Underrated Stars to Watch at 2026 NFL Combine
The 2026 NFL Combine is one of those stages where college football stars can either cement their draft status or suddenly boost their profiles. Most of the spotlight usually lands on the top-ranked prospects, but honestly, there are a bunch of players who’ve put up big numbers in college and still don’t get the national attention they probably deserve.
This post shines a light on ten of those guys. They didn’t crack CBS Sports’ top 200 NFL Draft prospect rankings, but they’ve still got a shot to turn heads and maybe even change minds at the combine.
We’re talking quarterbacks with wild passing stats and defenders who always seem to be in the backfield. These guys have done the work on the field, and now they get a shot to show off in Indianapolis.
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Quarterbacks to Watch
Carson Beck
Carson Beck came back for a sixth and final college season, leading Miami all the way to the College Football Playoff National Championship game. His career numbers are no joke: 11,725 passing yards and 88 touchdowns.
Still, his draft stock hasn’t really taken off. He actually has a 2.8 touchdown-to-interception ratio, which is better than four of the five quarterbacks ahead of him in CBS Sports’ rankings.
With 43 career starts between Georgia and Miami, Beck’s got more experience than just about anyone. In the right system, he’s shown he can get the job done and win games.
Haynes King
Haynes King has already made his mark at Georgia Tech, ranking in the top five all-time with 7,923 passing yards and 55 touchdowns. He’s also third in school history with 36 rushing touchdowns—so yeah, he’s a real dual threat.
King is one of just four Power Five quarterbacks since 2016 to average at least 245 passing yards and 75 rushing yards per game in a season. There are some durability concerns, but his production and athleticism make him pretty interesting.
Diego Pavia
Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt’s Heisman Trophy runner-up, gets questioned for his size—he measured just under 5-foot-10 at the Senior Bowl. Still, you can’t argue with his numbers.
Pavia is one of only five FBS quarterbacks since 2016 to hit 10,000 passing yards, 80 passing touchdowns, and 30 rushing scores. He’s probably a Day 3 pick, but if he shows out at the combine, who knows?
Running Backs and Receivers
Roman Hemby
Roman Hemby made the move from Maryland to Indiana and ended up playing a huge role in their national championship run. He’s the only back in this draft class with at least 3,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards.
Only Nicholas Singleton (Penn State) has more career all-purpose yards than Hemby’s 4,851. Hemby might not be a household name, but his production is tough to ignore.
CJ Daniels
CJ Daniels bounced from Liberty to LSU and then Miami over six years. He put up four seasons with at least 400 receiving yards, including a 1,000-yard year in 2023 at Liberty.
His run-after-catch skills and pure speed aren’t elite, but the guy can run routes, catch, and time his plays. The combine should be a good place for him to show off the details in his game.
Caullin Lacy
Caullin Lacy hauled in 287 catches during his college career, even though he played just five games in 2024 because of injury. He also racked up 1,767 return yards and four touchdowns on special teams.
His route-running and ball skills could use some polish, but his versatility really stands out. Teams love that kind of flexibility, right?
Defensive Standouts
Aidan Hubbard
Aidan Hubbard was a steady force for Northwestern, piling up 20.5 sacks, 105 tackles, and 26.5 tackles for loss over three seasons. You can see the athleticism on tape, but the combine’s a big chance for him to prove he has the strength and burst to stick as a full-time edge guy in the pros.
Aiden Fisher
Aiden Fisher nearly hit 100 tackles in each of his last three seasons. After transferring from James Madison, he became a national champion and a first-team All-American at Indiana.
He totaled 322 tackles over three years—pretty wild. Fisher’s instincts and leadership are his calling cards, but he’ll need to show at the combine that he has enough range and athletic upside for the next level.
Jalen Huskey
Jalen Huskey is one of just three FBS defensive backs with at least three interceptions in each of the last three seasons. His 11 picks since 2023 are tied for second most in the FBS over that stretch.
He’s always around the ball, thanks to his instincts and ball skills. The big question for Huskey at the combine is whether he’s got the speed and quickness to keep up with NFL receivers.
Tight Ends
Tanner Koziol
Tanner Koziol has 54 more career receptions than the next closest tight end since 2016. Between his three seasons at Ball State and his last at Houston in 2025, Koziol totaled 2,234 yards receiving and 24 touchdowns on 237 catches.
The production really jumps off the page, doesn’t it? Even so, Koziol still has to prove he’s more than just a reliable set of hands—he’ll need to show a bit more athleticism at the combine if he wants teams to see him as something beyond a situational, catch-only tight end.
The 2026 NFL Combine is shaping up to be a wild ride for under-the-radar players like Koziol. If you’re curious for more details or want to keep tabs on these prospects, check out CBS Sports.
