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2025 NFL Draft Stock Report: 68 Ventures Bowl

2025 NFL Draft
The 2025 NFL Draft Stock Report covers the 68 Ventures Bowl between Arkansas State and Bowling Green. Which prospects should we talk about? (Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images)

2025 NFL Draft Stock Report: 68 Ventures Bowl

The 2025 NFL Draft Stock Report series continues with the 68 Ventures Bowl. Yes, you bet your ass I watched this mid off game between Arkansas State and Bowling Green. It’s Bowl szn. You the viewer can continue to pretend this clownshow playoff is the end all be all. You can learn just as much from some of these Bowl games.

Obviously, we’re talking about late round guys with this post… but there just might be one exception. Enjoy the 2025 NFL Draft notes for the 68 Ventures Bowl!

Arkansas State

Jackson Law’s series in the EA Sports College video game makes this such a better watch.

Watching Jaylen Raynor is hilarious. It’s like watching Jordan Travis if he snorted a bunch of coke and ate a Mario mushroom at the same time. The guy is like a mom going through menopause ready to try cigarettes for the first time after going 10 years without a vacation. Guy is a hot mess. Athletically belongs. Not a real quarterback either. The connection to Corey Rucker was the best thing they had going.

Where is Rivers when you need him? The Red Wolves won the game 38-31. He made enough plays to win the game but there was a whole lot of ugly mixed in. Raynor is just a sophomore and could keep getting better. He’s 6-foot though and never is going to be one of those aircraft carriers that tilts the field. It’s a matter of if he can do Taysom Hill things. Which is still shocking to me that none of these mobile quarterbacks have figured out a way to make that transition since.

Speaking of Corey Rucker, four catches for 107 yards and two scores. Junior receiver who had over 1,000 yards this past year. Likely will return to school. 6-foot and got over the top of the defense in this one. Showed some flashes. Obviously, we’re talking about late round / undrafted territory right now. Maybe he can take his game to another level next year.

Ja’Quez Cross & Zak Wallace were heavily involved in helping guide this win. This combo is a true thunder and lightning duo. Cross can do the wiggle moves and catch. Wallace is the pure hammer. Wallace is in his 6th collegiate season so he should dominate. I won’t lie though, for a 226 pound hammer, he had more short area burst than I thought he would.

15 carries for 99 yards and a score for Wallace. Has power but I’ll reiterate, I was pleasantly surprised by the first gear foot speed he had. I wouldn’t totally bury the guy yet.

Cross, I thought, looked alright. Eight carries for 38 yards and caught five balls too. Only had 115 carries all year. Wonder what he looks like next year if he can take on a full workload with the hammer in the mix. That will probably be the real test.

This Charles Willekes flashed a bit. Compared to the rest of the defense, he popped off the screen a bit. Led the team with 11 tackles but also had a PBU and TFL. 6-foot-1, 225, linebacker that seems to play along the line of scrimmage in rushing situations. Maybe a situational hybrid rusher guy teams can use.

Keep an eye on this center Jacob Bayer too. He might be NFL good. Late round good but he’s a guy to keep tabs on during the predraft process. We’ll see if he looks like he belongs when that stuff gears up.

Bowling Green

Connor Bazelak might be better than Cooper Rush if that counts for anything. Rush has a noodle arm. This one might be a tick better. 32/49 with 390 yards and three scores. Not sure you can say they lost because of him. He’s a pure pocket guy who looked hampered with a knee but put the ball where he needed to put it. Former Missouri guy and I bet if you gave the program truth serum, they could have very much used him. Look, we’re not talking about anything real here but he does have some size (6-foot-3) and can throw a ball. I’d put a few bucks down on him being one of the Combine throwers who stay after to help with the other position groups when the rest of the guys go home. That ticket might cash!

This Harold Fannin Jr. looks legit. It’s hard to know if you’re seeing ghosts. The level of comp in this game is what it is. He’s also capable of lining up at the actual tight end position. I’m not even sure what he is. I think he could play running back if he wanted to. He’s more of an H-Back compared to actual tight end but it feels like he can be developed into a real in-line player. He’s already semi doing it right now. It’s like watching if Ben Sinnott actually took steroids and was actually good. Dude eats in YAC. Wiggly hips and creates after contact. One drop all season. Hands were no issue in this game.

The production in the game was stupid good. Season long he was essentially historic for the position. 17 catches, 213 receiving yards, and a touchdown in the game. Season long, he now sits at 117 catches, 1,555 receiving yards, and 10 receiving touchdowns. That’s incredible stuff. You have to project these guys forward to be the most accurate in your evaluation. I just don’t know how you ignore the production here. This guy can play. I just don’t quite know how good he is yet. We’re going to find out once the level of competition vanishes when all these guys are on the field together during the pre-draft events.

Two shout outs before I close.

Jordan Oladukon found a way to intercept another ball. That’s five for him on the season now. Gotta have those guys who can take the ball away. A name to stash away to keep in mind.

Shout out to the Bowling Green punter for making this horse balls throws.

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