- Jeremiah Smith initiatives as a generational receiver: The Ohio State celebrity is already one of the best participant in faculty soccer as only a true sophomore.
- A probably elite quarterback prospect: Florida’s DJ Lagway has all of the arm expertise to turn out to be a No. 1 general decide in 2027.
- Get a head begin on the 2026 class first: Try PFF’s best-in-class Mock Draft Simulator and study 2026’s prime prospects whereas buying and selling and drafting to your favourite NFL group.
Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes
There tends to be a “grass is at all times greener” syndrome with regards to scouting prospects in drafts which might be a minimum of a yr out. Many gamers might appear to be blue-chip prospects on the floor however after they’re put underneath the microscope, their flaws turn out to be way more evident. Therefore, future drafts often aren’t as particular as they seem at first look.
Now disregard that whole first paragraph as a result of the 2027 NFL Draft initiatives to be extremely good. The 2024 faculty soccer season was the yr of the true freshman, as many gamers have proven celebrity capability instantly out of highschool.
The two cowl athletes of EA College Football 26 are rising sophomores in Jeremiah Smith and Ryan Williams. Three second-year gamers are the No. 1 gamers at their respective positions in PFF’s rankings. That’s solely occurred 5 different occasions within the historical past of our rankings.
Players who entered their true sophomore seasons because the No. 1 participant at their place:
Our No. 2 working again, No. 2 huge receiver, No. 2 edge defender and No. 2 security are additionally true sophomores. In complete, 12 second-year gamers made the top-10 of their place rating as properly.
While we’re nonetheless about 10 months away from the 2026 NFL Draft, right here’s a breakdown of these 12 gamers in what could possibly be a historic 2027 class.
(Texas quarterback Arch Manning won’t be included on this piece as a result of whereas many anticipate him to stay with the Longhorns previous this season, he’s eligible for the 2026 draft if he chooses to declare. And proper now, he initiatives as the highest quarterback prospect in subsequent yr’s class.)
WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
PFF Position Ranking: 1st
Jeremiah Smith is actually the Trevor Lawrence of huge receivers by way of how rapidly they hit the bottom working in faculty. Both entered faculty with an immense quantity of hype because the No. 1 general recruit from their respective lessons and have been among the many highest-rated recruits ever. Both instantly lived as much as the hype as true freshmen and helped their group win nationwide titles of their debut seasons. Lawrence went first within the 2021 NFL Draft, and Smith might go No. 1 in 2027.
As a real freshman, Smith was essentially the most priceless receiver within the nation in accordance with PFF’s wins above common metric. His 89.8 receiving grade was third within the nation and over 4 factors increased than every other returning wideout. He additionally led the Power Four with 15 receiving touchdowns whereas his 1,311 receiving yards trailed solely Tetairoa McMillan in that very same group.
Smith is an athletic freak at 6-foot-3, 215 kilos with an extremely refined skillset for somebody who turned 19 years outdated in November. Not solely is he one of the best returning receiver within the nation, however he’s one of the best returning participant in faculty soccer. Smith is a generational receiver who has already garnered comparisons to all-time greats like Julio Jones, Terrell Owens and Andre Johnson.
CB Leonard Moore, Notre Dame
PFF Position Ranking: 1st
Moore completed his true freshman season because the third-most-valuable nook in faculty soccer in accordance with PFF’s wins above common metric, trailing solely Jahdae Barron and Travis Hunter. He was particularly good in Notre Dame’s man-heavy scheme, as his 82.5 grade in man protection was third amongst all corners within the nation. The former three-star recruit is a clean athlete at 6-foot-2 who mirrors receivers at an elite stage already. In truth, he solely allowed 16 of his 42 targets in single protection to be caught.
EDGE Colin Simmons, Texas
PFF Position Ranking: 1st
Simmons was the sixth-most-valuable edge defender within the nation in accordance with PFF’s wins above common metric. He trailed solely Abdul Carter, Jack Sawyer, Mike Green, Josaiah Stewart and JT Tuimoloau in that metric. Simmons ended up profitable the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award, given to one of the best true freshman in America.
His 18.6% strain price was a top-15 mark within the nation, and he was no slouch as a run defender both, posting a 73.4 run-defense grade. Simmons’ elite mixture of bend and superior pass-rushing strikes is harking back to Von Miller.
EDGE Dylan Stewart, South Carolina
PFF Position Ranking: 2nd
Stewart is the freakiest athlete the Gamecocks have had at edge defender since Jadeveon Clowney was launching helmets over a decade in the past. And like Clowney, he has the upside of turning into a No. 1 general decide if he retains up this trajectory.
The former five-star recruit earned a 91.4 pass-rush grade as only a true freshman, tied for sixth amongst all edges in America. His 51 pressures have been tied for second amongst returning Power Four edge rushers as properly. Stewart must get a bit stronger so he can set the sting higher within the run recreation, however he’s already essentially the most fearsome pass-rusher in faculty soccer because of his bodily items.
WR Ryan Williams, Alabama
PFF Position Ranking: 2nd
While it wasn’t the best true freshman huge receiver season of all time like Smith had, Williams was nonetheless unbelievable in his first yr of school soccer.
The former top-five recruit’s 865 receiving yards weren’t simply second to Smith amongst FBS true freshmen this season, they’re second over the past three seasons. Williams additionally led all true freshmen this previous season with 170 receiving yards after contact whereas trailing solely Smith in yards after the catch (397), receiving touchdowns (eight) and yards per route run (2.51).
He has elite pace and physique management at 6 toes, 175 kilos. And do you know he was 17 years outdated for all of his freshman season?
QB DJ Lagway, Florida
PFF Position Ranking: seventh
It wouldn’t be a particular draft class with out a minimum of one potential franchise quarterback. Lagway confirmed why he was the highest quarterback recruit within the 2024 cycle, main the Power Four with an 8.8% big-time throw price. Lagway’s 95.6 passing grade on deep throws stood third within the nation as properly. He’ll must turn out to be extra exact as a sophomore, although, as his 59.7 passing grade on all different throws was the second-worst mark within the Power Four.
It was nonetheless a really encouraging freshman yr for Lagway, although, contemplating how brutal Florida’s schedule was. He might have extra arm expertise than anybody else in faculty soccer and simply must fine-tune his footwork and accuracy to probably turn out to be one of the best quarterback within the nation.
WR Cam Coleman, Auburn
PFF Position Ranking: sixth
Coleman was one in every of three huge receivers who have been among the many top-five general recruits within the 2024 class, becoming a member of the aforementioned Jeremiah Smith and Ryan Williams. While it took him a bit longer to get going than these two, he nonetheless confirmed off his absurd potential down the stretch.
During the ultimate three weeks of the common season, the true freshman led the nation with six receiving touchdowns whereas his 306 receiving yards have been sixth. It’s additionally value noting that Coleman needed to take care of the worst quarterback play of anybody on this prime 10, which could possibly be mounted with Oklahoma-transfer Jackson Arnold coming in.
Coleman scored close to the one hundredth percentile of our Game Athleticism Score metric as he has ridiculous motion capability at 6-foot-3, 197 kilos to associate with a big catch radius. Expect a monstrous breakout marketing campaign from him as a sophomore.
OT Jordan Seaton, Colorado
PFF Position Ranking: 4th
Colorado’s incapability to guard Shedeur Sanders in 2023 was a significant motive why the Buffaloes might solely go 4-8. In response, head coach Deion Sanders signed the top-ranked offensive deal with recruit in Seaton who was instantly tasked with defending his son’s blind aspect at left deal with.
The former five-star recruit did simply that, incomes a 75.3 pass-blocking grade that was over 13 factors increased than every other true freshman deal with. In a seven-game stretch from Week 3-11, he earned an 85.5 pass-blocking grade with no sacks and just one hit allowed on 317 pass-blocking snaps. Seaton is already one of many higher cross protectors in faculty soccer at simply 19 years outdated. He performed his freshman yr at a really mild 285 kilos. Seaton is now listed at 330 kilos as a sophomore, which is reputable NFL measurement.
S Koi Perich, Minnesota
PFF Position Ranking: 2nd
The Golden Gophers misplaced one in every of faculty soccer’s greatest safeties in Tyler Nubin and instantly discovered one other in Perich. The true freshman’s 5 interceptions this previous season trailed solely Xavier Watts amongst FBS safeties whereas his 88.9 PFF grade was seventh. He was additionally one in every of solely seven safeties in America who earned 80.0-plus grades each in protection and in run protection.
Perich doubles as a harmful return man and is athletic sufficient to win and free security whereas concurrently being bodily sufficient to reach the field as properly.
RB Isaac Brown, Louisville
PFF Position Ranking: 2nd
Brown wasn’t even one of many top-40 working again recruits popping out of highschool. The former three-star recruit disproved that instantly and is now the runner-up for the title of “greatest working again in faculty soccer”.
He ran for 1,168 yards as a real freshman, essentially the most of any returning Power Four tailback. Brown’s 7.2 yards per carry additionally led all Power Four working backs, returning or not. What he lacks in measurement (5-foot-9, 190 kilos), he makes up for with game-breaking pace and quickness.
S KJ Bolden, Georgia
PFF Position Ranking: fifth
The Bulldogs might have simply misplaced one celebrity security in Malaki Starks, however they’ve one other ready within the wings in Bolden. He was a top-15 general recruit and the No. 1 security within the 2024 class and instantly confirmed why in his freshman season.
Bolden completed this previous season because the eighth-most-valuable returning Power Four security in accordance with PFF’s WAA metric whereas his 13 protection stops was tied for fifth amongst all safeties within the nation. He has nice pace for the place and is a robust tackler regardless of solely weighing 185 kilos.
WR Bryant Wesco Jr., Clemson
PFF Position Ranking: seventh
The Tigers have two star sophomores at receiver between Wesco and T.J. Moore, however we’ll spotlight the previous right here. Wesco’s 707 receiving yards trailed solely Jeremiah Smith and Ryan Williams amongst true freshmen wideouts whereas his 2.21 yards per route run have been fifth and led the Tigers this season. He confirmed off his upside most in Clemson’s ACC Championship win over SMU, the place he caught eight passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns.