NFL · 6 hours ago

The Big Risk: 10 Boom Or Bust College Stars for the 2026 NFL Draft

Grant White

Host · Writer

10) Jeremiyah Love, RB - Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 214

This choice will surprise many, but top-ranked running backs rarely live up to the hype. Unreasonable expectations are often the culprit for underachieving, and that's Jeremiyah Love's cross to bear. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back will be the first running back called in Pittsburgh.

Over the past couple of seasons, Love was one of the most productive running backs in the country. And there's an argument to be made that he was capable of much more. The St. Louis native totaled nearly 2,500 rushing yards with an eye-popping 35 touchdowns. That's without even considering his 500+ receiving yards and five receiving scores.

Running backs aren't valued as they used to be, but that didn't stop Love from finishing as a Heisman Trophy finalist. Whichever team drafts him will expect Love to sustain that production at the professional level. If he fails to deliver early, as young running backs often do, his development could stall. How Love responds to the adversity will go a long way in determining his NFL longevity.

We fall into the trap of assuming running backs are sure things, but Love wouldn't be the first college star to have a short NFL career if he falters. We're hoping for more from Love.
2026 NFL Draft: Boom-or-Bust
Every year is an audition, and you're only as good as your last snap played. That's the tough reality NFL prospects face every season as they try to make the professional jump. The 2026 NFL Draft is no different. Teams have spent the past year tracking players and creating draft boards in hopes of hitting it big in Pittsburgh.

There are 257 picks in this year's draft. Some of those names will go on to craft Hall of Fame careers, while others will never live up to the hype.

These are the 10 players with boom-or-bust potential in the 2026 NFL Draft.
1) Arvell Reese, LB - Ohio State Buckeyes
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 243

Arvell Reese has seemingly come out of nowhere (from the preseason) to be one of the top names on the draft board. The consensus top-five selection went from a bench player with the Ohio State Buckeyes to a Consensus All-American in a matter of months. That meteoric rise could precipitate an even more disastrous fall in the NFL.

The difference between greatness and oblivion can be small. On the field, Reese, a raw talent, still has a lot of growing up to do. There's room for improvement in his development, and questions remain about his ideal position at the next level. But if everything comes together for Reese under the right tutelage, we could be looking at a generational talent for years to come.
2) Jordyn Tyson, WR - Arizona State Sun Devils
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 200

The modern NFL game is predicated on passing. We've seen more teams turn their focus to elite pass-catchers early in the draft, and Jordyn Tyson is among the top-ranked wideouts in this year's class. Constant improvement has been the hallmark of his collegiate success, but Tyson won't spend much time on the field unless he learns to hang onto the football.

Back in 2022, the Arizona State Sun Devils prospect had a successful freshman campaign. Tyson went off for 470 yards on just 22 receptions, showcasing his elite speed and quickness. From there, he redshirted in 2023 before busting out with a 1,107-yard effort as a redshirt sophomore. While he fell slightly off the pace this past season, Tyson's route-running ability and elusiveness were on full display every time he stepped onto the field.

Despite all of his successes, Tyson tends to lose focus at different points. He's had a few ugly drops and can get lost on deep routes. Moreover, injuries have impacted his time on the field in every collegiate campaign. Those are some noticeable red flags that could inhibit his success at the next level. Still, it's tough not to love his NFL potential.
3) Ty Simpson, QB - Alabama Crimson Tide
Height: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 208

Quarterbacks have the most unforgiving path to NFL greatness. You either have it, or you don't, and teams are unwilling to bet their franchise success on more than a couple of years of development. Ty Simpson will have to pick things up quickly if he hopes to saddle up long-term in the NFL.

We're looking at a small sample of Simpson data. He had just one year of starting experience with the Alabama Crimson Tide and was prone to dry spells when it mattered most. He looked lost in the playoffs and is a little undersized by NFL quarterback standards. Nevertheless, when he was at his best, Ty Simpson looked like a Heisman Trophy candidate and the second-best quarterback in the country.

Someone will take Simpson early in the draft. With that, they will expect him to step up when called upon and be an above-average starter. But if we see him make some of the same mistakes he did in college, Simpson will quickly be stapled to the bench, never to be seen again.
4) Akheem Mesidor, EDGE - Miami (FL) Hurricanes
Height: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 280

This was the season we were waiting for. After five less-than-stellar campaigns, things finally came together for Akheem Mesidor. The Miami (FL) Hurricanes edge rusher totaled 63 tackles, 12.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles. Still, Mesidor won't be afforded a six-year runway to figure things out in the NFL.

Mesidor will be 25 years old by the time the NFL Draft rolls around. Typically, that's a time in most football players' lives when they've gotten acclimated to the pro game and are starting to solidify their positions on rosters. Yet Mesidor will be entering his first training camp looking to make an immediate impact. He'll need to be the best player in rookie camp before quickly transitioning to OTAs and competing against starters.

There's an argument to be made that the Canadian is already operating at full potential, and development years in the NFL are unlikely to afford him much growth. Mesidor's career depends on him making a seamless transition to the NFL and proving that 2025 wasn't a fluke.
5) Kenyon Sadiq, TE - Oregon Ducks
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 245

It's not a particularly strong tight end class at the top, and some team will be tempted to go out and draft Kenyon Sadiq earlier than expected. Unless that team is willing to work with his weaknesses, it's better to let Sadiq slip to the next pick.

Inarguably, Sadiq is the premier pass-catching tight end in the draft; however, he lacks some of the physical attributes we typically expect from game-changing tight ends. The Oregon Duck tallied 560 receiving yards on 51 receptions, but looked outmatched at times as a blocker.

This is a pass-catching tight end through and through. With that, Sadiq is not well-suited for blocking schemes and could get roughed up at the line of scrimmage if he's asked to chip before running routes. Whichever team drafts him needs to keep that in mind. A physically beat-up or mentally defeated Sadiq will not help your team win. Deployed appropriately, Sadiq has plenty of potential.
6) R Mason Thomas, EDGE - Oklahoma Sooners
Height: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 249

There is no margin for error for R Mason Thomas. His motor fires non-stop, but he'll have to overcome some size and strength limitations to match his projected draft spot in the NFL.

Granted, Thomas will likely slide into the early second round before being drafted. Still, there are expectations at every slot, and even a second-round pick is counted on to deliver early in their NFL journey. The Oklahoma Sooners linebacker is one of the quickest defenders out there, but doesn't compromise on power. Those attributes offset some of his size concerns, but those shortcomings will come into focus in the NFL.

Whichever team drafts Thomas needs to be thoughtful about his usage. Maybe he's an off-ball linebacker best suited for run defense coverage. Maybe he can overwhelm with his speed off the edge in the NFL. Using him in the right schemes and circumstances is the key to tapping into Thomas' full potential.
7) Avieon Terrell, CB - Clemson Tigers
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 180

There is a lot to like about Avieon Terrell's potential. There are also a few question marks that could limit his impact in the NFL. The athletic cornerback is a first-round talent, but it's not a given that he provides the type of every-down coverage that's needed.

Athleticism was Terrell's defining characteristic at Clemson. He was able to adapt to inside or outside coverage looks and could recover on any play, irrespective of release or route. But at 5'11", Terrell will need to use every ounce of athletic ability to defend against the modern-day receiver.

Terrell needs to get better at diagnosing at the line of scrimmage and be less reliant on his athletic ability to make plays. With a few minor adjustments, we could see him flourish in the NFL. Without it, he will fall quickly.
8) Caleb Banks, DT - Florida Gators
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 330

Injuries may have limited Caleb Banks's production in 2025, but there's still a lot to like about the Florida Gators' defensive lineman. At the end of the 2024 campaign, Banks looked like a guaranteed top 10 pick, and we still believe he's capable of performing at that level.

You can't teach size, and Banks is an A+ prospect in that regard. Standing 6'6" and weighing 335 lbs, the Detroit native has the physical attributes of a Pro Bowl lineman. Despite those advantages, we've seen Banks give way to smaller offensive linemen at times. He struggles to disengage from blocks and fatigues on extended drives.

Conditioning may be the biggest factor impacting Banks's presumed success in the NFL. If he can stay healthy and maximize cardiovascular endurance, we could see Banks in the Pro Bowl for years to come. If he falters, Banks' time in the NFL could be short-lived.
9) KC Concepcion, WR - Texas A&M Aggies
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 190

Standing 5'11", KC Concepcion fits the mold of a slot receiver. But with average speed and underwhelming blocking abilities, KC Concepcion needs to round out his game to ensure a long and productive NFL career.

The Texas A&M Aggies' receiver had two incredible seasons in college and one dud. He's coming off a 919-yard effort in 2025, surpassing the 839 yards he had as a freshman. But his 460 yards as a sophomore left a lot to be desired. Throughout his tenure, Concepcion showed elite quickness off the line of scrimmage and an innate ability to get yards with the ball in his hands. At times, he also lacked the toughness we expect to see from slot receivers.

With the ball in his hands, Concepcion is a rare talent, but he's got to exorcise a few demons to stay on an NFL roster. He'll have his fair share of chances to make an impact, but unless he retools his approach, those passes will eventually go to someone else.
10) Jeremiyah Love, RB - Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 214

This choice will surprise many, but top-ranked running backs rarely live up to the hype. Unreasonable expectations are often the culprit for underachieving, and that's Jeremiyah Love's cross to bear. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back will be the first running back called in Pittsburgh.

Over the past couple of seasons, Love was one of the most productive running backs in the country. And there's an argument to be made that he was capable of much more. The St. Louis native totaled nearly 2,500 rushing yards with an eye-popping 35 touchdowns. That's without even considering his 500+ receiving yards and five receiving scores.

Running backs aren't valued as they used to be, but that didn't stop Love from finishing as a Heisman Trophy finalist. Whichever team drafts him will expect Love to sustain that production at the professional level. If he fails to deliver early, as young running backs often do, his development could stall. How Love responds to the adversity will go a long way in determining his NFL longevity.

We fall into the trap of assuming running backs are sure things, but Love wouldn't be the first college star to have a short NFL career if he falters. We're hoping for more from Love.
2026 NFL Draft: Boom-or-Bust
Every year is an audition, and you're only as good as your last snap played. That's the tough reality NFL prospects face every season as they try to make the professional jump. The 2026 NFL Draft is no different. Teams have spent the past year tracking players and creating draft boards in hopes of hitting it big in Pittsburgh.

There are 257 picks in this year's draft. Some of those names will go on to craft Hall of Fame careers, while others will never live up to the hype.

These are the 10 players with boom-or-bust potential in the 2026 NFL Draft.