Save for the Army-Navy game on Dec. 13, college football has entered the final month of its regular season. Just five weekends from now, we’ll be hunkering down for a full slate of conference tournament games and the subsequent announcement of the College Football Playoff field.
Even so, there’s still time for any 2026 NFL Draft hopefuls to catch the attention of pro scouts. Plenty have done so already. Who has impressed our draft experts, Dane Brugler and Nick Baumgardner, this season?
Here are 10 names on the rise:
Dane Brugler’s five risers
Vega Ioane, G, Penn State
The below-average play on Penn State’s offensive line has been a microcosm of the Nittany Lions’ disaster season, but Ioane continues to perform like one of the best O-linemen in the country. Even in a 38-14 loss to No. 1 Ohio State, Ioane was consistently stout in pass protection and put his versatility in the run game on display.
On the Nittany Lions’ first touchdown, Ioane showed off his range on an overload pin-pull sweep, walling off the lane for RB Nicholas Singleton to walk into the end zone. A fourth-year junior, Ioane continues to stack clean games and has the skill set to be the first interior offensive lineman drafted in April.
Runnin’ Runnin’ 👟🔥#WeAre | LIVE on @CFBONFOX
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) November 1, 2025
Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
I’d love to talk about Arvell Reese again, because he was really, really good versus Penn State, but let’s spread the love around a little bit.
The 330-pound McDonald was Ohio State’s second-leading tackler Saturday — he finished with eight tackles and was dominant in the trenches. His ability to reset the line of scrimmage with power, find the football and then get hands on the ball carrier consistently disrupts opposing game plans.
McDonald’s draft projection might be capped because of his limitations as a pass rusher, but NFL teams looking for a dominant run defender will be keeping tabs on whether or not the third-year junior enters the 2026 NFL Draft.
Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
The top NFL prospect on the Red Raiders’ defense is David Bailey, who will be a first-round pick. Rodriguez isn’t quite on that level, but he is a much better prospect than scouts originally thought over the summer. In Saturday’s win over Kansas State, he forced two crucial fumbles that directly changed the outcome of the game. His “Peanut Punch” is masterfully timed — he has an FBS-leading seven forced fumbles on the season.
Jacob Rodriguez for the @HeismanTrophy
📺 @CFBONFOX | https://t.co/aam4weflUz pic.twitter.com/DQv8mn86km
— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) November 1, 2025
Rodriguez’s size, speed and strength are all average by NFL standards, but his toughness at the point of attack and around the football is fun to watch. Considered a priority free agent-level prospect entering the season, Rodriguez is now firmly in draftable territory — and rising.
Quintrevion Wisner, RB, Texas
Arch Manning’s productive day in the Longhorns’ win over Vanderbilt will be the main takeaway for many. But the Texas run game, led by Wisner, was an important factor in the upset. Although his longest run of the day was for just 13 yards, Wisner consistently ripped off four-, five- and six-yard carries to keep the offense on schedule and in manageable situations.
He did a nice job finding his blocks and making timely cuts to pick away at a Vanderbilt run defense that had been ranked in the top 20 entering the weekend. Wisner also caught the ball well in the screen game and made several plays in pass protection.
Though I don’t see him as an early-round prospect, Wisner showed Saturday that he can be a productive part of an NFL backfield.
Keionte Scott, DB, Miami
A player who has flashed all season, Scott was the best player on Miami’s defense Saturday, albeit in an overtime loss to SMU. Scott’s play speed jumped off the tape as a downhill defender, especially when the Hurricanes brought him as a blitzer. He finished with eight tackles (two for loss), one sack and one pass breakup, and he affected numerous other plays with his read-and-react athleticism.
An underrated addition in the transfer portal (Auburn) this offseason, Scott had free-agent grades from NFL scouts this summer but is putting draftable-level play on tape in his final college season. Scott looks like a versatile nickel option who could also play special teams.
Nick Baumgardner’s five risers
R Mason Thomas, edge, Oklahoma
Thomas has been a top-50 draft prospect all year, so this might be cheating. But he had another “whoa” moment Saturday night versus Tennessee, scooping up a fumble before stiff-arming a tight end and running the rest of the way for a score.
SCOOP. STIFF ARM. SCORE.@thomss_r | 📺 ABC pic.twitter.com/GK22uaYanI
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) November 2, 2025
There are length and size concerns about Thomas in terms of his NFL projection, but his big-play ability is special.
Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
The 6-foot-4, 235-pounder had a career-high seven catches for 146 yards and two touchdowns during Saturday’s loss at Texas. He has had at least three catches in every game this season.
Stowers could be bigger, but he has a combined 115 catches since 2023 — his first year playing tight end. A former quarterback, Stowers is consistently smooth in space and after the catch.
Carter Smith, OT, Indiana
Smith is one of a few Indiana prospects who could be on this this list (QB Fernando Mendoza and WRs Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt have excelled, too). He has been a force up front all season for the Hoosiers, who boast one of the best offensive lines in the country.
Smith has a great frame. He also plays with balance and upper-body strength in the run game — and still has another year of eligibility, if he wants it.
Trevor Goosby, OT, Texas
Goosby is still young — just a third-year sophomore. But he’s an outstanding athlete, with elite explosion and movement skills for his size (6-7, 312). He has allowed just two sacks all season (none in his last four games) and has been miles better as a run blocker this season than he was in the past.
He might be another prospect in the 2027 draft conversation. Maybe not, though, if he keeps improving at this rate.
Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
We’ve mentioned him quite a few times this season. Bernard, who started out at Michigan State before following Kalen DeBoer to Washington and then Alabama, has been a hyper-competitive playmaker all year. The Crimson Tide were off Saturday, but Bernard has played a huge part in his team’s climb into playoff contention. Alabama has two huge games out of its bye — LSU Saturday; Oklahoma on Nov. 15.
Don’t get lost in whatever the testing ultimately says here. Bernard can play.
