{"id":53726,"date":"2025-07-10T09:13:09","date_gmt":"2025-07-10T09:13:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/53726\/"},"modified":"2025-07-10T09:13:09","modified_gmt":"2025-07-10T09:13:09","slug":"top-15-defensive-underclassman-prospects-for-2026-nfl-draft-class-led-by-caleb-downs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/53726\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 15 defensive underclassman prospects for 2026 NFL Draft class, led by Caleb Downs"},"content":{"rendered":"

We\u2019ve already covered our early list of the 2026 NFL Draft\u2019s top offensive underclassmen prospects<\/a> \u2014 and the other side of the ball is just as deep.<\/p>\n

Not unlike April\u2019s draft with Travis Hunter, the top of the \u201926 defensive class starts at a position that doesn\u2019t ordinarily receive top-five attention. Safety Caleb Downs, however, is not an ordinary player. If Hunter was the best defensive prospect in the country last season, Downs might\u2019ve been the second. After starting and starring for Nick Saban and Alabama in 2023, Downs transferred to Ohio State and helped the Buckeyes capture a national title.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a look at Downs and the rest of the top defensive underclassmen, with an early eye toward the 2026 NFL Draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1. Caleb Downs, DB, Ohio State<\/strong>2024: Unanimous All-American, 81 tackles (7 1\/2 TFL), eight pass breakups, two INTs, four forced incompletions; six punt returns for 98 yards and one TD<\/p>\n

Arguably America\u2019s best draft-eligible prospect this season regardless of position, Downs made national headlines after a stellar freshman year at Alabama by heading north to Ohio State<\/a>. His arrival was as-advertised, as Downs\u2019 versatility on the back end \u2014 playing either safety spot, corner, slot or rush linebacker \u2014 unlocked what turned into a national championship defense.<\/p>\n

Downs could be a bit bigger, but his football instincts \u2014 especially in run support \u2014 are the best of any defensive back in college football. A fierce hitter who can cover anything sideline to sideline while adding value in the kick return game, Downs is a true blue-chip talent who\u2019s reminiscent of a cross between Budda Baker and Minkah Fitzpatrick. Despite his position, he will be in the mix as a top-three prospect in the 2026 draft class.<\/p>\n

2. T.J. Parker, edge, Clemson2024: Second team All-American, 52 tackles (19 1\/2 TFL), 51 pressures, 11 sacks, six forced fumbles<\/p>\n

A twitched-up 6-foot-3, 265-pounder, Parker plays with a more compact build than most of his peers but is a flexible and explosive house of fire off the edge (combined 32 tackles for loss and 16 1\/2 sacks over his first two seasons at Clemson). Parker\u2019s speed and agility give him crazy coverage potential, and his ability to dip and corner tackles with enough gas left to flatten out the pocket is as natural as anyone in this class.<\/p>\n

Parker\u2019s blend of body control and hand speed, along with his awareness and ability to ID plays quickly, puts him around the ball constantly. He forced six fumbles last season, plus has three career pass breakups and three forced incompletions. If Parker\u2019s arrow stays pointing up, he\u2019ll be in the top-10 \u2014 possibly top-five \u2014 picture all year long.<\/p>\n

3. Keldric Faulk, DL, Auburn2024: 45 tackles (11 TFL), 45 pressures, 31 hurries, seven sacks, five QB hits<\/p>\n

A massive prospect, Faulk (6-6, 280) has the athleticism and twitch to line up basically anywhere along a defensive front. He\u2019s played mainly on the edge, either head-up or outside the tackle, but he\u2019s also seen plenty of work in two years at Auburn as a three-tech and even some as a rushing nose tackle. A great lateral mover and athlete at his size, Faulk \u2014 who has some Aidan Hutchinson in his game \u2014 can be a terror for slower guards inside and is very difficult to move in the run game.<\/p>\n

The biggest hurdle left for Faulk is fine-tuning his pass rush arsenal to be more efficient and diverse off the snap, as his size can sometimes lead to a slower rush process. Assuming he can continue to add power and strength to his frame while working on the finer points of his game, Faulk has top-10 pick written all over him.<\/p>\n

4. Peter Woods, DT, Clemson2024: 28 tackles (8 1\/2 TFL), 20 pressures, three sacks, 14 percent win rate<\/p>\n

Another extremely versatile and athletic defensive lineman, Woods (6-3, 315) played out of position on the edge for much of last season and still wound up having a highly productive year for the uber-talented Tigers.<\/p>\n

When he\u2019s inside as a three-tech or nose, Woods is a terror. With speed, length and power throughout his body, Woods has shown truly dominant flashes in each of his first two seasons at Clemson. He possesses the ability to bull rush a guard, split a double or chase down a back.<\/p>\n

At times, Woods reminds me of 2025 Cleveland Browns first-rounder Mason Graham, with the quickness and twitch to play just about anywhere along a defensive front and the power\/hand speed to be a three-down weapon at either spot inside. Woods has a combined 40 run stops and 40 pressures in two years playing in Clemson\u2019s rotation.<\/p>\n

5. Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee<\/strong>2024: Second team All-American, 44 tackles, 13 passes defended, six pass breakups, four INTs<\/p>\n

A quick and sturdy corner with good length and an advanced understanding of press coverage, McCoy is physical, plays with great eye control outside and is very difficult to stack. He\u2019s also a patient defender who doesn\u2019t guess often \u2014 his instincts in man or zone helped him break up six passes and pick off four more during his debut season at Tennessee last year (transferred from Oregon State following the 2023 season).<\/p>\n

McCoy also led the Vols and finished second in the SEC with 12 forced incompletions, after he had four picks and six pass breakups as a true freshman with the Beavers in 2023. And though he doesn\u2019t have overwhelming speed, his high IQ means he usually can avoid serious trouble.<\/p>\n

One thing to watch: McCoy tore an ACL in January, so it remains to be seen if he plays this year.<\/p>\n

6. Matayo Uiagalelei, edge, Oregon2024: First team All-Big Ten, 37 tackles (11 1\/2 TFL), 31 pressures, 9 1\/2 sacks, 15.5 percent win rate<\/p>\n

A former five-star prospect and the younger brother of former Florida State QB DJ Uiagalelei, Matayo Uiagalelei was an outstanding two-way prospect in high school, showing real prowess as a tight end before landing as an edge rusher at Oregon. With great size and a terrific first step, Uiagalelei (6-5, 270) combines quick, active hands with great length as a versatile, savvy pass rusher who has not yet hit his ceiling.<\/p>\n

Uiagalelei (who won\u2019t turn 21 until next July) made 9 1\/2 sacks with a 15.5 percent win rate last year as a true sophomore. His work as a run defender isn\u2019t on the same level as his pass rush at this point, but Uiagalelei will rocket up draft boards if he takes the next step.<\/p>\n

7. Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas2024: 113 tackles (16 1\/2 TFL), 23 pressures, eight sacks, four forced fumbles, one INT<\/p>\n

With a true NFL body at 6-3, 240, Hill is fast enough to play basically any linebacker spot, including in the alley as an overhang defender or off the edge as a pass rusher. With great length and burst, Hill rushes the passer with a great feel for dipping around and cornering tackles in space. A potential front-seven hybrid defender, Hill also plays with great closing speed on the ball in the backfield, both on screens and run plays.<\/p>\n

Although he\u2019s long and fast enough to overrun a ball carrier and still make the tackle, Hill can get lost taking eye candy in the box and is a tad late with coverage reactions at this stage in his career. Just a one-year starter, Hill still needs more experience, but his physical traits have been all over NFL radars for at least a year now.<\/p>\n

8. Rueben Bain Jr., edge, Miami2024: 23 tackles (5 1\/2 TFL), 28 pressures, four sacks, four QB hits, 14.6 percent win rate<\/p>\n

With violent hands and good size, Bain (6-3, 275) plays with the type of initial burst and power we see from current Chiefs rusher George Karlaftis. When Bain maintains leverage and wins with a punch to the chest of a tackle or guard, it\u2019s a serious problem for the offense. He can win inside or outside and plays with a good anchor off the edge against the run.<\/p>\n

There are some length concerns here, and Bain is more about power than general movement skills. Not unlike Karlaftis, Bain can struggle to convert pressures to sacks at times and his tackling has been rather suspect. But when healthy (he missed about a quarter of 2024 with a hamstring injury), he\u2019s shown flashes of dominance inside.<\/p>\n

9. CJ Allen, LB, Georgia2024: 76 tackles (three TFL), 20 pressures, five passes defended, one INT<\/p>\n

Allen (6-1, 235) doesn\u2019t have the length\/size combination that Hill brings, but he\u2019s no slouch, with good length and explosion for days. He\u2019s also a sure tackler who plays with great balance and enough speed to run with tight ends (and even some receivers). A very physical presence in the box, Allen takes great pursuit angles to the football and isn\u2019t afraid to run through a guard\u2019s chest on a run fit.<\/p>\n

There are times when Hill can be too aggressive in the box, as he\u2019s too often guilty of running into darkness without a plan. Like Hill, though, Allen has only started for one year of college ball \u2014 there\u2019s still work to be done, but the potential is obvious.<\/p>\n

10. Jalon Kilgore, DB, South Carolina2024: Second team All-SEC, 48 tackles, five interceptions, five forced incompletions, five pass breakups<\/p>\n

Another big-bodied South Carolina defensive back, Kilgore (6-1, 211) has mainly worked as a slot corner\/safety over the last two seasons but is also explosive and fast enough to play on the outside. A true playmaker, Kilgore had five interceptions and five pass breakups last season.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s a very fluid athlete (and was a great basketball player\/track athlete in high school), but Kilgore can be wobbly with his coverage assignments and missed nine tackles last season. Still, his value as a versatile, athletic, physical defensive back is impossible to ignore. If Kilgore can get rid of the streaky play and be more assignment sound, he\u2019ll be in the mix for a first-round grade.<\/p>\n

11. Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson2024: First team All-ACC, 58 tackles (4 1\/2 TFL), three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 12 pass breakups, 14 forced incompletions<\/p>\n

As you can see, Clemson is dripping with talent again this season.<\/p>\n

The younger brother of Falcons corner A.J. Terrell, Avieon Terrell is very physical at just 5-11, 180. A naturally fluid athlete, Terrell plays with terrific feet as a mirror corner in man coverage and shows great football instincts in zone. Mostly an outside corner at Clemson, Terrell is athletic enough to handle slot reps, too.<\/p>\n

He made 12 pass breakups (No. 5 nationally) and forced 14 incompletions (No. 3) as a sophomore last season \u2014 his first as a full-time starter. Size is a concern. Terrell plays much bigger than his weight but can get stuck on blocks from larger opponents and will have to add strength. If it all comes together, though, Terrell has the potential to be a complete cornerback.<\/p>\n

12. Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon2024: 104 tackles (4 1\/2 TFL), seven pass breakups, seven forced incompletions, one sack<\/p>\n

The Big Ten Freshman of the Year at Purdue in 2023, Thieneman transferred to Oregon this offseason after spending his first two years as arguably the country\u2019s best defender on a bad football team. A member of Bruce Feldman\u2019s \u201cFreaks List\u201d<\/a> last year, Thieneman (6-0, 207) hit 22.37 miles per hour on the GPS and ran a 4.03-second short shuttle during his time in West Lafayette.<\/p>\n

A complete athlete and weight-room warrior, Thieneman is an elite ball tracker capable of wearing basically any hat on the back end. He was mainly a free safety as a freshman but split time deep, in the box, in the slot and even played some as an outside corner as a sophomore. With six career interceptions and seven career pass breakups, Thieneman should be one of the top impact transfers this season.<\/p>\n

13. Whit Weeks, LB, LSU2024: First team All-SEC, 125 tackles (10 TFL), 25 pressures, 3 1\/2 sacks, two pass breakups, one INT<\/p>\n

A great athlete who also played running back and receiver while also sprinting on his high school track team, Weeks was all over the field for LSU last year, his first as a starter. Weeks made 56 run stops and created 25 pressures (with four sacks) as a hyper-active box defender with sideline-to-sideline speed. He finished his sophomore season with a whopping 125 tackles (10 for a loss), while adding three pass breakups and an interception as LSU\u2019s defensive leader.<\/p>\n

Weeks\u2019 length and range at 6-2 are definitely assets, but at just 225 pounds, he\u2019s still a little light in the box. A natural run defender with great instincts near the ball, Weeks is also still working to fine-tune his coverage responsibilities.<\/p>\n

14. Taurean York, LB, Texas A&M2024: Team captain, 82 tackles (9 1\/2 TFL), 21 pressures, 2 1\/2 sacks, two pass breakups, one INT<\/p>\n

A sophomore captain at Texas A&M last season, York \u2014 who started in the SEC as a true freshman \u2014 has a combined 156 tackles (18 for loss) and 5 1\/2 sacks through two seasons. A natural leader and one of the SEC\u2019s most productive run stoppers since his arrival, York plays much bigger than his 6-foot, 235-pound frame would suggest. He could use more bulk before transitioning to the NFL, but his presence as a thumper is impossible to ignore.<\/p>\n

Much like Weeks, he still needs to grow as a coverage defender, as he can be a bit stiff in space against more athletic slots and tight ends. However, York is already a fearless box defender and trusted tackler at a young age.<\/p>\n

15. Kamari Ramsey, S, USC2024: 60 tackles (5 1\/2 TFL), two sacks, six pass breakups, five forced incompletions, two forced fumbles, one INT<\/p>\n

A fourth-year junior who started his career at UCLA, Ramsey was one of the best coverage safeties in the country last season for the Trojans, breaking up five passes and forcing five incompletions while splitting time between free safety, box safety and nickel corner. Big enough (6-0, 202) and physical enough to be an outside corner, Ramsey has coverage instincts that stack up against any defensive back in the country.<\/p>\n

There is room for improvement here, though \u2014 Ramsey\u2019s work against the run leaves plenty to be desired. He missed 15 tackles last season and has to be better in 2025 with his pursuit angles and technique in space.<\/p>\n

Other names to remember:\u00a0<\/strong>A.J. Harris, CB, Penn State; Anto Saka, edge, Northwestern; Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas; Austin Romaine, LB, Kansas State; Drayk Bowen, LB, Notre Dame; D\u2019Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana<\/p>\n

(Top photos of Anthony Hill Jr. and Caleb Downs: Sam Hodde, Jason Mowry \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"We\u2019ve already covered our early list of the 2026 NFL Draft\u2019s top offensive underclassmen prospects \u2014 and the…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":53727,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[1428,1318,1317,1315,1316,1232,4733,62,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-53726","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-ncaa-football","8":"tag-college-football","9":"tag-football","10":"tag-ncaa","11":"tag-ncaa-football","12":"tag-ncaafootball","13":"tag-nfl","14":"tag-ohio-state-buckeyes","15":"tag-sports","16":"tag-united-states","17":"tag-unitedstates","18":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/114828175534546717","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53726","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53726"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53726\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/53727"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53726"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53726"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53726"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}