Every year, we see college football players forgo the NFL Draft to return to college. Some players return for NIL money, some for the chance to boost their draft stock, and others for the love of the game. Thanks to these players forgoing the 2026 draft, the 2027 draft is projected to be loaded. Underclassmen such as Colin Simmons, Jeremiah Smith, and Dylan Stewart will make their own headlines. But the upper-class players on this list will hear their names called early, too.
Darian Mensah, QB, Miami
2025 Stats: 3,973 yards, 35 TDs, 6 INTs, 7.9 YPA, 153.6 RTG
Returning for his redshirt junior season, Mensah’s name made headlines in the transfer portal. Despite being on a 2-year, $8 million contract, Mensah went to court to assert his right to transfer to Miami, where the Hurricanes are rumored to be paying him north of $4 million. Regardless of the headlines, Mensah is my candidate for college football’s best QB in 2026. Mensah throws a beautiful deep ball and can layer it at all levels. His ability to make plays outside the pocket forces defenses to play QB contain. His best receiver, Cooper Barkate, will transfer to Miami with him. After an elite season at Duke, Mensah is looking for nothing short of a Heisman Trophy.
Arch Manning, QB, Texas
2025 Stats: 3,163 yards, 36 total TDs, 7 INTs, 7.8 YPA, 144.9 RTG
Manning’s connection to the 2026 NFL Draft mostly came from the media. His camp consistently said he would return to college football. Either way, in such a weak QB class, Manning’s name would’ve been called early. Instead, he returns to Texas to be surrounded by elite weapons. The Longhorns added two top-5 running backs in the portal, as well as On3’s #1 WR Cam Coleman. Manning’s biggest attractions are his strong arm, NFL size, and elite athleticism. Manning can throw the ball at every level, break tackles/sacks at a high level, and break open touchdown runs with 22 mph speed. Texas is likely to open as the preseason title favorite.
Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
2025 Stats: 3,565 yards, 32 total TDs, 10 INTs, 8.7 YPA, 163.7 RTG
Moore’s decision to return to college football surprised many people. His name was consistently mentioned inside the top 5 picks of the draft. He brings an NFL arm and NFL size to the position. His only knock could be decision-making, hence the 10 INTs during this past season. Was Moore’s feedback from the NFL different than what most people believed? Possibly. But his return sure made the 2027 QB class interesting. Moore will get Evan Stewart back from injury and return his WR1 from 2025. The production will be elite, but we’ll all be watching his INT count. It’d still be a safe bet that Moore hears his name called in the top half of the first round next year.
Bray Hubbard, S, Alabama
2025 Stats: 79 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 2 sacks, 4 INTs, 6 PDs, 3 FFs
Hubbard won’t hear his name called in the top 10 next year, but he’ll likely hear it in the middle to end of the first round. With the rise of two-high schemes and the resurfacing of elite run games, Hubbard is the type of safety that NFL teams will covet. At 6’2 218 pounds, Hubbard’s versatility is endless. He covers well from centerfield, plays man coverage, and plays in the box like a linebacker. In fact, Alabama frequently features Hubbard at LB in certain packages. Hubbard earned a 90.4 run defense grade, 82.7 tackling grade, and 82.6 coverage grade on PFF. He’s college football’s ultimate Swiss-army knife in the secondary.
Raylen Wilson, LB, Georgia
2025 Stats: 74 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks
Wilson has played alongside CJ Allen for the past two seasons. Despite playing the Will LB, Wilson profiles as a Mike LB in the NFL, and he’ll play that position for Georgia in 2026. At 6’1 235 pounds, Wilson packs a punch. His 6% missed-tackle percentage ranked among the best among linebackers in college football. In addition to being built like a cement block, Wilson has been timed at 22.94 mph. He possesses top-1 % speed at the LB position. Being the green-dot signal caller on the defense should take Wilson’s game to the next level.
Matayo Uiagalelei, DE, Oregon
2025 Stats: 34 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 6 sacks, 2 FFs
Despite experiencing a drop in production from 2024 to 2025, Uiagalelei was still expected to hear his name called in the first round. He’s compiled 22 TFLs and 16.5 sacks in the last two seasons. At 6’5 270 pounds, Uiagalelei has the perfect profile to be an NFL defensive end. In 2025, his pass rush graded 82.7, and his run defense graded above average. Uiagalelei possesses the length to hold off opposing blocks and the speed and bend to beat offensive tackles around the edge. He’ll be one of college football’s most well-rounded defensive linemen in 2026.
Jamari Sharpe, CB, Indiana
2025 Stats: 50 tackles, 6 TFLs, 1 INT, 6 PDs, 4 FFs
Sharpe flew under the radar on the national champion Hoosiers. D’Angelo Ponds received a lot of attention, but one could argue that Sharpe was the best CB on the team. He received an 85.5 coverage grade, as well as a solid tackling grade of 78. During Indiana’s four postseason games, Sharpe allowed just 75 total receiving yards and a passer rating of 48.2. Sharpe provides great length at 6’1 190 pounds. His missed tackle percentage of 7.8% is great for a CB. Sharpe will be the CB1 for Indiana this coming season and will be one of college football’s best.
Trevor Goosby, OT, Texas
Goosby entered the 2025 season facing the challenge of replacing Kelvin Banks as the left tackle for Texas. He filled in swimmingly. Despite the Texas OL underperforming as a whole, Goosby was quite good. He received an 82.1 run blocking grade and an 80.1 pass blocking grade. He allowed just 3 sacks on the season and just 2 sacks in the Longhorns’ last 12 games. His pass-blocking tape has been raved about by NFL scouts this offseason, and many believe his name could’ve been called in the top 40. Goosby will return to college to push for OT1 status in the 2027 NFL Draft and win college football’s Outland Trophy as the top offensive lineman.
Mark Fletcher Jr, RB, Miami
2025 Stats: 1,192 yards, 14 total TDs, 5.5 YPC
Fletcher’s return to Miami came as a surprise, given the RB personnel in the 2026 draft versus the 2027 draft. Jeremiyah Love is the consensus RB1 in this year’s draft, but the competition for RB2 has been wide open. Meanwhile, the competition in 2027 is much more fierce. Regardless, Fletcher Jr will return to college football to make Miami one of the nation’s top title contenders. At 6’2, 225-230 pounds, Fletcher is an absolute handful, and that’s proven by his 848 rushing yards after contact. During the college football playoff, he rushed for 499 yards on 6.7 YPC. Fletcher will be one of the nation’s most unstoppable forces on the ground.
Carter Smith, OT, Indiana
Smith’s decision likely rested on the competition at the OL position in 2026 versus 2027. Anywhere from 6 to 8 offensive linemen could be selected in the first round of the 2026 draft. Smith’s performance this past season was quite impressive. He earned an 83 run-blocking grade and an 88 pass-blocking grade. He did not allow a sack until the national championship game. He earned 1st-team All-Big Ten and a spot on an All-American team. He allowed just 7 QB hurries. He was simply one of college football’s best players. Smith will be the best player on Indiana’s roster this season, as the Hoosiers look for another title push under Curt Cignetti.
