Biggest Surprises to Spurn the 2026 NFL Draft for Another Year in CFB
The deadline to enter the 2026 NFL draft has passed, and some college football teams have received tremendously good news about a key player.
About a decade ago, anybody who could turn pro essentially did as quickly as possible. The introduction of the NIL era, however, has given millions of reasons—literally—for players to stick around in college.
As a result, more programs have an experienced, veteran star to lead an offense or highlight a defense and chase a national title.
While any NFL prospect was considered here, there's an obvious theme.
The alternate title of this piece may as well be "All of the Oregon Standouts Who Decided to Stay" for next season.
LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina
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Did LaNorris Sellers have a rough season? Sure.
Did we think he would stay in college? Well, not really.
In such an ordinary QB class, it seemed one NFL franchise would take an early chance on him anyway. Sellers was an absolute star in 2024, showing off tremendous dual-threat ability on a surprising South Carolina team.
Instead, he is returning to Columbia to lead a program in a likely pivotal year. The disappointment of a 4-8 season has nudged coach Shane Beamer to a hot seat, and the 2026 schedule—with games against Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Georgia, among others—is hardly forgiving.
If Sellers can assemble a resurgent year, though, he'll provide a spark in Columbia and theoretically rise NFL draft boards again.
Justice Haynes, RB, Michigan/Georgia Tech
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After transferring from Alabama last offseason, Justice Haynes put together a quality year for Michigan until a foot injury ended his campaign.
Haynes scampered for 857 yards—at a scorching 7.1 per carry—with 10 touchdowns in just seven appearances. He topped the 100-yard mark in six of those contests, scoring multiple times in three of them.
Back in November, B/R ranked him as a top-80 prospect in the draft. Haynes chose to stay in school—although he's transferred to Georgia Tech.
Haynes is set to form an intriguing duo alongside Malachi Hosley, who also rushed for 7.1 yards per carry in 2025.
Keon Sabb, S, Alabama
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Alabama exited the College Football Playoff on a horribly sour note, falling to eventual champion Indiana in a 38-3 beatdown.
Keon Sabb decided not to finish his college career that way.
The safety, who transferred from Michigan two years ago, put up 39 tackles in 2024 and jumped to 54 stops this season. He provided a versatile element to Bama's defense, something that made him appealing to NFL scouts.
Rather than pursuing a Day 2 selection, though, Sabb is back to share the position with Bray Hubbard—who also passed up the NFL—and help the Crimson Tide end the 2026 season in better fashion.
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A'Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon
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During the 2024 season, A'Mauri Washington held a rotational role on Oregon's defensive line and didn't appear much in the box score.
This recent year, however, he was a force up front. Washington became a locked-in starter, excelled as a run-stopper and made splashy plays. He notched 33 tackles with 4.5 for loss and swatted down eight passes.
It certainly seemed like Oregon would need to replace him.
But the 6'3", 330-pound menace found a deal to remain at Oregon, which is poised to feature a powerful line in 2026. Fellow defensive tackle Bear Alexander is back, along with edge-rushers Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti.
Washington has serious first-round upside for the 2027 draft.
Matayo Uiagalelei, Edge, Oregon
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If you didn't already know, the last section may have turned into a spoiler alert. Yes, the Ducks kept Matayo Uiagalelei in town, too.
Seriously, this defensive front should be awesome.
Uiagalelei didn't have quite the year anticipated as a junior, but don't mistake that for suggesting he wasn't a strong performer. He collected 34 tackles with 9.5 for loss and two forced fumbles in 2025.
Listed at 6'5" and 272 pounds, he offers ideal size for a pass-rusher. Uiagalelei has posted 16.5 sacks over the last two seasons.
Oregon is thrilled to have him returning for a final year.
Trevor Goosby, OT, Texas
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Trevor Goosby may have passed up being a first-round selection.
While that's no guarantee, of course, he'd been surging up mock drafts in December and early January. In the pre-draft process, the trend was encouraging for a left tackle who reliably protected Arch Manning's blind side.
Nevertheless, the 6'7", 312-pound rock decided the NFL can wait another year and could further improve his perception for the 2027 cycle.
Manning certainly won't be complaining, either.
Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
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Especially given how the season ended—an embarrassing loss to Indiana—it wasn't a shock that Dante Moore hung around for another year. Whispers had already suggested he might be staying anyway.
Still, this is a huge victory for Oregon.
And a considerable hit—what's new?—to the New York Jets.
Indiana's Fernando Mendoza is penciled in as the No. 1 overall pick, but Moore would have had a strong case for No. 2. He'll be well-compensated at Oregon, to be sure, yet turned down as much as $52.6 million on a rookie NFL deal.
This calculated risk for Moore is a chance to continue his growth as a QB, chase a national title at Oregon and remain a top NFL prospect.
Oh, and maybe he'll avoid the Jets next cycle in the process.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
