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We’re backmost pinch our 3rd rumor of TTOP for nan 2026 season. This summertime we’ll beryllium exploring nan apical 10 violative and protect players Mizzou shot is slated to look this fall. We’re not ranking them 1-10, it’s overmuch much technological past that (or linguistic since we are conscionable ordering them alphabetically.)
Here are our first 2 rounds:
So who’s up next? Mizzou’s 3rd enactment matchup against Megatron Part Deux:
School: Texas (by measurement of Auburn)
Hometown: Phenix City, Ala.
Position: WR
Class: Junior
Height: 6-3
Weight: 200 lbs.
Coleman arrived astatine Auburn successful 2024 arsenic 1 of nan astir dressed up recruits successful nan country. The Alabama autochthonal was a statement five-star prospect, classed among nan apical wide receivers nationally and viewed arsenic a early NFL subordinate earlier he ever stepped onto a assemblage field.
His freshman play offered flashes of that potential. Coleman vanished pinch 37 receptions for 598 yards and 8 touchdowns while averaging much than 16 yards per catch. At 6-3, 200 lbs., he instantly became Auburn’s astir vulnerable downfield threat and showed nan expertise to triumph contested catches against SEC protect backs.
His sophomore play brought moreover bigger numbers. Coleman hauled successful 62 receptions for 1,041 yards and 9 touchdowns, accounting for a important information of Auburn’s incredibly mediocre passing offense. He established himself arsenic 1 of nan league’s apical receivers contempt playing successful an discourtesy that often struggled pinch consistency astatine backmost and grounded to maximize his talent.
The beingness devices person ne'er been successful question. Coleman combines size, velocity and assemblage power successful a measurement fewer receivers can. Defensive backs tin of matching him one-on-one are rare, and his drawback radius makes him a changeless threat moreover erstwhile he appears covered.
Few players generated much buzz successful nan transportation portal than Cam Coleman. After 2 seasons astatine Auburn, nan erstwhile five-star enlistee made 1 of nan biggest moves of nan offseason, leaving nan Plains for Austin and instantly becoming 1 of nan centerpieces of Texas’ 2026 roster.
Now comes nan scary portion for nan remainder of nan SEC: Coleman leaves Auburn and joins a Texas programme that has go 1 of nan sport’s premier violative operations nether Steve Sarkisian. Instead of spending Saturdays trying to flooded inconsistent backmost play and violative dysfunction, Coleman now finds himself successful an onslaught specifically designed to create explosive plays for elite receivers.
Sarkisian has a agelong way grounds of maximizing wide receiver talent, and Coleman whitethorn beryllium nan astir talented walk catcher he has coached successful Austin. Pairing Coleman pinch Texas’ backmost room gives him an opportunity to elevate his accumulation to different level.
A twelvemonth ago, opposing defenses could often attraction connected stopping Coleman because Auburn’s discourtesy struggled to consistently punish them elsewhere. That won’t beryllium nan lawsuit astatine Texas. With much talent astir him and a coaching unit that understands really to create favorable matchups, Coleman enters 2026 arsenic a morganatic Biletnikoff Award campaigner and first information draught prime projection.
Mizzou knows precisely really vulnerable Coleman tin beryllium because nan Tigers person seen him firsthand successful each of nan past 2 seasons.
In 2024, Mizzou mostly kept nan freshman receiver nether wraps. Coleman vanished pinch conscionable 1 drawback for 47 yards and a touchdown. The lone reception was explosive, but nan Tigers prevented him from consistently impacting nan game.
That changed dramatically successful 2025 arsenic Coleman was nan champion subordinate connected nan section for agelong stretches during Mizzou’s sojourn to Auburn, finishing pinch six receptions for 108 yards. In truth, nan stat statement could person been overmuch bigger. Late successful nan game, Coleman sewage down nan defense for what appeared to beryllium a judge touchdown that apt would person swung nan result successful Auburn’s favor. Instead, he dropped a wide-open heavy ball, allowing Mizzou to flight without paying nan eventual price.
The situation becomes moreover greater successful 2026 because Coleman is nary longer playing successful Auburn’s offense.
When Texas comes to Columbia, Corey Batoon’s defense will person to contend pinch Coleman operating successful 1 of nan nation’s astir imaginative (and talented) passing attacks. Bracketing him is easier said than done because Sarkisian excels astatine moving his apical playmakers astir nan statement and creating one-on-one opportunities.
The Tigers person done a respectable occupation containing Coleman astatine times during his career, but they person besides seen really quickly he tin return complete a game. If Mizzou wants to sound disconnected Texas, slowing Coleman will beryllium adjacent nan apical of nan privilege list. Otherwise, nan Longhorns’ prima transportation could yet present nan breakout capacity against nan Tigers that has been threatening to hap for 2 years.
School: Ole Miss
Hometown: Houston, Miss.
Position: DT
Class: Junior
Height: 6-3
Weight: 315 lbs.
Every year, a fistful of players make nan jump from promising young contributor to bona fide star. Few players successful nan SEC took a larger leap successful 2025 than Ole Miss protect tackle Will Echoles, who transformed himself from a rotational freshman into 1 of nan conference’s astir productive protect linemen.
Echoles exploded onto nan nationalist segment during his sophomore season, finishing pinch an eye-popping 68 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 5 sacks and 5 walk deflections. Those numbers would beryllium awesome for a linebacker. For a 6-3, 315 lbs. protect tackle, they were remarkable.
His 68 tackles classed among nan astir productive seasons by an SEC interior protect lineman successful caller memory. Beyond nan earthy statistics, Echoles consistently disrupted opposing offenses by collapsing pockets, defeating double teams and making plays downfield. His breakout run earned him third-team All-SEC nickname and quickly elevated him into conversations astir nan conference’s champion protect tackles.
What makes Echoles peculiarly vulnerable is his operation of size and athleticism. He possesses nan powerfulness to anchor against nan tally while besides generating unit arsenic a walk rusher, a accomplishment group that is progressively valuable successful modern assemblage football.
Now entering nan 2026 season, Echoles looks poised to go 1 of nan faces of Pete Golding’s defense and 1 of nan apical protect tackles successful assemblage football. While Ole Miss has undergone important changes pursuing Lane Kiffin’s departure, nan Rebels return 1 of nan SEC’s champion protect building blocks successful Echoles. He is expected to anchor Golding’s protect beforehand and service arsenic nan leader of a portion that hopes to stay among nan conference’s elite.
After earning third-team All-SEC honors past season, Echoles enters nan twelvemonth pinch a morganatic chance to make nan first team. His accumulation already rivals galore of nan league’s apical protect linemen, and different measurement guardant could spot him firmly successful nan All-America conversation.
NFL scouts person taken announcement arsenic well. Interior defenders tin of producing tackles, sacks and accordant disruption are difficult to find, and Echoles’ breakout play has already generated early draught buzz.
If he stays healthy, different play approaching double-digit tackles for nonaccomplishment and five-plus sacks feels realistic. There simply are not galore protect tackles successful nan state tin of matching his production.
Mizzou travels to Oxford this play for 1 of its toughest roadworthy games of nan year, and slowing Echoles will beryllium adjacent nan apical of Chip Lindsey’s privilege list.
The situation originates inside. Echoles is nan type of protect tackle who tin wreck a crippled without signaling a sack. His expertise to illness nan pouch creates problems for quarterbacks, while his spot against nan tally tin unit offenses into uncomfortable down-and-distance situations.
That could beryllium particularly important against nan Tigers. With Austin Simmons entering his first play arsenic Mizzou’s starting quarterback, establishing a accordant rushing onslaught and keeping nan interior pouch cleanable will beryllium critical. Allowing Echoles to create unit up nan mediate would make some objectives importantly much difficult.
Expect Mizzou to give other attraction to him pinch double teams and quick-hitting tally concepts designed to neutralize his penetration. The Tigers whitethorn besides look to move nan pouch and utilize play-action to forestall Ole Miss from allowing Echoles to onslaught consecutive up connected passing downs.
The Rebels person plentifulness of talented defenders, but Echoles is quickly becoming nan subordinate opposing coaches place first erstwhile building a crippled plan. If Mizzou hopes to time off Oxford pinch a signature SEC roadworthy victory, it will request to find a measurement to support 1 of nan conference’s astir disruptive protect tackles from taking complete nan game.
