Oklahoma State WR/KR Chris Barnes is a big play waiting to happen. Burner in the open field & twitched up to the max.
The new-look Pokes have a true game breaker in the slot and the return game.
#CollegeFootball#OKState#Big12
Few programs had the luxury of starting two NFL caliber CBs last season, and the Washington Huskies were one of them.
Tacario Davis and Ephesians Prysock each possess excellent physical traits (6040, 190+ lbs, 33” arm length) and have each played in 40+ throughout their four seasons between UW and Arizona.
Davis is the more physical and natural tackler of the two. He was weighed down by rib and hamstring injuries in 2025, but when he did suit up, he made his presence felt in pass coverage and run defense. He’s shown the proficiency to operate in both man and zone coverage, making him playable in a various schemes at the next level. His lengthy frame, solid play strength, and good ball reactions support his competitiveness at the catch point. Over the last three seasons, Davis has racked up an impressive 25 PBUs and 89 total tackles in 32 games, earning All-Conference honors at the end of each season.
Despite Prysock’s wiry build, he’s remained durable and available since his freshman season at UA. He earned starts in 26 straight games at UW and was often tasked with defending opposing WR1s throughout his time with the Huskies. Prysock is battle-tested and has a quick memory when plays don’t go his way. He fairs better in zone coverage, where he can use his nimble reactionary athleticism and closing speed to beat the ball to a spot. Like Davis, Prysock’s uncharacteristic length leads him to consistently play through the hands at the catch point, which explains his 21 PBUs over the last three seasons. He tends to get out-muscled by bigger wideouts on 50/50 balls, but his long strides and good straight-line speed allow him to stay on the hip and keep a tight cushion in man coverage. Additionally, he’s an experienced gunner on punt coverage, a spot where he can carve out a niche in the early stages of his professional career.
Both Davis and Prysock project as future starters, but further techincal development will be required before either guy earns every-down snaps in the NFL. Teams should bank on the physical measurements, experience, athletic upside, and mental toughness when evaluating Davis and Prysock’s as potential draft selections in April.
#NFLDraft2026
Spent the morning watching three Northwestern games from 2025 (Minnesota, Penn State, and USC).
Here are a couple of notes to consider when evaluating the Wildcats going into the 2026 season:
1. Outside of Oregon, Northwestern might have the best three-man WR core in the Big Ten. Griffin Wilde is a top 5 receiver in the conference going into 2026, Hayden Eligon has all of the physical tools to be an All-Big Ten wideout, and Ricky Ahumarazee flashed reliability & consistency as a vertical threat from multiple alignments.
2. ILB Braydon Brus is primed for a breakout season in 2026. If you watched Brus during HS days at Glendora HS, you knew that Brus had the size, athleticism, instincts, and toughness to one day become a starter at the P4 level. Brus burst onto the CFB scene with strong special teams play early in his career, but in 2025, he established himself as a core member of the Wildcats’ LB room. Now, alongside, Oklahoma transfer LB Kobie McKinzie, Brus can build off a stellar 2025 campaign as the true leader of the Wildcats’ defense in 2026.
3. Grant Seagren has a tall task in replacing Caleb Tiernan at LT. From what I saw on tape, Caleb Tiernan should be a multi-year starter in the NFL at the Tackle spot. In pass protection, Tiernan’s foot speed, body awareness, hand placement, and strain are qualities that are reminiscent of an NFL vet. Although there’s room for improvement in the running game, Tiernan kept Preston Stone upright consistently and sustained his blocks long enough for Stone to manipulate or escape from the pocket. Seagren’s size, athleticism, and productivity profiles signal that he could be as good of a replacement for Tiernan that the Wildcats’ staff could ask for. However, with Tiernan slated to be selected in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft, Seagren has some lofty expectations to live up to before the 2026 season kicks off in August.
4. The RB room in Evanston is a notworthy unit to watch out for. Not only do the Wildcats bring back Caleb Komolafe – who excelled as the Wildcats’ feature back in 2025 – and former All-Big Ten performer, Joseph Himon II, but they bring in a top 10 RB from the 2022 recruiting class in Gavin Sawchuk. Sawchuk, who combined for over 1500 total yards and 18 TDs between Florida State and Oklahoma, adds a powerful and explosive element to the Wildcats’ run game. He has the toughness to help out in pass pro and the durability to carry the ball 20+ times a game if necessary. Sawchuk also had 13 receptions, 121 yards, and 1 receiving TD in 2025, so the passing game will surely get a boost with Sawchuk in the fray. Komolafe’s importance cannot be overstated, however. Amongst all returning RBs in the Big Ten in 2026, Komolafe had the fourth-most rushing yards (972) in the conference last season. Joseph Himon II also went for 486 yards on the ground and has a history of producing as a pass catcher for the Wildcats. Although the backfield will have plenty of mouths to feed, it’s a complimentary unit that is more well-rounded and versatile with Komolafe, Himon II, and Sawchuk in the mix.
5. Steady growth from three key pieces on the Wildcats’ defense will be crucial for on-field success: Michael Kilbane, Josh Fussell, and Robert Fitzgerald. All three players earned All-Big Ten honors last season, and after watching the tape, it was easy to see why. Kilbane was a force along the LOS for the Wildcats’ last season, playing in all 13 games and logging 7.5 TFLs. Fussell ranked first in the conference amongst underclassman DBs with 9 PBUs and played bigger on tape than his 6’0, 195 frame would indicate. Fitzgerald led the Wildcats with 115 tackles from the safety spot and enters the 2026 season as the most productive tackling DB in the nation. If all three guys can elevate their play in 2026, we might be looking at three NFL Draft selections in 2027, which will breed positive results for the Wildcats’ defense as a whole.
Massive omission from the original top 30 list is new Oklahoma State and former Illinois, Ball State, and Eastern Illinois wideout Justin Bowick.
Can very likely be a top 15 receiver in the conference by the end of the season. Should get a ton of targets opposite of Wyatt Young and Chris Barnes, especially in the red zone.
With Caleb Hawkins and Ayo Adeyi in the backfield, defenses cannot afford to lighten up in the box. Bowick can stretch defenses vertically and take advantage of one-on-one matchups on the perimeter.
Expect Bowick to have a productive season under the tutelage of Eric Morris and Nick Edwards.
Apologies to Bowick and Poke Nation for the oversight! Carry on🤠
First Player Evaluation of the 2026 NFL Draft Cycle: Devin Lafayette, SPR, Troy @devin_lafayette
Full cut-up breakdown is now live on TikTok!
#NFLDraft#MeshScouting
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