Mel Kiper updates Big Board's top 25 player rankings for the 2025 NFL Draft

The college football season is entering the home stretch of the regular season. And with eight weeks played, there's a decent sample size for ESPN draft analysts Mel Kiper to shake up his Top 25 Big Board.

Eight players who were already ranked in his top 25 moved up, including one big newcomer. Three players also climbed into the top 25. Three players who were already ranked saw their ranking drop slightly, while some players also dropped out of the top 25 entirely.

Check out Kiper's full Top 25 Big Board below.

Mel Kiper's latest Top 25 Big Board starts in Week 9

Hunter has been one of the best players in college football and has only been slowed down recently by injury. Nevertheless, he maintains his position at the top of Kiper's big board.

Right now, the biggest question Hunter and NFL teams need to answer is what position he will play at the next level. And will a team even let him play both ways? He will continue to do both at an elite level for the Buffaloes, and 604 yards, six touchdowns, three PBUs and two interceptions is a pretty good example.

Like his Colorado DB colleague, Johnson was recently slowed down by an injury. But when the Michigan corner was healthy, he was a lockdown presence.

With nine interceptions in his career and two this year – both returned for touchdowns – Johnson's instincts and aggressiveness are evident. And his outstanding skills and willingness as a tackler and run defender only increase his value.

Carter has plenty of versatility and athleticism, and the production has been comparable so far this season. Playing mostly off-field, Carter totaled four sacks, 18 pressures and 11 tackles for loss, as well as 33 tackles.

In short, Carter appears to be the type of disruptive, game-changing, edge-preserving presence that NFL teams are looking for. And he has room to refine his game as a pass rusher, allowing him to transition into a more full-time role this season.

At 6-foot-10 and 265 pounds, Williams looks like a dominant NFL pass rusher and edge-run defender. He just needs to convert the fiery flashes of top-level play and elite-level performance into season-long, consistent performance.

An ankle sprain in the opening game hasn't helped Williams in that regard this season, but he has come off the bench of late. In Week 8, he picked up his first two sacks of the season.

The combination of violent hands, leverage and footwork has made Graham one of the best interior pass rushers in college football in recent seasons. And even though the Wolverines have struggled this year, he hasn't.

Playing primarily at defensive tackle, Graham has 31 tackles and 3.5 sacks, with 18 pressures and eight run stops. At a time when NFL teams are prioritizing the pocket-destroying interior pass rush, Graham is Kiper's best option.

Banks, Kiper's first full-time offensive lineman in his rankings, is an experienced college lineman with an excellent track record. He has given up three sacks in 34 starts.

And at 6-foot-2 and weighing 320 pounds, Banks certainly looks the part. Although he has proven to be an elite pass blocker, there are still questions about Banks as a run blocker.

Scourton transferred to Texas A&M before the 2024 season and was the dominant edge rusher the Aggies were hoping for. He has 11 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and 22 pressures.

Scourton uses his length and bulk — 6-foot-3, 285 pounds — to blast edges in the run game. And his pass rushing stats speak for themselves as he uses his strength to get linemen back on track.

Since he took the field at Georgia, Starks has essentially been a ballhawk, sometimes acrobatically so. Think about this interception against Oregon last season?

Starks has six interceptions in his career and uses his 6-foot-3 frame and speed to close passing lanes. He is also a skilled run defender and a confident tackler from the back end. The combination of physical talent and production makes Starks a fairly likely first-rounder.

The hottest player in college football was Jeanty, who is having a historic season. He may not be in the top 10 at the end of the day based on his positional value, but his talent and production are undeniable – just turn on the highlights.

Entering Week 9, Jeanty has 1,248 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns, as well as another receiving touchdown. He reached 1,000 yards on 90 carries and is currently averaging just under 10 yards per carry.

Walker came on in Georgia's win over Texas and was a key reason for the Bulldogs' win. As part of a dominant defense in the first half, Walker collected three sacks.

He now has a season grade of 4.5 and having played some on the perimeter and some off the ball, he has a good level of versatility. If he stays as hot as he did against the Longhorns on Saturday, he can continue to climb to the top.

Players No. 11 to 25

11. QB Shedeur SandersColorado (+1)
12. QB Cam Ward, Miami (+1)
13.WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona (-2)
14.OLB James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
15. OT Will Campbell, LSU
16. DT Walter Nolen, Ole Miss (included in the top 25)
17.WR Luther's burden, Missouri
18. DT Kenneth GrantMichigan (+1)
19. O.T Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota (+3)
20. CB Shavon Revel, East Carolina
21. CB Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame
22nd TE Tyler WarrenPennsylvania (+1)
23. O.T Josh Simmons, Ohio State (+2)
24th TE Colston LovelandMichigan (ranked in top 25)
25. p Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina (included in the top 25)

And with more than a month of the regular season left to play, Kiper's big board is sure to be shaken up a time or two before the draft.