Each week, Yardbarker is monitoring the 2026 NFL Draft, scheduled April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.
From a Penn State running back to a Georgia linebacker, here are five players we’re tracking:
Penn State RB Nick Singleton
Like former Penn State RB Saquon Barkley, Singleton (6-foot, 224 pounds) has the combination of strength and speed teams covet.
In a story published Monday, The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman reported Singleton ran a 4.35 40-yard dash, power cleaned 395 pounds and bench pressed 435 during Penn State’s offseason program.
Barkley (now with the Philadelphia Eagles) ran a 4.33 40-yard dash, power cleaned 405 pounds and bench pressed 405 before his final season with Penn State in 2017. He’s 6-foot and 233 pounds.
The RB could break some of Barkley’s records this season. The 2018 No. 2 pick ranks first in school history in rushing touchdowns (43) and second in rushing yards (3,843). Singleton needs 12 rushing TDs and 932 rushing yards to eclipse him. That seems doable after he logged 1,099 rushing yards and 12 rushing TDs in 15 games last season.
In Tankathon’s latest mock draft, the New Orleans Saints take him with pick No. 33 in the second round.
Texas QB Arch Manning
As of Thursday, FanDuel Sportsbook gives Manning the fifth-best odds (+850) to go No. 1 overall in the 2026 draft.
However, the sophomore may not declare for the draft until after the 2026 season. His grandfather, former New Orleans Saints QB Archie, told S.C. Gwynne of Texas Monthly Arch Manning “isn’t going” to leave Texas after one season.
Arch Manning (6-foot-4, 219 pounds) has attempted just 95 passes in two seasons at Texas. Spending more time under Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian, a QB whisperer, could be the right move for the nephew of Super Bowl champions Peyton and Eli Manning.
Still, some scouts may argue he’s pro-ready because of his textbook throwing mechanics.
“To sum this up as clearly as possible, Arch Manning’s throwing process is so natural, it looks like it’s been inherited from some of the greatest to ever play the quarterback position,” wrote The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner in a story published Wednesday. “Which, uh, is exactly what’s happened here.”
Penn State QB Drew Allar
Allar (6-foot-5, 235 pounds) has the prototypical build for an NFL QB, but scouts believe he didn’t reach his potential in 2024.
“The best version of Drew Allar is very talented. I don’t think we saw the best version of him nearly enough last year,” ESPN’s Field Yates said Wednesday on “First Draft.” “If he puts it together, though, he’ll catapult himself into the conversation of top-five quarterbacks.”
Playing better against elite competition would be a great place to start for Allar. In 2024, he completed just 56.7 percent of his passes against top-25 opponents (via ESPN). He also threw a costly interception late in the fourth quarter of a 27-24 College Football Playoff semifinal loss to Notre Dame.
At Big Ten media days in July, Allar admitted he must step up in big games. That could help Penn State win its first national championship since the 1986 season.
Clemson CB Avieon Terrell
Terrell (5-foot-11, 180 pounds) stars for a Clemson defense that could be an “NFL Draft gold mine.”
In a story published Wednesday, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler ranked the younger brother of Atlanta Falcons CB A.J. Terrell Jr. the No. 1 CB in the class.
“A.J. Terrell Jr. put together a strong résumé at Clemson before becoming a first-round pick in 2020,” wrote Brugler. “That is a big shadow for his younger brother to escape, but Avieon Terrell is building his own legacy at Clemson and has the tape of a future first-rounder.”
Avieon Terrell had career highs in interceptions (two) and passes defended (12) in 14 games last season. He has been named to the watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award, which recognizes college football’s top DB.
Georgia LB CJ Allen
In the 2024 draft, the Falcons selected Georgia’s Jalon Walker (6-foot-2, 245 pounds) with pick No. 15. Allen (6-foot-1, 235 pounds) could be the next Bulldogs LB who’s a first-rounder.
“I remember watching Jalon Walker’s tape last spring and having to glance over at times to remind myself of his No. 11,” CBS Sports’ Mike Renner wrote of Allen in a story published Monday. “That’s because there was a linebacker next to him wearing No. 3 with a darn near identical build (albeit slightly less filled out) who was explosive and tenacious when tracking down ball carriers.”
Allen had a career-high 76 tackles in 14 games last season, helping Georgia win its 15th SEC title.
Renner noted he must improve his zone matching in pass coverage to improve his stock. Zone matching is when a defender switches from zone to man-to-man coverage.
