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Penn State

Which Penn State players made ESPN's top 2026 NFL Draft class positional rankings?

Greg Pickelby: Greg Pickel06/26/25GregPickel
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Cornerback A.J. Harris. (Credit: Steve Manuel | Blue White Illustrated)

Penn State football had a fairly quiet NFL Draft experience in 2025 after the first round, when two players went off the board. That was due, in part, to the high number of Nittany Lions who were eligible to leave but elected to instead return for one final season in blue and white. And that could make the 2026 draft class the largest one the program has ever had. It will also challenge the Franklin-era high-water mark of eight, which has been achieved twice.

ESPN is the latest outlet to offer an opinion on the next pro selection process. Draft analysts Jordan Reid and Matt Miller offered their top five players at each position. Then, they assessed which player was the hardest to rank at each. For Miller, the runaway answer at quarterback was Penn State passer Drew Allar. For what it’s worth, Miller put Allar at No. 5 on his list. Reid had him at No. 4. Both put Clemson passer Cade Klubnik atop their rankings.

“Every quarterback in this class is tough to rank, but Penn State’s passer is the toughest,” Miller writes. “He flashes brilliance with a big arm and good mobility for his 6-foot-5, 238-pound size, but his decision-making is very hit-or-miss, especially against top opponents. His ability to clean up mental mistakes will determine where his stock goes as a senior. Allar could be the top QB in the class … or slip to Day 3.”

You can read the full story here.

One Nittany Lion leads his position group

Reid calls AJ Harris the top draft-eligible corner at this juncture. Miller did not rank him. Harris is drawing first-round mock draft hype and preseason All-American consideration after debuting at Penn State last fall with 48 tackles over 16 games in addition to four tackles for loss, five pass breakups, and an interception. He returns in a starting role in 2025.

Which other Penn State players hit ESPN’s 2026 NFL Draft top five at their position?

Miller put Penn State senior running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen at Nos. 4-5, respectively, with Notre Dame star Jeremiyah Love leading the way. Reid did not have Allen in his tip five and had Singleton at No. 2 behind Love.

Along the offensive line, Reid put left tackle Drew Shelton at No. 5. He also has Dani Dennis-Sutton as the No. 3 defensive end. Miller ranked neither player in his top five. Both did include defensive tackle Zane Durant, with Miller putting him at No. 5 and Reid No. 5.

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