Fewer underclassmen are declaring for the NFL draft because of NIL and the transfer portal.
NFL draft prospects have until January 14th to declare for the 2026 draft, but some of these players are already making their decisions clear. So far, 10 players have already declared for April’s draft, which is a fairly significant amount considering how few underclassmen have come out in recent years.
From 2019 to 2021, before the extra eligibility for Covid seasons, NIL payments and the transfer portal really started to kick in, the league averaged 126 underclassmen declarations per class. From 2023 t0 2025, though, that number dropped to just an average of 70, 56 fewer underclassmen per class and a 44 percent overall drop in underclassmen declaring.
With direct payments from schools to players now allowed, plus the NFL still having a rookie wage scale, you could see even more kids elect to return to college football this season. With that in mind, let’s take you through the position-by-position breakdown of who is in or out of this class. We’ll update this page through the league’s official underclassmen announcement date, likely the week after the January deadline.
All rankings below come via the consensus draft board. We’ll also highlight which top-150 prospects have yet to make a decision at this time.
Quarterbacks
Declarations
- None
Undecided (Top 150)
- #2 Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
- #4 Ty Simpson, Alabama
- #6 Dante Moore, Oregon
- #30 LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina
- #62 Jayden Maiava, USC
- #101 Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati
- #109 John Mateer, Oklahoma
Running Backs
Declarations
Undecided (Top 150)
- #13 Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
- #40 Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
- #83 Justice Haynes, Michigan
Receivers
Declarations
Undecided (Top 150)
- #7 Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
- #11 Carnell Tate, Ohio State
- #18 Makai Lemon, USC
- #24 Denzel Boston, Washington
- #32 Kevin Concepcion, Texas A&M
- #63 Ja’Kobie Lane, USC
- #71 Zachariah Branch, USC
- #95 Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
- #114 Kyck Harbor, South Carolina
- #121 Eric Singleton Jr., Auburn
- #125 Ian Strong, Rutgers
Tight Ends
Declarations
- None
Undecided (Top 150)
- #17 Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
- #67 Max Klare, Ohio State
- #139, Jack Endries, Texas
Offensive Linemen
Declarations
Undecided (Top 150)
- #8 Spencer Fano, Utah
- #12 Francis Mauigoa, Miami
- #20 Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
- #23 Caleb Lomu, Utah
- #50 Trevor Goosby, Texas
- #66 Connor Lew, Auburn
- #69 Case Bisontis, Texas A&M
- #76 Austin Siereveld, Ohio State
- #79 Carter Smith, Indiana
- #82 Brian Parker II, Duke
- #98 Iapani Laloulu, Oregon
- #110 Kolt Dieterich, Sam Houston State
- #115 Cayden Green, Missouri
- #118 Parker Brailsford, Alabama
- #134 Monroe Freeling, Georgia
Edge Defenders
Declarations
Undecided (Top 150)
- #3 Rueben Bain, Miami
- #9 Keldric Faulk, Auburn
- #29 Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon
- #44 Quincy Rhodes Jr., Arkansas
- #70 Damon Wilson Jr., Missouri
- #116 Kenyatta Jackson, Ohio State
Interior Defensive Linemen
Declarations
Undecided (Top 150)
- #28 Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
- #34 Amauri Washington, Oregon
- #42 Christen Miller, Georgia
- #99 Anthony Smith, Minnesota
- #106 Bear Alexander, Oregon
- #132 Mateen Ibirogba, Wake Forest
Off Ball Linebackers
Declarations
Undecided (Top 150)
- #1 Arvell Reese, Ohio State
- #26 C.J. Allen, Georgia
- #85 Caleb Woodson, Virginia Tech
- #96 Taurean York, Texas A&M
- #100 Whit Weeks, LSU
- #122 Josiah Trotter, Missouri
- #130 Harold Perkins Jr., LSU
Cornerbacks
Declarations
Undecided (Top 150)
- #33 Colton Hood, Tennessee
- #49 Keith Abney II, Arizona State
- #65 A.J. Harris, Penn State
- #72 D’angelo Ponds, Indiana
- #88 Malik Muhammad, Texas
- #108 Kelley Jones, Mississippi State
- #135 Jyaire Hill, Michigan
- #144 DJ McKinney, Colorado
Safeties
Declarations
Undecided (Top 150)
- #5 Caleb Downs, Ohio State
- #59 Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
- #64 Kamari Ramsey, USC
- #89 Genesis Smith, Arizona
- #147 Keon Sabb, Alabama
Specialists
Declarations
Undecided (Top 150)
- None
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