NFL Draft Discussion: College quarter-finals

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

It’s time to talk draft again! Wednesday night is the start of college football’s quarterfinal round of the playoff. Feel free to talk about any bowl game in the comments of this thread, but I’ll be highlighting top 150 players on every team that are relevant to the Green Bay Packers, based on their draft range and positions.

Cotton Bowl: Miami vs Ohio State (Wednesday, 6:30 pm CT, ESPN)

For Miami, the players to watch for Packers fans are DE Akheem Mesidor (#3), QB Carson Beck (#11) and DT Ahmad Moten Sr. (#99). Moten (139th on the consensus draft board) is an underclassman who hasn’t declared, but both Mesidor (84th) and Beck (122nd) are seniors.

Mesidor, a Canadian national, will be 25 years old on draft day. He is a sixth-year senior who began his career at West Virginia, but is a genuinely talented pass-rusher who was named first-team All-ACC in 2025. He’s also played at varying weights, from 280 pounds to 250 pounds.

On Ohio State’s end, the two prospects to watch for the Packers are underclassman DE Kenyatta Jackson (#97) and senior Davison Igbinosun (#1). Igbinosun (85th) is a bigger cornerback who is a bit of a gambler. He’s expected to measure in around 6’2” with a 4.4-ish 40-yard dash. He transferred in from Ole Miss and made first-team All-Big Ten in 2025. Jackson (59th) has not declared for the draft.

Orange Bowl: Oregon vs. Texas Tech (Thursday, 11 am CT, ESPN)

With Oregon center Iapani Laloulu and defensive tackle Bear Alexander already stating that they’re going to return to school for 2026, there aren’t many Ducks options that the Packers are going to want to take a look at in this game. Seven Oregon players are expected to be picked before Green Bay goes on the clock for their first selection of the 2026 draft, so I’d just pay attention to Texas Tech players here.

Tech is great on defense. From a Packers’ perspective, keep an eye on defensive tackle Lee Hunter (#2) and linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (#10). Hunter (70th) is a transfer from both UCF and Auburn who is expected to weigh in around 6’4” and 330 pounds.

He made All-Big 12 lists over the last two seasons. Rodriguez (107th) could be a potential Quay Walker replacement. Currently, the fifth-place Heisman finalist is on the injury report but listed as probable for the game.

Rose Bowl: Alabama vs. Indiana (Thursday, 3 pm CT, ESPN)

It’s hard to come up with players who sort of fit the Packers’ needs and draft range in this class for the Hoosiers, but one player to keep an eye on is defensive end Mikail Kamara (#6), who transferred in from James Madison with head coach Curt Cignetti. Kamara (159th) is a stout end at just 6’0”-flat, but he’s very productive. In the 2023 and 2024 seasons, he recorded 33.5 tackles for losses and 17.5 sacks.

Alabama players to watch are linebacker Deontae Lawson (#0), cornerback Domani Jackson (#1) and defensive tackle Tim Keenan III (#96). All three of Lawson (#69), Jackson (#132) and Keenan (#138) are seniors.

Sugar Bowl: Ole Miss vs. Georgia (Thursday, 7 pm CT, ESPN)

The only player on Ole Miss’ roster that is expected to go in the top-200 of April’s draft is defensive tackle Zxavian Harris (#51). Harris (145th) is massive at a legit 6’7” and 330 pounds. I’m sure that he’s going to have a lot of fans once they learn about his size.

The main player I would keep an eye on for Georgia is cornerback Daylen Everett (#6). Everett (125th) was a super recruit who has spent the last four years with the Bulldogs and earned first-team All-SEC honors this year. The IMG Academy graduate will only be 21 years old on draft day.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos