Welcome back to another installment of the Future Broncos. Based on the comments section, many of you are seeking scoop and information on offensive linemen and inside linebackers. I’ll be ranking each of the position groups for Week 6 of the college football season. Here are three prospects to watch.
Elijah Paige — Left Tackle — USC
With Garett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey aging, fans across Broncos Country have good reason to want the franchise to invest in the tackle position in the 2027 NFL Draft. There hasn’t been a premium draft day investment there in a decade. The truth is, Denver’s offensive line could certainly use some long-term additions in multiple areas. They still haven’t played as well as they have the past two seasons.
One player to watch as the collegiate season continues is USC redshirt junior left tackle Elijah Paige. Paige didn’t play much during his freshman season. However, he started thirteen games for the Trojans at left tackle in 2024. Injuries plagued his 2025 campaign and limited the blindside protector to just seven starts at left tackle. However, was credited with six quarterback pressures and no sacks last season.
Paige (6’7″ and 315 pounds) is considered one of the top pass protectors in this year’s draft. He has prototypical size and length for the position. I believe #72 is a big reason why quarterback Jayden Maiava is playing at a high level this year. However, I do have some concerns. His strength at the point of attack and running technique and his skills require a lot of running strength and running skills. room for improvement in Lincoln Riley’s fault spacing principles.
The features and tools are there. If he can stay healthy and continue to improve in the aforementioned areas, he certainly has first-round potential. You can catch Page in action tonight when the #19 ranked Trojans take on Penn State.
Kam Robinson — Inside Linebacker — Virginia
So far, I’ve covered Georgia standout Chris Cole and ultra-productive Texas Tech star Ben Roberts at inside linebacker. Those two will be high draft picks next April. Many other linebackers in this class are highly thought of, but Virginia standout Kam Robinson is a highly underrated prospect.
Last season, Robinson was dominant. In eight games, he posted 64 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, one safety, as well as 2 interceptions—both of which were returned for touchdowns. He is arguably Virginia’s best defensive player and a true three-down linebacker at the next level. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL in November against Duke and missed the rest of his junior season.
This year, Robinson (6’2″, 239 pounds) is looking to showcase his talents again with a rebound campaign. Even though he has over three hundred career tackles, he is determined to prove to general managers and scouts that he can be a long-term starter in the NFL. He missed the season opener recovering from an ACL injury and has eighteen tackles in four games.
He is one of the best linebackers in the country. He does a good job on blitzes that get pressure on the quarterback. He sports the athleticism and range to play sideline-to-sideline, but also shows great ability moving downfield, shedding blocks, and making plays near the line of scrimmage. Robinson has been a key cog on the Cavaliers’ special teams units.
Where Robinson is ultimately drafted will depend on how his medicals evaluate and his performance the rest of the season. Right now, I’d peg him as a Top 100 pick with a chance to rise significantly if things go well in the future. You can catch Robinson in action tonight in an ACC matchup when they host Syracuse.
Jelani McDonald — Defensive Back — Texas
Defensive back is not yet a top-tier need for the Broncos. However, it’s important to remind people that cornerbacks Riley Moss and Ja’Quan McMillian are set to hit free agency, as is safety Brandon Jones. Second-year player Jahdae Barron will almost certainly end up replacing one of the corners. However, adding a defensive back for the long haul seems like a possibility for Denver with their large slate of draft picks.
One of the top defensive backs in this year’s class is Texas standout Jelani McDonald. With a loaded Longhorns secondary, McDonald didn’t make an impact in his freshman season in 2023 on defense. Although he is a stalwart in their special team unit. Since then, McDonald has been a key player for Steve Sarkisian’s squad and is considered one of the best defensive backs in the country.
McDonald (6’2″, 200 pounds) is coming off a junior campaign in which he posted 80 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 1 fumble recovery. In four games so far, McDonald has 26 tackles and has logged many snaps in the Longhorns’ secondary. He is considered one of their defensive leaders and is regularly praised for his football, passion by the coaching staff.
Like former teammate Barron, McDonald played just about everywhere for the Longhorns. He rarely leaves the field and is always in position to make a play on the ball. I love his ferocious nature in the box defending against the run. He puts the wood in with his tackling. I was equally impressed with the senior’s ability in coverage from split-zone looks, inside the nickel, to his smaller sample size in single-high looks.
He’s just a great prospect who can do it all. While I don’t think the defensive back is a Top 50 consideration for Denver at this point, McDonald is a prospect whose multi-phase skill and versatility deserves early consideration in the ’27 NFL Draft. Y0u can catch McDonald in action this afternoon when the top-ranked Longhorns take on the Oklahoma Sooners.
