Every week, Yardbarker is monitoring the 2026 NFL Draft, scheduled April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.
From a Penn State operating again to a Georgia linebacker, listed here are 5 gamers we’re monitoring:
Penn State RB Nick Singleton
Like former Penn State RB Saquon Barkley, Singleton (6-foot, 224 kilos) has the mixture of energy and velocity groups covet.
In a narrative revealed Monday, The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman reported Singleton ran a 4.35 40-yard sprint, energy cleaned 395 kilos and bench pressed 435 throughout Penn State’s offseason program.
Barkley (now with the Philadelphia Eagles) ran a 4.33 40-yard sprint, energy cleaned 405 kilos and bench pressed 405 earlier than his closing season with Penn State in 2017. He is 6-foot and 233 kilos.
The RB may break a few of Barkley’s data this season. The 2018 No. 2 choose ranks first in class historical past in dashing touchdowns (43) and second in dashing yards (3,843). Singleton wants 12 dashing TDs and 932 dashing yards to eclipse him. That appears doable after he logged 1,099 dashing yards and 12 dashing TDs in 15 video games final season.
In Tankathon’s latest mock draft, the New Orleans Saints take him with choose No. 33 within the second spherical.
Texas QB Arch Manning
As of Thursday, FanDuel Sportsbook offers Manning the fifth-best odds (+850) to go No. 1 total within the 2026 draft.
Nonetheless, the sophomore might not declare for the draft till after the 2026 season. His grandfather, former New Orleans Saints QB Archie, told S.C. Gwynne of Texas Monthly Arch Manning “is not going” to depart Texas after one season.
Arch Manning (6-foot-4, 219 kilos) has tried simply 95 passes in two seasons at Texas. Spending extra time beneath Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian, a QB whisperer, may very well be the fitting transfer for the nephew of Tremendous Bowl champions Peyton and Eli Manning.
Nonetheless, some scouts might argue he is pro-ready due to his textbook throwing mechanics.
“To sum this up as clearly as doable, Arch Manning’s throwing course of is so pure, it seems prefer it’s been inherited from a number of the best to ever play the quarterback place,” wrote The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner in a narrative revealed Wednesday. “Which, uh, is precisely what’s occurred right here.”
Penn State QB Drew Allar
Allar (6-foot-5, 235 kilos) has the prototypical construct for an NFL QB, however scouts imagine he did not attain his potential in 2024.
“The most effective model of Drew Allar could be very proficient. I do not assume we noticed the most effective model of him almost sufficient final yr,” ESPN’s Field Yates said Wednesday on “First Draft.” “If he places it collectively, although, he’ll catapult himself into the dialog of top-five quarterbacks.”
Taking part in higher towards elite competitors can be an amazing place to start out for Allar. In 2024, he accomplished just 56.7 percent of his passes towards top-25 opponents (by way of ESPN). He additionally threw a costly interception late within the fourth quarter of a 27-24 School Soccer Playoff semifinal loss to Notre Dame.
At Big Ten media days in July, Allar admitted he should step up in huge video games. That would assist Penn State win its first nationwide championship for the reason that 1986 season.
Clemson CB Avieon Terrell
Terrell (5-foot-11, 180 kilos) stars for a Clemson protection that may very well be an “NFL Draft gold mine.”
In a narrative revealed Wednesday, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler ranked the youthful brother of Atlanta Falcons CB A.J. Terrell Jr. the No. 1 CB within the class.
“A.J. Terrell Jr. put collectively a robust résumé at Clemson earlier than turning into a first-round choose in 2020,” wrote Brugler. “That could be a huge shadow for his youthful brother to flee, however Avieon Terrell is constructing his personal legacy at Clemson and has the tape of a future first-rounder.”
Avieon Terrell had profession highs in interceptions (two) and passes defended (12) in 14 video games final season. He has been named to the watch listing for the Jim Thorpe Award, which acknowledges school soccer’s high DB.
Georgia LB CJ Allen
Within the 2024 draft, the Falcons chosen Georgia’s Jalon Walker (6-foot-2, 245 kilos) with choose No. 15. Allen (6-foot-1, 235 kilos) may very well be the subsequent Bulldogs LB who’s a first-rounder.
“I keep in mind watching Jalon Walker’s tape final spring and having to look over at occasions to remind myself of his No. 11,” CBS Sports’ Mike Renner wrote of Allen in a narrative revealed Monday. “That is as a result of there was a linebacker subsequent to him sporting No. 3 with a darn close to an identical construct (albeit barely much less crammed out) who was explosive and tenacious when monitoring down ball carriers.”
Allen had a career-high 76 tackles in 14 video games final season, serving to Georgia win its fifteenth SEC title.
Renner famous he should enhance his zone matching in move protection to enhance his inventory. Zone matching is when a defender switches from zone to man-to-man protection.
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