Upton Stout 2025 NFL Draft: CB Western Kentucky Scouting Report
Upton Stout, a tenacious and versatile defensive back, enters the 2025 NFL Draft after a strong three-year run at Western Kentucky, capped by First-Team All-Conference USA honors in 2024. A former North Texas standout, Stout’s physical play and experience make him an intriguing prospect in this year’s cornerback class.
Upton Stout 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Upton Stout, a Houston native, emerged from North Shore High School as a three-star recruit in the 2020 class. After starting his collegiate career at North Texas, where he logged 35 tackles in eight games as a freshman, Stout transferred to Western Kentucky in 2022. Over three seasons with the Hilltoppers, he established himself as a versatile and tenacious defensive back, earning First-Team All-Conference USA honors in 2024.
With 45 career games under his belt, including stints both outside and in the slot, Stout’s journey has been marked by steady growth, competitive fire, and a knack for making plays. Invited to the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine, he’s poised to make a case for himself as an early Day 3 prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft.
HT: 5084
WT: 181
HAND: 900
ARM: 3000
40: 4.44
Strengths
- Athletic Fluidity: Stout is a twitchy mover with a smooth backpedal and quick hips that allow him to mirror receivers effectively. His ability to sink his hips and explode out of breaks is impressive for an undersized corner.
- Competitive Toughness: He plays with a relentless motor and a chip-on-the-shoulder mentality. He’s not afraid to mix it up with bigger receivers or stick his nose in the run game, showing a physicality that misrepresents his frame.
- Versatility: Proven capable of lining up outside and in the slot, with 355 slot snaps in 2024 alone. His transition to nickel in his final season highlighted his adaptability and willingness to embrace a new role.
- Ball Skills: Stout’s six career interceptions—including two pick-sixes—demonstrate his ability to track the ball and capitalize on quarterback mistakes. His timing at the catch point is a standout trait.
- Run Support: An eager tackler who attacks downhill, Stout posted a team-high 7.5 tackles for loss in 2024. He’s a willing run defender who uses quick hands to shed blocks and pursues with intensity.
- Football IQ: Pre-snap recognition and post-snap processing are above average. He reads quarterbacks’ eyes well and adjusts to route combinations with discipline.
Areas for Improvement
- Size Limitations: At his size, Stout lacks the length and mass to handle bigger physical receivers consistently. He can get bodied off his spot by taller targets in contested catch situations.
- Man Coverage Struggles: While fluid, he lacks elite top-end speed to stick with burners deep. True speedsters can create separation if he doesn’t disrupt early.
- Injury History: He missed five games in 2023 due to a shoulder injury, raising durability concerns for a player reliant on physicality despite his smaller frame.
- Overaggressiveness: His feisty demeanor occasionally leads to penalties (15 in his career) or missed tackles when he doesn’t stay controlled. He can get caught lunging instead of wrapping up.
- Limited Ceiling: Size and modest length likely cap him as a nickel-only prospect at the next level, reducing his scheme versatility compared to bigger corners.
Conclusion
On tape, Stout pops as a high-energy defender who thrives in chaos. Against Sam Houston in 2024, he snagged an interception by reading the QB’s eyes and undercutting a slant, showcasing his instincts. His 2022 pick-six against Austin Peay highlights his burst and vision with the ball in his hands. In run support, he’s a missile downhill—watch him knife into the backfield for a TFL against UTEP. However, against taller receivers like South Alabama’s Caullin Lacy, he struggles to contest jump balls, often relying on timing rather than physical dominance. His slot reps in 2024 show improved leverage and block-shedding, but his lack of length leaves a slim margin for error on redirects.
Furthermore, similar to Mackensie Alexander, Stout is an undersized, scrappy nickel with quick feet and a nose for the ball. Both compensate for size with aggression and football smarts, though Stout’s run defense gives him a slight physical edge.
Overall, Stout profiles as a Day 3 pick (Rounds 4-5) in the 2025 NFL Draft. His athletic profile, tenacity, and special teams upside make him a solid developmental piece for a team needing nickel depth. He’s best suited for a Cover 1 or zone-heavy scheme where his instincts and closing burst can shine. Early in his career, he’ll likely contribute on special teams while refining his footwork and tackling consistency. Long-term, he has the tools to carve out a 6-8-year role as a rotational nickel or sub-package defender.
Stout’s size and ceiling keep him out of the elite tier. However, his playmaking, versatility, and grit make him a sleeper worth betting on. He’s the kind of player who wins over coaches and teammates with effort and delivers more than his measurables suggest. Look for him in Round 4 of the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft.
Round Grade: 4th Round
Stats: Per Sports Reference
| Season | Team | G | Solo | Ast | TFL | Sk | Int | PD |
| 2020* | North Texas | 8 | 24 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2021* | North Texas | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2022* | Western Kentucky | 14 | 29 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| 2023* | Western Kentucky | 7 | 19 | 10 | 2 | 0.5 | 1 | 8 |
| 2024* | Western Kentucky | 12 | 29 | 23 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Career | 45 | 105 | 61 | 12 | 1.5 | 6 | 15 |
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