College Football Playoff’s 12-team home opener comes to a close tonight, when Ohio State and Notre Dame Meet to determine a national champion.
But the NFL Draft is always on the horizon.
Tonight, several NFL prospects will get a chance to not only help their team win a title, but also make one last argument in front of NFL scouts before draft season. For fans of NFL teams already looking forward to April’s NFL Draft, here are some players to keep an eye on tonight.
Notre Dame Prospects 2025 NFL Draft to Watch
Benjamin Morrison, CB
He may be the top prospect on Notre Dame’s roster – currently ranked No. 22 on the list NFL Mock Draft Database Big Board — Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison is a key player tonight, and when it comes to the upcoming NFL Draft. His size, combined with his ability to play along the boundary and in the slot, will make him a very interesting option for NFL teams.
He will get a big test in Atlanta this evening against Ohio State’s receiving corps, including some must-watch prospects in the NFL Draft as well as talented freshman Jeremiah Smith.
Xavier Watts, S
Another member of the Fighting Irish secondary that will be tested tonight is safety Xavier Watts. Watts is a dynamic defender with the ability to get down in run support, but also operates in coverage near the line of scrimmage as well as in the middle zone of the field. Perhaps his best work will come in the box, but he has the potential to be a versatile safety at the next level.
Howard Cross III, DL
Howard Cross III is another member of Notre Dame’s defense who has a chance to bolster his stock tonight in the national championship game. Kroos is a quick and athletic interior defender, and brings a strong arsenal of quick moves to the table. He’ll face some questions about his size when moving to the next level — cross-checks at 6’1 and 288 pounds — but his athleticism and ability to get after the passer on the inside will be interesting to many NFL teams.
Mitchell Evans, TE
Two Big Ten tight ends (Penn State’s Tyler Warren and Michigan’s Colston Loveland) will be early options at the position in April.
But Notre Dame tight end Mitchell Evans has a chance to make some noise tonight. He caught 39 passes this season for 369 yards and 3 touchdowns, and had a solid effort against Penn State, catching 5 passes for 58 yards against the Nittany Lions in the Orange Bowl. He has ideal size (6’5, 253 lbs) for the position, but may face questions about his athleticism at the next level.
Riley Leonard, QB
If you’re reading this, you probably know that the incoming quarterback class has more questions than answers. Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders appear to be top-five picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, but after that, the questions start.
Riley Leonard is among several quarterbacks vying for attention in this draft class. His draft stock has remained in the Day 3 range all season, as tracked Mock nfl draft database His legs were a more important factor in the college football game than his arm. But a dream matchup against Ohio State could completely change the narrative.
Ohio State 2025 NFL Draft Prospects to Watch
Emeka Ejobka, WR
Jeremiah Smith may be making headlines, but teams hoping to draft an Ohio State wide receiver will have to wait until he’s eligible, or turn their attention to Emeka Egubka. Another big target for Ohio State in the passing game, Egubka led the Buckeyes with 75 receptions this season, gaining 947 yards and scoring ten touchdowns on those catches.
Egubka has been used primarily out of the slot this season for Ohio State, but his skills and ability to run the route after the catch make him a first-round candidate.
Tylek Williams, DL
Ohio State’s front seven gives them a great chance to win on Monday night, and Ty’Leek Williams is a big part of that group. Williams gives Ohio State a tremendous presence inside, but he’s more than just a big body inside. His strength at the point of attack makes him a force against the run, but also gives him the ability to move the pocket and get after the QB in the passing game.
Jack Sawyer, Edge
Jack Sawyer’s dynamic play to seal the win over Texas may be in Ohio State lore, but it also gave his stock a notable bump. Sawyer entered the College Football Playoff as a mid-second-round pick as evidenced by… NFL Mock Draft database, But he has gotten closer to the first round over the past few weeks:
There’s another big match that could see his stock soar to even greater heights.
GT Tuimulu, Edge
Across from Sawyer on Ohio State’s defensive line is another prospect in pass rusher JT Tuimolo. He led the Buckeyes with 11.5 sacks this season, winning power and turnovers as a faceoff.
NFL evaluators may have questions about athleticism that he can answer throughout the draft process, but the production speaks for itself.
Quincheon Judkins, RB
Quincheon Judkins and Trevion Henderson give Ohio State a huge two-up punch from outside the backfield, and they are both prospects to watch tonight. Judkins runs aggressively, as he showed early against Texas, a trait reminiscent of Isiah Pacheco. He also has the quickness to scan corners in the open field, and the footwork and vision to find the crease when the image in front of him is cloudy.
He may face questions about handling pass protection at the next level, but he is a strong candidate for the position.
Trevion Henderson, RB
TreVeyon Henderson is another solid option at running back in the upcoming NFL Draft, and definitely a player to keep an eye on in the National Championship Game. His long touchdown run before halftime against the Texans highlighted his long speed and explosive playmaking ability. But he also has tremendous vision and great footwork as a ball carrier.
Like many collegiate linebackers, his ability in pass protection is a question, but he handles almost every other aspect of the position at a high level.
Denzel Burke, CB
Denzel Burke is a good prospect at cornerback for the Buckeyes, and he feels just as comfortable downhill in run support as he tracks down defenders down the field in the passing game. He has the size and length to be a man coverage corner on the outside at the next level, as well as the athleticism to match receivers in man coverage. Pair that with his desire to play downhill in run support, and you have the makings of a starter at the next level.
Will Howard, QB
Similar to the quarterback on the field in the National Championship Game, Will Howard has a chance to make some noise Monday night, positioning himself as a solid draft choice outside of the first round. His experience and talent stand out in the passing game at Ohio State, and he has the athleticism to extend the play with his legs.
Ohio State didn’t use him often as a runner, but they picked their spots with him, like a key fourth-down run against Texas late in the game.
Donovan Jackson, IOL
Donovan Jackson is finishing his third year as the Buckeyes’ starter at left guard, and is a solid prospect for the upcoming NFL draft along the interior offensive line. He may be best suited as a guard in an offensive scheme full of gaps, with his ability to win blocks on slopes and experience pulling trap or gap concepts. His strength and anchor ability serve him well against power forwards in pass protection, but he could benefit from improvement against rebounds and more pass rushers.
Josh Simmons, OT
Finally, a quick word about offensive tackle Josh Simmons. While Simmons will miss tonight due to a season-ending knee injury suffered in October, he is considered one of the best offensive tackles in the 2025 NFL Draft.