Notre Dame vs. Indiana: Top NFL draft prospects to watch in CFP round one
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This week marks the beginning of the expanded College Football Playoff (CFP). Twelve teams will have a chance for the national championship for the first time in Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) history.
Things kick off on Friday with No. 7 Notre Dame hosting No. 10 Indiana. Notre Dame is back in the CFP for the first time since 2020 and just the third time overall. Indiana is making its debut in the playoff after a turnaround season under first-year coach Curt Cignetti.
Due to the national broadcast, this may be the first time many fans are watching these top-tier teams. Here are three players from each side to watch out for ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft:
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Notre Dame’s top NFL draft prospects
- S Xavier Watts (#0): The Fighting Irish safety is one of the best at the position in this class. He’s a standout run defender with the high motor wanted at the position. He lacks high-end speed which could limit him in coverage at the NFL level.
- Projection: Late Round 1/early Round 2
- DL Rylie Wills (#99): Wills is an imposing presence at 6-foot-5 and 295 lbs. with a remarkable burst off the line. His 40-yard dash time (estimated around 4.8 seconds) at his size should be impressive and may push him up some draft boards. He will need time to develop that athleticism to better on-field production.
- QB Riley Leonard (#13): Notre Dame’s transfer quarterback has above-average mobility and a strong arm that can push deep throws when timed well. But his lower body mechanics are concerning at this point and decision-making under pressure needs improvement. He compares relatively well to Ryan Tannehill.
Indiana’s top NFL draft prospects
- Edge Mikail Kamara (#6): Kamara followed Cignetti to Indiana from James Madison University. His first step and powerful hands in a 6-foot-1, 260-lb. frame means he can likely line up at multiple spots on the defensive line. His lack of length means he’s likely a designated pass rusher at the NFL level.
- Projection: Late Round 2/early Round 3.
- QB Kurtis Rourke (#9): The transfer from Ohio University tied a school record with six passing touchdowns against Purdue on Nov. 30. His advanced metrics are outstanding — only first-round pick Cam Ward has a higher QBR — and his counting stats are good as well with a 71.8% completion rate and just four interceptions. He’s an older, big, pure pocket passer type of prospect who projects as a solid backup at this point.
- Projection: Late Round 4/early Round 5.
- DI CJ West (#8): West has the size (6-foot-2, 317 lbs.) of a true run-stuffing nose tackle. He was a multi-year starter at Kent State before transferring to Indiana. He’s spent most of the season lined up inside and has struggled against Indiana’s toughest opponents. His high motor and aggressive play style will win evaluators over.
How to watch Notre Dame vs. Indiana in CFP first round
- Date: Friday, Dec. 20, 2024
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- Location: Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, Ind.
- TV: ABC, ESPN
- Streaming: ESPN+, fuboTV
Watch select CFP games with Fubo
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