BSU player Ashton Jeanty first round pick; photo credit BSU
Here are the best players drafted are from G5 Schools, not in the Pac, SEC, Big 10, Big 12, and ACC. Here’s a quick summary of the ones chosen this year.
Chosen sixth by the Las Vegas Raiders was RB Ashton Jeanty. He’s the highest drafted running back since before 2020. At Boise State in 2024, he led the FBS with 2601 rushing yards. Jeanty’s position awards included winning the Maxwell and Doak Walker Awards. In national overall awards he was a unanimous All-American, and a Heisman Trophy runner-up to Colorado’s Travis Hunter. His college career had 4,769 rushing yards, 50 rushing touchdowns, and 862 receiving yards. LV has a new coach Pete Carroll and offensive coach Chip Kelly. Kelly has had success in the past with the Eagles and his running backs (article at Sports Illustrated). Jeanty certainly will help the Raiders improve on their last in the league rushing total from last year.
Zabel & Hutch
Grey Zabel G North Dakota State University was the 18th pick and second G5 player. This draft pick makes him the highest-drafted guard since Steve Hutchinson in 2001. Zabel appeared in 62 games, accumulating 2,776 career snaps, and allowed only four sacks and 29 pressures. He impressed in pre-draft workouts, a 40-yard dash time of 5.30 seconds, ranking him fifth in his draft class. The Seattle Seahawks drafted him, which was Steve Hutchinson’s team. Cool story here about Hutchinson allowing Zabel to wear his retired Seahawks number.
Mike Green, edge rusher out of Marshall, was the 59th pick for the Baltimore Ravens. He’s known for leading the FBS in sacks 17.5 in 2024. He had a standout college career, with notable achievements like Sun Belt Player of the Year. There were some allegations, which he denies, have not resulted in charges, but they reportedly contributed to his suspension from Virginia in 2022 and his subsequent transfer to Marshall.
Third Round or Later Draft Picks
Darius Alexander DT Toledo was the draft pick of the New York Giants, 65th overall, in the third round. Alexander was a top performer in college, earning Second-Team All-MAC honors in 2024 with 40 tackles, including 7.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Notably, he was a six-year player at Toledo, which makes him very veteran to be drafted. His draft stock rose as he earned a Senior Bowl invite, where he was named the National team’s top defensive lineman.
Shavon Revel Jr. is a cornerback from East Carolina University (ECU), drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round (76th overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft. He had a promising college career but cut short by a torn ACL in September 2024. His size (6’3″, 193 lbs.), speed (4.40 40-yard dash) was attractive to the Cowboys., The Cowboys ranked 28th in defense last year so he’ll be given a strong shot. Revels’ career Stats were 24 games, 15 starts, 70 tackles, 3 INTs (1 TD).
Caleb Ransaw is a cornerback from Tulane University. The Jacksonville Jaguars chose him as the 88th pick, in the third round. At Tulane in the AAC he had 115 tackles, including 10 tackles for loss. His Senior bowl performance possibly helped his draft position. His measurables, a smoking 4.33 40-yard dash, 40” vertical, and 10’9” broad jump, shows this as a solid pick. For the Jaguars it was definitely a “need” pick, as their defense was 32nd against the pass.
