All Access Football Report: Week 17
Merry Christmas from All Access Football, as we bring you the Week 17 Report, along with a look at the top draft-eligible prospects from college bowl teams.
Volume XXIV Edition LXXXVII || All Access Football Report: Week 17
Welcome to the December 25, 2024, Christmas edition of the All Access Football Newsletter, Presented By Sports Management Worldwide.
Sports Management Worldwide is the ‘global leader in sports education,’ offering over 80 courses, specifically designed to advance your sports career. Gain a competitive edge in the sports industry with SMWW and prepare for your future!
All Access Football Report: Week 17
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from our All Access Football family, to you and your loved ones! Nothing like an NFL doubleheader to break up the marathon of bowl games leading up to New Year’s Day. Four of the best teams in the AFC will square off today, in what should be a good barometer test for the playoffs.
The Chiefs look to clinch the No.1 seed against a Steelers team who is suddenly reeling after we sang their praise here just several weeks ago, while the Texans look to stake their claim as true challengers and stave off a Ravens team that has struggled to defeat quality clubs (see; Chiefs, Steelers, Eagles).
Our NFL Power Rankings below might appear different than most. That is due to the fact that our power rankings are based on who the best team is right now (good old eye test) and which squad is best built for the postseason. It is why our preseason Super Bowl favorite Rams are listed, in addition to the bayou Bengals who look as if they would have no problem matching up against anyone at the moment.
In today’s newsletter, you’ll also find an updated 2025 NFL Draft order, along with our Top 10 Big Board, plus pro prospects for the upcoming three college bowl games set to be played on Thursday. Be sure to check back soon for an expanded look at this weekend’s bowl game contests, including projections for all players on the NFL radar.
You may notice some added new features when poking around the AAF website. We are ecstatic to announce the addition of Brian Baldinger to our team! Known for his legendary ‘Baldys Breakdowns,’ he’ll be providing exclusive film breakdowns on draft prospects starting in January.
In addition, All Access Football will be providing monthly scouting workshop seminars with Baldy, moderated by longtime draftnik Ric Serritella. It’s an aded bonus for our premium subscribers, as we prepare to pass forward the knowledge that has been accumulated over decades of evaluation. We look forward to sharing our tips and answering your questions about scouting.
More expanded coverage will include a weekly NFL Draft show, hosted by Baldy & Ric. You’ll be able to catch a livestream version of the broadcast across our social media platforms and the audio will be produced into a podcast, which will be sent to all subscribers, also launching in January.
Our 24th year of providing independent draft analysis promises to be our best yet! In celebration of it all, AAF is currently running a holiday sale for those who wish to upgrade their membership status. We greatly appreciate all of your support and are proud to announce the return of the NFL Draft Bible PDF publication, which will be emailed to all premium subscribers.
*May your day be full of happiness, joy and love. Now onto football …
NFL POWER RANKINGS
A few weeks ago, the Steelers at Chiefs matchup appeared to have been a possible AFC Championship preview. However, after consecutive blowout losses to the Eagles 27-13 and Ravens 34-17, the Steelers suddenly look to be a notch below the elite competition in the National Football League.
With the Texans hosting the Ravens at home, we will find out if they are made of mettle. There were big expectations in Houston headed into the season. While they have achieved a winning record at 9-6, we have excluded them from our latest power rankings due to losses against the Vikings, Packers, Lions and Chiefs, plus mounting injuries. A loss to the Ravens would make the Texans serious pretenders.
On Sunday, the Packers travel to the Vikings in a ‘Black and Blue’ divisional matchup that will have playoff ramifications for positioning in the NFC. The Vikings rattled off five wins to begin the season, instantly shooting them atop the standings. Next, they lost back-to-back games against the Lions and Rams, leaving many to question whether or not they were legitimate. Minnesota has since rattled off another eight consecutive victories. A win over the Packers would make them contenders and setup a revenge game in a season finale versus the Lions, buckle up.
Who Dey!? Lookout for them Bengals. Winners of their last three games, no one on the planet is playing at a higher level than Joe Burrow (pictured below, courtesy: Bengals) right now. In what might be the ‘Game of the Week,’ the Bengals host the bucking Broncos on Saturday, as they seek to keep their playoff hopes alive and crack our ‘Top 10’ for the first time all season.
RK | TEAM | RECORD
Buffalo Bills (12-3)
Kansas City Chiefs (14-1)
Philadelphia Eagles (12-3)
Detroit Lions (13-2)
Los Angeles Rams (9-6)
Baltimore Ravens (10-5)
Green Bay Packers (11-4)
Minnesota Vikings (13-2)
Washington Commanders (10-5)
Cincinnati Bengals (7-8)
2025 NFL DRAFT ORDER (AS OF TODAY)
The standings for the number one overall pick is creating more drama each week than the NFL playoff race. As of today, the Giants, losers of their last 10 games, would own the top selection. Currently, there are five organizations with three wins, followed by three teams who have four wins, in a season that has produced a large number of bad teams.
Of this cluster, surely the Giants (first), Titans (fourth) and Raiders (sixth) would be in the market for a quarterback. The problem is that only two signal-callers are projected to land inside the top ten. More on that below.
PICK | TEAM | RECORD | STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
New York Giants (2-13) [.553]
New England Patriots (3-12) [.463]
Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12) [.482]
Tennessee Titans (3-12) [.514]
Cleveland Browns (3-12) [.529]
Las Vegas Raiders (3-12) [.541]
Carolina Panthers (4-11) [.494]
New York Jets (4-11) [.502]
Chicago (4-11) [.561]
New Orleans (5-10) [.506]
2025 NFL DRAFT BIG BOARD
The latest news out of Athens surrounding quarterback Carson Beck is that he will resume throwing this spring after undergoing successful surgery this week on his throwing shoulder to repair his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), effectively ending his season.
While Beck had fallen out of our ‘Top 10 Big Board,’ he still remained a viable first round prospect. The question now becomes whether Beck will return back to college for another season, the NIL money could make it an alluring proposition. It would be one less available option in a somewhat down year for quarterbacks, with so many NFL teams in need of one.
Another player whose season is officially over is Tennessee pass-rusher James Pearce Jr. Considered to be the top edge prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft, Pearce Jr. registered two tackles for loss during the Volunteers playoff elimination defeat to Ohio State.
The second round of the College Football Playoff will feature bluechip prospects such as left tackle Kelvin Banks of Texas, running back Ashton Jeanty of Boise State and safety stud Malaki Starks of Georgia.
RANK | PLAYER | POSITION | SCHOOL | YEAR | HEIGHT | WEIGHT | FORTY
Travis Hunter, CB, Colorado, Jr, 6001, 181, 4.52
Mason Graham, DT, Michigan, Jr, 6024, 320, 4.95
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado, Sr, 6012, 198, 4.70
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State, Jr, 5082, 217, 4.50
Will Johnson, CB, Michigan, Jr, 6020, 202, 4.44
Kelvin Banks Jr, OT, Texas, Jr, 6036, 320, 5.21
James Pearce Jr., ER, Tennessee, Jr., 6036, 242, 4.55
Malaki Starks, S, Georgia, Jr, 6010, 205, 4.48
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona, Jr, 6040, 210, 4.45
Cameron Ward, QB, Miami, Sr, 6020, 220, 4.65
ALL ACCESS FOOTBALL CONSULTING
Navigate the NFL Draft process with confidence and convenience, at an incredibly cost-effective rate. Gain insights into the myriad of pre-draft training options, master the art of communicating with NFL evaluators, and build a brand for your clients that ensures success beyond the field. Are you concerned about the lack of a pro day at your client's school? Or perhaps your clients haven't been invited to the NFL Scouting Combine? Are you baffled by the array of third-party offerings? Optimize your client's potential! Engage our services to implement the most intelligent approach to the pre-draft process, and impress your clients by appearing as a true professional.
All Access Football will be taking on a handful of new clients for the 2025 and 2026 NFL Draft cycles. For more information visit here, or contact: ric@allaccessfootball.com
NFL DRAFT WATCH: GAME ABOVE SPORTS BOWL
Pittsburgh Panthers (7-5) vs Toledo Rockets (7-5)
Ford Field (Detroit, Michigan) || Thursday, December 26, 2024 || 2:00pm ESPN
Note: With opt-outs, NIL, the transfer portal and draft announcements all transpiring at once, tracking which players will actually participate in bowl games remains fluid.
Below is a list of prospects eligible for the 2025 NFL Draft for the GameAbove Bowl between the Pittsburgh Panthers and Toledo Rockets, along with their draft projections according to NFL Draft Bible.
PITTSBURGH PANTHERS
POSITION | PLAYER | YEAR | HEIGHT | WEIGHT | FORTY | PROJECTION
TE Gavin Bartholomew, Sr, 6050, 255, 4.70, Day 3
WR Konata Mumpfield, Sr, 5112, 184, 4.50, Day 3
RB Desmond Reid, Jr, 5075, 175, 4.49, HPFA
K Ben Sauls, rSr, 5085, 185, 5.00, HPFA
OG Ryan Jacoby, rSr, 6042, 305, 5.20, HPFA
S Donovan McMillon, Sr, 6015, 205, 4.52, PFA
OT Branson Taylor, rSr, 6050, 335, 5.20 [INJ]
TOLEDO ROCKETS
POSITION | PLAYER | YEAR | HEIGHT | WEIGHT | FORTY | PROJECTION
DT Darius Alexander, rSr, 6040, 305, 5.15, Day 3
S Maxen Hook, Sr, 6006, 207, 4.52, Day 3
WR Jerjuan Newton, rSr, 5110, 192, 4.50, HPFA
TE Anthony Torres, rSr, 6066, 250, 4.95, PFA
CB Zeke Blake, Sr, 6021, 194, 4.52, PFA
LB Lance Dixon, rSr, 6022, 227, 4.50, PFA
LB Daniel Bolden, Sr, 6000, 242, 4.80, PFA
NFL DRAFT WATCH: RATE BOWL
Rutgers Scarlet Knights (7-5) vs Kansas State Wildcats (8-4)
Chase Field (Phoenix, Arizona) || Thursday, December 26, 2024 || 5:30pm ESPN
Note: With opt-outs, NIL, the transfer portal and draft announcements all transpiring at once, tracking which players will actually participate in bowl games remains fluid.
Below is a list of prospects eligible for the 2025 NFL Draft for the Rate Bowl between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and Kansas State Wildcats, along with their draft projections according to NFL Draft Bible.
RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS
POSITION | PLAYER | YEAR | HEIGHT | WEIGHT | FORTY | PROJECTION
RB Kyle Monagai, Sr, 5090, 210, 4.54, Day 2
LB Tyreem Powell, Sr, 6050, 240, 4.62, Day 3
LB Mohamed Toure, rSr, 6010, 233, 4.60, rSr [INJ]
WR Dymere Miller, rSr, 5112, 280, 4.49, HPFA
CB Robert Longerbeam, rSr, 5110, 175, 4.50, PFA
S Desmond Igbinosun, Sr, 6021, 213, 4.57, PFA
OT Hollin Pierce, rSr, 6080, 340, 5.20, PFA
S Shaquan Loyal, Sr, 6000, 208, 4.52, PFA
DT Kyonte Hamilton, rSr, 6031, 295, 5.05, PFA
LS Austin Rigg, Sr, 6032, 230, 4.90, HPFA
S Flip Dixon, rSr, 6020, 210, 4.60, PFA
DE Aaron Lewis, rSr, 6050, 260, 4.72, PFA
DE Wesley Bailey, Sr, 6050, 260, 4.80 [CFL Draft]
KANSAS STATE WILDCATS
POSITION | PLAYER | YEAR | HEIGHT | WEIGHT | FORTY | PROJECTION
RB DJ Giddens, rJr, 6001, 216, 4.55, Day 2
CB Jacob Parrish, Jr, 5100, 183, 4.53, Day 3
S Marques Single, Sr, 5110, 187, 4.53, PFA
WR Dante Cephus, rSr, 6002, 193, 4.50, PFA
OT Easton Kilty, Sr, 6054, 309, 5.10, PFA
OT Carver Willis, rSr, 6046, 295, 5.00, PFA
DT Uso Seumalo, Sr, 6030, 334, 5.25, PFA
OG Hadley Panzer, rSr, 6035, 305, 5.20, PFA
LB Austin Moore, rSr, 6006, 222, 4.70, PFA
NFL DRAFT WATCH: 68 VENTURES BOWL
Arkansas State Red Wolves (7-5) vs Bowling Green Falcons (7-5)
Hancock Whitney Stadium (Mobile, Alabama) || Thursday, December 26, 2024 || 9:00pm ESPN
Note: With opt-outs, NIL, the transfer portal and draft announcements all transpiring at once, tracking which players will actually participate in bowl games remains fluid.
Below is a list of prospects eligible for the 2025 NFL Draft for the 68 Ventures Bowl between the Arkansas Red Wolves and Bowling Green Falcons, along with their draft projections according to NFL Draft Bible.
ARKANSAS STATE RED WOLVES
POSITION | PLAYER | YEAR | HEIGHT | WEIGHT | FORTY | PROJECTION
C Jacob Bayer, rSr, 6025, 310, 5.15, HPFA
WR Corey Rucker, rSr, 6000, 215, 4.54, PFA
OG Mehki Butler, rSr 6026, 320, 5.30, PFA
WR Courtney Jackson, rSr, 5112, 190, 4.49, PFA
BOWLING GREEN FALCONS
POSITION | PLAYER | YEAR | HEIGHT | WEIGHT | FORTY | PROJECTION
TE Harold Fannin, Jr, 6030, 231, 4.70, Day 2
CB Darius McClendon, rSr, 6016, 190, 4.55, PFA
CB Jordan Oladokun, Sr, 5110, 185, 4.60, PFA
QB Connor Bazelak, rSr, 6026, 225, 4.88, PFA
SENIOR BOWL SCOUT SCHOOL WITH AAF
Monday, January 27 - Wednesday, January 29, 2025 || Mobile, Alabama
"A Three-Day Scouting Program Tailored to Enhance Your Evaluation Skills."
The Founding Member subscription is exclusive to the first 15 registrants. Prepare for an elite scouting adventure with Baldy & Ric at the Reese's Senior Bowl. Dive into the action on the field and gain invaluable, firsthand insights from Baldy & Ric throughout the event. Experience the scouting process in Mobile, the epicenter of the football world, where you could encounter some unexpected and influential figures during your journey. We look forward to seeing you there!
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
January 27: Senior Bowl Meet & Greet Mixer At Veets Bar & Grill Sponsored By Sports Management Worldwide (upstairs private party room).
January 28-29: Shadow scouts and rub elbows with NFL executives on-site at Senior Bowl practices during the day. Classroom film sessions at night, featuring Baldy’s Breakdowns.
REGISTRATION INCLUDES:
All Access Football Scouting Manual
All Access Football Annual Pass (12 Baldy’s Breakdown Seminars)
Copy of 2025 NFL Draft Bible PDF
Reese’s Senior Bowl Swag Bag (Notebook/Gear)
All Access Football Apprenticeship Certificate (Upon Completion)
Attendees will be guided by Baldy & Ric and hear from industry stalwarts such as Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy and legendary scout Mark Gorscak.
JIM NAGY || Since 2018, Jim Nagy has served as the executive director of the Reese's Senior Bowl, overseeing both the football and business aspects while highlighting the top senior college football talents in the nation. Prior to this role, he accumulated 18 years of experience as an NFL scout, contributing to four Super Bowl victories with teams including the Green Bay Packers (Super Bowl XXXI), New England Patriots (Super Bowls XXXVIII & XXXIX), and Seattle Seahawks (Super Bowl XLVIII). Additionally, Nagy has held scouting positions with the Kansas City Chiefs and Washington Commanders.
MARK GORSCAK || With a 28-year tenure as a scout for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Gorscak contributed to two Super Bowl victories (XL & XLIII). After retiring from the NFL in 2023, he joined the scouting team for the Senior Bowl. He remains well-known for starting the forty-yard dash at the NFL Combine, a role he has fulfilled for over two decades. Before his NFL career, Gorscak spent 16 years coaching at both high school and college levels. He also holds the honor of being the inaugural General Manager of the Pittsburgh Gladiators (AFL) and was awarded the C.O. Brocato Memorial Award for Lifetime Service in NFL Scouting in 2022.
*This Founding Membership is a unique opportunity to learn from over 200 years of collective scouting expertise!