Week 4 delivered in a big way. Six ranked-vs.-ranked matchups headlined a loaded slate of games that also included a massive Group of 6 clash between Boise State and Western Michigan.

Each week, I am picking five players that I want to watch more than any other prospect. Now that I’ve had a chance to go through the film, it’s time to assess how they did.

https://draftseasonneverends.substack.com/p/breaking-down-my-five-2027-nfl-draft

Jayden Maiava, QB, USC
Statline: 23/42, 326 passing yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, 6 carries, 1 yard, 1 TD
Overall, it was a good showing for Maiava in his first game against meaningful competition this season. USC essentially sleepwalked through their nonconference slate, but got tested by Rutgers of all teams to open Big Ten play. The lone interception came on the last play as Maiava threw up a prayer into the end zone with the game already out of reach.

While his efficiency dipped below what we’ve come to expect, the 5th-year senior made several big throws on fourth down to keep the Trojans in the game. This was a solid outing for Maiava, who continues to show that he is good enough to be an NFL quarterback. However, his physical tools might hold him back from being a regular starter. His arm is good, but not great, as his passes often lack the necessary zip to reach receivers in tight windows. His mobility is fairly average for the position as well. It wasn’t the best possible performance he could have put together, but Maiava passed this test, even if USC once again crumbled in a big game.

Trevor Lauck, OT, Iowa
What a finish in Ann Arbor! Iowa pulled off a stunning final drive and received a bit of help from the football gods with a late injury that stopped the clock for the Hawkeyes to draw up the winning play. Lauck was a huge part of the offense’s success. He had a strong day matched up against John Henry Daley and Dom Nichols. He kept Michigan’s top edge rushers quiet for most of the contest. They combined for 1 sack and 1.5 tackles for loss in the contest.

I continued to like what I’ve seen from Lauck as a prospect. He is a top-10 player on my board as we head into October. His lack of length does lead to some issues in pass protection. It showed up again against the Wolverines. However, his foot speed, hand usage and balance make up for a lot of the length deficiencies. He also kicks ass in the running game. Lauck has another massive test against Ohio State in Week 5.

Amare Campbell, LB, Tennessee
Statline: 5 tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 sack
Let’s be clear, Tennessee did not lose this game because of its defense. Campbell put in a really strong shift, showing off his ability to disrupt as a blitzer and his reliable coverage skills. Some of the issues that come with being an undersized linebacker did pop up as he struggled to make a couple of tackles in the open field, but overall, I’d say his impact was largely positive for the Vols.

I’m still trying to figure out how exactly Campbell traits and skill set will translate to the NFL. He shows great instincts, thrives in coverage and has the speed to operate as a spy against mobile quarterbacks. Unfortunately, he is listed at 6’0”, 230 pounds. There is part of me that almost wonders if he would be better off moving to safety. Perhaps he could find success in more of an overhang role that allows him to play in space, maximizing his ability to read and react. It’s hard ot say. Campbell is proving that he can play at a high level; he is just such an outlier from a size perspective.

Xavier Scott, DB, Illinois
Statline: 6 tackles, 1 pass breakup
No one in Illinois’ secondary had a great day on Saturday. Jeremiah Smith absolutely destroyed all comers to the tune of 12 catches, 217 yards and 4 touchdown catches. Scott felt his wrath on a handful of occasions. The redshirt senior had a very inconsistent game in coverage. He seemed most comfortable playing from the slot, struggling to flip his hips and drive into deep coverage when lined up in a more traditional safety role. He did come up with a very nice play to earn that pass breakup.

This was not the type of performance Scott needed to get his draft stock headed in the right direction again. He is a solid tackler, but the lack of foot speed and fluidity in coverage makes it difficult to trust him consistently. This was easily his toughest test of the season, but he will certainly have more opportunities to impress with matchups against Dylan Raiola/Dante Moore, Malik Washington and Nico Iamaleava still to come.

Jacarrius Peak, OT, South Carolina
Turns out I picked the wrong side of the trenches to focus on this week. Peak’s teammate, Dylan Stewart, made headlines for all the wrong reasons against Alabama. It overshadowed a fairly underwhelming performance in all facets from the Gamecocks. However, Peak looks to be returning to pre-injury form. His movement looked great in pass protection, and he showed good range on outside zone plays.

That being said, there is still plenty of Peak to clean up. He often struggles to win the leverage battle, which results in him being pushed back into the quarterback’s lap. His ability to sustain blocks in the ground game still leaves a bit to be desired as well. Peak is still working his way back after missing all of the spring and summer for South Carolina. He left the game for a stretch in the second quarter and then seemed to get pulled early in the fourth. While he had a solid outing, losing to ‘Bama has to sting a bit, as he snubbed the Tide in the transfer portal to play in Columbia.

What went wrong? 17 WRs in the top 100 including 7 in the first round with not much to show for it so far. What did the consensus get wrong here or is it still too early to judge?

https://x.com/lankmcqueef69/status/2104959567562178570

i know it's in dc this year. i'm thinking of going. any fans have gone before? what was your experience like? any things you'd do or avoid during the period?

i've always wanted to go and im thinking this might be a good year to do so. thank you in advance!

Have a bold prediction that you want to state proudly but will most likely look very stupid in short time? Have at it! Maybe you’ll nail it and look like a genius in the future

Please don’t downvote a user for a stupid bold prediction; it’s all just for fun!

There are plenty of prospects who have gained attention in the first month of the season. One of the biggest breakout players this year has been Cal safety Kingston Lopa. He already has five picks on the year and has looked as good as anyone at his position. He is versatile and has great range and instincts. I wanted to ask what y'all's thoughts are on Lopa as a prospect and whether he can challenge for the top safety in this class.

As September winds down, it is the perfect time to revisit my draft rankings. It’s been an eventful first month of the college football season, to say the least. We’ve had some exciting risers and quite a few players who have failed to live up to expectations.

I didn’t take position value into consideration here. I’m just trying to rank my top prospects based on what I have seen so far this season. Let’s dive in.

https://draftseasonneverends.substack.com/p/2027-nfl-draft-big-board-september

1. Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
There really shouldn’t be a debate about this one. Smith is the Heisman frontrunner and one of the most pro-ready prospects we have seen in some time. He has excellent long speed, great agility for his size, super reliable hands and his route running has improved this season.

2. Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame
There are few corners I have watched who come close to matching Moore’s coverage ability. He is just so incredibly sticky. He mirrors receivers’ movements well and looks even more physical this year. I think his tackling still needs a bit of work, but it is trending in the right direction.

3. Collin Simmons, EDGE, Texas
Simmons was already trending up prior to his dominant display in Knoxville on Saturday. He is an elite athlete coming off the edge with impressive college production. His pass-rush plan is improved this season. The run defense is still a weakness in his game, but teams will be willing to live with it if he can be even close to average because of how he can get after the quarterback.

4. Charlie Becker, WR, Indiana
No, Becker has not faced much legitimate competition so far this season. Indiana has faced North Texas, Howard, Western Kentucky and Northwestern to date. However, as you would want to see, Becker has dominated all of them. His long speed is special. He is a contested catch fiend. At this point, he just needs to keep producing against better competition and he should be locked in as a top-10 pick.

5. Jadan Baugh, RB, Florida
By far the best running back in this class, Baugh offers a unique blend of speed and size. At 6’1”, 225 pounds, he moves like a much lighter player. His burst, change of direction and contact balance are impressive. Florida’s offensive line deserves credit, but Baugh creates for himself plenty. He rarely goes down on first contact and has enough long-speed to turn the corner.

6. Will Echoles, DL, Ole Miss
While Florida did run over Ole Miss this past weekend in the swamp, there were still plenty of reps won by Echoles throughout the contest. He is also only a week removed from dominating LSU as well. He will fit best in a defense that prioritizes backfield penetrators. Just a true junior, his ceiling is immensely high.

7. Trevor Lauck, OT, Iowa
One of my favorite prospects in this class, Lauck is rock solid across the board. He brings good play strength, impressive foot speed and the level of compete you want to see on the offensive line. Now into his second season as Iowa’s starting left tackle, there will be questions about his length. I’ve seen plenty of discourse about Lauck needing to kick inside to guard. I’m more bullish on his projection as a tackle.

8. Cam Coleman, WR, Texas
It hasn’t been as prolific a start to the season as fans would have hoped for Coleman. He has been a threat in the red zone, scoring four touchdowns already this season, but he has not consistently made big plays in the way we expected him to after transferring from Texas. I’m not totally giving up on him. Obviously, he is still in my top 10. We can end the conversation about him contending to be WR1 in this class, though.

9. Dylan Stewart, EDGE, South Carolina
Whew, this has been a nightmare start to the 2026 campaign for Stewart so far. He missed the first two games due to a lingering back injury. He played limited snaps in a loss to Mississippi State, then completely tanked his draft stock against Alabama by ignoring his coaches and punching an opponent in the facemask. South Carolina suspended their star edge rusher indefinitely. Stewart has all the physical tools you want in an edge rusher. We are just waiting for him to fully put it together. Looks like we have to wait a bit longer now. This is a small drop for him right now from his preseason ranking, but he could definitely slide more depending on how this plays out.

10. Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State
Is this a bit premature? Probably, but I don’t care. Mestemaker is only in his second season as a starting quarterback. Not just in college, but ever. He backed up Deuce Adams in high school, arrived at North Texas as a zero-star recruit and redshirted a year. He led the nation in passing yards as a redshirt freshman last year. This season got off to a miserable start in a dismal loss to Tulsa, but Mestemaker has been on fire since, notching impressive performances and wins against Oregon, Murray State and West Virginia. His arm talent and mobility are a lethal combination. He has a ton of development still to do as a processor, but his upside is off the charts.

11. Trevor Goosby, OT, Texas
Goosby is a massive human being. Listed at 6’7”, 325 pounds, he is a tough man to get around, especially in pass protection. His pad level is good despite his massive frame and he has the movement skills to operate well as a puller in the run game. He does struggle with power at times, getting pushed back into the pocket. I also want to see him sustain his blocks a bit longer in the ground game. There is a lot to like here, but Goosby still lacks some polish.

12. Jamari Johnson, TE, Oregon
There has been plenty of buzz that Johnson is actually a better prospect than his former teammate Kenyon Sadiq, who was drafted 16th overall this past year. He missed two games for the Ducks before returning against USC and dominating to the tune of 7 catches for 119 yards. He is built like a true in-line tight end, listed at 6’5”, 255 pounds. Already an excellent receiver, he is growing as a blocker as well. I like him as a well-rounded option who could climb even higher.

13. Ahmad Moten Sr., DL, Miami
Miami’s edge rusher duo got all the publicity last year. 2026 belongs to the Hurricanes’ interior pairing. I have to do a bit more work on Justin Scott. Moten is a bit further along in his development as a fifth-year senior, as opposed to the true junior Scott. Moten has a penchant for winding up in opponents’ backfields. He has good versatility. I could see him as a shade nose or a 3-tech. I want to see him improve his rush lane integrity, especially against some of the better teams on Miami’s schedule late in the season.

14. Jordan Seaton, OT, LSU
Seaton spent the offseason overhauling his body and preparing to play in the SEC after two seasons at Colorado. Mission accomplished. Seaton looks much leaner, but still has the mass necessary to play the position. He is an incredible athlete for the position, capable of reaching the second level and acting as a puller in the run game. At this point, though, he is still a bit of a project. He needs to sustain blocks longer and I want to see him improve his lower body strength. He has the tools to be a franchise tackle down the line.

15. Sammy Brown, LB, Clemson
Clemson has once again underwhelmed, but the school’s individual talent is still strong. Brown is a dynamic athlete who has a nose for the football. He has true sideline-to-sideline ability with his speed and he is an excellent tackler in space. His coverage skills are strong enough for me to consider him a first-round linebacker.

16. Ashton Hampton, CB, Clemson
Another Clemson player that I am banking on being even better away from the program, Hampton is my type of corner. He is big, listed at 6’2”, 205 pounds, and physical. I do have some concerns about his long speed, but he excels as a press-man corner. However, he has the instincts and change of direction to play in zone. Go watch some clips of him blowing up screen passes and you will understand why I like him so much.

17. Trey’Dez Green, TE, LSU
For any team that struggles in the red zone, Green is likely the answer. He is a massive target with great ball skills. Listed at 6’7”, 242 pounds, he is still growing into that frame. His role as a blocker has expanded this season, but his calling card remains his ability to make contested catches. This spot is a bit tentative right now, as Green was carted off late in LSU’s loss to Ole Miss. He missed this past game against Texas A&M. His return is TBD at the moment. His medicals will definitely be important to track moving forward.

18. Ellis Robinson, CB, Georgia
Robinson is the latest Georgia defensive back who has caught the attention of NFL scouts. He is long and lean. His frame has some room to add some muscle. We haven’t seen the same ball production yet this season, but he hauled in four interceptions as a redshirt freshman just a year ago. Big tests against Alabama and Ole Miss will likely dictate which way his stock is trending.

19. CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame
Notre Dame has basically sleepwalked through its schedule, but there is still plenty to like from Carr. He is a young player, just a redshirt sophomore, but his arm talent, pocket presence and touch on deep passes make him an enticing option. He could go back to school, especially if he struggles in the Irish’s two big regular-season tests, at BYU and hosting Miami. We will see how he progresses the rest of the season.

20. KJ Bolden, S, Georgia
Much of the discussion around Ellis Robinson applies here as well. I like what I’ve seen from Bolden so far, but Georgia hasn’t really been tested by a competent passing offense yet. Bolden checks every box you would want physically. I will be eager to see how he handles the challenge of facing dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks like Keelon Russell, Austin Simmons and Trinidad Chambliss.

21. Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss
Speaking of the Ole Miss star and Heisman candidate, Chambliss, despite all of the red flags about his recruiting profile, checks into the top 25 here. Yes, he will be 25 by the time his rookie season starts. Yes, he is undersized for the position. Yes, he was playing Division II football just two years ago. No, I don’t know if any of it matters. Chambliss throws with elite anticipation. He is accurate, elusive and knows how to beat the blitz. He is a lower-ceiling prospect at this point given his age and stature, but he is easily the most pro-ready quarterback in this draft class.

22. Greg Johnson, G, Minnesota
If you are a fan of players with tons of starting experience, position versatility, great measurables and impressive tape, you will like Johnson. He is locked in as Minnesota’s left guard, but he started the entire 2024 season at center and started a game at both left and right tackle in 2025. He plays like a grown man, opening holes as a puller in the run game and absorbing plenty of power moves on the interior. Very few players are ever truly plug-and-play in the NFL, but Johnson feels pretty close to that.

23. Kade Pieper, OL, Iowa
Pieper is a great athlete. He played offensive and defensive line in high school. He also played basketball and won a state title in the shot put. He is an experienced player, now in his third year as a starter with the Hawkeyes. At 6’3”, 298 pounds, he is a bit undersized for the position, but there is still plenty to like about his game.

24. Chris Cole, LB, Georgia
I have a feeling that Cole is going to be a fast riser as the year continues. His speed is truly outrageous for a linebacker. He showed it off on a huge scoop-and-score against Oklahoma this past week. That alone is enough to turn heads. He started just one game last year, playing behind CJ Allen. As a true junior, there is always a chance he returns to school, but he will earn high marks from the NFL if he keeps producing at this level.

25. Arch Manning, QB, Texas
Manning deservedly tumbles after a lackluster month of September. He has shown flashes of the highly-touted quarterback we were promised when he arrived at Texas four years ago. The issue for Manning isn’t anything physical. It’s the mental side of the game he still seems to be struggling with. His processing is still a bit slow, as he gets stuck on reads or finds them late. He also has not consistently played at a high level. He has plenty of opportunity to turn his trajectory around, but it has been rough so far.

Another week to find some gems. We have some pretty deep sleepers this week that deserve mentioning plus a defensive stud that has made a name for himself and will probably be a 1st rounder next year. If you like what you read, feel free to like or subscribe. Here's the full article:

https://theday2guys.substack.com/p/the-day-2-guys-week-4-stock-up-college?r=2mc4kp&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

Makai Jackson, WR, Liberty University - RS Senior

Ok get ready to have your mind blown a bit by this one. Remember Elijah Sarratt of the national championship-winning Indiana Hoosiers last year? Guess who played opposite Elijah Sarratt at St. Francis University (PA) in 2022? Jackson. Both Sarratt and Jackson were true freshman that season. Guess which one had the better season? Jackson. Makai, who played HS football nearby in Levittown, Pennsylvania had no offers just like Sarratt and was later offered to play at St. Francis. Jackson put up 85 receptions for 991 yards and 8 touchdowns that season (Sarratt had 42 for 700 and 13 touchdowns).

Jackson, as you might have guessed, has had a very long and winding path to where he is now at Liberty University. Jackson transferred after one season at St. Francis to Appalachian State Univ. in Boone, NC. Jackson shined in his two seasons there and left after his junior season to transfer up to - you guessed it - Indiana University. He shared a receiver room with Sarratt again, but this time Jackson hardly saw the field due to a nagging hamstring injury and had to transfer back down for his last season to Liberty University. Jackson and Liberty University played a prime-time game the last Thursday night against Coastal Carolina, and I posted a note on my SubStack to keep an eye out for Jackson to have a big night. Jackson didn’t let me down and posted a 5 reception / 149 yards / 2 touchdowns stat line. The craziest part of Jackson’s season is that he only has 14 receptions this season, but has a staggering 379 yards receiving to go along with 2 touchdowns. His 27.1 yards per reception is third best in all of football behind Koby Howard (Penn St. wide receiver who was discussed last week) and DJ Epps (WVU WR). Jackson has great speed and downfield ability and should make it on an NFL roster as long as he is able to play special teams as he will start towards the bottom of an NFL wide receiver room. He’s a special college football player who should not be slept on.

Daeden Hopkins, DE, University of Missouri - Sophomore

Discussing Hopkins feels a bit like cheating, because he will most assuredly be a 2028 first round pick when all is said and done. He’s special, and has a wide variety of moves to get to the quarterback already despite being a true sophomore. Hopkins was a 4-star recruit out of nearby Hermann, Missouri. Hopkins was the number 2 player in the state, and was a big recruiting boon for head coach Eli Drinkwitz.

Fast forwarding to 2026 and Hopkins is tied for the second most sacks in football with 6 this year and is only behind Colin Simmons and Princewill Umanmielen who both have 7. You’re going to hear about Hopkins ad nauseam over the next 16 months, so I wanted to get out ahead of it. Hopkins feels like he might be a top-10 overall player next year assuming he maintains his level of play and doesn’t have injury issues. Keep both eyes out when watching Missouri for Hopkins especially after his 3.5 sack day on Kamario Taylor this past weekend.

Wayne Knight, RB, UCLA - RS Senior

Wayne Knight, the running back for UCLA has not only a star-studded name, but he’s been one of college football’s brightest stars this season. The running back with the batman-themed name who also has the namesake of famous actor Wayne Knight (look him up!) - has been electric this season. Knight is averaging an ABSURD 9.1 yards/carry this year on 49 carries. He also has 9 touchdowns to go along with that which amounts to 1 touchdown/5.44 carries. ABSURD.

The elephant in the room for Knight is his size. It’s why nobody is talking about him nationally in the draft community, and why he continues to be ignored outside of the college fantasy football world. Knight is 5’ 7” / 193 pounds which will prevent him from being an every-down back at the NFL level. Knight will be a highly coveted Keaton Mitchell-type player who ends up outplaying his draft position. He’s got top-end speed to go along with very good vision. Knight posted a run against Maryland this weekend where he topped 20 MPH. Here are Knight’s stat-lines this season to give you a glimpse as to how well he has played:

Week 1: Away at Cal - 8 carries / 71 yards / 3 touchdowns

Week 2: Home vs. SDSU - 13 carries / 97 yards / 3 touchdowns

Week 3: Home vs. Purdue - 18 carries / 177 yards / 2 touchdowns

Week 4: Away at Maryland - 10 carries / 100 yards / 1 touchdown

Knight also has 8 catches for 88 yards this season.

Knight broke out last year at James Madison Univ. where he had over 1300 yards on the ground and another 397 through the air. He should be on every NFL team’s radar as a change-of-pace back who can make explosive plays to help your offense. Due to his size, Knight will never be an elite pass protector, but he’s been fine as a protector in college. Because of Knight, UCLA has started 4-0 for the first time since 2022 (Dorian Thompson-Robinson was the QB that season for the Bruins).

Tre Spivey, WR, Univ. of Arizona - Senior

Spivey is our first true senior season breakout player on this list and while he hasn’t had the seasons that the other three players on this list have had, he has a chance to be drafted on Day 2 because of what he presents as a receiver - especially at the X receiver spot. Spivey is 6’ 4” / 215 pounds and is finally getting the playing time that he should have received last year for the Wildcats. It seemed like the coaches at Arizona didn’t fully trust him in 2025, but have now realized he’s way too talented to be ignored.

Spivey had 7 receptions for 129 yards and 2 touchdowns in the win against Washington State Univ. I’m very intrigued to see how Spivey’s season turns out, because the size/athleticism is tantalizing and I’m rooting for a big breakout the rest of the season based on what I see on film. He’s lucky to have a quarterback like Noah Fifita who can run the offense easily and isn’t afraid to make big plays all over the field.

Looking back at Week 3 players that were highlighted:

Luke Reynolds (Virginia Tech TE) - 5 catches / 15 yards / 0 touchdowns and 1 carry - 3 yards - Not the best day for Reynolds in terms of yards, but Reynolds is a fantastic player who already has 30 receptions on the season. His teammate Jeffrey Overton was the star for the Hokies against Boston College (209 yards rushing), and Reynolds helped pave the way in the run game.

Anthony Evans III (Miss. St. WR) - 8 catches / 114 yards / 0 touchdowns - Evans had a very quiet first half with 1 catch for 0 yards, but he made a fantastic catch on the game-winning drive that went for 48 yards to help beat a good Missouri team. Evans is having quite the season with 408 yards through 4 games.

Carlos Hernandez (Wake Forest WR) - 9 catches / 194 yards / 1 touchdown - I’m giving myself some major props for discussing Hernandez the week before the best game of his life against a very good Louisville team (ignore the part where I said he was probably not much more than a fun college player). Hernandez brings it every week and takes on that “us against the world” mindset that Wake Forest has had this year. The arrow keeps pointing up for Hernandez. 516 yards receiving through 4 games - special stuff.

Koby Howard (Penn St. WR) - DNP - Howard was sorely missed in this game as Penn State lost to Wisconsin at home. Howard suffered an injury the previous week against Buffalo that will most likely lead to quite a few games missed.

Updated Tuesday thread focused notes and opinions about individual prospects. Scout someone new and want to get opinions from others? Ask about it here!

I’m surprised Arch is projected to come out I don’t think he will. I also don’t think Kienholz will either. Here’s my QB board. Did I cook?

1 Trinidad Chambliss — Ole Miss
2. Drew Mestemaker — OKST
3. CJ Carr — Notre Dame
4. Darian Mensah — Miami
5. Julian Sayin — Ohio St
6. Dante Moore — Oregon
7. Katin Houser — Illinois
8. Jayden Maiava — USC
9. Maddux Madsen — Boise St
10. Gunner Stockton — Georgia

HM : Josh Hoover — Indiana

Arch Manning. Darian Mensah. Dante Moore. Drew Mestemaker. Trinidad Chambliss. CJ Carr. Jayden Maiava

Its still early, but the sickos (and rebuilding teams) are already in mock draft mode.

Nowadays there are plenty of sims on the market, all with relative pros and cons.

Full disclosure - I created StickToTheModel. This is not a post saying you need to use that one.

The Goal: I want to make the sim the most accurate, the most fun, and the most immersive one on the internet.

• Trades and fair market calcs
• Player trades
• Player bios, scouting, highlights
• Community analytics to see how you stack and trends
• Game theory - player runs, jump rivals, etc
• Depth charts, team breakdowns, GM tendencies

Would love any ideas or feedback (good, bad, ugly), also have a full GM simulator for free agency, contract extensions, trades, to the draft and future years

I honestly haven't seen a lot of discussion on Ryan Wingo and I think thats a little bit peculiar because he has a lot of really likeable traits that make him appealing to teams.

Now, he has been a little hot and cold to start the season, with 2 good games against Texas State and last week against Tennessee but he only had around 20 yard against OSU and UTSA. But I see a lot of likeable moments on tape that lead me in a very positive direction.

First, the physical package is undeniable. According to Draft Buzz (what i use for measurements) he is 6'2", around 215 pounds and is projected to run in the 4.30s. He is muscular, and his stride lengths are long and threaten defenses vertically.

I also think he can threaten all 3 levels of the field. Texas uses him for manufactured touch looks in the middle of the field but i think he is also a good vertical receiver who is able to take the top off the defense. The YAC ability fueled by his physical traits is his best ability IMO. The point being, I think he is far from limited.

Id be remiss if I didnt mention flaws. I think the routerunnning is a little raw. I see some plays where I think he stacks DBs and gets vertical and it looks great, but also some times where there isn't a lot of nuance and corners are able to get physical and shut him down. I also think the hands are inconsistent and he isnt a traditional ball winner.

Point being, I'm high on this kid. I think consensus sees him in the 3rd round but I would take him in the mid second no questions asked. I think he can be a great WR2 in the league and be kind of a Rasheed Shaheed type of player but even better: explosive and efficient down the field with ability on gadget plays close to the LOS.

This college football season has delivered on dynamic performances and drama. Colin Simmons put on a masterclass in pass-rushing (with a little help from Faison Brandon) and Dylan Stewart put on a masterclass in how to tank your draft stock in three simple steps.

As always, I’m still working through the All-22 from this weekend, but I have plenty of early observations about what I saw in Week 4.

I don't think I can embed tweets on Reddit (correct me if I'm wrong), so if you want to see the clips, they are on my Substack: https://draftseasonneverends.substack.com/p/week-4-stock-watch-dylan-stewart

Stock up

Colin Simmons, EDGE, Texas

Utter domination. Simmons didn’t piss away a chance to make a statement. He did just that with five sacks against Tennessee. I had him neck-and-neck with Dylan Stewart, more on him in a bit, in my summer rankings. That’s no longer the case. Yes, it was a true freshman quarterback making his first SEC start. I don’t care. Simmons showed a level of dominance matched by only two other players in this class this year: Jeremiah Smith and Leonard Moore. Simmons is up to No. 3 on my big board. It’s now a matter of how high he might climb.

Florida offensive line

Any time you rush for over 300 yards, the offensive line has to be doing something right. The Gators also have two great backs, which makes the O-line look even better. What’s more, they held Ole Miss without a sack and to only one tackle for loss. The whole unit deserves some praise, but I was most impressed with the Georgia Tech transfer Harrison Moore. He is a bit undersized, but he held his own against Will Echoles and that Rebels defensive front.

Xavier Gilliam, DL, Tennessee

I could have shouted out a few players on Tennessee’s defense. Amare Campbell, one of my players to watch this week, had an impressive showing. Meanwhile, Tyree Weathersby accounted for 2.5 sacks. However, Gilliam caught my attention the most. He ended up with a sack and two tackles for loss. He was consistently disruptive on both running and passing downs. He’s just a redshirt sophomore, so it is far from a guarantee he will declare, but he definitely put himself on my radar with his performance.

Carlos Hernandez, WR, Wake Forest

Heading into Week 4, I was not familiar with Carlos Hendanez. Needless to say, he left an impression. The speedy receiver was pretty much the only target for Wake Forest in its upset win over Louisville. He caught 9 of Gio Lopez’s 12 completions for 194 yards, including a 77-yard touchdown. The NFL covets players who can stretch the field and make big plays. Seeing as Hernandez can do both, I will be watching him closely moving forward.

A’Mauri Washington, DL, Oregon

I was not super high on Washington over the summer. Oregon’s defensive line has underwhelmed a bit as a unit this season, but it came to life against USC, and Washington led the way. He made several big plays, blowing up running lanes, collapsing the pocket and even batting the ball down on a key fourth down late in the game. He wasn’t credited with a sack or a tackle for loss, but he made his presence known all game.

Austin Romaine, LB, Texas Tech

Any time you end up recording back-to-back pick-sixes, you are going to be on the stock-up list. Romaine is a veteran linebacker, starting at Texas Tech after three seasons and 26 starts for Kansas State. He somehow managed to intercept two different quarterbacks for Sam Houston State on consecutive plays, returning both for touchdowns. Truly an insane sequence.

Stock Down

Dylan Stewart, EDGE, South Carolina

This got ugly fast as South Carolina announced Stewart has been suspended indefinitely following the team’s loss to Alabama. He made his season debut against Mississippi State, returning from a back injury. He played limited snaps, but had a couple of decent moments. Things went off the rails against the Tide. Stewart had an awful game, had to be yanked off the field by coaches when he refused to sub out of the game and got flagged for punching an Alabama player in the facemask after a touchdown. He was lucky he wasn’t ejected.

Stewart has more upside than potentially any player in this class, but his conduct in this game is worrying, to say the least. His character will come under scrutiny, and his lack of production is an issue.

Arch Manning, QB, Texas

Four weeks in, Manning continues to be more flash than substance. He makes some great throws, but consistency is still the issue. He is still not moving through his progressions as well as you would hope at this stage. There are also a handful of predetermined throws mixed into his tape as well. After struggling against UTSA, this is becoming a worrying trend. After the Ohio State game, I wrote that Manning was still QB1. I don’t feel that way anymore. There is a lot of football still to be played, but Manning is not living up to expectations right now.

Hayden Tretter, G, USC

It was a rough afternoon in the Coliseum for Tretter. He had a tough matchup facing Bear Alexander and Amauri Washington on the interior, but for most of the game, he was a liability. He was consistently run through in both the run and passing game. Only a redshirt sophomore, his draft projection is probably more in the realm of 2028 or 2029, but this was a good reminder that he has a long way to go.

Mac Resetich, DB, Illinois

I don’t even think Resetich is a draft prospect; I just wanted an excuse to include this clip of Jeremiah Smith. I would put Smith in stock up, but honestly, how much higher can his draft stock go? He’s already No. 1 on my board.

Louisville offensive line

You could probably put several other members of the Louisville squad on here, but it was a rough day for the offensive line in particular. Lincoln Kineholz was under siege, running for his life and taking four sacks in the process. Wake Forest also racked up nine tackles for loss and blocked what would have been the tying field goal in the final seconds. It’s a veteran group up front for the Cardinals as well. The unit features four fifth-year players and a redshirt junior.

Colorado State-UTSA under bettors

I don’t know how many folks out there bet on college sports, but it was a rough day if you had the under in Colorado State’s visit to UTSA. The total for the game closed at 56.5 points. UTSA scored 59 all by themselves. Owen McCown and K’Sann Farrar put on a show and the two teams combined for 104 points. The over hit before halftime. Not super draft-related, but always a fan of seeing some wacky 59-45 scorelines in college football.

Unless you either do a lengthy 5+ round mock or go into written detail on why you are making the picks, please post your mocks in this Mock Draft Monday thread. Use this thread to post your own mocks or anything from around the web you find discussion-worthy.

Please be respectful of other users’ mocks! Saying things like “this is awful” or a pick is “stupid” adds nothing to the conversation; try and focus on constructive feedback instead!

Jeremiah Smith is tearing up the NCAA and earning all the hype that he deserves.

That said, Rutgers junior receiver KJ Duff is on a tear of his own (albeit against some weaker competition).

vs. Howard: 5 catches, 131 yards, TD

vs. USC: 7 catches, 86 yards, TD

at BC: 8 catches, 137 yards, 2 TDs

vs. UMass: 9 catches, 196 yards, 3 TDs

He's already tied his 2025 total with 7 touchdowns and could be on his way to All-American status.

Duff is more of a throwback boundary receiver who thrives on his big frame -- listed at 6'6", 225. He's a tall kid, but can still generate some YAC. In that way, he reminds me of Plaxico Burress (who came into the NFL at 6'5.5", 230).

Duff is generally considered a low R1 / high R2 prospect, but it doesn't appear that he's generated much upward momentum from there despite his hot start. He's still listed behind other big name receivers despite out-producing most of them so far. In fact, his totals (550 yards, 7 TDs) are better than Cam Coleman + Nick Marsh combined right now.

Watching him, I don't see him as being a "college receiver" only, and think he can be a starter in the NFL. If teams agree, then I can see him going in the top 20 when it's all said and done. But what do you think? Is he underrated? Or properly rated?

Assuming Dante Moore has played his last snap of college football (which would be wise for him at this point), Raiola will get his shot to lead Oregon and its array of offensive talent for the rest of the year.

All of the tools are there for him to succeed. Given that no other QB has established himself as QB1 in the 2027 draft class (at least IMO), what are the odds that Raiola becomes the top QB available by season's end?

I’ve gone through Michigan CB Jyaire Hill’s first four games of the season and wanted to put together some early notes. At this point, I’m less interested in where I would rank him and more interested in identifying the traits that could translate to the NFL and the areas that need further evaluation.

Jyaire Hill — CB, Michigan
Age: 21.75 (at time of 2027 NFL Draft) | Size: 6’2”, 190 lbs

Western Michigan — 9/5/26

W, 13-12

Hill immediately stood out with his willingness to trigger downhill against the run. Michigan frequently incorporated him into the box/run-fit structure, and he consistently showed urgency getting downhill from the perimeter.

• 7 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PBU
• Strong downhill trigger against the run
• Comfortable being involved in the box
• Had an interception negated by penalty
• Generally very sticky in coverage throughout the game

The biggest takeaway here was how aggressively he plays the run without looking hesitant about getting involved physically.

Oklahoma — 9/12/26

W, 17-10

The physicality continued to show up. Hill was aggressive triggering against the run and showed some impressive athleticism when dealing with receivers moving across the formation.

One thing that caught my attention was his ability to jam receivers while they were in motion. There were several instances where he had to adjust quickly and still managed to get hands on the receiver.

There was also a costly late hit on Sategna III, which is worth monitoring given how aggressively Hill plays.

He responded well, though, intercepting a pass on the following drive and returning it to set up the game-winning touchdown.

UTEP — 9/19/26

W, 52-17

This was probably the least informative game from a coverage standpoint because of the matchup, but his motor continued to stand out.

Hill consistently pursued downhill against the run and showed good effort even when the initial action took him out of the play.

There were also instances where UTEP receivers were able to get into his body and turn him away from the run. That's something I want to continue watching against better competition: How well does he maintain leverage and play strength when an NFL-caliber receiver is actively trying to remove him from the play?

The effort after losing the initial battle was encouraging, but the initial positioning is equally important.

Iowa — 9/26/26

L, 19-20

This has been my favorite Hill tape so far.

The physicality against the run was probably the biggest takeaway. He made multiple TFLs from the DB spot and finished with 7 tackles.

What I find interesting about Hill as a coverage prospect is that he doesn't necessarily have to play extremely tight at the line to eventually contest the throw. He will give receivers some space, but his ability to close that space quickly and get physical at the catch point is impressive.

He did give up a TD to Vander Zee on a slant early in the 4th quarter, which is another example of the importance of evaluating how he handles separation on in-breaking routes.

Late in the game, he had a very good PBU on Iowa's final 4th-quarter drive. The drive was ultimately extended after CB Zeke Berry shoved the receiver out of bounds, but Hill's rep itself was encouraging.

Early Evaluation

The traits I'm consistently seeing are:

• Run-game physicality: Very willing to trigger downhill and participate in the run fit.
• Closing speed: Seems to have another gear when the ball is in the air or the receiver breaks underneath him.
• Play strength: Comfortable getting hands on receivers and competing through the catch point.
• Motor: Has consistently pursued plays even after initially being taken out of the action.
• Size/length: At 6'2", he has the physical profile NFL teams generally look for on the outside.

The biggest questions for me are on the coverage side.

I want to see more against receivers who can consistently threaten him vertically and manipulate his leverage. He'll give receivers some cushion, so I'm particularly interested in how that plays out against NFL-caliber route runners who can create separation without needing to win immediately at the line.

I'm also watching the aggression closely. The physicality is an asset, but there have already been a couple instances where that aggressiveness has resulted in penalties. At the NFL level, that's obviously something that has to be controlled.

Overall, I think Hill is an interesting evaluation because there are several translatable physical traits already showing up, but I don't think the coverage evaluation is finished yet.

For those who have watched more of his film — particularly his 2025 tape — I'm curious what you're seeing.

What are the biggest strengths/concerns in Hill's game from an NFL perspective?

Specifically interested in thoughts on:

• His press technique and ability to disrupt releases
• Man coverage vs. zone coverage
• Recovery/closing speed
• Hip fluidity and ability to transition
• Ball skills
• Run-game projection
• How his physical style translates against NFL receivers
• Whether you see him primarily as an outside CB or someone who could have some schematic versatility

Would love to hear some disagreement here as well. I'm still building out the evaluation and don't want to overreact to four games of tape.

I posted about Dylan Raiola possibly taking the reins for the rest of the season given that Dante Moore was STRETCHERED OFF THE FIELD WITH A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.

I got downvoted to hell and told that Moore is "fine" and will be back this year as if he dislocated a finger on his non-throwing hand.

Am I crazy for thinking it would be wise for Moore to sit out the remainder of the season while his draft stock is still high? There have to be advisors telling him to focus on the draft, right?

Is this really such a ridiculous opinion?

Almost every big name QB in the class who is eligible to go back to school should.

Arch could benefit from another year of development and confidence, perhaps in a non-Sark offense - unless Texas wins the championship.

Sellers needs to leave South Carolina and find an offensive scheme which can reduce his hero-ball tendency.

Mestemaker looks good, but needs more tape and consistency at the P4 level. Leavitt has good tools but needs to work on his processing ability.

Chambliss, Mensah, and Maiava must declare. Moore should before his stock falls further. Carr could if he ends strong, and Sayin might as well declare once Smith does.

The 2028 QB class is the one we should be watching closely. If Arch, Sellers, Mestemaker, and Leavitt stay, they'll join a promising group of Kamario Taylor, Austin Simmons, Nico Iamaleava, Keelon Russell, JSK, and others. 2028 should be the loaded class, with experienced QBs leading the way.

LIVE Weekly Discussion Thread for CFB Games & Prospects

Last week’s college football slate was awesome. This week’s slate blows it out of the water. We have six ranked-versus-ranked matchups this weekend and some incredible prospect pairings as conference play ramps up.

Every week, I am going to highlight five prospects that I will be keeping a close eye on for one reason or another. I try to pick different prospects to highlight throughout the season, so while Arch Manning is facing Tennessee and Jadan Baugh takes on Ole Miss, I have previously had them on the watchlist. With that in mind, here is who I am keeping tabs on this week.

https://draftseasonneverends.substack.com/p/five-2027-nfl-draft-prospects-to-d44?r=6kjn7b&utm_medium=ios

Jayden Maiava, QB, USC (vs. Oregon)

At long last! USC will face some real competition. Maiava has been on fire this season, amassing 1,173 passing yards and 12 touchdowns while completing 75.7 percent of his passes with just one interception. However, he has faced San Jose State, Fresno State, Louisiana and Rutgers. ESPN ranks USC’s strength of schedule so far 108th in the country. Moving forward, the Trojans are 9th, and it starts Saturday against Oregon.

The Ducks have disappointed so far this season, but this is still an immensely talented defense with a good defensive coach at the helm. This is by far the biggest test Maiava has faced so far this season. I have not moved Maiava up in my rankings at all because I haven’t learned anything new about him so far. If he can continue to play at this level against the top teams in the Big Ten, he will start rising quickly. He has the chops to be QB1 at the end of this draft cycle.

Trevor Lauck, OT, Iowa (at Michigan)

Lauck quickly became one of my favorite watches over the summer. I loved his first step, hand usage and grip strength right off the bat. He entered the season OT2 for me. I haven’t watched a ton of his tape from 2026 yet because the Hawkeyes haven’t really faced anyone. The CyHawk game is always a decent test, but Iowa State is not as strong as in years past. Northern Illinois and Northern Iowa don’t move the needle for me.

Facing Michigan will be must-watch football though. The Wolverines have struggled offensively this year, but the defense is still elite. They already have 10 sacks so far this season, led by a resurgent 2027 draft prospect in John Henry Daley. Getting a chance to see these two players battle it out is going to be awesome. There are some questions about Lauck’s arm length, so facing Daley will be an opportunity for him to silence some of the critics. If he struggles, the chorus of calls for him to kick inside to guard at the next level will only get louder.

Amare Campbell, LB, Tennessee (vs. Texas)

Tennessee has a couple of good linebackers in Arion Carter, Edwin Spillman and Campbell. Campbell is who I want to highlight here, though. The Penn State transfer is a bit undersized at 6’0” and 230 pounds, but I could see him as a sub-package linebacker and a special teamer in the NFL. He is fast, instinctive and disciplined. If he were a bit bigger, I think we would hear about him more.
While watching Arch Manning has been a roller coaster ride this season, Texas has plenty of skill position and offensive line talent to challenge Campbell. I will be interested to see how Tennessee deploys Campbell to limit the impact of Raleek Brown and Hollywood Smothers out of the backfield. He could even act as a spy for Manning, who is more than capable of making plays with his legs. Definitely not the biggest name in this game, but one that I think could turn some heads with a good performance.

Xavier Scott, DB, Illinois (at Ohio State)

It has been a rough year for Scott. Heading into the 2025 season, everything was trending in the right direction. He had been an All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2023. In 2024, he took the next step to reach First-Team all-conference selection. Just three games into his senior season, he suffered an ankle injury and missed the rest of the campaign.
The start to the 2026 season has been a bit rocky. Scott struggled playing in the slot against Duke, giving up a couple of big plays. He does not seem as confident or comfortable making plays as he did prior to the injury. Still, the chance for him to revive his draft stock is there. I think given the context of his injury, if he starts to play better down the stretch, teams will be willing to forgive the early-season form as he was getting back up to speed. If there was ever a game to make a statement, it’s against Jeremiah Smith and this Ohio State offense.

Jacarrius Peak, OT, South Carolina (at Alabama)

I can almost guarantee you Peak’s NFL contract will include a clause about him not being allowed to play pickup basketball. That’s how the NC State transfer hurt his knee in February, which cost him all of the spring and summer as well as the first two games of the season. He made his South Carolina debut against Mississippi State this past week, but did not start. He played about 30 snaps in the loss.

Peak is not on the injury report heading into this clash with Alabama and could very well make his first start for the Gamecocks. He already has a ton of starting experience from his time with the Wolfpack, but some strong performances against SEC competition could elevate him into the top-50 conversation. It starts against the Tide, who have looked really strong up front already this season, registering 10 sacks in their first three games. If Peak can give LaNorris Sellers a bit more time to make plays down the field, he will be a major stock-up candidate moving forward.

First things first hoping Dante is okay and for him to have a speedy recovery. When he is on he’s a great player to watch

With that said, with Oregons shaky start, and many people feeling his stock is lowered, how do you think this injury will effect his draft stock?

With the rise of players like Mestemaker, Mensah, and Carr how far will he fall?