Rookie Class
Meet the
This rookie class hits the ground running with elite athleticism, physical freaks, and Superstar talent spread across every level of the field. The defensive side of the ball is loaded with speed and pass-rush upside, while the offensive skill positions bring legitimate playmakers who can change a game from snap one. From Ohio State to Texas Tech to Miami, programs across the country are sending their best to the next level all at once.
Normal276
Star107
Superstar6
X-Factor0
The Top 20
The class, counted down. Every rookie links to their full player page.
SS•
•Ohio StateCaleb Downs arrives from Ohio State at 21 years old as an 82 overall strong safety with 89 speed, and he owns the most balanced safety play grade in the class at 78. He is built to patrol every level of the defense from day one.
HB•
•Notre DameJeremiyah Love out of Notre Dame is the most athletic player in the entire class, earning a 94 athleticism grade, and he backs it up with 94 speed and an 82 overall rating. He also leads the class in shiftiness at 93 and elusiveness at 88, making him an absolute nightmare to bring down in the open field.
WILL•
•Ohio StateArvell Reese brings the biggest freak factor in the class, a 77 freak factor grade, and pairs it with a class-best 83 defensive football IQ grade. The Ohio State WILL linebacker checks in at 82 overall with 90 speed at just 21 years old.
Mansoor Delane out of LSU owns the best man coverage and best press coverage in the class, both at 80, giving him a shutdown toolkit at 82 overall. He brings 93 speed into the league at age 22, making him a lockdown threat on the outside.
David Bailey from Texas Tech is the best pass rusher in the class with an 80 pass rushing grade, and his 81 overall rating at REDGE reflects his readiness to affect the game immediately. He enters the league at 23 with 89 speed and Superstar designation.
Sonny Styles leads the entire class in balanced linebacker play with a 76 grade and in linebacker coverage with a 71 grade, making him the most complete linebacker in this group. The Ohio State MIKE is 80 overall with 90 speed entering the league at 21.
Jacob Rodriguez comes out of Texas Tech as an 80 overall MIKE with 87 speed, giving his defensive coordinator a capable, sideline-to-sideline presence. At 23, he brings physical maturity and football readiness to the middle of the field.
Rueben Bain Jr. from Miami is the hardest hitter in the entire class with an 89 hit power rating and carries Superstar designation into the league at 21 years old. His 79 overall LEDGE profile and 84 speed make him a disruptive force off the edge.
Spencer Fano out of Utah is the most balanced blocker in the class at a 78 balanced blocking grade and also leads in finesse run blocking at 81 and finesse pass blocking at 80. The 79 overall left tackle enters the league at 21 and is already a technically refined presence up front.
Francis Mauigoa from Miami owns the best power pass blocking grade in the class at 83, making him the premier road-grader in pass protection among all rookies. The 79 overall right guard enters at 21 and gives his offensive line a physical anchor.
Akheem Mesidor brings 86 speed and a 79 overall rating to the REDGE spot after coming out of Miami, entering the league at 25 with a physical profile built to generate pressure. He adds immediate depth and push to any defensive front.
Keldric Faulk arrives from Auburn as a 78 overall LEDGE with 83 speed at just 21 years old. He is a young edge rusher with the athleticism to develop into a consistent disruptive presence.
Carnell Tate from Ohio State leads the entire class in possession receiving with an 83 possession receiving grade and checks in at 78 overall with 91 speed. At 21, he is a reliable target who wins in contested situations.
Vega Ioane out of Penn State leads the entire class in power run blocking with an 82 power run blocking grade, giving his offense the best road-grading run blocker in this rookie group. The 78 overall right guard enters the league at 22.
Malachi Lawrence from UCF brings 88 speed to the REDGE position at a 78 overall rating, entering the league at 23 with the athleticism to win on the edge. He is a speed-to-power rusher with legitimate length and burst.
TJ Parker out of Clemson is a 77 overall REDGE with 83 speed, entering the league at 21. He is a young pass rusher with the physical tools to become a consistent rotational threat.
Kadyn Proctor from Alabama comes in at 77 overall at left guard with 65 speed, entering the league at 21. He gives his offensive line a physical, ready-made interior blocker from one of the most successful programs in the country.
Dillon Thieneman from Oregon is a 77 overall strong safety with 92 speed, making him one of the fastest safeties in this rookie class. Entering at 22, he has the range to cover ground sideline to sideline.
R Mason Thomas arrives from Oklahoma as a 77 overall LEDGE with 83 speed at 22 years old. He is a versatile edge piece who can contribute in both the run and pass game from the jump.
Cashius Howell from Texas A&M brings 86 speed to the REDGE spot at 77 overall, entering the league at 23. He is a quick-twitch rusher whose first step makes him dangerous every time he lines up.
Class Superlatives
By Position
This quarterback group is defined by specific, complementary strengths that give teams different weapons to build around. Cade Klubnik owns the biggest arm in the class with a 92 throw power rating, while Carson Beck leads all passers in accuracy with an 82 passing accuracy grade. Fernando Mendoza leads the group at 73 overall, giving teams a clear pecking order of talent from top to bottom.
- #77Fernando Mendoza
- #126Ty Simpson
- #154Drew Allar
- #185Carson Beck
- #211Cade Klubnik
Sleepers
Names to know before anyone else does.
Hayden Large is a 24-year-old Iowa tight end with 82 speed and a 63 power run blocking grade who can contribute right away as a physical presence at the point of attack.
Nikhai Hill-Green arrives from Alabama with an 84 speed rating and a 68 man coverage rating, giving teams a linebacker who can hang with pass catchers in coverage at just 63 overall.
Riley Nowakowski out of Indiana brings 84 speed to the fullback spot with a 64 receiving back grade, making him one of the more dangerous receiving options from the backfield among value additions.
Tanner Arkin is the best blocking tight end in the entire class with a 64 TE blocking grade, giving any run-heavy offense a plus blocker at a 63 overall bargain price.
Louis Moore from Indiana checks in at 87 speed with a 73 run support grade, giving teams a rangy free safety who can close on the ball and contribute against the run immediately.
Diego Pavia from Vanderbilt carries an 82 playmaking grade into the league at 63 overall, and any team willing to develop that raw creation ability at quarterback holds an intriguing upside piece.
Parker Brailsford from Alabama is a 67 overall center with a 74 pulling lineman grade, meaning he can get on the move in space and create running lanes in zone and counter schemes.
Eli Heidenreich brings 91 speed and the best receiving back grade in the class at 65, making him the top pass-catching option out of the backfield among the entire sleeper pool.
Julian Neal enters from Arkansas with 89 speed and a 76 press coverage rating, putting him in position to disrupt opposing receivers at the line before they can get into their routes.
Jalen Huskey from Maryland offers 87 speed and a 74 zone coverage rating, giving teams a free safety who can rotate into coverage responsibilities and contribute against the pass.
Ephesians Prysock from Washington packs 91 speed and an 89 shiftiness grade into a 70 overall cornerback profile, making him one of the most explosive and agile cover players in the entire sleeper tier.
Kyle Louis from Pittsburgh is a 71 overall strong safety with 88 speed and a 76 run support grade, giving a team a physical downhill piece who can punish ball carriers close to the line of scrimmage.
Demond Claiborne from Wake Forest carries 93 speed and an 85 elusive runner grade into the league at 70 overall, putting him just outside the top backs in this class with the open-field ability to make defenders miss.
Will Lee III out of Texas A&M brings 88 speed and a 74 man coverage rating to a 71 overall profile, giving teams a coverage cornerback with enough athleticism to compete at the next level.
Chris Bell from Louisville pairs 90 speed with a 79 run after catch threat grade, making him one of the most dangerous yards-after-the-catch options in the entire sleeper receiver pool.
LT Overton from Alabama is just 21 years old with a 72 finesse pass rusher rating, giving teams a young developmental interior rusher with technique to build on from day one.
Kaytron Allen from Penn State arrives with 89 speed and an 80 power runner grade, making him one of the most physically imposing downhill options available in the late rounds of this class.
Zion Young out of Missouri brings an 83 run stuffing grade to a 76 overall edge profile, giving teams one of the best run-stopping edge pieces available anywhere in the sleeper tier.
Genesis Smith from Arizona enters at just 21 years old with 89 speed and a 72 man coverage rating, giving teams a young, fast safety with the tools to grow into a starting role.
Bryce Boettcher from Oregon checks in with 87 speed and a 66 man coverage rating as a linebacker sleeper, offering teams a fast, coverage-capable piece to develop at the second level.
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