LaNorris Sellers, Arch Manning, Cade Klubnik, Drew Allar, Garrett Nussmeier, and more early 2026 NFL Draft quarterback thoughts

June is finally underway, which means Summer Scouting for the 2026 NFL Draft class is going to begin heating up. The quarterback class for next year is an intriguing one, boasting a lot of natural tools, but also needs a lot of refinement. That is going to leave these conversations extremely subjective, particularly this time […]

Ryan Roberts — National College Football Writer
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Dec 7, 2024; Charlotte, NC, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) celebrates after defeating the Southern Methodist Mustangs in the 2024 ACC Championship game at Bank of America Stadium.
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June is finally underway, which means Summer Scouting for the 2026 NFL Draft class is going to begin heating up. The quarterback class for next year is an intriguing one, boasting a lot of natural tools, but also needs a lot of refinement. That is going to leave these conversations extremely subjective, particularly this time of the year. 

Depending on what you prefer at the quarterback position, this is a style for everyone. Here are some early thoughts on the top signal callers, including a couple of sleepers to know. It has the chance to be a very good quarterback class, but a lot needs, and is going to happen. 

LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina) 

At 6-3 and 242 pounds, Sellers is a tremendous runner with massive upside as a passer. If he takes you typical year one to two progression, he has a chance to be firmly in the QB1 discussion. We saw great improvements as a passer down the stretch of the 2024 season. 

Cade Klubnik (Clemson) 

Klubnik looked like a major recruiting bust during the 2023 season, but took together an outstanding campaign last fall. The 6-2, 210-pound passer managed to account for 43 total touchdowns against just six interceptions. He is a touch thrower with nice wheels to boot. 

Arch Manning (Texas) 

It’s very unlikely that Manning enters the 2026 Draft, but you never know. He is a bigger quarterback at 6-4 and 220 pounds, with impressive movement skills and arm talent. Most expect Manning to flourish in his first year as a starter under head coach Steve Sarkisian.  

Garrett Nussmeier (LSU) 

There is a lot to like about Nussmeier, who is one of the more natural throwers in the 2026 class. He has some beautiful touch throws behind linebackers and in front of defensive backs. The major issue in Nussmeier’s game is consistency against pressure, and turnover habit. His internal clock looks very poor at times inside of the pocket. 

Drew Allar (Penn State) 

I fully understand the appeal of Allar, who is a massive pocket passer at 6-4 and 235 pounds, with one of the strongest arms in all of college football. Allar also did show improvements from 2023 to 2024, which was a good sign. Here’s the thing though, Allar just isn’t very good right now. He has struggled immensely in bigger games, struggles to make good decisions, and has really inconsistent accuracy. Allar is a big “what if” player right now. 

Sam Leavitt (Arizona State) 

Leavitt is an extremely gifted thrower with easy velocity. The former Michigan State transfer is also very creative outside of structure, possesses good movement skills. He is just way too much of a reckless player right now, and needs to function better inside the structure of an offense. 

Fernando Mendoza (Indiana) 

The former Cal transfer has received a lot of hype this offseason, and it’s very understandable why. At 6-5 and 220 pounds, Mendoza has easy arm talent and is also an underrated athlete as a modern pocket passer. Mendoza is a bit unorthodox at times, but has a chance to flourish under head coach Curt Cignetti. 

Betting on traits 

While I’m not ready to hitch my wagon to Pitt signal caller Eli Holstein, the raw talent pops off of the film. The Alabama transfer boasts a big frame at 6-4 and 225 pounds, with an absolute rocket for a right arm. The ball consistently pops out of his hand, possessing a really fast release. Holstein is also a pretty decent mover, which makes for some interesting upside as a modern pocket passer. 

The biggest thing we need to see from Holstein, outside of staying healthy, is to have a shorter memory. When Holstein is good, he’s outstanding. When he struggles, things tend to go downhill very quickly. Figuring out how to bounce back from a bad rep is a top priority heading into the fall. 

The other toolsy wildcard I am buying into this preseason is Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorbsy. The former Indiana transfer showcased a lot of talent in 2024, throwing for 2,813 yards and 18 touchdowns, while adding another 447 yards and nine scores on the ground. At a listed 6-3 and 235 pounds, there is legitimate dual threat upside with Sorsby. 

In order for Sorsby to become a real NFL prospect, he will need to become a much more consistent player in 2025. After a strong start to the 2024 season, he fizzled in the second half. The Bearcats upgraded their wide receiver room this offseason, and Sorsby looks like he has more supports around him to talent he next step. 

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