2026 NFL Draft intel: Clemson star leads defensive 'gold mine' 

Each week, Yardbarker is monitoring the 2026 NFL Draft, scheduled April 23-25, 2026, in Pittsburgh. 

From a Clemson pass-rusher to an Oklahoma running back, here are five players we're tracking: 

Clemson EDGE T.J. Parker 

Parker (6-foot-3, 265 pounds) heads one of the more talented defenses in college football. In his Monday scouting report, The Ringer's Todd McShay called the unit an "NFL Draft gold mine."

"Really excited to see his next step this year," McShay wrote of Parker. "Some refined pass-rushing moves (more consistency with tying hands with tying feet and having a pass-rushing plan) and having another offseason in the weight room should make him a full-time problem for opposing offensive lines." 

Parker already established himself as a premier pass-rusher last season. He finished with the ninth-most sacks (11 in 14 games) in the FBS. 

Another productive season could make him a top-five pick. In Tankathon's latest mock draft, the Tennessee Titans take him with pick No. 3.

Clemson defensive lineman Peter Woods 

Woods (6-foot-3, 315 pounds) is another potential first-rounder on Clemson's stacked defense. Tankathon's mock has the Carolina Panthers selecting him with pick No. 6. 

"Woods is a one-gap penetrating 3-technique along the interior, but what makes him rare is his legitimate outside pass-rushing ability," wrote McShay. "He will provide great flexibility along a multiple front and at this point looks like one of the four or five best prospects in the 2026 draft class." 

Versatile D-linemen thrive in the NFL. Take Kansas City Chiefs six-time Pro Bowl DT Chris Jones, who can also play edge-rusher. 

If Woods continues to display elite pass-rushing skills, he may become a similar player. Per Pro Football Focus, he posted the nation's eighth-best pass-rush win rate (14 percent) among interior D-linemen last season (minimum 215 pass-rush snaps). 

Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt 

Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham coached Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix while he was Oregon offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach during the 2022 season. The third-year HC believes Leavitt could become a top-15 pick like Nix, pick No. 12 in the 2024 draft. 

"Yes, 100%," Dillingham told ESPN's Pete Thamel in a story published Wednesday. "He cares. He's intelligent. All the football stuff everybody sees. Everybody sees the talent." 

During the 2024 season, Leavitt (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) logged 29 touchdowns (24 passing and five rushing) in 13 games, leading the Sun Devils to their first College Football Playoff appearance. His improvisation skills make him an even more intriguing prospect. 

"[Leavitt] does some of his best work when scrambling and when the play breaks down," wrote PFF's Trevor Sikkema, who ranked him as his No. 4 QB in his preseason rankings. "His fundamentals and post-snap reads can be inconsistent, but all can get better with time." 

Auburn EDGE Keldric Faulk 

In a story published Thursday, The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner ranked Faulk (6-foot-6, 288 pounds) as his No. 3 defensive underclassman for the 2026 class and compared him to Detroit Lions edge-rusher Aidan Hutchinson, pick No. 2 in the 2022 draft.

"A great lateral move and athlete at his size, Faulk — who has some Aidan Hutchinson in his game—can be a terror for slower guards inside and is very difficult to move in the run game," wrote Baumgardner. 

Faulk had eight sacks in his first two seasons at Auburn, but Baumgardner wrote he must refine his pass-rushing moves to take another step.

If he does, he may be the second or third EDGE selected in the draft. Tankathon's mock has the Seattle Seahawks taking him with the 13th pick. 

Oklahoma RB Jaydn Ott

A left ankle injury in Week 1 derailed Ott's 2024 season. He finished with a career-low 385 rushing yards on 116 carries in 10 games with Cal. Sikkema, however, ranks him as his No. 2 RB behind Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love (6-foot, 206 pounds) in his preseason rankings.

"When healthy, Ott displays excellent vision and patience, particularly behind man/gap run-blocking concepts — traits that translate well to the NFL," wrote Sikkema. 

Ott's pass-catching ability may also draw the attention of scouts. In three seasons with the Golden Bears, he had 95 receptions for 736 yards and six TD catches. 

Ott (6-foot, 210 pounds) must stay healthy in 2025 to help the Sooners rebound from a disappointing SEC debut during the 2024 season. Oklahoma finished 6-7 and went 2-6 in conference play last season.