Underrated 2025 NFL Draft matchup to watch closely during the Ohio State vs Oregon matchup
College football fans are ready, and anxious for this weekend’s slate of games. It includes the biggest game of the season when the (2) Ohio State Buckeyes travel out to Eugene to take on the (3) Oregon Ducks. Not only will college football fans be paying close attention, so will all the NFL Draft evaluators […]
College football fans are ready, and anxious for this weekend’s slate of games. It includes the biggest game of the season when the (2) Ohio State Buckeyes travel out to Eugene to take on the (3) Oregon Ducks. Not only will college football fans be paying close attention, so will all the NFL Draft evaluators out there. There are a lot of prominent names as a part of that contest, which also includes a very underrated prospect matchup between the two teams.
It’s no secret that the Ohio State offensive line has been playing outstanding football, but this game against Oregon will be their biggest test by a good margin. The Buckeyes are led by center Seth McLaughlin, who has been playing great football since transferring over from Alabama this offseason. Left tackle Josh Simmons has also been playing excellent football, really taking his game to a whole other level this season.
One player who goes under the radar some, and shouldn’t be, is starting left guard Donovan Jackson. Now in his third year as a starter up front, Jackson has always been an extremely talented player but his game has been up and down at times. So far this season, his consistency has been at a completely different level. Jackson has been fantastic.
The talent was always evident when watching Jackson, but his film always left you wanting more. We are getting more in 2024, and the arrow continues to be pointing upward.
During this game against Oregon, Jackson is going to be challenged in a very big way. The Ducks have a deep and talented interior defensive line, including the likes of Ja’Maree Caldwell, A’Mauri Washington, and even some Jordan Burch at times. One player that Jackson could get matched up against quite a bit is former Michigan State transfer Derrick Harmon, who has been a revelation for the team.
If you go back and watch Harmon with the Spartans, he left a lot to be desired. He possessed a massive frame, but there was some bad weight on his frame, and he was maddeningly inconsistent. The tools were there, but the production and consistent impact certainly weren’t.
So far this season, Harmon has been tremendous for the Ducks. He looks to be in better shape around 310 pounds, and his movement skills have taken a huge step forward because of it. In five games, he has been absolutely unblockable for Oregon. Harmon has recorded 19 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, three more quarterback hurries, and a forced fumble. He has been consistently disruptive every game, and NFL Draft evaluators are taking notice.
When we get into the full process of the 2025 NFL Draft class, this is a game that scouts, evaluators, and decision makers are going to go back and watch closely. Both Jackson and Harmon have the talent to continue to raise their stock with big performances. Their impact in this game is also extremely important to determine which team will come out on top.
