Matt Leinart weighs in on who should go No. 1 in NFL Draft
Fox Sports’ Matt Leinart discusses the differences between Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft.
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Eight teams remain in contention in the College Football Playoff. The College Football Playoff (CFP) quarterfinals kick off with the Fiesta Bowl between the No. 3 seed Boise State Broncos (12-1) and the No. 6 seed Penn State Nittany Lions (12-2).
After earning the third seed in the playoffs, Boise State took the first round off. The Broncos won their final 11 games of the regular season and their second consecutive Mountain West Conference title behind star running back Ashton Jeanty. The Heisman Trophy runner-up leads the country in carries and rushing yards and could break Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing record in the Fiesta Bowl.
Penn State lost the Big 10 championship game to No. 1 seed Oregon, so it didn’t get a bye to open the CFP. The Nittany Lions jumped out to a 28-0 lead at home against SMU by halftime before cruising to a 38-10 win. Penn State’s defense shined, forcing three turnovers and limiting the Mustangs to 253 total yards of offense.
These two teams have plenty on the line in Tuesday’s Fiesta Bowl, featuring tons of future NFL talent. Here are the top five players in the Fiesta Bowl who will be selected in the 2025 NFL draft and their latest draft projection:
In one of the best running back draft classes in years, Jeanty stands a slight step above the others. He’s not exceptionally fast or big for the position, but he’s a top-tier prospect due to his mix of burst, elite contact balance, and patience when needed. With a bowling ball-like build, he projects as an every-down running back who can immediately lead an NFL rushing attack.
Though running backs are devalued early, Jeanty will likely hear his name called on night one of the draft. He may fall out of the top 15 due to the impressively deep class, but it would be a shock for him to fall out of the top 32 picks.
Carter is the latest in a line of explosive, athletic edge rushers from Penn State. His burst and athleticism at 6-foot-3 and 259 lbs. make him a top threat off the edge. He switched from off-ball linebacker to edge rusher ahead of this season and thrived. Against SMU, he put on a show with his pass rush plan in addition to his elite athleticism.
Warren’s the top tight end prospect remaining in the CFP. The John Mackey Award winner (given to the top tight end in college football) had four catches for 33 yards against SMU. The 6-foot-6, 255-lb. tight end is a smooth athlete with the ball skills to be a threat from multiple spots on offense. He’s no slouch as a blocker, either, and put that on display against SMU.
This draft’s safety class includes many Day 2 players who could be major contributors early on. Winston Jr. included. The 6-foot-2, 205-lb. safety became a full-time starter as a sophomore and quickly played his way into a top-100 player of the class. He’s one of the best tacklers at the position in the class with the athleticism to play slot cornerback/nickel safety in the NFL.
Singleton may have to wait for his name to be called on Day 2 of the draft but he’ll likely be a steal for whichever team selects him. At 6-foot-1 and close to 230 lbs., Singleton is a ridiculous athlete with the skills to be an every-down back in the NFL. He’s been part of a platoon with Penn State and is sometimes inconsistent but has promise for a more prominent role in the NFL.