The College Football Playoff is set to begin Friday evening and the bracket is loaded with NFL talent. Everyone knows the household names like Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty or Penn State tight end Tyler Warren, but the pool of prospects that will play on Sundays goes much deeper.
Here’s one prospect on each side of the ball for every team that should hear their name selected next April.
(Note: Teams listed by seeding)
Johnson exploded in 2023 after transferring to Oregon to play with his high school quarterback, Bo Nix. There has been no letdown in 2024 (even with Nix off to the NFL), as Johnson’s hauled in 10 touchdowns and 22 total receptions of 15+ yards.
While slender at 165 pounds, Johnson makes up for it with unique acceleration and game-breaking speed. After tallying 11 catches for 181 yards and a touchdown against Penn State in the Big Ten Championship, we’ll see what kind of encore he has in store for the College Football Playoff.
While a lot of the attention was on Jordan Burch’s return to this defensive line, the transfer from Michigan State in Harmon has had a breakout season. He’s been a handful for interior offensive linemen, racking up 50 total pressures this year.
Georgia is littered with talent on both sides of the ball in the trenches, but the Bulldogs’ right guard, Ratledge, is a key difference maker. He missed four games in the middle of the season due to ankle surgery but has rounded into form since returning in Week 10. He also held up very well against a tough Texas front in the SEC Championship.
Walker plays both off-ball linebacker and as an edge rusher, where his athleticism really shines. He’s created 47 pressures on just 281 pass rush snaps over the last two seasons and he’s done it against a high level of competition.
A one-man offense, Jeanty is an all-around tremendous running back prospect. He has high-level agility, contact balance and vision. In 12 of his 13 games this season he had 100+ rushing yards after contact. Now, he gets to do it on the biggest stage for those doubting him due to playing in the Mountain West.
Hassanein spent much of his childhood in Egypt and didn’t play organized football until 2019. Now, he enters the College Football Playoff as a team captain who has posted 21 sacks over the last two seasons. He brings active, heavy hands as a pass rusher and has been a stout presence against the run on the edge.
Just as impressive as topping the 1,500 rushing yards mark, Skattebo also added over 500 yards receiving this year. Arizona State loves getting him in space where the 225-pounder trucks second- and third-level defenders with ease.
Alford missed 2022 due to injury and had to sit out 2023 (due to the two-time transfer rules at the time) but has loudly made his return this year in Arizona State’s secondary. He has great range on the backend to make plays against the pass.
Clemson Tigers at Texas Longhorns Game Preview
The Texas left tackle is a contender to be the first offensive lineman off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft. He plays with really good leverage and throws his hands with purpose. He missed the SEC Championship due to injury but could be back for the start of the College Football Playoff.
Barron has played everywhere in the secondary during his time at Texas but looked dominant at outside corner throughout 2024. He grabbed five interceptions while being near lockdown in coverage and can flip a game at any moment with his awareness and instincts.
Warren is a do-it-all threat for the Nittany Lions, but the NFL will specifically love his mismatch size as a pass catcher. He’s already caught 59 first downs this year, a huge jump from the 25 he had in 2023. He should be a top 20-25 pick in April.
Carter’s move from off-ball linebacker to pure pass rusher has been a success, with a pass-rush win rate over 21% this season. He’s extremely explosive off the snap, winning with outside speed, but also showing off a spin move and the ability to shoot through gaps. He’ll put on a show at the NFL Combine and go in the top 10 picks of the first round.
Connor Rogers breaks down Abdul Carter’s ability to wreck an offensive game plan, explaining why the Penn State defensive end is one of the Big Ten’s most dominant defensive forces.
Leonard took advantage of his second act after transferring from Duke to Notre Dame. He impacts the game with his legs (721 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns in 2024) just as much as he does throwing the ball. After the College Football Playoff, he’ll have the chance to improve his draft stock even further at the Senior Bowl.
Safeties with range have as much value as ever in the NFL and that’s exactly what Watts brings to the table. There aren’t many defensive backs in the country that consistently jump passes as impressively as him.
Nicole Auerbach and Joshua Perry break down what to expect in a game for the “bragging rights of the state of Indiana,” between Indiana and Notre Dame, including the positives and negatives of each team.
Egbuka is a polished route runner who creates separation vs. man, but also shows a great understanding of how to attack zone coverages. An added bonus that scouts will love is how he brings it as a run blocker snap after snap.
Williams is a wall in the middle of the defensive line that teams will want to run the ball away from. His ability to control the line of scrimmage and erase gaps is as good as it gets in this draft class.
Ahead of Tennessee and Ohio State’s first-round CFP matchup, Nicole Auerbach and Joshua Perry discuss the similarities between the two teams, including the inconsistencies on offense for both the Vols and Buckeyes.
Sampson has made the most of a starter’s workload this season, reeling off 38 runs of 10+ yards and 71 total missed tackles forced. He’s got the right balance of patience to allow his blocks to develop with the quick feet to work through congested areas.
Norman-Lott saved his best for last, wreaking havoc in his fifth year of college football with a 17.1% pass-rush win rate. He’s mastered getting under the pads of interior linemen with well-placed hands and never-ending effort.
In a quarterback class lacking depth, Rourke has a huge opportunity in front him between the College Football Playoff and the Shrine Bowl (where he has accepted an invite). He’s done an excellent job taking care of the football this season, throwing 27 touchdowns to just 4 interceptions (8 total turnover worthy plays). He doesn’t have a huge arm but understands how to drop throws in the bucket with touch.
Much like Rourke, Kamara has capitalized on his transfer to Indiana. He posted 10 sacks in 2024 after having 7.5 for James Madison in 2023. At 6-1, 265 pounds he’s a stout pass rusher who never takes a rep off. His effort and active hands constantly keep him off blocks.
Connor Rogers breaks down game tape of Indiana defensive lineman Mikail Kamara, explaining how his motor and pass rushing prowess are helping a Hoosiers squad under first-year coach Curt Cignetti.
Smith has been excellent at creating his own yards in 2024, with 740 of his 1,263 rushing yards coming after contact. He knows how to get skinny through tight lanes with great acceleration and his spin move in the open field leaves would-be tacklers looking foolish. In a class full of talented running backs, Smith has been one of the most overlooked of the group.
With seven interceptions over the last two seasons, Nwobokia’s ball skills jump out on tape for the backend of SMU’s defense. His positional versatility will be a big positive for NFL scouts as he’s played 240 snaps in the box, 146 in the slot, 338 at free safety and 66 on special teams this season (Per PFF).
Nicole Auerbach and Joshua Perry discuss the Clemson-Texas first-round matchup, including what to expect from the QBs on both teams, and whether the “up-and-down” Tigers can show up in a high-stakes game.
While listed as a tight end, Briningstool plays everywhere from wide receiver to the slot, and of course on the line of scrimmage. His huge catch radius also makes him an intriguing red zone threat as he’s hauled in 12 touchdowns over the last two seasons.
Carter has been a key cog of the Clemson defense for multiple seasons now and is an important leader in the Tigers’ front seven. While undersized at the position, Carter’s play speed is tremendous, and he has sideline-to-sideline range to slow down the outside run game.
