2026 NFL Draft Underclassmen Tracker: Which College Football Players Are Declaring Early?

January 22, 2026

2026 NFL Draft underclassmen tracker and early declares. A full list of which college football players are declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft, and who's staying.

The 2025-26 college football season has wrapped up, with Indiana taking down Miami in this year's College Football Playoff National Championship Game. With the NFL also reaching its conclusion, it's time to start thinking about the 2026 NFL Draft. There are plenty of older prospects in this year's class, thanks to college football having expanded eligibility in recent seasons.

However, NFL teams still value youth, especially since prospects who declare for the NFL Draft with remaining eligibility were likely big-time producers and contributors early in their collegiate careers. In this article, we'll dive into every prospect who decided to forgo their final season(s) of eligibility to take the step to take their game to the pro level. It's worth noting that Indiana and Miami players have until January 23 to make a decision, since their seasons just ended.

We'll also touch on some big-name players who have announced their decision to return to school, despite being intriguing prospects in this year's draft had they declared. Let's dive into the list!

2026 NFL Draft Declares - Quarterbacks

Early Declares

• Ty Simpson, Alabama

Key Players Returning to College

• Jayden Maiava, USC
• Arch Manning, Texas
• John Mateer, Oklahoma
• Dante Moore, Oregon
• LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina
• Brendan Sorsby, Texas Tech

To Be Determined

• Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

2026 NFL Draft Declares - Running Backs

Early Declares

• Emmett Johnson, Nebraska
• Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
• Jadarian Price, Notre Dame

Key Players Returning to College

• Justice Haynes, Michigan

2026 NFL Draft Declares - Wide Receivers

Early Declares

• Aaron Anderson, LSU
• Denzel Boston, Washington
• Zachariah Branch, Georgia
• Chris Brazzell, Tennessee
• KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
• Ja'Kobi Lane, USC
• Makai Lemon, USC
• Carnell Tate, Ohio State
• Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
• Antonio Williams, Clemson

Key Players Returning to College

• Nyck Harbor, South Carolina
• Eric Singleton Jr., Florida
• Ian Strong, California

To Be Determined

• Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana

2026 NFL Draft Declares - Tight Ends

Early Declares

• Jack Endries, Texas
• Max Klaire, Ohio State
• Marlin Klein, Michigan
• Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon

2026 NFL Draft Declares - Offensive Linemen

Early Declares

• Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M
• Jude Bowry, Boston College
• Parker Brailsford, Alabama
• Kage Casey, Boise State
• Spencer Fano, Utah
• Jalen Farmer, Kentucky
• Monroe Freeling, Georgia
• Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
• Connor Lew, Auburn
• Caleb Lomu, Utah
• Brian Parker, Duke
• Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
• Billy Schrauth, Notre Dame
• Aamil Wagner, Notre Dame

Key Players Returning to College

• Kolt Dieterich, Washington
• Trevor Goosby, Texas
• Cayden Green, Missouri
• Iapani Laloulu, Oregon
• Austin Siereveld, Ohio State

To Be Determined

• Francis Mauigoa, Miami
• Carter Smith, Indiana

2026 NFL Draft Declares - Edge Rushers

Early Declares

• Rueben Bain, Miami
• Logan Fano, Utah
• Keldric Faulk, Auburn
• T.J. Parker, Clemson
• Wesley Williams, Duke

Key Players Returning to College

• Kenyatta Jackson, Ohio State
• Quincy Rhodes Jr., Arkansas
• Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon
• Damon Wilson Jr., Transfer Portal (formerly Missouri)

2026 NFL Draft Declares - Defensive Linemen

Early Declares

• Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
• Christen Miller, Georgia
• Peter Woods, Clemson

Key Players Returning to College

• Bear Alexander, Oregon
• Mateen Ibirogba, Texas Tech
• Anthony Smith, Minnesota
• A'Mauri Washington, Oregon

2026 NFL Draft Declares - Linebackers

Early Declares

• CJ Allen, Georgia
• Anthony Hill, Texas
• Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh
• Harold Perkins Jr., LSU
• Avrell Reese, Ohio State
• Jimmy Rolder, Michigan
• Josiah Trotter, Missouri
• Taurean York, Texas A&M

Key Players Returning to College

• Arion Carter, Tennessee
• Whit Weeks, LSU
• Caleb Woodson, Virginia Tech

2026 NFL Draft Declares - Cornerbacks

Early Declares

• Keith Abney II, Arizona State
• Brandon Cisse, South Carolina
• Charles Du, Notre Dame
• Colton Hood, Tennessee
• Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
• Malik Muhammad, Texas
• Avieon Terrell, Clemson
• Collin Wright, Stanford

Key Players Returning to College

• A.J. Harris, Indiana
• Jyaire Hill, Michigan
• Kelley Jones, Mississippi State
• DJ McKinney, Notre Dame

To Be Determined

• D'Angelo Ponds, Indiana

2026 NFL Draft Declares - Safeties

Early Declares

• Caleb Downs, Ohio State
• Jalon Kilgore, South Carolina
• Kamari Ramsey, USC
• Genesis Smith, Arizona
• Dillon Thieneman, Oregon

Key Players Returning to College

• Keon Sabb, Alabama

2026 NFL Draft Outlooks

Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is the consensus top fantasy football rookie in 2026, and the 20-year-old is expected to be a first-round pick in April's NFL Draft. The Missouri native had a fantastic career in South Bend, particularly in his sophomore and junior seasons. In his last 28 collegiate games, Love rushed 362 times for 2,497 yards (6.9 YPC) and 35 touchdowns.

He added 55 receptions for 517 yards and five scores through the air. He was named a Heisman Trophy finalist, the Doak Walker Award Winner, and a Unanimous All-American after his final season with the Irish. Love has game-breaking speed, high-end elusiveness, receiving chops, elite vision, and impressive athleticism at 215 pounds. He checks all the boxes of a future NFL workhorse, and he's expected to be a first-round selection.

Carnell Tate, Ohio State

Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate is projected as a first-round pick if he declares for the 2026 NFL Draft, joining former teammates Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka in the long line of Buckeye receivers to hear their names called on Day 1 in recent years. Tate hasn't been as productive as some of the recent Ohio State first-round pass-catchers, but he's been sharing the field with mega-star Jeremiah Smith. As a junior in 2025, Tate set career highs in receiving yards (875), yards per reception (17.2), and receiving touchdowns (nine).

The former five-star recruit has been on the NFL radar since the moment he stepped on campus in Columbus, and the 6'3" pass-catcher could be a quarterback's best friend as soon as he steps on an NFL field. While his resume doesn't stack up with some of the Ohio State greats that are dominating the league right now, he's been in a pro-ready system and will likely earn Round 1 draft capital.

Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee

Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazzell II officially declared for the 2026 NFL Draft following his redshirt junior season with the Vols. The former Tulane transfer caught 62 passes for 1,017 yards and nine scores in 12 games, despite competing for targets with two other 800-yard receivers. Brazzell was a contested-catch monster in 2025, but he's also shown the ability to blow by coverage for homerun balls. Listed at 6'5", Brazzell projects to be a boundary receiver at the next level with the potential to develop into a quarterback's top target with a wide catch radius.

Brazzell is likely going to come off the NFL Draft board as a second-round pick, but his performance at the 2026 NFL Combine and other predraft activities could be a strong factor in whether he has a chance to move into the first round. In 40 career games with Tulane and Tennessee, Brazzell finished his collegiate career with 136 receptions for 2,072 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

University of Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson has declared for the 2026 NFL Draft, per Pete Nakos of On3 Sports. Simpson has a chance to be selected in the first round as one of the first quarterbacks off the board, especially after Dante Moore decided to return to Oregon for one more season.

Across 15 games for the Crimson Tide in 2025, Simpson completed 64.5% of his pass attempts for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He spent four years at Alabama, but did not earn significant playing time until his redshirt Junior season. Simpson, who will turn 24 years old in December of his rookie year.

Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon

University of Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq is leaving school early and entering the 2026 NFL Draft, per ESPN's Pete Thamel. Across 14 games for the Ducks in 2025, Sadiq recorded 51 receptions for 560 yards and eight touchdowns. Sadiq, who will play the entirety of his rookie season in the NFL at just 21 years old, is widely considered the top tight end prospect in the draft and appears likely to be a first-round selection.

Per Thamel, ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has Sadiq ranked as the number 10 overall player in the 2026 draft class. Regardless of where he ends up being selected, Sadiq could have a chance to contribute at the NFL level immediately.

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