Top 15 NFL Draft prospects to watch in College Football Playoff quarterfinals

Its nice to see some things never change.

The annual complaint-fest about which teams the College Football Playoff committee didnt pick is always loudest when the postseason starts.

And though some of those criticisms landed during the first round of the inaugural 12-team playoff, its awfully hard to argue that this weeks quarterfinals will be light on talent.

Advertisement Georgia, Texas, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State and Notre Dame have rosters filled with NFL talent both for 2025 and beyond; Boise State has arguably the most exciting offensive player in America; And Arizona State gets to trot out Cam Skattebo, who is just really fun to watch .

Here are my top 15 NFL Draft prospects from the eight remaining quarterfinal teams: GO DEEPER NFL Draft 2025 underclassman tracker: Which college football stars have declared early? 1.

Abdul Carter, edge, Penn State (6-3, 250; Jr.) The more he plays, the better he gets.

You can almost watch Carters body self-correct from rep to rep as he continues to learn the nuance of both pass rush and run defense off the edge.

Carter (22 percent win rate this year) has shown up against elite opponents and was dominant (five pressures and a sack) in last weeks Playoff win over SMU.

Hes a top-five player in the 2025 draft class.

"Oh man..

that is scary!" Abdul Carter's track down speed is an offense's nightmare @PennStateFball #B1GFootball on CBS pic.twitter.com/WDKGp8D1Pj Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) November 16, 2024 2.

Malaki Starks, DB, Georgia (6-1, 205; Jr.) There isnt a 2025 prospect with better football IQ than Starks, who only turned 21 in mid-November.

He started for Kirby Smart as a true freshman, covers like a corner, fits the run like a linebacker and sorts the defense like a safety.

Hes also the best tackler in the draft.

Starks blends the ball skills of a Champ Bailey with the fearlessness of a Brian Branch.

3.

Mykel Williams, edge, Georgia (6-5, 265; Jr.) If NFL teams were drafting purely on physical tools, Williams might be the No.

1 pick.

As an athlete, he has literally everything a dominant NFL edge needs: size, length, bend, burst, agility and coverage range.

In two games versus Texas this season, a healthy Williams produced 10 pressures and four sacks.

If he dominates the next few weeks, his stock could really climb.

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Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State (5-8, 217; Jr.) Jeanty needs 131 yards to break Barry Sanders NCAA single-season yardage record of 2,628 yards and has turned his 2024 season into an effortless highlight reel the likes of which we havent seen since ...

well, Barry Sanders.

Not unlike Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs, Jeanty (an all-district wide receiver in high school) is the special type of back who can do anything for an offense, in any situation, on any down.

Advertisement 5.

Jalon Walker, LB/edge, Georgia (6-2, 245; Jr.) One of my favorite players in the draft, Walker has been a consistent hammer for Georgia all over the field.

He is light on career reps, which helps explain why hes being viewed as one of this class biggest risers, but he has seized his opportunity.

He shares the positionless qualities that make Carter so intriguing.

Jalon had a goal when he came to Georgia, to win the Butkus award.

He made it happen #GoDawgs | @JalonWlaker pic.twitter.com/3t2rjd1EUB Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) December 13, 2024 6.

Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon (6-5, 310; R-Jr.) Another big-time riser who took advantage of a terrific opportunity, Harmon spent time prior to this season at Michigan State as a rotational three-tech who occasionally played nose.

At Oregon, with Jordan Burch banged up, Harmon also has shown an ability to play over the tackle or out wide and deliver high-end production.

The Oregon senior had one of college footballs best interior-tackle win rates this season (18.3 percent).

7.

Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas (6-4, 325; Jr.) Banks is the second-most athletic offensive tackle on his own team, as classmate Cameron Williams has some rather superhuman ability.

However, Banks is easily Texas most consistent and effective offensive lineman and has been among the best nationally for three years.

This was Banks best year as a pass protector, however, and though hes been a left tackle-only player in college (and can be an OT in the NFL), hed also make a really nice guard.

8.

Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State (6-6, 255; Sr.) Built in a lab, Warren is just one of those athletes who was born with the ability to do basically anything.

Weve seen his versatility as a runner this season, but weve also seen him throw it (he was a terrific high school pitcher) and catch everything in his relative orbit, all season.

Warren makes the difficult look easy, and hes gotten much better this year at making the routine look routine.

Hes a true three-down TE and could impress in any system.

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1 seed 9.

Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State (6-1, 203; Sr.) One of the most consistent players in the country, regardless of position, Egbuka has been so good for so long it feels like people often forget about him.

A complete player who is never afraid of the moment, Egbuka is a QB-friendly receiver who blocks and gets open constantly.

He could be this years version of Ladd McConkey.

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Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State (6-2, 322; Sr.) Light on his feet and insanely difficult to move over the football, Williams is arguably the drafts best run-stuffer.

He lacks big-time pass rush numbers but nonetheless flashes some of the agility reminiscent of Detroit Lions standout Alim McNeill.

The Ohio State star can maintain his gap or chase down a ball carrier either way, hes a problem inside.

11.

Cameron Williams, OT, Texas (6-5, 335; Jr.) The aforementioned Williams has many of the freaky traits NFL scouts love in offensive tackles hes big, explosive, bendy and long with power all over his body.

Hes also sloppy, takes way too many penalties and has just one year of college starting experience under his belt.

The upside, though, is off the charts.

12.

Joshua Simmons, OT, Ohio State (6-5, 310; Sr.) Ohio States offense took a serious hit just before the Michigan game when it lost center Seth McLaughlin to an Achilles injury.

But it had taken an even bigger hit earlier in the year when Simmons went down with a knee injury.

Simmons season was limited to just six games, but they were easily his best as a three-year college starter.

Hes another player who gets better every time he plays.

And he could be ready in time for training camp, depending on how his rehab progresses.

13.

Evan Stewart, WR, Oregon (6-0, 175; Jr.) Stewart hasnt been able to string together a bunch of big-time performances, and hell have some days when he barely sees a target because of the other weapons in Oregons offense.

However, Stewart can absolutely fly and is a threat to take one to the house at any moment.

Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel praised Stewarts blocking effort in the Big Ten Championship Game win over Penn State a game in which Stewart saw just one target.

This is an Evan Stewart appreciation post @0fficial_evan x @oregonfootball #B1GFootball pic.twitter.com/wvswKiNZn7 Oregon on BTN (@OregononBTN) October 14, 2024 14.

JT Tuimoloau, edge, Ohio State (6-4, 269; Sr.) There are other edge defenders (both in the Playoff and elsewhere) with more impressive pass-rush numbers.

Not unlike Egbuka on the other side of the ball at Ohio State, however, Tuimoloau is one of the best in America at consistently making the next right play.

Hes tough and smart in the run game, hes an effective coverage piece, and he makes up for what he lacks in suddenness with technique, effort and IQ.

15.

Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon (6-4, 315; Jr.) Not unlike Williams, Conerly is another traits-heavy prospect.

There are still moments when the former five-star recruit will lose his technique or miss with his hands and lunge himself onto the ground.

Athletically, though, Conerly has all the requisite length and movement skills to be a terrific NFL player.

Lots of ifs here still, though.

The best of the rest: Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas; TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State; Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State; Alfred Collins, DT, Texas; Drew Allar, QB, Penn State; Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas; Jack Sawyer, edge, Ohio State; Jordan Burch, DL, Oregon; Kevin Winston Jr., S, Penn State; Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame; Tez Johnson, WR, Oregon; Donovan Jackson, iOL, Ohio State; Tate Ratledge, iOL, Georgia; Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas; Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State.

(Photo of Abdul Carter: Roger Wimmer / ISI Photos / Getty Images).

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