The NFL’s signature offseason is underway. Wisconsin, Green Bay, is wrapping up in excitement, the annual nostalgia, and the joy of embracing the future pro leaders into the lore. If there were a tool to measure the heartbeat of college athletes ready to get the call, it would look insane. When a child thought about pursuing football as his career during high school or even earlier, the NFL dream started to chase them. That dream gradually sharpens once you get into the college football mix, getting a miniature vibe of what professional football can bring. It’s difficult to pinpoint whether money, fame, or status piqued the hype. But it gives off a fairytale vibe. ESPN commentator Kirk Herbstreit tapped into that fairytale world and left a tingling message to all who await a call tonight.

Kirk Herbstreit is a former NFL quarterback who is now a commentator for ESPN. Wait, make no mistake! He never laced up his shoes for the pro. Thanks to his relatively smaller size and arm strength. The College GameDay analyst couldn’t get himself drafted for a team back in the 1992 NFL Draft. He had a brief tryout with the Pittsburgh Steelers during their rookie mini-camp, but they did not offer him a contract. Still a far-fetched dream. But that didn’t make him any less capable of reading the pulse of the NFL athletes. However, his ability to comprehend the emotional fluctuations of college players waiting for their turn is even more impressive. Being at the same pot as theirs, the veteran NFL commentator knows a future they are currently weaving in their heads. And hence, he didn’t push back to put his emotions into a perfect tribute to all the would-be NFL stars.

In a creative IG reel, Kirk made a pocket documentary featuring the current headspace of the athletes. “Is anyone gonna make it this far? Anyone? Don’t make it to the top. Thankfully, I am not just talking to anyone,” : ‘No sir’, “Welcome home.” The euphoric telephonic conversation plot between a scout and the athlete sends chills down your spine. Adding to the raw emotion, Herbstreit wrote in the caption, “Never gets old watching big dreams become a reality. Congrats to all the college football stars that are receiving the call of a lifetime tonight .”

The ESPN mogul dished flying good wishes to the kids. Who is expected to select it the quickest? Well, if it’s Herbstreit’s choice, it might be the Miami Hurricanes’ poster boy, Cam Ward. Herbstreit recently appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show,” where he was asked to identify potential prospects who could make an unexpected jump this season.

For his outstanding performance throughout the season, Ward earned a Herbie Award as Kirk Herbstreit’s top transfer in 2024. Reeling into South Florida from Washington State, Ward held off his pro dream to return to college. Later, we understood why. He topped the nation as the all-time leading passer. He broke the Miami single-season record of 3,642 passing yards and 262 completions set by Bernie Kosar in 1984. Herbstreit called him the best deep passer in the nation, heading to a pro career.

However, in a recent microscopic view, Herbstreit had the spotlight on a typical underrated product in the draft.

Kirk Herbstreit names the biggest sleeper of 2025 NFL draft

The draft is not always about who’s gaining the highest hype. This isn’t always the case. The underdogs have often risen to become stalwarts in their respective spots. It’s just that we don’t read many articles or break down many angles about them. Over the years, Ohio State’s championship squad housed one of such underrated gems. Herbstreit calls him the biggest sleeper of this year’s draft.

Herbstreit suggested it might be a wide receiver with an outstanding college career. But he couldn’t get the appreciation that he deserved for his already star-studded roster. The player in question is none other than WR Emeka Egbuka, who capped off his Buckeyes career as the leader in both yards and receptions. 2,868 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 205 receptions earned him the No. 4 rank among the 2025 NFL receiver class. Can it translate his fate to a late first round or a second? We are still riding in the smokescreen! But Herbstreit seems poised in his faith.

“The guy that I’m really excited about is Emeka Egbuka at Ohio State,” Herbstreit said. “I think he’s a Terry McLaurin type of guy. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him potentially go up. He’s a guy who not only has the physical attributes. Kind of was on the back burner the last couple of years with all of the big names in that wide receiver room.” Let time unveil the rest. For now, do your senses a favor! Let them hook into the draft night!