The Indiana Hoosiers will face their interstate rival, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, in the first round of the College Football Playoff. All eyes will be on South Bend, where NFL scouts will closely examine these 2025 NFL Draft prospects.
Indiana 2025 NFL Draft Prospects
- Mikail Kamara, DE (Rounds 5-6)
- Kurtis Rourke, QB (Rounds 5-6)
- CJ West, DL (Round 7-UDFA)
- Jailin Walker, LB (Round 7-UDFA)
- Elijah Sarratt, WR (UDFA)
- Trey Wedig, OL (UDFA)
Mikail Kamara’s NFL Draft Projection
With 10 sacks and 15 tackles for a loss, Mikail Kamara is far and away the top pass rusher for the Hoosiers, and his production has continued to grow yearly after transferring from the James Madison Dukes. At 6’1” and 265 pounds, the Indiana edge rusher has the strong frame, explosive movement, and top-tier production to be a Day 3 prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Kurtis Rourke’s NFL Draft Projection
After transferring to Bloomington, Kurtis Rourke has emerged as a credible prospect for the 2025 NFL Draft. In 2024, he completed 70.4% of his passes for 2,827 yards, 27 touchdowns, and just four interceptions, leading all of FBS football with an impressive average quarterback rating of 181.4.
Rourke consistently looks to attack downfield, processes information well and is adept at escaping pressure.
However, much of Rourke’s success is due to schemes designed for him. He lacks the arm strength and natural athleticism typically expected of NFL starters or high draft picks. That said, Rourke’s experience, vision, work ethic, and intelligence could make him a valuable long-term backup solution.
CJ West’s NFL Draft Projection
CJ West is a versatile defensive lineman who possesses significant strength and speed, allowing him to excel in the middle of the field. He demonstrates excellent hand technique and is adept at shedding blocks.
At 6’2” and 315 pounds, West is best projected as a nose tackle in the NFL. In this position, he can effectively rotate into lineups, utilizing his skills to plug running lanes and create leverage during passing downs.
Jailin Walker’s NFL Draft Projection
Jailin Walker is an explosive athlete, which should see him drafted alone. In the summer, he appeared on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List because he “consistently hits 21-22 mph every day.”
With 72 tackles, nine TFLs, two sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and eight passes defensed, the Indiana linebacker has showcased his sideline-to-sideline speed and versatility.
Notre Dame 2025 NFL Draft Prospects
- Benjamin Morrison, CB (Rounds 1-2)
- Xavier Watts, S (Rounds 2-3)
- Howard Cross III, DT (Rounds 4-5)
- Rylie Mills, DL (Rounds 4-5)
- Mitchell Evans, TE (Rounds 5-6)
- Riley Leonard, QB (Rounds 4-6)
- Jack Kiser, LB (Rounds 6-7)
- RJ Oben, DE (Round 7-UDFA)
- Beaux Collins, WR (UDFA)
- Jaylen Sneed, LB (UDFA)
- Pat Coogan, OL (UDFA)
Benjamin Morrison’s NFL Draft Projection
Unfortunately, Benjamin Morrison is out for the rest of the season with a hip injury, but as the top-rated Fighting Irish NFL prospect, he still warrants attention at the top of this list.
FOLLOW ALONG: Track Every Transfer Portal Entrant in our CFN Transfer Portal Tracker now!
At 6’0” and 190 pounds, Morrison is one of the most technically polished cornerback prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft, displaying adequate athleticism with fluid body movement, fierce physicality, and innate anticipation. Whether the injury causes Morrison to drop to the second round is a question waiting to be answered.
Xavier Watts’ NFL Draft Projection
Xavier Watts leads Notre Dame with five interceptions and nine passes defensed in 2024 and is one of the top safety prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Irish safety showcases elite anticipation and physicality while his explosive downfield trigger and instincts make the 6’0”, 205-pound safety a top Day 2 target.
Howard Cross III’s NFL Draft Projection
Howard Cross is a bully up front and creative disruptor. He possesses dominating strength and underlying awareness to penetrate the backfield, leading to 23 tackles, six TFLs, and four sacks in nine games during the 2024 regular season. However, at 6’1” and 288 pounds, the former four-star recruit is undersized, which will limit his immediate appeal to NFL teams.
Rylie Mills’ NFL Draft Projection
With a team-leading 6.5 sacks in 2024, Rylie Mills projects as a 3-tech in the NFL, where he can unleash his pass-rushing potential, explosive athleticism, and overpowering strength. At 6’5” and 295 pounds, the Notre Dame defensive lineman is expected to test extremely well, which could elevate him up boards as we approach the 2025 NFL Draft.
Mitchell Evans’ NFL Draft Projection
Mitchell Evans leads Notre Dame in 2024 with three receiving touchdowns. That may be an indictment on the passing offense in South Bend. However, the 6’5”, 253-pound tight end is a natural receiver who creates mismatches with his large frame and spatial awareness.
College Football Network has you covered with the latest from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and every Group of Five conference and FBS Independent program.