The Michigan Wolverines and Washington Huskies will square off in Monday's college football National Championship Game. As expected, the contest is littered with 2024 NFL Draft prospects. It'll represent their final opportunity to impress NFL scouts and general managers on college football's biggest stage. We've identified three prospects that can raise their pre-draft stock with an eye-opening performance on Monday.
BRALEN TRICE, EDGE, WASHINGTON
Bralen Trice entered the College Football Playoff as a top-50 prospect. He was downright dominant in Washington's Sugar Bowl victory over the Texas Longhorns. Trice was credited with one sack and multiple pressures. He made Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers uncomfortable on most dropbacks.
Trice is a heavy-handed pass rusher with outstanding instincts and an NFL-ready frame. The Phoenix, Arizona native is extremely flexible on the edge for a defensive end that clocks in at a chiseled 6-foot-4 and 274 pounds. Trice consistently has a pre-snap plan and rushes with a red-hot motor.
The 2024 NFL Draft class doesn't feature many high-ranking edge defenders. I began this process with a second-round grade on Trice. Another impressive showing versus Michigan could catapult Trice into the mid-to-late first-round conversation.
KRIS JENKINS, DT, MICHIGAN
Wolverines defensive tackle Kris Jenkins entered the 2023 campaign with high expectations. Now a fourth-year senior, Jenkins was expected to take the next step. He's instead fallen short of preseason projections.
Jenkins has recorded 20 fewer tackles this season (34) than he did in 2022 (54) due to a diminishing role. Jenkins' pass-rush plan is a work in progress and the production has been modest at best. He's recorded 2.0 sacks this season, matching last year's total.
Jenkins is technically advanced as a run-stopper. He was key to slowing down Alabama's ground-and-pound attack in the Rose Bowl, earning a run-stopping grade of 76.1 from Pro Football Focus, his third-best score of the season. Jenkins began building some momentum in that contest, and he requires another good performance versus Washington for his pre-draft stock to reach its ceiling.
JALEN MCMILLAN, WR, WASHINGTON
Jalen McMillan helps make up college football's most explosive trio of receivers alongside Rome Odunze and Ja'Lynn Polk. Primarily a slot receiver, a knee injury suffered against Michigan State in Week 3 has prevented McMillan from reaching his performance ceiling this season. Entering Monday, McMillan has recorded 39 receptions for 526 receiving yards and four touchdowns in six games. Extrapolating his per-game production to a full season would place McMillan at 91 catches for 1,227 yards.
The meat left on the bone is precisely why McMillan isn't a lock to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft. He could return to the Huskies as a fifth-year senior, and more importantly, as the No. 1 receiver after Odunze and Polk make the jump to the next level. McMillan is likely undecided. The Fresno, California native flashed his potential against Texas, totaling five receptions for 58 receiving yards and a touchdown. Another standout showing versus Michigan could convince McMillan to forego his remaining eligibility.
