Scout's Notebook - Christmas Edition (FREE PREVIEW)
- John B. Everett
- Dec 26, 2025
- 8 min read
Welcome to Scout's Notebook, SNS' Member Exclusive weekly deep dive into the 2026 NFL Draft. This is where you will find mock drafts, prospect rankings, scouting reports, reader mail, and general musings about college football and the NFL Draft. Generally speaking, this column will be discussing draft eligible players - prospects at least three years out of high school - but anything that happens in the NFL and college football could be discussed here. The goal is to bring you, the reader, a fresh perspective on the development of the next batch of NFL superstars while they are learning the craft in the multi-billion dollar world of collegiate athletics. SNS readers are informed and that makes you a smarter fan and better at fantasy football and betting. SNS can make your fall weekends more fun and maybe, even more profitable. |
The Playoffs Are When the Best Prospects Meet |
The Alabama - Oklahoma and Miami - Texas A&M games in the first round of the playoffs last weekend featured fantastic head-to-head matchups on the edges with likely first-round draft picks this coming April facing off in some intriguing one-on-one battles. SNS #2 ranked OT, Kadyn Proctor of Alabama, battled another potential first-round pick R. Mason Thomas of Oklahoma in Norman last Friday night. On Saturday, a set of fantastic head-to-head battles were featured as Miami sent EDGEs Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor up against Aggie OTs Trey Zuhn and Dametrious Crownover and after the ball switched hands, the Aggies dispatched EDGEs Cashius Howell and Dayon Hayes against Hurricanes OTs Markel Bell and Francis Mauigoa. It is only one data point in the player evaluation process but these are NFL-caliber prospects who look like starters as a professional next year. This game film will need to be more thoroughly reviewed before any conclusions can be drawn but after watching these two games, all these prospects validated their rankings with Proctor, Thomas, Howell, Bain, and Mesidor all looking like potential first round picks next April. The 2026 NFL Draft looks to be a great draft for teams needing pass blockers and pass rushers and last weekend was an illustration of the top end talent that will be available in April. |
Best Performances of the Week |
Ty Simpson / QB / Alabama - 18/29 (62.1%) / 232 yds / 2 TDs / 0 INTs v Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff first round |
After stumbling in the SEC Championship Game to the worst performance of his young career against Georgia, Simpson displayed the resiliency and toughness that makes him a top prospect for the 2026 or 2027 NFL Drafts. On Friday night in a hostile and raucous Memorial Stadium, Simpson displayed the maturity, leadership, and decision-making required in an NFL QB in leading the Crimson Tide to a come from behind 34-24 victory over the Sooners. Simpson does not have the arm talent of Fernando Mendoza or Dante Moore, and although another year of college football will undoubtedly help Simpson fine tune his field vision and decision-making, Simpson's leadership and maturity make him a potential franchise QB in the NFL. |
Deion Burks / WR / Oklahoma - 7 receptions / 107 yds / 15.3 YPR / 1 TD v Alabama in the College Football Playoff first round |
Burks concluded his college career on Friday night with one of the finest performances of his career that goes back to his underclassmen days back at Purdue. Burks lines up out wide for the Sooners but will most likely be a slot receiver in the NFL. Burks is a quality route runner where his quickness and agility allow him to uncover against man coverage. Burks displays excellent sideline and boundary awareness. Accelerates after the catch and has good deep speed. Burst and acceleration allows him to uncover and gain YAC. Reliable hands – can adjust to an off-target pass and secure the catch. Very good hand-eye coordination and concentration for the difficult catch. Burks' draft status will be heavily influenced by his 40 time, but his raw skills and experience in the Big Ten and SEC make him a draftable prospect who should make a 53-man roster in the NFL next season. |
Tim Keenan / IDL / Alabama - 1 tackle recorded v Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff first round |
Statistics are never the way to adequately assess a defensive tackle, especially a lane clogger like Keenan, who may be the best run stuffing IDL who will likely be available in the 2026 NFL Draft. Keenan is a large, wide man with a square base and a low center of gravity. Keenan entered college weighing more than 400 lbs but plays at 330 lbs. Very strong with tree trunks for legs. Very good hand use for shedding blocks. Looks like an ideal NT in an odd man front. When he sinks his hips and anchors, nearly impossible for any single OL to move in the running game. Limited athlete without great range or burst – may be limited to running downs in the NFL. Regardless of his pass rushing potential, Keenan's size and power plays at the NFL level. Expect to see Keenan come off the board somewhere in the late second to early fourth rounds next year. |
Mark Fletcher / RB / Miami, Fl - 17 carries / 172 yds / 10.1 YPC v Texas A&M in the College Football Playoff first round |
On a team loaded with premiere NFL talent on the offensive and defensive lines, it is easy to overlook the talented junior RB. Fletcher is a big-sized RB with a solid frame and quality mass. Solid vision and run instincts. Patient runner. Possesses a nice jump cut and surprising lateral agility for a big RB. Very good burst through the hole. Excellent contact balance and runs with great forward lean – is his own blocker and is hard to stop in short yardage. Physical and finishes runs through contact. Fletcher was the X-factor on Saturday afternoon that the Aggies had no answer for and he is a threat that the Buckeyes, the Hurricanes next opponent, better be prepared to neutralize on New Year's Eve in the quarterfinal round. |
Malik Benson / WR / Oregon - 5 receptions / 119 yds / 23.8 YPR / 2 TDs v James Madison in the College Football Playoff first round |
Benson entered college as a 5-star mega-recruit who began his career at Alabama, transferred to Florida State, and finally arrived in Eugene this season. Benson has always teased with his elite speed and playmaking ability and he has finally put it all together as a senior. Benson missed several games this season but returned for the JMU game last Saturday night and proved to be impossible for the Dukes to cover, especially on vertical routes where his speed and explosiveness proved to be more than JMU could handle. Benson possesses a good combination of size and speed with the desired height, build, and mass for an outside WR. Benson tracks the deep ball well and has good quickness and agility to create separation in his route. Reliable hands. Very good body control and good sideline and boundary awareness. In other words, Benson looks like a high-end number two WR in the NFL. Benson grades out as a second or third round pick next April but if he runs well at the NFL Scouting Combine, he could vault into first round consideration next spring. |
Work in Progress - Offensive Prospect Scouting Report |
Dante Moore / QB / Oregon |
Next Game v (4) Texas Tech (Orange Bowl - January 1, 2026) |
Transfer from UCLA. Former blue-chip recruit – number one QB in his high school class. Good height and build with adequate mass. Very strong arm – ball arrives on out patterns with zip. Ball flies off his hand. Very quick release with good arm mechanics. Accurate passer with nice placement and elite level of timing displayed consistently when operating from a clean pocket. Throws with great touch – can spin spirals and place the ball in a tight window. Displays the ability to throw with anticipation. Throws a beautiful deep pass. Very good runner with the agility, cutting ability, and speed to be dangerous in the open field. Great scrambler within the pocket, buys time for his receiver to get open, and fires an accurate pass with zip. Throws well on the move – squares shoulders and throws accurately rolling to either side. Improving in his ability to manipulate defenders with his eyes. Field vision and decision-making are improving and he displays solid judgement and decision-making. Goes through his progressions well and possesses excellent field vision. Mature and cerebral passer with a high football IQ. Not easily rattled by pressure. Team leader who teammates respond well to. Lacks desired starting experience in college with 18 career starts at UCLA (5) and Oregon (13) (as of 12/20) and should return to Eugene for another season to refine his game but looks locked in as a top 10 pick next April, if he declares, and could be the first overall pick on the last Thursday in April. |
Work in Progress - Defensive Prospect Scouting Report |
David Bailey / EDGE / Texas Tech |
Next Game v (5) Oregon (Orange Bowl - January 1, 2026) |
Ideal size for a 3-4 EDGE with adequate size for a 4-3 EDGE – good height, good frame and length, with solid mass. Displays great twitch at the snap – possesses a lightning first step and when he wins, his first step is a major contributor. Displays the desired attributes of bend, ability to flatten, and then burst towards the QB. Impressive closing burst on the QB in the pocket. Uses length well to disrupt passes at the LOS. Good pursuit skills and chases hard from the backside. Can slice through the LOS and penetrate the backfield with explosive burst and disrupt the play as it develops. Understands containment responsibilities and works to set a strong edge – lacks some power and can be ran at and neutralized. Displays a nice spin move. Athletic with good agility, light feet, and fluidity to play in space as an off-the-ball LB. Possesses the athletic profile to cover TEs and some RBs in man coverage but lacks much experience in that role at either Texas Tech or California. Finished second in nation with 13.5 sacks and 17.5 TFL in 2025. |
Top 10 Draft-Eligible Pro Prospects |
1. Caleb Downs / S / Ohio State |
Downs is as reliable of a player as there is in college football but it is unheard of for a safety to go first overall in the NFL Draft. Downs has Pro Bowl potential as a rookie. |
2. Carter Smith / OT / Indiana |
The most consistent and highest performing OL in the nation, Smith looks like a franchise OLT for a dozen years in the NFL. |
3. David Bailey / EDGE / Texas Tech |
Bailey is having a fantastic season that puts him on the cusp of being the first pick in April's draft with 13.5 sacks, 17.5 TFL, and 2 forced fumbles this year. |
4. Fernando Mendoza / QB / Indiana |
The Heisman Trophy winner is the presumptive top pick in next April's draft and looks like a potential franchise QB in the NFL. |
5. Kadyn Proctor / OT / Alabama |
Proctor is the most physically gifted OL to enter the NFL in years. If Proctor refines his technique, he has Hall of Fame potential. |
6. Matayo Uiagalelei / EDGE / Oregon |
Uiagalelei is a well-rounded EDGE who sets a strong edge in the run game and pressures the QB with a powerful pass rush. |
7. Jermaine Mathews / CB / Ohio State |
Mathews was exposed in the Big Ten Championship Game against Indiana. Mathews needs to play better or the Buckeyes may not repeat as national champions. |
8. Rueben Bain / EDGE / Miami, Fl |
Bain is not producing the sack numbers that were expected this season but he has developed into a strong and reliable run defender as a junior. |
9. Anthony Hill / LB / Texas |
Hill, who has declared for the 2026 NFL Draft, finished the season with 69 total tackles, 4 sacks, 7 TFL, 3 forced fumbles, and 2 INTs for the Longhorns this year. |
10. Chris Bell / WR / Louisville |
Bell is a powerhouse with the ball in the open field with the size, speed, and strength to become a number one WR in the NFL. |
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