2025 NFL Draft: College Football Game Recaps – Playoff Quarterfinals

Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard is not an early-round prospect for the 2025 NFL Draft, but he is a dangerous running quarterback who could be a third-string candidate. Leonard gave more proof of that against Georgia and their talented defense. Leonard completed 14-of-23 passes for 88 yards with a touchdown through the air. He had some timely runs for critical yardage with 65 yards on 11 carries. Leonard avoided turnovers and managed the game effectively.

For the NFL, Leonard could be a third-string quarterback, according to some team sources. They view him similar to Jeff Driskel as a backup with running ability but limited as a passer. Leonard (6-4, 216) is a good runner and athlete but team sources had some doubts that he would be able to get big enough to be a Taysom Hill-type tight end in the NFL. However, they felt that a team Leonard would probably be happy to have Leonard as a third-string or practice squad quarterback.  

Georgia linebacker/edge rusher Jalon Walker had a fast start to this game but had a critical error that helped Notre Dame get the Sugar Bowl win. Early in the first quarter, Walker was playing inside linebacker and he flew to the line of scrimmage to get a tackle. The next play he came near a sack flying around the right tackle to get a third-down incompletion. In the second quarter Walker used some speed to power to push through the left tackle to force Riley Leonard out of the pocket for a third down incompletion. Late in the fourth quarter, Walker showed poor discipline jumping offsides on a fourth-and-1 with Notre Dame inside their own 25-yard line. The Irish weren’t going to snap the ball but Walker gave them a free first down.

For the NFL, Walker has some speed off the edge and is a dangerous blitzer. However, his pass rush is more effective when he blitzes over, lining up as a rusher. Walker has short arms, is only 6-foot-1, and his instincts aren’t great when playing traditional linebacker. He might be a designated pass rusher or blitzer for his pro-defense. Walker is an early-round pick, but he is a tweener who does not have a clear position fit for the next level.

Notre Dame senior defensive end R.J. Oben picked a perfect time to have the game of his life. Oben entered this playoff game with zero sacks on the season, but one would have thought he was really getting after the quarterback all year with how easily he was getting the better of the Georgia left tackle. Oben made one of the game’s plays with a speed rush around the left tackle to get a strip-sack that Notre Dame recovered late in the second quarter. That led to an Irish touchdown that put Notre Dame in control of the game. The 6-foot-3, 262-pound Oben might be a late-round pick, but this tape will help him get an opportunity to make a pro roster. </p

The Ohio State defensive line is comprised of future NFL players who all made nice plays against the Ducks. Defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau, end Jack Sawyer, tackle Tyleik Williams, and tackle Ty Hamilton could all be selected in the top half of the draft next April, and they were getting the better of Oregon’s offensive line throughout the first half when the Buckeyes built up a massive lead.

In the first quarter, Tuimoloau had good pressure to hit Dillon Gabriel as he threw. In the second quarter, Williams got a push up the middle, which caused Gabriel to scramble into a sack for Tuimoloau. On the first play after halftime, Williams got off a block and flew to the perimeter to get a tackle for a loss. In the third quarter, Sawyer got to Dillon Gabriel on a few plays, including an impressive sack where he pushed off the right tackle and chased down Gabriel for a sack. Shortly later, Sawyer showed good vision to read a play and block a pass. Hamilton made several nice plays in run support, holding his ground and plugging his gap.

All four of these defenders could grow into starters in the NFL. Williams is strong, quick, and athletic at the point of attack. He looks like a first- or second-rounder next April. Tuimoloau could be a day-two pick that ends up being a solid base end for a 4-3 defense. Hamilton could also go on day two as a strong nose tackle. Sawyer was quiet at times in 2024, but he has been on fire the last few games, so that could cause him to rise in the lead-up to the draft.

Oregon has a couple of future NFL defensive linemen as well in Jordan Burch and Derrick Harmon. In the first quarter, Burch had a good run stuff, and then the next play on third down he powered through the right tackle to get a near sack of Will Howard. Howard had to throw the ball away to avoid the sack, and Burch’s hit on the quarterback got the ball back for the Ducks offense. Midway through the game Harmon got off a block for a near sack of Howard. Harmon got off a block in the fourth quarter and chased down Howard for a sack. Harmon looks like a possible day-two pick, and Burch could be a first-rounder.

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 college football playoff. Ewers had a solid outing against Clemson and then had a similar performance against Arizona State.

Early in the first quarter, Ewers hit Matthew Golden on the run with a quick slant, and he took off on a gain of 54 yards. The very next play, Ewers found wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. wide open on a wheel route, and Ewers lofted in a 23-yard touchdown. Ewers then converted a fourth-and-1 locating a pass high for Golden to make a leaping grab for a conversion. After a hot start, Ewers and the Texas offense were held in check by the Sun Devils defense, and they kept the Longhorns from extending drives. Early in the fourth quarter, Ewers threw a beautiful pass down the sideline to loft in the pass over tight coverage to Golden for a gain of 29 yards. It was a huge third down conversion, and Ewers capped the drive with a short touchdown run after scrambling to his right before deciding to dive ahead for the Longhorns’ first score since the first quarter.

Late in the fourth quarter, Ewers hung a deep ball up for grabs for wide receiver Isaiah Bond but he was well covered by two defenders, and the Sun Devils made a leaping interception. It was a poor throw by Ewers as he put too much air under the ball to let the defenders recover when Bond had an initial step on coverage. That interception led to Arizona State tying the game at 24. Later in the fourth quarter, Ewers made a few clutch throws to set up a field goal that was missed. Then Ewers made some more good throws to set up a 38-yard field goal on the final play of the fourth quarter, but it bounced off the left upright to force overtime.

After Arizona State scored a touchdown to open overtime, Texas was in a deep hole in a fourth-and-13 situation. Ewers had time and lofted a perfect pass to Golden to tie the game at 31. Golden ran a double move to a post route, and Golden torched a cornerback and safety for a 28-yard touchdown. The next play from scrimmage, Ewers led an open tight end Gunnar Helm to keep running on a wheel route and Helm scored a 25-yard touchdown. Ewers rolled to his right and threw a strike to Golden in the back of the end zone for a two-point conversion. Ewers completed 20-of-30 passes for 322 yards with three touchdowns 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 this tape will help him. After a bad interception, Ewers bounced back to lead his team on two potential game-winning field goal drives, forced second overtime with a clutch touchdown pass, and then threw two strikes to score eight in the second overtime.

Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo capped off a tremendous 2024 season with a dominating performance against Iowa State to propel the Sun Devils into the college football playoff with a first round bye. In this game, Skattebo was initially bottled up by a talented Longhorns defense before eventually making some huge plays to help his team make a massive comeback.

In the first half, Texas did a good job of containing Skattebo. He had zero rushing lanes as the Texas front seven dominated at the point of attack. Early in the third quarter, Skattebo finally got going with a nice zone read run where he showed his burst to fire upfield and power through tacklers at the second level as it took three defenders to get him down. Later in the third quarter, Skattebo showed patience and vision to make a lateral cut into the second level. He then ran over two defenders on his way to a 33-yard gain.

In the fourth quarter, Skattebo made a huge run on third-and-10 with a 15-yard scamper up the middle, but the next play, he dropped a short check-down pass. Skattebo was playing in pain and clearly dealing with an injury. However, a trick play worked with a halfback pass and Skattebo lofted in a bomb for a 42-yard touchdown pass. After a Quinn Ewers interception, the Skattebo came up clutch again making a contested catch deep downfield for a 62-yard pass. To cap the drive, Skattebo used his power to churn over the goal line and then powered in a two-point conversion to tie the game at 24. In overtime, Skattebo did it again using his power to help get across the goal line.

Skattebo finished running for 141 yards on 29 carries with two touchdowns. He caught seven passes for 86 yards. This was a good tape for Skattebo that will help his draft grade. He showed power as a runner, good vision, patience, and toughness. Skattebo made a huge play as a receiver, and was clutch to help his team make a massive comeback. With a lot of eyes watching him, Skattebo put his team on his back and made some incredible plays to show his talent for the next level.

For the NFL, Skattebo could be a good No. 2 back. Skattebo is a capable runner and receiver who could be a nice player in a passing-driven offense. Skattebo has excellent contact balance, vision, cutting ability, and good instincts. At the pro level, Skattebo is not overwhelmingly fast or strong. Hence, he might not become a three-down starter. Some team sources said they had Skattebo graded as a day-three backup, and he looks like he could be a good role player in the NFL.