Declared Underclassmen for NFL Draft
January 15, 2026 – updated
Draft Insiders’ NFL Draft Prospects
Declaration Day – January 14th
QB Dante Moore Returns to Oregon
LB Sonny Styles Joins Buckeye’s Underclassmen
Highly regarded Oregon QB Dante Moore gave up a chance to be a top pick in the 2026 NFL draft. He projected among the top 2-4 prospects in the NFL Draft 2026. He comes off a terrible performance vs #1 Indiana in the CFP Semi-finals which probably influenced his decision. He projects near the top of a very talented QB class for 2027.
By going back to Oregon, Moore, 20, gave up a chance to make nearly $50 million in guaranteed money. Last year’s #2 pick, Travis Hunter, made $46.65 million fully guaranteed, and that number projects to go up this year. Moore, in his first season as a full-time starter, led Oregon to the CFP semifinals. He has started only 20 games as a college quarterback which is marginal experience for a young NFL starter.
In 2025, Moore threw for 3,565 yards and 30 TD for the Ducks. He completed 71.8% of his passes and threw 10 interceptions. He led the Ducks to the national semi-finals vs Indiana. He completed his off the worst performance of his short career vs undefeated #1 Indiana. He threw an interception on the first play of the game and had two fumbles in the Hoosiers blowout win, 56-22. Moore carries a blue chip grade and with additional vital experience at the position, he will compete for the top overall selection in the NFL Draft 2027 with Texas QB Arch Manning.
LB Sonny Styles joins a talented group of Ohio State underclassmen with many #1 picks especially on the defensive side of the ball. Styles carries a first round grade and a high level of development. He figures in the late part of the first round currently. He is expected to play in the Senior Bowl and participate in the NFL Combine next month.
Oregon Safety Dillon Thieneman Declares for Draft
Tight Ends Kenyon Sadiq and Max Klare Enter NFL Draft
Ohio State’s DT Kayden McDonald Joins LB Arvell Reese, Safety Caleb Downs and WR Carnell Tate
Alabama QB Ty Simpson Officially Declares for NFL Draft
Updated Jan. 15
Frank Coyle
Today is Declaration day for Underclassmen for the NFL Draft 2026 with the exception of players in CFP natioinal title game on Jan. 19th. They will have until Jan 23rd to decide to stay in school or declare for the NFL Draft. Tight ends, Kenyon Sadiq and Max Klare entered yesterday to elevate the TE class significantly.
Ohio State’s DT Kayden McDonald and LB Arvell Reese joined safety Caleb Downs and wideout Carnell Tate 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 and declared for the draft shortly afterwards. 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 game. Players have a three day window to rescind their decision and reenter the college ranks.
The upcoming NFL Draft will attract another strong group of underclassmen. Recently, numbers of underclassmen have fallend with the advent of the NIL and players moving easily in the transfer portal the d number of underclassmen have fallen annually.
Expect many new additions here over the day. This draft class will be a very heavy offensive talent group from both the underclassmen and senior classes.
In addition, to the 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.
With direct payments from schools to players now allowed, plus the NFL still having a rookie wage scale, you could see even more kids elect to return to college football this season.
Here is a school by school breakdown of who is in at this point. We will update this page through the league’s official underclassmen announcement date which will be Jan 23rd.
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 dates with a three day period to rescind their decision.
Alabama
Parker Brailsford
OT Kadyn Proctor
QB Ty Simpson
Arizona
S Genesis Smith
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
Edge Wesley Williams
Florida
DT Caleb Banks
Florida State
QB Thomas Castillanos
CB Earl Little
Georgia
LB CJ Allen
WR Zachariah Branch
TE Oscar Delp
OT Monroe Freeling
DT Chrisitan Miller
P Brett Thorson
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
TE Max Klare
DT Kayden McDonald
LB Arvell Reese
LB Sonny Styles
WR Carnell Tate
Oklahoma
LB Owen Heinecke
Oregon
TE Kenyon Sadiq
S Dillon Thieneman
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
