A panel of five at ESPN collaborated to list the top-100 players in college football for 2026.
As a clear sign of the depth of their high-end talent this year, Indiana was tied at seven with Texas Tech for the second-most players on this list after Oregon’s eight. For IU to have more players listed than traditional conference powers like Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan seems notable.
But it’s also worth noting — last year’s list did not include Heisman Trophy winner, national champion and No. 1 overall NFL Draft choice Fernando Mendoza. So you can decide for yourself what, if anything, a list like this really means.
Here are the seven Hoosiers on the ESPN list including where they were ranked:
- 74. Amare Ferrell, Safety
- 55. Josh Hoover, QB
- 53. Nick Marsh, WR
- 45. Rolijah Hardy, LB
- 21. Tyrique Tucker, DT
- 17. Charlie Becker, WR
- 10. Carter Smith, OT
NEW 2027 NFL DRAFT PROJECTION
Just how elite can Indiana’s perimeter receivers Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh be this fall?
In his latest 2027 NFL Draft projection, ESPN’s Jordan Reid has Becker and Marsh both going in the first round. After having no first round picks for more than 30 years, Reid sees IU as having a four in two years, including three wide receivers.
Reid has Becker going with the No. 10 overall pick next spring. Here’s what he said about Becker:
The 6-foot-4, 207-pound Becker was the player I enjoyed studying the most this offseason. He exploded on the scene last November and was the X factor in Indiana’s run to the national title, averaging 19.9 yards per reception (seventh in the FBS). Becker combines deep speed with elite ball tracking and excellent hand-eye coordination.
And here’s what Reid said about Marsh at No. 32:
“This makes two first-round receivers for the Hoosiers, as Marsh is a physical wideout who is a chiseled 6-foot-3, 213 pounds. The Michigan State transfer is powerful on short-to-intermediate patterns and is not afraid to do the dirty work in the offense. He’s competitive in gaining yards after the catch.”
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