Lebanon, TN – Luckily for us, the schedules we plan in advance each season not only offer us opportunities to see games played by teams competing for the CFP championship, but they also allow us to see many of the top players competing to make it into NFL. During the 2025 season, we attended 27 games. We witnessed 33 of 136 FBS football programs. In addition, we attended games played among the lower levels of the FCS, D2 and D3. Some feature pro potential prospects as well – especially at the FCS level. You never know where the pros find their best among the best of top college players.
In addition, don’t forget, we put together a similar slate every season. As an example, for the last four seasons, we’ve attended 105 college football games. In some cases, due to Covid in 2020, some of these players have been playing for six years! Some played even more (but this has to stop). We’ll take it for what it’s worth now. Click here to find out the teams, the dates, the final outcomes and where we caught the action.
When we peruse the draft, we find we watched some players in action as far back as their freshman seasons. Maybe four years as a starter indicates a player will most likely be playing football on Sundays. We go through our game photo files, and sometimes we catch a top player just starting out. Who could have known that four years later the NFL would draft them?
We just click away and post the best of our best
Taking photos is just part of the fun of this unique, 47-year college football adventure. Generally, in our goal, we try to capture good action photos from our seats wherever they may be for our weekly game review. We don’t always get the best shots. Camera issues, distances, poor lighting, fan interference, absence of injured players, bad aim or bad timing cause us to miss good shots or delete many unusable photos. We keep those we feel may be used for some purpose later. Sometimes we have no idea until draft season we find we have something we can use. Luckily, we’ll capture a play that documents that we did see a potential pro play in college. Especially before anyone else becomes familiar with him.
Sometimes, better lucky than good
So, what you will see generally is our random collection gleaned from many photos. Some we use in our weekly game reviews. Some we just keep on file. We probably should delete more, but it’s too tempting. We don’t know if we may have captured some obscure lineman or freshman player that may eventually become a household name some day! One such photo we have below shows an FCS Defensive Linemen playing his freshman season in a playoff game. Who knew then that he was destined to get drafted in the Fourth Round of 2026? Also, we definitely save too many photos of sideline action for our preseason Cheerleaders edition. Can’t complain, however.
Top players recorded in action for 2026
To provide you with our interesting takes and the fun of who we’ve witnessed and where they are going, our report breaks down our analysis by position. Just click the Heading of each position title to link to our original draft preview of each player in that category. A brief draft synopsis follows under each title heading below. Afterward, we provide a photo or photos of players we didn’t include in previews.
In addition, we’ll also show you who may have fallen beyond all 257 players drafted. Already, some have been caught by the net of free agency. They still have their chances. In one case, a certain Top QB is still hanging out in limbo as we predicted. Also, we not only captured Mr. Irrelevant at No. 257, but we also photographed No. 256. Both landed with the same team! The competition remained fierce until the end to make it to the next level. We have “Photo Finishes” of the last of top players drafted vying for a roster spot among all 32 NFL teams for 2026.
Top players from all Positions seen in action
At the start of the draft, regarding the first 11 players selected, we saw all of them play in games the last few seasons. Of all 32 players selected in Round One, we witnessed 24 in action going back to 2022. Then, No. 31 DE (EDGE) Keldric Faulk played for Auburn as a freshman against Maryland in the Music City Bowl.
Based on the order players were chosen, we attended games played by the top Quarterback; the top six among the first eight RBs selected (mostly beyond Round 5); the five top EDGE players; the best CB overall; the two best OTs drafted; two best Guards; the top TE and best Safety selected this year. Only our prediction of Oregon OG Emmanuel Pregnon being selected in Round One fell further in this draft. Pregnon waited until the third round at No. 88 with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Still, not bad at all.
Our Top Gun QBs: many fell to free agency
No doubt we had No. 1 QB and overall, first pick Fernando Mendoza of Indiana. No brainer, like everyone else, going to the Raiders. Never saw QB Ty Simpson because we haven’t seen Alabama since Bryce Young. However, in 2023, we watched his father Jason coach UT Martin to 38-31 win over Missouri State. QB Carson Beck, who we watched play for both Georgia and Miami, went as the next QB, but not taken until No. 65 starting Round 3. Slim pickings for our QB sightings after him. The Steelers surprised us at No. 76 picking Penn State’s Drew Allar. Thought he’d go later as he has potential but needs better coaching. How does he compare to second year QB Will Howard? Will Aaron Rodgers return to help with his development? Can he?
Injuries and Free Agency impact QBs
We read reports that teams would be more forgiving in regard to LSU’s Garett Nussmeier’s injuries last season. Instead, he fell down to Round Seven at No. 249 to Kansas City. A lot here depends on Patrick Mahomes recovery evidently. At least Nussmeier got drafted. So did North Dakota State’s Cole Payton at No. 178 (Eagles, surprised based on Carson Wentz) and Arkansas’s Taylen Green at 182 (Browns). However, Nate Altmyer of Illinois, Tennessee’s Joey Aguilar, BYU’s Jake Retzlaff, and Jalen Daniels all penned into free agent signings.
On the other hand, Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia has not signed on with anyone as of this report. Seems like the No. 2 Heisman vote-getter is learning the hard way about humility after bashing writers for his second-place finish to Mendoza. His short stature poses one obstacle, but this matter may also make it difficult to attain a shot at the Canadian Football League.
Top players among RBs: Few in the early rounds, big surprise in last round
Fans can understand why Notre Dame’s Jerimiyah Love went at No. 3 in the draft. If any team needed talent at that position next season, get it quickly. We not only saw him play, but we also saw the second RB play and go at No. 32. And what does it say when No. 2 played in the same backfield as No. 1? After Love went to Arizona, ND’s Jadarian Price went to Seattle.
NIL or NFL money?
We made a mistake here in one prediction. In this era of NIL money, this flew under our radar. We figured Cam Cook of Jacksonville State would be right up there with 1,695 yards and 16 TDs in 2025. Instead, he followed his former Head Coach Rich Rodriguez who left JSU in 2024 for West Virginia. Does Cook really need now to prove himself against Big XII competition? He may have missed his mark by not going into this year’s draft where the competition among good RBs waned. Who knows? Maybe WVU made him a better offer than the NFL could. On the other hand, more and better RBs could enter the draft in 2027.
After the two Fighting Irish backs fell into line in Round One, another RB did not get called until Indiana’s Kaelon Black at No. 90. Of course, we watched him perform three times. The Chiefs picked up Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson at 161, and then our featured backs before the draft got on a roll. PSU’s Nick Singleton at 165 to Tennessee; his teammate Kaytron Allen to Washington at 187; Demond Claiborne of Wake Forest to Minnesota at 198. Adam Randall of Clemson fell between our two Nittany Lions.
We thought this RB would get drafted as a potential WR
However, much to our surprise and happiness, a favorite of ours fell into place at No. 230 with the Steelers. We’d seen him play seven times. Not so surprised that he got selected late but surprised they drafted him as a running back. Navy’s Eli Heidenreich primarily played a role more as a slotback for the Midshipmen. His fellow teammate and Mt. Lebanon (PA) HS classmate, FB Alex Tecza, carried more of the USNA running duties. Eli tallied 109 catches for 1,994 yards and 16 receiving touchdowns, Navy receiving records. On the ground, he carried 169 times for 1,157 yards and seven rushing touchdowns. If he plays for the Steelers, he’s obligated to extend his military service to ten years in the US Marine Corps. We hope he enjoys as much success as did former Navy WR Phil McConkey did with the NY Giants! Go Navy!
On the money with our top players at Wide Receiver and Tight End
Many of our top collegiate sightings headed east bound to the next level of Sunday shenanigans. Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq landed with the NY Jets at No. 8 and Indiana WR Omar Cooper landed at JFK Airport right behind him at No. 30. Vandy TE Eli Stower went to Philly at No. 53 overall. New Giant HC John Harbaugh traded up to get Notre Dame WR Malachi Fields. He flew into Newark Liberty to join the NY Giants at No. 74. Fighting Irish TE Eli Raridon whisked by his teammate on the way to Logan Airport in Boston to join the Patriots in Round 3 at No. 95. Another Mendoza target, WR Elijah Surratt headed to Baltimore to play for Harbaugh’s former team and hook up with Lamar Jackson’s passes as pick No. 115.
Pass catchers on different routes
North Dakota State WR Bryce Lance, the second FCS player chosen in 2026, broke the east bound flight mode and headed south to play indoors with the New Orlean Saints. Mendoza’s TE Riley Nowakowski found his way east but not as far as the others landing in Pittsburgh. the Iron City, at No. 197. WR CJ Fields of Miami, the last in our pre-draft WR/TE photo collection to get selected, flew way off course from his predecessors. He headed west to LA after getting nabbed by the Rams at No. 197 in Round 6. Our long shot, Tennessee TE Miles Kitselman, failed to get drafted. He’s taking the free agent route. He’s driving his way north up I-75 from Knoxville to Detroit.
Best Top Players of all our Top Players – Offensive Linemen
Our pictures from our draft preview tell the whole story. In Round One, we featured five pictures of nine Offensive Linemen selected in day one. And we added No. 26, Keylan Rutledge of Georgia Tech selected by the Texans as mentioned previously. He played in a game we attended at Middle Tennessee State. OT Max Iheanachor of Arizona State also competed against Texas in the 2024 Peach Bowl we attended. However, the pictures are out of reach to recognize him from our upper deck perspective. Selected No. 21, he joins the Steelers.
We highlighted No. 9 Fano of Utah (Browns), No. 10 Mauigoa of Miami (Giants), No. 14 Ioane of Penn State (Ravens), No. 17 Miller of Clemson (Lions), No. 26 Rutledge, and No. 28 Lomu of Utah (Patriots). Outstanding! All these picks have much game experience entering the NFL. In Round 2 came C Jake Slater of Florida (Chargers). In Round 3 followed fellow Gator No. 86 Austin Barber (Browns). As previously mentioned, Emmanuel Pregnon of Oregon fell in at No. 88 (Jaguars). PSU OT Drew Shelton followed in Round 4 at No. 112 (Cowboys). Also in Round 4, scouts overlooked Auburn Junior C’s Conor Lew’s season-ending injuries and selected him at No. 128 (Bengals).
Strong O Line players continue late in 2026 draft
In Round 6, the Bengals picked another one of our featured top offensive Linemen at No. 189, C Brian Parker II, from the Blue Devils’ record -setting offense. At No. 192, Fighting Illini OT JC Davis made the cut (Giants). At 194, the last selection of our featured linemen came into the fold. National Champion Indiana C Pat Coogan goes to help bolster the Titans’ O Line with his leadership skills. Two remaining players we highlighted found paths to continue through free agency. The Chargers expect Oregon Duck OT Isaiah World to fully recover from his torn ACL to make their roster. Notre Dame G Aamil Wagner also heads to Tennessee to prove his worth to bolster the Titans up front.
Top players supposed to bring heat and stuffing to NFL defenses
Between the O Line talent displayed previously and who we witnessed along the defensive fronts these past few years, battles in the Sunday trenches should be amazing! We saw five First Rounders taken from the EDGE alone. Three highlighted in our preview: Bain of Miami at No. 15 (Buccaneers), Hurricane teammate Mesidor at No. 22 (Chargers), and Faulk of Auburn at No. 31 (Titans). In Round 2, Derrick Moore of Michigan was taken at No. 44 by the Lions for a relatively short commute from Ann Arbor to Detroit. Then Texas Tech Red Raiders stepped up. DT Lee Hunter got in at No. 49 (Panthers) followed by teammate EDGE Romello Height selected at No. 70 (49ers).
In Round Four, DT Darrel Jackson of Florida State got notified the defensive fray moving along at No. 103 (Jets). Later, analysts pointed out that Jackson became the only Seminole to be selected this season. Next, however, came our biggest surprise of all. Amongst players seen but not expected high on our radar came a relative unknown. At No. 104, the Cardinals surprisingly selected DT Kaleb Parker of Southeastern Louisiana, the first selection from among any FCS program in the 2026 draft. Bingo! We got him in our files.
We’ve loved college football playoffs for years
In 2022, we attended an FCS playoff game at Bobby Bowden Field at Samford University. The Bulldogs hosted the SELU Lions in the first round down in Homewood, AL. The home team won a thrilling game in OT, 48-42. Click here to read all about it! Why we love attending college football games so much. We watched Parker play then as a freshman – a DT playing in jersey No. 2. Oh sure! We could see that his kid was hell- bound for the NFL! Just kidding. However, I made a note to keep an eye out in the future for Lion Soph S Jake Henderson. Nothing noted online, but you never know.
After SE Louisiana: Penn State, Duke, Indiana, etc.
After Kaleb, EDGE Wesley Williams of Duke came up at No. 119 (Panthers). Right behind at No. 120, Dani Dennis-Sutton of PSU followed (Packers). Other DEs and DTs like Trey Moore of Texas, DT Nick Barrett of South Carolina and Joshua Josephs of Tennessee had played before us and filled pro rosters. We just couldn’t capture them in pictures. Others we did feature on our pictorial preview move on to the pros, but not as draftees. Florida EDGE Tyreak Sapp (Browns) and Indiana ED Mikail Kamara (49ers) carry impressive credentials. They got picked up as free agents. For a complete list of players finding their way to make it to the pros through free agency, click here.
Navy ties 70-year old record
In the Seventh and final round before the Steelers selected Navy RB Eli Heidenreich at No. 230, at No. 226 the goal was set by the Cincinnati Bengals. They selected Navy DT Landon Robinson, American Athletic Defensive Player of the Year and a three-time selection of Bruce Feldman’s Freak List. Possibly a stretch here with his height and short arms detrimental in the pros, he can possibly make up for that with fierce competitiveness (he is from the Naval Academy, of course) and his athleticism. With Heidenreich selected four spots later, USNA sported two draft picks for the first time in 70 years.
New Law could help Academy football long term
This could be beaten in the future with a new policy enacted through Congress presented by strong Academy football supporter, President Donald J. Trump. Each military academy (Army, Navy and Air Force, maybe Coast Guard, too?) can now have up to five players selected in the NFL Draft. That came somewhat to the chagrin of Academy alumni who stand by the academies’ primary mission to graduate military leaders. Now, the policy requires though that any graduate heading into the NFL must commit to ten years of active military duty to compensate for the five required by all graduates. With NIL money attracting players from one program annually to another, Navy friends say that more quality high school football players (3–4-star level) consider the academies. There’s a plethora of talent coming out of high schools not being recruited among traditional powerhouse programs. Full speed ahead, Navy!
Last stop at the top – LBs, DBs and PKs
LSU CB Mansoor Delane jumped right in at No. 5 overall (Chiefs) and Oregon S Dillon Thieneman got grabbed at No. 22 (Bears) in the First Round. In Round 2 at No. 44, Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez who won every collegiate defensive award on the planet finally got beamed up (Dolphins). It continued with Indiana CB D’Angelo Ponds entering at No. 50 (Jets). Illini LB Gabe Jacas unexpectedly got categorized as another EDGE at No. 55 (Patriots). Texas LB Anthony Hill, Jr finished Round 2 among our preview pictorials at No. 61 (Titans). Round 3 swooped up LSU S A.J. Halucy at No. 78 (Colts). Our next best didn’t get called on again until the middle of Round 4.
Miami CB Keionte Scott filled in at No. 116 (Buccaneers). Texas CB Malik Muhammad went at No. 124 (Bears). LB Bryce Boettcher, the renowned leader of the Oregon Duck defense finished out our Fourth going at No. 135 to help that defense (Colts). In Round 5, Texas S Michael Taafe went at No. 158 (Dolphins). Not until Round 6 at No. 215, did we see another featured selection taken until LSU LB Harold Perkins got the call (Falcons).
Another surprise pick in our hindsight
In Round 7, after the thrills of seeing Midshipmen Robinson and Heidenreich drafted, another pleasant surprise occurred. At No. 240, Middle Tennessee Blue Raider LB Parker Hughes got called up (Jaguars). Having had MTSU tickets for two seasons prior to 2025, we only attended one game in Murfreesboro to see Missouri State visit last season to become our 135th FBS team. I gladly realize now that we got to see a future NFL draft choice in action there as well!
Broncos save their best for our last
After No. 240, Indiana LB Aiden Fisher went at No. 243 (Texans). With three picks remaining for the Broncos, they capped our draft on a high note. With No .246, they selected DB Miles Scott seen by us twice for Illinois. Ten picks later, the Broncos had the final two draft choices. With the first, they picked our aforementioned Utah TE in action, Dallen Bentley, against UCF. Of course, with the final pick of the draft, the Broncos chose the legendary and traditional “Mr. Irrelevant.” Bingo again! We saw him play – LB Red Murdock of the Buffalo Bulls.
What an unforgettably fun draft this was for us. Attending those CFP games for us really paid off. Come back and visit us after Friday, May 1. We’ll publish our 2026 schedule. We think it’s going to be even better than what we experienced last season!
And for more information and details about the careers of all these college players we watched now getting their shots at the pros, click here to Link on to NFL Buzz.
Read our great history of seeing great college players who excelled in the Pros!
Click on the title about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Ugly on Amazon.com. Among 740 college games attended to date now, we’ve seen all 136 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams play in person at least once. This tells our story! Among them, you’ll pry into collegiate lore regarding the likes of Willie Gault, Dan Marino, Randy Moss, Eli Manning, Ezekial Elliot, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson and many more.
Read the reviews on the book page and get your copy today. If you’re trying to follow NILs and transfer portals, read what we predicted in 2023 and more. You’ll see we know what we’re talking about. In addition, we offered solutions to issues occurring that we anticipated when we wrote this book. Get it, enjoy it, and read about the many great memories captured. Maybe these will bring back some of the same memories you encountered when we did!
Edited and written by Stephen J. Koreivo, member of Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and Author of “Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly.”
