10 Best Pro Prospects Playing in College Football Playoff Games
It's not shocking to suggest that the teams playing in the College Football Playoff have some of the most talented players in the country. After all, getting into the four-team playoff is no fluke. You need impact players who can make differences on a consistent basis.
And chances are, the NFL will take notice, too. That was the case last spring. 2015's playoff participants (Alabama, Clemson, Michigan State and Oklahoma) combined to have 12 players selected in the first two rounds of the NFL draft.
This year, Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Washington are similarly talented, if not more so. Expect plenty of players who participate in the playoff on New Year's Eve to be highly coveted by professional scouts—be it this year or next spring.
However, a few stand out thanks to their on-field production, their physical builds and the belief that they can replicate their success in the NFL. They're the top prospects in this year's College Football Playoff, and are listed here, with those who best combine these attributes ranking highest.
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10. Jake Browning, QB, Washington
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Washington went from 7-6 to the College Football Playoff in one year, and the play of sophomore quarterback Jake Browning mirrored and fueled that progression. Following a solid freshman season (2,955 yards, 16 touchdowns, 10 interceptions), he took a quantum leap forward this fall. Entering the Peach Bowl versus Alabama, Browning has thrown for 3,280 yards with 42 touchdowns against seven interceptions, including a pair of six-touchdown games against Cal and Oregon.
Browning is finishing his second season as a starter and isn't yet draft-eligible, but he has a serious NFL future when he is. He stands 6'2", 209 pounds and is a prolific, precise passer who should be able to pick up professional offenses well.
9. Raekwon McMillan, LB, Ohio State
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Raekwon McMillan has made a clear progression in his three seasons at Ohio State. After spending his freshman season as an impact backup, McMillan grabbed the starting middle linebacker job as a sophomore and hasn't looked back. This fall, he has 87 tackles, five tackles for loss and one sack while manning the middle.
McMillan is capable of making plays all over the gridiron and is a field general for the Buckeyes defense. He is an aggressive, hard-hitting player who must be accounted for at all times. Sooner or later, he'll make the jump to the NFL and shore up the middle of some lucky team's defense for years to come.
8. Cam Robinson, LT, Alabama
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Under now-Florida Atlantic head coach Lane Kiffin, Alabama ran a diverse offense that could feature pro-style, spread and power tactics all in the same game. It takes a talented offensive line to keep a unit like that humming, and junior left tackle Cam Robinson was the most important piece.
Robinson stepped into the starting lineup in his first game as a true freshman and hasn't moved in three years. He is one of the nation's top offensive line prospects and kept freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts upright and untouched this season. He'll be an excellent plug-and-play pick for an NFL team that wants to solidify its left tackle spot for the next 10 to 12 seasons.
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7. Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State
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Ohio State's secondary will face a big challenge against Clemson's potent offense and quarterback Deshaun Watson in the Fiesta Bowl, but it helps to have a player like Malik Hooker on your side. Hooker, a redshirt sophomore, is finishing his first season as a starter, but the free safety has established himself as one of the best defensive backs in college football.
This fall, Hooker made 67 tackles with five tackles for loss and six interceptions, returning three for touchdowns. He has excellent speed and knows what to do when the ball comes his way. His athleticism and big-play skills would be valued in any NFL secondary.
6. Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson
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An underrated factor in Clemson's emergence as one of the nation's elite teams is its defensive line. The Tigers are capable of rolling big, agile, high-motor linemen at opponents, one after another. And it helps when one of them is Christian Wilkins. He stands 6'4", 315 pounds and possesses tremendous athleticism and power, as well as versatility.
This fall, Wilkins has piled up 52 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He's a force in the interior of the line and is equally capable of sliding out and playing defensive end. He can even catch passes, as he showed on a fake punt on a pivotal play in last season's Orange Bowl win over Oklahoma. He's only a sophomore, but he will make a big impact in the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State and, soon, in the NFL.
5. Sidney Jones, CB, Washington
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Washington's push to the College Football Playoff can be credited largely to an excellent defense. The Huskies allowed 316.2 yards per game, No. 11 nationally, and the unit has been led by a talented secondary. Cornerback Sidney Jones has proved himself as one of the nation's best cover corners.
Jones, who stands 6'0", 181 pounds, had a productive 2016 season alongside safety Budda Baker. He had 37 tackles, three interceptions and six pass breakups. He'll have tough matchups in the Peach Bowl versus Alabama receivers Calvin Ridley and ArDarius Stewart, but he can hold his own and will do so in the NFL as well.
4. Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama
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Alabama has one of the nation's stingiest defenses, and an excellent front seven plays a big role in its success. While defensive end Jonathan Allen has received plenty of attention, an excellent linebacker corps makes his life a little easier while handcuffing opposing offenses. One of the leaders is senior Reuben Foster.
Foster is Alabama's leading tackler, piling up 94 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and four sacks. He covers plenty of ground from sideline to sideline, using his 6'1", 228-pound frame to work in coverage while also harassing opposing quarterbacks. The athletic Foster will be a great fit in the middle of an NFL defense for years to come.
3. Mike Williams, WR, Clemson
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One year ago, Mike Williams was forced to watch as Clemson competed in the College Football Playoff. Williams, a game-breaking wide receiver, saw his year end after the first series of the 2015 season when he ran into the goal post after catching a touchdown pass against Wofford. He fractured a bone in his neck and was forced to take a redshirt and rehab.
This fall, Williams has come back better than ever. He has 84 catches for 1,171 yards and 10 touchdowns, forming one of the nation's top passing duos with junior quarterback Deshaun Watson. He is an excellent deep threat who is more than capable of going up and over cornerbacks for key first downs and red-zone scores, and stopping him will be a key priority for Ohio State's secondary in the Fiesta Bowl.
Look for Williams to join Clemson's strong wide receiver tradition in the NFL alongside the likes of DeAndre Hopkins, Sammy Watkins, Jaron Brown and Adam Humphries. He'll make an immediate impact.
2. Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
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Clemson has one of the nation's most dynamic offenses, capable of scoring against any defense, as myriad opponents (including Alabama) have found out over the past few seasons. The man at the helm of the current edition? Junior quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Last fall, Watson became the first player in FBS history to pass for 4,000 yards and rush for 1,000 in the same season. He hasn't run as much this season, but otherwise, his numbers are on par with 2015. Watson has thrown for 3,914 yards with 37 touchdowns against 15 interceptions and rushed for 529 yards and six scores as Clemson's No. 2 rusher.
He finished as the Heisman Trophy runner-up but remains confident in his abilities, per ESPN.com news services.
"I'm the best player in the country. That's how I think. That's how I feel. People have their own way of voting," he said last week.
Watson is capable of making big plays with his feet while scrambling and also uncorking deep passes with an accurate arm. He'll be one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2017 NFL draft and should be a good fit running an NFL offense for years to come.
1. Jonathan Allen, DE, Alabama
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Jonathan Allen bet on himself last winter. And boy, did it pay off. The Alabama defensive end probably could've made the leap to the NFL as a potential first-round pick, but he chose to return to Tuscaloosa for another season, improve his draft stock and possibly win another national title.
So far, so good. Allen had a tremendous senior season, becoming one of the nation's best pass-rushers and one of its best players overall. This past fall, he piled up 56 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks while making himself difficult to stop. At 6'3", 291 pounds, he has a dangerous blend of power and speed and has been consistently impactful.
Now, Allen will chase another national championship, beginning with the College Football Playoff national semifinal in the Peach Bowl against Washington. The Huskies offensive line has a major task in keeping him away from Jake Browning, and for the next few years, he'll be NFL offensive tackles' problem. He is a surefire top-five pick in the 2017 draft.
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