel attended the Punahou School, a private college prep schoolin Honolulu (same academy Barack Obama attended), throughout middle school. Because of the high tuition, however, the family decided thatGabriel would attend public high school.Gabriel enrolled at Mililani High and started out on the JV squad as a freshman. But when varsity starter McKenzie Milton was injured, Gabriel wascalled up to varsity and immediately showed he belonged before his season was also cut short because of a shoulder injury. He returned strong asa sophomore and led the team to the 2016 Division I state championship, finishing the season with 2,704 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, 14interceptions and seven rushing touchdowns. After leading Mililani to the 2017 league title as a junior, Gabriel was named 2018 Gatorade HawaiiPlayer of the Year and Oahu Ofensive Player of the Year Award as a senior, earning his third straight first-team All-Oahu honors. He finished his final season with 3,754 passing yards and 38 touchdowns and helped Mililani to a 10-win season and the 2018 state championship game 6undefeated St. Louis High). Gabriel finished his high school career with a state-record 9,948 career passing yards, passing both Timmy Chang andTua Tagovailoa. He also finished second in state history with 105 passing touchdowns.A three-star recruit, Gabriel was the 27th-ranked pro-style quarterback in the 2019 recruiting class and the No. 9 recruit in Hawaii. He started to receive recruiting attention after leading Mililani to the state championship as a sophomore, but he held only Air Force, Army and Hawaii oferst hrough his junior season. Gabriel initially committed to Army the summer before his senior season (June 2018). But other schools started to takenotice during his senior season — including UCF, at the urging of Milton, who was thriving as the Golden Knights' quarterback. UCF initially oferedGabriel a grayshirt but upped it to a full ofer after Georgia and USC ofered scholarships late in the process. Because of his relationship withthen-ofensive coordinator Jef Lebby (and the prospect of playing early), Gabriel committed to UCF. He was the fourth-ranked recruit in formerhead coach Josh Heupel's 2019 class. With Milton recovering from a major knee injury, Gabriel took over as starter for three seasons. After his own season-ending injury in 2021 (under head coach Gus Malzahn), though, Gabriel entered the transfer portal. He initially looked at OleMiss to rejoin Lebby, who'd been named ofensive coordinator for the Rebels. But Lebby left that position to be Oklahoma's play caller, and theSooners had Caleb Williams entrenched as the quarterback. Gabriel instead committed to UCLA and former head coach Chip Kelly. The day beforehis first online class at UCLA (Jan. 2022), however, he received a phone call from Lebby, with the news that Williams was entering the transfer portal (he later signed with USC). Despite having never visited Oklahoma or met head coach Brent Venables in person, Gabriel flipped to theSooners. After two seasons in Norman, he planned to enter the 2024 NFL Draft but had mostly late-round and undrafted grades, so he took advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA because of the COVID-19 pandemic and returned to college for his sixth season.
With Lebby leaving to be head coach at Mississippi State and five-star quarterback Jackson Arnold waiting in the wings, Gabriel entered thetransfer portal. He heard from numerous schools over the next week before deciding that Oregon was the right choice. Gabriel grew up idolizingHawaii native Marcus Mariota, who's now a mentor for him (both players wore No. 8 at Oregon).Gabriel's older brother (Garrison) is his business manager and joint-owner of "DG the Brand," Gabriel's clothing line ("DG" stands for his initials andthe phrase "Dedicated to Greatness"). Gabriel started dating his girlfriend (Zoe Caswell) in sixth grade and the couple got engaged in September2024 (Caswell originally attended UMass before joining Gabriel at Oklahoma). He has donated a significant portion of his NIL income to diferentcauses, including more than $250,000 to his former high school for new jerseys, helmets and accessories for the football team. He graduatedfrom Oklahoma with a degree in communication and media studies and was a finalist for the 2024 William V. Campbell Trophy ("academicHeisman"). Gabriel accepted his invitation to the Senior Bowl.
STRENGTHS:
● Efcient lefty passer with quick-trigger release
● Competes with veteran awareness, both in muddy pockets and in space
● Shows outstanding feel to patiently sort through the rush, elude pressure and buy time
● Foot quickness allows for sudden resets with his base and mechanics
● Keeps eyes downfield and doesn't panic when locating secondary progressions
● Doesn't have a power arm but spins tight, accurate spirals in short to intermediate game
● Excellent touch on deep bucket throws, especially over middle of the field on post routes
● Nifty escapability — will take advantage of free yards
● Intensely competitive; teammates say he brings same infectious energy each day (NFL scout: "The coaches say he is obsessed withwinning.")
● Highly respected teammate; hosted Airbnb bonding retreats for teammates (drives same Chrysler Pacifica van he's had for years, partlybecause it has room for his family and teammates)
● Incredible career production; started more games (63) than any other quarterback in FBS history
WEAKNESSES:
● Short stature with smaller hands and maxed-out build
● Deep throws outside numbers often lose life, requiring receivers to slow their strides
● Struggles to add zip — lack of arm strength shows on the move or with limited foot space
● Average anticipation — more of a "see it" decision-maker
● Quick-game and checkdowns helped inflate completion percentage
● Had trouble recognizing underneath defenders, especially in red zone (four of six interceptions in 2024 came in goal-to-go situations)
● Will turn 25 as a rookie
● Missed game against Texas first season at Oklahoma because of concussion (Oct. 2022); missed final 10 games of final season at UCF withbroken left clavicle (Sept. 2021)
SUMMARY: A one-year starter at Oregon, Gabriel was a productive passer in ofensive coordinator Will Stein's balanced spread scheme (51percent pass to 49 percent run). After three seasons at UCF and two at Oklahoma, he led the Ducks to a 13-1 record and 2024 Big TenChampionship, winning Big Ten Ofensive Player of the Year and finishing third in Heisman Trophy voting. With six years of college football and 63starts under his belt, he set the FBS record with 189 total touchdowns (155 passing, 33 rushing, one receiving) and ranks No. 2 all-time in passingyards (18,722).A point guard-style quarterback, Gabriel is willing to scan from the pocket and deliver accurate balls with a twitchy release, although he is often toowilling to bypass tight windows and settle for the checkdown. He isn't an electric athlete, by any means, but he is very poised and confident andplays with exceptional feel for navigating pressure to create second-chance plays. Overall, Gabriel looks small in the pocket and has somelimitations as a downfield thrower, but he is a rhythm passer with the football instincts and mature intangibles to overcome his physicalshortcomings. A savvy lefty with a quick release, he has similarities to Tua Tagovailoa — and has a fighting chance to earn a backup role in the
NFL.GRADE: 4th round
Jimmy Horn
A three-star recruit, Horn was the 128th-ranked wide receiver in the 2021 recruiting class and the No. 107 recruit in Florida. After being sidelinedmost of his junior season, he entered his senior year with lukewarm recruiting interest. However, Horn blew up over the second half of his seniorseason, especially in the playofs. He initially heard from FCS schools, including Jackson State, where Sanders was coaching at the time. Midwaythrough the playofs (Dec. 2020), Horn received a blitz of interest, including his first major offer from Georgia. He added ofers from Ole Miss,Oklahoma and Tennessee. He wanted to play at UCF because it was close to home but didn't receive an offer. Without much time to take visits ordevelop a connection with coaches, Horn decided to follow his Seminole quarterback, Timmy McClain, to South Florida. He was the second-rankedrecruit in former head coach Jef Scott's 2021 class.
‘The Beast’ printable version: NFL Draft 2025 scouting reports and player prospect rankings
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www.nytimes.com
Copy and pasting is a little strange so bare with some of the weird errors in the write-ups.
UCF Players
RJ Harvey RB 8 3rd round
BACKGROUND: Robert "RJ" Harvey Jr., who has two sisters (Brianna and Alaina), was born and raised in Orlando with his parents (Robert andJuliet). He grew up with a football in his crib and started playing the first year he was eligible, at age 5. His father was his coach in flag football andthen in tackle football for the Orlando Outlaws. Harvey was a quiet kid, so his father put him at quarterback to force him to talk more — and hestayed at quarterback throughout little league (also played on defense). At age 7, Harvey was named the 2008 Ofensive Player of the Year inMidget league. His younger sister (Alaina) was a standout high school softball player and just finished her freshman season as a pitcher and thirdbaseman at Allen (S.C.) University.Harvey enrolled at Edgewater High, which produced 2016 first-round safety Karl Joseph. He moved up to varsity as a sophomore and sharedquarterback duties for a team that went winless (0-10) in 2016, losing its games by an average of 41 points. Under a new coaching staf, Harveybecame the full-time starting quarterback as a junior and led a major turnaround, earning first-team all-county and leading Edgewater to a 9-3record and the 2017 district title. As a senior, he led Edgewater to 12 wins and the 2018 7A state semifinals. Harvey finished his final season with1,787 passing yards, 1,376 rushing yards and 48 total touchdowns (25 rushing, 23 passing). He also lettered in weightlifting and track at Edgewater.He had personal bests of 11.29 seconds in the 100 meters, 23.58 in the 200 and 18 feet, 5 inches in the long jump.A three-star recruit, Harvey was 36th-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the 2019 recruiting class and the No. 216 recruit in Florida. He receivedinterest from colleges as a running back but had been a quarterback his entire life and was committed to staying at the position in college. After hisjunior season, Harvey received his first scholarship ofer (South Alabama) in February 2018, followed by ofers from Appalachian State, CoastalCarolina and Georgia State. Several ACC programs entered the mix, including North Carolina, Syracuse and Virginia. His hometown UCF alsoofered him, but as a running back. Harvey ofcially committed to Virginia in July 2018. He signed as a quarterback and was the 23rd-ranked (out of23) recruit in Virginia's 2019 class.Harvey was homesick during his redshirt season, though, and entered the transfer portal in July 2020. The first school he heard from was UCF,which still wanted him as a running back. Harvey was more open to the position change by that point and joined the Golden Knights in August2020. Because it was so late in the calendar, Harvey had to walk on with the promise from former head coach Josh Heupel that he would be put onscholarship after the season. Heupel left UCF for the Tennessee head coaching job in January 2021 but kept his promise and put Harvey onscholarship before he left. Harvey took advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted because of the pandemic and returned to UCF for a sixthseason in 2024. He earned AAC All-Academic honors in 2022 and graduated with a degree in interdisciplinary studies (May 2023). He is pursuing asecond degree in pre-management. Harvey accepted his invitation to the 2025 Senior Bowl.
STRENGTHS:
● Patient eyes at the line to settle, scan and allow blockers to do their jobs
● Makes abrupt lateral cuts and loose lower body helps him hop from one gap to another
● Excellent proximity awareness and skillfully maneuvers around moving pieces
● Elusive burst creates more yardage than expected (FBS-best 23.3 percent of his 2024 carries resulted in gain of 10 or more yards)
● Can spin out of tackle attempts and maintain balance through contact
● Makes sharp cuts in open field to disrupt pursuit (35.1 percent of his 2024 carries resulted in a first down or touchdown)
● Solid foundation to become a better pass catcher
● Ofers kick-return experience, having averaged 16.4 yards per return in college (seven attempts for 115 yards
)● Consistently productive — finished No. 2 in school history in all-time rushing yards (surpassed 100 yards rushing in 16 of final 20 games)
● Voted 2024 team captain; described as "lowkey" and "quietly confident" by
WEAKNESSES:
● Average run power— arm tackles can halt his momentum
● Guilty of making extra cut instead of driving downhill when bottled up
● Quicker than fast — linebackers can track him down on stretch plays
● Squares in pass pro but too much of a catch blocker and can be bowled over by blitzers
● Sluggish getting his head turned on screen targets (lack of urgency led to pick six on 2024 Utah tape)
● Sufered non-contact ACL tear in left knee (August 2021) during preseason camp, requiring season-ending surgery (Sept. 2021)
● Will be 24 years old on draft weekend
SUMMARY: A two-year starter at UCF, Harvey was the lead back in head coach Gus Malzahn's multiple run scheme. A quarterback his entire life,he'd never taken a snap at running back before joining the Golden Knights (Harvey: "I didn't even know how to take a handof."). Even so, he rushedfor 75 or more yards in each of his final 21 games at UCF, and only Ashton Jeanty, Omarion Hampton and Tahj Brooks had more rushing yards in theFBS over the past two seasons.Though he doesn't have the power to drive through the first level, he is a dynamic make-you-miss runner with his tempo and burst (54 carries of 10or more yards in 2024), which made him a frequent visitor to the end zone (UCF-record 48 total touchdowns). He is below average as apass-protecting blocker but has the tools to be a weapon catching the ball on screens and wheels. Overall, Harvey needs to develop betterconsistency on passing downs, but he is skilled at patiently settling his feet and changing lanes with his instinctive field vision and lateralquickness. Similar in ways to Tyjae Spears, he projects best in a timeshare role in the NFL
GRADE: 3rd round (No. 93 overall)
WR #34 Kobe Hudson
SUMMARY: Kobe Hudson grew up in the Atlanta suburbs and played quarterback in youth football. He later played at receiver his first two years atTroup County High before returning to quarterback for his junior and senior seasons (combined for 75 total touchdowns). A four-star recruit,Hudson signed with Auburn (had grown up a Cam Newton fan) and caught passes from Bo Nix. After two years, he transferred to UCF and reunitedwith his childhood friend, Javon Baker. He led the team in receiving as a super senior.Hudson quickly enters his routes and works himself open, doing some of his best work selling double moves or forcing corners to commit theirhips before making hard left/right turns. On most other routes, however, he finds himself stuck to coverage and struggling to finish crowdedtargets. I was expecting him to have more juice and elusiveness after the catch, too. Overall, Hudson will face even tighter separation windowsagainst NFL defenders and must improve his catch-point focus, but his toughness and traits suggest he could be productive in acomplementary role (similar to K.J. Osborn).
GRADE: FA
CB20 Mac McWilliams
BACKGROUND: Dacarrion "Mac" McWilliams grew up in Pensacola, Fla., with his parents. He developed a love for football from a young age, whileplaying for the Pensacola Browns pee wee team, and it quickly became his dream to play in the NFL. He was "always a wide receiver" growing upand became childhood friends with Devon Witherspoon, the No. 5 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft (Seattle Seahawks). McWilliams' brother (Fish), whois 18 months older, influenced his football journey. Fish played at West Florida High, so the two didn't play together in high school, but they reunitedat UAB. Fish was a defensive lineman for the Blazers (2018-23); the brothers both served as team captains in 2023.McWilliams attended Pine Forest High in Pensacola, where he was teammates with Witherspoon and Martin Emerson (Cleveland Browns). Hestarted out on the freshman team before moving up to JV, primarily as a wide receiver. After seeing varsity action on ofense as a sophomore,McWilliams made the transition to defensive back as a junior in 2018 and posted 61 tackles and three interceptions, playing in the same secondaryas Witherspoon and Emerson. With Witherspoon of to Illinois and Emerson to Mississippi State, McWilliams became the defensive leader as asenior, helping Pine Forest to an 8-3 record and the 2019 5A district title. He finished his final season with 60 tackles, two forced fumbles andeight interceptions (218 interception return yards and five touchdowns). McWilliams added a punt return touchdown and kick return touchdown in2019. He also lettered in basketball and track. He qualified for the 2019 state championships in the 100 meters (personal-best time of 11.10seconds).A two-star recruit, McWilliams was the 240th-ranked cornerback in the 2020 recruiting class and the No. 352 recruit in Florida. Having so manyeyes on Witherspoon and Emerson in the same secondary helped McWilliams get noticed by college programs, as he transitioned to cornerback in2018. After his junior season, McWilliams collected FBS ofers from Coastal Carolina, Jacksonville State, Marshall, Middle Tennessee, SouthAlabama, Southern Miss, Troy and Western Kentucky. With his older brother at UAB, though, he was drawn to the Blazers' ofer and committed thesummer before his senior season. He was the 15th-ranked recruit in UAB's 2020 class.After four years, he entered the transfer portal (April 2024) and "felt the most love" from UCF. McWilliams accepted his invitation to the SeniorBowl.
STRENGTHS:
● Excellent speed and transitional quickness in both man/zone coverage
● Open-field movements are abrupt and clean (very strong positional work at combine)
● Patient in process and doesn't panic downfield (zero penalties in 2024)
● Has a knack for raking ball out of receiver's hands and creating late disruption
● Former wide receiver; caught the ball naturally in the gauntlet
● Sudden out of his pedal to drive on throws in front of him
● Quick to support the run, both outside numbers and in the nickel
● Played on kick coverage and brings punt return experience (11.6 yards per return)
WEAKNESSES:
● Average size and falls below desired arm/hand measurements
● Stays focused on face-guarding and doesn't consistently get head turned
● Needs to become more confident with look-and-lean techniques
● Can be outmatched in jump-ball situations
● Finds himself stuck on perimeter blocks
● Missed five games as freshman because of thumb injury (Oct. 2021); missed final six games as sophomore with leg injury (Oct. 2022); missedBYU game as senior because of injury (Oct. 2024)THE BEAST |
SUMMARY: A one-year starter at UCF, McWilliams played outside cornerback in former defensive coordinator Addison Williams' multiplecoverage scheme (Cover 2, Cover 3 and press man). He played outside at UAB in 2022 before moving to the slot in 2023, then back outside aftertransferring to UCF for his senior season — he was outstanding inside and outside during Senior Bowl practices.McWilliams moves with controlled feet to mirror early and the deep speed to stay within arm's length deep (didn't allow a catch of more than 20yards in 2024; allowed just two longer than 15 yards). Though he shows disruptive instincts, you'd like to see him find the ball to create interceptionopportunities for himself. Overall, McWilliams lacks ideal length to match up with size on the outside, but he fits well in the slot with hisstop-start quickness to stay attached and play through the hands of targets. He is ready to compete for an immediate role as an NFL rookie.
CB31 BJ Adams
BACKGROUND: Brandon "BJ" Adams grew up outside of Atlanta with his parents. His father (Rico) introduced him to football, and he playedmultiple positions throughout youth levels. His younger brother (Christian) is a safety recruit out of Eagles Landing High in the 2026 recruitingclass. Adams attended Arabia Mountain High in DeKalb County, Ga. (east of Atlanta). After playing primarily on JV as a sophomore, he moved up tovarsity as a junior and collected 20 tackles as a cornerback and safety. Adams also played quarterback and wide receiver in 2019, accounting forthree touchdowns (two passing, one receiving). As a senior, he helped Arabia to four wins and again played both ways as a quarterback (fourpassing touchdowns) and defensive back.A three-star recruit, Adams was the 85th-ranked safety in the 2021 recruiting class and the No. 92 recruit in Georgia. He saw his recruitment kickinto high gear between his junior and senior seasons with an ofer from Troy (April 2020), followed by ofers from Air Force, Akron, Charlotte,Cincinnati, Indiana, Kent State, UCF, Washington State and a number of FCS programs. Adams ofcially committed to UCF in July 2020 and wasthe fourth-ranked recruit in former head coach Josh Heupel's 2021 class. A month after early signing day, Heupel left for the head-coaching job atTennessee and was replaced by Gus Malzahn. Adams graduated with a degree from UCF (Dec. 2024). He accepted his invitation to the SeniorBowl.
STRENGTHS:
● Above-average height and length to match up with NFL size
● Covers a lot of air space to swipe away throws
● Plays physical brand of football with punchy jam
● Efcient opening his hips from press to ride routes
● Flashes an extra gear late when closing on catch point
● Improved ability to throttle down and sting as tackler
● Played on kick and punt coverages all four seasons (371 career special teams snaps)
WEAKNESSES:
● Thinly built with very little definition on his frame
● Average movement skills on tape — testing numbers back that up
● High cut and gets a tad gawky in coverage transitions
● Footwork and technique are all over the place, both in press and of coverages
● Flagged 16 times in college, including three pass interference penalties in 2024
● Underwhelming college ball production● Spends too much time attached to wide receiver blocks
SUMMARY: A one-year starter at UCF, Adams was an outside cornerback in former defensive coordinator Addison Williams' multiple coveragescheme (Cover 2, Cover 3 and press man). He worked his way into the starting rotation as a true freshman and played in 48 games over the pastfour years, although he never had more than four passes defended in any of those seasons.Adams puts his length to good use when he redirects receivers at the line and makes them uncomfortable throughout the route. He can take awaypassing windows with his size, but his tape doesn't show natural ball instincts, and he must become more disciplined in his process. Overall,Adams is long-limbed with enough athleticism to match routes from press, but he plays wild and upright in his movements, and his freelancing technique leads to spacing issues that NFL receivers will exploit. He is a developmental option for man-heavy teams
GRADE: 6th-7th round
Other draft eligible players who will not be drafted
Penny Boone RB 47 UDFA
Johnny Richardson RB 168
Jacoby Jones WR 214
Evan Morris TE 137
Amari Kight OT 38
Ricky Barber DT 52
Deshawn Pace LB 51
Ethan Barr LB 78
Sheldon Arnold S 68
Ladarius Tenison S130
Some other notes
QB9 Dillon Gabriel
BACKGROUND: Dillon Gabriel, the second of three boys, was born and raised in Mililani, Hawaii, on the island of Oahu, with his parents (Garrett andDori). He grew up in a football family and developed a passion for the quarterback position at age 4. Garrett played quarterback in college at Hawaii(1986-90) and left as the school's all-time leading passer (5,638 yards and 47 touchdowns). He is now a school counselor and coaches the MililaniHigh basketball team, but he also coached all three of his boys in diferent sports throughout the youth levels. Each of the Gabriel boys is namedafter an NFL player: Garrison (Garrison Hearst), Dillon (Corey Dillon) and Roman (Roman Gabriel).Dillon was a quarterback throughout pee wee and Pop Warner and led the Manoa Paniolos to the 2012 Division II Pop Warner Super Bowl. He alsoplayed baseball and basketball throughout both elementary and middle school. Gabriel attended the Punahou School, a private college prep schoolin Honolulu (same academy Barack Obama attended), throughout middle school. Because of the high tuition, however, the family decided thatGabriel would attend public high school.Gabriel enrolled at Mililani High and started out on the JV squad as a freshman. But when varsity starter McKenzie Milton was injured, Gabriel wascalled up to varsity and immediately showed he belonged before his season was also cut short because of a shoulder injury. He returned strong asa sophomore and led the team to the 2016 Division I state championship, finishing the season with 2,704 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, 14interceptions and seven rushing touchdowns. After leading Mililani to the 2017 league title as a junior, Gabriel was named 2018 Gatorade HawaiiPlayer of the Year and Oahu Ofensive Player of the Year Award as a senior, earning his third straight first-team All-Oahu honors. He finished his final season with 3,754 passing yards and 38 touchdowns and helped Mililani to a 10-win season and the 2018 state championship game 6undefeated St. Louis High). Gabriel finished his high school career with a state-record 9,948 career passing yards, passing both Timmy Chang andTua Tagovailoa. He also finished second in state history with 105 passing touchdowns.A three-star recruit, Gabriel was the 27th-ranked pro-style quarterback in the 2019 recruiting class and the No. 9 recruit in Hawaii. He started to receive recruiting attention after leading Mililani to the state championship as a sophomore, but he held only Air Force, Army and Hawaii oferst hrough his junior season. Gabriel initially committed to Army the summer before his senior season (June 2018). But other schools started to takenotice during his senior season — including UCF, at the urging of Milton, who was thriving as the Golden Knights' quarterback. UCF initially oferedGabriel a grayshirt but upped it to a full ofer after Georgia and USC ofered scholarships late in the process. Because of his relationship withthen-ofensive coordinator Jef Lebby (and the prospect of playing early), Gabriel committed to UCF. He was the fourth-ranked recruit in formerhead coach Josh Heupel's 2019 class. With Milton recovering from a major knee injury, Gabriel took over as starter for three seasons. After his own season-ending injury in 2021 (under head coach Gus Malzahn), though, Gabriel entered the transfer portal. He initially looked at OleMiss to rejoin Lebby, who'd been named ofensive coordinator for the Rebels. But Lebby left that position to be Oklahoma's play caller, and theSooners had Caleb Williams entrenched as the quarterback. Gabriel instead committed to UCLA and former head coach Chip Kelly. The day beforehis first online class at UCLA (Jan. 2022), however, he received a phone call from Lebby, with the news that Williams was entering the transfer portal (he later signed with USC). Despite having never visited Oklahoma or met head coach Brent Venables in person, Gabriel flipped to theSooners. After two seasons in Norman, he planned to enter the 2024 NFL Draft but had mostly late-round and undrafted grades, so he took advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA because of the COVID-19 pandemic and returned to college for his sixth season.
With Lebby leaving to be head coach at Mississippi State and five-star quarterback Jackson Arnold waiting in the wings, Gabriel entered thetransfer portal. He heard from numerous schools over the next week before deciding that Oregon was the right choice. Gabriel grew up idolizingHawaii native Marcus Mariota, who's now a mentor for him (both players wore No. 8 at Oregon).Gabriel's older brother (Garrison) is his business manager and joint-owner of "DG the Brand," Gabriel's clothing line ("DG" stands for his initials andthe phrase "Dedicated to Greatness"). Gabriel started dating his girlfriend (Zoe Caswell) in sixth grade and the couple got engaged in September2024 (Caswell originally attended UMass before joining Gabriel at Oklahoma). He has donated a significant portion of his NIL income to diferentcauses, including more than $250,000 to his former high school for new jerseys, helmets and accessories for the football team. He graduatedfrom Oklahoma with a degree in communication and media studies and was a finalist for the 2024 William V. Campbell Trophy ("academicHeisman"). Gabriel accepted his invitation to the Senior Bowl.
STRENGTHS:
● Efcient lefty passer with quick-trigger release
● Competes with veteran awareness, both in muddy pockets and in space
● Shows outstanding feel to patiently sort through the rush, elude pressure and buy time
● Foot quickness allows for sudden resets with his base and mechanics
● Keeps eyes downfield and doesn't panic when locating secondary progressions
● Doesn't have a power arm but spins tight, accurate spirals in short to intermediate game
● Excellent touch on deep bucket throws, especially over middle of the field on post routes
● Nifty escapability — will take advantage of free yards
● Intensely competitive; teammates say he brings same infectious energy each day (NFL scout: "The coaches say he is obsessed withwinning.")
● Highly respected teammate; hosted Airbnb bonding retreats for teammates (drives same Chrysler Pacifica van he's had for years, partlybecause it has room for his family and teammates)
● Incredible career production; started more games (63) than any other quarterback in FBS history
WEAKNESSES:
● Short stature with smaller hands and maxed-out build
● Deep throws outside numbers often lose life, requiring receivers to slow their strides
● Struggles to add zip — lack of arm strength shows on the move or with limited foot space
● Average anticipation — more of a "see it" decision-maker
● Quick-game and checkdowns helped inflate completion percentage
● Had trouble recognizing underneath defenders, especially in red zone (four of six interceptions in 2024 came in goal-to-go situations)
● Will turn 25 as a rookie
● Missed game against Texas first season at Oklahoma because of concussion (Oct. 2022); missed final 10 games of final season at UCF withbroken left clavicle (Sept. 2021)
SUMMARY: A one-year starter at Oregon, Gabriel was a productive passer in ofensive coordinator Will Stein's balanced spread scheme (51percent pass to 49 percent run). After three seasons at UCF and two at Oklahoma, he led the Ducks to a 13-1 record and 2024 Big TenChampionship, winning Big Ten Ofensive Player of the Year and finishing third in Heisman Trophy voting. With six years of college football and 63starts under his belt, he set the FBS record with 189 total touchdowns (155 passing, 33 rushing, one receiving) and ranks No. 2 all-time in passingyards (18,722).A point guard-style quarterback, Gabriel is willing to scan from the pocket and deliver accurate balls with a twitchy release, although he is often toowilling to bypass tight windows and settle for the checkdown. He isn't an electric athlete, by any means, but he is very poised and confident andplays with exceptional feel for navigating pressure to create second-chance plays. Overall, Gabriel looks small in the pocket and has somelimitations as a downfield thrower, but he is a rhythm passer with the football instincts and mature intangibles to overcome his physicalshortcomings. A savvy lefty with a quick release, he has similarities to Tua Tagovailoa — and has a fighting chance to earn a backup role in the
NFL.GRADE: 4th round
Jimmy Horn
A three-star recruit, Horn was the 128th-ranked wide receiver in the 2021 recruiting class and the No. 107 recruit in Florida. After being sidelinedmost of his junior season, he entered his senior year with lukewarm recruiting interest. However, Horn blew up over the second half of his seniorseason, especially in the playofs. He initially heard from FCS schools, including Jackson State, where Sanders was coaching at the time. Midwaythrough the playofs (Dec. 2020), Horn received a blitz of interest, including his first major offer from Georgia. He added ofers from Ole Miss,Oklahoma and Tennessee. He wanted to play at UCF because it was close to home but didn't receive an offer. Without much time to take visits ordevelop a connection with coaches, Horn decided to follow his Seminole quarterback, Timmy McClain, to South Florida. He was the second-rankedrecruit in former head coach Jef Scott's 2021 class.
