2025 NFL Draft Preview
4/23/2025 1:55:00 PM | Football
Houston hopefuls eye next level as NFL Draft gets underway Thursday
GREEN BAY, Wisc. – University of Houston Football looks to make it ten consecutive years with an NFL Draft selection when the annual three-day, seven-round event gets underway at 7 p.m. CT, Thursday, from lots surrounding Lambeau Field and the Resch Complex in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Schedule
On-Air Coverage
Live coverage of the NFL draft can be found on ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes and the NFL Network.
Streaming coverage is also available on ESPN+, YouTube TV, Hulu+ Live TV, Fubo TV and Sling TV.
By the Numbers: Coogs in the NFL Draft
Houston Hopefuls: 2025 NFL Draft
Houston quarterback Donovan Smith projects to be the first former player off the board. Smith started in all 12 Houston games his junior year. Smith completed 64.5% of his passes for 2,801 yards and 22 touchdowns, while also contributing 241 rushing yards and two touchdowns in his final four games.
Smith's performance placed him among the Big 12's top quarterbacks, ranking third in completion percentage and fourth in completions per game. As a senior, Smith completed the season high of 24 passes, and the season-best of 85.7% of passes.
Smith, who ranks 270 on NFL Draft Buzz's Top 400 draft board, is accompanied by Maliq Carr (377) in this year's draft. Carr tallied 100+ receiving yards for fourth straight season and finished the year fourth on team in receiving yards (186) and receptions (19).
Houston defensive lineman Keith Cooper Jr., and linebacker Michael Batton are projected to be the first former defensive players off the board.
Cooper Jr., was a Second Team All-Big 12 Conference selection in 2024 after starting all 12 games for the Cougars, leading the team in sacks (3.5) and was second among all Big 12 edge rushers with 10 quarterback hits. Cooper Jr., set a career-best nine tackles on Senior Night and posted a career-best 46 tackles in his final collegiate season.
Batton was named to the Phil Steel All-Big 12 Conference Fourth Team after starting all 12 games at linebacker for Houston and finishing fifth in the Big 12 and 51st nationally in tackles (94) while leading the Cougars in tackles the final five games of the season. Batton put together three double-digit tackle games which was 21st among Power 4 conference linebackers.
Did You Know: Coogs in the NFL Draft
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Football by purchasing season tickets, renewing their seats, supporting LinkingCoogs – UH's very own NIL collective and by joining 46ers and The Huddle which provides financial support directly to Houston Football for needs beyond its operating budget.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarFB on X, formerly known as Twitter, and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at Houston Cougar Football. Fans can also follow the team on Instagram at uhcougarfb.
Schedule
- Thursday, April 24 (First Round): 7 p.m. CT
- Friday, April 25 (Rounds 2-3): 6 p.m. CT
- Saturday, April 26 (Rounds 3-7): 11 a.m. CT
On-Air Coverage
Live coverage of the NFL draft can be found on ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes and the NFL Network.
Streaming coverage is also available on ESPN+, YouTube TV, Hulu+ Live TV, Fubo TV and Sling TV.
By the Numbers: Coogs in the NFL Draft
- 193 all-time NFL Draft selections
- 9 straight seasons with a draft pick (2016-present)
- Trails only Texas A&M (17) among in-state schools
- 3+ players selected on six occasions since 2016
- Second among all programs in Texas (Texas A&M – 8)
Houston Hopefuls: 2025 NFL Draft
Houston quarterback Donovan Smith projects to be the first former player off the board. Smith started in all 12 Houston games his junior year. Smith completed 64.5% of his passes for 2,801 yards and 22 touchdowns, while also contributing 241 rushing yards and two touchdowns in his final four games.
Smith's performance placed him among the Big 12's top quarterbacks, ranking third in completion percentage and fourth in completions per game. As a senior, Smith completed the season high of 24 passes, and the season-best of 85.7% of passes.
Smith, who ranks 270 on NFL Draft Buzz's Top 400 draft board, is accompanied by Maliq Carr (377) in this year's draft. Carr tallied 100+ receiving yards for fourth straight season and finished the year fourth on team in receiving yards (186) and receptions (19).
Houston defensive lineman Keith Cooper Jr., and linebacker Michael Batton are projected to be the first former defensive players off the board.
Cooper Jr., was a Second Team All-Big 12 Conference selection in 2024 after starting all 12 games for the Cougars, leading the team in sacks (3.5) and was second among all Big 12 edge rushers with 10 quarterback hits. Cooper Jr., set a career-best nine tackles on Senior Night and posted a career-best 46 tackles in his final collegiate season.
Batton was named to the Phil Steel All-Big 12 Conference Fourth Team after starting all 12 games at linebacker for Houston and finishing fifth in the Big 12 and 51st nationally in tackles (94) while leading the Cougars in tackles the final five games of the season. Batton put together three double-digit tackle games which was 21st among Power 4 conference linebackers.
Did You Know: Coogs in the NFL Draft
- Fifteen Houston players have been selected in the First Round with Payton Turner becoming the latest to do so with the 28th overall pick in 2021.
- Rooting for your Coogs to stay "in the city?" Tank Dell became the first Cougar to be selected by the Texans in franchise history in 2023. Prior to that, 11 Cougars were selected by the Houston Oilers with the last coming courtesy of Lamar Lathon's 15th overall pick in 1990. The Texans have nine picks in the 2024 NFL Draft with the first at No. 42 overall in Round 2.
- The Carolina Panthers are the only NFL franchise to have never drafted a UH player. The Denver Broncos lead the way with the most all-time UH selections (12).
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Football by purchasing season tickets, renewing their seats, supporting LinkingCoogs – UH's very own NIL collective and by joining 46ers and The Huddle which provides financial support directly to Houston Football for needs beyond its operating budget.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarFB on X, formerly known as Twitter, and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at Houston Cougar Football. Fans can also follow the team on Instagram at uhcougarfb.
– UHCougars.com –
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