CFP First Round: 2026 NFL Draft prospects to watch
By Jack Brentnall
The opening round of the College Football Playoff brings several prospect-defining matchups, with trench battles and quarterback evaluations taking centre stage. For a number of 2026-eligible players, this weekend represents a chance to stack production against elite competition under the watchful eye of NFL scouting departments.
Here is a prospect on each team I’ll be watching closely this weekend.
Yhonzae Pierre - EDGE, Alabama (6-3, 248, rs-Sophomore)
Yhonzae Pierre will not headline most draft conversations this weekend, but his matchup with Oklahoma offers a useful evaluation point. The Alabama edge rusher is a former five-star recruit and first-year starter who has quietly settled into a dependable role in the Crimson Tide’s defense.
Pierre is a little undersized by NFL standards, checking in under 250 lbs, but he compensates with legitimate play strength. His bull rush consistently compresses the pocket, and he holds his ground well as a run defender.
The production has been encouraging too. Pierre has logged 38 pressures and 28 stop tackles this season, with the latter ranking fifth among SEC edge defenders. He was kept relatively quiet the last time these teams met, managing just two pressures, making this a clear opportunity to change the narrative with a statement performance.
Deion Burks - WR, Oklahoma (5-9, 182, rs-Senior)
Oklahoma’s offense has struggled to find rhythm since John Mateer’s return from injury, but Deion Burks remains the unit’s most dangerous weapon. If the Sooners are going to stress Alabama’s defense, Burks will need to be heavily involved.
After flashing at Purdue earlier in his career, Burks saw his momentum stalled by injuries during the 2024 season. He has looked far healthier this year, posting 510 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 51 catches despite inconsistent quarterback play.
Burks is undersized at 5’9” and 182 pounds, but his athleticism consistently shows up on film. He separates with ease thanks to his long speed and acceleration, and he brings real creativity after the catch. A big game here would go a long way toward reinforcing his draft profile.
Cashius Howell - EDGE, Texas A&M (6-2, 249, rs-Senior)
Texas A&M has no shortage of draftable talent, but Cashius Howell is the player most directly under the microscope this weekend. The Aggies edge rusher has been among the most productive pass rushers in the country, tallying 40 pressures and 12 sacks this season.
Howell wins with a well-rounded rush profile. He shows burst off the line, the flexibility to flatten around the arc, and the hand usage to counter inside when tackles overset. He can stress protections in multiple ways, which has fueled his consistent production.
Still, his quiet outing against Texas in Week 14 will be on the minds of scouts. Howell managed just one pressure in that game, struggling to get the better of left tackle Trevor Goosby. With questions already surrounding his sub-31-inch arm length, this matchup against Miami represents a crucial chance to prove he can win against top-tier competition.
Francis Mauigoa - OT, Miami (6-6, 315, Junior)
One of the players tasked with containing Cashius Howell is Miami right tackle Francis Mauigoa, who is enjoying a career year. Mauigoa has allowed just nine pressures all season, including only two since Week 9, while remaining a reliable presence in the run game.
The appeal is easy to understand. Mauigoa moves well for his size, maintaining balance and foot quickness in pass protection, but he also generates real displacement as a run blocker. He plays with control rather than panic, rarely opening his chest to rushers.
This will be his toughest test to date against a deep and aggressive Aggies front. In a class where the race for OL1 is still wide open, a strong showing here could push Mauigoa further into the conversation at the top of the board.
Jake Retzlaff - QB, Tulane (6-0, 201, rs-Senior)
Tulane’s upset hopes rest heavily on quarterback Jake Retzlaff, who draws a difficult matchup against Ole Miss. Retzlaff’s raw production has been modest, with 14 touchdowns against six interceptions, but the tape reveals a more intriguing evaluation.
He is undersized, yet he throws with good velocity and confidence. Retzlaff also excels at avoiding negative plays, posting a 6.1% pressure-to-sack rate that ranks second nationally.
There are off-field questions teams will need to vet following his departure from BYU amid allegations that were later dismissed. On the field, however, this is a clean opportunity for growth after a rough Week 4 outing against Ole Miss in which he completed just five passes for 55 yards.
Trinidad Chambliss - QB, Ole Miss (6-0, 200, Senior)
Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss has been one of the season’s most surprising developments. Thrust into action after Austin Simmons’ injury, Chambliss seized the job and never relinquished it.
He finished the regular season with 3,013 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and only three interceptions, while posting a 6.2% big-time throw rate that ranked second in the SEC. His comfort working the intermediate middle of the field also stands out on tape.
Chambliss offers good mobility and enough arm strength to create outside structure, though his size and streaky accuracy likely cap his ceiling. Even so, in a thin quarterback class, a strong playoff showing could elevate his Day 3 outlook.
A'Mauri Washington - IDL, Oregon (6-3, 330, Junior)
A’Mauri Washington is a name I expect to hear discussed far more frequently as the draft cycle progresses. The defensive tackle has already begun generating first round buzz, largely due to his rare physical profile.
At 6’3” and 330 pounds, Washington carries nose tackle mass with the movement skills of a penetrating three-technique. His explosiveness off the snap and ability to change direction at his size are rare, and his motor consistently runs hot.
The refinement is still a work in progress. Block recognition and pass rush sequencing remain inconsistent, and he can be neutralised when his first move stalls. The playoff stage offers an ideal platform for Washington to show scouts what he is capable of, starting this weekend against James Madison.
Wayne Knight - RB, JMU (5-7, 190, rs-Junior)
Wayne Knight enters the postseason as one of the most productive running backs in the country. The James Madison back has rushed for 1,258 yards at 6.7 yards per carry, added 37 receptions, and scored nine total touchdowns.
He is coming off his best performance of the year, shredding Troy for over 200 yards in the Sun Belt title game. Knight’s burst and creativity consistently stress pursuit angles, and he runs with better contact balance than his frame suggests.
At 5’7” and 190 pounds, size will always be the question though. Whether Knight declares or returns to school, this matchup with Oregon offers a valuable measuring stick. Production against a disciplined Ducks defense would significantly boost his evaluation.
JACK BRENTNALL
HEAD OF NFL DRAFT CONTENT
Previously the founder of The Jet Sweep, Jack joined The Touchdown as head of Draft Content in 2024. A Scouting Academy alumnus, Jack has been Covering the NFL Draft since 2020. Follow him on Twitter @Jack_Brentnall.