Declared Underclassmen for NFL Draft

Ohio State’s DT Kayden McDonald Joins LB Arvell Reese and Safety  Caleb Downs for NFL Draft
Alabama QB Ty Simpson & Ohio St WR Carnell Tate Declare for NFL Draft
Linebacker CJ Allen & Wideout Branch Join Growing List of Playmakers       

Updated Jan. 13

       Frank Coyle

With the key CFP natioinal title game here for Jan. 19, the declaration date has opened for the transfer portal with many top draft selections expected to make decisions on turning pro. Ohio State’s DT Kayden McDonald, LB Arvell Reese has joined safety Caleb Downs as the next blue chip prospects to enter the NFL Draft. Reese and Downs carry top 3-5 grades at this point after outstanding careers in a number of roles in the Buckeyes heralded defense. Wideout Carnell Tate looks to become the next Buckeye receiver to be drafted in the first round.  The Georgia Bulldogs lost linebacker CJ Allen and wideout Zachariah Branch after impressive 2025 performances. OT Spencer Fano of Utah sat out his team’s bowl game after an excellent 2025 performance. He ranks in the top ten selections currently in our new Top 150 pro prospect rankings in DraftInsiders.com current  updated Newsletter.

Underclassmen Dates

  With the NFL allowing draft-eligible underclassmen to participate in college all-star games, an early deadline of Jan. 5 gives players an opportunity to submit their petitions for special eligibility to the league sooner.

    The traditional deadline for underclassmen to submit a petition to the league is Jan. 14.  An extended deadline of Jan. 23 is exclusively for underclassmen on teams participating in the College Football Playoff National Championship.

        The upcoming NFL Draft will attract another strong group of underclassmen. Each year a high number of underclassmen decided to turn pro with 100 prospects annually entering the NFL ranks. With the advent of the NIL and players moving easily in the transfer portal former record number of underclassmen has been safe recently. The deadline period approaches between Jan 5th and Jan. 23rd. Expect many new additions here over the next few days. This draft class will be a very heavy offensive talent group from both the underclassmen and senior classes.

In addition, to the large number of underclassmen entering the pro ranks, many players opted out of their bowl game to prepare for the demanding NFL Draft postseason preparation. Both the All-star weeks and NFL Combine along with the critical pro day events become lasting impressions for a prospects final draft grade. These players have increased in recent years and this is a recent disturbing development with key players ending their college careers prior to their team’s most important postseason bowl game on the agenda.

Declared Underclassmen – Top Pro Prospects    

    By school / alphabetically
     Check Web site – draftinsiders.com for Updated List of Underclassmen thru late January
Players can opt out after declaring within the Declaration period. Runner L J Martin of BYU has done just that after getting a 3rd day grade. 
  
Alabama
     OC Parker Brailsford  
     OT Kadyn Proctor
     QB Ty Simpson

Arizona State
    CB Keith Abney II
    WR Jordyn Tyson
 
Auburn
    Edge Keldric Faulk
    OC Connor Lew

Boise State
    OT Kage Casey

Boston College
    OT Jude Bowry
 
Buffalo
   LB Red Murdock

BYU
    LB Isaiah Glasker
    DT Keanu Tanuvasa
    P Sam Vander Haar
 
Clemson
    Edge T.J. Parker
    CB Avieon Terrell
    WR Antonio Williams
    DT Peter Woods
 
Duke
    OL Brian Parker II
 
Florida
    DT Caleb Banks
 
Florida State
     QB Thomas Castillanos
     CB Earl Little

Georgia
    LB CJ Allen
WR Zachariah Branch 
   OT Monroe Freeling
    DT Chrisitan Miller
 
LSU
    WR Aaron Anderson II

Michigan 
     TE Marlin Klein
 
Michigan State
    P Ryan Eckley

Missouri
    LB Josiah Trotter  

Nebraska
    RB Emmett Johnson
 
Northwestern
    Edge Anto Saka
 
Notre Dame
    RB Jeremiyah Love
    RB Jadarian Price
    OL Billy Schrauth                   
    OL Aamil Wagner

Ohio State
    S Caleb Downs 
   DT  Kayden McDonald  
   LB Arvell Reese
   WR Carnell Tate

Oklahoma
    LB Owen Heinecke
 
Penn State
    OL Olaivavega Ioane
 
Pittsburgh
    LB Kyle Louis
 
South Carolina
    CB Brandon Cisse
   RB Rahsul Faison
   S Jalon Kilgore
 
Stanford
    CB Collin Wright
 
Tennessee
    WR Chris Brazzell II
    LB Arion Carter
    CB Colton Hood
    CB Jermod McCoy
 
Texas
    TE Jack Endries
    LB Anthony Hill Jr.
    CB Malik Muhammed 

Texas A&M
    OG Chase Bisontis
    WR KC Concepcion
    LB Taurean York

USC
    WR Ja’Kobi Lane
    WR Makai Lemon
    S Kamari Ramsey
 
Utah
    OT Spencer Fano
    Edge Logan Fano
    OT Caleb Lomu

Washington
    WR Denzel Boston
    RB Jonah Coleman

All-Star Schedule 2026                                                                                                                                

​      Jan 10-Jan 31

The All-star season is fast approaching as the college football schedule enters the semi-finals of the CFP playoffs. DraftInsiders.com staff and Frank Coyle will scout these events again extensively as a critical part of the evaluation process.

 January 10, 2026
2026 Hula Bowl
Hula Bowl will be held at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium, DeLand, Florida
Kickoff: 12:00 pm est, Saturday, January 10th, 2026
Celebrating 80 years of the Hula Bowl – Est. 1946
                                                                                                                                                                
January 18, 2026
Tropical All-Star Game
Scheduled for January 15-18, 2026, in Orlando, Florida, with the game on January 18 at Municipal Stadium (Celebration Stadium area)
 
January 22, 2026
American Bowl – Jan 22, 2026, Orlando, NFL Network
 
January 27, 2026
East-West Shrine Game

Frisco, Texas, for the 101st East-West Shrine Bowl, benefiting Shriners Children’s. The game kicks off Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at Ford Center at The Star.

January 31st, 2026
2026 Senior Bowl

Senior Bowl – 1:30 p.m. Mobile, Alabama
Stadium – University of South Alabama, Hancock Whitney Stadium
 
The Senior Bowl is a game that showcases the nation’s best senior collegiate football players and top NFL Draft prospects. It is a week on practices and interviews in front of over 700 NFL personnel men and scouts.

NFL Draft 2026 – First Round Order

Jan. 5, 2025

    Frank Coyle/ Pro scout

Raiders Win Finale Though Retain 1st Overall Selection

The first-round draft order posted below is complete through the top 18 selections. The Raiders hold the 1st overall selection at 3-14 despite winning their final game vs the Chiefs. The Giants won their final two games including their finale vs the Cowboys which pushed them to the 5th overall selection. If they had lost to the Cowboys, they would hold the first overall pick. They are one of four teams at 3-14 and they will rotate up in the ensuing rounds.

Here is the current first-round draft order following the Steelers wild win Sunday night over the Ravens.

Tie breakers are broken first by strength of schedule, then by head to head matchups.

NFL Draft 2026 – First Round Order

Team                         W-L record

1          Las Vegas                     3-14

2          NY Jets                         3-14

3          Arizona                         3-14

4          Tennessee                    3-14

5          NY Giants                     4-13

6          Cleveland                      5-12

7          Washington                   5-12

8          New Orleans                 6-11

9          Kansas City                  6-11

10         Cincinnati                      6-11

11         Miami                           7-10

12         Dallas                           7-9-1

13         LA Rams (Atlanta)         8-9

14         Baltimore                      8-9

15         Tampa Bay                   8-9

16         NY Jets (Indianapolis)    8-9

17         Detroit                           9-8

18         Minnesota                     9-8

Playoff Teams

19         Carolina                        8-9

20         Dallas (Green Bay)        9-7-1

21         Pittsburgh                     10-7

22         Chicago                        11-6

23         LA Chargers                  11-6

24         Philadelphia                   11-6

25         Buffalo                          12-5

26         San Francisco               12-5

27         Houston                        12-5

28         LA Rams                       12-5

29         Cleveland (Jacksonville) 13-4

30         New England                 14-3

31         Denver                          14-3

32         Seattle                          14-3

All ties in record are broken by current strength of schedule.

Atlanta, Green Bay, Jacksonville and Indianapolis all currently do not have 1st-round selections from prior deals.

March 11, 2026
The 2026 League Year and Free agency signing period begins at 4:00 p.m. ET.
Trading period for 2026 begins at 4:00 p.m. ET, after expiration of all 2025 contracts

NFL Draft 2026 – Two Round Mock Draft 1.0

Frank Coyle/ Head scout

     No player entered in the Transfer portal will be in our Top Prospects or Mock Draft articles.
   

Two Round Mock Draft 1.0

   Team                              Player        Position    School 

First Round  

  1 Las Vegas – 2-14    Fernando Mendoza    QB    Indiana

  2 NY Giants – 3-13       Caleb Downs        S          Ohio St

  3 NY Jets – 3-13                      Dante Moore                QB                    Oregon

  4 Tennessee – 3-13                 Rueben Bain                Edge                Miami (Fl)

  5 Arizona – 3-13                      Spencer Fano             OT                    Utah

  6 Cleveland – 4-12                  Arvell Reese                 LB                    Ohio St

  7 Washington – 4-12               Mansoor Delane           CB                    LSU

  8 New Orleans – 6-10              Jeremiyah Love           RB                    Notre Dame

  9 Kansas City – 6-10               Jordyn Tyson               WR                   Arizona St

10 Cincinnati – 6-10                  Francis Mauigoa          OT                    Miami (Fl)

11 Miami – 7-9                           Keldric Faulk               Edge                Auburn

12 LA Rams (Atlan) – 7-9          Caleb Lomu                  OT                    Utah

13 Tampa Bay – 7-9                   Jermod McCoy             CB                   Tennessee

14 Dallas – 7-8-1                        David Bailey                Edge                Texas Tech

15 Detroit – 8-8                          T.J. Parker                    Edge                Clemson

16 Baltimore – 8-8                     Carnell Tate                 WR                   Ohio State

Pro Prospect Rankings for NFL Draft 2026 with Top 300 Players available now
Dec Newsletter with Three Round Mock Draft, Top 150 Rankings, Underclassmen available Now

17 Minnesota – 8-8                    Peter Woods                DL                    Clemson

18 NY Jets (Indy) – 8-8              Makai Lemon                WR                   USC

19 Carolina – 8-8                                   Caleb Banks                 DL                    Florida

20 Pittsburgh – 9-7                    Ty Simpson                   QB                   Alabama

21 Dallas (GB) – 9-6-1               Avieon Terrell               CB                    Clemson

22 Chicago – 11-5                      Kayden McDonald       DL                    Ohio State

23 LA Chargers – 11-5              Cashius Howell            Edge                Texas A&M

24 Philadelphia – 11-5               Kadyn Proctor              OT                    Alabama

25 Buffalo – 11-5                       Sonny Styles                LB                    Ohio State

26 Houston – 11-5                     Kenyon Sadiq              TE                    Oregon

27 LA Rams – 11-5                    C.J. Allen                      LB                    Georgia

28 Cleveland (Jax) – 12-4         Olaivavega Ioane         G                      Penn St

29 San Francisco – 12-4           Matayo Uiagalelei        Edge                Oregon

30 New England – 13-3             Colton Hood                 CB                   Tennessee

31 Denver – 13-3                        Zion Young                  Edge                Missouri

32 Seattle – 13-3                        Denzel Boston             WR                   Washington

    

    2nd Round

33 Las Vegas                             Chris Brazzell              WR                   Tennessee

34 NY Jets                                        A’Mauri Washington      DL                           Oregon

35 Tennessee                                   KC Concepcion                  WR                         Texas A&M

36 Arizona                                       Garrett Nussmeier          QB                          LSU

37 NY Giants                                    Brandon Cisse                   CB                           South Carolina

38 Houston (Washington)            Keith Abney II                    CB                           Arizona State

39 Cleveland                                    Germie Bernard                WR                         Alabama

40 Kansas City                                 Trevor Goosby                   OT                          Texas

41 Cincinnati                                   Dillon Thieneman            S                              Oregon

42 New Orleans                              Anthony Hill Jr.                 LB                           Texas

43 Atlanta                                        Lee Hunter                          DL                           Texas Tech

44 Miami                                          Caleb Tiernan                    OT                          Northwestern

45 Tampa Bay                                  Dani Dennis-Sutton        Edge                      Penn State

46 NY Jets (Dallas)                           Chris Johnson                    CB                           San Diego State

47 Baltimore                                   Malik Muhammad          CB                           Texas

48 Minnesota                                  Akheem Mesidor             Edge                      Miami (Fl)

49 Indianapolis                               Christen Miller                  DL                           Georgia

50 Detroit                                         L.T. Overton                        DL                           Alabama

51 Carolina                                      Isaiah World                      OT                          Oregon

52 Pittsburgh                                   Zachariah Branch             WR                         Georgia

53 Green Bay                                   Xzavian Harris                   DT                           Mississippi

54 LA Chargers                                Domonique Orange        DL                           Iowa State

55 Philadelphia                               Jalon Kilgore                      S                              South Carolina

56 Buffalo                           Emmanuel McNeil-Warren S                      Toledo

57 Houston                                      Elijah Sarratt                      WR                         Indiana

58 LA Rams                                      Romello Height                 Edge                      Texas Tech

59 Chicago                                       R Mason Thomas             Edge                      Oklahoma

60 San Francisco                             Ja’Kobi Lane                    WR                         USC

61 Jacksonville                                Cayden Green                   OT                          Missouri

62 New England                             Max Ihenacher                 OT                          Arizona State

63 Denver                                           Julian Neal                        CB                   Arkansas

64 Seattle                                         Will Lee III                           CB                           Texas A&M

Declared Underclassmen – Top Pro Prospects

Utah Tackle Spencer Fano Declares for NFL Draft
Receiver Eric Singleton Joins Growing List of Playmakers       

Updated Jan. 5
       Frank Coyle

With the key CFP games in the process and the semi-finals now set for Jan. 8/9, the declaration date is here today for the transfer portal with many top draft selections expected to make decisions on turning pro. OT Spencer Fano of Utah sat out his team’s bowl game after an excellent 2025 performance. He ranks in the top ten selections currently in our new Top 150 pro prospect rankings in DraftInsiders.com current  late December Newsletter.

Underclassmen Dates

  With the NFL allowing draft-eligible underclassmen to participate in college all-star games, an early deadline of Jan. 5 gives players an opportunity to submit their petitions for special eligibility to the league sooner.

    The traditional deadline for underclassmen to submit a petition to the league is Jan. 14.  A deadline of Jan. 23 is exclusively for underclassmen on teams participating in the College Football Playoff National Championship.

        The upcoming NFL Draft will attract another strong group of underclassmen. Each year a high number of underclassmen decided to turn pro with 100 prospects annually entering the NFL ranks. With the advent of the NIL and players moving easily in the transfer portal former record number of underclassmen has been safe recently. The deadline period approaches between Jan 5^th and Jan. 23rd. Expect many new additions here over the next few days. This draft class will be a very heavy offensive talent group from both the underclassmen and senior classes.

In addition, to the large number of underclassmen entering the pro ranks, many players opted out of their bowl game to prepare for the demanding NFL Draft postseason preparation. Both the All-star weeks and NFL Combine along with the critical pro day events become lasting impressions for a prospects final draft grade. These players have increased in recent years and this is a recent disturbing development with key players ending their college careers prior to their team’s most important postseason game on the agenda.

Declared Underclassmen – Top Pro Prospects    

    By school / alphabetically
     Check Web site – draftinsiders.com for Updated List of Underclassmen thru late January

  
Arizona State
    CB Keith Abney II
    RB Raleek Brown
    WR Jordyn Tyson
 
Auburn
    Edge Keldric Faulk
    OC Connor Lew
    WR Eric Singleton

Boise State
    S Ty Benefield
    OT Kage Casey

Boston College
    OT Jude Bowry
 
Buffalo
   LB Red Murdock

BYU
    LB Isaiah Glasker
    RB LJ Martin
    DT Keanu Tanuvasa
    P Sam Vander Haar
 
Clemson
    Edge T.J. Parker
    CB Avieon Terrell
    WR Antonio Williams
    DT Peter Woods
 
Duke
    OL Brian Parker II
 
Florida
    DT Caleb Banks, Florida
 
Florida State
     QB Thomas Castillanos
     CB Earl Little

Georgia
      DT Chrisitan Miller
 
LSU
    WR Aaron Anderson II

Michigan 
     TE Marlin Klein
 
Michigan State
    P Ryan Eckley

Missouri
    LB Josiah Trotter  

Nebraska
    RB Emmett Johnson
 
Northwestern
    Edge Anto Saka
 
Notre Dame
    RB Jeremiyah Love
    RB Jadarian Price
    OL Billy Schrauth                   
    OL Aamil Wagner
 
Oklahoma
    LB Owen Heinecke
 
Penn State
    OL Olaivavega Ioane
 
Pittsburgh
    LB Kyle Louis
 
South Carolina
    CB Brandon Cisse
    S Jalon Kilgore
 
Stanford
    CB Collin Wright
 
Tennessee
    WR Chris Brazzell II
    LB Arion Carter
    CB Colton Hood
    CB Jermod McCoy
 
Texas
    TE Jack Endries
    LB Anthony Hill Jr.
    CB Malik Muhammed
 
USC
    WR Ja’Kobi Lane
    WR Makai Lemon
    S Kamari Ramsey
 
Utah
    OT Spencer Fano
    Edge Logan Fano
    OT Caleb Lomu

Washington
    WR Denzel Boston
    RB Jonah Coleman