On Monday, the Ohio State Buckeyes will play the Notre Dame Combating Irish within the nationwide championship recreation on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Each groups characteristic a number of gamers who will probably be chosen within the 2025 NFL Draft, scheduled for April 24-26 in Inexperienced Bay. With that in thoughts, listed here are 10 prospects who will play within the league in 2025:
1. Ohio State edge-rusher Jack Sawyer
Sawyer’s inventory needs to be skyrocketing amid a wonderful displaying within the School Soccer Playoff. Over his past three games, the 6-foot-5, 260-pounder has 4.5 sacks and 6 passes defended. Towards Texas within the semifinal, his 83-yard scoop-and-score late within the fourth quarter secured a 28-14 win for the Buckeyes.
In Tankathon’s latest mock draft, the Chicago Bears (5-12) take him with the forty first choose within the second spherical. Nonetheless, Sawyer might generate first-round buzz with one other spectacular efficiency within the nationwide title recreation.
“He was a great participant who had Day 2 grades coming into this 12 months, however he is shortly turning into a late first-round choice as his pass-rush blossoms,” just lately wrote The thirty third Group’s Ian Valentino.
2. Notre Dame security Xavier Watts
Watts (6-foot, 203 kilos) has stepped up since star cornerback Benjamin Morrison suffered a season-ending hip harm in October. In 15 video games, the senior has six interceptions and a career-high eight passes defended.
“[Watts] has solely common dimension and velocity and wishes to scrub up a few of his missed tackles,” wrote The Athletic’s Dane Brugler earlier than the CFP semifinal. “However together with his read-and-react consciousness and ball abilities, Watts persistently places himself ready to make performs — a ability that may translate to any degree of soccer.”
In a latest three-round mock draft, Professional Soccer Focus’ Dalton Wasserman and Max Chadwick have the Indianapolis Colts (8-9) taking Watts with choose No. 45 within the second spherical.
3. Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka
With the emergence of Buckeyes freshman WR Jeremiah Smith, it is easy to miss Egbuka (6-foot-1, 205 kilos). Nonetheless, he is probably the most prolific wideouts at school historical past.
In 4 seasons with the Buckeyes, he has this system’s most receiving yards (2,804) and the second-most receptions (199) and is tied for the seventh-most touchdown catches (24).
In his newest mock draft, CBS Sports activities’ Josh Edwards has the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) taking Egbuka with choose No. 21.
4. Ohio State edge-rusher JT Tuimoloau
By 15 video games, Tuimoloau (6-foot-5, 269 kilos) leads the Buckeyes in sacks (11.5). Regardless of questions on his athleticism, Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder just lately gave him a second-round grade.
“JT Tuimoloau initiatives nicely as a standard hand-in-the-ground defensive finish in even fronts,” wrote Holder. “He has nice dimension and is usually a good run defender together with his energy and physicality on the level of assault.”
Tankathon has the Cincinnati Bengals (9-8) taking Tuimoloau with choose No. 49 within the second spherical.
5. Notre Dame defensive sort out Howard Cross III
Cross (6-foot-1, 288 kilos) could be the prospect with probably the most to realize within the nationwide championship. In a recent scouting report, Holder gave Cross a sixth- or seventh-round grade due to considerations about his dimension and method.
By 12 video games, Cross is tied for third on Notre Dame in tackles for loss (six). He might exploit the Buckeyes’ shaky O-line. PFF provides the unit a 61.2 pass-block grade, 103rd amongst 134 FBS groups.
6. Notre Dame TE Mitchell Evans
Notre Dame depends closely on sophomore operating again Jeremiyah Love, which limits Evans’ effectiveness as a pass-catcher. In 15 video games, he has 39 receptions for 369 yards and three landing catches.
Evans, nevertheless, has prototypical dimension (6-foot-5, 260 kilos) for his place, so groups could also be prepared to take him as a mission TE.
“[Evans] tore his ACL on Halloween weekend in 2023, and it appeared he was knocking the rust off all through a lot of 2024,” wrote Brugler. “However he’s a good-sized athlete for a TE, and it will not be a shock if he’s enjoying within the NFL a decade from now.”
7. Ohio State DT Tyleik Williams
In a chunk revealed Saturday, Fox Sports activities’ Rob Rang ranked Williams (6-foot-3, 327 kilos) the No. 3 prospect within the nationwide championship.
“I really like his passionate play and talent to reset the road of scrimmage and would fortunately draft him within the first spherical,” wrote Rang.
Williams might be a unbelievable run-stopper for the crew that takes him. Per PFF, he has posted an 88.6 run-defense grade in 12 video games, the eighth-best mark amongst FBS inside D-linemen.
8. Ohio State RB Quinshon Judkins
Earlier than the beginning of the season, Judkins (6-foot, 219 kilos) indicated he transferred from Ole Miss to Ohio State to spice up his draft inventory. That has regarded like a sensible transfer.
In 15 video games, Judkins has rushed for 960 yards and 12 TDs on 183 carries. The thirty third Group’s Kyle Crabbs just lately graded him as a late first- or early second-round choose.
“Judkins initiatives an affect participant on the NFL degree,” wrote Crabbs. “Judkins boasts fast ft, a dense body, good processing velocity and sufficient open-field juice to create chunk runs as a main ball-carrier.”
9. Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson
Henderson (5-foot-10, 208 kilos) has remained productive regardless of splitting time with Judkins. In 15 video games, he has 132 carries for 967 yards and 10 TDs.
Rang advised he would not be shocked if Henderson falls within the draft and is a hidden gem for the crew that takes him.
“If Henderson remains to be obtainable on Day 3, he might show an identical steal to the Rams’ Kyren Williams — a fifth-round choose in 2022 — who, sarcastically, performed at Notre Dame,” wrote Rang.
10. Ohio State O-lineman Donovan Jackson
Jackson (6-foot-4, 320 kilos) moved from guard to left sort out after Josh Simmons suffered a season-ending knee harm in October. Regardless of that, he is solely allowed two sacks in 13 video games, via PFF.
“That form of adaptability is uncommon, even amongst top-tier prospects,” wrote The Draft Community’s Ryan Fowler in a latest scouting report, “and it speaks volumes about Jackson’s preparation and basic means as a soccer participant.”
Tankathon has the Bears taking Jackson with choose No. 39 within the second spherical (acquired from the Carolina Panthers), which might be a sensible alternative. Chicago allowed probably the most sacks (68) within the NFL this season.
