Because the 2026 NFL draft approaches, entrance places of work are already trying forward. Scouting cycles by no means cease, and with the switch portal and NIL reshaping faculty soccer, the expertise pool is deeper and extra skilled than ever.
That makes projecting future draft courses more and more vital. Listed below are 10 SEC gamers you may be listening to about because the 2027 draft cycle takes form.
Quarterback
Arch Manning – Texas
Manning enters the 2026 season trying to reestablish himself within the early 2027 NFL Draft dialog. Regardless of an up-and-down 2025, he improved late, flashing contact as a passer and the athleticism to create within the run recreation.
He struggled at occasions to maintain his eyes downfield, usually breaking the pocket early and limiting alternatives within the intermediate passing recreation.
If he hastens processing and grows extra comfy working via progressions, he has the instruments to turn into a cultured NFL prospect.
Trinidad Chambliss – Ole Miss
Chambliss returns for his ultimate season at Ole Miss as a Heisman favourite. With fast toes and the flexibility to keep away from strain, he persistently extends performs and creates off-script. He has the arm energy to hit gap pictures in opposition to two-high appears and a fast launch within the RPO recreation.
The priority is dimension. At 6-foot, Chambliss had points with passes being batted down on the line final season, elevating the query of whether or not his recreation interprets in opposition to longer, extra disruptive defensive linemen.
If he can mitigate these limitations and proceed to develop as a passer, Chambliss might generate actual momentum as a 2027 prospect.
Working Again
Kewan Lacy – Ole Miss
After dashing for 1,567 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2025, Lacy returns as one of many SEC’s most full backs. He runs with an extended stride and breakaway velocity to separate on the second stage. Lacy pairs that explosiveness with physicality in move safety and is dependable as a receiving possibility.
Sturdiness would be the key query. Lacy had shoulder points after the primary spherical of the Faculty Soccer Playoff final season and in addition aggravated a hamstring within the Fiesta Bowl.
If Lacy can keep wholesome in 2026, he has the ability set to be a mid to late first-rounder.
Huge Receiver
Ryan Williams – Alabama
Williams has the house run velocity of a first-round draft decide, showcasing his means to separate from defensive backs. He is proven that he can play within the slot or on the skin, and has the physique management to make troublesome catches and create YAC.
The deeper evaluation for Williams is his dimension and his drop charge. Regardless of being Alabama’s no. 1 goal, he had 13 drops in 2025.
For a high-volume receiver, he wants to scrub the drops and add to his body to solidify himself as a day-1 draft choice.
Cam Coleman – Texas
Coleman boasts prototypical dimension and sub-4.4 velocity, giving him the instruments to develop right into a premier vertical menace on the NFL Degree. He arrived in Texas after main the Auburn Tigers in receiving with 708 yards and 5 touchdowns in 2025.
Along with his size and leaping means, Coleman is a pure contested jump-ball receiver. Nonetheless, he must refine change-of-direction routes, comparable to comebacks, to spherical out his route tree.
Regardless, Coleman’s means to high-point the soccer makes him a matchup nightmare within the pink zone, solidifying his draft inventory.
Tight Finish
Trey’Dez Inexperienced – LSU
Inexperienced has been described as a “freak athlete”. Standing 6-foot-7, he has the catch radius to be an elite red-zone goal. He recorded 33 receptions and 7 touchdowns in 2025 at LSU and is projected to play each receiver and tight finish in 2026, showcasing his versatility.
The one concern is his physicality as a blocker. He’ll seemingly look so as to add weight to enhance in that space, however he is already able to enjoying the hybrid fashion of the place straight away.
If he provides energy as a blocker, Inexperienced has the instruments to develop right into a day-one choice and be a harmful mismatch on the subsequent stage.
OL/DL
Jordan Seaton – LSU
Seaton was some of the coveted gamers within the 2026 switch portal. He arrives at LSU with two years of beginning expertise and elite move safety abilities, having allowed just one sack and 5 pressures on 541 snaps in 2025.
The following step in his improvement is run blocking. At 6-foot-5, 330 kilos, he struggled at occasions blocking second-level defenders within the working recreation.
If he continues to enhance as a run blocker, Seaton has the instruments to turn into some of the full offensive linemen in subsequent yr’s draft
Brandon Baker – Texas
Baker is among the smartest offensive tackles in faculty soccer, with a powerful grasp of the place’s technical calls for. He’s a bodily run blocker who is flexible sufficient to maneuver down to protect.
To raise his draft inventory, he’ll must proceed enhancing in move safety, particularly his base and footwork.
He’s a protected alternative with a excessive ground for a workforce to take early in 2027.
Dylan Stewart – South Carolina
Stewart overwhelms offensive tackles together with his lengthy arms and burst, turning the nook shortly to punish quarterbacks as a move rusher. Over the past two seasons, he has racked up 11 sacks and 6 compelled fumbles. South Carolina has used him in several areas of the defensive position, giving him the flexibility to play in a two and three-point stance.
He’ll must proceed growing as a run defender to take the subsequent step in his general recreation. His pad stage may cause him to wrestle to realize floor in opposition to the run, however he stays some of the promising move rushers projected for the 2027 NFL draft.
Defensive Again
Ellis Robinson IV – Georgia
Robinson has been a standout nook for Georgia, recording 4 interceptions in 2025. With lengthy arms and a closing burst, he can bait quarterbacks into errors.
He nonetheless must develop in run help, however the good thing about growing in a Kirby Good secondary ought to solely speed up his progress. If he can spherical his recreation out, he’ll solidify his 2027 draft inventory as one of many SEC’s prime corners.
