Every time the NFL Draft takes place, hundreds of college student-athletes get to watch their dreams come true. Whether as a draft pick or an undrafted free agent, the chance to play in the NFL is a dream shared by millions, but only a select few are able to accomplish it.
Leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft, PFSN’s director of media partnerships and NFL draft analyst Jacob Infante had the chance to speak with several prospects in this year’s class. Each player has their own story to tell, with unique experiences both on and off the field.
You’ve seen these players dominate on the field. Now, it’s time to get to learn about the man underneath the helmet. These are all of our interviews with the 2026 NFL Draft class, all in one place, in order from earliest to most recent publication date.
Josiah Trotter, Missouri | LB
Coming off a first-team All-SEC season, Missouri linebacker Josiah Trotter projects as one of the best players at his position in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Trotter came out of the gate firing in his collegiate career, starting for West Virginia as a redshirt freshman. There, he won Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year and led the conference with 56 assisted tackles. He then transferred to Missouri, where he dominated, recording 84 total tackles and 13 tackles for a loss.
Brian Parker II, Duke | OL
Heading into the 2026 NFL Draft, Duke’s Brian Parker II is one of the top offensive line prospects in the class. He was an All-ACC performer in 2025, finishing seventh among all FBS offensive tackles with a 90.8 PFSN CFB OL Impact Score.
Parker is projected to kick inside to either center or guard at the next level. He’s anticipated to be one of the top interior offensive linemen to come off the board in April, thanks to the technical refinement and physical dominance he displayed in his three years starting for the Blue Devils.
Trey Zuhn III, Texas A&M | OL
Trey Zuhn III was a three-year starting offensive lineman for the Texas A&M Aggies, and he ended his successful collegiate tenure on a high note. He earned first-team All-SEC recognition for his play, and Texas A&M started 11-0 for the first time since 1992.
Primarily a left tackle during his time in college, Zuhn showed the flexibility to kick inside with his playing time at center in 2025. With his large sample size against high-level competition, he figures to be a top offensive lineman in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Kaleb Elarms-Orr, TCU | LB
One of the top performers at this year’s Scouting Combine, TCU linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr is well prepared for his upcoming NFL career.
In 2025, Elarms-Orr led the Big 12 with 70 assisted tackles, finishing the year with 130 total tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, and 4 sacks. He placed fourth among 395 qualified linebackers with an 85.7 PFSN LB Impact Score. He added to his stellar season with the Horned Frogs with a Senior Bowl appearance and a Combine, which saw him finish among the top performers at the linebacker position.
Cian Slone, NC State | EDGE
Several top NFL players have started their careers at the JUCO level and worked their way up into football stardom. Players like Aaron Rodgers, Tyreek Hill, and Lavonte David have built Hall of Fame careers beginning from a community college. NC State edge rusher Cian Slone hopes to be the next in that lineage of rapid growth.
Starting his journey at American River College in California, Slone dominated there for two years and earned a spot on Utah State’s roster. From there, he became an All-Mountain West performer and ended his collegiate career playing for North Carolina State.
With 90 pressures and 22.5 tackles for a loss in his last three seasons, Slone has proven that he’s capable of wreaking havoc off the edge. He’s shown encouraging athleticism in coverage as a potential off-ball linebacker convert, and his PFSN EDGE Impact Score improved each year he played in the FBS.
Jack Endries, Texas | TE
Texas tight end Jack Endries heads into the 2026 NFL Draft as one of the top prospects at his position. After a successful stint at California and a strong year with the Longhorns, he declared for the draft as a redshirt junior to achieve his dream of making it to the NFL.
In the three years he played, Endries combined for 124 receptions, 1,376 receiving yards, and 7 touchdowns. He was graded as a top-five tight end in college football twice by PFSN’s TE Impact Metric, both coming in key matchups against Ohio State and Texas A&M. He looks to carry that success under the bright lights into a flourishing NFL career.
Darryl Peterson III, Wisconsin | EDGE
A team leader in both sacks and tackles for a loss in 2025, Wisconsin edge rusher Darryl Peterson III was a bright spot in a down year for the program. In his redshirt senior season, he ended up with 6.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for a loss, earning honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition in the process.
In an era when players leave for other schools through the transfer portal, Peterson is a rare modern example of someone who stayed with his program throughout. After serving as a cornerstone of the Badgers’ defense these last few years, he’s looking to carry his success over to the NFL level.
Jimmy Rolder, Michigan | LB
With a national championship and All-Big Ten honors to his name, Michigan linebacker Jimmy Rolder is heading to the NFL with an impressive resume.
Rolder was a key special-teamer and rotational defender during his first three seasons with the Wolverines, including the 2023 season, when they won the College Football Playoff. Working his way up the ranks, he cracked the starting lineup and put together a tremendous season in 2025, tallying 73 tackles, 7 tackles for a loss, an interception, and 2 sacks in 12 games.
After finishing as a second-team All-Big Ten defender this past year, Rolder is looking to carry his momentum over to the NFL.
Jake Golday, Cincinnati | LB
Cincinnati linebacker Jake Golday started his collegiate journey as a zero-star edge rusher weighing about 200 pounds. He concludes his journey as a first-team All-Big 12 defender and a future early-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Golday’s journey from an unheralded recruit at Central Arkansas to a standout for Cincinnati is one of the biggest underdog stories in this year’s draft class. His consistent growth and ability to maintain elite athleticism with NFL-ready size have him highly touted coming into the league.
Treydan Stukes, Arizona | DB
When Treydan Stukes first joined the Arizona football team, he was a zero-star recruit out of high school who walked on. When he departed, he left as one of their best players and as a second-team All-American.
After a quiet true freshman year in 2020, Stukes quickly broke into the Wildcats’ rotation and made an impact in their secondary. He had his best season in 2025, ending up with 4 interceptions and 52 total tackles. With his stellar performance, he now projects as one of the top defensive backs in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt | TE
Heading into the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers already had plenty of buzz as a draft prospect. He managed to expand that momentum by breaking the tight end vertical jump record at 45.5 inches.
Not only was Stowers’ jump the best of any tight end to ever appear at the Combine, but he came just half an inch shy of tying the record, regardless of position. For him to do that at 239 pounds, that’s putting together one of the most impressive testing numbers you’ll ever see in Indianapolis.
On top of that, Stowers was a unanimous All-American who won the John Mackey Award as the best tight end in college football in 2025. He also scored second among all FBS tight ends in PFSN’s CFB TE Impact Metrics at 85.1. A key part of Vanderbilt’s turnaround as a football program, he now looks to continue that success over to the NFL level.
Jonah Coleman, Washington | RB
With 3,054 collegiate rushing yards, Washington running back Jonah Coleman heads into the NFL as one of the most productive backs in the 2026 draft class.
The 5-foot-8, 220-pound power back was an All-Big Ten player during his time with the Huskies, and he was also an impact player for Arizona in his two seasons there before his transfer. As one of the toughest and strongest running backs in the 2026 NFL Draft, Coleman projects well as a hard-nosed runner in between the tackles at the next level.
In the three seasons he was eligible for grading, Coleman graded in the top six among all running backs in his conference by PFSN’s CFB RB Impact Metrics. Most notably in 2025, he tied for the Big Ten lead with 17 touchdowns from scrimmage.
Landon Robinson, Navy | DT
Navy defensive tackle Landon Robinson has gone from an NFL Combine snub to drawing comparisons to Aaron Donald and being labeled a potential steal in this month’s draft.
At 5-foot-11 and 297 pounds, Robinson is undersized by NFL standards, but he compensates with impressive strength and power at the point of attack.
Over the two seasons he was eligible for PFSN’s CFB Impact Metrics, Robinson graded in the top five among all defensive tackles in the American Conference. Most notably in 2025, he led the conference in tackles (54) and solo tackles (24), playing 83 percent of snaps, which earned him Defensive Player of the Year honors.
De’Zhaun Stribling, Ole Miss | WR
Coming over from Kapolei, Hawaii, Ole Miss wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling has made his way to the contiguous United States and turned into a top prospect for the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.
Between prior stints at Washington State and Oklahoma State, Stribling tallied 216 receptions, 2,964 yards, and 23 receiving touchdowns over his five seasons at the collegiate level.
Most notably, Stribling dominated in the Rebels’ two playoff games this past season. In their win over Georgia, he had 7 catches for 122 receiving yards. He put together another strong performance against Miami in the semifinals, finishing with 5 catches for 77 yards.
Charles Demmings, Stephen F. Austin | CB
In an era of NIL, many top FCS players are poached by bigger schools. That makes it less common for small-school prospects to get selected in the NFL Draft.
Stephen F. Austin cornerback Charles Demmings is a rare example of a player who got looks from bigger schools, stayed with the team that developed him first, and is still projected as a likely draft pick come April.
Demmings concluded his 2025 season with a career-high 4 interceptions, breaking up 31 passes over his last three years. After appearing at the Senior Bowl and excelling at the Combine, he now looks to carry that momentum over to the NFL level.
Drew Stevens, K | Iowa
Iowa has produced multiple special teams talents at the NFL level in recent years. The likes of Tory Taylor, Luke Elkin, and Caleb Shudak have been picked up by NFL teams within the last five seasons.
The Hawkeyes figure to have more representation on special teams after the 2026 NFL Draft. In addition to wide receiver and return specialist Kaden Wetjen, Iowa will be sending All-Big Ten kicker Drew Stevens to the next level this year. He is projected to be one of the top specialists in the upcoming class.
A four-year starter at the collegiate level, Stevens was a second-team All-Big Ten member in 2022 and a third-team All-Big Ten performer in each of his remaining three seasons. He holds such Iowa program records as most career field goals made and most field goals made from beyond 50 yards.
Joe Cooper, Slippery Rock | OL
Slippery Rock offensive lineman Joe Cooper came into the Shrine Bowl as the only Division II player with an invitation. He left the week as a top performer with plenty of buzz for the 2026 NFL Draft.
An All-American at the D2 level, Cooper was a three-year starter for The Rock. At 6’6″ and 323 pounds, he carries NFL-level size and physicality, and he showed at the Shrine Bowl that he can compete against a higher level of competition.
Davion Carter, Texas Tech | OL
Davion Carter cut his teeth for two years at the JUCO level before earning a spot in Division I football. Under-recruited coming out of high school, he excelled at Northwest Mississippi Community College before earning key spots with Memphis, and eventually, Texas Tech.
Carter was a top performer in each of his two seasons at Texas Tech, finishing with PFSN OL Impact Scores of 83.7 and 81.1 in 2024 and 2025. In his four years at the D1 level, he allowed just three total sacks and was called for only 6 penalties. He was the definition of consistency everywhere he went.
Sam Brumfield, Memphis | LB
Memphis linebacker Sam Brumfield has picked up a thing or two over his extensive collegiate journey. After dominating at the JUCO level for Northwest Mississippi Community College, he went on to start 30 games at the Division I level for Middle Tennessee State, Virginia Tech, and Memphis.
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In 2025, Brumfield ranked No. 16 among all FBS linebackers and second in the entire American Athletic Conference with an 82.4 PFSN LB Impact Score for the Tigers. His 13.0 tackles for a loss led the American, and now he’s looking to parlay that success into the professional level after the 2026 NFL Draft.
