College football bowl season is here, and there are plenty of 2026 NFL Draft prospects set to take the field in postseason and CFB Playoff action. Here’s who you should keep your eye on today.
2026 NFL Draft Prospects in Ohio State vs. Miami Cotton Bowl Matchup
We won’t waste any time getting right into the NFL Draft nuggets, because that’s what you came here for.
You’ll get your fill from today’s CFB Playoff game alone. The Ohio State vs. Miami Cotton Bowl matchup has over two dozen eligible prospects to note, as well as major names in the way-too-early outlook for the 2027 NFL Draft class.
That said, the Texas vs. Michigan and Duke vs. Arizona State matchups also have NFL talent to know, mostly in the 2027 cycle.
Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Carnell Tate is the biggest name in a slew of big names at AT&T Stadium. The 6’3″, 195-pound pass-catcher is my WR1 in a stacked WR class, and has a blend of size, fluidity, and big-play proficiency that has only come close to being echoed by George Pickens.
Tate’s 84.5 PFSN WR Impact score was top-ten in the nation this year, and per TruMedia, he generated a whopping 3.48 yards per route run, even while sharing targets with Jeremiah Smith.
Additionally, his 28.2% catch rate over expectation is genuinely unheard of, and speaks to his alien catch-point authority.
The last time Carnell Tate & Jeremiah Smith were both 100%… pic.twitter.com/mwys6logR3
— Ohio Divided (@BuckeyeNatty) December 31, 2025
Tate has few rivals for the title of best catch-point operator in the class, and he’s also a surgical route runner with abnormal hip sink and tempo freedom for his taller, longer build. In short, he’s the prototypical NFL WR1.
Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
Rueben Bain Jr. has had a tumultuous 2026 NFL Draft cycle thus far, but he still remains firmly in Round 1 contention on PFSN’s board. He’s my 20th overall prospect and a top-three EDGE talent, who looks like a game-wrecker in waiting in his best moments.
It’s not a case of “overthink” to point out Bain’s flaws. His arms are short, he’s not the most flexible in his hips, and he can appear clunky as a lateral mover at times.
Nevertheless, Bain is ultra-explosive and powerful, with impressive torso flexibility and rare sturdiness in the run game. He has hybrid-front appeal with his ability to play with a hand in the dirt or from 2-point stances, and his power and motor are applicable on Day 1.
Arvell Reese, LB/EDGE, Ohio State
Once viewed as the potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Arvell Reese’s stock has cooled a bit down the stretch in 2025. He’s still a top-five prospect on my board, but he remains a projection as a likely EDGE convert without consistent pass-rush production.
MORE: Ohio State vs. Miami 2026 NFL Draft Prospects: Comparing Arvell Reese and Reuben Bain Jr.
The tools evaluation is what will set Reese apart. With a titanium-forged 6’4″, 243-pound frame, hyper-elite explosiveness, agility, lateral explosion, and overwhelming stacking strength and power, he has true X-factor potential if he can keep building his rush arsenal.
Caleb Downs, SAF, Ohio State
Caleb Downs is my personal highest-graded prospect not only in this game, but in the entire CFB Playoff field. While Downs’ production doesn’t pop off the page, he’s one of the most enjoyable film watches in the 2026 NFL Draft class.
Downs’ football IQ is extraordinary. In tandem with his high-level coverage mobility and elite targeted physicality, it enables him to wear any hat on the back end. He’s a glue guy, with a penchant for making big plays when it matters by always being in the right spot.
Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
The more Sonny Styles has played this year, the more it’s become clear that he’s not only a true blue-chip LB prospect, but one of the best LB prospects to come out in the past decade. His game against Indiana, albeit a loss, was pure clinic tape.
At 6’5″, 243 pounds, Styles has lab-built size, speed, and short-area athleticism. He’s an elite processor post-snap with rapid reaction quickness and voracious take-on physicality, and as a former safety, he has keen zone coverage feel and spatial IQ.
Valuing off-ball LBs has been a difficult task at times in the NFL Draft, but Styles is the kind of surefire top-ten prospect and future All-Pro you don’t overthink.
Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
While Bain gets all the name recognition, Akheem Mesidor actually grades a lot closer to Bain on my board than you’d expect. The big sticking point for Mesidor’s evaluation will be his age; he’s set to be a 25-year-old rookie. But he’ll be an instant impact NFL player.
At around 6’2 1/2″ and 273 pounds, Mesidor is a strong, lean, and well-leveraged defender whose entire career has been a testament to his vast hand usage arsenal and alignment versatility. He’s explosive, powerful, relentless, and exceedingly well-rounded in all phases.
Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
Following in the footsteps of Detroit Lions 2025 first-round pick Tyleik Williams, Kayden McDonald holds similar appeal as potentially the top nose tackle prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft. He’s productive and still young, and is clearly trending up heading into January.
MORE: Indiana Tops Ohio State, Alabama, Others in College Football Playoff Offense Rankings
At 6’3″, 326 pounds, McDonald is a heavy-set interior presence with exceptional natural leverage, linear explosion, point-resetting power, and strength at the point. He has the juice to disrupt 1-on-1 with power or absorb doubles and combo blocks.
Kenyatta Jackson Jr., EDGE, Ohio State
Kenyatta Jackson Jr. is a wild card in a relatively wide open 2026 NFL Draft EDGE class. He has eligibility to return to school in 2026, but after producing 6.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss through conference championship weekend, he has a legitimate case to declare.
At an ultra-long 6’6″, 265 pounds, Jackson has superlative length, lean mass, and linear explosiveness, all of which also translate to awesome power and stacking strength. His pass-rush execution is still inconsistent, but the high-end flashes are truly enthralling.
In a similar vein to first-round prospect Keldric Faulk, Jackson has elite raw tools, and can function as a high-level run defender and a sub-package interior alignment power rusher right away.
Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
For offensive linemen, it’s better to be quiet, but Francis Mauigoa has been nothing but a quiet and steady presence for the Miami Hurricanes’ offensive front. That said, defenders may see him a bit differently, given his mauler mentality and finishing physicality.
Mauigoa’s subpar arm length will be the source of discussions regarding a potential guard conversion, but his tape at tackle is very solid in spite of this limitation. He was one of a select few blockers to have an OL Impact grade over 90 in 2026.
On film, Mauigoa compensates for his middling length with awe-inspiring balance and recovery capacity, elite functional athleticism, jarring square power in his punches, stalwart leveraging, and stifling anchor strength.
Whether at OT or OG, it might not matter: Mauigoa is an NFL starter.
Keionte Scott, DB, Miami
Keionte Scott had his best showing of the year against Texas A&M in the first round of the CFB Playoffs, racking up two sacks, three tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. He’s surging fast as a 2026 NFL Draft prospect and is one of the class’s best nickel defenders.
On the year, Scott has a whopping 13 TFLs and five sacks, to go along with an interception and five pass breakups, and he has a strong 85 PFSN CB Impact score.
Keionte Scott’s IMPACT resonates throughout this entire team.
Jakobe Thomas has called him his best teammate.
Xavier Lucas says he is the one of the smartest teammates he has ever had.
His presence will once again be HUGE tonight!! pic.twitter.com/B2Ji69IZBX
— Josh Darrow (@joshdarrow) December 31, 2025
While his tackling form can be more consistent, Scott is one of the best and fastest-flowing support defenders in the class, and he’s exceptional at limiting big plays in zone coverage, too.
Additional NFL Draft Prospects in Ohio State vs. Miami Matchup
- Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State (2027)
- Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State (2027)
- Max Klare, TE, Ohio State
- Austin Siereveld, OL, Ohio State
- Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State
- Caden Curry, EDGE, Ohio State
- CJ Daniels, WR, Miami
- Anez Cooper, OG, Miami
- Ahmad Moten, DT, Miami
- Jakobe Thomas, SAF, Miami
Other 2026 and 2027 NFL Draft Prospects to Watch in Today’s Action
Trevor Goosby, OT, Texas
Trevor Goosby will make his 2026 NFL Draft decision after the Longhorns’ bowl game against Arizona State. As of now, Goosby grades out as an early Day 2 prospect on my board, and is my OT6 in the class.
At 6’7″, 315 pounds, with a lean, thick-hipped frame, explosive two-way athleticism, swift hip flexibility, and a powerful finishing flair, he bears some similarity to former Pro Bowl lineman DJ Humphries.
Arch Manning, QB, Texas (2027)
Arch Manning has already announced his intent to return to school, but he progressed enough down the stretch in 2026 to be viewed as a legitimate draftable 2026 prospect.
Manning ended the year with a strong 83.1 PFSN QB Impact score, after taking his lumps in the early weeks. 2027 will likely be his time if he keeps his current trajectory, and he has class QB1 upside.
Manning started the 2025 season on a rough note, but his mechanics, pocket habits, and field vision all drastically improved from September to November, and his talent remains undeniable. He’s a well-sized passer with high-end athleticism, arm talent, and the unshakable poise that all franchise QBs have.
Maybe Manning was prematurely anointed due to his legacy once, but the premature notions are no more. He’s the real deal, and he has one more chance to reaffirm this truth in 2026.
Darian Mensah, QB, Duke (2027)
Darian Mensah had a Day 2 grade on my board had he declared for the 2026 NFL Draft, but he instead chose to return to school. He now stands as one of the early names to know in the 2027 NFL Draft, and Round 1 capital is on the table if he keeps developing.
At 6’3″, 208 pounds, Mensah is a prototypical passer with twitchy pocket mobility, easy arm elasticity, and an anticipatory feel that exceeds his years. He needs to keep improving his pocket depth discipline, but he has the potential to be a solid NFL starter.
Colin Simmons, EDGE, Texas (2027)
Colin Simmons, alongside Dylan Stewart, should be one of the early favorites to be an EDGE1 candidate in the 2027 NFL Draft. Though he’s a bit undersized, no one has been more productive than Simmons over the last two seasons.
Across 2024 and 2025, Simmons has totaled 20 sacks and 27.5 TFLs, and in 2025, he logged a top-five national PFSN EDGE Impact score of 87. From wider alignments, his explosive athleticism and corner-shortening bend can be lethal, and his motor never rests.
Cooper Barkate, WR, Duke (2027)
Cooper Barkate was firmly on my radar as a potential gem at WR in the middle rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft, had he declared. Instead, Barkate chose to return to school, and he’ll have a chance to put up insane numbers with Mensah in 2026.
At 6’1″, 195 pounds, Barkate has an extremely well-rounded profile. He’s a quick, fluid, and methodical route runner; he has enough speed and burst to stack in the intermediate range, and he’s exceedingly poised and controlled in high-difficulty catch situations.
Add in Barkate’s blocking ability, and he should have a bright future as a power-slot or versatile movement-Z receiver.
Jelani McDonald, SAF, Texas (2027)
Jelani McDonald could’ve declared for the 2026 NFL Draft, but he has a chance to realize his early-round potential in the 2027 class after returning to school.
At 6’2″, McDonald is a long-limbed and snappy mover with enthralling long-strider range and two-phase physicality, and he has ball-hawking ability as well.
