2027 NFL Draft: College Game Recaps – Week 4

Texas 20, Tennessee 17

• Texas quarterback Arch Manning is in the running to be the top quarterback prospect for the 2027 NFL Draft, and Manning had a mixed performance against Tennessee. Playing in a tough road environment, Manning threw some excellent passes but also had some regrettable and avoidable mistakes.

  On the first drive of the game, Manning had a nice completion to start his game, working through his progressions and then firing a laser in coverage. Shortly later, Manning threw a bit of a floater of a pass, but it dropped in to Ryan Wingo for a 43-yard gain. It was a good read with anticipation and location to help his receiver get open. That helped set up a short rushing touchdown. On the next drive, Manning had some mistakes, including holding the ball too long for a sack and then throwing a pass after crossing the line of scrimmage. On the next drive, Manning threw a lofted in a beautiful pass along the deep sideline dropping in a pass over coverage for a 29-yard gain. That set up a field goal for Texas.

  Early in the second quarter, Manning threw a deep ball downfield for Cam Coleman in double coverage. Manning was showing confidence in his receiver, but Coleman was bracketed with a corner in front of him and defensive back Kayin Lee over the top. Lee got better position and made a leaping grab over the hands of Coleman for an interception. It was not a great pass by Manning, but he was trusting his big receiver to make a play. Lee just won the play with better position and play on the ball. Just before halftime, Manning made another illegal forward pass, scrambling past the line before throwing downfield. Thus, it was a mixed opening two quarters as he made some excellent passes but also had some avoidable mistakes. After halftime, Coleman came back to make a nice pass on an underthrown pass by Manning. Manning had a rusher in his face, and he located the ball well so Coleman could make the adjustment. That led to a field goal. Manning was fortunate that a throw later in the third quarter was not intercepted with tons of open grass for a pick-six from midfield. Manning stared down the receiver and led the defender to jump the route for the pass breakup. In the fourth quarter, with Texas clinging to a three-point lead, Manning threw a strike to a wide-open Wingo for a key conversion. That helped set up a second rushing score. Manning finished completing 14-of-19 passes for 201 yards with zero touchdowns and an interception.

  Overall, this tape will not help Manning. While he did not dominate against Tennessee, he did make some nice passes to help his team get a tough road win. Manning had some avoidable mistakes and took too many sacks. He needs to get the ball out quicker and process faster. Manning needs to show more ability to take over games in the weeks to come.

• In the first quarter, Simmons lined up as an off-ball inside linebacker behind the right nose tackle. After the snap, Simmons read the play well before using his speed to loop around the left tackle on the other side of the line to get a sack. Later in the second quarter, Simmons used a speed rush to dart past the right tackle and bounced off the left guard to grab at quarterback Faizon Brandon as he started to step up. While he avoided Simmons initially, other Texas defenders collapsed the pocket, and Simmons was able to adjust to Brandon’s scramble to take him down for a sack. However, after the play, Simmons mimicked taking a piss on the Volunteers, and that turned a fourth-and-29 for the Volunteers offense into a first down from an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. It was a stupid penalty that took away great field position for the Longhorns offense.

  Midway through the third quarter, Simmons had sacks on back-to-back plays. The first one saw him get upfield, shed the left tackle, and chase down Brandon. The next play, he was off the ball at linebacker and looped around the line to get in the pocket and then adjusted to chase down and trip up the mobile quarterback for his fourth sack of the game. Early in the fourth quarter, three Longhorns defenders hit Brandon, but he escaped to the flat. Simmons used his speed to chase him down from behind with a strip-sack. The ball rolled out of bounds, but Simmons fifth sack forced a punt.

  This was a record-setting game for Simmons as he tied Texas’ single-game sack record and approached NCAA history. Simmons was phenomenal, showing great speed, agility to break down in space and redirect, to go along with vision and instincts. This tape could help Simmons to be a pick in the top-10 next April and he looks like a top-20 pick at worst.

• Tennessee linebacker Arion Carter was excellent against Texas. He was a tackling machine and shut down the Longhorns' ground offense. Carter had some exceptional plays, including a tackle for a loss where he absorbed the pulling guard Brandon Baker, shoved Baker off, and then brought down the back. Carter also functioned well in zone coverage in the middle of the field, covering ground and picking up receivers in his area. Late in the fourth quarter, Carter made a great play on special teams, diving on a loose ball to successfully get an onside kick. Carter looks like a starting inside linebacker candidate for the NFL. The 6-foot-1, 240-pounder is a strong, physical run defender who is a good form tackler. Carter could end up being a second-day pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.