The NFL Draft is around the corner and we will soon discover the names of the next NFL superstars. While it’s obviously still early to talk about the Super Bowl and the MVP Trophy, with betting sites still busy compiling statistics and odds based on college numbers, it’s definitely a good time to keep an eye on some minor league talent who will soon make the leap to the NFL. Whoever desires to know the odds about the top Draft prospects can check out the best sportsbook promos on Oddschecker, in order to be always updated on news, information and statistics. Knowing histories and numbers is certainly the best way to cut losses.
The hype on Jeremiyah Love
Jeremiyah Love, the Notre Dame star running back who has all the league talking, is a rare breed. The boy features a great combination of athleticism, speed and production. As it is always the case, we don’t know whether he will replicate his numbers at the next level but his statistics for 2024 are incredible. He put together a season with 1.125 yards and showed his dual-threat ability: Love can not only run with ease between tackles, but is also a top-tier wide receiver. He earned comparisons with Jahmyr Gibbs and Jamal Charles and is one of the most discussed prospects in the upcoming Draft.
Franchises like the Tennessee Titans and others with a high pick and a glaring need at running back will surely keep an eye on Love, who is projected to be drafted pretty soon, on Tuesday. But let’s leave him for now and focus on other possible standout players.
Names that have the scouts buzzing
A lot of players will be called between Tuesday and Saturday and the best ones may be the so-called sleepers: players that aren’t talked about but are bound to explode and take the league by storm, come September. On Draft Diamonds we are more interested in these kinds of prospects, and we try to intercept them before they go out and show everyone how much they are worth. We don’t have a crystal ball of course, but we do think we have interviewed some future superstars, in our rounds of talks.
Let’s check out three players that could excite us a lot, from next season onwards.
Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State
Payton is a freak of an athlete. He stands at 6’2” and weighs 235 lbs. He played several years as a short-yardage running back before moving under center and starting to pass, with good success, in Fargo. Last year, he led NDSU to a 12-1 record, completing 72% of his passes. He threw for 2.719 yards and 16 touchdowns. He was intercepted only 4 times in the NCAA season.
These nice numbers put him on the radar in the Football Bowl Subdivision and he finished third in voting for the Walter Payton Award, the accolade awarded to the top offensive player in the FBS. He is considered a bona-fide sleeper by a lot of analysts.
Bryce Lance, WR, North Dakota State
Lance played a big part in his QB success last year. He is a pretty high receiver (6’3”) who can run with the fastest defenders around. Lance dominated the FBS with an unbelievable average of 21.2 yards per carry in 2025 and is clearly on the rise after his Pro Day. Being a receiver, he could be called late, but we can expect some general manager to make a move for him on Friday. Hopefully, his impact with the big league won’t follow his brother’s. We do remember how unlucky Trey Lance has been with injuries and we hope Bryce, who is a completely different kind of player, will have more luck.
Charles Demmings, CB, Stephen F. Austin
Demmings is a lengthy and athletic cornerback coming from the Football Championship Subdivision. He put together a show at the Senior Bowl and confirmed his talent at the 2026 Combine. His 40-yard dash stopped the clock at 4.41 and his vertical jump reached 42 inches. Demmings is the prototype of the modern DB. His wingspan is wide, his arm is about 32 inches long and he can play very well in a match-zone double scheme. He must do better in man coverage, but has time to learn. The cornerback played in a small college which doesn’t have a rich history of great defensive players, but that doesn’t mean that his deflection record should be taken lightly. Demmings is a commodity for a lot of NFL franchises.
NFL Draft Diamonds was created to assist the underdogs playing the sport. We call them diamonds in the rough. My name is Damond Talbot, I have worked extremely hard to help hundreds of small school players over the past several years, and will continue my mission. We have several contributors on this site, and if they contribute their name and contact will be in the piece above. You can email me at nfldraftdiamonds@gmail.com