Trinidad Chambliss states his case, Rueben Bain Jr. dominates again: NFL Draft takeaways
SOURCE:The Athletic|BY:Nick Baumgardner and Dane Brugler
Which other 2026 NFL Draft prospects stood out during the College Football Playoff quarterfinals?
The College Football Playoff quarterfinal round started and ended with high drama, and there was plenty in all four games for NFL front offices to digest as they look ahead to the 2026 NFL Draft.
Which prospects took full advantage of the big Playoff stage to open some eyes? Did we learn anything new about some of the players we’ve been discussing all season? Our draft experts, Dane Brugler and Nick Baumgardner, break down what they saw.
Dane Brugler: Trinidad Chambliss, I believe. What an unbelievable performance by the Ole Miss quarterback. By now, everyone knows about his path from the Division II ranks to the SEC, and the Rebels obviously are still alive in this year’s Playoff. But what about next year? Will the NCAA approve Chambliss’ waiver for one more year of college eligibility, and if so, would Chambliss stay at Ole Miss or follow Lane Kiffin, his former head coach, to LSU?
Or, regardless of the waiver decision, might Chambliss make the jump to the NFL? He has established himself as a draftable player based on his 2025 tape, so could this playoff push get him into the Day 2 range? What Chambliss lacks in size and elite physical traits, he makes up for with playmaking instincts and a competitive toughness that’s coveted at the position.
NFL teams will be closely following Chambliss’ 2026 decision.
The playmaking instincts of Trinidad Chambliss are ridiculous.
Nick Baumgardner: That’s two big-time Playoff performances by Chambliss. If he has to (or wants to) go to the draft, he’ll certainly be in the mix on Day 3 — maybe earlier — and will be among the more intriguing options in that tier of quarterbacks. If the NCAA grants his waiver, he’ll be a hot commodity in college football for the 2026 season.
For Georgia, Zachariah Branch has been one of my favorite smaller-bodied receivers this season. He’s everything Georgia is about, in terms of toughness and consistency, and his ability to make plays after the catch or adjust to poor throws really added something to the Bulldogs offense that we hadn’t seen in a while.
Also, QB Gunner Stockton is a tough football player. It’s easy to see why Georgia believes in him.
2. Which Rose Bowl performance will cause more movement on NFL boards: Fernando Mendoza’s or that of his supporting cast?
Brugler: Neither? Indiana played exactly how I expected it to. The Hoosiers have set a high bar this season and, once again, lived up to it. Maybe I’ll feel differently after watching the tape, but this felt more like a “check the box” game for their prospects.
Alabama came out blitzing in the first quarter, which got Indiana’s offense off-balance early, but Mendoza made the adjustments. On his first touchdown pass, he diagnosed the blitz pre-snap and knew he had numbers to give the slot post time to develop. He put the ball where only Charlie Becker could make the catch. (By the way, Becker is a true sophomore, so he’s not draft-eligible yet, but he might be the best receiver prospect on this team.)
Indiana’s offensive line played well. Its running backs ran hard and tore up Alabama’s defense. Cornerback D’Angelo Ponds had a strong game, including a forced fumble on Ty Simpson that not only ended a drive but also knocked the Tide quarterback out of the game.
I love watching this Indiana team play ball. It’s extremely well coached and executes at a high level.
Baumgardner: I’ll say this — I hope it boosts some of Indiana’s offensive line. We’ve talked about Carter Smith and his NFL potential before, but it was great to see center Pat Coogan take home Rose Bowl MVP after anchoring another stellar Indiana O-line performance. Frankly, I thought Indiana should’ve won the Joe Moore Award (and am still a bit surprised it didn’t).
Coogan isn’t a physical dynamo, but his football IQ is as good as any interior offensive lineman’s in this class. He was one of the most underrated transfer adds anywhere this season, and he could be an intriguing Day 3 prospect for an NFL team.
The Hoosiers had a rough first drive, then proceeded to take Alabama apart at the line of scrimmage the rest of the way.
Kaelon Black's 25-yard scamper extends the Hoosier lead!
3. Defense — especially Oregon’s — dominated the Orange Bowl. Of all the standouts on that side of the ball, which 2026 draft prospects impressed you most?
Brugler: Jacob Rodriguez is awesome. He earned every award he won. But he wasn’t even the most impactful defensive player on his team this season — that was David Bailey.
And Bailey continued to excel Thursday, creating pressure against two Oregon offensive tackles who will be drafted in April. He also showed how he can impact the game aside from his pass rush, as he knocked down several passes at the line of scrimmage and made quick-read run stops. With the juice he brings off the edge, it is hard to see Bailey falling out of the top 10.
The Red Raiders offense had question marks coming into the game, but that isn’t meant to take away from the defensive performance put on by Oregon. From the defensive line to the linebackers and the secondary, it was a cohesive unit swarming to the football.
I know the question is about 2026 prospects, but I have to mention true freshman cornerback Brandon Finney Jr. because he was one of the best defensive backs I saw on film this year. He finished with two interceptions and was the obvious choice for Orange Bowl Defensive MVP. With his size and playmaking skills, Finney looks like a young Jalen Ramsey.
Baumgardner: It was great to see Oregon edge Matayo Uiagalelei get home for a big strip-sack. The 6-foot-5, 275-pounder (at just 20 years old) has all sorts of potential outside. His build reminds me of Aidan Hutchinson, as did his presence of mind to go for the football on that play and the athleticism to come up with it. I also might compare him to a more souped-up version of J.T. Tuimoloau. He can still run hot and cold, but there is so much to like here. First-round stuff.
DT Lee Hunter showed up on film every time Texas Tech faced a big-time challenge this year, and this game was no exception. He’s massive at 6-3, 330 pounds, and he’s a good lateral mover with quick feet and quick hands. He was a terror at UCF and has been a terror for the Red Raiders this year. He’s had nearly 100 combined run stops over his last three seasons and is as active as anyone in America between the B-gaps.
4. How impressive are Miami edge rushers Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor? We’ve talked a lot about Bain’s potential NFL fit, but could we see both prospects crack the first round?
Brugler: The Bain-Mesidor combo started hot by feasting on Notre Dame’s tackles in the opener, then hit a lull against Louisville and SMU (Miami’s two regular-season losses). But when those two are firing on all cylinders, like in the Playoff wins over Texas A&M and now Ohio State, they are terrifying for the opponent’s pass protection and quarterback.
Bain will be a top-20 pick. Several NFL teams have him graded as a three-technique tackle and are concerned about his body type, but too many defenses are desperate for more pass rush, regardless of what it looks like. Brandon Graham and Melvin Ingram weren’t top-10 picks but made for good values in the teens, and it will be similar with Bain.
Mesidor is a tad different because he will be 25 on draft weekend and has past injury issues that will factor into his final grade. But he is a more diverse pass rusher than Bain and certainly has a role waiting for him in the NFL. He’ll be drafted somewhere on Day 2 and make an immediate impact.
As for Beck, credit to him for managing the game and avoiding mistakes. But he averaged just 5.2 yards per attempt and wasn’t required to push the ball downfield. He didn’t make any throws against the Aggies or Buckeyes that made you sit up and get excited. He looks capable of becoming an NFL backup, but as a player, he’s hitting his head on the ceiling.
Baumgardner: Bain and Mesidor are in similar spots — they’re effective college edge defenders who might be viewed as three-techs by pro scouts. But if we simply look at them for who they are, it’s hard to get too caught up in the measurables. Bain is pretty easily a top-10 talent in this class, and he might even belong in the top five if you think he can be as consistent as we’ve seen him be in the Playoff.
I’m not sure on Mesidor as a first-rounder, though. He’s also built a bit like a tackle/edge tweener, and despite the outstanding year he’s had opposite Bain, I’m still hesitant to say we’ll see this type of pass-rush production consistently in the NFL.
And Beck sort of is who he is at this point. He’s done a nice job taking care of the football and keeping Miami in the right calls so far in the Playoff, but we’ve seen a lot of stuff we can’t unsee, both from his time at Georgia and earlier this year (see: his four picks versus Louisville). He’s a Day 3 prospect.