2026 NFL Draft: College Game Recaps – Week 11

Ducks quarterback Dante Moore has enjoyed a breakout season and had a prolific start to the year. Moore had some struggles in a loss to Indiana, and Moore needs to put together some strong tapes to close the year in order to be a true high first-round prospect. Against Iowa, Moore was dealt a tough hand as his best receiver and mismatch tight end, Kenyon Sadiq, were out with injuries. The game was played in a steady rain, and Oregon’s offense struggled to extend and finish drives.

Midway through the first quarter, Moore threw a perfect strike on an intermediate crosser for a 22-yard gain. To end the drive, Moore overthrew a receiver running down the seam, and the overthrow was picked off by a Hawkeyes defender coming over in zone coverage. Before the half, Moore contributed to a drive that produced a field goal and one that had a short rushing touchdown.

Midway through the third quarter, Moore showed his athleticism, taking a quarterback zone read and sprinting down the field for a 40-yard gain. Moore was tripped by a guard and fell down on a critical play, so Oregon settled for a field goal again. Throughout the second half, Oregon kept the ball on the ground, and Moore did not attempt many passes. After the Hawkeyes took a 16-15 lead, Moore led a late drive with some short completions to help set up the game-winning field goal on the final play. Moore finished completing 13-of-21 passes for 112 yards with no touchdowns and an interception.

For the NFL, Moore has shown a good skill set with his arm talent and some mobility. Moore is an accurate passer who throws a very catchable ball with good location. He also has some mobility to move around and use his feet to make some plays. However, Moore needs to get faster at processing; he needs to get the ball out faster and needs to avoid negative plays by taking bad sacks. This tape will illustrate that Moore is talented, but he needs development for the pro level.

There was a good draft matchup in this game with Iowa tackle Gennings Dunker taking on Ducks edge rushers Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti. If Dunker could shut them down, that would be helpful for his draft grade, as they are both dangerous quarterback hunters. Overall, Dunker was solid and held his own against the Ducks tandem.

In the first quarter, Iowa had a busted play, and Tuioti chased down Mark Gronowski for a sack. In the third quarter, Uiagalelei got close to a sack with a power rush through the right tackle. Shortly after that play, Tuioti suffered an arm injury and had to leave the game. But Tuioti came back in the game later. Late in the fourth quarter, Tuioti made a superb play chasing down a back from the backside to prevent a potential touchdown run for Iowa. The next play, Tuioti flew over to the sideline in zone coverage and made a touchdown-saving tackle on a tight end a few yards short of the end zone. Tuioti came close to a sack on third-and-goal.

Tuioti is an active defender who lines up at edge rusher, outside linebacker, and middle linebacker. He plays very hard, is always around the ball, and has a knack for making plays. Tuioti is not an exceptional athlete and does not have overwhelming speed or strength. Hence, he could be more of a day two or mid-round linebacker that rotates in as a Sam linebacker.

Uiagalelei has a good skill set with size, speed, and power. However, he has been inconsistent in his college career. He has flashes that are extremely impressive, but he also has a lot of quiet stretches where his losing reps to blockers who are not as physically talented as he is. Uiagalelei looks more like a day-two or mid-rounder.

For the NFL, Dunker could be a candidate to play right tackle or guard. He is strong and blocks with aggression. He has developed the strength to tie up defenders and sustain his blocks when he gets hold of them. Defenders struggle to shed once Dunker gets into their chest. Dunker is not horrible athletically, but his agility and quickness are not special. Thus, he would be better off on the right side, and right guard could be his best fit at the pro level.

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza has been superb for the Hoosiers this season after transferring from Cal, and he has emerged as one of the top quarterback prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft. While Penn State is having a disappointing season, it still has a lot of NFL talent on its defense. Thus, it would be interesting to see how Mendoza played against the Nittany Lions.

Late in the first quarter, Mendoza found receiver Charlie Becker running wide open on a deep post for a 53-yard completion. To end the drive, Mendoza took off on an 18-yard touchdown run as he scrambled up the middle of the Penn State defense and found a vulnerable middle of the field. Later in the second quarter, Mendoza made a pretty play, scrambling out of the pocket, and then made a sidearm pass to Becker to convert a third down and set up a first-and-goal. Mendoza was without his top receiver and was held in check.

In the fourth quarter, with his team protecting a three-point lead, Mendoza made an uncharacteristic mistake. Mendoza left a clean pocket to scramble to his right. He saw a receiver a little behind two defenders, but must have missed the deep safety that was following his eyes. Mendoza delivered the pass downfield, and the safety jumped the route for an interception. It was an anomaly play with a terrible read and decision from Mendoza. That turnover set up Penn State to take the lead.

Mendoza had one last chance with less than two minutes remaining and made a key conversion. However, he had Omar Cooper running wide open deep down the field for a potential long touchdown, but Mendoza overthrew him, resulting in an incomplete pass. The next play, Mendoza threw a dart for 29 to get inside the 25-yard line and a fade to Becker to get to the eight and set up a first-and-goal. On third-and-goal, Mendoza threw a jump ball to the back of the end zone, and his receiver made an incredible catch to give Indiana a great comeback win. Mendoza finished completing 19-of-30 passes for 218 yards with a touchdown, an interception, and a rushing touchdown.

For the NFL, Mendoza looks like a pro starter. Mendoza has a strong arm, a quick release, and is accurate in passing at all levels of the field. This year, he has shown improvement in his pocket presence, reading coverage, working through progressions, and manipulating the pocket with his feet. He is smart and reads the field well. Mendoza throws accurately with good timing and anticipation. This tape will help Mendoza become a high first-round pick next April.

It has been a frustrating season for Penn State running back Nick Singleton. Team sources say the losing streak and firing of James Franklin have put the entire team in a funk. Scouts say a lot of the Penn State prospects looked better on tape last year. Versus Indiana, Singleton showed his 2024 and 2023 form with some clutch plays to help his team grab a fourth-quarter lead.

In the early going, Singleton had a short touchdown run, but he came alive in he final frame. Early in the fourth quarter, Singleton exploded up the middle and finally got loose for a long run with a 60-yard gain. To cap the drive, Singleton powered into the end zone from a few yards out, showing his strength to charge through a blocker and tackler. Later in the fourth, Singleton dodged two tacklers and weaved through the defense for a 19-yard touchdown catch on a screen pass. Singleton ran for 71 yards with 10 carries and two touchdowns. He caught three passes for 22 yards and a touchdown.

Singleton has the skill set to be a backup running back in the NFL with the potential to possibly rise into a starting role. He has a strong frame, is athletic, quick, and has some good instincts. Singleton looks like a mid-round pick that could be a solid backup to start out his pro career.

Sources say they have been disappointed in Penn State defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton this season. He has a great skill set, but he has not been productive and has been part of the Nittany Lion prospects that seem like they are in a funk. Like Singleton, Dennis-Sutton played better against Indiana.

On the first third down of the game, Dennis-Sutton went unblocked and flew to Mendoza to dish out a hard hit that resulted in a third-down incompletion. Midway through the second quarter, Dennis-Sutton used speed to get upfield, knocked the left tackle off balance, and then cut to the inside to chase down Mendoza for a sack. However, a holding call in the secondary took away the sack from Dennis-Sutton. In the fourth quarter, Dennis-Sutton showed good speed and pursuit skills to chase down Mendoza for a sack.

Dennis Sutton has excellent size, length, strength, and quickness. He can set the edge as a run defender and shows the skill set to beat tackles with speed or power. However, Dennis-Sutton is inconsistent, and his motor is not impressive as he has some quiet stretches. Dennis-Sutton could end up being a day-two pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Indiana linebacker Aidan Fisher is a nice mid-round sleeper. Fisher was a tough run defender for the Hoosiers against Penn State, and he has been all season. In the first half, Fisher was Johnny on the spot and rewarded his team by being around the ball. Fisher dove on a fumble to set up a short field and score for his offense, and he caught a tipped pass for an interception. Fisher is an instinctive defender who is tough, smart, and gritty. He has some limitations in his skill set with a lack of speed and athleticism. However, Fisher could be a good backup linebacker and special teams contributor.