Thursday’s Fiesta Bowl semifinal college football playoff matchup between the Miami Hurricanes and the Ole Miss Rebels will showcase 15 projected NFL Draft picks. 16 if you assume the NCAA will decide to deny Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss’ request of an additional year of eligibility.
This game should be a great example of the age-old sports saying, “that’s why they play the games”. At first glance, these teams are evenly matched as far as projected future draft picks in total number per team. Upon a deeper examination, Miami has five players projected to hear their name called before day 3 of the draft. Ole Miss only has only three expected to go in the first two days of the draft.
Miami’s list of projected players is very top heavy. With only two players expected to go late in the 2026 draft, the Hurricanes provide several players worth taking a second look at for fans of prospective NFL teams with specific draft needs. Especially early in the draft.
Ole Miss is a different story. Chambliss’ draft stock will remain in limbo until the NCAA rules on his waiver request. Running back Kewan Lacy as well as most of the Rebel’s defensive line are sophomores or freshman and are not draft eligible. The Ole Miss projected players should be more of a factor on day 2 and into day 3, suggesting most of those players would factor in as depth more than team altering starters.
The Miami Hurricanes draft projected players to watch
DE Rueben Bain Jr - Projected range Round 1
OT Francis Mauigoa - Projected range Round 1
DE Akeem Mesidor - Projected range Round 2-3
S Jakobe Thomas - Projected range Round 3-5
QB Carson Beck - Projected range Round 3-4
WR CJ Daniels - Projected range Round 4-6
CB Damari Brown - Projected range Round 6-Undrafted Free Agent
LB Mohamed Toure - Projected range Round 7-Undrafted Free Agent
The Ole Miss Rebels draft projected players to watch
QB Trinidad Chambliss* - Projected range: Round 2-3
OLB Suntarine Perkins - Projected range: Round 2-3
OLB Princewell Umanmielen - Projected range: Round 3-5
OT Diego Pounds - Projected range: Round 3-5
WR Cayden Lee - Projected range: Round 4-6
WR De’Zhaun Stribling - Projected range: Round 4-6
S Jaylon Braxton - Projected range: Round 4-6
CB Antonio Kite - Projected range: Round 6-Undrafted Free Agent
The college football playoff has entered the Final Four stage, and every remaining team has a significant amount of draft projected players. Of the sixteen names listed here, as many as nine could factor into becoming significant contributors at the NFL level. Most of those names are on the offensive line and defensive front seven.
These players are obviously and foremost focused on winning the game and advancing in the playoff. However, if any of these names have a performance beyond their typical expectation, they could earn some money and elevate their draft stock. The Quarterbacks specifically.
Chambliss has not declared and that decision is dependent on the NCAA’s ruling. If either Chambliss or Beck have a stellar performance, it could force a conversation about the draft eligible quarterbacks after Fernando Mendoza and Dante Moore.
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