10 players in CFP national title game who will play in NFL in 2025

On Monday, the Ohio State Buckeyes will play the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the national championship game on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Both teams feature multiple players who will be selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, scheduled for April 24-26 in Green Bay. With that in mind, here are 10 prospects who will play in the league in 2025:

1. Ohio State edge-rusher Jack Sawyer 

Sawyer’s stock should be skyrocketing amid an excellent showing in the College Football Playoff. Over his past three games, the 6-foot-5, 260-pounder has 4.5 sacks and six passes defended. Against Texas in the semifinal, his 83-yard scoop-and-score late in 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 41st pick in the second round. However, Sawyer could generate first-round buzz with another impressive performance in the national title game.

“He was a good player who had Day 2 grades entering this year, but he’s quickly becoming a late first-round option as his pass-rush blossoms,” recently wrote The 33rd Team’s Ian Valentino. 

2. Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts 

Watts (6-foot, 203 pounds) has stepped up since star cornerback Benjamin Morrison suffered a season-ending hip injury in October. In 15 games, the senior has six interceptions and a career-high eight passes defended. 

“[Watts] has only average size and speed and needs to clean up some of his missed tackles,” wrote The Athletic’s Dane Brugler before the CFP semifinal. “But with his read-and-react awareness and ball skills, Watts consistently puts himself in a position to make plays — a skill that will translate to any level of football.”

In a recent three-round mock draft, Pro Football Focus’ Dalton Wasserman and Max Chadwick have the Indianapolis Colts (8-9) taking Watts with pick No. 45 in the second round.

3. Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka 

With the emergence of Buckeyes freshman WR Jeremiah Smith, it’s easy to overlook Egbuka (6-foot-1, 205 pounds). Still, he’s one of the most prolific wideouts in school history. 

In four seasons with the Buckeyes, he has the program’s most receiving yards (2,804) and the second-most receptions (199) and is tied for the seventh-most touchdown catches (24).

In his latest mock draft, CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards has the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) taking Egbuka with pick No. 21. 

4. Ohio State edge-rusher JT Tuimoloau 

Through 15 games, Tuimoloau (6-foot-5, 269 pounds) leads the Buckeyes in sacks (11.5). Despite questions about his athleticism, Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder recently gave him a second-round grade.

“JT Tuimoloau projects well as a traditional hand-in-the-ground defensive end in even fronts,” wrote Holder. “He has great size and can be a good run defender with his strength and physicality at the point of attack.”

Tankathon has the Cincinnati Bengals (9-8) taking Tuimoloau with pick No. 49 in the second round. 

5. Notre Dame defensive tackle Howard Cross III 

Cross (6-foot-1, 288 pounds) may be the prospect with the most to gain in the national championship. In a recent scouting report, Holder gave Cross a sixth- or seventh-round grade because of concerns about his size and technique. 

Through 12 games, Cross is tied for third on Notre Dame in tackles for loss (six). He could exploit the Buckeyes’ shaky O-line. PFF gives the unit a 61.2 pass-block grade, 103rd among 134 FBS teams.

6. Notre Dame TE Mitchell Evans 

Notre Dame relies heavily on sophomore running back Jeremiyah Love, which limits Evans’ effectiveness as a pass-catcher. In 15 games, he has 39 receptions for 369 yards and three touchdown catches. 

Evans, however, has prototypical size (6-foot-5, 260 pounds) for his position, so teams may be willing to take him as a project TE.

“[Evans] tore his ACL on Halloween weekend in 2023, and it appeared he was knocking the rust off throughout much of 2024,” wrote Brugler. “But he is a good-sized athlete for a TE, and it won’t be a surprise if he is playing in the NFL a decade from now.”

7. Ohio State DT Tyleik Williams 

In a piece published Saturday, Fox Sports’ Rob Rang ranked Williams (6-foot-3, 327 pounds) the No. 3 prospect in the national championship. 

“I love his passionate play and ability to reset the line of scrimmage and would happily draft him in the first round,” wrote Rang. 

Williams could be a fantastic run-stopper for the team that takes him. Per PFF, he has posted an 88.6 run-defense grade in 12 games, the eighth-best mark among FBS interior D-linemen. 

8. Ohio State RB Quinshon Judkins 

Before the start of the season, Judkins (6-foot, 219 pounds) indicated he transferred from Ole Miss to Ohio State to boost his draft stock. That has looked like a smart move.   

In 15 games, Judkins has rushed for 960 yards and 12 TDs on 183 carries. The 33rd Team’s Kyle Crabbs recently graded him as a late first- or early second-round pick. 

“Judkins projects an impact player at the NFL level,” wrote Crabbs. “Judkins boasts quick feet, a dense frame, good processing speed and enough open-field juice to create chunk runs as a primary ball-carrier.”

9. Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson 

Henderson (5-foot-10, 208 pounds) has remained productive despite splitting time with Judkins. In 15 games, he has 132 carries for 967 yards and 10 TDs.

Rang suggested he wouldn’t be surprised if Henderson falls in the draft and is a hidden gem for the team that takes him. 

“If Henderson is still available on Day 3, he could prove a similar steal to the Rams’ Kyren Williams — a fifth-round pick in 2022 — who, ironically, played at Notre Dame,” wrote Rang.

10. Ohio State O-lineman Donovan Jackson

Jackson (6-foot-4, 320 pounds) moved from guard to left tackle after Josh Simmons suffered a season-ending knee injury in October. Despite that, he’s only allowed two sacks in 13 games, via PFF.

“That kind of adaptability is rare, even among top-tier prospects,” wrote The Draft Network’s Ryan Fowler in a recent scouting report, “and it speaks volumes about Jackson’s preparation and fundamental ability as a football player.”  

Tankathon has the Bears taking Jackson with pick No. 39 in the second round (acquired from the Carolina Panthers), which could be a wise choice. Chicago allowed the most sacks (68) in the NFL this season.