Cincinnati Bearcats Star Named Top 50 2026 NFL Draft Talent

Linebacker Jake Golday ranked 46th overall and third among LBs on ESPN's latest big board.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 2:34pm

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ESPN's Field Yates released his latest top 50 big board for the 2026 NFL Draft, and Cincinnati Bearcats linebacker Jake Golday made the list, ranked 46th overall and third among linebackers behind Ohio State's Sonny Styles and Georgia's CJ Allen.

Why it matters

The Bearcats are expected to have several players drafted next month, including Golday and tight end Joe Royer, who are both ranked highly at their respective positions. This highlights the continued rise of the Cincinnati football program and its ability to produce NFL-caliber talent.

The details

Yates praised Golday's impressive size, range, and versatility, noting his ability to affect the running game and flash pass-rushing ability from the edge. While he doesn't have much on-ball production in pass coverage yet, Yates believes Golday's natural movement skills suggest he can become a factor in that area as well.

  • ESPN's Field Yates released his latest top 50 big board for the 2026 NFL Draft on March 19, 2026.

The players

Jake Golday

A former Central Arkansas standout who spent two seasons at Cincinnati, Golday was an absolute force in 2025 and is ranked 46th overall and third among linebackers on ESPN's latest 2026 NFL Draft big board.

Sonny Styles

The Ohio State linebacker is ranked as the top linebacker prospect on ESPN's 2026 NFL Draft big board.

CJ Allen

The Georgia linebacker is ranked as the second-best linebacker prospect on ESPN's 2026 NFL Draft big board.

Joe Royer

The Cincinnati tight end is ranked fifth among tight ends on ESPN's 2026 NFL Draft big board.

Jeff Caldwell

The Cincinnati player is ranked 147th on the consensus big board from the Mock Draft Database and is in the mix to be a Day 3 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Cyrus Allen

The Cincinnati player is ranked 204th on the consensus big board from the Mock Draft Database and is in the mix to be a Day 3 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

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What they’re saying

“A former Central Arkansas standout who spent two seasons at Cincinnati, Golday was an absolute force in 2025. He has impressive size to go along with significant range and versatility. Golday can get downhill and affect the running game -- but sometimes he takes too aggressive an angle on perimeter runs -- while also flashing rush ability from the edge (harkening back to his days as a defensive end at Central Arkansas). Though he doesn't have much on-ball production yet in pass coverage, his natural movement skills suggest it's an area in which he can become a real factor.”

— Field Yates, ESPN Analyst

What’s next

The 2026 NFL Draft will take place next month, where Golday, Royer, and potentially other Bearcats players are expected to be selected.

The takeaway

The continued success of the Cincinnati Bearcats football program is evident in the number of players expected to be drafted, including star linebacker Jake Golday, who is ranked among the top prospects at his position. This highlights the program's ability to develop NFL-caliber talent and its growing reputation as a pipeline to the professional ranks.