The next generation of NFL stars is about to turn heads on Saturdays (and sometimes weekdays). While college football’s brightest prospects overwhelmingly play in the Power Four conferences — the SEC, ACC, Big Ten and Big 12 — that doesn’t mean future All-Pros aren’t waiting for their chance to shine at smaller schools.
Players from the Mountain West, Conference USA, Sun Belt and more will use 2025 to paint their canvas in hopes of showing NFL scouts a masterpiece. This spring, nine of the first 100 players drafted came from teams outside the Power Four. These dozen players will make their case to top that mark in 2026.
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So who could be next?
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Boise State Broncos offensive tackle Kage Casey (77) against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The three-year starting left tackle has anchored down in Boise, where he’ll get the chance to clear space for an offense looking to prove it was more than just the Ashton Jeanty show. At 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds, he has long arms and prototypical blindside protector size and has already wound up in the first round of at least one way-too-early 2026 NFL mock draft. After considering a jump to Sundays last winter, he’ll have the chance to prove himself as one of the nation’s elite tackles in his fourth season as a Bronco.
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CB Josh Moten, Southern Mississippi
Moten took a circuitous path through the college ranks. The four-star recruit was one of Jimbo Fisher’s blue-chip additions at Texas A&M but left the Aggies for Marshall in 2023. He led Conference USA with five interceptions last fall to establish his draft bonafides, but was part of the Thundering Herd’s mass exodus through the transfer portal after head coach Charles Huff opted to take the Southern Miss job. Now he’ll get the chance to star for the Golden Eagles, where he’ll pair solid size (6-foot-1) with brilliant ball skills to harass Group of Five quarterbacks this fall.
S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
McNeil-Warren is a chaos engine. He had five passes defensed in an injury shortened 2024 and four forced fumbles the season prior — a year in which he topped all defenders in Pro Football Focus’ run defense ranks. At 6-foot-3 and with a nose for contact, he’s capable of thriving in the box, playing press coverage in the slot or backpedaling to a spot in center field. While a lack of elite acceleration could limit his coverage utility in the NFL, he’s a deterrent whose steady tackling near the line of scrimmage could provide cover for a rangier safety to thrive.
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TE John Michael Gyllenborg, Wyoming
Sep 2, 2023; Laramie, Wyoming, USA; Wyoming Cowboys tight end John Michael Gyllenborg (84) scores a touchdown in double overtime against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports
An extra 25 pounds of muscle from his days as a three-star recruit has helped Gyllenborg become more effective as a blocker without denting his big play value. He averaged nearly 15 yards per catch the last two seasons, and while plenty of that came after the catch (there’s some George Kittle to his frenetic run style) he’s also capable of creating space downfield for chunk plays.
He led the Cowboys in both receptions and receiving yards per game in 2024. Though he may never be a reliable in-line blocker in the pros, his ability to accelerate past coverage or through narrow holes with the ball in his hands makes him an intriguing weapon.
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IOL Tellek Lockette, Texas State
The son of a football coach, Lockette is… wide. At 6-foot-3 and 327 pounds, he’s a stout, well-anchored interior lineman who swats away defenders and uses the leverage created by his size well. Now he has to prove he can be a proper masher in the run game, getting across the line in pulling situations and upfield with plenty of time for his tailback to identify holes — and plenty of time to mash linebackers into paste. He’s fundamentally sound and has an NFL frame. Can he turn that into the footwork and vision needed to be a top-100 draft pick?
IOL Dorion Strawn, Texas State
Strawn moved up from FCS Incarnate Word but remained in Texas to keep his tradition of flattening defenders rolling in the Lone Star State. He’s excelled at both tackle and guard, though arm length may limit him to an inside role (and ding his draft stock) on Sundays. With above average athleticism and a twitchy ability to mirror rush moves, he could use 2025 to make himself an asset to NFL scouts.
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EDGE Trey White, San Diego State
Sep 14, 2024; Berkeley, California, USA; San Diego State Aztecs edge Trey White (47) before the game against the California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
White was a rotational piece in San Diego before exploding onto the scene last fall. His 11 sacks in the first six weeks of the 2024 season were more than any other FBS player. While he couldn’t maintain that pace, he still led the Mountain West in sacks (12.5) and tackles for loss (20). While he lacks ideal size at 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds, he’s a cannonball with solid quickness, a relentless motor and the closing speed and vision to end plays in chaos.
IOL Ben Murawski, Connecticut
The Connecticut native was overlooked and undervalued as a high school recruit. Injuries have prevented him from earning more recognition in the Huskies’ revival. But he’s a solid interior line project who relishes contact and uses leverage and quickness to pry up defensive tackles and create space for his backfield.
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EDGE Maurice Westmoreland, Tulane
Westmoreland jumped from Conference USA to the American, leaving Texas-El Paso after recording 15.5 sacks and 21 tackles for loss his last two seasons. He’s a stout edge presence, clocking in at 6-foot-2 and 250 pounds with solid straight line speed to win around the edge and the power to bully his way inside. Can he shed blocks and make run stops given a modest step up in competition? Thriving with the Green Wave could put him firmly on draft boards next spring.
QB Caden Veltkamp, Florida Atlantic
Sep 28, 2024; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Western Kentucky Hilltoppers quarterback Caden Veltkamp (10) throws a pass against the Boston College Eagles during the first half at Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
The 2024 Conference USA offensive player of the year has moved to the American for 2025, providing a step rather than a leap forward in competition. While he has another season of eligibility remaining after this season, there’s a chance the 6-foot-6 passer opts to try his luck in the pros — even if the more likely situation is a jump up to a big NIL payday with a needy Power 4 program.
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EDGE Kobe Stewart, Buffalo
Stewart was a little-used piece of the Samford defense who transferred up to FBS and immediately made an impact. His 9.5 sacks led the MAC last fall, though he was left off the stat sheet in the Bulls two biggest games of the season (vs. Missouri and Liberty). At 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds he may be limited to an outside linebacker role, but his impressive growth after 2.5 sacks in three seasons with the Bulldogs suggests he could put himself on NFL radars in 2025.
QB Parker Navarro, Ohio
Navarro isn’t really a draft prospect, but he deserves mention because he plays football like pure electricity. The MAC’s version of Diego Pavia led the conference in interceptions (a decidedly un-Pavia 11), yards per attempt (8.2) and, remarkably, both rushing yards and rushing touchdowns (1,046, 18). His future in the pros is likely as a Taysom Hill-type jack-of-all-trades rather than as a quarterback. He may be limited to a few preseason/UFL/CFL highlights, but it’ll be a hell of a thing to watch.
Here are three bonus players from outside the FBS who warrant observation this fall:WR Bryce Lance, North Dakota State
BOULDER, COLORADO – AUGUST 29: Bryce Lance #5 of the North Dakota State Bison is tackled by Trevor Woods #43 of the Colorado Buffaloes during the fourth quarter at Folsom Field on August 29, 2024 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Andrew Wevers/Getty Images)
Trey Lance’s younger brother rolled to Fargo and led the FCS with 17 touchdown catches last season — though one rises above the rest.
After just a single catch in 2023, this put Lance firmly on scouts radars. He’s 6-foot-3, has great hands, great body control and has the athleticism that once made his sibling a top three draft pick. While his top-line speed looks great against FCS secondaries, he still needs to prove it can hold up on Sundays — and that his breakthrough 2024 was no outlier.
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LB Will Shaffer, Abilene Christian
Shaffer was a little-used piece of the Arizona State defense over four seasons in Tempe. He shifted down to FCS at ACU and thrived, notching 123 tackles, seven passes defensed, two interceptions, two sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss. At 6-feet and 240 pounds, the All-American is a lane-filling dump truck from the second level who moves well laterally. He needs to prove he can keep up in coverage against elite athletes, but another productive year will put him on NFL Draft boards.
OT Bruno Onwuasor, Virginia State
The former Maryland three-star defensive recruit was listed at a ridiculous 6-foot-10 as a Terrapin but is just 6-foot-8 and 320 pounds per his Trojan bio. That gives him the frame of a massive edge protector, and while his technique is still coming along, he was dominant against Division II competition en route to CIAA offensive lineman of the year honors. If he can continue repelling blitzers he’ll earn a trip to the NFL Scouting Combine — where his combination of length and raw ability could make him a small school lottery ticket for scouts.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: College football’s best Group of Five NFL Draft prospects for 2026