There is plenty of future NFL talent to check out during the Big Ten championship game.
The No. 3 Penn State Nittany Lions are set to take on the No. 1 Oregon Ducks on Saturday in the Big Ten Championship game, with kickoff set for 8:00 p.m. ET at Lucas Oil Stadium.
It’ll be the first matchup between the two teams since 1995, when the two sides faced off in the Rose Bowl, and just the fifth matchup ever between the opponents.
This one should be a talent-filled game with the No. 1 seed in the country on the line ahead of the College Football Playoffs, and there’ll be a number of NFL hopefuls in attendance on Saturday.
Who are the top NFL prospects playing in this year’s Big Ten Championship Game? We break down everything you need to know.
Penn State
DE Abdul Carter
Arguably the top edge rusher in this year’s class, Abdul Carter will be a force to watch on Saturday as Penn State’s top player along their front seven.
After being used in more of a hybrid role over the past two seasons, Carter transitioned to being more of a true edge rusher this year, as 85.7 percent of his snaps came along the defensive line on the outside.
Consequently, he put together his best season of college football, accumulating 45 pressures and 10 sacks in a monster year for Penn State, while also being a good edge-setter with 36 stops.
While some draft pundits have been concerned with his size, he’s a projected first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and should have a ton of suitors come draft season.
TE Tyler Warren
One of the more unique players in this year’s draft class, tight end Tyler Warren has a good chance to be the first player off the board at the position.
The elite tight end has 81 catches for 978 yards and six touchdowns on the season, while rushing 21 times for 182 yards and two more scores. Being the focal point of offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnecki’s creative offense, Warren has excelled in State College as Drew Allar’s top target.
Standing at 6’6”, 257 pounds, Warren has the ability to line up everywhere for Penn State, be it the slot, as an in-line tight end, or even out wide like a receiver, being a true unicorn at the position.
He should go in the first round of the NFL Draft, but could fall to Round 2 depending on how the first round goes.
QB Drew Allar
This year’s quarterback class is a true uncertainty, as there isn’t really a true top signal-caller as there has been in previous years.
While Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward have been rated as the top quarterbacks by a number of draft pundits, Penn State’s Drew Allar could be the best quarterback in the class when in comes to one’s ceiling.
At 6’5”, 238 pounds, Allar had another strong season, throwing for 2,668 yards, 18 touchdowns and five interceptions in Penn State’s run-heavy offense, while completing a career-high 71.6 percent of his passes.
He’s always had a strong arm, but put everything together this year, while being mainly turnover-free (three of the interceptions came in one game vs. USC).
Allar has the prototypical size, arm talent, and even the mobility to be a future NFL quarterback. He should go on the first two days of the NFL Draft.
Oregon
DT Derrick Harmon
A transfer from Michigan State, defensive tackle Derrick Harmon has been one of the more impactful players in college football this season.
Harmon leads Oregon with 47 pressures this season, accumulating four sacks and 20 run stops along the way as a disruptive three-down defensive lineman.
He moves well for his size at 6’5”, 310 pounds, having both the reactionary skills and the physical traits to hold up well in the run game, while being a good penetrator in both aspects defensively.
He should be gone by the first two days of the NFL Draft.
WRs Tez Johnson and Evan Stewart
Oregon’s explosive offense is nothing without its pair of high-end receivers, as Tez Johnson and Evan Stewart are two of the best wideouts in the country.
Johnson, standing at 5’10”, 165 pounds, has 67 catches for 685 yards and nine touchdowns, despite missing three games this season.
That followed up a productive 2023 season where he caught 86 passes for 1,182 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Oregon likes to put the ball in the hands of their playmakers and let them work after the catch. Johnson has benefitted from that, averaging seven yards after the catch per reception as his average depth of target is just 5.2 yards.
A speedy receiving threat with good after-the-catch ability, Johnson could be a Day 2 pick in the draft this year.
Stewart, on the other hand, came from Texas A&M this offseason after being the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2022. Being more of an explosive threat, he’s caught 48 passes for 613 yards and five touchdowns this season.
He has the highest average depth of target on the team at 12.5 yards (among qualified receivers), as he’s played a different role than Johnson for the Ducks.
Nonetheless, he should also be a top draft pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, should he choose to declare, and could go on Day 2 as well.
OT Josh Conerly Jr.
Looking into the trenches, tackle Josh Conerly Jr. is one of Oregon’s top potential draftees for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Standing at 6’4”, 315 pounds, Conerly has good athletic ability, as he’s a fluid mover who can operate well on a number of concepts in the run game — be it as a puller or climbing to the second level.
In pass protection, he displays good feet and technique, while recovering well when initially beaten with pass rush moves.
Overall, he could be a top-five tackle in the upcoming NFL Draft, and should also be selected by Day 2, assuming his pre-draft process goes smoothly.
