The first College Football AP Top 25 recently came out, and each team has NFL-level talent on its roster. With the season kicking off on Aug. 29, here are the top NFL prospects for the top five teams in the country.
No. 1 Ohio State NFL Prospects
Top-ranked Ohio State enters the 2027 season loaded with talent, led by Jeremiah Smith. The junior receiver has caught the eyes of NFL teams since his freshman season, and could be the first player off the board next June. He’s quick, catches everything, and has NFL size at 6-foot-4, 222 pounds.
Defensively, Kenyatta Jackson Jr. is the star. He’s a fifth-year defensive end who has waited his turn to be the main pass rusher and is ready to take over. He finished last season with 6.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss.
Jaylen McClain will look to make it two years in a row that a Buckeye safety is taken in the first round of the NFL Draft. An All-Big Ten selection last year, the junior is a rangy free safety with good tackling skills. Smith, Jackson, and McClain are big names, but the player to watch for Ohio State is quarterback Julian Sayin. The redshirt sophomore would be eligible for the Draft, but question marks about his arm strength and size linger. If the 21-year-old has an impressive campaign, including maybe a Championship, all questions would be answered.
No. 2 Oregon NFL Prospects
Quarterback Dante Moore is Oregon’s best player. If he had entered his name in the 2026 NFL Draft, he would’ve been a favorite to go No. 2, after Fernando Mendoza. Instead, he chose to play one more season for the Ducks. He’s a strong Heisman Trophy candidate and has the potential to be a top pick. Jamari Johnson will be Moore’s top pass catcher. Named to the preseason All-American Second Team, the tight end will take over for Kenyon Sadiq, the No. 16 overall selection in this past Draft.
Oregon’s defensive line may be the most dangerous in the country. A’Mauri Washington, Bear Alexander, and Matayo Uiagalelei are all legit NFL prospects. The first two anchor the middle of the defensive line, with Washington already receiving buzz from NFL scouts last season. At 6-foot-5, 272 pounds, Uiagalelei has NFL size and ability, as evidenced by his 18.5 career sacks.
No. 3 Georgia NFL Prospects
On the topic of elite defenses, Georgia may boast the all-around best. Chris Cole draws parallels to former Bulldog linebackers in the NFL, like Nakobe Dean, CJ Allen, and Monty Rice. He’s a little undersized but has elite speed and is above-average in pass coverage.
Safety KJ Bolden checks all the boxes. He’s good in zone coverage, is a sound tackler in space, and is smart playing center field. He ranks as one of the best safety prospects in the upcoming draft. Teaming up with Bolden in the secondary is Ellis Robinson IV. Named the FWAA Freshman Defensive Player of the Year last year, the Connecticut native has been a top corner option for Georgia early on in his career. He’ll face tough tests all season as the best cover guy on this defense, but his tape shows he’s up for the task.
No. 4 Notre Dame NFL Prospects
Leonard Moore enters the campaign as the best cornerback in the nation. As a junior last year, he led Notre Dame with five interceptions despite missing two games, and was named a unanimous All-American. He was named a First-Team All-American this preseason and has a shot at being an extremely early draft pick.
Moore is joined by safety Brauntae Johnson in the secondary. The junior was named to the preseason All-American Second Team after racking up four interceptions and 48 tackles last year. He’s not as high of a prospect as Moore, but still has the potential to be picked on Day One. DJ McKinney is in a similar range after two years at Oklahoma State and two at Colorado. He’ll be trying to prove himself on the most talented team he’s ever been on.
Quarterback CJ Carr leads the offense. The Michigan native got the start last season despite being a freshman, scoring 27 total touchdowns. After losing the first two games, he led the Fighting Irish to a 10-game win streak and a playoff berth. Expectations are high for Carr, but he’s shown that he can perform under the spotlight.
No. 5 Texas NFL Prospects
There is nobody more known in college football than Arch Manning. The nephew of NFL legends Peyton and Eli, Manning is the current favorite for the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft. He’s composed, has a two-way ability his family members didn’t have, and can make nearly any throw. The talent around him is also strong. Left tackle Trevor Goosby was a rumored first-round pick last year, but decided to stay at Texas. Goosby has recently been diagnosed with a bruised bone in his knee, but if he stays healthy, he’s big (6-foot-7, 325 pounds) and talented enough to play on Sundays next year.
Manning’s top weapon is Cam Coleman. The Auburn transfer is one of the country’s best receivers. In two years, he’s posted 93 catches, 1,306 yards, and 13 touchdowns. If there’s anyone who can unseat Smith as college football’s top receiver, it’s Coleman. He pairs with Ryan Wingo, who’s more of a speedy, deep-threat option entering his junior season. He’s got the potential to be picked in the first round with Coleman with a good performance.
Colin Simmons anchors the Longhorns defense. The junior is a prolific pass rusher, already collecting 21 sacks and six forced fumbles through two seasons, including an SEC-best 12 sacks last year. With another breakout year, he could be selected within the top five picks.
