Where the 2026 NFL's Standout Rookies Went to College
Midway through the 2026 NFL season, several rookies are already starting and stuffing the stat sheet. A lot of that early noise traces back to Ohio State: the Buckeyes sent four first-rounders into this class, and they are producing on Sundays. Here are 12 standout rookies and the colleges they played for.
1. Arvell Reese
Linebacker · New York Giants · Ohio State
The Giants selected Reese No. 5 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, and he made Dane Brugler's midseason All-Rookie Team on NFL.com as a first-team linebacker as the Defensive Rookie of the Year favorite. He is the only NFL player, rookie or veteran, with 65-plus tackles, eight-plus tackles for loss and at least one interception, and he has added 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
In a recent game against the Eagles he posted 12 tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble, including a sack that took just 2.29 seconds. That range is what made him such a versatile defender at Ohio State.
2. David Bailey
Edge rusher · New York Jets · Texas Tech
The Jets made Bailey the No. 2 overall pick, and he earned a spot at edge on the midseason All-Rookie first team. He leads all rookies in sacks (7.5), tackles for loss (11), forced fumbles (five, tied for the NFL lead) and pressures (31).
3. Carnell Tate
Wide receiver · Tennessee Titans · Ohio State
The Titans took Tate No. 4 overall, the first of four Ohio State players selected in the top 11. He is a midseason All-Rookie first-team receiver with 34 catches, 413 yards and one touchdown through seven games. He played three seasons in Columbus, from 2023 to 2025.
4. Sonny Styles
Linebacker · Washington Commanders · Ohio State
Washington selected Styles No. 7 overall, and he made the midseason All-Rookie second team. He and Roquan Smith were the only NFL linebackers with 67-plus tackles, eight-plus pressures and at least one interception and one forced fumble. He is another piece of Ohio State's title-defense core now playing in the NFC East.
5. Caleb Downs
Safety · Dallas Cowboys · Ohio State
Dallas picked Downs No. 11 overall, and he is a midseason All-Rookie first-team safety. In a recent game against the Colts he had three tackles, two passes defended, a sack and his first NFL interception, which sealed the win. The opponent on the other side included his older brother, Josh Downs.
6. Denzel Boston
Wide receiver · Cleveland Browns · Washington
Cleveland drafted Boston in the second round, 39th overall (round 2, pick 7), and he is a midseason All-Rookie first-team receiver. He leads all rookies in receiving yards (507), first-down receptions (21) and receiving touchdowns (three). His recent catch of 50-plus yards against the Saints was his third of the season, tying for the NFL lead in those plays at the time.
7. Jonah Coleman
Running back · Denver Broncos · Washington (also Arizona, 2022–23)
Denver selected Coleman in the fourth round, 108th overall, and he made the midseason All-Rookie first team at running back. Despite a stint on injured reserve, Brugler called him the most impactful rookie back: he was the only rookie with multiple rushing touchdowns at that point and caught 13 of 14 targets for 128 yards, including a 51-yard catch-and-run that set up a go-ahead score against the Chiefs.
His last college was Washington, but he started his career at Arizona in 2022 and 2023 — a detail that trips up plenty of college guesses.
8. Dillon Thieneman
Safety · Chicago Bears · Oregon
Chicago took Thieneman in the first round at No. 25 overall, and he is a midseason All-Rookie second-team safety. He leads all rookie safeties in tackles (52) and has been used more as a blitzer as the season has gone on.
9. Jacob Rodriguez
Linebacker · Miami Dolphins · Texas Tech
Miami selected Rodriguez in the second round, 43rd overall, and he joined Reese on the midseason All-Rookie first team. His midseason line includes 79 tackles, four tackles for loss, a forced fumble, an interception and an NFL-best 33 defensive stops, one more than Reese's 32.
10. Josiah Trotter
Linebacker · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Missouri
Tampa Bay drafted Trotter in the second round, 46th overall, and he made the midseason All-Rookie second team. In his NFL debut he had a pick-six and a sack; NBC Sports' Pro Football Talk and Buccaneers.com both reported he was the first player in NFL history to do both in a debut.
11. Gabe Jacas
Edge rusher · New England Patriots · Illinois
New England selected Jacas in the second round, 55th overall, and he joined Bailey at edge on the midseason All-Rookie first team. He ranks second among rookie edge rushers in sacks (three) and pressures (26), and he also has an interception — off Aaron Rodgers.
12. Davison Igbinosun
Cornerback · Buffalo Bills · Ohio State (also Mississippi, 2022)
Buffalo traded up to select Igbinosun at No. 62 overall, and he is a midseason All-Rookie second-team corner. At that point of the season he was one of nine NFL players, and the only rookie, with at least five pass breakups and an interception.
His last college was Ohio State, though he played at Mississippi in 2022. He is the fifth Ohio State name on this list.
Ohio State's first-round haul
Ohio State became the first program since the AFL-NFL merger to have four players taken by the 11th pick: Carnell Tate, Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs were all off the board by No. 11. Davison Igbinosun added another Buckeye to the same draft class. That clustering is exactly why a college-guessing quiz gets harder with this rookie class — when several standouts share a school, you can't lean on variety, and you have to actually remember who played where.
Other rookies to keep an eye on
Cleveland also has first-round receiver KC Concepcion, who played at Texas A&M in 2025 after two seasons at NC State. At midseason he was tied for the rookie lead with 37 receptions and had 437 receiving yards.
Test Yourself on the 2026 Rookie Class
Think you've got these schools memorized? Start on the homepage, where you can guess the NFL player every day, or test yourself when you guess the NFL players college in today's puzzle. For an endless run, try Guess the College Unlimited and keep your streak alive until you miss.
Want more practice? Take our NFL players college quiz to see how the daily quiz works, or learn how to guess the college football player from a college fan's angle.
Play Guess the College Unlimited