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Louis Riddick
Multiple Authors
I love so much NFL photo. I love the tape. I like to review. I love watching and waiting. And we’re almost there 2026 picture it starts with Line 1 on April 23. You can catch me on ESPN set all three days of action.
The tape is not entirely true to expectations. Real analysis comes from spending time with them and getting to know who they are; That’s why group communication and travel are so important. But the tape doesn’t lie either, and after hours and hours of watching this class, I wanted to pick out a few people who really grabbed me. There is my boys in the classroom – the players I would stand at the table to write.
The first five are the first rounders who will become stars. I can’t get enough of them and would be happy to fall for any of them. The second five is my favorite bedroom. I’d be targeting them on Day 2 if I were running an NFL team, and I think both of them can exceed their expected opportunities.
This is Year 4 of making this list, and it starts with a star running back who is expected to go in the top 10 and ends with a Day 2 defense that has a ton of rotation.
Go to:
My first favorite round
Sleepers who would be stars
Five confirmed players in Round 1
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 212
Every NFL general manager and head coach has a goal this time of year to add players who can win games in one game. Love is that boy. He can break big plays from anywhere on the field. He had 11 passes of 20 yards or more last season, and six went for touchdowns.
Love has the strength, quickness, ability to get open and the flexibility to hit the rush and pass game. His running style is as good as most NFL receivers. Until then, I I thought they look like long running lanes with running backs on compost. He drops his weight and changes direction on a dime. Love hauled in 27 carries for 280 yards last season.
Don’t get caught up in the argument that athletes should be in the top 10. This guy is not an athlete. He’s a game-changing player who piled up 1,652 yards and 21 touchdowns last season. In the end, that’s what every team wants.
Height: 6-5| Weight: 244
There is no such thing as not missing hope in a game that relies heavily on the environment and physical ability to endure. But… Style is a prospect you can’t miss.
With his combination of unique features – size, speed and fluidity – and the shape of the diamond, I can sleep well at night knowing that I have recruited a player who can be a contender. He finished last season with 77 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a sack. Then, he showed off his explosiveness at the combine, with a vertical leap of 43½ inches. He does it all.
Styles is only looking at the top of his abilities as a multitool defender. He can do many things to improve a defense – the most important of which would be his ability to lead and make those around him better. Styles are made for big roles in big moments, and it’s a very safe prospect because they are already and pro. He is a starting player.
Height: 6-4| Weight: 320
At its core, soccer is a high-impact, disciplined exercise. And there was no one in college football last season who had more force-your-plays on the offensive line than Ioane. He is an absolute tank at 320 pounds, and has the flexibility to line up anywhere on the line. Ioane plays with strength, agility, speed and a level of foul play when he completes blocks that is truly exceptional.
Any front office that believes in building from the inside and staying strong in the middle — something I’ve talked about for the past decade — should see Ioane as a key player.
0:31
Olaivavega Ioane’s NFL career
Check out some of the highlights from Penn State’s Olaivavega Ioane.
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 203
Tyson is the best receiver in the 2026 show. Full stop.
He has it all… size, explosiveness, body control, strength and solid top speed. He can move between X, Z and slot receiver positions seamlessly and can put a lot of pressure on opposing defenses using matchups anywhere on the field. Tyson had 75 catches, 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2024 before posting 61 catches, 711 yards and eight TDs in nine games in 2025.
The biggest thing keeping Tyson from being recognized as a guaranteed superstar is his injury history. Suffered ACL/MCL/PCL in 2022, had broken collarbone in 2024 I will face it hamstring problems in 2025. Discussions among medical professionals in the community regarding Tyson’s future will be interesting. But I believe the risk is worth it. This person will be special.
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 199
A wise and successful wide receivers coach told me long ago that one of the most important differentiators he sees when trying to pass the ball — beyond consistently killing the ball — is how quickly and efficiently he can adjust after the catch. Does he take the ball to the ground? Can he make defenders miss? Can they break the tension? And does he have the speed to turn a short pass into a long gain?
Cooper checks those boxes. He averaged 7.3 yards per catch last season and showed he’s not afraid to steal the ball on drives. He made it very difficult to catch the weather in good condition against Penn State. And Cooper, who had 937 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2025, can play in the slot or outside at the X or Z position.
When he ripped a 4.42 in the 40 yard dash at the combine, it impressed me. This guy will be a star at the NFL level.
Five sleepers out of Round 1
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 193
Turn on any tape of the Hurricanes in 2025, and I can guarantee you if Scott was on the field, he was making plays. He had 67 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, five sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and four pass breakups last season.
He is the ultimate competitor and plays the game with a passion for communication. He has next-level IQ and the speed/quickness to be a triple factor in the quarterback position, and that has become a key factor for the NFL’s best defenses. I saw times in the 4.32-4.35 range for the pro day 40-yard dash. That’s it very good. We should hear his name called early on Day 2, in my opinion.
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 220
I’ve talked about Louis a ton this spring, and not just because he played at Pitt.
Remember the impact former Buccaneers quarterback Derrick Brooks had on the run and the pass during his great NFL career? I’m not saying Louis is Brooks, but the Hall of Famer’s play is what I see when I watch Louis. He has the movement skills of a defensive back with the hands of a wide receiver. And I see the instincts, the necessary moves and the courage in the box against the run to be the best player when he steps on the football field. He can get off blocks, defend the run and make tackles (77 of those last season, including 7.5 for a loss).
“He just reminds me a lot of Derrick Brooks.” @LRiddickESPN he says @Pitt_FBKyle Louis has what it takes to be a star in the NFL 📈 pic.twitter.com/y2g9EbcVRr
– ACC Network (@accnetwork) March 30, 2026
Day 1 starts with the Pro Bowl in the air. Louis is a true football player built for today’s game, and I love him as the quintessential Will linebacker for any defense.
Height: 6-4| Weight: 316
Georgia Tech coach Brent Key has said Rutledge has the potential to be the best player he’s ever coached, which is saying something. Rutledge is a granite monument, playing with a guide and driving a leg. He has a penchant for playing in a zone or blocking game, and you can see his competitiveness and willingness to put defenders behind him.
Rutledge will need to rework his pass pro technique, but he has a strong punch and an excellent anchor. Some believe he could be an All-Pro at the NFL level. I don’t care where he can play; I want him on my team.
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 188
When a player finishes his college career with 15 passes, there’s no question that he has the instinct to look for a combination of tactics, rest on the ball and make adjustments. Clark is a big play waiting to happen, whether his alignment starts in the box as a dime or dime LB, or a split-guard/single-high center in the backfield, where he can really show off his 4.41 speed and colors. Oh, and he’ll help run and hit as a pitcher, too. All of this adds to the anticipation that teams will have next week.
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 190
He may be flying under the radar for football fans, but NFL teams know Stukes’ side. He has good size and exceptional explosiveness to work. Stukes ran a 4.33-second 40 and posted a vertical jump of 38 inches at the combine.
Stukes can play nickel, dime, free safety or strong safety because he is smart, instinctive and an alpha competitor who loves to hit. Also, he is a good blitzer. He is also good as a man or zone defender, and has exceptional skill and ball skills as a deep defender. Stukes has seven picks, including four last season. There is nothing not to like about Stukes… nothing at all.
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