6 2026 NFL Draft Prospects Who Can Break Out in the 2025 College Football Season

We are a month or so away from kicking off the 2025 college football season.

Throughout the campaign, we get to witness some players having an outstanding season and blossoming into new stars ahead of next year's NFL draft.

Here are six 2026 NFL prospects who are capable of breaking out in 2025.

DJ McKinney, CB, Colorado

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DJ McKinney quietly put together a good 2024 college football season. He was in the shadow of Colorado teammate Travis Hunter, but that is understandable: The reigning Heisman Trophy winner is an all-world talent.

Regardless, McKinney played good football in the Buffaloes' secondary. He finished the season with the most defensive snaps played on the team, 62 tackles, eight pass breakups, and three interceptions.

With Hunter preparing for his rookie season in the NFL, McKinney will step into the spotlight for the Buffaloes. He is, arguably, their best cornerback and has the potential to become a top coverage defender in the Big-12.

McKinney struggled at times last season with technique and his coverage process in man coverage. Those issues are correctable with proper coaching, which he will have with Deion Sanders, who is widely considered to be the best CB in NFL history.

McKinney plays multiple coverages for Colorado's defense and should find his level of comfort with that in his second season. He flashes effectiveness in bump and run, off-man and zone coverages. His athleticism and ball skills are natural strengths in his skill set.

Transferring from Oklahoma State to Colorado put him in a great position to learn and become a potential first-round player. Sanders told him in during spring workouts he wants McKinney to be the team's CB1 and face the opposing offense's top receiver. He clearly believes in his talented cornerback heading into this season.

McKinney needs to refine his coverage process to ensure his reps are cleaner from start to finish this season. If so, his stock will rise in a competitive cornerback class for the 2026 draft.

Max Llewellyn, Edge, Iowa

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Iowa is consistently expected to produce outstanding offensive linemen, talented running backs and exceptional defensive prospects.

And Max Llewellyn was productive in a non-starting role last season. He closed the year with six sacks, quarterback hits and 23 pressures, per Pro Football Focus. 

The 22-year-old is expected to start at edge heading into the 2025 college football season. His process for rushing the passer breeds good results, and he clears offensive tackles with nuanced and well-timed hand counters. 

His motor doesn't stop. If his first move is stymied, there is another on the way. He goes from rotating in to playing heavier snap counts for a full season. This can result in more sack/pressure production, as well as the opportunity to display his run defense.

Iowa will face Oregon, Indiana, Penn State and USC this season. These games should provide great exposure for Llewellyn to elevate his draft stock. He is a good, detailed pass-rusher who is currently flying under the radar.

A strong season in the competitive Big Ten will ensure he's on the radar heading into the 2026 draft.

Jaydn Ott, RB, Oklahoma

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Last year was a down season for Jaydn Ott.

It began at the start of the campaign against UC Davis, when he suffered an ankle injury that led to missed games. He returned to action only to reaggravate the injury once more. He was impacted by the injury and never regained his top form.

Now, though, Ott is preparing for a bounce-back season with the Oklahoma Sooners. Ott produced in his early season at Cal, but he is joining the SEC. Breaking out against this level of competition hits a little differently.

The Sooners went through the portal to add quarterback John Mateer, along with Ott.

The signal-caller's athleticism and dual-threat prowess will alleviate defensive pressure off Ott's shoulders. As a player, he brings burst and acceleration to win the corner and perimeter if the defense doesn't defend with proper run-lane integrity. He strings together lateral cuts to force missed tackles and gain yards after contact.

Ott catches the ball out of the backfield, and this will benefit Mateer in the pocket, having a reliable dump-off option in the progression. Oklahoma expects to be a better and well-rounded team, resulting in more wins than in 2024.

Ott's speed and acceleration help him find open lanes for running. He is patient and reads the defensive front and second-level defenders well before exploding through the line of scrimmage. He is in a great situation to display his three-down skill set and breakaway speed in the open field. A potential big year loading for the Sooners' new RB.

Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama

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Alabama used to be in the conversation as a Wide Receiver University (WRU) with LSU and Ohio State.

And things are turning back in the Crimson Tide's favor with their current receiving talent. Everyone knows about College Football 26 cover athlete, Ryan Williams. He did not lead them in receptions, though; that was Germie Bernard.

Bernard finished the season with 50 catches to Williams' 48. They led the Tide in receptions, yards and receiving touchdowns last season. Bernard had 794 yards and two receiving touchdowns. He complements Williams' explosive playmaking well. Bernard is a talented run-after-catch threat who occupies the short and intermediate areas of the field.

Jalen Milroe is now a Seattle Seahawk, opening the door for Ty Simpson to run Kalen DeBoer's offense this season. He is another dual-threat quarterback but offers the potential for more passing-game stability than Milroe last season.

Simpson will be expected to keep the passing offense afloat while feeding his top two pass-catchers. Being more accurate from the pocket will benefit Bernard, taking advantage of his RAC abilities. He is a good route salesman and attacks the football at its highest point.

Could this be his 1,000-yard season before going to the NFL? Yes, quality targets and play-calling will only help him reach new heights.

Bernard is talented and should be in for a breakout season alongside Williams!

Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia

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Second time's a charm. Last summer, Oscar Delp was viewed as a potential first-round pick and expected to step in to Brock Bowers' shoes at tight end for Georgia.

However, the scenario never materialized, though Delp was not the reason.

The Bulldogs' offense in 2024 was lackluster and at times disjointed. From playcalling, quarterback play and offensive line struggles, things did not go as expected or planned.

Fast-foward to now and the fact remains that Delp is one of the most talented tight ends in the country. His numbers do not tell the entire story. He has 562 combined receiving yards and seven touchdowns the last two seasons.

His breakout is bound to happen, right? Well, it should. Delp combines NFL size, strength, versatility and athleticism scouts love in tight end prospects. He changes gears to stack defenders on the vertical plane well and suddenly.

The Bulldogs need to get him more involved than they were in 2024. He caught 70 percent of his targets last season, including a touchdown against bracket/double coverage from former QB Carson Beck against Tennessee.

With a new and less experienced QB under center in Athens, Delp could find himself as the new security blanket. He is a matchup problem when allowed to be. He has first-round talent and ability; now it's time to give him the football to make good on that promise in 2025.

Isaiah Glasker, LB, BYU

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Linebackers are rarely 6'5", 235 pounds with closing burst, power, and athleticism, but then you see BYU star Isaiah Glasker. He is a wide receiver turned linebacker, and his athleticism and speed are natural.

He plays with his hair on fire and attacks downhill like a madman. His desire and motor cannot be coached into a player. He does multiple things well for the Cougars’ defense. He strikes ball-carriers with pop on contact and wraps up with good form and technique.

Glasker is an effective blitzing defender who rushes into the backfield and applies heavy pressure on the quarterback. Watching him gallop around the field resembles a predator in the wild hunting its prey.

He is more than a downhill thumper. He provides NFL defenses with three-down potential. He is effective at dropping to his spots in zone coverages, and his instincts usually place him around the football.

Glasker feels relatively unknown to the draft community, so get acquainted with him. There's a chance his name catches fire after another impactful season, leading to an anticipated NFL pre-draft process for the Cougars' multi-faceted defender.