Caleb Downs, Jeremiyah Love Headline List of CFB Players Granted 2026 NFL Draft Eligibility

A handful of collegiate standouts have renounced their college football eligibility and were granted special availability for this year's draft.

The full list of players, highlighted by Ohio State's Caleb Downs and Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love, was announced on Thursday.

Players entering the draft must be at least three years removed from high school and have used or forfeited their college eligibility, but underclassmen and those who graduated before using up their eligibility can request to be included in the draft.

Last year, 70 players were granted special permission to enter the draft, 55 of whom were underclassmen and 15 who completed their degrees early.

Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department considers Downs to be the top player in this year's draft class, and he's projected to go ninth overall to the Kansas City Chiefs in the latest mock draft from B/R.

Downs began his career at Alabama but has spent the last two seasons with Ohio State. This season, the safety logged 68 tackles, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, a pass defended and a sack.

Love is considered to be the top running back and the No. 4 overall prospect in this year's draft class by Bleacher Report's Scouting Department.

The Fighting Irish star put together the best season of his career in 2025, rushing for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns. He's projected to be drafted 18th overall by the Minnesota Vikings in B/R's latest mock draft.

Some other notable players that were granted special availability this year include Tennessee defensive back Jermod McCoy, the No. 7 overall player on Bleacher Report's big board and Texas A&M's Kevin Concepcion, who is ranked 17th.