ACC Football

HEIGHT: 6'1

WEIGHT: 234

HAND: 9½"

ARM: 31⅜"

WINGSPAN: 77⅝

POSITIVES

— Big, sturdy build with a physical and punishing downhill running style.

— A good combination of patience and vision to navigate the front seven and find daylight.

— Effective receiver out of the backfield, functionality as an outlet for his QB in the screen game.

— Scheme versatility, even experience in both zone and gap concepts.

NEGATIVES

— Limited lateral agility and open field elusiveness to make defenders miss.

— Limited twitch and explosiveness in his athletic profile.

— Nagging shoulder injury, needed surgery after the season.

NOTES

— Born Oct. 24, 2002

— 4-Star recruit in 2021 class, per 247Sports

— 2024 Third-Team All-ACC selection

OVERALL

Phil Mafah is the epitome of a physical and punishing running back.

As a runner, Mafah is a strong downhill with a plus-level contact balance. He runs with power and physicality after breaking through the first level of the defense. Mafah is a forward-leaning runner who is rarely knocked backward with momentum. He runs through would-be arm tackles and has a strong stiff arm to keep pursuing defenders at bay. He thrives, pressing the line of scrimmage with patience and good vision to find open lanes. Mafah sports a strong and sturdy frame to absorb and dish out punishment.

For a bigger body RB, Mafah displays good footwork to exchange gaps and find alternative routes to daylight. He is a patient runner who does not speed up his run pacing. He follows blockers well, especially on pin/pull concepts with lead blockers, before accelerating through the void created. Mafah has lateral cuts/side steps to avoid a defender upfield. He processes information well, reading and cutting off upfield defender's leverage or weight distribution.

Mafah is a surprisingly effective pass catcher out of the backfield. He is functional in space, catching the football with confidence and reliable hands. He is effective in the screen game due to his patience and catching ability. His burst/acceleration through traffic into the open field is good and puts defensive backs in conflict to make business decisions as he approaches at full speed.

In terms of overall athleticism, Mafah is not an explosive athlete. He lacks a dynamic first step or plant step to explode past quick-penetrating defenders. If caught in the backfield, Mafah does not have many answers to combat it. Against alley defenders, he heavily relies on physicality and power to force missed tackles. He is not a finesse or elusive mover to break defenders down one-on-one.

Overall, Phil Mafah projects as a potential starting running back. His athletic profile will not be for every organization in the NFL. His ability to run with power and patience bodes well as a short-yardage and red-zone RB. He is a talented prospect, but team fit will be important for Mafah's NFL success.

GRADE: 6.9 (Potential Role Player—4th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 137

POSITION RANK: RB12

PRO COMPARISON: D'Onta Foreman

Written by B/R NFL Scout Dame Parson

HEIGHT: 6'2"

WEIGHT: 205

POSITIVES

— Good arm talent/strength to access and attack all levels of the defense.

— Great athletic profile; a true dual-threat who extends the offensive playbook and play calling.

— Improved deep ball passer, figuring out when to use touch and strength.

NEGATIVES

— Consistent decision-making when facing pressure in the pocket.

— Post-snap defensive coverage recognition; can be struggle to process info quickly.

— Cleaning up turnover-worthy plays.

NOTES

— Born Oct. 10, 2003

— 5-Star recruit in 2022 class, per 247Sports

— 2024: Honorable-Mention All-ACC

OVERALL

Cade Klubnik is a gifted quarterback with a dual-threat skill set fitting for today's NFL.

Klubnik has improved this season with diagnosing and reading defenses pre-snap. When the defensive coverage stays the same after the snap, Klubnik attacks the weaknesses he identified before the snap. The game has slowed down for him more than last season.

As a passer, he possesses a good arm to make high-end throws from the pocket and on the move. Klubnik delivers middle-of-the-field passes with good velocity and zip. In the short and intermediate portions of the field, Klubnik can drive passes into tight windows. His ability to make throws when flushed out of the pocket has been great. Klubnik uses his athleticism to turn nothing into something and help pull the offense out of a hole.

His accuracy is improving, but still a work in progress. Klubnik can put the ball where his receivers need it to be. In clean pockets, he has been good at pushing the ball down the field accurately. Klubnik is a dual-threat QB who makes plays with his legs in various ways. He has multiple explosive/long runs this season.

Klubnik still struggles when defensive pressure gets home. If he is not able to counter with his athleticism, his decision-making remains questionable. He will put the ball in harm's way for potential turnovers. Klubnik is still learning to trust his eyes and progressions. There are moments where he is stuck on a covered receiver but does not pivot to find a wide-open receiver down the field. Klubnik's next step of development is handling post-snap defensive rotations and changes. He excels when the defense runs what they display pre-snap. When the picture changes, Klubnik struggles to process the new information quickly.

Overall, Cade Klubnik is a talented quarterback prospect with serious starting potential. Klubnik's dual-threat skill set will give defenses plenty to worry about. As he continues to develop his passing game from the pocket, Klubnik offers a potential franchise QB ceiling.

GRADE: 7.5 (Potential Impact Player — 2nd Round)

OVERALL RANK: 58

POSITION RANK: QB6

PRO COMPARISON: A more athletic Baker Mayfield

Written by B/R NFL Scout Dame Parson

Prospect workout numbers, measurables (40-yard dash, hand size, etc.) and 2024 statistics will be added at a later date.

HEIGHT: 6'1"

WEIGHT: 202

POSITIVES

— Very good downhill player who triggers quickly to what he sees. Aggressively takes on blocks and throws his body into tackles.

— High-IQ player with good overall instincts in both run and pass. Plays with a good understanding of scheme and where he fits in it.

— Good ball skills paired with strong hands to pluck the ball out of the sky. High points and attacks the ball in the air.

NEGATIVES

— Tight in space, slower to redirect and lacks ability to fluidly flip his hips. Limited burst and twitch in coverage. Doesn't have great range when playing as a deep safety.

— Lack of elite athleticism shows up when tackling. At times he stops his feet and dives at the legs of ball-carriers, which can lead to missed tackles or extra yards.

NOTES

— Born N/A

— 3-Star recruit in the 2031 class, per 247Sport

OVERALL

Isaiah Nwokobia is a physical and instinctive safety prospect out of SMU who has carved out a reputation as a downhill player. At 6'1" and 202 pounds, Nwokobia combines an aggressive play style with high football IQ, making him a valuable asset in run defense and underneath coverage schemes. While his athletic profile may not jump off the charts, his ability to diagnose plays and consistently position himself around the ball makes him a reliable contributor.

Nwokobia's strength lies in his downhill play and aggression against the run. He triggers quickly to his reads, attacking running lanes with speed and decisiveness. His physicality allows him to take on and shed blocks, often setting the edge or plugging gaps effectively. Nwokobia's tackling technique is solid when within a short distance, as he routinely throws his body into contact and runs his feet through tackles. However, when coming from a distance, his lack of elite athleticism can show, leading to missed tackles or additional yardage for the ball-carrier. Despite these occasional lapses, Nwokobia excels in the box, where his instincts and physical play style shine.

In coverage, Nwokobia thrives in underneath zone schemes, where his instincts and football IQ allow him to anticipate routes and jump plays. He showcases good ball skills, consistently putting himself in position to capitalize on poorly placed throws, and attacks the ball in the air with strong hands. While effective in shorter and intermediate zones, his range as a deep safety is limited by his lack of burst and top-end speed. Additionally, Nwokobia's tight hips and slower redirection ability make him vulnerable in space, particularly when tasked with covering dynamic receivers or tight ends downfield. His physicality in coverage allows him to disrupt timing, but it also limits his ability to stay fluid against quick changes in direction.

Isaiah Nwokobia projects as a later-round pick with the potential to become a reliable role player in sub-packages and special teams early in his career. His ability to diagnose plays and contribute in run support makes him a fit for teams that utilize a box safety or rely heavily on zone coverage schemes. While his athletic limitations may cap his upside in man coverage or as a single-high safety, his instincts, physicality, and ball skills give him a pathway to carve out a consistent role in the NFL.

GRADE: 6.5 (Potential Role Player — 4th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 134

POSITION RANK: S13

PRO COMPARISON: Geno Stone

Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings

Prospect workout numbers, measurables (40-yard dash, hand size, etc.) and 2024 statistics will be added at a later date.

HEIGHT: 6'2"

WEIGHT: 197

HAND: 10"

ARM: 32⅜”

WINGSPAN: 78"

40-YARD DASH: 4.58

SHUTTLE: 4.21

BROAD: 10'2"

POSITIVES

— Athlete with long arms and a good frame. Uses his length well in both run and pass game.

— Shows very good body control for his size, with the ability to judge the ball's flight path and ball skills to display great timing through the catch point.

— Willing tackler who triggers quickly. Physical in the run game close to the line of scrimmage and is efficient as a blitzer.

NEGATIVES

— Too often takes poor angles when approaching ball-carriers, giving up his leverage leading to big plays.

— Allows free releases in press, while often looking to slingshot back into position.

— Has lacked turnover production over his career.

2024 STATISTICS

— 12 Games, 35 Tackles, 2 TFL, 1 INT, 4 PBU

NOTES

— Born July 6, 2004

— Games Started: 13

— 4 Star recruit in the 2022 class, per 247Sports

OVERALL

Azareye'h Thomas is an intriguing cornerback prospect from Florida State who combines impressive length and size with promising physical tools. At 6'2" and 198 pounds, Thomas has the prototypical frame for an NFL cornerback, utilizing his long arms and body control to disrupt plays in coverage and compete in the run game. While still developing in some areas of his game, Thomas' physicality, ball skills, and athleticism make him a versatile option for teams seeking a boundary defender with upside.

Thomas' length and body control are standout traits in coverage, particularly when contesting passes. He can track the ball in flight, using his size and timing to break up passes at the catch point. His physicality allows him to challenge receivers at the line of scrimmage and disrupt their timing. However, his press technique remains inconsistent, with occasional free releases that force him into recovery mode. Additionally, Thomas can be overly handsy when trailing in coverage, risking penalties at the next level. At the same time, he shows adequate speed when in phase; his ability to close ground and recover when out of position is less refined, limiting his effectiveness against quicker, more explosive receivers. His overall turnover production has also been lacking despite his ball skills.

Thomas brings a physical approach to the run game, where his willingness to trigger downhill and take on blocks stands out. He excels when close to the line of scrimmage, showcasing aggression and efficiency when blitzing or disrupting outside runs. His tackling mechanics are solid, with a tendency to wrap and secure ball carriers. However, Thomas' ability to maintain leverage is inconsistent, as he occasionally takes poor angles that allow runners to exploit gaps. Improving his awareness and reaction speed in run defense will be key for him to maximize his impact at the next level.

Azareye'h Thomas projects as a mid-round pick with the potential to develop into a starting outside cornerback in the NFL. Though he has shown decent man skills; his size, length, and physicality make him an appealing fit for press and zone-heavy schemes, where his ability to disrupt routes and contest passes will be maximized. While his technique and consistency in both the run and pass games need improvement, Thomas' athletic traits and competitive mentality provide a solid foundation for growth. With refinement, he has the potential to become a valuable contributor in an NFL secondary.

GRADE: 7.6 (Potential Impact Player — 2nd Round)

OVERALL RANK: 42

POSITION RANK: CB6

PRO COMPARISON: Benjamin St.-Juste

Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings

Prospect workout numbers, measurables (40-yard dash, hand size, etc.) and 2024 statistics will be added at a later date.

HEIGHT: 6'0"

WEIGHT: 210

POSITIVES

— Athletic safety with fluid hips and quick feet. Shows range as a deep safety. Smooth backpedal and loose hips that aid his man coverage skills.

— Aggressive in the run game. Comes downhill quickly, striking ball-carriers and running his feet through contact.

—Versatile safety but excels in play close to the line of scrimmage. Shows twitch and high motor when blitzing.

— Ball skills when playing the man and ball. Shows good timing to swipe through hands and is calm with the ball in the air.

NEGATIVES

— Capped long speed. Quicker than fast. Has allowed the ball-carrier to outrun his angles at times.

— Inconsistent ball awareness, especially in zone. Lacks elite feel in zone coverage, allowing him his eyes to pull him out of position.

— Average length. Although he is physical, he can get engulfed when taking on tight ends and linemen. Length shows up at times in tackling. Can melt off leg tackles.

2024 STATISTICS

— 13 Games, 70 Tackles, 2.5 TFL, 2 INT, 1 FR, 7 PBU

NOTES

— Born Feb. 20, 2001

— Games Started: 40

— 3-Star recruit in the 2019 class, per 247Sports

— 2024: Third Team All-ACC

— 2023: Fourth Team All-Pac-12

— 2022: Honorable mention All-Pac 12

OVERALL

Craig Woodson is an athletic and versatile safety prospect from Cal, combining fluid athleticism with a high motor and physicality. At 6'0" and 210 pounds, Woodson possesses a solid frame to compete at the next level, showcasing his ability to contribute both in coverage and run support. His aggressive and competitive nature, paired with his versatility to play deep or close to the line of scrimmage, makes him an intriguing prospect for teams seeking a multifaceted defensive back.

Woodson thrives in run defense with his aggressive, downhill style of play. He shows excellent twitch and a quick trigger when diagnosing plays, often striking ball carriers with force and running through contact to secure tackles. His physicality and stoutness at the point of attack make him an effective player in tight spaces, especially when blitzing or filling run lanes. However, his capped long speed can lead to issues when pursuing ball carriers in space, occasionally resulting in missed angles or allowing runners to break containment.

In coverage, Woodson's fluid hips and quick feet allow him to transition smoothly and compete in man-to-man assignments, though his ideal usage lies in zone schemes. He demonstrates good timing and ball skills, frequently swiping through receivers' hands to disrupt passes and maintaining calmness with the ball in the air. Despite these strengths, Woodson's zone awareness is inconsistent, as he sometimes gets caught out of position by overcommitting to his reads. Additionally, his average length can hinder his ability to compete against larger pass-catchers and occasionally shows up as a limitation in contested situations.

Craig Woodson projects as a mid-round selection with the potential to carve out a meaningful role as a versatile safety in a defense that leverages his physicality and high motor. While his long speed and underneath zone instincts may limit his ceiling as a full-time free safety, his aggressive nature, strong tackling, and ability to match up with tight ends make him a valuable chess piece in sub-packages or as a hybrid defender. With his competitive edge and versatility, Woodson has the tools to contribute as a rotational safety with the potential for spot-starting duties early in his career.

GRADE: 6.9 (Potential Role Player — 4th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 118

POSITION RANK: S12

PRO COMPARISON: Khari Willis

Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings

Prospect workout numbers, measurables (40-yard dash, hand size, etc.) and 2024 statistics will be added at a later date.

HEIGHT: 6'2"

WEIGHT: 248

HAND: 9¼”

ARM: 34"

WINGSPAN: 83¾”

3-CONE: 6.94

SHUTTLE: 4.19

VERTICAL: 35.5"

BROAD: 9'11"

POSITIVES

— Great production as a pass-rusher.

— Sets up his pass rush moves well by stemming inside and using a euro-step to win outside or vice versa.

— Has several moves he can win with: cross-chop, dip-rip, arm-over, and ghost rush.

— Very good bend at the top of the rush to corner, it looks easy and natural for him.

— Physical at the point of attack and takes on blocks with his hands to be an effective run defender against tight ends.

NEGATIVES

— Undersized and lacks the strength to hold up against offensive linemen as a run defender in the NFL.

— Has a habit of working around blocks or leaving his gap early against the run.

— Lack of size and strength also shows up when trying to turn speed to power as a pass-rusher.

— Not very explosive off the line to win with speed around the edge.

NOTES

— 3-star recruit in the 2021 class, per 247Sports

— No major injuries

— 2024: ACC Defensive Player of the Year, First-Team All-ACC

— 2022: Second-Team All-ACC

OVERALL

Donovan Ezeiruaku was one of the best pass-rushers in the country this year with 16.5 sacks and several multi-sack performances during the regular season. He was also productive in 2022 (8.5 sacks) but had a down year as a junior, getting to the quarterback just twice.

Ezeiruaku wins by setting up his pass-rush moves, stemming inside or outside and using a euro-step to cover ground laterally and get to the other side. His primary moves are cross-chop and dip-rip and his bend borders the elite category to win around the edge. Also, he has a couple of good counters with an inside arm-over/swim move and ghost rush.

The biggest issues with the Boston College product as a rusher are he lacks burst off the line to win with speed, his quickness is more average than good for someone of his size, and he's undersized and doesn't have the strength to turn speed to power.

The lack of size and strength will also impact Ezeiruaku as a run defender at the next level. He's physical and can hold his own against tight ends, but NFL offensive tackles can push him around and prevent him from setting the edge.

Because of that, he'll be more of a third-down rusher at first and needs to spend more time in the weight room before becoming a complete defender.

GRADE: 7.4 (High-Level Backup/Potential Starter — 3rd Round)

OVERALL RANK: 64

POSITION RANK: EDGE10

PRO COMPARISON: Nick Herbig

Written by B/R NFL Scout Matt Holder

Prospect workout numbers, measurables (40-yard dash, hand size, etc.) and 2024 statistics will be added at a later date.

DJ Uiagalelei is going to try his luck at the next level.

The Florida State quarterback announced on social media Monday that he intends to declare for the 2025 NFL draft.

DJ Uiagalelei spent three seasons at Clemson, a season at Oregon State and rounded out his collegiate career with the Seminoles this year.

Uiagalelei threw for 9,384 passing yards, 61 touchdowns and 30 interceptions over the course of his career and picked up another 1,124 yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground.

He had the best season of his career in 2023 with the Beavers, throwing for 2,638 passing yards and seven touchdowns while rushing for 219 yards and six touchdowns. A coaching change led him to transfer and he landed with Florida State.

There were high expectations for the Seminoles after posting a big 2023 season and landing a talented quarterback out of the transfer portal, but things did not go as planned in Tallahassee.

Uiagalelei played just five games before injuries derailed his season. In his five appearances, he threw for 1,065 yards, four touchdowns and six interceptions, leading the Seminoles to just one win. Florida State ended the year 2-10 after going 13-1 in 2023.

Though Uiagalelei hopes the next stop in his career is the NFL, he also has another sport to fall back on. The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Uiagalelei in the 20th round of the MLB draft in 2023, citing his high school baseball experience as their reasoning.

"Honestly, he could have been a top-couple-round guy if he stuck with baseball," Dodgers area scouting supervisor Jonah Rosenthal said, per MLB.com's Sarah Wexler. "But he became a five-star quarterback, and coming to Clemson, when you have that status, I mean, you obviously run with the football."

Perhaps he will give baseball another shot if he doesn't find his place in the NFL.

Bill Belichick surprised many by accepting the head coaching position at the University of North Carolina last week. Intrigued by the opportunity with the Tar Heels, he decided to make the jump to college coaching, despite anticipating interest from NFL teams once the season concluded.

"I think there would've been some interest, but in the end, really, it's not about what could've been or would've been, it's about the opportunity at North Carolina," Belichick told Jim Gray on the Let's Go! podcast (h/t Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk). "I think this program is in the right spot now to take off."

The 72-year-old NFL coaching legend believes he can build a winning team at North Carolina, a program that finished the regular season 6-6 ahead of their bowl game, and he is confident he can do it quickly.

"We're gonna get the team, make it as competitive as we can as soon as we can," Belichick said.

Despite Belichick's enthusiasm for joining the program, the Tar Heels and Belichick agreed to a buyout clause reduced to six months and $1 million, suggesting potential flexibility if he decides to return to the NFL in 2026, according to Gray.

Prior to his deal with North Carolina, Belichick reportedly expressed interest in a head coaching opening with the New York Jets. However, the time crunch between the Jets' delay in responding and the Tar Heels needing a decision led to the end of his NFL career and his transition to college football.

"What I heard was that Bill did indeed reach out to (former Jets general manager) Mike Tannenbaum," Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer said Sunday. "(Mike) Tannenbaum was a little stunned but brought it back to the Jets' front office people, and they mulled it. And they were working to set up a conversation between Belichick and Woody Johnson."

Belichick also did not respond to at least one other team that had shown interest, signaling that he was prioritizing the Jets and not actively seeking other opportunities, according to Breer.

"This was a real thing," Breer said. "I do think it illustrates that Bill at least wanted to make sure that the door was closed on the NFL for right now before he jumped into the college ranks."

Belichick has never coached at the college level. He began his NFL career in 1975 with the Baltimore Colts, which eventually led to his 24-year tenure as head coach of the Patriots until 2023.

Bill Belichick is heading to the college game just 15 wins short of surpassing Don Shula's NFL record of 347 victories.

That made his move to North Carolina a surprise to some, though Belichick expressed Monday that his six Super Bowl titles as a head coach were more important to him than the chance to set the all-time wins record.

"I never really gave that one a lot of thought, to be completely honest with you. It's not about wins to me, it's about championships," he said during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. "That's what I wanna do, I wanna win championships. The wins are great, and you've gotta win games to win championships, I get that. But to me it's about championships and that's really what I'm most proud of."

Belichick also won two championships as the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants between 1985-90.

The 72-year-old's decorated coaching career was entirely in the NFL until now, starting in 1975 as a special assistant for the Baltimore Colts. He was then on the coaching staffs of the Detroit Lions (1976-77), Denver Broncos (1978) and Giants (1979-90) before becoming the head coach of the Cleveland Browns (1991-95).

His first stint as a head coach wasn't terribly fruitful. He went just 36-44 with the Browns, reaching the playoffs once.

From there, he spent a season with the New England Patriots as an assistant head coach and defensive backs coach (1996) before spending three seasons with the New York Jets as the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach (1997-99).

He was supposed to succeed Bill Parcells as the Jets' head coach heading into the 2000 season but quit and sued both the NFL and organization to get out of his contract, in part because of his disdain for team owner Woody Johnson. He was ultimately traded to the Patriots, and the rest is history.

Now, Belichick is adding a new chapter to his long and storied coaching career, attempting to tame the wilds of the college game for North Carolina, traditionally a basketball school. It's a surprising new twist, but if ACC titles and berths in the College Football Playoff follow, both North Carolina and Belichick will be more than happy with his third act.

As Bill Belichick embarks on his new life as UNC head coach, some are wondering how he will handle the nuances of college football that he didn't have to deal with during his legendary NFL career.

The Athletic's Mike Sando spoke to an NFL coach who questioned whether Belichick is ready to navigate the transfer portal and other cumbersome aspects of being a college football head coach in this current era.

"Bill used to put up an empty depth chart on the first day of camp, telling the guys they had to earn everything," the coach said. "How he's going to have transfers telling him they want X number of plays per game, or this many targets? What's he going to do when some kid in the portal tells him what jersey number he wants?"

Belichick will have the benefit of a general manager, as former NFL executive Michael Lombardi was hired alongside him to help revolutionize the Tar Heels football program. While it could take some time for Belichick to adjust to life at the collegiate level, there are some who are confident in his chances to succeed at UNC.

"They already understand the cap, they understand how to pay and who to pay and how to structure a roster," an NFL executive told Sando. "Colleges right now are scrambling to learn that and define that. These college coaches have really been their own GMs, and they have hired young guys to recruit. Belichick is going to be ahead."