2027 NFL Draft Notebook: High expectations surround Ahmad Hardy and Lincoln Kienholz

The race toward the 2027 NFL Draft begins this fall as several intriguing prospects look to either build on strong seasons or break out with new opportunities. Some players, like Ahmad Hardy, are already coming off elite seasons and have the potential to be high draft picks. Others, such as Qua Russaw and Lincoln Kienholz, could be in line for breakout years with their new teams.

In this week’s 2027 NFL Draft Notebook, we highlight those prospects, while also looking at a Notre Dame Fighting Irish receiver and a Miami Hurricanes football defensive end who will need to make a big impact this season.

2027’s elite running back

There is little doubt that the top running back in the 2026 NFL Draft is Jeremiyah Love of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, who is also the highest-rated player in the entire draft on NFL Mock’s latest big board. Looking ahead, the 2027 NFL Draft may feature another elite back in Ahmad Hardy of the Missouri Tigers football. His running style could remind NFL scouts of Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith, the NFL’s all-time leading rusher.

That is obviously an incredibly high standard to live up to, but when watching their film the similarities are noticeable. One of the biggest is their power as runners. Hardy’s thick lower body makes him extremely difficult to bring down, which helped him lead the Power Four conferences with 97 forced missed tackles last season. Despite his sturdy 5-foot-10, 210-pound frame, he also shows impressive quickness, breaking off 25 runs of at least 15 yards during the season. Another trait that stands out is his vision, as Hardy consistently finds open running lanes and shows patience allowing blocks to develop.

The biggest concern scouts will have with Hardy is his lack of production in the passing game. Last season he caught just six passes for 22 yards, and over the past two years he has totaled only 14 receptions. He has also shown inconsistent hands during that span, dropping three passes, which is roughly 18 percent of the balls thrown his way according to Pro Football Focus.

On the positive side, Hardy is a strong pass blocker. He shows the power, technique, and willingness needed to hold up against blitzing linebackers, which is a valuable trait in today’s pass-heavy offenses. Still, in an era where teams want running backs who contribute as receivers, his limited production in the passing game could concern some NFL evaluators.

Overall, Hardy possesses several traits that evoke comparisons to Smith, including elite power, outstanding vision, and better speed than many expect. However, with the modern NFL placing a premium on versatile backs, Hardy will need to use this upcoming season to prove he can develop into a complete three-down weapon.

Qua Russaw should thrive in Matt Patricia's defense

A player who could thrive with his new team this fall and quickly climb draft boards is Qua Russaw, of Ohio State. Last season with Alabama, Russaw was limited to just six starts and finished the year with 13 tackles. Now playing under Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, Russaw could be in position for a breakout season.

One reason for that optimism is Patricia’s defensive approach. He is known for being one of the more creative defensive coordinators in college football and does an excellent job of freeing up his players to make plays. That was evident last season when players like Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese were able to make major impacts within the Buckeyes defense.

Russaw also brings several traits that fit well in Columbus. One of the most noticeable is his speed. In high school he ran an 11.66 in the 100-meter dash, and that speed translates to the football field where he shows the ability to make plays sideline to sideline. Combined with his natural strength, it also makes him a dangerous pass rusher who can beat offensive tackles with either speed or power.

"Qua Russaw is my guy. He’s a freak. To be honest, I think he runs like 22 miles per hour at like 240 pounds. He’s just an animal. He’s been diving into his game on the pass rushing side a little bit more. He always talks about going to get that sack."

Alabama linebacker Deontae Lawson

There are still areas where Russaw needs development. Coverage remains one of the biggest concerns. At times he lacks the awareness needed to consistently hold up in man coverage and does not always display the fluid hips typically desired from a 4-3 outside linebacker.

Another question NFL scouts will have is where Russaw ultimately fits at the next level. While Ohio State currently lists him as a defensive end, he measures around 6-foot-2 and 242 pounds, which could lead many NFL evaluators to view him more as an outside linebacker.

Regardless of where he lines up, Russaw has the athletic traits to make a significant impact this season. If Patricia can put him in the right situations, the Buckeyes defender could emerge as one of the top edge players in the Big Ten Conference.

The college version of Malik Willis

One of the biggest signings in free agency last week was the Miami Dolphins giving Malik Willis a three-year, $67.5 million contract. The move raised some eyebrows considering the former Green Bay Packers quarterback attempted only 35 passes for 422 yards last season. Even so, the Dolphins clearly believe in his upside, and he will be one of the most talked-about players entering the season.

At the college level, there is a quarterback in a somewhat similar situation. Lincoln Kienholz, who transferred from Ohio State to Louisville this offseason, enters the year with significant expectations despite throwing only 36 career passes, with David Hale of ESPN already stating Louisville may have something special in Kienholz.

Watching the former four-star recruit, the comparison to Willis makes sense. Both quarterbacks are athletic passers who averaged about 5.5 yards per carry last season. Kienholz also finished his high school career with the most passing yards in South Dakota history, which highlights his upside as a passer. He shows good touch on his throws and a smooth, compact release that suggests he can develop into a high-level quarterback.

Working under Jeff Brohm, one of college football’s better quarterback developers, could accelerate that growth. If Kienholz lives up to the hype, he could follow a similar path to Willis and find himself on the NFL radar within the next year or two.

Jaden Greathouse return

One of the more intriguing wide receivers in the 2027 NFL Draft will be Jaden Greathouse of Notre Dame. What makes him such an interesting prospect is his ability to take over games when healthy, paired with his struggle to stay on the field.

Greathouse showed that upside during the College Football Playoff two seasons ago when he topped 100 receiving yards against both the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Unfortunately, injuries have limited him. He missed all but four games in 2025 because of a hamstring injury and finished the season with just four receptions. He also dealt with a hamstring issue in 2023 that caused him to miss the Duke game and limited his overall impact, as he went five straight games without recording a catch.

This season, Greathouse will need to prove to NFL scouts that those injury issues are behind him.

When healthy, Greathouse has several traits that stand out. He has terrific hands, dropping only one pass during his college career. According to Pro Football Focus, he hauled in 11 of 13 contested targets during the 2024 season. He is also a tough, physical receiver who can catch in traffic and pick up yards after the catch. Combined with his quickness and reliable hands, those traits could allow him to carve out a role at the next level as a slot receiver.

Big void to fill in Miami

Last season the Miami Hurricanes finished fourth in the nation in sacks per game, getting to the quarterback an average of 3.13 times per contest. Unfortunately for Hurricanes fans, several of those productive pass rushers are gone, including defensive ends Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor, both of whom could end up as first-round picks.

The loss of those two disruptive edge rushers is a big reason Miami turned to the transfer portal, bringing in Damon Wilson II from Missouri. Wilson is coming off the best season of his college career, earning second-team All-SEC honors after recording nine sacks.

As an NFL prospect, Wilson shows the burst off the ball to consistently pressure quarterbacks. When he cannot win immediately at the snap, he displays the motor to get to the passer on second and even third effort plays. That relentless style helped him break out last season and made him an attractive portal addition for Miami.

Still, he is not quite the same level of prospect as Bain or Mesidor. Wilson is noticeably smaller than both former Hurricanes edge defenders, weighing around 250 pounds, and that lack of bulk shows up when he has to set the edge against the run. That is an area where both Bain and Mesidor consistently excelled. Wilson also lacks elite bend around the corner, another trait NFL scouts will be watching closely this season.

If the Hurricanes want to pressure quarterbacks at the same rate they did last year, they will need a big season from Wilson along with development from some of their younger defensive ends. Replacing the production of Bain and Mesidor will not fall on one player alone, but Wilson will be expected to lead the way.