4 Underrated NFL Draft prospects to watch for in NYE CFP Quarterfinal

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The final day of 2025 is here, and with it comes one more full day of football before the ball drops – which will be capped by the sole College Football Playoff (CFP) Quarterfinal on New Year's Eve between No. 2 seed Ohio State and No. 10 seed Miami.

From Carnell Tate to Caleb Downs to Reuben Bain Jr., there are plenty of marquee names expected to headline the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft that will be on display in the match-up. But there will also be plenty of underrated NFL Draft prospects that will get their chance to shine in the top college football postseason event. Here are four players to keep an eye on that may not be at the top of the latest mock draft, but could be high-value picks this spring.

Ohio State

Max Klare, TE: Klare has hauled in 448 receiving yards and two touchdowns this season as a redshirt junior for the Buckeyes, and pops on film as both a dynamic pass catcher as well as an aggressive blocker who locks onto his assignment and finishes the play through the whistle.

Klare could choose to return to Columbus if the NIL deal is right, or he thinks he could project as a higher draft pick in 2027. You won't see him at the top of the boards, but he is currently projected as a 2nd-3rd round selection and could give an NFL team their future franchise tight end on Day 2.

Sonny Styles, LB: Styles isn't getting quite as much hype as his defensive teammates Caleb Downs or Arvell Reese, but still projects as a late 1st round or early 2nd round draft pick, and could be an absolute steal if he falls far enough.

He has elite block-shedding ability in the run game and performs well in space in pass coverage. He finished his regular season with 81 tackles, three pass deflections, one interception, and one forced fumble.

Miami (FL)

CJ Daniels, WR: Daniels will be appealing as a lower-round pick as a veteran football player who is in his sixth season due to COVID eligibility rules. He's got NFL split end size at 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, and hauled in 37 receptions for 420 yards and seven touchdowns this past season.

On film, he appears to have consistently reliable hands, and he performs well as a run blocker. He's definitely a Day 3 selection, but sometimes those are the overlooked picks that can turn into superstars – and Daniels definitely has the right traits to be a productive NFL talent.

Akheem Mesidor, DL: Mesidor is listed as a defensive lineman here because he is a collegiate edge rusher, but measures more like an NFL interior defensive lineman. He projects more as a late Day 2 or Day 3 selection as a sixth-year player, but Mel Kiper thinks he's a Top 25 talent on the draft board.

He has 51 tackles, 8.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles on the 2025 season, and has tallied more than 30 sacks over the course of his collegiate career. On film, he possesses both elite athleticism, given his size constraints compared to other NFL defensive ends, and the versatility to shift across the line. He will be a valuable mid- to late-draft pickup.

This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: 4 Underrated NFL Draft prospects to watch for in NYE CFP Quarterfinal

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