Indiana cornerback D'Angelo Ponds and center Pat Coogan were top players for the Hoosiers, and Jakobe Thomas and Markel Bell were among the standouts for the Hurricanes. None of those players are projected to be first-round picks, but that makes them ideal sleepers in the 2026 NFL Draft. Sleepers and steals are always well-documented during the draft process, but the profile varies.

Penn State's Kaytron Allen is the school's all-time leading rusher. San Diego State's Chris Johnson was a standout in the Mountain West Conference. Will their production at the next level match the draft-day value?

It's a hit-and-miss science, and last year we hit on RJ Harvey and Harrold Fannin Jr. Sporting News looks at our favorite sleepers from each position group ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft – a wide range of players from the Power 4, Group of 6 and FCS who we think will hit in the NFL: MORE 2026 NFL DRAFT:Complete 7-round mock draftTrade predictions for the first roundWhere will each quarterback go in 2026 draft?NFL Draft sleepers 2026 Imagn Quarterback: Luke Altmyer, Illinois Altmyer (6-2, 210) is our favorite Day 3 quarterback. He had a 61.1% completion on passes of 10-19 yards with 14 TDs and one interception the last two seasons with Illinois – a sign he can work in a range where NFL quarterbacks need to be on point.

Altmyer had a 147.7 QB rating against ranked teams and he was 19-7 as a starter with the Illini. He'll develop into a high-end backup with a chance to start. Also watch: Cole Payton, North Dakota State.

Payton (6-3, 232) is a dual-threat talent who had a 72% completion percentage. He rushed for 777 yards and 13 TDs with the Bison. Payton was not a high-volume passer, but according to Pro Football Focus he hit 35 of 56 passes (62.5%) on passes of 20 yards or more.

That has our attention. Running back: Kaytron Allen, Penn State Allen (5-11, 216) broke the Penn State career rushing record with 4,180 yards and was a bright spot through a tough 2025 season. He averaged 3.77 yards after contact according to PFF, which ranked eighth among running backs with at least 200 carries.

He averaged a career-best 6.2 yards per carry last season with 15 TDs. He also had 70 receptions at Penn State. Also watch: Jonah Coleman, Washington.

Coleman (5-8, 220). Coleman has more draft-day buzz than Allen – he's ranked No. 3 behind Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price in Sporting News' RB rankings. Coleman is a compact back who scored 15 TDs last season.

He averaged 5.5 yards per carry between Arizona and Washington. NFL DRAFT RANKINGS 2026:QBs | WRs | TEs | EDGE | RBsWide receiver: Cyrus Allen, Cincinnati Allen (5-11, 180) played at Louisiana Tech and Texas A&M before catching on with the Bearcats – where he 51 catches for 674 yards and 13 TDs. He tailed off at the end of the last season – and there is a boom-or-bust feel to this pick – but he had seven TDs in the red zone.

That production keeps young receivers on the field. Also watch: Skyler Bell, UConn. Bell (6-0, 192) brings elite production as a possession receiver.

He averaged 17.2 yards per catch as a junior in 2024 and led the FBS with 101 catches in 2025. Bell had seven games with at least 100 yards receiving. He ran a 4.40 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine – which makes him a solid pick when the Day 2 receiver run starts.

Tight end: Tanner Koziol, Houston Koziol (6-6, 247) is a big target who led all FBS tight ends with 74 receptions last season. He also played at Wisconsin. He had 94 receptions the previous season at Ball State.

He's the prototype possession-receiver tight end. Koziol ran a 4.7 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine – which is in the neighborhood of Fannin's time of 4.71 in the 40-yard dash last year. Also watch: Dan Villari, Syracuse.

Villari (6-4, 245) is one of the most-versatile athletes in the draft. He had 39 catches for 412 yards last season with a 70.9% catch percentage. He is a converted quarterback who can run short-yardage out of the Wildcat.

He's a deep sleeper who might not get drafted, but file this name away for the preseason. Sep 13, 2025; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Gennings Dunker (67) looks on before the game against the Massachusetts Minutemen at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images Offensive tackle: Gennings Dunker, Iowa Dunker (6-5, 315) gained notoriety for his hairstyle – but that was quickly overshadowed by his performance at the NFL Scouting Combine. He's one of three trust-worthy Iowa offensive linemen in this draft along with Rimington Trophy winner Logan