EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsWe're only a couple of weeks away from the beginning of the 2026 college football season, and I'm pretty excited. We get to watch a lot of high-end prospects headed to the 2027 NFL draft class. But which colleges should NFL draft fans focus on when they turn their TVs on every Saturday?I have gone through my personal evaluations and talked to scouts and evaluators throughout the NFL to pick out the rosters loaded with potential 2027 draft picks. There's still a lot of time for players to rise and fall between now and when the draft starts next April in Washington, D.C., but I settled on 12 schools for draft fans to watch this season. I separated them into three tiers, considering the overall number of prospects and how many of them should be first-rounders. I also picked an under-the-radar program to watch -- I had eventual national champion Indiana in last year's version, but I'm going to the ACC this time around.Let's start with a stacked team looking to take the next step.Jump to a section:Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3Under the radarTier 1TexasTop prospect to know: Arch Manning, QBSleeper prospect to watch: Bo Mascoe, CBGame circled on the schedule: vs. Ohio State, Sept. 12There's a strong argument that the Longhorns have the most impressive roster in the FBS. The fate and potential of the team starts with Manning. His first season as a starter began with immense expectations and got off to a rocky start, but he finished strong with 3,163 passing yards, 26 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Manning's mechanics, footwork and accuracy still need improvement, but if he can build on the momentum he generated late last season, he could be the No. 1 pick.Left tackle Trevor Goosby returns after contemplating entering the 2026 draft. At 6-foot-7, 325 pounds, he's a gangly, consistent blocker who has already received Round 1 grades from scouts. Also watch out for right tackle Melvin Siani. The 6-foot-6, 317-pound Wake Forest transfer could skyrocket up draft boards very quickly if he refines his considerable set of tools. Guard Brandon Baker is a Day 2 prospect who is transitioning from tackle, while center Connor Robertson is a late-round hopeful.Transfer wide receiver Cam Coleman is a Round 1 prospect who could vault into the top 10. He had 708 receiving yards and five touchdowns last season with Auburn but should flourish with Manning. WR2 Ryan Wingo is a Day 2 prospect whose speed and dynamic ability have already intrigued evaluators. His stock should rise if he catches the ball more consistently.Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown are major upgrades at running back and viewed as midround prospects entering the season. The 5-foot-11, 193-pound Smothers is a smooth mover who can create explosive plays as a runner and pass catcher, while Brown is a determined ball carrier who can make defenders miss with ease.Colin Simmons is Texas' top-ranked defensive prospect. He has an electric first step, which helped him lead the SEC with 12 sacks last season. Simmons has the makings of a top-10 pick and could be the first defensive player off the board. Defensive tackles Hero Kanu, Ian Geffrard and Alex January carry late-round grades. Linebacker Rasheem Biles is an undersized but instinctive player who finished with 100 total tackles and two interceptions last season at Pitt. He carries a Day 2 grade, as does safety Jelani McDonald, who is a movable chess piece. And multiple scouts have mentioned Mascoe, a Rutgers transfer, as a potential riser this season.Predicted first-rounders in 2027: 4Predicted total draft picks in 2027: 13OregonTop prospect to know: Dante Moore, QBSleeper prospect to watch: Jerry Mixon, LBGame circled on the schedule: at Ohio State, Nov. 7The Ducks are loaded after several players eschewed the draft to stay in school. The headliner is Moore, who enters the season as a prime contender to be the No. 1 overall pick. A natural thrower, the 6-foot-3, 210-pound quarterback experienced a breakout season in 2025, but scouts want to see him play better against high-quality opponents.Tight end Jamari Johnson steps in for Kenyon Sadiq, and there are evaluators who believe he's more well-rounded than the recent No. 16 overall pick. Johnson is expected to become a top receiving option for Moore, and if he takes another step in his development, he could be drafted higher than Sadiq. At wide receiver, Evan Stewart returns after missing last season with a torn patellar tendon, while UAB transfer Iverson Hooks could emerge as a late-round target.The offensive line is led by three prospects with late-round grades -- center Iapani Laloulu, guard Dave Iuli and tackle Michael Bennett III, a Yale transfer. Laloulu is a 6-foot-2, 329-pounder who could rise from his current Day 3 status.Oregon's defense is keyed by a defensive line full of potential draft picks, led by defensive tackle A'Mauri Washington. Washington is a player who could have been drafted high in 2026 and is viewed as a top-40 player in the 2027 class. He'll be joined by Bear Alexander, who is currently receiving Day 2 grades. On the edge, Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti are one of the better tandems in the country. Both have received Day 2 grades, with Uiagalelei seen to have a higher ceiling at the next level.Safety Koi Perich was a major addition after transferring from Minnesota. He is a fast-flowing, third-level defender who has received top-100 grades from scouts I've talked to despite an underwhelming sophomore season. Mixon and Devon Jackson are seen as Day 3 picks at linebacker, with Mixon being mentioned by multiple scouts as a potential riser because of his instinctiveness and consistency in coverage.Predicted first-rounders: 3Predicted total draft picks: 11Notre DameTop prospect to know: Leonard Moore, CBSleeper prospect to watch: Jordan Faison, WRGame circled on the schedule: vs. Miami, Nov. 7The most recent draft saw Notre Dame have two first-round picks (RBs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price) for the first time since 2018. It could exceed that number and get three for the first time since 1994. Moore is the Fighting Irish's highest-ranked prospect and the top corner on my early board. At 6-foot-2, 197 pounds, he's an easy mover with excellent ball skills who finished with five interceptions last season while allowing only 12 receptions.Moore isn't the only Round 1 candidate in the secondary. Brauntae Johnson is my No. 1 safety after experiencing a breakout sophomore campaign that included four interceptions. Colorado transfer corner DJ McKinney is a long, agile corner who has received strong Day 2 grades despite an uneven 2025. Safety Adon Shuler and nickel Christian Gray are viewed as Day 3 options.Up front, edge rusher Boubacar Traore led Notre Dame in sacks (6.5) last season and has mostly received Day 2 grades. Linebackers Drayk Bowen and Jaiden Ausberry have late Day 3 grades.Quarterback CJ Carr thrived in his first year as the starter, finishing with 2,741 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and six interceptions in 12 games. With Notre Dame viewed as one of the early national championship favorites, many scouts will be paying close attention to Carr, who could cement himself in the first round. He'll be protected by guard Anthonie Knapp, who is on NFL scouts' radar, although his transition from tackle makes his exact projection uncertain.Faison steps into a crucial role and is getting early Day 3 grades. He'll be joined by Jaden Greathouse, who has NFL potential but is coming off an injury-plagued season.Predicted first-rounders: 3Predicted total draft picks: 11MiamiTop prospect to know: Ahmad Moten Sr., DTSleeper prospect to watch: Marquise Lightfoot, EdgeGame circled on the schedule: at Notre Dame, Nov. 7Miami's defense lost two first-round edge rushers in Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor, but its defensive front is still strong. Moten enters the season as my top-ranked defensive tackle and his running mate, Justin Scott, is another early-round-caliber prospect. Edge rusher Damon Wilson II is expected to help fill the Bain/Mesidor void and is getting late Day 2 grades from scouts after finishing with nine sacks last season. Lightfoot and Armondo Blount are two more edges who could break out and jump into draft consideration.Darian Mensah is Miami's latest quarterback transfer and should join Cam Ward and Carson Beck as NFL draft picks. He finished with 3,973 passing yards, 34 touchdowns and six interceptions last season at Duke and is a polished passer who steps into a ready-made situation. He could even emerge into Round 1 consideration.Mensah's top target last season, wide receiver Cooper Barkate, also transferred to Miami, as did Vandrevius Jacobs (South Carolina). Both primarily have Day 3 grades. Tight end Elija Lofton steps into a full-time starting role and could rise. Running back Mark Fletcher Jr. surprisingly returned after a strong finish to 2025. He's a determined runner who has received a mixture of third- and fourth-round grades. The Hurricanes also have two draftable offensive linemen in guard Samson Okunlola and tackle Matthew McCoy.Miami's secondary is arguably the deepest in the country, with cornerback Romanas Frederique Jr. breaking out last season. He is a savvy technician with the potential to develop into a top-50 prospect if he can improve his durability and ball skills (one interception in two seasons). Fellow corner Xavier Lucas was more consistent than Frederique, earning mostly midround grades. Cornerback Ethan O'Connor and safety Zechariah Poyser, an aggressive downhill run stopper, are late-rounders. And linebackers Mohamed Toure and Chase Smith are late-round hopefuls. Toure is especially fascinating, as he enters his eighth season of college football.Predicted first-rounders: 3Predicted total draft picks: 10Tier 2Ohio StateTop prospect to know: Jeremiah Smith, WRSleeper prospect to watch: Devin McCuin, WRGame circled on the schedule: at Texas, Sept. 12Ohio State had a draft-high 11 players selected in 2026, including four in Round 1. The Buckeyes are loaded again and led by Smith, the No. 1 prospect on my board. Smith made an impact immediately upon arriving in Columbus and is among the best receiver prospects ever. At 6-foot-3, 225 pounds, he can win with speed or strength and is a constant headache for defenses. McCuin, who transferred from UTSA, and veteran Brandon Inniss complement Smith at receiver and are hearing Day 3 grades.Opinions are more mixed about Smith's quarterback, as Julian Sayin enters his second season as a starter after finishing last season with 3,610 passing yards, 32 touchdowns and eight interceptions. His 77% completion percentage led the FBS, as he's an efficient, point-guard-like distributor. New offensive coordinator Arthur Smith will give him more opportunities with NFL concepts and progressions. Some scouts are skeptical about Sayin's size (6-foot-1, 208 pounds) and arm strength, which could limit his ceiling.Up front, Austin Siereveld is transitioning from tackle to guard. The 6-foot-5, 327-pounder is a heavy-handed technician who consistently generates movement at the point of attack. He's viewed as a Day 2 possibility. Center Carson Hinzman returns for his senior season with 35 career starts. He's seen as a mid-to-late Day 3 prospect.The Buckeyes' defense had five players selected in the top 65 of the 2026 draft, but there's still plenty of talent. The strength of the unit is in the secondary, led by Jaylen McClain. He's a rangy free safety with excellent coverage instincts; don't be surprised if he moves into the top 50. His running mate, Duke transfer Terry Moore, has received midround grades, though scouts are monitoring his recovery from a torn ACL.Florida State transfer Earl Little Jr. will occupy the nickel/rover spot as an aggressive, downhill thumper who is viewed as a Round 3 or 4 prospect. Cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr. enters his second season as a starter and is in the late-round picture.The front seven is led by edge rusher Kenyatta Jackson Jr., who had 6.5 sacks last season and carries strong Day 2 grades. Beau Atkinson and Alabama transfer Qua Russaw will be on the opposite edge and have late-round grades. Defensive tackle will be populated by three Day 3 prospects in returner Eddrick Houston and transfers James Smith (Alabama) and John Walker (UCF). Linebacker Christian Alliegro, another transfer (Wisconsin), has a late-round grade.Predicted first-rounders: 2Predicted total draft picks: 11GeorgiaTop prospect to know: Ellis Robinson IV, CBSleeper prospect to watch: Gabe Harris Jr., EdgeGame circled on the schedule: at Alabama, Oct. 10Georgia had only one first-rounder in April, its fewest since 2021, but I expect the Bulldogs to have multiple first-rounders again in 2027. Robinson leads the way and is my current CB2. At 6-foot, 180 pounds, he has terrific ball skills and instincts but needs to refine his technique in coverage. KJ Bolden is the other Round 1 player and could be the first safety off the board. Three other defensive backs -- transfers Khalil Barnes (Clemson) and Ja'Marley Riddle (East Carolina) along with Demello Jones -- carry Day 3 grades.Linebacker Chris Cole is a potential breakout candidate. He has an impressive frame at 6-foot-3, 235 pounds and the movement skills to match. He needs to be more consistent in every part of his game, but he has the traits to become a late Round 1 option. Fellow linebacker Raylen Wilson is receiving midround grades. Harris is another player with breakout potential who scouts have already noticed, carrying early Day 3 grades. And edge rusher Quintavius Johnson could rise the board throughout the process.The offensive prospects are led by running back Nate Frazier and tight end Lawson Luckie, with both possessing Round 3-4 grades. Wide receiver London Humphreys is a consistent player who has been repeatedly rated as a late-round target. Quarterback Gunner Stockton won't pass the physical traits test for many teams, but he's a gamer who has starred in big moments. Expect him to be a popular undrafted free agent target. Lastly, offensive tackle Earnest Greene III and center Drew Bobo will anchor the offensive line and have mid-to-late-round grades.Predicted first-rounders: 2Predicted total draft picks: 10Ole MissTop prospect to know: Will Echoles, DTSleeper prospect to watch: Deuce Alexander, WRGame circled on the schedule: vs. LSU, Sept. 19The Rebels had only two players drafted in April, but they could have more than that just in Round 1 in 2027. Echoles has a case for being the top interior defender of the class. At 6-foot-3, 310 pounds, he's a heavy-handed disruptor who finished with five sacks last season. Scouts I've talked to have mid-to-late Round 1 grades on him.Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss might be the most exciting player in the country. He took over the starting reins in Week 3 last season and flourished, finishing with 3,937 passing yards and 30 total touchdowns (22 passing, eight rushing) while leading the Rebels to the College Football Playoff semifinals. He has already created quite a bit of buzz among NFL scouts, with some saying he could rise into the back end of the first round despite his 6-foot, 205-pound size.Kewan Lacy enters the season as a favorite to be the first running back off the board. His 24 rushing touchdowns last season were third most in SEC history, and his combination of vision and tackle-breaking ability have him in the top-40 discussion. Center Brycen Sanders and guard Patrick Kutas will open up holes for Lacy and are late-round candidates.Alexander is a slender-built and explosive vertical receiving threat who has gotten a mixture of late Day 2 to early Day 3 grades. He's expected to become the team's No. 1 option and has often been mentioned as a player who could rise. A pair of Syracuse transfers (Johntay Cook II and Darrell Gill Jr.) and tight end Luke Hasz are expected to round out the receiving corps, with each carrying late-round grades.There are multiple Ole Miss defensive backs on the NFL radar, with Antonio Kite, Sharif Denson and Joenel Aguero all having Day 3 grades. Linebacker Keaton Thomas is also a Day 3 prospect. Suntarine Perkins is an interchangeable hybrid defender with early Day 3 grades, while Nevada edge transfer Jonathan Maldonado is also a late-round prospect.Lucas Carneiro was the highest-graded kicker for NFL scouts this summer, receiving Round 5 and 6 grades. He tied the FBS record for the most field goals made in a single season in 2025 (31).Predicted first-rounders: 2Predicted total draft picks: 8South CarolinaTop prospect to know: Dylan Stewart, EdgeSleeper prospect to watch: Vicari Swain, CBGame circled on the schedule: at Alabama, Sept. 26Like many top Gamecocks prospects, quarterback LaNorris Sellers returned to school after a rough 2025 season. He entered last season with first-round hype but finished with 2,437 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He has every trait imaginable but has yet to put it all together. There's no in-between when discussing Sellers with scouts -- either they are really high or really low on him. There are evaluators who still have him in Round 1 conversations, while others have given him grades as low as mid-Day 3.Wide receiver Nyck Harbor is another prospect with intriguing traits, at 6-foot-6 and 239 pounds with considerable downfield speed. The production hasn't been consistent (618 receiving yards and six touchdowns last season), but his physical tools have him in the Round 3-4 category right now, with a chance to ascend.Left tackle Jacarrius Peak, an NC State transfer, is getting mid-to-late Day 2 grades as the leader of the Gamecocks' remodeled offensive line, but he suffered a knee injury this offseason. His return timetable is unknown. Late-round hopefuls such as transfers Emmanuel Kojo Poku (East Carolina), Carter Miller (UCF), Hank Purvis (Purdue) and Dayne Arnett (Ferris State) dot the rest of the line.Stewart is South Carolina's highest-graded prospect due to his elite traits. At 6-foot-5, 245 pounds, he has rare bend and closing speed, but the production has yet to match the potential (4.5 sacks in 2025). If he can add more sacks, Stewart could be the first non-QB to be selected in April. Defensive tackles Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy and Tomiwa Durojaiye could emerge as draftable.Many scouts I've talked to are enamored with Swain. He's still learning to play corner, but his upside and value as a punt returner have scouts projecting him as an early-to-mid Day 2 pick. Judge Collier and Quay'sheed Scott are more corners in the late-round mix, as are linebackers Fred Johnson and Shawn Murphy.Predicted first-rounders: 3Predicted total draft picks: 7Tier 3LSUTop prospect to know: Jordan Seaton, OTSleeper prospect to watch: Jayce Brown, WRGame circled on the schedule: at Ole Miss, Sept. 19New coach Lane Kiffin restocked the roster via the transfer portal, with Seaton headlining the haul. The Colorado transfer is an easy-moving prospect who is already polished in pass protection. With his 6-foot-5, 302-pound frame, there are scouts who have him ranked as the best tackle prospect entering the season. With another solid year of pass protection and more consistency as a run blocker, Seaton could emerge as a top-15 pick. Center Braelin Moore and Maryland transfer guard Aliou Bah also have draftable grades along the line.Quarterback Sam Leavitt is looking to rebound after following up a breakout 2024 season at Arizona State with an injury-riddled seven-game campaign last year. A quick-footed, dual-threat signal-caller, Leavitt has tools that fit seamlessly into the Kiffin scheme, which expedites the development of passers. There's a path for Leavitt to emerge from his current Day 2 status into Round 1 consideration.Tight end Trey'Dez Green is the Tigers' top pass catcher, finishing with 33 catches, 433 receiving yards and seven touchdowns last season. At 6-foot-7, 237 pounds, he's a big receiver with the physique of an NBA small forward, which allows him to be a red zone mismatch. Green will battle to be the first tight end off the board and could be picked in the top 25. A trio of transfer receivers -- Brown (Kansas State), Jackson Harris (Hawaii) and Eugene Wilson III (Florida) -- hold Day 3 grades.Safety Ty Benefield leads LSU's defensive prospects. He's a sledgehammer coming downhill in run support but needs to show more consistency as a wrap-up-and-finish tackler. He's currently a Day 2 prospect but could jump into the top 50 with some tackling consistency. PJ Woodland, Dashawn Spears and Tamarcus Cooley are defensive backs with Day 3 grades.Edge rushers Princewill Umanmielen and Jordan Ross are viewed as midround prospects, while linebacker Whit Weeks returns for his senior season after battling nagging lower-body injuries in 2025. He's an instinctive leader who has received Round 3 feedback. And linebacker TJ Dottery is one last late-round name to keep an eye on.Predicted first-rounders: 2Predicted total draft picks: 9IndianaTop prospect to know: Charlie Becker, WRSleeper prospect to watch: Turbo Richard, RBGame circled on the schedule: vs. Ohio State, Oct. 17The reigning national champions have reloaded, with Becker leading the way. He averaged 19.9 yards per catch in 2025 (seventh most in the FBS), and even though his sample size is small (eight career starts), he is in the top-20 discussion. Becker is joined by Michigan State transfer Nick Marsh, a chiseled receiver who plays well through contact. Both could be first-round picks.They'll be receiving passes from Josh Hoover, a TCU transfer. He's an aggressive thrower who will need to limit his turnovers (13 interceptions in 2025) to improve his midround grade. While Hoover won't likely follow in No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza's footsteps, he has the mentality as a passer to rise up the board.Transfer running backs Richard (Boston College) and Lee Beebe Jr. (UAB) have Day 3 grades. Offensive tackle Carter Smith is a technician who consistently stacks wins, but an up-and-down national title game against Miami's first-round edge rushers raised questions about his long-term future at tackle. There are teams that have him with Day 2 grades at guard and/or center. Drew Evans, Bray Lynch and Joe Brunner are Hoosiers blockers who carry late Day 3 grades.The Hoosiers will once again have an experienced defense with solid talent up front. Edge rusher Tobi Osunsanmi is receiving midround grades, while transfers Chiddi Obiazor (TCU), Tyrique Tucker (James Madison), Joe Hjelle (Tulsa) and Josh Burnham (Notre Dame) are viewed as late-round options. So is returning defensive tackle Stephen Daley, who had 19 tackles for loss last season. Linebackers Rolijah Hardy, who led Indiana with eight sacks, and Isaiah Jones are seen as late-round possibilities.Jamari Sharpe and Penn State transfer AJ Harris form one of the better cornerback tandems in the country, with Sharpe's interception of Carson Beck sealing Indiana's national championship. Both have Day 3 projections, while safety Amare Ferrell is earning midround grades.Predicted first-rounders: 2Predicted total draft picks: 9OklahomaTop prospect to know: David Stone, DTSleeper prospect to watch: E'Marion Harris, OTGame circled on the schedule: vs. Georgia, Sept. 26It has been a couple of years since the Sooners have had a first-rounder, but that will likely change in 2027. Stone is the best run defender in a strong class of interior defenders and has a mid-to-late Round 1 grade. Jayden Jackson is another stout inside player with midround grades.Quarterback John Mateer returns after undergoing surgery to repair a broken bone in his throwing hand. He toughed it out last season, finishing with 2,885 passing yards, 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in eight games. At 6-foot-1, 224 pounds, Mateer is a daredevil who isn't afraid to challenge any throwing window. Many scouts threw his post-injury tape out the window, resulting in a mixture of Round 2 and 3 grades.Isaiah Sategna III is the leading returning receiver, with early Day 3 projections. Parker Livingstone, a Texas transfer, has late-round projections, as does Virginia transfer Trell Harris. Transfer tight ends Hayden Hansen (Florida) and Rocky Beers (Colorado State) have Day 3 grades. Oklahoma's best offensive linemen, Arkansas transfer Harris and Stanford transfer Jake Maikkula, are also in the late-round picture.Edge rushers Adepoju Adebawore and Taylor Wein are seen as Day 3 prospects. Kip Lewis is the team's highest-graded linebacker with a midround grade, while Owen Heinecke was able to return to school after initially declaring for the 2026 draft. He's seen as a late-round hopeful. Safety Peyton Bowen is a versatile playmaker who has received late Day 2 grades. His brother, Eli Bowen, is a corner who's in the late Day 3 picture.Predicted first-rounders: 1Predicted total draft picks: 8Under-the-radar teamBYUTop prospect to know: LJ Martin, RBSleeper prospect to watch: Faletau Satuala, SGame circled on the schedule: vs. Notre Dame, Oct. 17The Cougars had only two players drafted in April, but they're more flush with draftable talent in this cycle than usual. Martin is their highest-graded prospect (early Day 3) and could very well be the first of the Tier 2 running backs to go off the board. Blocking for Martin are late-round options Bruce Mitchell (center), Kyle Sfarcioc (guard), Sonny Makasini (guard) and Andrew Gentry (tackle).Cornerback Evan Johnson finished with a team-high five interceptions and is getting early Day 3 grades from scouts. At 6-foot, 185 pounds, he's a developed technician with excellent ball skills. Satuala is among the biggest sleepers in the class. An impressive 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, he's a violent downhill thumper who knocks back ball carriers. He'll be in the top-100 mix if he's able to further improve in coverage. Cade Uluave and Raider Damuni round out the secondary as Day 3 options.Linebacker Isaiah Glasker has generated buzz as a potential riser. At 6-foot-5, 240 pounds, he's a towering defender who has a nose for the ball, finishing last season with 67 tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss. He could emerge as a late Day 3 pick. Defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa is a stout interior presence at 6-foot-4, 300 pounds, with late-round grades. Edge rusher Bodie Schoonover is another Day 3 prospect who could boost his draft standing.Predicted first-rounders: 0Predicted total draft picks: 5
