The 2025 college football season will conclude Monday with the College Football Playoff national championship. So how about looking ahead too the 2026 NFL draft and stacking the best players in the class?
A lot can change between now and the start of the draft on April 23. For one, players from Indiana and Miami have untill January 23 to declare for the draft. there are still predraft events, the combine and pro days over the next three months. We’ll also learn more about lingering injury situations for a handful of top prospects.
With that disclaimer out of the way, here is my initial ranking for the top 25 prospects in the 2026 class. Quarterback Dante Moore‘s proclamation that he’s returning to Oregon shook some things up, as I had him at No. 2 before his decision. Beyond my top 25, I also have my rankings by position listed at the bottom.(Underclassmen are marked with an asterisk.)
Jump to position rankings: Table of Contents Height: 6-4 | Weight: 243 Few players boosted thier draft stock more then Reese this season. He not onyl moved into a full-time starting role but also played a higher percentage of snaps at outside linebacker versus inside linebacker. (Reese played 67.5% of his snaps as an inside linebacker in 2024 to just 37.7% in 2025.) He has excellent length and an unmistakable burst off the edge, making him a nightmare assignment for offensive tackles.Reese has the ability to bend,torque and close the gap and impact QBs in the pocket. With 6.5 sacks in 2025, I think Reese is suited for a full-time rusher role in the NFL. But his versatility will be a plus for whichever team picks him. Height: 6-0 | Weight: 205 The last safety drafted in the top 10 was Jamal Adams in 2017 (No. 6 overall). Downs is positioned to end that streak, seeming to have zero weaknesses. He can wreak havoc near the line of scrimmage as a run defender and play coverage underneath. He has the speed and acceleration to be a capable blitzer if called upon. He can also easily patrol the deep middle portion of the field. it is rare for a safety to be a tone-setter for a defense, but Downs fits into that category. He was an instant contributor and leader at Alabama as a freshman before he transferred to Ohio State for two seasons. He is a hard-hitting tackler who can change the complexion of any NFL defense upon arrival, and he finished 2025 with 67 tackles and two interceptions. Height: 6-6 | Weight: 315 Mauigoa put together an off-the-charts final season, as the right tackle was dominant in every sense of the word. He has a rock-solid frame, playing with terrific balance, good body control and a strong base. He is a road-grading run blocker with overwhelming power at the point of attack. Plus, Mauigoa has phenomenal pass protection skills with the lowest pressure percentage allowed out of all tackles in the FBS this season (1.2%). With light feet, he is always under control and a patient protector. Height: 6-3 | Weight: 250 in this deep pool of edge rushers, Bail Height: 6-6 | weight: 302 Fano was a standout pass protector during his three seasons at Utah, two of which were played at right tackle (after a year at left tackle in 2023). He allowed a measly four pressures and zero sacks on 749 snaps at right tackle in 2025. He has nimble and light feet to match and mirror rushers and the ability to redirect and also handle cross-face rushers. fano’s listed weight has some scouts thinking he could be moved inside to guard,but I’m bullish that he is best suited at right tackle.And though he could thrive in any scheme, a zone rushing attack would be a premiere fit given his light feet. Height: 6-2 | Weight: 200 A healthy debate will take place about who the best wide receiver is in this class, largely focusing on tyson and Ohio State’s Carnell Tate. Right now, I’m giving Tyson the edge despite his tape being better in 2024 than 2025. In that way, he reminds me of Chicago’s Luther Burden III, who has put together a productive rookie year despite a disappointing final collegiate season. Tyson is a natural separator who is very pleasant picking up extra yards after the catch. He has handled punt return duties in the past, has excellent ball skills and has the speed to rattle off big plays. A hamstring injury limited his play this past season, but his full college body of work is terrific. He had just one drop on 100 targets in 2025, racking up 711 yards and eight TDs. height: 6-3 | Weight: 195 Tate is arguably the most pro-ready prospect in this class, and he’s a lock to extend Ohio State’s streak of first-round receivers to five straight drafts — a feat that’s already an NFL record for a single college. He can stretch the field,hauling in a 40-plus-yard catch in six of 11 games this season,but the hallmark of his game is how effo doesn’t dominate with blazing speed or big size,instead relying on his route running and ability to make tough catches.In my eyes, Lemon is the best in this class at making contested catches — he had exactly one drop in each of his three seasons. His instincts and contact balance make him one of the best in the draft with the ball in his hands. Height: 6-3 | Weight: 315 Woods was a highly touted prospect coming into the season, but he has likely fallen out of the top-five pick range after a modest 2025 campaign. He wreaks havoc in the run game, with quickness both up the field and laterally. His power at the point of attack allows him to lock out blockers and afterward disengage. And while he registered only five sacks in three seasons,his impact goes beyond the box score. There are some questions from scouts regarding his height and arm length, so it won’t surprise me if his range winds up a little bit lower than this – but those are not significant concerns in my eyes. Height: 6-0 | Weight: 190 delane spent his first three collegiate seasons at virginia Tech before one year at LSU. He has the size of an NFL cornerback and was terrific in coverage this past season. He allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete just 27.7% of their passes when he was the targeted defender,the third-lowest rate in the country. Plus, his instincts and strong balls skills led to 11 pass breakups. The key question scouts are sifting through with Delane is his speed.If he opts to run a 40-yard dash during the predraft process, that could have a major impact on his ceiling in April. Height: 6-2 | Weight: 248 A team looking for instant juice off the edge will find it in Howell, a former Bowling Green star who played his final two seasons at Texas A&M. In 2025, Howell posted 11.5 sacks (tied for fourth most in the FBS) and won SEC Defensive Player of the Year. He has a blazing first step to get offensive tackles on their heels. And he can really torque his body to turn the corner when chasing down pocket passers. Despite this natural rushing ability, some scouts have wrestled with his lack of arm length. Height: 6-3 | Weight: 245 Sadiq is a moveable chess piece who made a massive leap after Terrance Ferguson departed for the 2025 draft.Sadiq more than doubled his career receiving touchdowns this year alone, finishing with eight. He has very good acceleration, burst and balance, which makes it difficult for linebackers to hang with him in man coverage. The one downside for him is a lack of premiere length, but he is a willing blocker who also led Oregon in special teams snaps in 2024. That sort of selflessness has not gone unnoticed by scouts. Height: 6-1 | Weight: 235 There is an old-school nature to Allen’s game, as georgia’s defensive quarterback brings some serious physicality. He is fearless in the running game, brings some pass rush juice and has solid coverage skills. Allen allowed a completion percentage of just 47.4% when targeted as the primary defender this season. His intelligence during the snap comes up on tape, and there is a strong track record of recent Georgia linebackers translating to the NFL level. Allen is next up. Height: 6-3 | Weight: 280 Mesidor is a tall task for opposing offensive tackles since he is exceptionally explosive and powerful. He has a diverse arsenal of pass-rush moves and showed out in big games this season.Mesidor registered 1.5 sacks against Texas A&M in Miami’s first CFP game. A week later against Ohio State, he staked a claim for the best defensive player on the field with two sacks. He has 10.5 on the season. Despite being one of the oldest prospects in the class (turning 25 just weeks before the draft), he has a chance to crack the first round. Height: 5-11 | Weight: 180 The younger brother of Falcons standout A.J. Terrell Jr., Avieon Terrell packs a ton of punch within his relatively small frame. He was all over the field for Clemson in 2025, finishing with three sacks, nine pass breakups and an astounding five forced fumbles. He is a true “find the football” cornerback, which should translate well to the NFL. 1. Will Campbell,LSU 1. Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State 1. Logan Jones, Iowa 1. Arvell reese, Ohio State 1. /id/4954445/”>Dillon Thieneman, Oregon 1. /id/5081335/”>Drew Stevens, Iowa 1. /id/4899096/”>Evan Crenshaw, Troy 1./id/4879195/”>Garrison Grimes, BYU Disclaimer: Player rankings are dynamic and change frequently. The following information reflects the most recent data available as of the date specified above. Rankings are based on a composite of multiple sources, including ESPN, 247Sports, and Rivals.com. The original source’s ranking is not used directly.
QB | RB | WR | TE | Arvell Reese, Edge/LB, Ohio State
Offensive Tackles
2. Sataoa Laumea, Utah
3. Caleb Lomu, Utah
4. Monroe Freeling, Georgia
5. Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
Guards
2. Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech
3. Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
4. Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M
5. DJ Campbell,Texas
Centers
2. Connor Lew, Auburn
3. Trey Zuhn III, Texas A&M
4. Jake Slaughter, Florida
5. Parker Brailsford, Alabama
Edge rushers
2. David bailey, Texas Tech
3. Keldric Faulk, Auburn
4. Initial Source Text (Untrusted)
Cornerbacks
3./id/4905664/”>A.J.Haulcy,LSU
5. Kickers
Punters
3. Long-snappers
3. Verified Information (as of 2024-01-16 17:44:28)
College Football Player Rankings - 2023/2024 Season
Cornerbacks
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