All Aboard the Draft Bus….

I was recently invited onto the Southbound UK Podcast for a great conversation. The guys were keen to hear about players that the Colts might be interested in for the 2026 draft. I wanted to be prepared so spent a bit of time researching the Colts schemes to figure out players that would fit. We had a good discussion about some of these players and I decided to make them the first passengers on my 2026 draft bus – my players to watch during the 2025 CFB season.

My Draft Bus

So what is a draft bus? It is a group of players I am keen to follow into the 2026 draft. They join my imaginary bus and we go on the journey through the 2025 season together.

I have limited numbers to 10 otherwise it will get too many to monitor. If a player gets injured for the season or decides he will not enter the draft, he will get off at the next bus stop and his seat offered to someone else!

I have tried to keep a balanced bus, so not too many players from one conference.

My 2026 draft bus is as follow:

	Name	School	Conference	Position	2025 Class
1	LaNorris Sellers	South Carolina Gamecocks	SEC	QB	Redshirt Sophomore
2	Jordyn Tyson	Arizona State Sun Devils	Big 12	WR	Redshirt Junior
3	Le’Veon Moss	Texas A&M	SEC	RB	Senior
4	Kenyon Sadiq	Oregon Ducks	Big Ten	TE	Junior
5	Gennings Dunker	Iowa Hawkeyes	Big Ten	OT	Senior
6	TJ Parker	Clemson Tigers	ACC	EDGE	Junior
7	David Bailey	Texas Tech Red Raiders	Big 12	EDGE/LB	Senior
8	CJ Allen	Georgia Bulldogs	SEC	LB	Junior
9	Caleb Downs	Ohio St Buckeyes	Big Ten	S	Junior
10	Darrell Jackson Jr	Florida State Seminoles	ACC	DL	Senior

Breaking down my Picks

1. LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina Gamecocks (SEC)

A great dual threat quarterback who is effective both through the air and with his feet. In 2024 he passed for 2,554 yards with 18 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. He also rushed for 674 yards and 7 touchdowns. After a breakout year last year he will look to consolidate his position as a one of the higher ranked quarterbacks going into the season. After redshirting his first year he goes into this season as a redshirt sophomore.

2. Jordyn Tyson, Wide Receiver, Arizona State Sun Devils

Jordyn Tyson is an exciting receiver who, after redshirting in 2023, had a solid return in 2024 with 75 receptions for 1101 yards and 10 touchdowns. He is highly rated and seen as someone who could immediately contribute to an NFL offense, especially for his ability to generate yards after catch (YAC). He was part of an amazing Arizona St team last year who will be looking to repeat similar levels of success this year. If they are to do so, Jordyn will play a key role.

3. Le’Veon Moss, Running Back, Texas A&M

Le’Veon Moss had a good 2024 season averaging 6.3 yards per carry on 121 attempts. He is lauded for excellent vision and acceleration once he hits the second level. Moss has consistently created yardage after contact (different to Yards after Catch) and going into his senior year he will be looking to make his experience count. He also played a role in the passing game last season with 10 receptions for 141 yards. Moss suffered a knee injury at the end of last season and we wait to see how he returns this year.

4. Kenyon Sadiq, Tight End, Oregon Ducks

Kenyon Sadiq is a special athlete who offers value as both a receiver and blocker at the college level. There are questions over whether this will carry over to the NFL however where his frame may be a little undersized for blocking. Sadiq’s hands and ability to separate against linebackers make him a useful weapon on intermediate routes, particularly off play-action. In 2024 he had 24 receptions for 308 yards and 2 TDs and 5 rushing attempts for 24 yards. He will be important to the Oregon system this year and Ducks fans hope he can reach towards his high ceiling.

5. Gennings Dunker, Offensive Tackle, Iowa Hawkeyes

Gennings Dunker enters this season as one of the more physically imposing tackles in the Big Ten. At 6’5″ and c290 pounds, Dunker has the size and power to excel in the run game, where Iowa linemen traditionally thrive. Last season he was widely considered one of the best offensive lineman in the Big Ten. He is a classic downhill blocker who can generate movement at the point of attack and has great football intelligence. As a senior he will be looking to showcase all of his experience this season in front of NFL scouts, who will be assessing how he matches up against the most athletic edge players

6. T.J. Parker, Edge Rusher/Defensive End, Clemson Tigers

TJ Parker was the cornerstone of Clemson’s defence in 2024. He posted 12.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks – a solid return for a sophomore. He also had a knack for forced fumbles picking up 6. At 6’3″ and 265 pounds, Parker has the build to hold up against the run while offering enough twitch to threaten off the edge. His skill set highlights leverage, timing and good hand usage. Scouts will be looking for growth in pass-rush efficiency and first-step quickness to see him rise up the projections board.

7. David Bailey, Edge Rusher/LB, Texas Tech Red Raiders

David Bailey played his first 3 seasons at Stanford but has transferred to Texas Tech this offseason. The Stanford edge rusher is entering his senior season after a productive junior campaign in which he totalled 9.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. Bailey has a NFL-calibre size (6’3″, 240 lbs) and plays with strength at the point of attack. What makes Bailey interesting is his versatility. He can play as a stand-up outside line backer or traditional defensive end. He is a solid player that should be interesting to NFL teams. The challenge for Bailey will be learning a new scheme after 3 years at Stanford.

8. C.J. Allen, Linebacker, Georgia Bulldogs

CJ Allen looks set to be the next linebacker from Georgia to make the leap to the NFL. Going into his junior year he will be a leader in the Georgia defence and is ranked in the top 3 at his position. At 6’1″ and 235 pounds, he has solid physical tools including sideline to sideline range, quick reaction against the run and solid instincts in zone coverage. Allen plays fast and aggressive, which occasionally leads to over-pursuit, but his closing speed and tackling technique are high level. He is also noted for being a very quick processor so great for a Middle Linebacker role where he could be an eventual immediate starter for an NFL team.

9. Caleb Downs, Safety, Ohio State Buckeyes

In some ways I shouldn’t have put Caleb Downs in the bus as everyone will know who he is by the end of the season anyway. He enters this season as one of the best safeties in college football and a key part of the Buckeyes defence. Downs is highly regarded for his football IQ, range in coverage, and physical tackling style—all traits that make him a strong candidate in the 2026 NFL Draft. He’ll be a focal point in a solid Ohio State defence this season. If Downs continues to produce at a high level while sharpening his man coverage against tight ends and slot receivers, scouts will start seeing him as a very early pick.

10. Darrell Jackson Jr, Defensive Tackle, Florida State Seminoles

Darrell Jackson Jr. returns to Florida State as a redshirt senior after initially declaring for the draft. At 6’5″ and 330 pounds, Jackson has rare physical dimensions for a defensive tackle and offers positional flexibility between 1-tech and 3-tech roles (albeit he is listed as a 3-tech). Jackson’s game is built on strength and initial quickness. He fires off the ball with purpose and can collapse pockets or shut down interior runs. His stamina can waver at times, but he’s capable of controlling double-teams and freeing up line backers. Jackson Jr has cited unfinished business for returning to FSU and if he can play his part in elevating a subdued Seminoles team, he will do his own prospects no harm. NFL scouts will be watching closely to see if he can build on his previous 3 seasons to improve his potential draft positioning.

Who is on Your Bus?

The above is my passengers for the season. But who is on your bus? Who are you keeping an eye on this year?