Why am I starting this newsletter?
Well, that's an easy question to answer.
Almost 15 years ago I found my true love - the NFL draft.
Since then I've followed college football and the draft with great passion. In my opinion, everyone benefits when we do things together and share things.
Therefore, I see this newsletter as the next logical step. The goal is to educate everyone about each draft class and its prospects in a fun and engaging way, while always remaining rational.
Please note! I won't be using any exaggerations or clickbait. For example, my Big Board will only come out after intensive summer scouting.
Let's start with an overview of the upcoming 2026 class
It's a wait-and-see class, with only a clear No. 1 pick at HB, DT, and SAF at this early stage. Some people see this as a weakness. However, for me, this is a special and potentially strong class, as the uncertainty makes next year very exciting and anything is truly possible.
When is that ever the case?
Since so much is always tied to the QBs, people associate a successful class with this position. The 2025 season has a lot to offer on this front.
We have the experienced returnees in Garrett Nussmeier (LSU), Cade Klubnik (Clemson), Drew Allar (Penn State), Carson Beck (Miami), and Miller Moss (Louisville). Players who opted out of the last draft and opted for one last college season. Next are the QBs who made a splash last year, both positive and negative: LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina), Sam Leavitt (Arizona State), Nico Iamaleava (UCLA), Jackson Arnold (Auburn), Fernando Mendoza (Indiana), Avery Johnson (Kansas State), and John Mateer (Oklahoma). The sleepers Aidan Chiles (Michigan State), Darian Mensah (Duke), Eli Holstein (Pitt), and Marcel Reed (Texas A&M) could become next year's stars.
The name Arch Manning, of course, looms over everything. Someone who had a whopping 108 dropbacks in two years as Quinn Ewers' backup. A famous name from a family dynasty, yet one that still needs to be evaluated separately. Now's the chance to do that, but every QB mentioned has something over Manning.
Experience!
The halfbacks range from size to player type to usage. Perhaps the clear No. 1 is Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love, a complete back who can play all three downs and was crucial to his team's playoff run, despite injury. Penn State’s duo of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen and Oregon's new leadback Makhi Hughes (whose talent I mentioned over a year ago) follow in second place. A class that can contribute to the position's renaissance in the NFL.
When we talk about WRs , people like to look ahead a year to 2027 because they expect something historic to happen there. But this year also has a lot to offer, albeit more quantity than absolute top quality. These are primarily slot-archetypal receivers: Kevin Concepcion (Texas A&M), Eric Singleton (Auburn), Zachariah Branch (Georgia), Makai Lemon (USC), Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State), and Kevin Coleman (Missouri). The larger WRs include Elijah Sarrett (Indiana), Denzel Boston (Washington), Ja'Kobi Lane (USC), Dane Key (Nebraska), Carnell Tate (Ohio State), and Duce Robinson (Florida State).
The biggest enigma is probably South Carolina’s Nyck Harbor, who, at 6’5 and 235 pounds, runs a 10.1s 100-meter dash and a 20.2s 200-meter dash. Position-wise, however, he's completely raw. Harbor's development will be an X-factor in many ways.
The tight ends will see the most change between now and the draft. Early favorites include Eli Stowers (Vanderbilt), Max Klare (Ohio State), Tanner Koziol (Houston), and Kenyon Sadiq (Oregon). Georgia, of course, is once again prominently represented by Oscar Delp and Lawson Luckie.
The trenches, and I'm a little biased here, are the backbone of this class. Both offensively and defensively, there are many top-class players at the top. Offensive linemen Kadyn Proctor (Alabama), Francis Mauigoa (Miami), Spencer Fano + Caleb Lomu (Utah), Isaiah World (Oregon), and Jake Slaughter (Florida) are the spearhead. On the other side, there are Peter Woods + TJ Parker (Clemson), Caleb Banks (Florida), Keldric Faulk (Auburn), Dani Dennis-Sutton (Penn State), Rueben Bain (Miami), LT Overton (Alabama), Gabe Jacas (Illinois), and Matayo Uiagalelei (Oregon). The many 260+ pound defensive ends in the current top group are striking.
Linebacker in 2026 could be like halfback and tight end in 2025. This looks like a deep class that hasn't been seen at this position in a while. Texas' Anthony Hill is the big name, followed by CJ Allen (Georgia), Whit Weeks (LSU), Taurean York (Texas A&M), Isaiah Glasker (BYU), Suntarine Perkins (Ole Miss), Austin Romaine (Kansas State), and Kyle Louis (Pitt). Harold Perkins (LSU) is also returning from injury.
The CB class has many interesting young players, but it remains to be seen who can take the next step. Avieon Terrell (Clemson), AJ Harris (Penn State), DJ McKinney (Colorado), Jermod McCoy (Tennessee), Daylen Everette (Georgia), Domani Jackson (Alabama), and Chandler Rivers (Duke) are just a few names on the list.
At the safety position, we could be facing one of the most exciting battles for the No. 1 spot. OSU's Caleb Downs, who is receiving incredible media attention, and Oregon's Dillon Thieneman possess a skill set that is rare these days. They are followed by names like Isaiah Nwokobia (SMU), Zakee Wheatley (Penn State), Keon Sabb (Alabama), Kamari Ramsey (USC), Rod Moore (Michigan), and Jalon Kilgore (South Carolina).
This brief overview clarifies what I said at the beginning: A completely open class that can develop in any direction until April 2026. Frankly, nothing better could happen to a draft enthusiast. I hope you're as excited about it as I am, and we'll follow the upcoming developments together in the coming months.
Stay tuned
Yours, Timo
Awesome first impression! Looking forward to your takes on the developments this year. I’m yearning for an unbiased take away from the ridiculous mass-media-outlets. Let’s get your name out there! Greatness from small Beginnings.