The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine kicks off this week in Indianapolis, with more than 300 of the top prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft class getting the chance to show off their talents for league decision-makers in a wide range of on-field drills and off-field interviews.
Every year, we see a handful of elite athletes make the most of their opportunity to shine on the field, and the 2026 class is sure to be no exception.
Here are five prospects who should be appointment television when they hit the field at Lucas Oil Stadium this week:
RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
Last year, we had Ashton Jeanty. This year, we have another elite running back prospect in Love, and he might be better. A three-down weapon with elite explosiveness and versatility, Love is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. His film at Notre Dame plays like a constant highlight reel, whether he's taking the ball in the backfield or reeling it in as a receiver:
Love should put on an absolute show every time he touches the field in Indy this week, and should solidify himself as perhaps the best overall prospect in the entire draft, regardless of position.
DL Peter Woods, Clemson
It's just not fair when a guy this big is also this athletic. The best interior defensive line prospect in this year's class, Woods's explosiveness and athleticism was so impressive, the Tigers found creative ways to get him the ball on offense, even letting him find the end zone:
Woods wasn't exactly used most effectively last season on defense, lining up too often as a nose tackle, which led to a dip in production. But his athletic traits haven't gone anywhere, and any NFL team that puts him in the right role (as an upfield disruptor at the 3-technique) will reap the benefits. Before that happens, we'll all get to see him put his athleticism on display at the combine, where he's likely to put up ridiculous numbers for his size.
WR Brenen Thompson, Mississippi State
You're not likely to find Thompson in most early-round mock drafts, but that won't stop him from putting his stamp on the spectacle of the combine this week. Undersized but explosive, Thompson feels like the favorite to run the fastest 40-yard dash at this year's event, which is always the big-ticket activity every year.
Even if he's never a full-time starter at the next level, Thompson's elite speed should make him a constant big-play threat, whether that's on offense or in the return game. If he lights up the track like we expect him to this week, it won't be surprising if he finds his way off the board in the middle rounds.
LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
There's a narrative that off-ball linebackers are somewhat devalued in today's NFL, but the elite ones are hard to find. That should make Styles a hot commodity in this year's class, with a combination of size, athleticism and versatility that doesn't come around often at the position.
Already the consensus top prospect in his position group this year, Styles should solidify himself as a potential top-10 pick with a stellar combine workout that will show off all the impressive physical traits we've already seen from him on film.
Edge Keldric Faulk, Auburn
There's a theme developing here, and it's players who just shouldn't move as well as they do at the size that they are. Faulk fits firmly in that description, as a towering defender with rare athleticism for his size, and the versatility to line up all over the defensive front and create matchup problems for opposing offenses.
The combine will give Faulk an opportunity to show off that athletic ability across a wide range of drills, and if he performs to the peak of his physical capabilities, he's the kind of high-upside prospect (still just 20 years old) at a premium position who could leap into the top-10 conversation.