2026 NFL Draft: Players Minnesota Vikings fans should watch in CFB Week 2

We have more players for you to watch as you get to become the smartest fan base in the NFL, getting to know which college football players will be wearing purple next year.

The second weekend of college football is here, and it features a schedule that lacks the same number of matchups with national eyes as Week 1, but it will still attract scouts. As for why we are writing this, we are projecting the Vikings' draft needs to be cornerbacks, safety, linebacker, defensive line, and running back.

Cornerback and safety are the two biggest needs of this team, with glaring holes either immediately present or on the horizon. Byron Murphy Jr. needs help in the secondary, and we may be watching the final season of Harrison Smith; thus, those are the top needs. The linebacker position could emerge as a need depending on what the team does with Ivan Pace Jr., and Blake Cashman will be a free agent after the 2026 season. Lastly, the defensive line and running back both look great right now, but have new faces at the positions, whose potential we do not know, and have some older faces in the group, so some depth pieces may be added there.

This is a great roster the Vikings have built, but with 11 selections in the upcoming NFL Draft, we will be covering a wide range of players and positions. With that in mind, here is our first watchlist of the college football season.

Editor's Note: College football does not have the best injury report system; some do not even report them until gameday. If a player is listed to watch and does not play, we apologize.

Cornerbacks Schedule

Noon/11:00 AM CST

Illinois' Xavier Scott vs. Duke on ESPN

3:30 P.M. EST/2:30 P.M. CST

Georgia's Daylen Everette vs. Austin Peay on ESPN+

7:30 P.M. EST/6:30 P.M. CST

Michigan's Jyaire Hill vs. Oklahoma on ABC

11:00 P.M. EST/10:00 P.M. CST

Washington's Tacario Davis vs. UC Davis on The Big Ten Network

Safety Schedule

Noon/11:00 AM CST

SMU's Isaiah Nwokobia vs. Baylor on CW Network

3:30 P.M. EST/2:30 P.M. CST

Clemson's Khalil Barnes vs. Troy on ACC Network

7:30 P.M. EST/6:30 P.M. CST

USC's Kamari Ramsey vs. Georgia Southern on Fox Sports 1

USC's Bishop Fitzgerald vs. Georgia Southern on Fox Sports 1

11:00 P.M. EST/10:00 P.M. CST

Washington's Makell Esteen vs. UC Davis on The Big Ten Network

Linebacker Schedule

Noon/11:00 AM CST

Texas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez vs. Kent State on TNT/HBO MAX

3:30 P.M. EST/2:30 P.M. CST

Clemson's Wade Woodaz vs. Troy on ACC Network

7:30 P.M. EST/6:30 P.M. CST

Michigan's Jaishawn Barham vs. Oklahoma on ABC

10:15 P.M. EST/9:15 P.M. CST

BYU's Jack Kelly vs. Stanford on ESPN

Defensive Line Schedule

Noon/11:00 AM CST

Baylor's Jackie Marshall vs. SMU on CW Network

3:30 P.M. EST/2:30 P.M. CST

Kentucky's David Gusta vs. Ole Miss on ABC

7:30 P.M. EST/6:30 P.M. CST

Michigan's Rayshaun Benny vs. Oklahoma on ABC

10:15 P.M. EST/9:15 P.M. CST

BYU's Keanu Tanuvasa vs. Stanford on ESPN

Running Back Schedule

Noon/11:00 AM CST

Baylor's Bryson Washington vs. SMU on CW Network

3:30 P.M. EST/2:30 P.M. CST

Oregon State's Anthony Hankerson vs. Fresno State on CW Network

7:00 P.M. EST/6:00 P.M. CST

Oklahoma's Jaydn Ott vs. Michigan on ABC

10:15 P.M. EST/9:15 P.M. CST

Washington State's Angel Johnson vs. San Diego State on CW Network

This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Players Vikings fans should watch in CFB Week 2