The Power Four conference dominates the NFL Draft, especially early on.
Sure, it doesn’t matter where you played college ball once you actually make it in the NFL.
There have been NFL Hall of Famers who have come from schools like Kutztown University (Andre Reed) or Jackson State (Walter Payton). Recent examples of great small-school players would be Cooper Kupp, who played at Eastern Michigan. Tony Romo played quarterback at Eastern Illinois.
More often than not, though, your true “sure bet” NFL prospects that go high in the NFL Draft come from the Power Four conferences. Evaluators just know SEC, Big Ten, ACC or Big 12 players can adjust to the NFL game.
That’s why out of the top 100 players in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft (April 23-25 in Pittsburgh), ESPN’s Field Yates has just one non-Power Four player in the rankings. He’s a player worth noting, though.
Checking in at No. 30 overall on Yates’ final big board before the draft is Toledo Rockets safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren.
Yates believes McNeil-Warren is a first or second-round draft pick.
“The hallmark of his skill set is his ability to neutralize big plays,” Yates wrote of the Toledo prospect. “McNeil-Warren had 12 pass breakups and five interceptions over the past three seasons.”
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren a player to know in 2026 NFL Draft
McNeil-Warren ran just a 4.52 40, but his height and size at 6-foot-4, 201 pounds make him a really intriguing free safety prospect. Checking in at 6-foot-4 as a safety is impressive.
“He isn’t a thumper getting downhill in the running game, but he can be an impact center fielder with his range,” wrote Yates.
A former three-star recruit from Tampa, Florida, McNeil-Warren was just the second Toledo player in the past 18 years to be named to the AP All-America team. He joins Quinyon Mitchell, who was an AP All-American for the Rockets in 2022 and 2023 before going on to be selected No. 22 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Notably, longtime mock drafter Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN has the Carolina Panthers selecting McNeil-Warren at No. 19 overall.
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