2025 NFL Draft: College Football Game Recaps – Week 16

Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer did not have a big senior year, but he picked a great time to have a dominant performance. From the start of the game, Sawyer was active and making plays for the Buckeyes. He was part of a pressure and sack early in the first quarter. Shortly later, he batted down a third-down pass, showing good vision to adjust to block the throwing lane. At the end of the first quarter, Sawyer went around the right tackle to get a sack. Just before halftime, he had another batted pass. In the third quarter, Sawyer got another sack using speed to go around the backup right tackle after shedding a block off the snap.

This tape will be a really good tape for Sawyer. He showed strength in getting off blocks with closing speed to collapse the pocket. Sawyer had good instincts and vision to adjust to pass plays, and he was able to disrupt passing lanes. Sawyer looked like a mid-round backup, but this tape could help him get second-day consideration next April.

Across from Sawyer, Ohio State’s defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau also played well. In the first quarter, Tuimoloau ran a stunt with Williams coming unblocked to start a sack that Tuimoloau finished off. In the fourth quarter, Tuimoloau went around the backup right tackle to get a strip sack. Tuimoloau received some starter grades from some sources, and he could be a day-two pick next April.

Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Ebuka had a nice game, catching five passes for 81 yards. To open the game, he had a nice run after the catch on a screen. Shortly later Egbuka could not control a pass behind him as it was poorly thrown by Will Howard. Egbuka came back to make a superb catch. He got open running a go route down the seam, but the ball was not thrown soon enough and Egbuka had to slow up for the pass. A safety closed, but the ball went just past him and Ebuka made a 40-yard catch with the defender draped all over him. Egbuka is a polished receiver with quality size and quickness to be a No. 2 or 3 receiver in the NFL. He has reliable hands and is dangerous after the catch. While he is not overly fast or big, Egbuka could be a solid contributor to a pro offense. As a second-day pick, he could be a reasonably safe selection not to be a bust.

Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr was playing in his final collegiate game. Pearce was held in check by the Buckeyes balanced offense, keeping Pearce from being able to pin his ears back and rush the quarterback. In the second quarter, Pearce made a great read on a third-and-short breaking to the flat and getting a tackle for no gain on Emeka Egbuka in the flat. It was a big stop by Pearce to get the ball back for his offense. This tape won’t hurt Pearce. He looks like a likely top-10 pick next April who could be a Brian Burns-caliber speed rusher for the NFL.

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers hurt his standing with NFL teams when he got rattled in a loss to Georgia earlier this season. Ewers needed to show more composure against a talented defense in the rematch for the conference championship, but Ewers needed to show composure in the opening round of the college football playoff.

Early in the second quarter, Ewers laid out a well-placed deep ball down the middle of the field for a 43-yard gain. That helped set up a rushing touchdown for Texas. Shortly later, Ewers had some bad luck as he hit a receiver with a perfect pass right in the hands that was dropped and then intercepted after being tipped by Clemson linebacker Barrett Carter. It was Ewers’s first incomplete pass of the game and the only blemish in an otherwise efficient half of play from the Longhorns starter. Just before halftime, Ewers bounced back, finding a tight end down the seam wide-open for an 18-yard touchdown. In the final two quarters, Ewers was efficient, and Texas leaned on their rushing attack. He completed 17-of-24 passes for 202 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

For the NFL, Ewers has starting ability with next-level passing talent. Ewers is an accurate passer that throws a very catchable ball. He has a quick release, throws with anticipation, and does a good job of getting the ball out without holding it too long. Ewers can get fooled post-snap. He thinks a defensive back will be in a certain area and does not always see them if they switch and move to an unexpected spot. Ewers was rattled in the first Georgia game, so teams will have concerns about his composure throughout the draft process.

Clemson linebacker Barrett Carter is a fast and athletic linebacker that can cover a lot of ground. However, this game against Texas showed that Carter lacks strength and has problems with downhill runs coming straight at him. Early in the game, Carter had a nice tackle in pursuit. However, a few plays later he got rocked by the right tackle to get pushed out of his gap and give up a chunk run to the Longhorns. That pattern repeated itself later in the game. Team sources said Carter is fast and athletic but small and can get destroyed in the inside run. He struggles to get off blocks and is a run-chase linebacker. Carter fits as a coverage linebacker in the sub package, but he could have issues holding up in the base set in the NFL. This tape gave further proof of that.

Texas defensive tackle/end Alfred Collins played well against Clemson. Throughout the game, Collins was stuffing running lanes at the point of attack and getting some push into the backfield. This was a good tape showing his ability to win at the point of attack. Collins is a tough run defender who can contribute to the pass rush by creating a push into the pocket. He could be a second-day pick who becomes a solid but unspectacular pro.

Texas left tackle Kelvin Banks has had a mixed season and has been out recently after suffering an injury against Texas A&M. Banks missed the SEC Championship against Georgia, and that was an opportunity for redemption after issues against the Bulldogs earlier in the season. Banks had a rough night going against edge rushers Jalon Walker and Mykel Williams, but Banks performed well against Clemson to help Texas advance to the quarterfinals. Banks was solid in pass protection and helped open rushing lanes while taking on a pair of talented Tiger sophomore defensive linemen. Banks showed impressive athletic ability, reaching the perimeter and hitting blocks on screens and outside runs. While Banks is not overly powerful, he is quick, agile, and does a nice job of hitting blocks in space. Some sources feel that Banks (6-4, 320) has a body type that might be better at guard in the NFL. This was a good tape from Banks and he looks like a future starter and first-round pick next April.