By PML College Football Insider
When a program ascends to the elite tier of college football, the NFL Draft inevitably becomes a second annual holiday.
For the Texas Longhorns—fresh off an undefeated SEC campaign and a National Championship victory over Nebraska—this draft class isn’t just big. It’s program-defining.
Ten Longhorns are heading to the NFL, each carrying the development, discipline, and pro-ready polish that defined this era under Coach Hirsch. Some were blue-chip prodigies. Others carved out their roles year by year. But together, they formed one of the most balanced, complete rosters ever assembled in the PML universe.
This is your 2025 Texas Longhorns Draft Class—what they became in Austin, who they are as prospects, and where their paths may lead next.
LT CALEB LOMU
Projected: Round 1–2 | Prototype Zone Tackle With Elite Feet
Few players improved their draft stock more dramatically than Caleb Lomu.
Once seen as raw but promising, he finished his Texas career as one of the premier pass-protectors in the SEC and the engine of the best O-line in the nation.
NFL Strengths
- Exceptional short-area foot quickness for a 300+ pounder
- Clean pass sets with pro-level balance
- Technically advanced punch timing—rare for his age
- Thrives in wide-zone and outside-zone concepts, your offensive bread and butter
Development Arc in Austin
Lomu transformed from “good athlete who plays OL” into an actual tackle technician. His hand usage, hip control, and ability to mirror speed rushers are the reasons NFL teams see him as an immediate contributor.
Best Fits
- Jets, Rams, Titans, Seahawks
Teams who want a long-term blindside solution.
Lomu leaves Austin ready—today—to block the NFL’s best.
TE JACK ENDRIES
Projected: Round 2–3 | Reliable, NFL-Ready Chain Mover
Jack Endries never needed flash to make noise—just toughness, timing, and trust.
When Texas needed a dependable third-down option, Endries delivered every single time.
Why Scouts Love Him
- Elite route pacing for a tight end
- Sure hands in traffic, especially vs zone
- Highly competitive blocker
- Veteran-like football IQ
Development Under Coach Hirsch
Endries grew from a complementary role player to a core offensive piece. By the playoff push, he wasn’t just part of the offense—he was the engine in key drives.
Best Fits
- Steelers, Broncos, Packers, Ravens
Endries is the kind of tight end who starts early and plays for 10 years.
HB CJ BAXTER
Projected: Round 2–4 | One-Cut Explosive Back Built for Sundays
Baxter was the heartbeat of the Longhorns’ rushing attack—smooth, explosive, and unselfish.
He leaves Texas as a fully formed NFL contributor.
Calling Cards
- Instant acceleration through the crease
- Fits wide-zone like a glove
- Natural pass-catcher
- Low-wear career, high-efficiency production
Development Arc
Baxter entered as an athlete and leaves as a vision-first professional runner. He became lethal in your stretch, counter, and RPO packages.
Best Fits
- 49ers, Dolphins, Bills, Falcons
He projects as a year-one rotational RB who could eventually start.
CB ELI BOWEN
Projected: Round 3–5 | Technician Corner With Elite Instincts
Bowen is exactly what NFL DB coaches want: polished, disciplined, and always in phase.
Strengths
- Elite route recognition
- Fluid hips and clean transitions
- Sticky man coverage
- Underrated physicality
Why His Stock Rose
Bowen played his best football against the SEC’s elite receivers. His instincts jump off the film; he anticipates breaks before WRs even commit.
Best Fits
- Chargers, Saints, Vikings, Patriots
Bowen is the kind of mid-round steal who becomes a long-term nickel or CB2.
QB MAALIK MURPHY
Projected: Round 3–5 | Big-Arm Upside Quarterback With Starter Traits
Every draft has the “moldable tools” quarterback—and this year, that’s Maalik Murphy.
NFL Strengths
- Cannon arm, top 3 in the class
- Stands tall in the pocket
- Great intermediate accuracy when rhythm is clean
- Prototypical frame
Why Teams Are Intrigued
He flashed high-end NFL throws—far-hash outs, layered seams, and deep play-action shots.
Your system helped refine his footwork, but he’s still viewed as a developmental passer with starter potential.
Best Fits
- Steelers, Raiders, Vikings, Buccaneers
Murphy’s NFL career will depend on coaching. His upside is legitimately high.
WR RYAN WINGO
Projected: Round 4–6 | Explosive, High-Ceiling WR Prospect
Wingo brought juice, spacing, and field-stretching ability to the Texas offense.
NFL Strengths
- Top-tier explosion
- Strong run-after-catch ability
- Vertical threat in any scheme
- Elite recruit pedigree that shows on tape
Development at Texas
Wingo became a weapon in your motion, stack, and bunch sets—thriving off leverage and spacing. His final season tape is his best, showing growth as a route technician.
Best Fits
- Lions, Chiefs, Bengals, Rams
He’s a classic Day 3 athlete who could become a legitimate impact WR with development.
LB LIONS LEFAU
Projected: Round 4–6 | Sideline-to-Sideline Linebacker With Burst
One of the emotional leaders of the defense, Lefau played with energy, aggression, and instinct.
Strengths
- True sideline range
- Explosive closing speed
- Strong tackler in space
- Flashes as a blitzer
Draft Appeal
His athleticism shows up on every snap. NFL teams love linebackers who can play in space—and Lefau thrives against spread offenses.
Best Fits
- Broncos, Titans, Packers, Cowboys
He projects as an immediate special-teams stud and eventual rotational linebacker.
FS DEREK WILLIAMS JR.
Projected: Round 5–7 | Smart, Physical Deep Safety
Every great defense has a communicator—yours had Derek Williams Jr.
NFL Strengths
- High football IQ, rarely fooled
- Physical tackler
- Versatile coverage ability
- Excellent pursuit angles
Draft Outlook
Williams doesn’t test like a first-rounder, but he plays like a professional. Coaches will love his discipline.
Best Fits
- Steelers, 49ers, Giants, Bucs
He’ll stick in the league because he does everything coaches trust.
C TYSON RUFFUNS
Projected: Round 3–5 | Elite Athletic Zone Center With Upside
Tyson Ruffuns is the most quietly essential member of this draft class.
While others got headlines, Ruffuns was the central nervous system of the offense—literally and figuratively.
Archetype: Athletic Zone Center
Ruffuns fits perfectly into the modern NFL trend: centers who can run, reach, climb, and redirect defenders in space.
NFL Strengths
- Elite reach-block ability—he consistently won shaded defenders
- Second-level quickness that stands out on film
- Clean snap-to-step efficiency
- Outstanding communication on blitz pickups
- Natural movement in outside-zone and stretch
Why His Stock Is Rising
Teams that run zone-heavy offenses are desperate for centers with this profile. Ruffuns’ tape shows a center who can:
- Pull across the formation
- Hit linebackers on the move
- Seal 1-techs despite size disadvantages
- Direct protections with veteran poise
Best Fits
- Dolphins, 49ers, Texans, Rams
Ruffuns is the kind of center who becomes a long-term starter, especially in a Shanahan-style offense.
THE LEGACY OF THE 2025 TEXAS DRAFT CLASS
Ten players.
Ten entirely different paths.
One unified identity.
This group not only helped return Texas to national prominence—they set the standard for what it means to be a Longhorn under Coach Hirsch.
- Lomu protected the blindside.
- Ruffuns controlled the traffic.
- Baxter carried the offense.
- Endries kept the chains moving.
- Bowen and Williams Jr. locked down the back end.
- Lefau patrolled the middle.
- Wingo stretched defenses vertically.
- Murphy launched the ball with NFL-level velocity.
And all of them forged their pro-ready identity in the same place:
Austin, Texas—where Saturdays built their Sundays.
