2026 Devy Watch List: Who to Know Before They're Rookies

"Devy" — short for developmental — means drafting or tracking college players before they're even eligible for the NFL Draft, let alone your rookie draft. The payoff is early: by the time a devy prospect actually lands in your rookie draft, managers who've been tracking him for a year or two already know the profile cold, while everyone else is meeting him for the first time. Here's who's worth knowing right now, organized by draft-class timeline.

The Headliner: 2027 Class

Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State is the clear top name in all of devy right now, regardless of position. He posted over 1,300 yards and 15 touchdowns as a true freshman and followed it with another 1,200-plus yard season as a sophomore — production at that level, that early, is exactly the signal devy managers are looking for. He's the presumptive top pick of the 2027 rookie draft class barring injury.

Arch Manning, QB, Texas enters 2026 as the top devy quarterback after a volatile first year as a starter — a rough start followed by a strong second-half surge. The rushing ability paired with genuine arm talent gives him a real starting-quarterback profile.

Dante Moore, QB, Oregon is the other 2027 quarterback worth tracking closely — a passer many evaluators believe could've gone in the draft's first round had he left school early.

Cam Coleman, WR, Texas transferred into an offense that already features one of college football's best quarterback situations, giving him a legitimate path to WR1 volume.

Kewan Lacy, RB, Ole Miss is the top running back name in the 2027 class, having taken over the Ole Miss backfield with explosive play and enough receiving ability to matter in PPR formats specifically.

The Deep Class: 2028 and Beyond

Devy isn't just about next year's headliners — some of the more interesting long-term stashes are two or three seasons out.

Malachi Toney, WR, Miami (2028 class) is a jack-of-all-trades weapon who's been deployed at wide receiver, running back, and even quarterback for Miami — a Percy Harvin-style usage profile.

Chris Henry Jr., WR, Ohio State (2029 class) — son of former NFL receiver Chris Henry — gives Ohio State back-to-back elite WR prospects on the devy board, at 6'5" with a contested-catch profile.

Bo Jackson, RB, Ohio State (2028 class, no relation to the NFL legend) won the starting job as a true freshman, which is itself a signal worth paying attention to.

Why This Matters for Your Rookie Draft, Even If You Don't Play Devy

You don't need a dedicated devy league to get value from this list. Every one of these names will eventually show up in a real rookie draft, and the managers who tracked them a year or two in advance walk into that draft with a real evaluation instead of a two-week crash course.