NFL Draft
1/20/25
8 min read
2025 NFL Draft: Players With Most On The Line in National Championship
The National Championship Game is almost here, and the Ohio State Buckeyes and Notre Dame Fighting Irish are set for a heavyweight battle that will bring a historic moment for either program. The first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff champion is a unique title, even in a sport filled with rich history. Legacies are made in this moment.
There will be a broader fallout from this game that directly affects each team's future of the top stars. The 2025 NFL Draft is only a few months away, so this last matchup is a final opportunity to show the NFL what each individual can bring to the table. Riding the momentum into the draft is a real thing.
We have three 2025 NFL Draft prospects who have a lot on the line. Who will emerge as a champion and boost their stock on Monday night?
2025 NFL Draft Outlook for National Championship Game
Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Built in a lab at 6-foot-4, 235 pounds, it's hard to imagine anyone looking the part of being an NFL star more than Sonny Styles. His journey to this moment hasn't been smooth or linear, but the tremendous weakside linebacker has a tough decision to make about his future after the National Championship Game ends. Just a junior, Styles is considered to be a coin-flip as to whether he'll make the leap after a breakout season.
A terrific player when working downhill, including the ability to get after the quarterback effectively and efficiently and win 1-on-1 reps against the run, Styles has the frame and athleticism to be a three-down star. However, the former safety-turned-linebacker made two position switches before 2024-25 because of his weaknesses, and they're as clear as day.
AN ABSOLUTE HAMMER DAHN FROM STYLES#PMSCFP #RAMTRUCKED pic.twitter.com/IxDEGaxt4B
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 22, 2024
Styles struggles in man coverage and when dropping into space despite his stellar movement ability. Keeping him on the edge or in the box works best, but as seen even in the College Football Playoff, running backs can cause confusion and easily coast past him for big plays in coverage.
Styles' coverage performance has been concerning this season. He's allowed 40 receptions on 56 targets for 338 yards and one touchdown, with 273 yards coming after the catch. Combined with an alarming missed tackle rate near 19 percent, it's hard to say Styles is a polished enough player to make the leap.
However, a big showing against star Notre Dame sophomore RB Jeremiyah Love could be a moment that provides enough optimism for him to declare.
Notre Dame forces another Georgia fumble and finds the end zone on the next play! #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/95Vy8yS1Wj
— ESPN (@espn) January 2, 2025
RJ Oben, DL, Notre Dame
The Fighting Irish come into this matchup battered and beaten, but they're hoping their remaining stars have enough in the tank to win enough key matchups to grind out an ugly game.
RJ Oben will be imperative in how this one plays out. Set to face off against Ohio State's senior tackles Donovan Jackson and Josh Fryar, Oben has to turn back the clock and blend the best of his career moments into one performance.
Before Oben arrived at Notre Dame from Duke, he was primarily a pass-rushing end who wreaked havoc with his long arms and effortless fluidity that caught blockers off guard. However, Notre Dame has asked Oben to be much more of a run-stuffer this season, and the result is Oben turning in the best year of his career in that phase of the game. His pass-rushing, though, has suffered in turn.
Jackson has been especially fantastic since taking over for Josh Simmons at left tackle, so the Buckeyes will trust Jackson to win that matchup. Oben can't let that happen. When Will Howard drops back, Oben has to pin his ears back and be effective in order to disrupt the powerful passing game of the Buckeyes.
Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State
It's hard to think of a 2025 prospect who hurt his stock as much as Denzel Burke did with his play this season. Burke returned to Ohio State for his senior season, calling it a "Natty or bust" campaign, but produced a nightmarish year for the bulk of it. Instead of being a late first-round prospect, he should be a fringe top-100 consideration.
Despite being experienced and competent in zone and man, Burke's aggressiveness and ball awareness have been worse than ever. Whether it's been self-imposed pressure to be a star or live up to his expectations, offenses had far too much success going his way until the last couple of games. But this game should favor Burke to play well.
Notre Dame doesn't have a lot of talent at receiver, but all it takes is one bad rep to flip the momentum Burke has set in recent weeks. Though he's allowed 31-of-40 targets to be complete for 394 yards and two touchdowns, only five of those receptions have come in his last five games.
That's the type of impact everyone had hoped for Burke entering the year, and a repeat will help rehab his stock further.
Riley Leonard, QB, Notre Dame
Both quarterbacks in this game are fighting to be drafted as high as possible on Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft. While Will Howard has proven to be a much better passer in 2024-25 than most expected based on his previous time at Kansas State, Riley Leonard has earned other accolades. His athleticism, toughness, and ability to operate in a short passing attack have won over some evaluators.
Neither will be more than an NFL backup, but Leonard's game is intriguing. The Buckeyes have a fast, physical defense that will look to force Riley to win with his arm more than his legs. Leonard will have to create chunk gains on the ground. The opportunity of a lifetime is in Leonard's hands.
The Fighting Irish are starting multiple backup linemen due to injuries, so a courageous and efficient showing from Leonard will be impressive enough. If Leonard can stay poised and create a couple of chunk plays when he's pressured, that will buck a concerning trend where Leonard's efficiency craters compared to the dip most quarterback prospects face.
Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State
It's hard to characterize a running back's season as disappointing when they're on the verge of breaking the 1,000-yard mark with a 5.3-yard average and 12 touchdowns. However, most felt Quinshon Judkins was set to be a Heisman Trophy-level producer ahead of teammate TreVeyon Henderson. Instead, Henderson has been a huge winner this season and is clearly the better player this year.
That may not matter in this single game. Judkins, a more patient and crafty back compared to Henderson's explosive nature, has produced only two games with more than 76 yards since Week 10. Concerns over his decision-making and vision have been prominent through that stretch, as he's not simply hitting holes and reaching the second level as quickly as possible.
quinshon judkins touchdown pic.twitter.com/qAOBvnTHjN
— ◇ (@H00DH3R0) January 11, 2025
Judkins has had his most success running to the right side of the line, which would pit him against the weaker side of Notre Dame's beat-up defensive line more often. If Judkins can deliver a punishing performance that allows Ohio State to win the ground game, the Buckeyes can win comfortably.
Quinshon Judkins' Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp
Xavier Watts, SAF, Notre Dame
One of the top safeties in the class is headling a young, physical secondary that will have its hands as full as they have all year. Xavier Watts has done a lot of everything this season, vaulting up draft boards as a playmaking presence who can be trusted to win his fair share of tackling opportunities. The 6-foot, 203-pounder can be a top-100 pick.
With six interceptions, 21 run stops, and zero penalties committed, Watts is as high floor of a player as it gets at the position. Notre Dame lines him up all over the field, with 279 snaps in the box, 438 at free safety, and 165 in the slot. Ohio State's deep receiver room will force Watts to make tough decisions, even if the Irish want him to bracket Jeremiah Smith all game.
Xavier Watts single high, diagnoses the reverse, and closes. Made plays like this from depth all night pic.twitter.com/WeIhUDeItQ
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) January 3, 2025
Because Watts will either be used as a Smith-stopper or as the enforcer away from Smith, he'll be at the heart of the action regardless of his role. The Buckeyes have to be wary of his ball-hawking nature, or else Watts could flip this matchup.
Xavier Watts' Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp
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