Top NFL draft prospects, big questions

It’s 2022 college football conference championship weekend, featuring 10 title games across the Power Five and Group of Five conferences. There is a lot on the line, including College Football Playoff implications. But it’s also a national stage for the best 2023 NFL draft prospects to stand out and make a statement against top competition.

We asked three of our NFL draft analysts — Todd McShay, Matt Miller and Jordan Reid — to take a closer look at the 10 matchups with an eye to the games’ best pro prospects in the 2023 class. For each game, we picked out a key player to watch. That means a prospect who could have a big impact on the game and potentially raise his draft stock heading into bowl season. And for each Power Five matchup, we also answered a big draft-centric question. Let’s dig in.

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Power Five championship matchups

Saturday, 12 p.m. ET (ABC) in Arlington

Will TCU receiver Quentin Johnston or Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn have the bigger impact on the game?

The TCU defense has shut down every top-tier runner it has faced this season, so look for Johnston to have the bigger impact for his team. After getting a little extra time to fully rest an injured ankle, Johnston presents a big problem for the Kansas State defense, regardless of whether they run man or zone coverage. He has been unstoppable on vertical routes this year, and his 6-foot-3, 215-pound frame stands out in a receiver class full of smaller bodies.

Johnston has the upside to end up a top-10 pick, and he has scored a touchdown in five of his past seven games — so look for him to make a big impact. As fun as Vaughn is as a runner (1,295 rushing yards, 16th in the country), this is Johnston’s game to show out. — Miller

play

Quentin Johnston takes advantage of the Longhorns’ blown coverage for the easy touchdown.

Prospect to watch: Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, CB, TCU

I watched Hodges-Tomlinson live against Texas a few weeks ago and was impressed with his instincts and body control when sticking with receivers. He consistently shows the ability to time his jumps and use his leverage to knock balls down at the last second without getting penalized on tape. His 12 pass breakups are tied for 16th in the FBS, and he has hauled in three interceptions this season.

Sure, Hodges-Tomlinson is a little undersized at 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds, but he has a lot of quickness and could still emerge as a…