In each NFL draft class, there are the headliners who want no introduction. In 2026, that features the likes of Ohio State security Caleb Downs and Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik. However this isn’t about gamers everybody already is aware of. As a substitute, we’re figuring out prospects who followers will get to know over the upcoming school soccer season and past.
After speaking to scouts and personnel folks across the NFL, I picked 10 under-the-radar gamers who could possibly be primed to stand up draft boards over the following 10 months. That is the third yr I’ve performed this train, with final yr’s checklist that includes Day 2 picks akin to guard Jonah Savaiinaea and security Kevin Winston Jr.
Who’s primed to make an analogous leap this cycle? The gamers under are in no explicit order, however we begin with a quarterback who ended final season on a sizzling streak.
Extra on the 2026 draft class
We’re all the time trying to find the quarterback who’s primed to emerge from underneath the radar and climb to the highest of the draft. Whereas Cameron Ward wasn’t fairly thought-about underneath the radar, he was overshadowed by gamers akin to Carson Beck, Quinn Ewers and Shedeur Sanders at the moment a yr in the past. Ward in the end shot previous all of them and was drafted No. 1 total. (Beck didn’t declare and transferred from Georgia to Miami.)
The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Robertson has the bodily instruments to probably leap over extra well-known quarterbacks. The previous four-star recruit transferred to Baylor from Mississippi State previous to the 2023 season.
“If you would like a dude that is going to come back out of nowhere, it is [Robertson]. He is what everybody desires [Penn State’s] Drew Allar to be,” mentioned an AFC South space scout who covers the Southwest. “Huge, huge arm, and he can transfer.”
Robertson threw for 3,071 yards with 28 landing passes and eight interceptions final season — his first as a starter — and had one other 230 yards and 4 scores dashing. With a robust proper arm and plus-level mobility, Robertson can assault defenses vertically and create along with his legs when wanted. He had 52 passes of greater than 20 yards final season. Robertson has by no means seen a deep one-on-one route he did not need to assault, so he should work on his decision-making and velocity up his supply, which might get hitchy at occasions. However there are a ton of bodily instruments for scouts and coaches to be enthusiastic about right here.
Ohio State is arguably the present “WRU” after a powerful current run of first-rounders and NFL superstars. However whereas sophomore Jeremiah Smith is the Buckeyes receiver most scouts and analysts are raving about, do not sleep on Tate.
A former five-star recruit out of Chicago, Tate has been overshadowed since signing with the Buckeyes in 2023. Marvin Harrison Jr. was the star throughout Tate’s freshman season, whereas final season noticed Emeka Egbuka and Smith emerge as Ohio State’s high two WRs. However with Egbuka gone to the NFL, Tate stands to profit from one-on-one seems to be as defensive coordinators attempt to cease Smith.
One NFC East regional scout praised Tate’s toughness and route-running capacity, pondering he is poised to shine this season.
“I am all-in on Tate,” the scout mentioned. “He is huge, however his technical capacity as a route runner is spectacular. He is actually good at producing separation along with his measurement and his start-stop capacity. He is a extremely good WR2 within the professionals.”
The 6-foot-3, 191-pound Tate has solely 70 receptions for 997 yards and 5 touchdowns in two seasons, however way more is predicted from him in 2025. And he has the instruments to capitalize on the chance.
Halton’s breakout began in 2024, when the 3-technique posted 5 sacks in 13 video games after not recording a single quarterback takedown the earlier two seasons.
Regardless of being undersized at 6-foot-2 and 291 kilos, Halton’s quickness and explosive capacity off the ball make it robust for inside offensive linemen to get their palms on him. He led the FBS with a stress charge of 14.1% at defensive deal with final season, making him one of many high returning inside go rushers within the nation. Scouts have taken discover.
“I liked his development from seeing the sphere as a real freshman to working extra as a sophomore, after which, increase, he has that massive yr final yr. The Gerald McCoy comparisons are coming,” mentioned an NFC West space scout.
“G-Child”, as his teammates name him, may have entered the 2025 draft however opted to remain at school. Along with his versatile pass-rush strikes, quickness into gaps and heads-up run protection, do not be stunned if Halton lands within the high two rounds subsequent April.
If this identify sounds acquainted, it is due to Hunter’s efforts at UCF. After initially signing with Auburn as a four-star recruit, the 6-foot-4, 320-pound Hunter performed three seasons with the Knights, racking up 5 profession sacks and incomes second-team All-Huge 12 honors final season. “The Fridge” now heads to Lubbock with an opportunity to shine within the Purple Raiders’ 3-4 scheme.
“Hunter is an enormous dude, however his energy and skill to command double-teams is the place he’ll stand out within the 30 entrance,” mentioned an NFC South space scout who has seen him play in individual.
The three-4 scheme is not recognized for producing big stats for defensive linemen, however Hunter’s play at UCF has him on NFL scouts’ radar. Very like Byron Murphy II (No. 16, 2024) and Kenneth Grant (No. 13, 2025), Hunter is a large inside prospect who may land in Spherical 1.
The Longhorns have closely utilized their tight ends the previous two seasons, with Ja’Tavion Sanders and Gunnar Helm being the featured targets. Endries has an opportunity to be one of the best of the trio.
At 6-foot-4 and 240 kilos, the Cal switch is constructed extra like Sanders and has the flexibility to be a flex tight finish who can line up within the slot, backfield or in-line subsequent to the offensive deal with. Endries grabbed 56 passes for 623 yards and two scores as a sophomore final season with just one drop, showcasing his robust palms.
“[Texas coach Steve Sarkisian] is doing a fantastic job creating tight ends and dealing his offense round them, however I’m wondering how a lot Endries will see the ball with Arch Manning’s deep ball,” one AFC West nationwide scout mentioned earlier than including that Endries’ versatility ought to shine in Austin. “He is such athlete and he can play wherever. He is one of many two most proficient tight ends within the nation.”
Endries has two seasons of eligibility remaining, so he isn’t a lock to be within the 2026 draft. However count on his identify to be talked about a bunch within the lead-up to the season.
0:34
Cal’s Jack Endries breaks free for 57-yard TD vs. Miami
Cal’s Jack Endries shakes his defender and gallops down the sideline into the tip zone to tie the rating at 7-7 towards Miami.
After two seasons as a starter at Purdue — through which he had six interceptions as a real freshman in 2023 whereas rising as a harmful punt returner — Thieneman transferred to Oregon. Ranked as ESPN’s No. 1 defensive again within the switch portal, he’ll lead the Geese’ secondary and will change into a family identify in Dan Lanning’s NFL-style defensive scheme, which makes use of its safeties in a number of alignments.
At 6-foot and 207 kilos, Thieneman is not a supersized prospect like Nick Emmanwori on this previous draft, however he’s a flexible defender who can align at both security spot and even as a slot cornerback.
“Whenever you have a look at soccer IQ, versatility, velocity and vary, he has all of it. Safeties all the time appear to fall within the draft, however he has first-round instruments,” an AFC West space scout mentioned.
Thieneman can get overaggressive in his pursuit angles, however he is a clear open-field tackler and supplies a real split-safety worth that matches any defensive scheme. If he slots into Lanning’s protection like we predict he’ll, Thieneman has first-round capacity.
Mizzou has change into a little bit of an offensive line manufacturing facility in recent times, with three gamers chosen previously two drafts (together with 2025 No. 7 choose Armand Membou) and two extra slated to be chosen early in 2026. NFL scouts assume Inexperienced has the agility and energy to be drafted early.
At 6-foot-5 and 315 kilos, Inexperienced — who transferred from Oklahoma after the 2023 season — has ultimate measurement for an NFL guard, however there are some who assume he may additionally play left deal with. That is one thing to look at as Missouri’s coaching camp begins, because the Tigers look to switch Marcus Bryant, who was drafted by the Patriots within the seventh spherical in April. Inexperienced has the footwork, agility and size to excel on the perimeter if wanted.
“Watching his ft at left guard, I believe he may play deal with. He is loads like Membou in that approach. He is actually versatile athletically,” mentioned an NFC offensive line coach who studied his tape.
Inexperienced’s run-blocking dominance stands out on tape, however he should enhance his stability in go blocking. If that enchancment occurs, he has All-American capacity and first-round potential.
Spencer Fano is often the primary identify talked about when discussing NFL prospects on Utah’s offensive line, however Lomu can be catching the attention of professional evaluators. The 6-foot-6, 305-pound left deal with allowed solely two sacks final season as a redshirt freshman. Lomu’s run-blocking capacity and motion in go safety have scouts enthusiastic about what he’ll do in a follow-up marketing campaign.
“Utah went by way of quite a lot of adversity on offense final yr, however he stood out. And in case you’re ok to maneuver Fano to the precise aspect in spite of everything his accomplishments, that claims loads,” an AFC North scout mentioned.
Lomu has three years of eligibility remaining, however his motion capacity and poise in go safety are indicative of a excessive draft choose. He is tailored for zone-blocking schemes, and with extra expertise, the 19-year-old may change into one of many nation’s high gamers.
Allen began 13 video games final season for the Bulldogs and stood out on tape whereas I used to be scouting his draft-eligible teammates. Now it is his flip. At 6-foot-1 and 235 kilos, he is constructed for the professional recreation and has the velocity and explosiveness to be a stable trendy linebacker prospect.
Allen’s 2024 tape confirmed a downhill attacker who posted 49 solo tackles and one interception. He had an enormous recreation towards Georgia Tech, when he had 10 tackles. He is a rising star on a protection recognized for producing early-round prospects.
“You have a look at his instincts, his toughness, and the way properly he performs coming into gaps to tackle the run, and he is a throwback to guys like Fred Warner and Lavonte David early of their careers … however he is a greater go rusher,” an NFC normal supervisor mentioned.
Taking part in on a protection which had three first-round picks in 2025 left Allen underneath the radar, however he will not be stored out of the highlight for lengthy.
Who would be the switch quarterback to rocket up draft boards this yr? Plenty of early buzz is centered round former Cal quarterback Mendoza … and for good cause. After a breakout final season through which he threw for 3,004 yards with 16 touchdowns and 6 interceptions, Mendoza transferred to Indiana to play in Curt Cignetti’s Air Raid offense. Expectations quickly adopted the redshirt junior, particularly contemplating Cignetti’s scheme and the presence of legit NFL huge receiver prospect Elijah Sarratt on Indiana’s roster.
At 6-foot-5 and 225 kilos, Mendoza has ultimate measurement, a fast launch, quick decision-making and the arm expertise to energy the ball to each space of the sphere.
“Watch that dude throw back-shoulder fades and also you see the contact, timing and energy to be a baller within the NFL,” one other regional NFC East scout mentioned. He added that Mendoza’s toughness can be a key trait however worries about residual results from the offensive line he performed behind final season.
“He bought hit and pressured loads final yr behind a nasty O-line, in order that’s one thing to look at for this yr. Is he a bit of traumatized by what he had in entrance of him final yr?” the identical scout mentioned.
A two-star recruit popping out of highschool, Mendoza has been slept on since initially committing to Yale. Greater names like Allar, Manning and Beck would possibly drive early quarterback speak, however Mendoza has followers within the NFL.
