The great thing about college football is there’s always a next wave of superstars.

Some of them are obvious entering the 2026 season. Arch Manning is arguably the most famous college athlete of the century. Jeremiah Smith and Ryan Williams have already graced the covers of video games. Dylan Stewart and Colin Simmons have been considered future first-round picks since their first month as college football players.

The list of household names is certain to expand next fall. Think of the 2025 offseason. Who would have seen Fernando Mendoza, Jacob Rodriguez or Trinidad Chambliss coming?

Those are the type of players we’re trying to identify at CBS Sports. We’re attempting to highlight the players who could become the faces of the sport in 2026

From reasonably under-the-radar Heisman candidates to likely Day 1 draft picks, looking ahead to the 2027 draft, these are college football players set to emerge as household names this upcoming season.

Josh Hoover, QB, Indiana

Big 12 fans are well aware of Hoover after his three-year run as QB1 at TCU. He also happens to be the leading active passer in college football with 9,629 yards in his career. Still, Hooever isn’t a household name or someone you’ll see atop 2027 mock drafts. He’s been a productive player, just not one who’s elevated TCU the last few seasons.

That could change in Indiana’s offensive context. Curt Cignetti has developed back-to-back draft picks at quarterback out of the portal. That includes Mendoza, the assumed No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft. 

At 6-feet-2 and 200 pounds, Hoover doesn’t have Mendoza’s prototypical physical tools. He does, however, have above-average accuracy and should be an excellent fit in Curt Cignetti’s RPO-heavy scheme.

Don’t be shocked if he’s in the Heisman mix at the midway point of next season. He’s always had the ability. Within a different offensive system, Hoover can emerge as one of the nation’s top passers.

Brendan Sorsby, QB, Texas Tech

Sam Leavitt is the top-ranked quarterback in the 247Sports portal rankings. But it’s Sorsby who personnel sources believed to be the top arm in the portal this cycle. NFL scouting sources also had Day 2 grades on Sorsby if he were to have left for the draft — and those in his camp believed he could have jumped into Round 1 consideration. So huge upside is coming to Lubbock.

Sorsby thrived at Cincinnati in a QB-friendly scheme. What positions him to emerge as a 2026 CFB superstar is opportunity. Texas Tech is the most talented roster in the Big 12, and Sorsby is a massive upgrade over Behren Morton.

Expect Sorsby to throw for 3,000-plus yards, Texas Tech to win 10-plus games and Sorsby to be in the mix for the Heisman. He’s already enjoyed outsized success in the Big 12 the last two seasons. Now, he’ll benefit from a new scheme and the most talented roster in the conference.

CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame

If you’re looking for a sleeper candidate to jump up draft boards in a 2027 quarterback class that could include Manning, Dante Moore, Leavitt and Sorsby — I’d bet Carr.

A classic pocket passer with solid athletic ability when asked to make plays on the move, Carr had an excellent 2025 debut for Notre Dame. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Michigan native — and grandson of former Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr — threw for 2,741 yards and 24 touchdowns against eight interceptions while completing 66.6% of his passes.

He improved as the season progressed. After an 0-2 start, Carr completed 68% of his passes with a 7-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio as the Irish finished the regular season with 10 straight wins. In 2026, Carr will benefit from playing behind one of the nation’s top offensive lines. His role within the offense will also increase with the departure of running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. Add a very friendly schedule, and Carr has all the ingredients to emerge as a superstar.

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Waymond Jordan, RB, USC

A season-ending injury in Week 6 caused it to be a small sample size — just 88 carries — but Jordan was DYNAMIC as USC’s lead back. He ran for 576 yards and five touchdowns on 6.5 yards per tote. He created a ton of yardage on his own, too, averaging 5.15 yards after contact, which ranked second nationally.

The top-ranked JUCO back in the 2025 class, Jordan boasts a sub-4.5-second 40-yard dash and has excellent vision and quickness in the open field. Given an entire season of health, he could emerge as one of the true star backs in the country.

Jadan Baugh, RB, Florida

In talking with sources around Baugh’s will-he, won’t-he transfer flirtation this offseason, a big reason he opted to stay in Gainesville is the chance to be the face of a program. He’ll have every opportunity to do that for Florida in 2026.

Baugh never did go into the portal, but personnel sources viewed him as the potential top back in the 2026 transfer class. He’s a bruising 6-feet-1 and 231 pounds and is coming off a 1,170-yard, eight-touchdown season. Baugh created a lot of those yards himself, finishing eighth nationally with 81 forced missed tackles.

Given Florida offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner’s run-heavy scheme and an unproven quarterback room, Baugh is going to be counted on to carry Florida’s offense for stretches. Don’t be shocked if he emerges as an All-American.

Cooper Barkate, WR, Miami

You know Malachi Toney. You know Darian Mensah. You’ll get to know Barkate, who is transferring in from Duke along with his 2025 QB. Barkate cleanly translated his FCS success at Harvard to the ACC last year, catching 72 passes for 1,106 yards and seven touchdowns on 15.4 yards per catch.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder is a classic outside receiver whose go, hitch and post routes account for 55% of his route tree last year. Given how much attention defenses have to give Toney in the middle of the field, Barkate will be given plenty of one-on-one opportunities. As Mensah showed at Duke, he isn’t shy about pushing the ball downfield to his top WR.

Barkate and Tony will form the best one-two wide receiver duo in the country this season.  

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Jamari Johnson, TE, Oregon

Nobody helped themselves more at the NFL Combine last week than Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq. This time next year, another Ducks tight end, Jamari Johnson, could have a similar showing in Indianapolis.

Johnson is an athletic freak. Plenty of college coaches wondered if he’d eventually develop into an offensive or defensive lineman out of high school. Johnson is both a high-level basketball player and a former QB capable of throwing the ball 70-plus yards. He has an 82-inch wingspan at 6-feet-5 and 257 pounds, and he’s plenty fast when you turn on the tape.

You could even argue that Johnson (32 catches, 510 yards, 3 TDs) was the more effective weapon than Sadiq (51 catches, 560 yards, 8 TDs) at times this season, particularly with his ability to create yards after the catch.  

With a starter’s share of targets and a second year in Oregon’s system, Johnson could emerge as the nation’s top tight end.

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Trevor Goosby, OT, Texas

A prototypical left tackle at 6-feet-7 and 312 pounds and excellent length, Goosby emerged as a difference maker at left tackle for Texas this year. While the Longhorns’ offensive front had its struggles, Goosby largely excelled in 13 starts with an 83.3 PFF grade, which ranked in the top 15 nationally among all offensive tackles.

Getting Goosby back for his redshirt junior year was a huge win for the Longhorns. He could have gone to the NFL Draft and was all but assured of being an early-round draft pick, potentially rising into the first round.

By returning to school, however, he can show himself to be an anchor on the left side for Manning and emerge as a no-doubt top 10 pick. With a good season, he could go higher than his predecessor in Austin, Kelvin Banks, who was taken No. 9 overall in the 2025 draft.

David Stone, DT, Oklahoma

Stone’s stats (42 tackles, 8 TLFs, 1.5 sacks) won’t leap off the page from his sophomore season, but he clearly emerged as one of the top defensive linemen in the country. He won’t have Gracen Halton, a potential Day 2 pick, playing next to him next year, but Stone has all the tools to be a dominant interior presence.

Stone is already an excellent run defender, and he can create a bit more pressure inside. He’s the type of player who could emerge as a Day 1 pick in an interior d-line 2027 class without a slam-dunk top option.

The Sooners had the No. 2 run defense in the FBS last year. Stone was a huge reason why. Expect Oklahoma to be elite against the run again with him anchoring the middle of the defense in 2026.

Yhonzae Pierre, EDGE, Alabama

Even five-star recruits can take a few seasons to incubate, and that was the case with Pierre. A little-used piece during his freshman and redshirt freshman seasons, Pierre emerged as arguably Alabama’s most important front-seven piece last season. He posted 52 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks, emerging as a critical pressure creator for a defense that struggled to bother the quarterback outside of LT Overton.

Pierre could have easily gone to the draft. But by returning to college, he has the chance to join the likes of Colin Simmons and Dylan Stewart as one of the top EDGE players in the country. Pierre isn’t huge at 6-feet-3 and 248 pounds. But he’s an elite athlete with excellent bend and explosiveness.

He should be a game-changer for Alabama this year and emerge as one of the best overall defensive players in the sport.

Sammy Brown, LB, Clemson

You’re not going to have a Jacob Rodriguez emerge in the FBS most seasons. It’s extremely rare for an inside linebacker to even garner a mention in the Heisman race. Looking ahead to the 2026 season, if I were going to spotlight someone at the position who could draw that sort of acclaim, it’d be Brown.

A true one-of-one athlete coming out of Jefferson High School in Georgia, the 6-foot-2, 234-pound Brown is a state champion wrestler who’s hit 10.7 seconds in the 100-meter dash and could have easily played running back in college. After drawing comparisons to Brian Bosworth as a high school recruit, Brown totaled 186 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and an interception as an underclassman.

Brown is an excellent player in the box, with a good sense in the run game and the ability to shed blocks and generate pressure. He needs to improve in coverage, but unquestionably has an All-American-caliber ceiling. If Clemson has a defensive resurgence this year, which is very possible given the team’s portal additions, Brown will be the biggest reason why.

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Ellis Robinson, CB, Georgia

The second-highest rated cornerback in 247Sports history — behind only Travis Hunter — Robinson emerged as a starter for Georgia last year.  Unsurprisingly, he was awesome. Opposing passers completed only 39.5% of their passes against him and he tied the SEC lead with four interceptions.

Robinson is a starter kit for an elite cornerback. He’s not overly big at 6-feet and 180 pounds. He is, however, long with sub-4.5-second speed in the 40, a 40-inch vertical, elite ball skills and an excellent feel for space.

Leonard Moore of Notre Dame enters the 2026 season as the nation’s top cornerback. Robinson may not pass him for that title, but he will be among the SEC’s best overall players.  

Ty Benefield, S, LSU

It’s OK if you haven’t watched a lot of Boise State football the last few seasons. Let me give you the rundown on Benefield — he covers space like an all-star center fielder. There are few safeties in the sport with Benefield’s range. He covers open field with ease and has done it since his freshman year in 2023. Benefield has 235 tackles, 18 TFLs and five interceptions in his career.

Benefield could improve as a tackler, and will have to adjust to the speed of the SEC. But he’s as good as it gets at safety in the FBS. Given his new stage in Baton Rouge — much like Mansoor Delane this year — expect Benefield to emerge as a national name. 

From the start of the offseason in early January, the Minnesota Vikings’ decision to retain defensive tackle Jalen Redmond for 2026 felt like the team’s most obvious no-brainer. That came to fruition on Wednesday, as the club tendered the breakout defender.

Minnesota secured Redmond with a tender, preserving iDL continuity while leaving room for a longer deal.

The Vikings cleared the path for Redmond to be back for a third season while it negotiates a long-term deal.

Redmond’s Return Stabilizes Minnesota’s Interior DL

Redmond fans, you are in luck.

Vikings Tender Redmond

Find your Wolf of Wall Street gifs because Redmond ain’t leavin’.

NBC Sports‘ Charean Williams wrote Wednesday, “The Vikings are placing a restricted free agent tender on defensive lineman Jalen Redmond, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports. Redmond, 26, appeared in all 17 games for the Vikings last season, starting 15 games. He totaled 62 tackles, six sacks, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and five pass breakups.”

“He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent, signing with the Panthers out of Oklahoma in 2023. Redmond went on the physically unable to perform list during his first training camp, and the Panthers cut him. Redmond played with the Arlington Renegades in the XFL in 2024, and then caught on with the Vikings that summer.”

Pound for pound, Redmond might’ve been the Vikings’ second-best player overall in 2025; now he’s back. The maneuver ensures Redmond cannot talk to other teams in free agency, and the working theory suggests he’ll work with the Vikings’ front office on a long-term extension.

“Other” Two DTs Jettisoned

While it’s encouraging that Redmond will stick around for another season and probably multiple, the Vikings have cleaned house at defensive tackle in the last week.

In 2025 free agency, former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah spent big on Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. One year later, both are out, on tap as cap casualties when the new league year opens on Wednesday. Neither man played poorly last season; the duo just didn’t quite live up to their contract prices.

Redmond didn’t see reduced playing time because of Allen or Hargrave — he was too good to sit — but now Redmond is close to being known as “the guy” for Minnesota at DT if he isn’t already.

In short, Redmond’s stock is climbing, while his teammates will be looking for work.

Redmond’s Last Two Seasons

Redmond earned a 72.7 PFF grade and recorded six sacks from the interior, ranking 11th among NFL defensive tackles. He also led the league in batted passes among DTs, demonstrating consistent pressure on quarterbacks. The film confirms the statistics: Redmond was a disruptive force from the interior.

His performance provided Adofo-Mensah with a crucial success in player evaluation. After a disappointing 2022 draft class and a 2023 class largely dependent on Jordan Addison’s performance, Redmond made an immediate impact. His emergence provided the front office’s scouting department with a clear success story that mattered at the time.

Heading into 2024, Redmond needed to prove his previous season wasn’t an anomaly, a challenge he quickly met. Vikings fans recognize the type: the under-the-radar defender who transforms games while the rest of the league was just starting to notice.

Our Janik Eckardt on Redmond: “It was not the first time his football career was delayed. In college at Oklahoma, blood clots cost him some time and later, he opted out during COVID for the same reason. Despite excellent play in the preseason in 2024, he was initially stashed on the practice squad.”

“A few weeks into the season, the Vikings promoted him to the 53-man roster and he slowly carved out a role on the defensive line. Last training camp, Redmond showed enough promise that the Vikings felt comfortable moving on from Harrison Phillips. The veteran was traded to the Jets, opening the door for Redmond to play a massive role.”

To this day, casual NFL fans don’t really know anything about Redmond.

The Pleasantest of Surprises

When Minnesota signed Redmond in the summer of 2024, he truly felt like a footnote, a guy who’d battle for a roster spot at training camp, and in his best-case scenario, get an invitation to the practice squad.

He quickly proved that he was too good to cut. Within a couple of months, Redmond had clawed his way up the depth chart, leaving Vikings fans to wonder if “every dog has his day.” UFL success stories aren’t plentiful, but Redmond is emphatically one of them.

It’s why fans took notice in January when Minnesota signed another UFL defensive tackle named Jaylon Hutchings. There’s now precedent for hope — thanks to Redmond.

It’s unclear when Redmond will land an extension, but that deal could register $15 million annually, and no one would be too shocked.

Redmond will turn 27 in one week.

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson is looking to channel both the club’s storied FA Cup history and his own remarkable past triumphs as the Red Dragons prepare to face Chelsea in the fifth round this Saturday.

The mention of the FA Cup in North Wales inevitably conjures memories of Wrexham’s stunning 2-1 comeback victory over Arsenal in 1992, when the then-Fourth Division side famously toppled the Gunners with late goals from Mickey Thomas and Steve Watkin.

This season, they have already demonstrated their giant-killing credentials, eliminating Premier League Nottingham Forest 4-3 on penalties in the third round following a thrilling 3-3 draw at home.

Parkinson himself holds a special place in his heart for encounters with Chelsea, having masterminded Bradford’s incredible 4-2 win at Stamford Bridge in a fourth-round tie back in 2015, a match where his side recovered from a two-goal deficit.

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“I was thinking about it this week leading into the game,” Parkinson reflected on that memorable day.

“The build-up to that, the preparations and the principles we took into the game. We were two down but playing well in the game. We didn’t let it knock us, we kept believing and stuck to the game plan and got the goal back before half-time. Obviously it was a memorable second half!”

He intends to instil that same belief in his current squad.

“We mentioned that to the players, on Saturday everything is possible. I think you’ve got to go into every game believing and if not you may as well not turn up.

“We’ve got to go in with belief but also an understanding of the underdog mentality and what boxes we’ve got to tick to make this evening as difficult as possible for Chelsea.”

That famous victory over Chelsea came two years after Parkinson guided League Two Bradford to the League Cup final, underscoring his impressive record in cup competitions.

At Wrexham, he oversaw a 4-3 win against Championship side Coventry during their National League days in 2022-23, subsequently pushing Premier League-bound Sheffield United to a replay in the next round before their exit.

With three consecutive promotions now under their belt, Wrexham are currently a formidable force in the Championship, occupying a play-off spot and enjoying a run of three straight wins, suggesting their cup exploits are anything but a distraction.

“When we beat Ipswich (in the fourth round) we spoke to the lads about putting the Chelsea game on the backburner, concentrate on the league form,” he explained. “We go into this weekend with an ‘everything to gain, nothing to lose’ mindset, but also in a strong position in the league.”

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Wrexham’s impressive trajectory has fans dreaming of a fourth promotion and eventual Premier League football, making Saturday’s tie a crucial barometer of their readiness for the next level.

“All through the divisions we’ve had cup ties, like when we played Coventry and Sheffield United, and we’ve spoken to the players about having that test against better quality players, tactically and their physical power, of the next level,” Parkinson added.

“This is the next stage for us against a team of Chelsea’s quality. The main thing on the night is to bring our best performance, but also for ourselves, to see where we are individually and collectively against a team of this standing.”

The University of Michigan has not renewed the contract of the female football staffer who was suspected to have been in a relationship with fired coach Sherrone Moore.

A university spokesperson confirmed the departure to Fox News Digital on Wednesday. 

“Her contract expired and was not renewed,” the spokesperson said. 

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Former Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore, second from right, walks with his wife, Kelli Moore, left, and his attorney, Ellen K. Michaels, right, towards the courtroom, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Moore allegedly maintained an inappropriate, yearslong relationship with the staffer, despite him being married with multiple children.

Court documents obtained by Fox News Digital revealed allegations made by the staffer’s attorney, Heidi Sharp, on the day that Moore allegedly entered her home without permission, which later resulted in his arrest. 

Det. Jessica Welker of the Pittsfield Township Police Department testified in court that the staffer called Sharp after Moore entered the residence and refused to leave. Sharp then told emergency dispatch that Moore was inside of her client’s home “attacking her.”

The woman accused Moore of continuing to approach her until she was able to get her attorney on the phone, at which point he “immediately backed up and turned the knives on himself, pointing them at his neck, saying that he was going to kill himself and that she was going to watch.”

Then-Michigan Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore looks on during the college football game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Illinois Fighting Illini on Oct. 19, 2024, at Memorial Stadium, in Champaign, Illinois. (Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Moore then left the staffer’s residence and was later taken into custody by law enforcement, where he denied physically attacking the staffer.

The staffer, whose LinkedIn profile listed her as an executive assistant to the head football coach at the University of Michigan, earned just over $58,000 in 2023 and 2024, according to public payroll information. In the 2025 fiscal year, though, her salary jumped to $99,000, according to a salary disclosure report from the University of Michigan.

That’s a 70.62% increase year-over-year — even higher than the figure circulating social media right now, via UMSalary.info.

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Former Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore, center, appears in the courtroom, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Moore, who faces felony home invasion, stalking and illegal entry charges, scored a legal victory last month when a judge granted a request for a hearing to learn more about the investigation that led to criminal charges against him.

Judge J. Cedric Simpson, who is presiding, expressed concern that a police detective didn’t disclose Moore’s employer-employee relationship with the woman when a magistrate authorized a warrant for his arrest. Simpson described it as a “glaring omission.”

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Former AEW star Danhausen had a somewhat underwhelming debut at WWE Elimination Chamber 2026. An All Elite Wrestling veteran has addressed the incident, seemingly explaining why.

For weeks before Elimination Chamber, WWE teased a potential new arrival to the promotion through a mystery crate bearing the message ‘open on Feb 28, 2026’ (the date of the Chamber). When the crate was finally opened at the pay-per-view, outcame ex-AEW star Danhausen to a relatively mild reception. The Very Nice, Very Evil star’s arrival then became a topic of discussion, with many giving their two cents on why it was underwhelming. The latest to join that discussion is AEW commentator and wrestling legend Jim Ross.

Talking on the latest episode of his Grillin’ JR podcast, the veteran noted that Danhausen was placed in a tough position, especially since it was WrestleMania season, and believed that the 35-year-old was not ready for the moment.

“It’s like WrestleMania, for God’s sake. You just don’t… I don’t know, it put Danhausen in a tough spot. Was he ready for that moment? I don’t think he was. I think there are a lot of people who didn’t even know who the hell he was,” said JR [H/T: Ringside]

Check out his comments in the video below:

Ex-AEW star Danhausen will reportedly appear at this week’s WWE SmackDown

Despite his Elimination Chamber reveal receiving mixed reviews, PWInsider reported that WWE officials were pleasantly surprised by Danhausen’s pull, as his merchandise sales brought in strong numbers. The report also noted that the Very Nice, Very Evil star will appear this Friday night on Smackdown.

“Per PWInsider, WWE officials are said to be “pleasantly surprised” with the merchandise numbers Danhausen has generated since debuting with the company. Danhausen is also expected to appear on this Friday’s episode of SmackDown.”

It will be interesting to see what WWE has planned for Danhausen on SmackDown this Friday.