The new College Football season is underway but the first big slate of games comes this weekend. I’ll be attending the Apple Cup on Sunday during my week in Seattle.
For the last few weeks I’ve been watching 2025 tape on draft eligible players to get a feel for the 2027 class. Here are my notes…
Is this draft class as good as people are saying?
I think some of the stuff people have been saying, such as this could be the best class ever, is premature. Some position groups appear thin at the moment, although this could change during the season as players develop and emerge.
What I would say though is there’s definitely the potential for this to be a deep, thick class of prospects with some exciting, legit blue-chip players at the top end.
There are a lot of good draft eligible players. There are potential stars at the top end. It’s going to be one of the more interesting drafts to cover in some time.
Who are the potential stars?
At the very top you have Jeremiah Smith the receiver at Ohio State. You don’t need a big report from me on Smith. There is definite Julio Jones-esque potential here. He is a truly rare prospect who ticks every physical box you want at his position. He’s already produced strong numbers in his first two years for the Buckeyes — it would be great to see him go and reach the next level in 2026. He’s playing for a contender with a settled quarterback situation. There’s no reason why he can’t win a Biletnikoff and put himself into Heisman contention. It would be a surprise, even at this early stage, if he isn’t the first non-quarterback drafted.
The second clear star in the making is Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore. I can’t recall watching someone with his exceptional combination of size, natural cover skills, production and physical talent. He is tall — said to be in the 6-1/6-2 range — and yet his mirror and transition, his back-pedal, his ability to play well in both man and zone, his quickness, his length, his instinct — he looks like a complete package at the position.
Both players would likely be considered top-five players in any given draft class.
I think there’s a bit of separation to the next group but there’s still a lot of potential with the following players:
Dylan Stewart (EDGE, South Carolina) — he’s listed at 6-6 and 250lbs and plays with classic lean quickness. He’s very difficult to contain and can dip around attempted blocks and just explode to the quarterback. His length and closing burst are major weapons. There’s very clear evidence of him extending his arms to use his length to stack blockers. He will constantly concern tackles with his EDGE speed. When he fills out a bit and gains more strength he could be a speed-to-power dynamo. His burst has to be seen to be believed at times and that initial quickness will be a major X-factor at the next level. His run defense is surprisingly good for his frame — he’s very willing to take on blocks vs the run, get free and attack downfield. He looks like an outstanding athlete with amazing upside but will need to develop more of a repertoire in 2026. It would also be good to see better counter plans when his initial rush stalls.
Colin Simmons (EDGE, Texas) — His body looks well filled out for a player listed in the 6-3 and 250lbs range. He’s very quick and moves with ease. He’s patient when reading the play and doesn’t just go with his head down in attack mode. You see a clear football IQ — he seems to understand what’s going on and what his role needs to be during a given play, rather than just rushing the backfield. For example, he will take the outside shoulder to force runs back inside and do the dirty work willingly. He doesn’t go chasing the ball-carrier and wreck contain. His closing burst is excellent. He can man-handle linemen at the point of attack, shaking them off with disdain vs the run. He has very powerful hands and is capable of delivering a big jolt to the chest to disrupt blocks. He can turn the corner as a pass rusher but doesn’t have the unreal burst to attack the shoulder then bend and straighten. His EDGE rush tends to be tighter around contact. He doesn’t have the unreal ankle-flexion to change direction on a dime — he’s a little bit tight. However, he’s just so forceful that he often plows through contact to turn the corner.
Will Echoles (DT, Ole Miss) — he can really move for a 6-3, 310lbs defensive tackle. He’s capable of barging his way into the backfield. He had five sacks as a sophomore which is a good return and something to build on. His 33 pressures were sixth most among interior defenders in college football last season. His run defense is very good — he is athletic and disruptive but also stout and difficult to move. He doesn’t have the twitch of a lighter DT but once he attacks the outside shoulder he’s tough to stop. He can set-up a blocker to the outside, then use an effective arm/over to shift inside. If you line him up in the gap — O-liners struggle to get across and cut off the angle. If linemen overextend he will throw them down with disdain. He plays with a toughness and an edge. His initial contact is forceful with a powerful strike to disrupt and knock blockers off-balance. He already looked in 2025 like he could play in the NFL. He’s probably not going to be a game-wrecking pass-rush force but he still looks really good. He’s going to competently do everything you need at a good level. He possesses grown-man strength for such a young player. He has a big frame with thickness throughout. Just a really good football player.
Justin Scott (DT, Miami) — His quickness off the snap leaps off the screen for a 300lbs lineman. He can man-handle interior linemen and shove them backwards into the quarterback. He will bench-press blockers to keep his frame clean and keep his eyes in the backfield. He has an effective fake to the outside shoulder before dipping inside on the counter. He can absorb initial contact on the block and still jolt a lineman backwards to gain advantage. The thing you notice is how often opponents go backwards when facing him. He can work around contact when he sees a gap opens up and sprint to the QB. There’s evidence of him running to the sideline to make tackles despite his size. He has the instinct to get his hand up and try to tip a pass when he can’t get home. He’s just an absolute menace who will give O-linemen nightmares every week. He carries a well proportioned frame and looks like he can play multiple positions. He played a lot of snaps last season (505) which speaks to his conditioning. He can do a better job finishing (only two sacks last season) and technique refinement will be key here. He should develop a plan pre-snap — at the moment it feels like a lot of instinct and feel. He can learn to set up blockers more. He could use his explosive speed to attack the outside shoulder and rip through contact. It feels like he has a limitless ceiling to emerge as a top NFL Draft prospect if he can put together a strong 2026 season.
Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa (LB, Notre Dame) — to me he looks like one of the most natural linebacker prospects in years. He constantly plays with his hips sinking into the turf, keeping low, then exploding to the ball. He’s very quick and can move across the line with great agility. He fires out like a cannon when he reads the play and reacts with violence. There’s clear evidence of him blowing up pass-protecting RB’s and TE’s. He’s extremely fluid working around blocks. So much show, he’s even shown an ability to dip his shoulder and round the arc off the EDGE as a pass rusher. He actually turns the corner brilliantly. His natural knee-bend for his size is impressive and enables him to keep low. He just moves so easily around the field. He’s extremely competent in second-level coverage and not just a forward-attacking player. He has tape where he drives the right tackle back into the pocket playing off the EDGE to show how much power he has. Stalks stretch plays to the sideline with quickness and discipline. Fills gaps in the line versus the run with ease and seems to enjoy it. He has good size for the modern-day linebacker at 6-3 and 234lbs.
Cam Coleman (WR, Texas) — There’s not actually a ton of separation on his Auburn tape from last year. However, he made several improbable completions in tight coverage. His concentration when making catches is at a high level. He can make spectacular one-handed grabs and contort his body to complete catches. Basically if you throw it in his general direction, he can make plays. This particularly works a treat in tight areas of the red zone and he still gives you a chance to score even when he’s well covered. He can round off routes nicely to comeback and present a target to the QB. He has shown he can make catches in tight windows across the middle of the field. There are examples of him extending his hands to catch away from his body. He has a nice, lean frame with good height. You see quickness off his release to challenge cornerbacks and he can get deep. You get the sense he’s only scratching the surface of his potential. I’m not sure Texas and catching passes from Arch Manning was absolutely the best move — but Manning will have a very consistent target to throw to and Coleman should make his life easier. A very natural receiver.
There are two other names I’ll mention quickly.
Ryan Coleman-Williams (WR, Alabama) burst onto the scene as a freshman and appeared destined to be a very high draft pick. Last season it felt like he disappeared — receiving fewer and fewer targets as the season progressed to the point it started to feel a bit like he was in the doghouse. I will say this though — he has clear twitch and change of direction skill and he uncovers superbly. He has the ability to cut back and break ankles to create with the ball in his hands. He can be used in a multitude of ways — conventional, deep, intermediate, YAC. He catches the ball away from his body. He has had several special moments in big games for Alabama and provides an X-factor element at his best. He runs the redline to maintain space to the sideline, then creates late separation squeezing the DB. He can adjust back to the football better than most receivers and his ball-tracking skills are great. It’s said he can jump a crazy 44 inch vertical and an 11-2 broad. He has shown a suddenness on tape that matches that level of freaky athleticism. He did have 10 drops in 2025 which is nuts and perhaps explains his loss of favour. But he has all of the talent in the world if he can have a get-right year in 2026.
I also think Kewan Lacy (RB, Ole Miss) is just such a fantastic talent. Every time I watched Ole Miss last season he jumped off the screen. He scored 24 touchdowns and was a workhorse — playing every game. He can hit home runs, he can get the tough yards. It’s difficult to project where running backs will go in pre-season but Lacy has the potential to be a high pick if he can build on last year. He is a little bit high-cut which teams typically don’t like. But he’s just so buttery smooth when running with the ball. He can run through or around contact. When he finds a crease he can turn a good run into a great run. His long strides gobble up yards when he hits top speed. He hits the hole quickly with a purpose to capitalise on openings and then when he reaches the second level the fun starts. He had 1,010 yards after contact last year — fourth most in college football.
Do any offensive linemen warrant a mention?
I think we need to see more from Trevor Goosby at Texas, who most are suggesting is a high first round prospect (I’m not convinced at the moment). Keep an eye on Ryan Baer at Pittsburgh. But the name to mention here is, unsurprisingly, another Iowa Hawkeye.
Kade Pieper will switch from right guard to center this year. He had the seventh best zone-blocking grade in 2025 (89.0) and only gave up one sack (vs Michigan State). He has the ideal center frame at 6-3 and 300lbs and reportedly runs a 4.13 short shuttle, a 1.52 10-yard split and jumps a 37-inch vertical. When linemen from Iowa put up these numbers, they typically go in the first two rounds.
He’s very quick moving upfield to the second level and he’s a block-finisher. He can extend his arms to control blocks and he’s capable of turning defenders to create lanes. He constantly resets his hands to control with good pad level. Pieper stays square and keeps defenders in front of him, rarely losing leverage. His feet keep moving forward during blocks when he’s latched on and he’s not a static blocker. He can be a tone-setting finisher.
He’s brilliant on the pull — quick, decisive and accurate with his hands, plus always in control. He’s one of the best pullers I’ve scouted. He’s shown an ability to competently combo-block and there are loads of examples where he drives defenders off the ball and dumps them to the turf.
Pieper excels in the red-zone to help finish drives in the running game. He consistently panics defenders and has them moving backwards, clinging on for dear life. He never plays with too much aggression and is always seemingly in control of his emotions. I’d call him a silent assassin as a blocker.
In pass-pro he drops and sets with ease and shows a strong back to anchor down. He’s shown he can move, turn his body against the grain and steer defenders from an angle. He’ll be able to play anywhere in the interior and looks like he could be a first or second round pick. My only quibble is he can over-extend sometimes and can play a little high.
Are some players being overrated in the media?
I’m not going to linger too much on negatives — I want this to be a positive piece — but I do think there are some players who need to show the hype is justified. A’mauri Washington (DT, Oregon) is more of an ‘athlete for his size’ than good football player based on 2025 tape. I’ve mentioned Texas’ Goosby but there’s absolutely no way anyone should be projecting new LSU tackle Jordan Seaton in the first round based on what he showed at Colorado. When I watched Ahman Moten Jr (DT, Miami) I didn’t see a first round player like many are suggesting and find him a weird player to analyse — given he’s 6-3 and 325lbs but his best skill is rushing the passer and I wish he did the basics better — anchor, control, take on blocks, tackle.
I think there’s a group of EDGE rushers who are being inflated in the media — Will Heldt, John Henry Daley, Quincy Rhodes, Clev Lubin, Anthony Smith and Matayo Uiagalelei. It’s not that they’re bad players — it’s just I think they are what they are and are being pumped up a little too much.
Players who might be a bit underrated
I have enjoyed watching safety Earl Little Jr and now he’s going to Ohio State he’ll have a great opportunity to showcase his potential. Kelley Jones, the cornerback at Mississippi State, looks like he should be really stiff given his frame is so long and big but he’s surprisingly capable in coverage. I think Ohio State pass-rusher Kenyatta Jackson has another level to reach and if not — he’ll give you everything as a physical force off the EDGE. Miami running back Mark Fletcher is a really fun watch and has plenty of talent. I mentioned Ryan Baer at Pitt earlier and I think it’ll be interesting to see how Justice Haynes the running back gets on after transferring to Georgia Tech.
Let me also highlight a kicker to watch who stood out to me in 2025 — Lucas Carneiro from Ole Miss.
So… quarterbacks
This is the one area I do think some people have got carried away. It’s not a surprise — the draft is big business now and the best way to engage an audience or readership is to sell the dream that quarterbacks are here to save your team.
A year ago Todd McShay (not to pick on Todd, but it helps illustrate the point) had Garrett Nussmeier as the #1 pick in his ‘way too early’ 2026 mock with Cade Klubnik at #5 and Drew Allar at #7. They went in the seventh, fourth and third rounds respectively.
Remember, although it turned into a universally viewed underwhelming quarterback class — a year ago, there was plenty of hope and expectation for the group.
For 2027 — I think it’s full of players with an absolute ton to prove. There are issues galore throughout the class — but also plenty of upside. It’s a deep group. Many won’t turn pro, weakening the numbers. The sheer depth of players available, though, will make for many a great debate over the coming weeks.
Let’s start with Arch Manning at Texas.
If he didn’t have ‘Manning’ on the back of his jersey, we wouldn’t be talking about him as a first round prospect. Let’s just get that out of the way. There is very little on tape to suggest he warrants that kind of talk. I also think he needs to take such a stride in terms of development that the chances are he may well return to college football in 2027 rather than turn pro. Based on his 2025 tape he isn’t close.
Now, he has the arm to throw from the left hash to the right sideline with good velocity. He’s not static in the pocket and keep’s his feet moving and eyes downfield. When the pocket opens up to scramble, he has the legs to make gains. There are tools to work with.
However, he hesitates in the pocket and needs to learn to throw with better anticipation. He waits far too long for players to uncover. He will throw dangerous passes into tight areas. He only had 17 big time throws and 15 turnover worthy plays last season. He doesn’t help his receivers by telegraphing passes, leaving them open to big hits.
He needs to throw with better touch downfield. There’s nowhere near enough plus accuracy on tape currently. He moves around too much sometimes — just drop, set and trust your read. He really only has one level of velocity and doesn’t vary his throwing pace enough. His best skill at the moment is his mobility but you want to see so much more as a passer.
The player who most of the mocks have at the top of the class is Oregon’s Dante Moore. I understand why. He’s big with an arm, he’s a former hot-shot recruit and there are definitely moments on tape to catch your eye. I’ve got to be honest though — I’m just left wanting so much more from him. A lot of his tape is quite boring. I can see the physical potential. I can see the flashes. At no point during the 2025 tape study did I think I was watching a future NFL star though. He did the right thing returning to Oregon to develop his game. He wasn’t ready. Let’s see if that changes in the coming weeks.
LaNorris Sellers at South Carolina clearly has extreme physical tools — a big arm, great running ability. Yet there are moments on tape where he simply doesn’t look like a player with a NFL future. South Carolina’s offensive line was absolutely dreadful last year so we’ll see if that situation improves. Plus with Art Briles’ son coming in as offensive coordinator, the system may now be tailored to make the most of Sellers’ talent. But he needs to become a productive quarterback, not just a player with physical upside.
The quarterback who I think might be the most naturally gifted is Nico Iamaleava at UCLA. He can drop, set and throw over the middle with accuracy and velocity. He flicks the ball out of his hand with ease. He showed last year that he can fit the ball into tight areas and can layer throws. He’s very capable of playing the short/intermediate game but can also challenge opponents downfield.
He can fire pinpoint accurate throws down the sideline, hitting his receivers in stride. I really like the way he fits throws in-between second-level defenders. He varies his velocity nicely — he has a fastball but also throws with touch. He can throw difficult deep-balls to covered receivers, throwing them open down the seam. He can complete difficult middle-of-the-field throws in the crowded red zone. He can attack the middle of the field with accuracy and has delivered big throws on third down — for example a big 3rd and 21 vs USC conversion in the fourth quarter. There’s clear evidence of throwing with timing and anticipation.
There is so much talent here — he just needs to be more consistent, stay on the field and produce. Iamaleava is a big season away from launching his stock into the stratosphere. He has all the talent you need to succeed.
He has a tall, lean frame. Can he add some mass to help protect himself against NFL hits? He can be absolutely dynamic as an open-field runner. You have to account for his legs at all times. When he sees an opening he can take off and glide for running gains. He shows great escapability and can dodge sacks and extend plays with his legs. He possesses a good sense of danger and will throw low/high when sensing turnover potential.
He does needs to avoid throwing late across his body. He also has too many ‘trusting the read’ throws and can throw blind into dangerous areas.
Can the new staff at UCLA tighten up his game and get him to deliver a complete season? It might not help that this is year one of a new regime. Is the supporting cast ready to help him realise his potential? If progress is made, could he be tempted to return next year to really finish with a bang and max out his stock?
The other thing to wonder about is his personality fit as an eventual leader of the locker room. The way he departed Tennessee will be studied by NFL teams closely. I’m not convinced he will be for everybody. One thing I’ve learnt in recent years is teams really do value an alpha energy, calmness in the huddle, doing things the right way day-to-day, leading by example. Iamaleava may well be capable of that. He was also still very young when he left Tennessee and clearly had maturing to do. I’m just not sure. It won’t matter if he can’t elevate his game to a more consistent level in 2026. If he does, the person will be scrutinised as much as the player. He has a ton of talent though — and that can’t necessarily be said for some of the other quarterbacks in this class.
In terms of the others — Trinidad Chambliss (Ole Miss) is also very naturally gifted and just got better and better as last season went on. His lack of ideal size is an issue but he is just so creative and capable of making magic happen. If he plays in 2026 the way he ended 2025 — he will rise, regardless of his size. He throws with unique touch, even when scrambling. He shows off easy arm strength. He’s a classic improv artist who can create and extend even when the play looks over. His scrambling ability is better than most. He has a good arm and is capable of throwing downfield with velocity. There are examples of superb ball placement — in fact it’s arguably his best quality. He’s comfortable throwing over the middle and can layer passes. His accuracy doesn’t suffer when he’s on the run. He’s good but small and would be a 25-year-old rookie next year. It’s also worth noting he lost two really good receivers from last year, including De’Zhaun Stribling.
I would be surprised if CJ Carr left Notre Dame after just two years as a starter. The only way I could see it is if he plays lights out, the team go on a great run and they perhaps win the playoffs. Then he might choose to leave on a high. I just think quarterbacks are going to be more conscious than ever of being ‘ready’ for the NFL — and game experience matters. Now that you get paid handsomely to play college football, there’s no rush any more.
I’ll be very interested to see how the Sam Leavitt/Lane Kiffing double act goes at LSU. Leavitt has sneaky creative ability that people don’t talk about and can definitely execute Kiffin’s offense. However, Kiffin’s quarterbacks are not often highly drafted players. Leavitt is unlikely to possess the physical tools to be a high pick but he could end up being an attractive late day two or early day three option for some teams with a big year. He’s very capable of making plays on the move and he’s a playmaker. He just lacks the real punch to his throws and he’s been banged up.
John Mateer at Oklahoma was threatening to build a compelling draft profile a year ago before his thumb injury derailed his season. Mateer at his best is a playmaker with his arm and legs. He’s also worked to fix some technical issues this off-season. He’s disappeared off the radar a bit given the way 2025 unfolded but I wouldn’t count him out just yet.
When Darien Mensah was at Duke last year, I thought he really grew into the season. He’s another slightly undersized player who lacks the elite level tools. However, he can function as a very capable starting college quarterback — who can do things NFL teams will like. Going to Miami, somewhat controversially, will give him a huge platform to elevate his stock just as players like Cam Ward managed. I remember watching Ward at Washington State and he didn’t look like a first round pick in the slightest. Miami made him the #1 overall pick.
I still think Mensah’s stock should be projected, for now, in the middle rounds at best. Is the physical upside truly there? I’m not sure.
Byrum Brown will be an interesting player to keep an eye on, having transferred from USF to Auburn. He’s a strong, athletic runner who can still make plays with his arm. Julian Sayin will likely have a good year for Ohio State but physically he just doesn’t have the tools to think he’ll be a high draft pick. NC State’s CJ Bailey had some standout performances last year but his supporting cast has been decimated by transfers, despite his decision to stay put, and the end result was a horror show against Virginia last weekend. He might need to go somewhere else next year to rejuvenate his stock.
I have to say I’ve seen very little from new Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker to justify all the hype he’s getting online. I’m also not sold on USC’s Jayden Maiava being much more than a mid-to-late round prospect.
I wrote a piece about Brendan Sorsby, who’s sitting out the season, here.
Overall, there’s a lot of names to talk about. But I think at the moment people are just throwing first and second round grades at these players. There are too many question marks to feel that way about many of the 2027 eligible quarterbacks. Development is needed.
If you missed my latest conversation with Puck Sports discussing the Seahawks, click here.
And if you want to watch this week’s Seahawks Collective, click here.
