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A new era of college athletics is upon us and starting soon.

After the NCAA’s House settlement, which was passed on June 6, schools can now legally pay players. Power Four schools — including Auburn — are expected to have a $20.5 million cap to begin with, splitting up the money how it sees fit between various sports. It changes the game and creates more 0f an NFL-like structure for football programs, with a salary cap and having to determine what’s fair-market value for players at different positions.

Five-star wide receiver Cederian Morgan is one of the most coveted players in the country in the 2026 class, now navigating a new era of college athletics as the rules change in real time and will go into effect on July 1. He took his summer official visits and has one more trip remaining to Alabama next weekend. During his visit to Auburn last weekend he was able to talk revenue sharing, but things are still far from finalized and being able to throw out official numbers.

“I mean, they really can’t tell me for real. Because the new cap, the (revenue) sharing. They can’t give me a specific number because they’re still figuring out stuff and they don’t know,” Morgan said. “December, they’re going to be able to tell me a lot because they’re going to know a lot. But it was just like right now they know a little something about how the money is going to be spent. But they can’t just say how much. 

“Most of (the other schools) told me the same thing. Because I know my first visit was Colorado. And I think when I was up there, they had just approved the cap. So June 1st, I think, that’s when it was. And then the next week, that was only the second week. So, like, just right now everybody is kind of on hold because they don’t really know a lot yet. But that’s what they’ve been telling me.”

NIL is still involved and a factor for recruits and players — but it’s changing. It’s turned into the wild west in recent years, with mega deals for players out of high school and players in the transfer portal.

When we first started monitoring the transfer portal back in 2018, the first few classes were relatively thin on NFL Draft talent.

That is definitely no longer the case.

The days of transfers mainly being backups who didn’t play enough are long over, and college football’s portal is now firmly in its full-blown free-agency era, with quality starters at every position — including some with potential first-round draft grades — looking to better their situation (financially or otherwise).

Here’s a look at my favorite 2026 draft prospects from this offseason’s portal, by position.

Quarterback

1. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana (from Cal)

2. John Mateer, Oklahoma (from Washington State)

3. Carson Beck, Miami (from Georgia)

4. Nico Iamaleava, UCLA (from Tennessee)

5. Miller Moss, Louisville (from USC)

This year featured the deepest and most talented collection of available college quarterbacks since the transfer portal became a thing.

It’s a tough group to sort right now, but Mendoza is my pick as the top transfer QB. The 6-foot-5, 221-pounder not only comes with ideal size and above-average athleticism but also terrific arm talent. The fit between Mendoza and Indiana coach Curt Cignetti looks like a terrific one, and Mendoza has enough ability to land a first-round draft grade.

Mateer reminds me of recent No. 1 pick Cam Ward, who also transferred from Washington State. It wouldn’t be a shock to see a breakout year from the Sooners’ new quarterback.

I’ve already heard some hand-wringing from Miami fans about why draft analysts seem to be down on Beck, two years after thinking he would be a first-rounder. Beck’s 2023 season — Georgia’s last with Brock Bowers — was very good; his 2024 season was less so. Beck is more athletic than people think, plays with good size and throws an accurate ball without fear over the middle, but he has also shown poor aptitude against pressure and inconsistency on vertical shots, and he’s not as quick in the pocket as his testing numbers may indicate. This will be an important year for him.

Running back

1. Makhi Hughes, Oregon (from Tulane)

2. Jaydn Ott, Oklahoma (from Cal)

3. Justice Haynes, Michigan (from Alabama)

4. Rahsul Faison, South Carolina (from Utah State)

5. CJ Donaldson, Ohio State (from West Virginia)

Hughes will make the big jump to Oregon this year after rushing for nearly 3,000 yards and 22 touchdowns combined the last two seasons at Tulane. A durable, tough, quick-footed bell cow with good vision and a willingness to block, Hughes (5-11, 210 pounds) is expected to take over for Jordan James inside the Ducks’ high-powered offense, and he could provide similar value. He’s also a legit pass protector who isn’t afraid to step into a blitzing linebacker.

Ott was high on scouting boards last summer before an ankle injury derailed his season. The 6-0, 210-pounder runs with elite burst and balance, and he offers great vision and big-play potential in the pass game.

Haynes, a former top-40 recruit, has as much talent as anyone on this list — he just never got a shot to show it at Alabama, where he had double-digit carries in just one game the last two seasons. He’ll have to earn it at Michigan, too, as talented sophomore Jordan Marshall figures to be his top backfield mate.

Wide Receiver

1. Eric Singleton Jr., Auburn (from Georgia Tech)

2. Malachi Fields, Notre Dame (from Virginia)

3. KC Concepcion, Texas A&M (from N.C. State)

4. Zachariah Branch, Georgia (from USC)

5. Dane Key, Nebraska (from Kentucky)

There were a ton of high-end receivers in the portal, and this list also could have included Ole Miss’ De’Zhaun Stribling, Penn State’s Trebor Pena, Florida State’s Duce Robinson, LSU’s Barion Brown and several others.

Singleton, a Georgia state sprint champion in the 100, 200 and 400 meters, has a second-level burst and shows zero fear (at 5-11, 190) as a confident ball tracker.

The 6-4, 220-pound Fields — a former QB — is extremely intriguing as a big, explosive target with reliable hands and great potential after the catch. He had 13 contested catches last season at Virginia.

Concepcion, a 20-year-old junior, is a crafty slot receiver who was great after the catch and used heavily in the sweep game at NC State. It’s a similar conversation for Branch, now at Georgia. The 5-10, 180-pound former five-star prospect comes to Athens with truly elite speed and averaged more than eight yards after the catch last season.

Tight end

1. Max Klare, Ohio State (from Purdue)

2. Jack Endries, Texas (from Cal)

3. Tanner Koziol, Houston (from Ball State)

4. Luke Hasz, Ole Miss (from Arkansas)

5. Terrance Carter Jr., Texas Tech (from Louisiana)

Klare and Endries are similar prospects. Both stand around 6-4, 240 and are versatile, three-down tight ends with strong hands, toughness and real upside in the run game. Endries is arguably a better blocker at this point, but Klare may have more long-term athletic potential as a route runner and after the catch.

The former broke out as a sophomore last season with 56 catches for 623 yards; the latter (seen in the clip below) had 51 grabs for 685 yards and four TDs.

Koziol, a 6-7, 237-pound former wide receiver, was a production machine last year at Ball State, finishing with 93 catches for 840 yards and three scores. A terrific athlete with a ridiculous catch radius, he made an FBS-best 26 contested catches.

Offensive line

1. Isaiah World, OT, Oregon (from Nevada)

2. Monroe Mills, OT, Virginia (from Louisville)

3. Elijah Pritchett, OT, Nebraska (from Alabama)

4. Luke Petitbon, C, Florida State (from Wake Forest)

5. Joshua Braun, G, Kentucky (from Arkansas)

A hulking 6-8, 312-pounder, World heads to Oregon after three years spent starting at left tackle for Nevada. A gigantic player with the movement skills of a former basketball player, World came to college at around 270 pounds but bulked up and had his best year last season. He looks like a top-100 talent and has a chance to improve his stock while playing against better competition this year.

Mills, meanwhile, is one of the rare four-team college players — he has made stops at Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Louisville and now Virginia, although he’s expected to miss the coming season because of an Achilles injury. We’ll see where the imposing 6-7, 320-pounder is at, health-wise, after the year.

Pritchett, a former top-40 recruit who started during his first year at Alabama last season, brings power and versatility to Nebraska’s front, albeit with the need to further prove himself on a big stage.

Edge

1. David Bailey, Texas Tech (from Stanford)

2. Patrick Payton, LSU (from Florida State)

3. Beau Atkinson, Ohio State (from North Carolina)

4. Romello Height, Texas Tech (from Georgia Tech)

5. Marvin Jones Jr., Oklahoma (from Florida State)

Bailey is a former top-40 recruit who plays with great speed, burst and length off the edge. He’s a bendy pass rusher who has no trouble dipping and turning the corner against larger tackles. One of Texas Tech’s many quality portal pulls, Bailey had a combined 22 1/2 sacks in three years at Stanford, mainly as a subpackage player.

Payton, meanwhile, had draft buzz entering the 2024 season after a breakout 2023. The 6-5, 255-pounder saw a production dip last year but has the potential to be a true three-down presence.

Atkinson (6-6, 265) is intriguing and put up 7 1/2 sacks and 25 pressures with 26 run stops last season, despite being a part-time rotational player. A long, rangy edge presence with power everywhere, Atkinson has put on nearly 30 pounds since high school.

Defensive tackle

1. Lee Hunter, Texas Tech (from UCF)

2. Bernard Gooden, LSU (from USF)

3. David Gusta, Kentucky (from Washington State)

4. Bear Alexander, Oregon (from USC)

5. Keeshawn Silver, USC (from Kentucky)

Hunter is a fridge on wheels. The 6-4, 325-pounder had dominant flashes inside during each of his past two seasons at UCF, making more than 50 tackles in 2023 alone and combining for 49 pressures during those two years. Big and powerful enough to eat space as a nose tackle, Hunter can make plays on the ball well outside his square in ways few 320-pounders can.

Gooden (6-1, 280) is undersized but can move and run like a linebacker — he’s athletic with great flexibility and burst. He played mainly as a three-tech last season at South Florida but also has spent a ton of time over the tackle as a heavy edge, despite his size.

From a pure talent standpoint, Alexander might have an argument for the top spot on this list. However, he has also shown little consistency during stops at Georgia and USC. If he can put it together, we’ll see his stock soar.

Linebacker

1. Amare Campbell, Penn State (from North Carolina)

2. Mohamed Toure, Miami (from Rutgers)

3. Kendal Daniels, Oklahoma (from Oklahoma State)

4. James Djonkam, Virginia Tech (from Eastern Michigan)

5. Nikhai Hill-Green, Alabama (from Colorado)

A rangy, explosive athlete who made 76 tackles (10 1/2 for loss) and 6 1/2 sacks last season, Campbell should be able to immediately step into a starting role for Jim Knowles at Penn State. Fast enough to run with tight ends in the slot and twitchy enough to beat offensive linemen at the point of attack, Campbell is a great blitzer and boasts big-time potential as a junior.

Toure missed all of last season with an ACL injury (the second of his college career) but still served as Rutgers’ team captain after an outstanding 93-tackle, 4 1/2-sack 2023 season. If he can stay healthy, he’ll be a great addition for Miami — and give scouts a chance to re-evaluate where he’s at as a prospect.

Secondary

1. Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon (from Purdue)

2. Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU (from Virginia Tech)

3. Josh Moten, CB, Southern Miss (from Marshall)

4. DJ Harvey, USC (from San Jose State)

5. Tacario Davis, CB, Washington (from Arizona)

One of the country’s best players on a bad team each of the last two seasons, Thieneman (a true junior) was Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2023, with six interceptions and eight forced incompletions. He followed that up with eight forced incompletions and six pass breakups last season. A do-it-all safety, he can play deep, in the box or in the slot and doesn’t miss many tackles.

One of the best players in the country, Thieneman will have top-30 buzz entering the 2025 season.

One half of a great Virginia Tech duo, alongside Dorian Strong, Delane had a career-best four interceptions and 51 tackles last season — and probably would’ve been drafted had he declared. He didn’t quite have the year many anticipated he would in 2024 (he was Dane Brugler’s No. 5 corner last summer), but he still has the size (6-1, 190) and potential to be a truly consistent corner in man or zone.

(Top photo of John Mateer: Alika Jenner / Getty Images)

On May 1, 2025, Governor Bill Lee signed into law legislation (SB 536/HB194) that expands Tennessee’s Intercollegiate Athlete’s Name, Image, or Likeness Law (“student-athlete NIL statute”). Under the law, Tennessee student-athletes will have no limits on NIL compensation unless the limitations are expressly prohibited or limited by federal law, a valid court order, or determined to be exempt from antitrust law.

Quick Hits

• Tennessee amended its student-athlete NIL statute to allow unlimited NIL compensation for Tennessee student-athletes, unless prohibited by federal law, a valid court order, or determined to be exempt from antitrust law.
• The student-athlete NIL statute may conflict with the recent NIL compensation restrictions detailed in the approved House v. NCAA settlement.
• The amendments shield Tennessee universities from NCAA sanctions related to player pay and shift liability to the NCAA for any legal repercussions arising from student-athletes related to their pay.

Tennessee’s Student-Athlete NIL Law

In 2022, Tennessee adopted its student-athlete NIL statute, which prohibited institutions or their agents from being involved in actions that compensate student-athletes for their NIL. This included prohibiting institutions from facilitating NIL deals by working with third parties (often termed “collectives”). The law was later amended to state that an institution and its agents can be involved in NIL compensation as long as they do not coerce, compel, or interfere with the student-athlete’s decision to earn compensation.

The amendments that Governor Lee recently signed expand this law to allow unlimited NIL compensation for Tennessee student-athletes unless such limits are expressly prohibited or limited by federal law, a valid court order, or determined to be exempt from antitrust law. Tennessee institutions do not have to follow any National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules that lessen, or tend to lessen, full and free competition in trade or commerce affecting the state of Tennessee. The recent amendments also shield Tennessee institutions and collectives from liability related to NIL compensation by shifting liability to the NCAA if the NCAA rules are deemed unlawful and by stating that the NCAA will hold the state, its institutions, and intercollegiate athletes harmless from any damages related to NIL compensation.

The Amendments’ Implications, Considering the House v. NCAA Settlement

On Friday, June 6, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California approved the House v. National Collegiate Athletic Association settlement that pays nearly $2.8 billion in back pay to former athletes over the next ten years. This historic settlement also establishes a revenue-sharing framework that provides a permissive cap of around $20 million for institutions to use to cover all athlete NIL compensation across varsity sports. The revenue-sharing cap is not limited to sports that generate revenue for the institution. Further, collectives that were paying NIL directly to student-athletes have other restrictions and limitations under the settlement. Particularly, NIL deals over $600 will undergo a “market value” analysis to ensure they are in direct relation to what an individual player brings to the team.

The amendments to Tennessee’s student-athlete NIL statute leave several unanswered questions in light of the approved House v. NCAA settlement. There is an open question related to whether the House v. NCAA court’s “Order Regarding Order Granting Motion for Final Approval of Settlement Agreement” would constitute a valid court order expressly limiting NIL compensation under Tennessee’s student-athlete statute. In the event it does not, Tennessee institutions and collectives may choose not to adhere to the House v. NCAA settlement’s NIL compensation restrictions under Tennessee’s Student-Athlete NIL statute.

Key Takeaways

Pursuant to Tennessee’s amended student-athlete NIL statute, Tennessee institutions and collectives are allowed to pay unlimited NIL compensation to Tennessee student-athletes. In theory, if Tennessee institutions and collectives do not comply with the House v. NCAA settlement’s restrictions on NIL compensation, they risk sanctions from the NCAA. While there is a risk of sanctions from the NCAA, under the amended student-athlete statute, Tennessee institutions and collectives may be shielded from any liability from lawsuits related to NIL compensation, and any such liability will be shifted to the NCAA.