2027

1. - CB Juan McCord. The Seminoles have announced they will sign McCord with the first overall selection. He should immediately come in and make an impact on a defense which ranked in the bottom 10 in the league in both passing yards allowed per game as well as passing TD’s allowed. The one downside to his game is his inability to be effective as a blitzing corner, which is perplexing given his nose for supporting the front 7 against the run. McCord should be a staple in FSU’s defensive backfield for his entire playing career.

2. - QB Jacob Williams. After letting “The Stache” go before training camp last season, citing rules violations, Kansas enters the 2027 preseason with no viable signal caller on their roster. Williams already comes in with better accuracy than current Jayhawks QB Easton Stick, while also sporting supreme intelligence elite arm strength, and just enough escapability to be dangerous. The perfect marriage of need and supply here at number 2.

3. - CB Donald Burns. The Cardinal has a need at CB, with their core inching toward graduation, so Burns is our pick here. He lacks elite speed, but should more than compensate with his ability to read plays pre-snap, and the willingness to bump and run off the line. He has the potential to play on an island no matter what the coverage. His pass rush is lacking, but should be steady against the run. He’s not the flashiest of players, but will be a nice addition to a team which saw it’s team struggle last season after finishing strong in 2025.

4. - RB Manuel McNeil. Not the biggest need for Iowa, but when a beast like McNeil falls into your lap, you grab it with both hands and hold on tight. He has phenomenal speed, strength, and acceleration. McNeil will split his time in college between the backfield and WR, where his hands translate very favorably. The Hawkeyes will plug and play this dynamic game changer and immediately improve upon a group which finished last season near the bottom in the passing game.

5. - MLB Jason Crews. The Ducks have a dynamic duo at LB, with Clark and Vega, but lack depth as well as a starter at SLB. Crews comes in and makes the group better. Crews has the innate ability to lower the boom on anyone who dares enter his territory, which he has stated is anywhere between the chalk lines. He has the intelligence to become the captain of any defense, as he instantly recognized what opposing offenses are running nearly every play. He has the potential to be elite, given the right coaching. If forced to name a downside, we’d say he doesn’t create turnovers through stripping the ball, but that’s a minor complaint with an overall player such as this.

6. - TE John Cooke. Michigan has been saying for years that he’s looking for more offensive weapons. Cooke fits that bill to a T. He will cause matchup dilemas each time he takes the field, with his field stretching speed that many LB cannot match, and the willingness to run any route on the tree even if it requires him to go across the middle. He’s the only first round TE we’ve graded and he goes early on, the top 10 is his floor.

7. - RDE Lamont Martinez. Another team with a need along the defensive line, the Wildcats turn to a recruit who comes off the bus tackling. Martinez is as polished as they come at wrapping and driving through the ballcarrier. He has the physical attributes to play anywhere on the line, which will be great for a team thin at both DE and DT. He will be a step slow playing on the outside, so we project his best position will be at DT where he’ll have to spend time in the weight room bulking up. He comes with few issues holding him back from becoming the best player he can, which is always nice for a team picking inside the top 10. Few from this class will be as proficient as Martinez in pass rush and run defense techniques. You may outperform him, but you won’t outwork him.

8. - WR Russell Cunningham. The Bulldogs, having spent early signing capital the last few seasons shoring up their defensive side of the ball, are lacking on offensive playmakers. Enter Russell Cunningham. He is a field stretcher who has the potential to stop on a dime and make most catches. The drawback against him is the constant comparisons to NFL star Antonio Brown. He has been at times a disruptive force inside a locker room, but if you can keep him in check, he will pay dividends. Bulldogs A.D. JWS is no stranger to such hazards, and believes in the potential enough to make the call here. Cunningham also has the ability to take the rock out of the backfield and put up 1,000 yards a season.

9. - CB Doug Bockman. New A.D. mhines, coming off a tremendous run at Navy which includes a National Championship in 2025 followed by a National Championship game appearance in 2026, takes over a rebuild at his alma mater Texas. The Longhorns have a severe shortage at DB, and begin to address that here with the signing of Bockman. He comes in with a firm grasp on zone coverage and the willingness to improve his man to man discipline. Bockman should gain a step as he gets into the hot Texas sun in training camp and sheds some of the excess weight he played with in high school. He projects as a starting cornerback once he fully matures.

10. - SLB Gary Bednar. The plus side to having so many needs is it’s easy to find a player to help you make the next step. Bednar is arguably the best linebacker recruit in this class, having elite level speed, adequate strength, and the intelligence to make the tough calls on the field as captain. He has also shown the discipline on and off the field which makes us forecast him to reach most if not all his expected growth. A weakness to his game would be his ineptitude when it comes to playing bump and run off the line, but as a linebacker we don’t expect them to play press coverage often.

11. - WR Jacob Hamilton. The Tigers had a lack of production from their wide receivers last season, leading LSU to sign Hamilton here, not to mention they have a thin depth chart at the position. He should provide depth during his first season as he gets up to speed, but once he matures, Hamilton will catch nearly every ball thrown in his direction while running most routes with ease. Few linebackers around the NCAA will make him hesitant to run across the middle to make the tough catch. Cornerbacks who try to press him off the line will more often than not see him slip by and get behind them and get in perfect position to make a play.

12. - DT Michael McGrath. Army is as risk adverse in the first round of the signing period as you’ll find. DT McGrath is one of the safest, trustworthy guys with first round grades. To top it off, the Black Knights have a hole on the interior of their defensive line. It’s a match made in heaven. McGrath has knee bending strength with a surprisingly quick launch off the line which will cause interior offensive linemen issues. He will be a stalwart against the run, while being able to get consistent pressure against opposing quarterbacks.

13. - LG Philip Wilson. After spending numerous high round signings trying to shore up their offensive line and ultimately having most of their recruits failing to progress, they take a swing here once again. While nothing is ever certain, Wilson is as close as a sure thing as they come. He has tremendous strength and intelligence. He also possesses levels of speed and acceleration seen only in elite level talent. The sky’s the limit for Philip Wilson at the next level, as his footwork translate well to the college game. He is very coachable, and within a few seasons, he’ll be a finalist for every OL trophy there is.

14. - CB/FS Chris Best. On most teams, we’d expect Best to play cornerback at the college level. However, for the Aggies we think he’ll move to the safety position given their glaring need along the last line of defense. He has phenomenal speed, acceleration, and strength for an elite level safety, which should cover for his lack of coverage knowledge. Few playmakers on offense will get over the top against his defending. He has issues with his tackling from time to time, and combined with his lackluster pursuit of quarterbacks at times does give some pause for concern. However, his abilities far outweigh the negatives in a recruit such as this.

15. - MLB/CB George Coury. Clemson, like most of fellow ACC teams, is facing an aging defensive back group and look to shore that up with this signing. While he played MLB in high school, we project his best position in college is cornerback, where he should gain several steps as he slims down to ideal playing weight. His coverage skills are low at the present, but he has displayed the aptitude to learn quickly. Once he’s matured into the player we forecast, he’ll be a top end starter for the Tigers, playing often one on one against the offense’s best wide outs.

16. - MLB Peter Frye. Word out of Kentucky has them going defense, though being coy as to specific position of interest. Frye fits that vagueness to a “T”. He has the versatility to play with his hands in the dirt on DL, on the second level as either a blitzing or cover LB, as well as the last line of defense as a safety or as a shutdown corner you can put out on an island. He would unquestionably be a top 10 signing had questions surrounding his willingness to put the extra effort in surfaced after game tape from high school showed several plays a game where he would take a break. The Wildcats’ coaching staff have spent several recruiting trips at the Frye household, and with this signing they signal their level of comfort with their conversations.

17. - MLB John Olsen. Years of signings which have flopped early on in the signing period have come home to roost in Syracuse, leaving their usually stout defense dangerously thin. Olsen may not be the highest level recruit, but he comes in with few question marks and has the potential to play multiple positions in college. He is a solid all around player who has a knack of finding his way into the backfield on the blitz, which could make him the heir apparent to Chaplin as he draws nearer to graduating. His coverage skills will be solid, although he’ll have the occasional lapse and let a RB or TE to get position on him. He could also find his way into the secondary in a crunch, and we know how Syracuse covets flexibility from their players, especially on defense.

18. - SS Wiley West. The Gators took a huge step last season, and are looking to follow that up with a bowl appearance in 2027. As they move forward, their secondary could use some youth to blend with the experience that currently exists. West played the majority of his snaps in high school at the safety position, but we project him best as a cover corner in college, mostly because of his difficulties at mastering zone coverage schemes. When breaking down his game tape, his footwork and discipline when asked to play man to man jumped off the page. Given his speed and quick reaction time, few wide receivers will beat him deep, and he should make most tackles. West may struggle when asked to play bump and run, but overall, he’ll be a solid low end number one top end number two cornerback.

19. - MLB Douglas Hunt. The Bruins have made no secret of their desire to find a linebacker here with their first round signing. They would be estatic if he were to fall into their laps here, as he has the potential to be elite. Hunt has displayed a nose for the football on the blitz, and when he goes to make a tackle, very few slip out of his grip. His coverage skills in both disciplines show the markers for high level of growth under the right training. Game tape from high school also showcased his play recognition skills, which led him to make plays he otherwise wouldn’t have even been in the area for, given his lack of top end speed. One thing that has plagued him throughout his short career is the inability to always make the mature choice. He missed several games his senior season due to what the school only referred to as “team infractions”. However, as we’ve seen in the past, school A.D. Otterpop has no problem taking a gamble on the right player if it benefits the program in the long term.

20. - LDE Joseph Old. With the Buckeyes about to lose defensive lineman star Mahmood to graduation, they look to bring in his eventual replacement. Old is solid if not spectacular, sporting ample speed and strength to perform either bull rush or swim moves with ease. His first step isn’t as quick as you’d like, but he more than makes up for it with his uncanny ability to recognize blocking schemes and putting himself in position to make the tackle, where he has also shown few escape his grasp. Given the lack of depth of top level DE in this class, Old could find himself signed higher than this, but if he’s available here, Ohio State would be happy to add him to their fold.

21. - RB Mark Green. Sources inside Wazzou have them very interested in upgrading their backfield early on in this signing period. While he comes with a few question marks surrounding his game play, Green projects as a workhorse back at the college level. He wowed Cougars’ staff during his high school showcase with his incredible combination of strength, speed, and change of pace. His game tape shows his elusiveness, as he’s rarely tackled by the first defender, as well as the desire to run through not around tacklers. Most scouts predict he’ll be an asset out of the backfield as a pass catcher, which should only boost his stock heading into this signing period.

22. - DT Richard Elkins. The Trojans have a pretty balanced team with few holes. This affords them the luxury of looking for depth, and find a player here with position flexibility. Elkins can slide to the outside of the line at defensive end, where he’ll gain speed as he slims down to the new position. He could also transition to linebacker, where he’ll look to try and outplay last season’s early signee Jaylon Ferguson whom USC has been displeased with his regression in abilities following training camp last season.

23. - LDE Al Stiles. The wait is over for Stiles. Many teams have passed on him due in large part to his undersized nature for the defensive line. Alabama has a supreme need and believe that they can utilize his talents even as he gets into their weight training program and get him bulked up in the right way, not just gaining weight. He will still lose several steps, but could gain even more strength and become the anchor of the DT position. He has shown flashes of incredible technique in both pass rush and run defense. Stiles has also exhibited the knack for the strip sack, a rare talent in today’s NCAA. With the interior of the defensive line playing a greater role in pressuring Quarterbacks, Alabama will be estatic he lasted this late in the first round. They could also use another DB, given the sudden departure of Crimson Tide legend Orange to the NFL, but given their options available, they choose the more pressing need.

24. - SS Bernard Heimann. With Tennessee, it’s like playing a game of Russian Roulette. They are just as likely to go kicker in the first as take an OL. Blackflys has made his living on being unpredictable, much to the chagrin of those selecting around him. They have a glaring need in the defensive backfield and Heimann has the potential to play either safety position as well as cornerback, allowing the Vols the flexibility they enjoy from their recruits. Heimann has a lightening quick first step, combined with elite closing speed, along with the intelligence to diagnose offensive schemes pre snap which allows him to get in better defensive position. He has shown the willingness to chuck wideouts at the line. If he has the drive, he will become an All-American cover back. However, he comes with his share of baggage, as this player screams boom or bust. Worth a shot at this point in the first round, as he’s a top 5 talent given the right tutelage.

25. - RG Todd Heath. War Eagle is another team with a solid roster, as we are now into bowl teams from the 2026 season. One position of need, however, is at the center position where they lose last season’s starter to graduation. Heath has the skills to play anywhere on the offensive line, as his blend of speed and strength is elite level. He also possesses the intelligence to call out blocking schemes to his fellow linemen, making him an ideal candidate to play the center position at the next level. He will have to work on his snapping, but we feel he is adequate enough not to experience much growing pains. His blocking will progress, and he will be able to fire out in the pass block nicely as well as road grate in the run game. Overall, a nice signing for this point in the period.

26. - SLB Louis Caldwell. We’ve entered the gambler stage of the first round. Caldwell has enough questions surrounding him, Jeopardy has thought about making him a category on their show. However, the potential exist that if he finds himself in the right position, he could be a steal this late in the round. Caldwell has shown a desire to stop the run as he enjoys assisting in the box, as well as the ability to lay the wood on would be receivers who try to enter his zone looking for an easy catch. One advantage he has on other boom or bust candidates in this class is his floor on zone coverage. He has received excellent guidance from his coaches and comes in already adequate in the discipline. We project him to slide back to Free Safety for the Sooners, as they have a hole at the position.

27. - WLB Matthew Plowman. Plowman lacks elite sideline to sideline speed, but should mask it a touch with his coverage instincts. He’ll be a tackling machine at the next level, which will come as a delight to the Fighting Irish coaching staff. All in all, a nice signing for this point of the first round. Another possibility here could be DL if the right player fell.

28. - DT Peter Jackson. This is another of the high risk, high reward players here toward the end of the first round of signings. Jackson is a flex player, capable of staring at DT, DE, and LB which would fit in perfect in the Scarlet Knight’s system. He has stated a desire to find an eventual successor to his LB duo, and Jackson would slide in admirably as he matures. He also has the ability to make an impact immediately on the defensive line, where he has tremendous strength, combined with an above average first step. Also, he won’t be prone to the offside penalty that seem to plague undisciplined DL in today’s game.

29. - WR Dean Holland. The Cougars find themselves thin in the receiving corps, and would be over the moon if Holland fell to them here. He comes in with very few questions, and a motor which never seems to stop. He lacks top end speed but makes up for it with a burst off the line and the potential to run crisp, precise routes. He has shown the willingness to run across the middle without a second thought, and his hands project well at the next level. He will be a liability in the run game, as his game tape has shown he’d rather dance than block with his CB counterpart. Fellow WR recruit Dale Denny is also a possibility here, depending on preferences.

30. - QB Jonathan McLeod. It’s never too early to find your QB of the future, and with former Heisman trophy winner Paul Johnson inching toward moving onto the NFL McLeod is their signing here. The Hurricanes love to roll the dice, and would definitely be doing it here as well, as McLeod has several red flags surrounding his character. Physically, he fits the mold from what you’d want from your signal caller. Scrambling, arm strength, and height. He even has the acumen to diagram any play you put in front of him precisely and can break down coverages with ease.

31. - RDE Ronald Wild. Wild probably has too much upside to fall this far, but if other teams are scared away by his off the field issues, the Midshipmen will practically sprint to their fax machine when they are due to sign. Like the rest of the high risk crowd, if his focus can be harnessed into becoming the best player he can, Ronald Wild would be a nightmare to game plan against no matter what position he plays along the defensive line. Navy could use a defensive end as depth, but we wouldn’t rule out them moving him inside where his talents would wreak havoc against centers and guards.

32. - WR George Spann. Coming off his first National Championship, the Cowboys are playing with house money and once again goes with a recruit with high upside here at the end of the first round. Spann is a game changer if he can mature into the player he projects to be. Blazing speed and a blink and you’ll miss it 10 yard time, he practically transports behind the last level of the opposing teams’ defense. You won’t find a prospect more willing to make the tough catch across the middle, and never hears the footsteps approaching. His floor is higher than most of the boom or bust wideouts, as even if he craters, he could be a valuable asset in the return game with his mere physical attributes.