Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza (6-foot-5, 225 kilos) did not obtain a lot hype within the preseason. He now appears like a lock to go No. 1 total to the Las Vegas Raiders within the 2026 draft after profitable the Heisman Trophy and main the Hoosiers to the nationwide championship sport. Hoover might follow a similar path beneath Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti, a QB guru.
In 12 video games for the TCU Horned Frogs in 2025, Hoover accomplished an above-average 65.9% of his passes for 3,472 yards, 29 landing passes and 13 interceptions. NFL groups could have issues about his stature (6-foot-2, 200 kilos), however his arm and contact might assist him overcome his unideal dimension.
“Hoover can match his quiet ft with an explosive throwing movement, and his fast launch permits him to get the ball to the perimeter with a flick of his wrist,” wrote ESPN’s Jordan Reid in October. “That launch helps him squeeze throws into tight home windows, and he has a high-level understanding of which sort of ball pace he wants when attacking all parts of the sector.”
Sellers (6-foot-3, 240 kilos) appears the a part of an NFL QB and often is the most athletic passer within the class. Earlier than the beginning of the 2025 season, CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported the South Carolina star ran a 40-yard sprint between 4.4 and 4.5 seconds in offseason testing.
A QB, nonetheless, should beat defenses along with his arm, and Sellers struggled to try this in 2025. In 12 video games, he accomplished a career-low 60.8% of his passes for two,437 yards, 13 TDs and eight interceptions.
If Sellers improves as a passer in 2026, anticipate his inventory to skyrocket. The QB has all of the instruments scouts covet.
“There’s simply not many quarterbacks within the historical past of soccer who’ve Sellers’ mixture of dimension and agility,” wrote CBS Sports’ Mike Renner in a preseason scouting report. “It is actually particular.”
3. Dante Moore, Oregon Geese
Moore (6-foot-3, 206 kilos) returning to high school is a little bit of of venture. Had he declared for the 2026 draft, the Oregon standout would’ve possible been a top-three choose. In a deeper QB class, that is not a assure.
That stated, Moore nonetheless tasks as a possible first-round choose in 2027. In 2025, he accomplished a stellar 71.8% of his passes for 3,565 yards, 30 TD passes and 10 interceptions, main the Geese to the School Soccer Playoff semifinals.
“Like [Houston Texans star C.J. Stroud], Moore is a gifted and pure passer,” wrote Fox Sports’ Rob Rang in a narrative printed Jan. 1. “He has a handy guide a rough launch, and the ball merely explodes out of his hand.”
Sayin (6-foot-1, 208 kilos) advantages from taking part in on a stacked staff that features star extensive receiver Jeremiah Smith. However in contrast to the child who does nothing in a gaggle venture and nonetheless receives an A, the QB did his half for the Buckeyes.
Sayin was named a Heisman finalist in his first season as a starter, finishing an FBS-leading 77% of his passes for 3,610 yards, 32 TD passes and eight interceptions.
“It helps whenever you’re throwing to NFL-level extensive receivers — I get that,” wrote The Athletic’s Dane Brugler earlier than the Heisman ceremony. “Nonetheless, it nonetheless takes a gifted QB to see the sector, handle the pocket and put the ball in a spot the place his monster pass-catchers could make performs.”
Sure, Manning (6-foot-4, 219 kilos) struggled to dwell as much as unrealistic expectations early within the 2025 season, however he got here on robust down the stretch. He led the Longhorns to a 10-3 file, culminating in a 41-27 win over the Michigan Wolverines within the Citrus Bowl, the place he rushed for a 60-yard TD late within the fourth quarter.
