The Colorado Buffaloes head into their March 31 pro day with three players firmly in the NFL draft conversation.
According to recent reporting, Zarian McGill, Zylon Crisler, and Preston Hodge are the three Buffaloes with the clearest path to the 2026 NFL Draft, but each one needs a strong pro day to improve his stock with scouts.
NFL Draft Hopeful: Zarian McGill
Zarian McGill enters the pro day as one of Colorado’s most intriguing offensive line prospects.
The center transferred from Louisiana Tech and quickly became one of the Buffaloes’ most dependable players in 2025. He started all 12 games and allowed just one sack while giving up only eight quarterback hurries across the season.
Those numbers should already put him on the radar of NFL teams looking for interior line depth. In addition, McGill earned Pro Football Focus Big 12 Center of the Week honors in Week 6, which backed up his consistency on film.
Still, McGill remains outside many mock drafts, which makes Colorado’s pro day especially important. A good showing in movement drills, bench work, and position reps could help push him into the late rounds.
NFL Draft Watch: Zylon Crisler
Zylon Crisler may have one of the strongest cases among Colorado’s 2026 draft hopefuls.
The offensive lineman arrived from Illinois, where he started 28 games and earned two All-Big Ten honorable mentions. Once at Colorado, he continued that steady form and started all 12 games.
Most importantly, Crisler did not allow a single sack in 749 snaps during the 2025 season.
That stat alone gives NFL scouts something serious to evaluate. Guards and tackles who protect consistently tend to rise late in the draft process, especially after a solid pro day.
Because he has been overlooked in most seven-round projections, Tuesday’s workout could be the difference between being drafted and signing as an undrafted free agent.
NFL Draft Chance: Preston Hodge
Preston Hodge gives Colorado a defensive name to watch in this year’s draft cycle.
The cornerback finished the season with 55 tackles, one interception, and 13 pass breakups while playing all 12 games.
Although his coverage tape has been mixed, his physical profile remains appealing at 6-foot and 200 pounds. That size, combined with a sharp pro day performance, could help him land on an NFL team’s late-round board.
For Hodge, speed drills, change-of-direction testing, and defensive back workouts may be the most important parts of the day.
Remaining Work for The Colorado Players
For all three players, the path to the NFL likely runs through a strong pro day.
McGill needs to confirm his reliability, Crisler needs to reinforce his pass protection numbers, and Hodge needs to prove his athletic upside.
With scouts watching closely, Tuesday could shape Colorado’s 2026 NFL Draft story.