ARLINGTON, Texas – Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic alumni highlighted the 2025 National Football League Draft with 34 selections over the three-day event in Green Bay, Wisc.
 
The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic boasted at least four alums drafted in the first round for the fifth-straight year, boasting a recent history high of eight selections on the first day. Missouri's Armand Membou was the first Classic alum selected as the seventh overall pick by the New York Jets.
 
Standouts from 89th Classic participants Ohio State and Texas dominated the draft, making up seven of the Classic's eight first-round picks – four former Buckeyes (Emeka Egbuka [19th overall, Tampa Bay Buccaneers], Donovan Jackson [24th overall, Minnesota Vikings], Tyleik Williams [28th overall, Detroit Lions] and Josh Simmons [32nd, Kansas City Chiefs]) and three former Longhorns (Kelvin Banks Jr. [ninth overall, New Orleans Saints], Jahdae Barron, Texas [20th overall, Denver Broncos] and Matthew Golden [23rd overall, Green Bay Packers]).
 
Ohio State topped the list with 14 Classic alums drafted, one selection shy of the NFL Draft's seven-round record. Texas had 12 Classic alums drafted, the program's most since 1987. Missouri, Southern California and Alabama each had two Classic alums drafted, while Florida and Cincinnati each had one Classic alum drafted.
 
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GOODYEAR COTTON BOWL CLASSIC ALUMS IN THE 2025 NFL DRAFT
Round (Pick) Name, School – NFL Team
1 (7) Armand Membou, Missouri – New York Jets
1 (9) Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas – New Orleans Saints
1 (19) Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1 (20) Jahdae Barron, Texas – Denver Broncos
1 (23) Matthew Golden, Texas – Green Bay Packers
1 (24) Donovan Jackson, Ohio State – Minnesota Vikings
1 (28) Tyleik Williams, Ohio State – Detroit Lions
1 (32) Josh Simmons, Ohio State – Kansas City Chiefs&
2 (36) Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State – Cleveland Browns
2 (38) TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State – New England Patriots
2 (39) Luther Burden III, Missouri – Chicago Bears
2 (43) Alfred Collins, Texas – San Francisco 49ers
2 (45) J.T. Tuimoloau, Ohio State – Indianapolis Colts
2 (64) Andrew Mukuba, Texas – Philadelphia Eagles
3 (71) Vernon Broughton, Texas – New Orleans Saints
3 (92) Jalen Milroe, Alabama – Seattle Seahawks*
3 (97) Jaylin Smith, Southern California – Houston Texans
4 (115) Cody Simon, Ohio State – Arizona Cardinals
4 (120) Gunnar Helm, Texas – Tennessee Titans
4 (122) Lathan Ransom, Ohio State – Carolina Panthers
4 (123) Jack Sawyer, Ohio State – Pittsburgh Steelers
4 (124) Barryn Sorrell, Texas – Green Bay Packers
4 (130) Malachi Moore, Alabama – New York Jets
4 (134) Que Robinson, Alabama – Denver Broncos^
5 (148) Ty Hamilton, Ohio State – Los Angeles Rams
5 (149) Jaydon Blue, Texas – Dallas Cowboys
5 (170) Jordan Hancock, Ohio State – Buffalo Bills
5 (174) Denzel Burke, Ohio State – Arizona Cardinals
5 (175) Robbie Ouzts, Alabama – Seattle Seahawks^
6 (185) Will Howard, Ohio State – Pittsburgh Steelers
6 (190) Tim Smith, Alabama – Indianapolis Colts
6 (207) Cameron Williams, Texas – Philadelphia Eagles
6 (211) Hayden Conner, Texas – Baltimore Ravens
6 (216) Jeremy Crawshaw, Florida – Denver Broncos
7 (221) Jonah Monheim, Southern California – Jacksonville Jaguars
7 (231) Quinn Ewers, Texas – Miami Dolphins
7 (250) John Williams, Cincinnati – Green Bay Packers
 
Along with the collection of Classic alums, a total of 51 players drafted competed in or was on the roster for at least a collegiate game played at AT&T Stadium:
 
Round (Pick) Name, School – NFL Team
1 (17) Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M – Cincinnati Bengals
2 (34) Jayden Higgins, Iowa State – Houston Texans
2 (51) Nic Scourton, Texas A&M – Carolina Panthers
2 (63) Shemar Turner, Texas A&M – Chicago Bears
3 (68) Darien Porter, Iowa State – Las Vegas Raiders
3 (70) Isaac TeSlaa, Arkansas – Detroit Lions
3 (72) Landon Jackson, Arkansas – Buffalo Bills
3 (75) Nick Martin, Oklahoma State – San Francisco 49ers
3 (79) Jaylin Noel, Iowa State – Houston Texans
3 (84) Jacob Parrish, Kansas State – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3 (87) Savion Williams, TCU – Green Bay Packers
4 (105) Cam Skattebo, Arizona State – New York Giants
4 (127) Jalen Travis, Iowa State – Indianapolis Colts
5 (151) DJ Giddens, Kansas State – Indianapolis Colts
5 (159) Collin Oliver, Oklahoma State – Green Bay Packers
6 (179) Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State – Miami Dolphins
7 (246) Korie Black, Oklahoma State – New York Giants
 
*Was a redshirt when his team played in the Cotton Bowl Classic or at AT&T Stadium
^Was injured or did not play when his team played in the Cotton Bowl Classic or at AT&T Stadium
&Appeared in the 88th Cotton Bowl Classic, was injured for the 89th Cotton Bowl Classic