Tag: Simpson

Jan 31, 2026; Mobile, AL, USA; National quarterback Cole Payton (9) of North Dakota State throws the ball during the second half of the 2026 Senior Bowl at University of South Alabama, Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images

Top 5 Quarterback prospects in 2026 NFL Draft

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Ahead of the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, Field Level Media draft analysts ranked the top prospects at every position.

There is only one quarterback — Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner who helped the Hoosiers claim the national title — worthy of a first-round grade.

But quarterbacks rise as the draft closes in and reality hits the teams without a certifiable QB at the center of their plans.

Which one — or two? — could rise in 2026?

Quarterbacks are on the road to the draft with the NFL Scouting Combine next week, arriving in Indianapolis on Wednesday and Thursday for medical evaluations. They’ll conduct media sessions on Friday and be on the field Saturday for position drills, agility tests and the 40-yard dash.

Pro days often take precedent at this position. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza plans to hold off on throwing until the on-campus workout and pro day in Bloomington on April 1.

1. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
6-5, 225
Tall, well-built pocket passer with quick release and rapid, high-level processing speed. Wins with excellent anticipation, accuracy and ball placement.

2. Ty Simpson, Alabama
6-2, 208
Well-rounded with adequate arm strength, accuracy, even as a one-year starter who battled inconsistency and ended the season hurt (ribs).

3. Taylen Green, Arkansas
6-6, 225
If he runs a 4.5 and would consider changing positions, there will be some interest. Green might prefer to utilize his genetic lottery-winning trains — exceptional size and speed — to give QB a try. He’s the very definition of boom-or-bust.

4-T. Carson Beck, Miami
6-4, 220
Wins with accuracy and ball placement and is tough as a blitz-beating pocket passer. Arm strength isn’t elite.

4-T. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
6-1, 215
NFL bloodlines and ties with current Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier. He’s a known commodity to pro teams and two-year starter in the SEC. But injuries led to sloppy mechanics and poor production last season, when he wound up sharing the QB1 role. Earned back some points with a strong Senior Bowl, but the final grade depends almost entirely on which team is doing the math.

5. Cade Klubnik, Clemson
6-1, 210
With footwork and athletic tools, Klubnik is a pro system QB candidate because of his accuracy on short and intermediate throws. His height, top-end arm talent and deep ball accuracy limit his ceiling.

–Finding a wildcard at quarterback has forever been a front-office mission in the NFL. This year’s mid-round find could come from North Dakota State. Cole Payton, a pocket passer who thrived in the FCS with an attack mentality, can also move if the system calls for mobility or RPO-based action. Trust he will be opening eyes during QB throwing sessions at Lucas Oil Stadium. The southpaw stuck with NDSU despite hearing from Nebraska and other FBS programs late in his senior season and it has begun paying off. He got a lot of attention in Mobile at the Senior Bowl for his timing and arm talent.

–Field Level Media

Reports: Miami throws $6.5M offer at draft-bound QB Ty Simpson

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Multiple programs are attempting to entice Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with top-dollar offers to delay his decision to enter the NFL draft, according to multiple reports.

The Tuscaloosa News reported Simpson, who declared for the 2026 NFL Draft last week, has not yet filed his paperwork to officially enter the draft but did accept an invitation to the Senior Bowl. As of Monday afternoon, Simpson had not entered the college football transfer portal.

Multiple reports claim Simpson has a $6.5 million offer on the table from Miami, and both Ole Miss and Tennessee put up $4 million offers for the 2026 season. USA Today reported Simpson was offered $4 million by Miami but “within minutes” the Hurricanes increased the payout.

Miami signed transfer Carson Beck to lead the Hurricanes in 2025. With an appearance in the national championship game on deck, the Hurricanes don’t have a 2026 starter locked in but will make $20 million for their playoff showing.

Beck reportedly made $4 million in NIL and approximately $10 million total — through agreements with brands such as Beats by Dre, Chipotle, Airstar Charter — since leaving Georgia.

A projected 2026 first-round pick, Simpson led the Crimson Tide to the College Football Playoff in his first season as a starter in 2025. The redshirt junior took over after three years in a backup role when Jalen Milroe decided to head for the NFL because it was time to “chase my dreams.”

Field Level Media rates Simpson as a top three quarterback along with Oregon’s Dante Moore and Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza. All three would likely be in the mix in the top 20 of the 2026 NFL Draft.

If Simpson is drafted 20th overall, for example, he would be in line for a four-year contract worth $18 million-$21 million fully guaranteed. As the No. 10 pick, Simpson would make a projected $26 million-$29 million guaranteed with a signing bonus of $16 million.

Simpson passed for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns and five interceptions in 15 games in 2025.

–Field Level Media

Alabama QB Ty Simpson enters 2026 draft

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Alabama quarterback and projected first-round pick Ty Simpson is entering the 2026 NFL Draft.

He made the announcement via social media with a compilation video of his football experience from a young age through the season he just wrapped up with a Rose Bowl loss against No. 1 Indiana.

“Grateful for every single second. Blessed beyond measure to be able to chase my dreams,” Simpson wrote in the video caption. “Time to roll. Roll Tide.”

Simpson led the Crimson Tide to the College Football Playoff in his first season as a starter in 2025. The redshirt junior took over after three years in a backup role when Jalen Milroe entered the 2025 draft.

Field Level Media rates Simpson as a top three quarterback along with Oregon’s Dante Moore and Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza. All three would likely be in the mix in the top 20 of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Simpson passed for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns and five interceptions in 15 games in 2025.

–Field Level Media

Oct 25, 2025; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed (10) celebrates after a first down during the first half against the Louisiana State Tigers at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Texas A&M’s Marcel Reed vaults into Heisman contention

Posted on | by Field Level Media

While Marcel Reed was helping put the final dagger in Brian Kelly’s tenure at LSU on Saturday night, Texas A&M’s sophomore quarterback was also inserting himself into the thick of the Heisman Trophy conversation.

Reed overcame a pair of first-half interceptions to throw for 202 yards and two touchdowns while adding 108 yards and two more scores on the ground in the Aggies’ 49-25 rout in Death Valley. He has now accounted for 23 total touchdowns through Texas A&M’s 8-0 start.

Reed saw his Heisman Trophy odds shorted from +1000 last week to +550 by Monday. That’s the fourth-shortest odds at BetMGM and the closest Reed has been to the top this season.

Alabama’s Ty Simpson might have saved his own Heisman hopes by rallying Alabama to avoid a massive upset by unranked South Carolina. Simpson ended up with 253 yards and a pair of touchdowns through the air, but it’s a somewhat misleading stat line given that the Crimson Tide passing game was stagnant most of the game.

Simpson’s odds shifted slightly and he’s now the +325 co-favorite with Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, who threw three touchdowns against one pick in the Hoosiers’ 56-6 dismantling of UCLA.

Ohio State’s Julian Sayin remained at +400 and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love still owns the shortest odds among non-quarterbacks. Both are coming off bye weeks.

HEISMAN TROPHY ODDS*
PLAYER, POS, TEAM, OPEN, WEEK 9, CURRENT
Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama (+5500) (+300), (+325)
Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana (+5500), (+325), (+325)
Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State (+2000), (+400), (+400)
Marcel Reed, QB, Texas A&M (+4000), (+1000), (+550)
Diego Pavia, QB, Vanderbilt (+12500), (+1100), (+800)
Gunner Stockton, QB, Georgia (+3500), (+1200), (+1500)
Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame (+5000), (+1800), (+1800)
Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss (OFF), (+3000), (+2000)
Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State (+1300), (+2000), (+3000)
Dante Moore, QB, Oregon (+2000), (+1400), (+4000)
CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame (+5000), (+4000), (+4000)

The race now has five candidates with odds shorter than +1000, an increase from only three a week ago.

Simpson has taken over as BetMGM’s biggest liability, having drawn the most money with 16.6% since opening as a +5500 longshot.

Dante Moore, the favorite earlier this month, has essentially fallen out of contention following a loss to Indiana and getting knocked out of Saturday’s win over Wisconsin. He remains the book’s second biggest liability, having been backed by 13.3% of the money.

Love is third on that list. Since opening at +5000, he has garnered 5.0% of the money and 3.1% of the total bets.

Arch Manning, the preseason Heisman favorite, has plummeted to +2500, while Oklahoma’s John Mateer dropped to +1000 following the Sooners’ second loss of the season.

–Field Level Media

Oct 18, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson (15) throws a pass against the Tennessee Volunteers in the second quarter at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

Bama’s Ty Simpson leads QB trio of Heisman favorites

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson is alone atop the Heisman Trophy race, but he has stiff competition nipping at his heels.

Simpson emerged from the weekend as the +300 favorite at BetMGM, followed by fellow quarterbacks Fernando Mendoza (+325) of Indiana and Ohio State’s Julian Sayin (+400). Simpson and Mendoza opened as +5500 longshots while Sayin opened at +2000.

The trio has now separated from the pack, with Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed owning the fourth-shortest odds at +1000.

Simpson was the co-+350 favorite alone with Miami’s Carson Beck. After Beck threw four interceptions in a home loss to Louisville on Friday night, Simpson put together another impressive outing with a pair of touchdowns and 253 yards through the air in Alabama’s 37-20 win over Tennessee.

The Crimson Tide’s junior signal-caller has now thrown 18 touchdowns against a lone interception on the season. Meanwhile, Mendoza was enhancing his own Heisman resume with a four-touchdown outing against Michigan State.

Mendoza was among the Heisman favorites earlier this season and has steadily worked his way back toward the top after completing just 13 passes while throwing an interception in a close win over unranked Iowa on Sept. 27.

No. 2 Indiana does not have another ranked opponent on its regular-season schedule, giving Mendoza plenty of time to further pad his Heisman hopes.

Sayin saw his odds rocket from +1500 just last week in part due to the struggles of other contenders such as Beck. The sophomore tossed four touchdowns against Wisconsin on Saturday and has not been picked off over his past four games.

Sayin leapfrogged teammate Jeremiah Smith, who caught nine passes for 97 yards but was held out of the end zone in the 34-0 win. Smith no longer has the shortest odds among non-quarterbacks. At +2000 he is now behind Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, who leapt back into the conversation at +1800 after rumbling for 228 yards and a touchdown in a 34-24 win over Southern Cal.

Beck plummeted from co-favorite last week to the 12th-shortest odds at +4000. He is the latest favorite to suffer a significant drop, following in the footsteps of Texas’ Arch Manning, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, Oklahoma’s John Mateer, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers and Oregon’s Dante Moore.

HEISMAN TROPHY ODDS*
PLAYER, POS, TEAM, OPEN, WEEK 8, CURRENT
Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama (+5500) (+350), (+300)
Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana (+5500), (+550), (+325)
Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State (+2000), (+1500), (+400)
Marcel Reed, QB, Texas A&M (+4000), (+2000), (+1000)
Diego Pavia, QB, Vanderbilt (+12500), (+4000), (+1100)
Gunner Stockton, QB, Georgia (+3500), (+2500), (+1200)
Dante Moore, QB, Oregon (+2000), (+1700), (+1400)
Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame (+5000), (+4000), (+1800)
Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State (+1300), (+1400), (+2000)
Jayden Maiava, QB, Southern Cal (+6000), (+2200), (+3000)
Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss (OFF), (+2000), (+3000)
Carson Beck, QB, Miami (+2000), (+350), (+4000)
CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame (+5000), (+3000), (+4000)
Arch Manning, QB, Texas (+900), (+8000), (+8000)

Love’s climb into the top eight has sportsbooks sweating. While Manning has still accounted for the most total Heisman bets, Love remains the fourth biggest liability, having drawn 3.1% of the total money since opening as a +5000 longshot.

Simpson’s steady rise has him currently sitting as the book’s biggest liability. He leads the way with 17.1% of the money backing Simpson to win the Heisman. That’s ahead of Moore’s 13.7%, much of which was wagered before Oregon was upset at home by Indiana two weeks ago.

Smith is BetMGM’s third biggest Heisman liability, followed by Love and Manning.

–Field Level Media

Oct 11, 2025; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson (15) throws against the Missouri Tigers during the first half of the game at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Alabama’s Ty Simpson pulls even atop Heisman race

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Ty Simpson, step on up, you are the newest in a growing list of “Who wants to win the 2025 Heisman Trophy” contestants.

While Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer was sticking a fork in his fledgling Heisman hopes with a three-interception performance against Texas and Oregon’s Dante Moore put a significant dent in his with two picks in a home loss to Indiana, Alabama’s junior signal-caller leapt to the front of the pack with another impressive outing at Missouri.

Simpson threw three touchdowns in the 27-24 win over the Tigers, pushing his season total to 16 against a lone interception. Simpson is now the co-favorite at +350 at BetMGM along with a familiar foe — former Georgia and current Miami quarterback Carson Beck.

Beck, who was the +500 favorite last week, saw his odds trimmed even further despite not even playing.

That’s because Moore, who owned the second shortest odds at +700, couldn’t overcome poor pass protection in the Ducks’ 10-point home loss to the Hoosiers. That more than wiped out the good vibes from a three-touchdown performance against Penn State, which just fired its coaches after two embarrassing losses since.

Moore is now in longshot status at +1700, which also places him behind Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza (+550), Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (+1400) and his Buckeyes teammate quarterback Julian Sayin (+1500).

Just behind Moore are three quarterbacks from undefeated teams: Texas A&M’s Marcel Reed (+2000), Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss (+2000) and Southern Cal’s Jayden Maiava (+2200).

Beck holds a slight +360 edge over Simpson (+370) at DraftKings, where Mendoza is +550 followed by Sayin at +1500 and Smith at +1600

HEISMAN TROPHY ODDS*
PLAYER, POS, TEAM, OPEN, WEEK 7, CURRENT
Carson Beck, QB, Miami (+2000), (+500), (+350)
Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama (+5500), (+800), (+350)
Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana (+5500), (+1300), (+550)
Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State (+1300), (+800), (+1400)
Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State (+2000), (+1500), (+1500)
Dante Moore, QB, Oregon (+2000), (+700), (+1700)
Marcel Reed, QB, Texas A&M (+4000), (+2000), (+2000)
Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss (OFF), (+1500), (+2000)
Jayden Maiava, QB, Southern Cal (+6000), (+3000), (+2200)
Gunner Stockton, QB, Georgia (+3500), (+3000), (+2500)
CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame (+5000), (+2000), (+3000)
Joey Aguilar, QB, Tennessee (+5000 Week 2), (+2000), (+3000)
Arch Manning, QB, Texas (+900), (+8000), (+8000)

Simpson’s rise into the Heisman conversation has been steady since the Crimson Tide’s season-opening loss at Florida State. After being +5500 to start the season he was still on the outside looking in at +1000 just two weeks ago. But with others continuing to stumble, Simpson has taken full advantage.

Mendoza also enjoyed a strong jump back into the thick of the conversation in leading Indiana’s win at Oregon that vaulted the Hoosiers to No. 3 in the nation.

The constant churn at the top is setting up to be a big win for sportsbooks.

Moore had just taken over as the biggest liability at BetMGM, having accounted for 16.9 percent of all money wagered on the Heisman market. That had surpassed preseason favorite Manning, who has drawn 9.5 percent of the money but fell out of the race with poor outings in losses to Ohio State and Florida.

The book’s third-biggest liability is Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, who received some love from the public as a longshot to begin the season but has not emerged as a Heisman factor. Mateer stood to be a big liability after bursting out of the gates, but may have too far to go to recover from his three-pick outing in a return from hand surgery Saturday.

The biggest remaining liability for BetMGM is Smith, who has the shortest odds among non-quarterbacks. The sophomore has hauled in 40 passes for 505 yards and 7 touchdowns during the Buckeyes’ 6-0 start.

Also likely out of the conversation are LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, who spent short stints atop the Heisman odds earlier this season.

Nussmeier, who outdueled Sellers in a 20-10 win by the Tigers, has drawn 6.3 percent of the total bets but currently sits as a +4000 longshot. Sellers has plummeted to +10000 but remains fifth at the book while being backed by 5.7 percent of all bets.

–Field Level Media

Dec 31, 2022; New Orleans, LA, USA; Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson (15) warms up before he Crimson Tide s game with Kansas State in the 2022 Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports

Favorite emerges in Alabama’s three-headed QB race

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Alabama is in a similar boat to several other powerhouse programs as the Crimson Tide approach August without a definitive answer at starting quarterback.

However, the Tide’s situation is even a bit murkier with a trio of potential signal-callers in the picture for the team’s season opener against Middle Tennessee.

Ty Simpson is the current +150 favorite by SportsBetting.ag to be under center for that Sept. 2 game. That’s slightly ahead of Tyler Buchner (+140) and Jalen Milroe (+300).

The trio are competing to replace Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and was named the Carolina Panthers’ starting quarterback on Wednesday.

Alabama coach Nick Saban said this week that none of his 2023 quarterback options created separation in the spring and so, as with “Grandma Saban’s best cake in the world,” the plan is to “not rush it.”

“She’d say, ‘If I take it out of the oven too soon, it’s gonna turn to mush.’ We have to make sure we let the cake bake,” Saban said.

That oven could continue to be set to bake beyond the season opener, with Alabama set for a showdown against the Texas Longhorns in Week 2.

Alabama also has new coordinators following the exit of Bill O’Brien on offense, but Kevin Steele returned to fill the void at defensive coordinator for his third stint on Saban’s staff.

Tommy Rees has the dual role of coordinator and quarterbacks coach and drew raves from Saban. Rees was offensive coordinator at Notre Dame, where he played quarterback, for current LSU coach Brian Kelly.

“Tommy Rees is one of the brightest young minds I’ve seen in a long time in this business,” Saban said.

Buchner began his career under Rees at Notre Dame, so the two have more familiarity. Meanwhile, Milroe has the edge in on-field experience, having completed 31 of 53 passes for 297 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions last season.

Simpson saw only limited snaps in 2022, completing 4 of 5 passes for 35 yards in appearance in three blowout wins. However, many analysts are expecting the redshirt freshman to emerge as the Tide’s starter.

Simpson named the Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year after throwing for 2,827 yards and 41 touchdowns and leading his Westview team to the Class 2A state title as a senior.

Alabama will actually have five scholarship quarterbacks on its roster this season, including Eli Holstein and Dylan Lonergan.

While there are also quarterback competitions at SEC rivals Georgia and Auburn, oddsmakers believer there are clear frontrunners at both.

Carson Beck is the heavy -700 favorite by the book to start Week 1 for Georgia over Brock Vandagriff (+400); while Payton Thorne is the -200 favorite to start the season for Auburn ahead of Robby Ashford (+150).

–Field Level Media

Jul 22, 2019; Flowery Branch, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons defensive end John Cominsky (50) runs during the first day of training camp at Falcons Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons place DE Cominsky on Reserve/COVID-19 list

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Atlanta Falcons placed second-year defensive end John Cominsky on the Reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday and also said two assistant coaches will not travel with the team this weekend.

Defensive line coaches Jess Simpson and Tosh Lupoi did not make the trip to Minneapolis for Sunday’s game with the Minnesota Vikings.

The Reserve/COVID-19 list was created for players who either test positive for the coronavirus or who have been in close contact with an infected person.

It has been an eventful week for the Falcons, who changed coaches after an 0-5 start and shut down their facility on Thursday morning after learning of a positive test.

Cominsky, 24, is the third Falcons player to land on the Reserve/COVID-19 list this season. A fourth-round pick in 2019, Cominsky has registered 20 tackles and one fumble recovery in 15 career games.

Atlanta placed rookie defensive lineman Marlon Davidson was placed on the list Tuesday after he tested positive for the coronavirus.

First-round draft pick A.J. Terrell tested positive prior to the team’s 30-26 setback to Chicago on Sept. 27. He was the first NFL player to miss a game because of COVID-19.

–Field Level Media