During the four rounds of the College Football Playoff, many players helped potentially improve their draft stock with strong performances against tough competition. Here are five NFL Draft prospects who potentially boosted their draft stock with standout performances in the College Football Playoff.
Top Standout Prospects and NFL Draft Risers From the College Football Playoff
QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
Fernando Mendoza entered the College Football Playoff as the favorite to be the first quarterback taken in the draft and the No. 1 overall pick, but after the playoffs, he is now the overwhelming favorite. In the playoffs, Mendoza completed over 74% of his passes, averaged 8.8 yards per pass attempt, and threw eight touchdowns and zero interceptions. He finished with more touchdown passes than incompletions against both Alabama and Oregon. Mendoza also had an elite 96.7 QBR against Alabama and a 98.5 QBR against Oregon.
His performance against Miami (FL) in the championship game certainly wasn’t perfect, but like all season, he made big plays on crucial downs to help lead his team to the win. After a great performance in the playoffs and throughout the entire regular season, along with Dante Moore returning to Oregon, Mendoza is now the clear favorite to go No. 1 overall in the 2026 draft.
RB Kaelon Black, Indiana
Kaelon Black was the leading rusher for Indiana in all three games during their playoff run. He had 110 total yards against Alabama and scored two touchdowns in a win over Oregon. Black ran the ball with great efficiency, averaging 5.5 yards per carry in the playoffs, and recorded multiple 20-plus yard touchdown runs. He is an aggressive runner with good power and contact balance. Black has a chance to go on Day 3 of the NFL Draft.
Edge Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (FL)
Rueben Bain Jr. was dominant throughout the entire playoff run for the Hurricanes with five total sacks in four games. He had three sacks and a blocked field goal against Texas A&M in the first round. After a three-sack game against Texas A&M, he followed it up with eight pressures and an insane 32.4% pass-rush win rate in an upset win over Ohio State, according to PFF.
He won PFF Pass Rusher of the Week again in the Semifinals with five pressures against Ole Miss, and played a big role in Miami nearly upsetting Indiana in the National Championship game as well. Arm length is the main concern with Bain, but with his level of play in four straight playoff games against very talented offensive linemen, Bain has further increased his odds of being a top 10 pick and has a chance to end up going top 5 in the draft.
Edge David Bailey, Texas Tech
David Bailey only played one game in the playoffs, but his performance against Oregon in the quarterfinals is one of the best games from any player in the playoffs. Against Oregon, Bailey recorded one sack, two pass deflections, and nine total tackles. Bailey created a ton of pressure in the game while also making a big impact as a run defender. He gave relentless effort throughout the game and demonstrated elite first-step explosiveness and great bend. Bailey is projected to be a first-round pick with a strong chance to go in the top 10 of the NFL Draft.
CB D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana
D’Angelo Ponds is an undersized cornerback, but he makes up for it with incredible competitive toughness, physicality, athleticism, and instincts. In the last two games of the season, Ponds was arguably the most impactful defensive player for Indiana. Against Oregon, he made his presence felt immediately with a pick-six on the first snap of the game. In the championship game against Miami, Ponds played lockdown coverage the entire game and recorded three pass deflections, finishing as the highest-rated player in the game, according to PFF. He is a strong tackler as well. Ponds is currently projected to be a Day 2 pick in the draft.
Main Photo: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
