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The concept of “my guys” is essentially a prospect you would pound the table for and/or someone that you are higher on than the consensus boards. In 2024, some notable prospects for me included Cam Hart, Michael Penix, DJ Glaze, Dylan McMahon, Jalyx Hunt, Graham Barton, Ruke Orhorohoro, and Brandon Dorlus. 2025 saw some notable names such as Jacory Merritt, Konata Mumpfield, Efton Chism, Charles Grant, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Darien Porter, and Zah Frazier. With that in mind, let’s jump into the 2026 combine edition:
*Some players when I release this in April will stay the same, but others will change as boards move and I have scouted more prospects, I have around another 250 to go*. Additionally, here was my “My Guys” in November:
For notes, in November I posted my midseason “my guys” which included Cole Payton, Barika Kpeenu, Elijah Sarratt, Eli Stowers, Max Iheanachor, Emmanuel Pregnon, Keylan Rutledge, Clev Lubin, Whit Weeks, D’Angelo Ponds, and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
QB Athan Kaliakmanis, Rutgers
My Grade: Mid 4th | Consensus: 7th round
The 6’4, 210 quarterback ranks as a top five quarterback in the class for me, after tossing 63%, 3124 yards, 22 touchdowns, and seven interceptions last season. Kaliakmanis doesn’t have true NFL starter traits, but he showcases good processing, improvements with his accuracy, a strong arm, and ability to consistently hit NFL style throws. Additionally, Kaliakmanis reminds me heavily of Raiders backup QB Aidan O’Connell, and the two should have similar careers. He’s not a true threat with his legs, but showcases an ability to scramble, has consistent mechanics & footwork, and overall should be a backup QB in the NFL for a foreseeable future.
RB Desmond Reid, Pitt
My Grade: Mid-Late 3rd | Consensus: 5th round
Reid is an explosive playmaker, his biggest dings will be his size at 5’8, 175 and he’s an average blocker given this. Additionally, Reid does struggle in his power aspects but he’s an incredibly shifty runner with elite impacts on three phases. He posted 466 attempts, 2806 yards, and 23 touchdowns on the ground in his career with 120 career forced missed tackles and 1600 yards after contact. As a receiver he added 110 attempts, 1331 yards, and eight touchdowns with a career 17 punt returns for 256 yards and two touchdowns in his career. Reid is an explosive playmaker, showcases elite vision, and shifty lower body in space. Additionally, he has an excellent first and second step with a second gear allowing him to consistently be a homerun threat.
RB J’Mari Taylor, Virginia
My Grade: Late 4th | Consensus: Mid 6th
Taylor is a little undersized at 5’9, 205 but he showcases exceptional burst and quickness in open space. Taylor has a phenomenal first step that helps him get into the attempt and he’s an extremely patient runner. The 23 year old has a career 557 attempts for 2846 yards, and 36 touchdowns while forcing 134 missed tackles, with 1900 yards after contact. Taylor provides value as a blocker utilizing his lower body power to anchor and drive blockers back, while also being a balanced rusher with the ability to consistently keep his legs moving and fight for yards. He’s a limited receiver, but a strong safety outlet and works well with the ball in his hands in space, having a career 94 receptions, 852 yards, and nine touchdowns. Taylor showcases the skills be to a strong backup RB in the NFL and is similar to Bears standout Kyle Monangai.
WR Eric McAlister, TCU
My Grade: Early 3rd | Consensus: Mid 5th
McAlister does have a small off field issue which could be knocking his value down, but the 6’3, 205 receiver is an absolute playmaker. McAlister has a career 151 receptions, 2887 yards, and 22 touchdowns including 63 receptions for 1104 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2025. He has an electric first step, showcases elite burst off the LOS and is a fluid route runner with the ability to drop his hips and break on his routes. McAlister does struggled as a contested catch receiver with a poor 45% rate in his career, and he can get boxed out a little too often. He converts to a runner quickly and is a threat in the open field with a 95th percentile in YAC/reception at 8.2 in 2025.
WR Caleb Douglas, Texas Tech
My Grade: Early 5th | Consensus: Late 6th
The Texas Tech receiver has some intriguing traits, and his 40 time will be important to teams most likely. The 6’4, 205 receiver hauled in 53 receptions, 823 yards, and seven touchdowns last season for the Red Raiders and did well with a 2.05 yards/route run meeting NFL thresholds. additionally, he’s a capable receiver after the catch but isn’t elite. Where Douglas wins is his route running, showing an innate ability to cut sharply, and explode in his second step to create separation. Douglas saw his route tree improved in 2025, seeing a higher rate of corner, post, and out route concepts compared to his 2024 season. He did have a down year with drops at a 10.2% rate but has a career 4% mark so shouldn’t be taken too serious. Douglas will be a productive depth receiver in the NFL and could crack 400 yards in multiple seasons.
TE Jack Velling, Michigan State
My Grade: Mid-Late 5th | Consensus: UDFA
Velling has a massive 6’5, 250 frame and runs like a buffalo, yes that’s from my scouting report word for word. Velling has a career 115 receptions, 1465 yards, and 15 touchdowns including 359 yards and three touchdowns in 2025 on 36 receptions. Velling has impressive YAC skills with an explosive release and quickly converts to a runner with good speed in the open field. He’s a tough tackle, showcasing good strength and power to fight for extra yards. Additionally, Velling does showcase the ability to block but isn’t necessarily going to be an NFL blocking TE. He struggles with technique, but his violence and strength will play at the NFL level. Velling is a quality TE2-3 at the next level, and he shows the athleticism to translate. He’s an electric contested catch receiver with an innate ability to go out of frame and make highlight reel catches.
TE Justin Joly, NC State
My Grade: Early 3rd | Consensus: Late 4th
Joly’s rankings all over the place with some having him as a top 80 prospects and others having him outside the top 150. Joly is an athlete, there’s no denying that, he’s an elite receiver and an extremely active post catch producer. The 6’3, 252 pound 21 year old has logged 1912 yards and fourteen touchdowns in his career on 160 receptions. He pairs his athleticism with high end route running at the position and extremely strong hands that are able to go out of frame and catch majority of attempts put in a position for him to grab. He’s posted a career 5.8 yards after contact per reception ranking in the 90th percentile and also has a 71% career contested catch rate including 19 for 27 the last two seasons at NC State. Joly has an elite second gear and can generate a ton of yardage post catch.
OT JC Davis, Illinois
My Grade: Mid 3rd | Consensus: Early 4th
Davis has an NFL frame at 6’5, 335 and also shows high end athletic traits. He’s an exceptional mover in space and has incredible quickness when pulling across formation or getting into the open field. Davis allowed just 8 sacks and 57 pressures in his college career, while also severely cutting down on his limiting penalties in 2025 going from 9 in 2024 to just 1. Additionally, Davis showcases good strength at the POA and his large frame helps him anchor and get push as a run blocker. He’s logged 100% of his career snaps at LT, but does have the necessary skill set to kick into guard if necessary. The 23 year old, blends strength & power with extremely active hands, fluid hips, and consistent footwork. While he’s likely at his ceiling, Davis does have the ability to start for the foreseeable future in the NFL.
OT Nolan Rucci, Penn State
My Grade: Late 5th | Consensus: Early 7th
Rucci has only logged 1049 career snaps, which likely causes questions on his profile. The 6’7, 305 pound tackle will slot into RT in the NFL similar to his time at Wisconsin and Penn State. Rucci has allowed just 2 sacks and 28 pressures with 2 penalties in his 500 pass block attempts, but showcases NFL level athleticism, strong hands, and extremely active feet in pass protection. He’s a fluid mover as a run blocker, utilizing his footwork and hip flexibility with good athleticism as well. Rucci has long arms, a big frame, and a ton of traits to work with at the NFL level. He’s a raw prospect but showcases very good traits, upside, and has limited wear on his body. Rucci will be a developmental tackle but someone you bank on athletically.
OG Billy Schrauth, Notre Dame
My Grade: Early 3rd | Consensus: Mid 4th
Schrauth, 6’4, 310 has a massive NFL frame and experience across the offensive line which should increase his value in the NFL. He’s appeared in 1100 snaps in his three year career at Notre Dame with 700 at LG, 121 at center, and 309 at right guard. He’s allowed just 2 sacks and 15 pressures, largely in part to his blend of power and athleticism where Schrauth showcases elite lower body agility, a quick first step, and explosive lower body power. Additionally, he pairs this with heavy violent hands, light feet, and consistent footwork. Schrauth is able to uphold in run blocking with good anchor ability and consistently drives his legs forward creating a large gap and then working to the second level. He’s had injury concerns in his career which has knocked him down the board, but the talent is clear, and he’s a clear cut day 1 starter in the NFL at guard.
OC/G Matt Gulbin, Michigan State
My Grade: Early 3rd | Consensus: Late 4th
Gulbin is a fascinating prospect, the 6’4, 315 pound center has experience at LG, C, and RG along with 94 snaps at tackle. He’s allowed 5 sacks and 43 pressures in 2300 career snaps. Gulbin recently played guard for the Spartans in 2025, but he’ll pivot back to center more than likely going forward. He shows elite athleticism, with fluid hips, and feet that work in unison a strong powerful upper body and core, along with advanced technique for the position. Gulbin, works well in a zone blocking system and he’s extremely nimble and athletic which allows him to quickly get off the LOS and get to the second level. He shows a good first step, plays with a low pad level, and is highly refined utilizing leverage, and in his hand combat skills. Gulbin is rising up boards rather quickly, and should be a consensus day 2 prospect by April.