25 college players NFL fans should keep an eye on this season

A top prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft, Klubnik brings a level of dual-threat ability that has NFL coaches salivating. His throwing prowess resulted in 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns as a junior. He added just under 500 yards on the ground to go with seven rushing scores, too. His mobility makes him a must-watch TV, although some of his deeper throws and lower-half strength raise questions about whether he could be a top-end starting NFL quarterback. That being said, if he gets Clemson to a national championship and shows further improvements, particularly in his strength, he could be a Top 10 pick. 

The consensus top running back prospect of the class, Love will be front and center for all to see as Notre Dame enters the season as one of the top programs. A preseason All-American and Heisman hopeful, Love exploded for 19 total touchdowns as a sophomore. When envisioning him in an NFL offense, it's not hard to see him take on a role similar to Detroit's Jahmyr Gibbs, given his combination of speed and explosiveness. That was very evident on his 98-yard touchdown in the playoffs against Indiana. 

Penn State has always sent talented runners to the next level, most recently doing so with names like Saquon Barkley and Miles Sanders. Singleton is the next star in the blue and white, and one that will more than likely become the school's all-time leader in career rushing yards if he surpasses 1,020 yards. He has reached that mark in two of his three campaigns. He has home-run ability with each touch and unmatched acceleration, a few traits that echo comparisons to Barkley. He has a real shot at being a first-round pick in 2026. 

Tight ends can oftentimes go overlooked at the collegiate level. The trend is starting to shift, however, after a pair of tight ends went in the first round this past draft. Stowers led the SEC in receptions, yards, and touchdowns at the position, and he put himself on the map with a 113-yard game in the upset of No. 1 Alabama last season. At the NFL level, he could pose to be a matchup nightmare, which is a trait that can help catapult prospects into the first round. He also brings a unique background to the position, having previously played quarterback. 

Describing Proctor as colossal may be an understatement. The projected first offensive linemen to come off the board in 2026, Proctor stands at 6-foot-7 and more than 360 pounds. He's an imposing force leading the way for the high-powered 'Bama offense and someone who will quickly be starting on Sundays once he's selected. 

This hands-down may be the best defensive prospect in all of college football. The younger brother of NFL wideout Josh Downs, the junior quickly became a household name as a freshman in the SEC at Alabama, earning the 2023 Freshman of the Year award. He maintained that same level of tenacity at Ohio State where he became a unanimous All-American and won the Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year award. He draws comparisons to Jamal Adams and Buddha Baker for his ability to play in the box and tackle, but he may have even more range and speed than those guys. 

Pass or run, it doesn’t matter when Parker is on the other side of things. The man is a force for offensive tackles coming off the edge with a rare combo of power and finesse. All he did in 2024 was get to the quarterback 11 times and force a school-record six fumbles. His numbers are comparable to those of former Clemson pass rusher Clelin Ferrell, who was the No. 4 overall pick in 2019. Parker has all the makings of a Top 5 selection in 2026 with another strong showing in his final season. 

Will he or won’t he? That’s the question every fan will be asking when watching him on Saturday this season as the first-year Texas starting quarterback weighs whether to enter the 2026 NFL Draft or not. Either way, he’ll be must-watch TV whenever he steps onto the field. A possible No. 1 pick whenever he does declare, Manning has a dual-threat ability that neither Peyton or Eli remotely had, which makes him an even more intriguing prospect. He showed flashes as a sophomore, including a 325-yard game against Mississippi State. 

The fifth-year senior has everything going for him. He’s a Heisman favorite, a projected Top 10 draft pick, and is at the helm of one of the top SEC programs. He was also under the tutelage of Jayden Daniels before he went on to star in the NFL. Once Nussmeier got the job with the Tigers, he threw for more than 4,000 yards with 29 touchdowns. The one knock on him has been turnovers, as he threw 12 of them in 2024, so lowering that number will be necessary for him in 2025 as all scouts begin to key in on his film. 

Allar was considered someone who could have come out after his junior season before his eventual return for one more run. The senior remains a top prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft. However, this time around, he hopes to lead Penn State over the hump following a school-record 13-win season that ended unceremoniously in the semifinals. Everything scouts look for is there with Allar, from his size (6'5", 235 lbs.) to the way he reads a defense, but improvements in footwork -- particularly against blitzes -- will be something scouts hope to see improvement upon with another year. 

A true dual-threat quarterback, Sellers is a redshirt sophomore who has even more room to grow. He threw for more than 2,500 yards in his first season while adding 674 rushing yards and seven scores on the ground. There are comparisons to Anthony Richardson — which may not incite faith for many NFL fans — but his passing ability is much better already. He and Richardson get brought up together due to their similar physical stature and ability to tuck it and run. A potentially better comparison for Sellers if a young Ben Roethlisberger, especially if he further develops his intermediate passing and further masters his ability to extend plays. 

Scroll through the 2024 box scores and you’ll see why Tyson is the consensus top wide receiver prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft. He had five 100-yard games, including a monstrous 12-catch, 176-yard game against ranked Kansas State. He finished with 10 touchdowns that season, as well. He’s proven to be a viable option in getting the tough catches on third downs while also having the ability to beat defenders over the top. 

The clear-cut best linebacker in all of college football, Hill Jr. racked up a whopping 113 tackles as a sophomore. Going into Year 3, he leads the defensive side of what some believe is a national championship caliber squad. He’s a terror coming off the edge, posting eight sacks across 16 games. Whenever Texas is on TV, take note of how Hill Jr. finds a way to get involved with nearly every play. 

His numbers at Tulane are like a video game. As a freshman, he threw the rock 258 times for 1,378 yards and followed that up with 1,401 yards in 2024. Oregon went all-in to bring him to Eugene. He’s now one of the most explosive players in the Big Ten due to his versatility in both the run and pass game. If his game translates into the bigger conference, there’s no reason he won’t join names like Jeremiyah Love and Nicholas Singleton when it comes to the top running backs going into the draft. 

Washington goes into 2025 with high expectations. Its star wideout is one of the reasons that’s the case. The big-bodied junior starred in his first season as the primary target, turning 63 catches into 834 yards and nine touchdowns. For a man of his size, Boston has quick feet that make him an excellent route runner, while his physicality makes him a difficult matchup for opposing corners. As Washington looks to establish itself on the national level, don’t be surprised to see Boston at the forefront of that climb into the Top 25. 

All eyes will be on McCoy’s return from an ACL injury he suffered during offseason training in January. He’s hyped up to be the first corner off the board in 2026, assuming he doesn’t miss a beat in his junior year. There aren’t many doubting it, either, as he is a preseason All-American by multiple media outlets. He’s coming off his first season at Tennessee following a transfer from Oregon State. He recorded four interceptions with nine pass deflections, all the while showcasing his renowned play as a shutdown corner.

Terrell makes it tough for opposing quarterbacks when they target him. He’s a top-tier man corner who is equally as formidable out of zone. Where he’s able to differentiate himself from other defensive backs is his willingness to get physical, which is why he has three career forced fumbles. He’s also more reluctant to be over aggressive, instead relying on his football IQ to seemingly always be in the right spot at the right time, a trait that bodes well for his NFL future. 

The Clemson defense is loaded with NFL talent, and Woods may be the best of the group. The interior linemen are quick to penetrate, equating to 11 tackles for loss as a sophomore, but also have a 33-inch vertical that allows them to get their hands into would-be throwing lanes. As he further develops both in technique and muscle mass, Woods will have NFL scouts salivating at the thought of implementing him as a three-technique defensive lineman. 

Miami was among the top offenses in 2024 with 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward under center. The highest-scoring unit in FCS, however, was also being led by Mauigoa up front. The 6-foot-6 linemen was the only tackle to allow two or fewer knockdowns in over 500 snaps in 2024, allowing Ward to carve defenses. Keeping the quarterback upright is among the most regarded aspects at the next level, so it’s no wonder that the junior could be the first offensive tackle drafted next April. 

Faulk returns for another year in Auburn as one of the top pass rushers in the SEC. He brought down the quarterback seven times last season. He has a knack for disrupting the timing off the edge thanks to his 6-foot-6 frame and relentless motor. He will need a strong junior season in which he elevates his performance as a pass rusher, and if he does so, he projects to be a Top 10 pick when he declares. 

The Bulldogs have become known for developing stud defensive players for the next level, and Allen appears to be on track to be the next great one. Like many of the great UGA linebackers before him, Allen possesses pinpoint instincts that equal his range and tackling ability. His high motor and leadership skills, which should see him start every game for a second consecutive season, are reminiscent of Georgia-turned-NFL talents like Roquon Smith and Nakobe Dean. 

Banks sticks out whenever he's on the field. Some of that has to do with him wearing No. 88 as a defensive lineman, but a lot of that has to do with his 6-foot-6, 329-pound frame. He has 10 sacks over his career, which began at Louisville before transferring to Florida. Banks needs to cement himself as an interior powerhouse in 2025 after flashing over the final month of 2024. If he can continue overpowering linemen and blowing up rushing lanes, Banks very well could be the first defensive lineman off the board next April. 

The defensive leader at South Carolina, Kilgore, is someone who has a nose for the ball. He's shot out of a cannon when he's on the field, using his impressive closing speed and occasional overaggressiveness to wreak havoc on offenses. He has played in all 25 games over the past two seasons, highlighting his durability, while racking up six interceptions and 124 tackles in that span. The 2024 second-team All-SEC selection could launch himself up draft boards with a dominating junior year. 

Mendoza comes into a new situation after transferring to Indiana from Cal. He was stellar in his previous stop, setting Cal's school record for highest completion percentage in a season. He brings his pocket passing prowess to the Big Ten with the hopes of becoming a top 10 pick. Visually, Mendoza looks the part at 6-foot-5 and has a swagger about him that befits any starting quarterback. Seeing how Mendoza performs against stiffer competition will be a must-watch for football fans. 

The senior Swiss-army knife is the definition of electric. Forcing missed tackles due to his elusiveness and his ability to get yards after the catch coming out of the backfield make him one of the most intriguing prospects. He very well could take on a role at the next level similar to Austin Ekeler or Darren Sproles. Last season, he was the first player in Pittsburgh history to have both 100 rushing and receiving yards in the same game. He's also a weapon in the return game.