Joel Klatt's 2026 NFL Draft Risers: The Combine That Rewrote History

The annual NFL Scouting Combine serves as the ultimate proving ground for college football's elite, where athletic testing and on-field drills can make or break a prospect's draft stock. According to FOX Sports lead college football analyst Joel Klatt, the 2026 edition in Indianapolis wasn't just another combine—it was a historic event. Klatt went so far as to call it "the best showing in the history of the event," setting the stage for a dramatic reshuffling of draft boards. In the aftermath, he pinpointed five players who elevated their status the most, turning strong college careers into legitimate first-round buzz.

The Top Five Draft Risers of 2026

Klatt's list highlights players who answered questions, showcased freakish athleticism, and capitalized on the combine's spotlight. Notably, he excluded players like Ohio State's Arvell Reese, who entered the week with established top-10 hype, to focus on those who genuinely created new value for themselves. Here are the five prospects who made the biggest leap according to one of the sport's most respected voices.

5. Caleb Banks, Defensive Tackle, Florida

Entering the combine, Caleb Banks was largely an afterthought for many scouts. A foot injury had limited him to just three games in his final collegiate season, leaving his draft prospects in limbo. Banks needed a dominant performance in Indianapolis, and he delivered in spectacular fashion. Measuring in at a massive 6-foot-6 and 327 pounds with an 85-inch wingspan, Banks then displayed shocking athleticism, recording a 32-inch vertical jump. "What are they feeding these kids?" Klatt marveled. His 5.04-second 40-yard dash and top-five athletic score among defensive tackles, per Next Gen Stats, propelled him from off-the-radar to a potential Day 2 selection, even climbing to No. 14 on analyst Rob Rang's big board.

4. Omar Cooper Jr., Wide Receiver, Indiana

Klatt admits a soft spot for Cooper, thanks to the receiver's game-winning touchdown catch against Penn State—a play Klatt called "the greatest I've ever seen live." While Cooper's testing numbers (a 4.42-second 40) were solid but not elite, Klatt believes his combine reinforced what the tape shows: exceptional body control, reliable hands, and elite production after the catch. Holding the third-best production score among all wide receivers at the combine, Cooper solidified his case as a complete receiver. "I think his tape is incredible... Then, he runs a 4.42. Boom!" Klatt said, now believing Cooper has played his way into first-round consideration.

3. Jacob Rodriguez, Linebacker, Texas Tech

Despite a stellar 2025 season that included 128 tackles, seven forced fumbles, and four interceptions, some scouts wondered if Jacob Rodriguez was a "college linebacker" who had maxed out his potential. At 6-foot-1 and set to turn 24 before his NFL debut, he faced questions about his athletic ceiling. His combine performance provided a resounding answer. Rodriguez posted top times among linebackers in the three-cone and shuttle drills, ran a 4.57-second 40, and earned the fourth-best athletic score at his position. Klatt argued this showing, combined with his proven production, has moved Rodriguez from a potential Day 3 pick into the conversation for the back end of the first round.

2. Kenyon Sadiq, Tight End, Oregon

Kenyon Sadiq didn't just have a good combine; he made history. His 4.39-second 40-yard dash was the fastest ever recorded by a tight end at the event. However, Klatt was quick to point out that Sadiq is far more than just a track athlete in shoulder pads. While his eight receiving touchdowns led all FBS tight ends, Klatt believes his blocking is his most valuable trait. "He was better as a blocker than he was a wide receiver, and he runs a 4.39," Klatt stated, citing Oregon coaches who emphasized watching his run-game tape. This rare combination of elite speed and tenacious blocking has Klatt believing Sadiq "could be approaching the top 10" in the draft.

1. Sonny Styles, Linebacker, Ohio State

At the top of Klatt's list is the player who may have authored the single greatest combine workout of all time. Sonny Styles entered Indianapolis as a known commodity: a first-team All-American, the defensive leader of the nation's top unit, and a projected first-round pick. He could have skipped the drills but chose to compete—and he dominated. Styles ran a 4.46-second 40, the best among all linebackers, and then unleashed a 43.5-inch vertical jump, the best by an off-ball linebacker since 2003. "Was that the best on-field workout in combine history? You're not going to get an argument from this guy," Klatt declared. This freakish athletic testing, layered on top of his proven leadership and production, has launched Styles from a mid-first-round prospect into the conversation for a top-five selection. "All those intangibles are now backed up by freak athleticism," Klatt concluded. "There are zero concerns about Sonny Styles."

Conclusion: A Legacy Combine

The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine will be remembered as a watershed moment for player evaluation. As Joel Klatt's analysis reveals, it was an event where good players became great prospects and great prospects became generational talents. For general managers and scouts, the performances of Styles, Sadiq, Rodriguez, Cooper, and Banks have complicated draft boards in the best possible way, offering a deeper pool of high-ceiling talent. For fans, it provides a thrilling preview of the NFL's future stars, whose professional journeys were catapulted forward during one historic week in Indianapolis.