Pro Player Comparisons for CFP Championship's Top 2024 NFL Draft Prospects
The CFP National Championship Game has arrived. With the conclusion of Monday's matchup between Michigan and Washington, we'll close the book on the 2023 college football campaign in its entirety.
While a long list of athletes on both rosters will head back to their respective campuses and begin prep for this coming fall, a headlining group of pro-ready talent will officially declare for this year's NFL draft.
With first-round pedigrees in abundance, the following is a list of headliners who will draw the spotlight on Monday evening listed alongside their pro-level comps. All things—skillset, height, weight, athletic profile—were considered when building out this list.
Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
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A dynamic thrower, Michael Penix Jr.'s performance against Texas last week was simply sensational. Currently, there isn't a player rising on leaguewide draft boards more than the Huskies' signal-caller.
The 2024 draft's top vertical passer, Penix's career arc has been one of ups and downs that have led him to a spot now just 60 minutes away from a national championship. A transfer from Indiana where he, at times, looked unplayable for the Hoosiers, his rapid ascension to one of the nation's best has been one of the more unique stories to follow in college football.
While there are conversations to be had regarding his surroundings (which we'll get to) and the way in which he's expected to dissect defenses, the natural arm talent is undeniable and is something scouts have raved about for back-to-back campaigns. He can drop passes into a bucket 40 yards downfield, has both the velocity and touch to layer throws over the middle, and an underutilized game with his legs that can further expand a playbook.
Pro Comp: C.J. Stroud
Stroud's accuracy and arm talent (with similar surroundings to Penix) was his calling card heading into last year's draft. After an outstanding Peach Bowl performance against Georgia in which we saw more of his legs involved outside of structure (like Penix vs. Texas), Stroud's evaluation rounded into form. Penix's performance against Michigan will hold weight toward how high he'll go in April.
Blake Corum, RB, Michigan
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What a career it's been for Blake Corum in Ann Arbor.
One of college football's most productive ball-carriers since he arrived on campus, he'll continue to serve as the hefty straw that stirs the drink for Michigan's offense on Monday evening.
An undersized talent that could shy away scouts, his vision, footwork and toughness shine when you flip on the tape. Sometimes, it's more about being a flat-out good football player than fitting certain thresholds, and Corum checks many of the boxes teams look for in a running back on Sundays.
Pro Comp: Kenneth Walker III
Both undersized talents out of the Big Ten, scouts have concerns about Corum's ability in space, just as they did with Walker out of Michigan State. Both, however, operate with a low center of gravity with the footwork and explosiveness to consistently churn yards.
Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
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The more we see of Rome Odunze, the more he continues to impress.
An exciting blend of size (6'3"), separation ability and hands, Odunze's battle with Will Johnson (projected first-rounder in 2025) will be must-see TV on Monday evening.
Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr. will be the first wideout to hear his name called in April, but don't be surprised if it's Odunze as 'WR2' off the board before names like Malik Nabers (LSU) and Keon Coleman (FSU).
Pro Comp: Chris Godwin
With similar proportions to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers standout, the ability that Odunze has shown to win at all three levels is similar to that of Godwin. Both are tough as nails, excellent when asked to extend away from their frame, and can holster the target share of a WR1 or play second-fiddle in a deep positional group. Odunze's twitch and suddenness off the line of scrimmage are reminiscent of Godwin, as well.
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Kris Jenkins, DL, Michigan
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An athletic mover within the middle of a defensive line, teams in need of an attacking 3-technique will value Kris Jenkins highly.
His pressures and hurries won't pop off the screen, but scouts believe his best football remains down the line because of his evolving game against the run and hand usage on passing downs.
Pro Comp: Larry Ogunjobi
With comparable height/weight/speed, Jenkins' impact at the NFL level could be similar to that of the wily vet Ogunjobi. Similar to the longtime Cleveland Brown turned Pittsburgh Steeler, Jenkins will make a living to the outside shoulder of the guard and look to wreak havoc through the B-gap for a long time.
Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
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Footwork, footwork and more footwork. Turn on Troy Fautanu's tape, and you'd think you were watching a 190-pound running back when he moves in space.
A unique athlete at 300-plus pounds, Fautanu is going to make a GM extremely happy in April despite the fact that names like Olu Fashanu (Penn State) and Joe Alt (Notre Dame) have drawn most of the attention at offensive tackle.
There are some length concerns within league circles, and he is expected to work out at both tackle and guard at the Senior Bowl next month.
Pro Comp: Rashawn Slater
Away from their height/weight being nearly identical out of school, the foundation of their similarity starts with footwork. No footwork, and you can find yourself quickly behind the 8-ball. When you think of Slater, you think of his extremely athletic and powerful lower half. Scouts want to see prowess in pass pro before evaluating run blocking, and Fautanu checks off about every box there is when asked to counter isolated pass-rushers.
Rod Moore, S, Michigan
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An underrated defensive prospect in the 2024 class, Rod Moore deserves every bit of the national spotlight he'll receive against Penix and the high-flying Husky offense.
Whether it was his game-sealing interception against Ohio State or open-field tackle against Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe late in the CFP semifinal, Moore is consistently around the football. He's a big-time athlete with a big-time skillset.
Pro Comp: Jessie Bates
Similar to Bates out of Wake Forest in 2018, Moore is a tick over 6'0", hovers around 200 pounds and is expected to run mid-4.40s in the 40-yard dash. Their play speed parallels when turning on their tape and the ball production that Moore displayed at Michigan (six INTs the past two seasons) should translate well, as Bates' has.
Bralen Trice, EDGE, Washington
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One of the country's most powerful edge threats, Bralen Trice has amassed over 140 pressures the past two seasons combined in the Pac-12.
While twitch and winning with speed are an evolving part of his game, scouts have likened him to former Chiefs first-rounder George Karlaftis because of his "boring ways of winning reps," as one AFC scout said.
With a bull-rush, two-hand swipe, inside stab-rip, Trice wins with the pop in his hands. He should make a team in need of pop at 5-technique extremely happy this spring. He's got an NFL-ready frame at 6'4", 274 pounds.
Pro Comp: Ryan Kerrigan
Trice won't win any awards as the 'most athletic' in the class, but his power-laden approach to the position will provide a pathway for early success. Similar to Kerrigan out of Purdue over a decade ago, Trice's hands, lateral agility and refined pass-rush approach will see him threaten the pocket early and often at the next level.
Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan
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Arguably the top nickel corner in the 2024 class, Mike Sainristil is what you'd describe as a flat-out ballplayer—a label reserved for guys you know will suit up and execute at a high level each week. Sainristil has been the glue that holds the Michigan defense together in 2023.
An instinctive corner that isn't afraid to align man to man at nickel or bump outside and carry a 6'3" 'X' wideout down the boundary, he's got ball skills (five INTs this season), excellent technique in coverage and isn't afraid to stick his face in the mud against the run.
Pro Comp: Mike Hilton
Hilton isn't the biggest, strongest or fastest player in the NFL, but he competes his tail off and is a player each organization would love to have on their roster. Like Hilton, Sainristil should align reduced inside to the slot early in his pro career to take away offenses that want to find free releases for their top targets.
J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
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It remains to be seen if J.J. McCarthy will indeed declare for the NFL draft. Frankly, another year in Ann Arbor wouldn't hurt the young signal-caller in such a deep talent pool of quarterbacks.
An efficient passer whose been kept clean behind one of the top offensive lines in college football, McCarthy won't wow with size or off-script ability, but he can operate an offensive machine like a veteran technician.
The attention on Michigan's offense centers around running back Blake Corum, but the Wolverines will need McCarthy's decisiveness and accuracy to create chunk plays against the Huskies.
Pro Comp: Jimmy Garoppolo
McCarthy blows Garoppolo away athletically, but I expect McCarthy to operate a pro offense similarly to what we've seen with the former Patriots, 49ers and now Raiders quarterback. Out of Eastern Illinois, Garoppolo was praised for his comfortability under duress and high-level efficiency. McCarthy offers similar traits with enough athleticism to expand a playbook.
Jabbar Muhammad, CB, Washington
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One of my personal favorite corners in the class (should he declare), Jabbar Muhammad is an alpha within the Washington secondary.
Questions among league evaluators center around his ability to stay on the perimeter at the next level because of his lack of length, but the pure coverage ability is simply fantastic. An Oklahoma State transfer by way of powerhouse prep program DeSoto High School in Texas, Muhammad is a name to become familiar with these next few months.
Pro Comp: Tre Brown
Despite his lack of size at 5'10", Muhammad has shown the ability to play both on the perimeter and at nickel, similar to Seattle's fourth-rounder in 2021. With similar height/weight/speed and skill sets on the perimeter, I wouldn't be shocked to hear Muhammad's name called around the same time as Brown's was a few years ago.
Junior Colson, LB, Michigan
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Junior Colson fits exactly what modern day defensive coordinators desire in a three-down linebacker—sure tackler, high level athletic profile and the ability to play man-to-man coverage.
The nucleus of Michigan's defense, Colson has his biggest test yet on Monday evening. Expected to fit the run against Dillon Johnson and guard Huskies tight end Jack Westover in man, his eyes and range will be put on full display with Michael Penix Jr. slinging the football around the yard. A solid performance will see his stock continue to rise in a top-heavy 'backer class.
Pro Comp: Damone Clark
As mentioned in his evaluation from B/R's Scouting Department, Colson's fluidity in space and explosiveness as a downhill defender have shined since he arrived on campus. Like Clark, who was a dynamic sideline-to-sideline athlete during his time at LSU, Colson thrives in space and is someone whose game should translate immediately to Sundays.
Jalen McMillan, WR, Washington
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Time spent on the shelf during the meat of the 2023 campaign threw a wrench into Jalen McMillan's production. However, when healthy, he's produced like one of the nation's premier perimeter threats.
A wiry pass-catcher with the ability to win at all three levels, expect McMillan's name to be heard early and often against Michigan. With Will Johnson likely aligning opposite of Rome Odunze for the majority of the game, McMillan should earn a plentiful helping of targets from Michael Penix Jr.
Pro Comp: Cedrick Wilson
With similar frames and skill sets, McMillan could fill the type of depth role Wilson has since he entered the pro game. Like Wilson, McMillan has the juice to run by opposing corners and the suddenness to snap off routes in the blink of an eye.
Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan
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Michigan's most consistent threat on the perimeter, Roman Wilson is going to be a bang-for-your-buck type of addition for an NFL roster come next fall.
Similar to former teammate Ronnie Bell (drafted in 2023), he won't wow with size or explosiveness, but he's a glue-guy on a roster that will boost any team's depth on the outside. His 12 touchdowns ranked fifth among all FBS wideouts.
Pro Comp: Khalil Shakir
Shakir remains WR3 in Buffalo, yet each time he sees targets we ask ourselves "why isn't he featured more?" I don't expect to Wilson to hear his name called until Day 3 (like Shakir) with such a deep receiver class, but Wilson will produce wherever he lands.
RB Dillon Johnson, Washington
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A Mississippi State transfer, Dillon Johnson has provided a breath of fresh air into a pass-heavy Huskies offense. It's about keeping teams off balance, and Johnson's success in the ground game has made the Huskies offense much more than just a one-trick pony.
He's got excellent size and wiggle at 6'0", 218 pounds and should remain heavily featured against Michigan if he's able to stay healthy for a full 60 minutes.
Pro Comp: Chuba Hubbard
The height/weight/speed/skillset match up well with Hubbard, a former fourth-round pick of Carolina in 2021. A primarily inside-the-tackles runner, Johnson has the foot quickness to press to the outside and the strength to churn through poor tackling in space.
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