Heading into the college bowl season, we will highlight several top prospects who project to be sought after in the 2025 NFL Draft. In this edition, we will be highlighting several prospects you need to watch for in the College Football Playoff.

1. OREGON QB DANTE MOORE (DEC. 20, 7:30 PM/ESTTNT/HBO MAX)

Outside of Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, QB #5 Dante Moore is widely considered the top quarterback prospect in this draft class. The 6-3, 206-pound redshirt sophomore has helped Oregon back to the big dance just one year after losing Dillon Gabriel to the NFL. Moore has been showing off his arm talent and ball placement with some big-time throws in crucial games this season.

Moore has completed 72.5 percent of his passes this season for 2,733 yards with 24 touchdowns and six interceptions. He missed some time in the middle of the season due to injury, but bounced back down the stretch. He’s still raw and could opt to return to school. Still, his potential is high as he looks to help Oregon make another push for a title.

2. ALABAMA OT KAYDEN PROCTOR (DEC. 19, 8 PM/EST ABC/ESPN)

Broderick Jones is heading into the final year of his contract, and while he has shown some improvement over the course of the season, the decision to give him his fifth-year option would be a huge commitment of money for the 2027 season. If Pittsburgh were to try and reset at left tackle instead of picking a quarterback high, LT #74 Kayden Proctor will be a name to watch.

Proctor is a massive human being, standing 6-7, 366 pounds, and can be a road grader in the running game. He’s been inconsistent at times as a pass protector, but he’s been more polished during the 2025 season compared to years past, showing the development you want to see. With ample starting experience under his belt dating back to his true freshman season, Proctor will be more prepared for the pros as a battle-tested prospect.

3. MIAMI (FL) OT FRANCIS MAUIGOA (DEC. 20, 12 PM/EST ABC/ESPN)

Another tackle prospect high up on the boards that Pittsburgh could consider in Round 1 is OT #61 Francis Mauigoa. He has played more right tackle during his college career, but has been rock solid in both pass protection and as a run blocker for the Hurricanes. He stands 6-6, 315 pounds, and plays with a true edge at the position. Mauigoa does a great job of firing off the line of scrimmage and running his feet on contact, making him a bully of a run blocker. He faces a tough test against Texas A&M’s pass rush, presenting a realistic test of what he will likely see at the next level.

4. ALABAMA QB TY SIMPSON (DEC. 19, 8 PM/EST ABC/ESPN)

The other top quarterback playing in the first round of the College Football Playoff is Alabama QB #15 Ty Simpson. Simpson has been one of the top passers this season, completing 64.3 percent of his pass attempts for 3,266 yards with 26 touchdown passes to just five interceptions. Still, Simpson hasn’t played well down the stretch. He has looked a bit erratic with his ball placement, and his poise is inconsistent.

Still, Simpson is widely considered one of the top three quarterbacks in the draft class. With so many quarterback options returning to school, it would be wise to keep an eye on Simpson in his rematch against the Oklahoma Sooners if that is indeed the route Pittsburgh is looking to go in the 2026 NFL Draft.

5. TEXAS A&M WR KC CONCEPCION (DEC. 20, 12 PM/EST ABC/ESPN)

The 2026 NFL Draft has several desirable wide receiver prospects. One who has been somewhat slept on by the draft community is WR #7 KC Concepcion. Concepcion is a smaller receiver (5-11, 190 pounds) who has had a productive 2025 season in his first year with the Aggies after transferring from NC State this spring. He has reeled in 57 catches for 886 yards and nine touchdowns while also rushing for a score and returning two punts to the house.

Concepcion has legit speed and burst in the open field, making him a threat to take it to the house as a pass catcher or returner. A guy who can generate separation as well as make tough catches in contested situations, Concepcion is a name to watch if he indeed decides to declare.

6. OREGON OG EMMAUNUEL PREGNON(DEC. 20, 7:30PM/ESTTNT/HBO MAX)

LG Isaac Seumalo is a free agent this offseason. Given Pittsburgh’s plethora of draft picks, perhaps a youth movement to replace the 32-year-old may be the move to complete this offensive line overhaul. One of the top left guards in this draft class is OG #75 Emmanuel Pregnon. He transferred from USC this past offseason and has continued his high level of play with the Ducks. He has made a name for himself as a physical run blocker with the size, athleticism, and long arms you desire in an NFL-caliber guard.

Standing 6-5, 318 pounds, Pregnon has a good build for the guard position. This frame makes him an enticing prospect to bring in and continue to develop into a high-level starter. He should continue to show his dominance against James Madison in the first round.

7. OKLAHOMA QB JOHN MATEER (DEC. 19, 8 PM/EST ABC/ESPN)

On the opposite sideline of Ty Simpson is Oklahoma QB #10 John Mateer, who is looking to go 2-0 against the Crimson Tide this season. Mateer was one of the top transfers this offseason, coming over from Washington State, where he padded the stats in his first season as a starter after Cam Ward transferred to Miami.

His production wasn’t as good in his first season with the Sooners, but Mateer has shown that he can make a splash as a dual threat. He threw for 2,578 yards while rushing for 416 yards with 19 total touchdowns to 10 interceptions. He’s a bit of a gunslinger out there, but Mateer has upside and will be tested as the Sooners try to advance.

8. OLE MISS DL ZXAVIAN HARRIS (DEC. 20, 3:30 PM/EST TNT/HBO MAX)

The Ole Miss Rebels will play Tulane in the first round, and a name to keep an eye on for the Rebels is DL #51 Zxavian Harris. Harris is a giant, standing 6-7, 320 pounds, with some freak athleticism for that size. He flashed as a pass rusher this season with three sacks, as well as an interception and two pass deflections.

Harris needs to play with a better pad level, but there is a lot to like in him as a raw prospect. He can be compared to a more athletic version of Yahya Black from last year. Considered a mid-round pick, keep an eye on Harris in this matchup.

9. ALABAMA WR GERMIE BERNARD (DEC. 19, 8 PM/EST ABC/ESPN)

For the Alabama Crimson Tide, another name to watch is WR #5 Germie Bernard, who was the team’s best pass catcher this season over freshman phenom Ryan Williams. Bernard transferred from Washington back in 2024 and has been a steady producer the last two years for the Tide. But this year, he’s been more fruitful from a scoring perspective. He has had 57 receptions for 762 yards with seven scores, along with 17 carries for 101 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

Bernard is a YAC specialist, having the shake combined with the toughness of a running back to pick up extra yards when he gets the ball in space. A crafty route runner as well, Bernard is likely to be a mid-round pick with a good chance of developing into a solid WR2 at the next level.

10. TEXAS A&M OG CHASE BISONTIS (DEC. 20, 12 PM/EST ABC/ESPN)

Another interior offensive line prospect you should watch is Texas A&M LG #71 Chase Bisontis. The 6-5, 315-pound junior started all 13 games as a true freshman, with 12 coming at right tackle and one at right guard. He moved to left guard before the 2024 season and has found a home there. He’s a technician as a pass protector thanks to his tackle experience, having the footwork along with the punch to keep pass rushers at bay.

Bisontis is widely considered a mid-round prospect, but there is a good chance a team could nab a likely starter in the third or fourth round as he continues to develop. He would be a good fit in Pittsburgh, staying at the same position he’s started the last two seasons while showing some position flexibility.