2026 NFL Draft: Joel Klatt's 5 Biggest Risers Following the Combine

This year's NFL Scouting Combine featured the best showing in the history of the event, according to FOX Sports lead college football analyst Joel Klatt.

In fact, Klatt was so impressed by the prospects at this year's combine that he didn't even mention Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese as one of the top risers following the event. Reese ran a 4.46 40-yard dash, which was the best mark among edge rushers at the combine, as he looks to prove he can play the position at the next level.

Reese had already been featured as a top-10 pick in many mock drafts ahead of the combine, which led to Klatt excluding him from his top five risers list. But one of his teammates made the cut, as did one of college football's top defensive players last season.

Here are Klatt's five biggest risers following this year's combine. 

Caleb Banks played three games this past season due to a foot injury, but was able to have a strong combine showing. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

After playing just three games in 2025 due to a foot injury, Banks needed to have a strong showing in Indianapolis. He did, showing an impressive combination of burst and size. 

"Banks wasn't really on anyone's radar coming into the combine," Klatt said. "Maybe he is, but he didn't really play [in 2025]. He lost most of the season due to an injury. So, now you've got to go perform. And perform he did. He's 6-foot-6 and 327 pounds with an 85-inch wingspan and he jumped 32 inches. What are they feeding these kids?"

Banks, who had 4.5 sacks in 2024, also ran a 5.04 in the 40-yard dash. He had the fifth-best athletic score of all defensive tackles at the combine, per Next Gen Stats. He also climbed up to No. 14 in FOX Sports NFL Draft analyst Rob Rang's most recent