The college football season has arrived, destining us all to another year of cross-conference discourse, College Football Playoff arguments, and the whims of another draft cycle.
The time for film study and production models will soon follow. Articles will be filed, takes will be tweeted, and the games will finally count. But in the waning hours before Week 0, there's still some time to get weird.
Preseason NFL Draft hot takes
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### Nicholas Singleton joins Jeremiyah Love in the top 15
It seems like everybody is high on Notre Dame star Jeremiyah Love, and there's certainly a lot to like. He might be the most explosive back in the class, he's a natural tackle-breaker, and he offers enough decision-making prowess to trust in a starting role. Yet, he's not the lone back with first-round aspirations.
Penn State's Nicholas Singleton is the star of a two-headed rushing attack, and there's reason to believe he plays himself into Round 1. Singleton has a prototypical frame (6'0", 220) and could run a sub-4.40-second 40-yard dash during the pre-draft circuit. If he does enough to check boxes as an every-down back instead of a high-end committee man, his blend of pedigree, production, and potential could force a team to fall in love.
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Singleton will enter the year as the top back on my board, and with the Nittany Lions set to compete for a title, he'll have plenty of opportunities to show out on the national stage.
### Clemson makes history, sends four prospects to top 10
The Tigers are simply loaded. They might not boast the most talent of any team in the country, but they're certainly in contention, and the 2026 NFL Draft could help them do something no team has done before.
Defensive tackle Peter Woods will enter the season as the top player on my board. I'm lower on edge rusher T.J. Parker, but as the consensus best edge rusher in the class, he's a safe bet to go early on Day 1. Quarterback Cade Klubnik creates big plays and limits turnovers, offering a clean path to Round 1 -- from there, it's a matter of preference.
Receiver Antonio Williams could push for Round 1 capital, but corner Avieon Terrell is poised to propel himself up draft boards. His stock is already high thanks to a blend of burst, processing, and run support that makes him a contender for CB1. A strong athlete at a high-value position, Terrell has plenty of factors working in his favor.
### Four quarterbacks go on Day 2
The Day 2 quarterback is officially an endangered species. Fifth-year options push passers into Round 1, and if a quarterback prospect isn't worthy of a first-round pick, they're of little use on the bench.
Teams are rolling the dice in Round 1 or waiting until the opportunity cost subsides. However, this class is fairly deep under center. There are several contenders for Round 1, and for the first time in a handful of years, the league has almost too many "startable" quarterbacks. NIL might push the surplus passers back into school for another season, but the 2027 NFL Draft has some titans waiting, too.
Likewise, prospects like Oklahoma's John Mateer and Arizona State's Sam Leavitt profile as Day 2 passers. If a developmental quarterback like Penn State's Drew Allar stalls out or younger options like Eli Holstein (Pitt) or Aidan Chiles (Michigan State) emerge, the perfect storm could be brewing.
This hasn't happened since 2007 for a reason. As teams consider the likes of Carson Beck and Fernando Mendoza, though, it looks a little more possible than in years past.
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