The college football season kicks off on August 23rd, which is less than 100 days away. With the start closing in, it’s time to zero in on this year’s top prospects. In this week’s 2026 NFL Draft Notebook, we highlight Minnesota’s standout backs, Northwestern’s rising offensive lineman, and more.
NFL Draft prospects to watch this year
Gophers' dynamic backfield
One of the more underrated backfields in college football this season belongs to the Minnesota Gophers, who feature two running backs with draftable grades on my board. Leading the way is Darius Taylor, a physical one-cut runner with excellent contact balance. He enters the season with a fourth-round grade after rushing for 986 yards and catching 54 passes last year. Behind him is A.J. Turner, a transfer from Marshall with a seventh-round grade. Turner brings explosiveness to the group, having averaged 8.3 yards per carry with 11 runs of 15-plus yards on just 104 attempts. This duo should be the focal point of Minnesota’s offense and a key reason why the Gophers are positioned to earn a bowl bid this season.
Todd McShay makes an interesting comparison for Garrett Nussmeier
LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier enters the 2026 NFL Draft cycle with a high first-round grade on my board, and he’s already drawing big-name comparisons. NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay recently compared Nussmeier to former No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield—who, after bouncing around early in his career, has re-established himself as a top-10 quarterback with Tampa Bay. McShay points to their shared ability to create off-script plays as a key similarity, but also notes the downside: both tend to force throws into tight coverage, which can lead to costly interceptions.
Next highly-regarded Northwestern lineman
Northwestern has produced two first-round offensive linemen in the past five years, and Caleb Tiernan could be the next. Last season, he allowed just one sack and went eight straight games without surrendering a single quarterback hit. While Tiernan plays left tackle for the Wildcats, his NFL future likely lies on the right side. He’s a powerful blocker who consistently overwhelms defenders with his strength, but his foot speed may not be quick enough to handle elite edge rushers on the left side at the next level. Technically sound with a strong initial punch and solid footwork, Tiernan is firmly on the radar as a high draft pick.
Familiar face anchoring the trenches.@Caleb_Tiernan 😤 pic.twitter.com/TbVG0VWbOp
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) May 24, 2025
Top kicker in NFL Draft
There’s little debate—Michigan’s Dominic Zvada is the top kicker in the 2026 NFL Draft class. He pairs elite accuracy with serious leg strength, traits NFL teams value highly. Last season, he hit 96% of his field goals and went 26-for-27 on extra points. He also drilled two 56-yard field goals and was a perfect seven-for-seven from beyond 50 yards, becoming the first kicker in Michigan history to make four or more 50+ yarders in a single season. The only knock: he hasn’t handled kickoff duties. But that may change, as Zvada enters fall camp competing for the kickoff job.
Cornerback a big concern in Miami
According to ESPN, the Miami Dolphins are projected to have the worst secondary in the NFL — and it’s hard to argue otherwise if they move on from Jalen Ramsey. Their current projected starters, Storm Duck and Cam Smith, both struggled last season and profile as below-average options. Miami is likely to target a corner with its first-round pick, which could land in the top 10. One name to watch is Clemson’s Avieon Terrell, who broke up 13 passes last season — the most by a Clemson defender since 2014 — and earned a spot on my Preseason All-ACC NFL Draft team.
Michigan State’s best add
Michigan State made one of the savviest moves in the transfer portal by adding Conner Moore, a second-team All-American offensive tackle from Montana State. Moore helped lead the Bobcats to the FCS National Championship game last season and stood out on film with his athleticism, especially his ability to reach the second level as a run blocker. He is also a verstilte player having played both left tackle and offensive guard at Montana State and this year will be Michigan State’s starting right tackle.
Auburn finally has its quarterback
According to SEC coaches, Auburn may have finally found the right fit for Hugh Freeze’s offense in former Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold, and the Tigers should see an immediate upgrade at the position. The big question is whether Arnold can meet those expectations after a rocky season with the Sooners—he posted a disappointing 57.7 passing grade from Pro Football Focus and topped 200 passing yards in just two games.
Could be a good fit for the Cardinals
One of the Arizona Cardinals’ likely needs in the 2026 NFL Draft is a speed receiver to complement tight end Trey McBride and wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. A potential Day 3 target is Georgia Tech’s Eric Rivers, who averaged 18.9 yards per catch and scored 12 touchdowns last season. Rivers brings legit big-play ability, whether stretching the field vertically or creating yards after the catch, and would likely back up Michael Wilson as a slot receiver.
Iowa State’s new go-to receiver
Iowa State’s passing game took a major hit with the departures of Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, both selected in the top 80 picks by the Houston Texans. Stepping into the lead role is Chase Sowell, a transfer from East Carolina who averaged 75 receiving yards per game last season. At 6-foot-4 and 195 pounds, he brings size and yards-after-catch potential. For Sowell to fully emerge, he’ll need to sharpen his route running—especially getting out of his breaks—and cut down on the six drops he recorded a year ago.