Notable Offensive Players Who Could Help Their Draft Stock During the 2025-26 Season

As we start to turn the page to the 2025 college football season, there are a number of players looking to become future NFL stars.

And with the NFL draft just a couple of months away, it's time to take a look at those names who could improve their stock during the 2025-26 season. 

From quarterbacks to receivers, running backs and tight ends, there are a number of offensive players who could make their mark in a big way next season. 

Some will be playing at a new school while others are coming back from injuries, and several can just improve their draft hopes with more reps. 

Drew Allar, Penn State 

Allar had the best season of his Penn State career last year, throwing for 3,327 yards with 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions. But he'll be looking to bounce back from his game-sealing interception that helped give Notre Dame victory over the Nittany Lions in the Orange Bowl.

Running backs Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton will return in 2025, in addition to offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki. Penn State looks primed for a national title run in 2025, when Allar's stock could soar.

Fernando Mendoza, Indiana  

Mendoza had a breakout season with Cal in 2024, throwing for 3,004 yards with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions.

The 21-year-old has since transferred to Indiana, where he will aim to help build on the Hoosiers' playoff-berth and 11-win season under head coach Curt Cignetti last year.

Mendoza has the talent to lead Indiana to an even bigger year in 2025. 

Carson Beck, Miami 

Although Beck previously entered his name into the 2025 NFL draft, he instead opted for the transfer portal and joined the Miami Hurricanes.

The 22-year-old will be aiming to rebound from a career-high 12 interceptions thrown last season with the Georgia Bulldogs.

Over his last two seasons, Beck threw for 7,426 yards with 18 touchdowns. Perhaps he can lead Miami to a playoff berth.  

John Mateer, Oklahoma

Mateer had a breakout season at Washington State last year, throwing for 3,139 yards with 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

In 2025, he'll play at Oklahoma under head coach Brent Venables.

With the right guy at quarterback, the Sooners could finally be a contender in the SEC next season, which would further elevate Mateer's draft stock. 

Arch Manning, Texas

Now that Quinn Ewers is heading to the NFL, it's Arch Manning's time in Austin.

The 19-year-old has completed 63 passes over his last two seasons at Texas, but he has a chance to truly showcase his abilities under center as the starter for the Longhorns next year.

The hype surrounding the former 5-star quarterback prospect is real.

Nico Iamaleava, Tennessee 

Thanks to the success that the Vols' rushing attack had with running back Dylan Sampson, Iamaleava didn't have to air it out too much last season.

The 20-year-old signal-caller threw for just 2,616 yards with 19 touchdowns and five interceptions.

If Iamaleava can improve upon his numbers next season, it should greatly boost his stock during his Year Two in Knoxville. 

Garrett Nussmeier, LSU 

Although Nussmeier was set to be among the top-10 quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL draft, he's coming back to LSU for one more season.

The 23-year-old had a great first season as a starter last year, finishing fifth nationally in passing yards with 4,052 yards, 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 13 games.

Another season like that could make Nussmeier one of the top QBs taken in 2026. 

Sam Leavitt, Arizona State

Leavitt transferred to Arizona State from Michigan State after the 2023 season.

He then helped lead the Sun Devils to a surprise Big 12 Championship and a playoff berth, after throwing for 2,885 yards, 24 touchdowns and just six interceptions.

If Leavitt can improve upon those numbers in 2025, he will shoot up draft boards.

Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton, Penn State

Penn State will be considered a national title contender in 2025 for a few reasons, one of which is the return of star running backs Allen and Singleton.

The two combined for 2,207 yards with 20 touchdowns on the ground last season, and Singleton also added 41 receptions for 375 yards with five touchdowns in the passing game.

Another 1,000-yard season for both would raise their ceilings even higher for 2026. 

Makhi Hughes, Oregon

Hughes recorded 2,779 yards and 22 touchdowns over two great seasons with Tulane.

He will play at Oregon in 2025, where he'll look to lead the Ducks back to the playoff next season.

Oregon needs to replace 1,000-yard rusher Jordan James from last season, so Hughes is arriving at just the right time.  

CJ Baxter, Texas 

As a true freshman in 2023, Baxter showed off his potential, rushing for 659 yards and five touchdowns.

A knee injury kept him off the field entirely in 2024, so he's primed for a breakout season in 2025 that should raise his draft stock considerably. 

CJ Donaldson Jr., Ohio State

Donaldson had three solid seasons at West Virginia, combining for 2,058 yards with 30 touchdowns.

The 20-year-old has since transferred to Ohio State, where the Buckeyes are replacing both Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson in the backfield.

With a 1,000-yard season in Columbus, Donaldson could rise quickly on many draft boards. 

WR Nic Anderson, LSU

Anderson is looking for a fresh start in 2025 after an injury kept him off the field for Oklahoma in 2024.

He had a solid redshirt freshman campaign in 2023, finishing with 38 receptions for 798 yards and 10 touchdowns.

In Baton Rouge, Anderson should be the next go-to target for Garrett Nussmeier and have a breakout season. 

WR Eric Singleton, Auburn

Singleton had 1,468 receiving yards and nine touchdowns over two great seasons at Georgia Tech. He'll look to have another excellent year alongside new transfer quarterback Jackson Arnold with the Tigers in 2025. 

TE Max Klare, Ohio State

Klare had a solid season with Purdue in 2024, with 51 receptions for 685 yards and four touchdowns.

The 21-year-old is now expected to be a focal point of a rebuilding offense at Ohio State, with expected starter Julian Sayin at quarterback.  

WR Antonio Williams, Clemson

Williams had the best season of his career in 2024, recording 75 catches for 904 yards with 11 touchdowns.

Quarterback Cade Klubnik is also returning next season, so the 20-year-old wide receiver could play an even bigger role in the Tigers offense next season.

We'll see if Clemson can make it further than the first round of the playoffs next season. 

Williams and Smith enjoyed fantastic seasons as true freshmen last year, with the former 5-star recruiting prospects both leading their teams in receiving yards.

Williams finished with 48 catches for 865 yards and eight touchdowns, and Smith had 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns while helping lead the Buckeyes to a national title. 

Williams will have a new quarterback under center in 2025, as Jalen Milroe is headed to the NFL. The starter is expected to be Ty Simpson, and if Williams can put up big numbers with two different signal-callers, his stock will improve even more. 

Smith will also have a new QB next season. And we'll also see if others double-team him as Texas did in the Cotton Bowl, where the 19-year-old was held to just one reception for three yards.

If he can still put up numbers as he did last season while defenses attempt to cover him with a year of film in front of them, it will be noticed by NFL scouts.