10 NFL Draft prospects to watch in Texas A&M vs Texas

By Jack Brentnall

Week 14 is rivalry week, and one of the best matchups to be watching from an NFL Draft standpoint is Texas A&M vs Texas.

Not only does this game have real playoff implications, but it is also host to a tonne of noteworthy 2025 NFL Draft prospects.

Here are ten players you should be watching out for in this one.

Shemar Stewart - EDGE, Texas A&M (6-6, 290, Junior)

There are a handful of players in this matchup who look like they can be first round picks in 2025, but the highest graded player I’ve got from either team right now is A&M’s edge rusher Shemar Stewart.

At 6’6” and 290 lbs, Stewart is one of the biggest edge rushers in the class. What makes him such an enticing prospect is that he pairs this size with some of the best athleticism in the entire class. 

Stewart showcases elite first step explosion and has enough quickness and bend to be a legitimate threat as an outside track rusher. In many ways he reminds me of Green Bay Packers edge rusher Rashan Gary.

He needs to refine some of his technique, but Stewart is a very talented run defender who has shown plenty of promise rushing the passer. This week’s game will be one of his toughest tests of the season and it is well worth tuning in to see how he gets on.

Nic Scourton - EDGE, Texas A&M (6-4, 285, Junior)

Stewart isn’t the only difference maker on the Aggies’ defensive line. Scourton has also been talked up as a potential first round pick, and it is easy to see why.

Like Stewart, he has an impressive frame, standing at 6’4” and 285 lbs. His calling card as a prospect is his refinement as a pass rusher. Despite being one of the youngest players in the draft (Scourton does not turn 21 until August) he already possesses a deep arsenal of moves and knows how to effectively employ counters.

Scourton doesn’t have the same level of explosiveness as Stewart, but his bull rush move will make him a handful for any opposing tackle to contain. Going up against Texas will be a great challenge for Scourton and a big opportunity to reaffirm his place as one of the best edge rushers in this class.

Kelvin Banks - OT, Texas (6-4, 320, Junior)

It has been a long time since Texas last had an offensive lineman taken in the first round, but that run should come to an end when Kelvin Banks declares. The former five-star recruit has been starting for the Longhorns since his freshman season and he has been a consistently reliable presence in the trenches.

Banks has the size and movement skills that teams want at the position. He has noticeably quick feet and he thrives out in space, whether working as a pass protector or as a lead blocker on screens.

At 6’4”, Banks is on the shorter side for an offensive tackle and it sounds like NFL teams are split as to whether he kicks inside at the next level. I’m confident Banks can stay at tackle, but this weekend’s game should be a nice litmus test for that, with a tough test against a pair of long-limbed power rushers.

Cameron Williams - OT, Texas (6-5, 335, Junior)

Banks isn’t the only Texas tackle vying for a first round selection. Cameron Williams has been one of the breakout stars of 2024 and has established himself as one of the top offensive linemen in the class.

A first-year starter, Williams has had a few rough moments – his 13 penalties are the most of any Power Four lineman – but the flashes of potential have been impossible to ignore.

At 6’5” and 335, Williams has NFL-ready size, along with some good length and play strength. He’s a good mover for his size too and has had some really nice reps as a second level blocker in the run game.

He still needs to clean up certain aspects of his technique, including his hand usage and footwork, but the upside is easy to see. I like Williams’ skillset better at guard, but I will be interested to see how he fares this weekend against a pair of very good edge rushers.

Isaiah Bond - WR, Texas (5-11, 180, Junior)

After transferring in from Alabama and making a big impact through the first few weeks of the season, I was really excited for what Isaiah Bond could do this season. It is fair to say that the results since haven’t been as impressive.

Bond has struggled to find consistency week-to-week and never quite seemed to establish good chemistry with Quinn Ewers. Following Ewers’ return against Oklahoma in Week 7, Bond has averaged just five catches for 24 yards per game. 

By contrast, he looked much better with Arch Manning under center. They played three games together earlier this season. In those contests, Bond produced 229 yards and two touchdowns.

Inconsistent production notwithstanding, NFL teams are going to be intrigued by Bond and he looks likely to be selected inside the top 50 picks. He has the twitch and fluidity to consistently create separation, and his speed (he ran a 10.48 in the 100m) ensures he is a home run threat any time he touches the ball.

Jahdae Barron - CB, Texas (5-11, 200, Senior)

If you are looking for a player who significantly elevated their draft stock by returning to school for 2024, look no further than Jahdae Barron. An experienced defensive back with over 2,000 career snaps, he has played all across the secondary in college but has found his best form this season as a boundary corner.

Barron has been targeted 46 times in coverage so far this season. On those throws, he has allowed just 27 completions for a paltry 200 yards. He has also been one of the best ball hawks in college football, racking up four interceptions and five pass breakups. His 32.9 passer rating allowed is the best of any SEC cornerback.

From an NFL perspective, Barron doesn’t quite have the elite athleticism teams crave at cornerback, but his instinctive playstyle paired with positional versatility and ball skills is going to turn heads amongst NFL scouts.

Shemar Turner - IDL, Texas A&M (6-4, 300, Senior)

Shemar Stewart and Nic Scourton are the big names on the Aggies defensive line, but Turner is a talented player in his own right and feels like a player whose profile will continue to grow as we enter draft season.

Much like his teammates, Turner is a big-bodied athlete who offers intriguing alignment versatility. He spent much of the past two seasons working off the edge, before kicking inside to defensive tackle under Mike Elko.

Turner has the sort of athleticism you’d expect in a player with an edge rusher background, with good first step quickness and enough twitch to test opposing linemen laterally. He also has the raw power in his hands to shock opponents on contact.

There is still room for Turner to develop as an interior player and he would benefit from further work on his pass rushing repertoire, but it is hard to ignore his NFL potential. He has the potential to be a big impact player in this game.

Will Lee III - CB, Texas A&M (6-3, 190, rs-Junior)

Most of the focus on Texas A&M’s defense has understandably been on their star-studded defensive line, but they also have NFL talent in the secondary. Nowhere is that more apparent that cornerback Will Lee.

Lee actually began his career in junior college, spending two years at Iowa Western Community College before transferring to Kansas State in 2023. After one year with the Wildcats he joined Texas A&M and has established himself as a reliable presence in their secondary.

As a prospect, there is a lot to like about Lee. He has good size, which he pairs with excellent movement skills. He is also a talented player at the catch point, forcing eight incompletions this year.

Lee is listed as questionable for this game, but if he plays then his battle with Texas’ bevy of talented receivers will be a must-watch affair for NFL scouts.

Gunnar Helm - TE, Texas (6-5, 250, Senior)

Helm has been one of the surprise packages for Texas this season. Prior to 2024, he had just 19 catches for 236 yards in three years. Through 11 games this season he has 42 catches for 544 yards and five touchdowns.

Helm is not going to wow NFL scouts with his athletic traits, but his reliable hands and hard-nosed playstyle give him a high floor and are going to appeal to coaches at the next level. He also shows good after the catch ability, forcing 11 missed tackles and averaging seven yards after the catch this season.

Helm’s best performances of the season have tended to come in high profile matchups. He had 98 yards against Michigan, 91 yards against Oklahoma, and 62 yards against Georgia. Can he have another strong performance this weekend in a rivalry game?

Alfred Collins - IDL, Texas (6-5, 320, Senior)

One of the most experienced players in this matchup is Texas defensive tackle Alfred Collins. Collins has over 1,600 career snaps and has been a contributor for the Longhorns since his freshman season back in 2020.

He has been playing the best football of his career this season, earning a reputation as one of the best run defenders in the SEC and logging a career-high 20 defensive stops.

As a former five-star prospect, it should come as no surprise that Collins has all of the physical goods that you look for in the trenches, with impressive size and the athleticism to cause problems at the NFL level.

Despite his experience, he is still a little raw as a technician and will definitely need some work in order to hit his ceiling in the pros. Seeing how he fares this weekend against a good Aggies rushing attack will be interesting to watch.

JACK BRENTNALL

HEAD OF NFL DRAFT CONTENT

Previously the founder of The Jet Sweep, Jack joined The Touchdown as head of Draft Content in 2024. A Scouting Academy alumnus, Jack has been Covering the NFL Draft since 2020. Follow him on Twitter @Jack_Brentnall.

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