2026 NFL Draft: College Game Recaps – Week 1

The media hype train has been following Arch Manning since he was in the early stages of his high school career. The third generation of the Manning family quarterback tree was a backup for the Longhorns in 2023 and 2024 to Quinn Ewers. Last year, Manning played well when Ewers was out with an injury, and the hype has been relentless for Manning this year as he takes over as the starter. There have been a lot of rumors and speculation that Manning is likely to go back to the Longhorns next year instead of entering the 2026 NFL Draft, and this game would suggest that it is a wise move, as Manning really struggled against the Buckeyes.

Throughout the first half, Ohio State’s defense kept the Texas offense on the sideline, and Manning was unable to get into any passing rhythm. He had a few passes off the mark, including a terrible underthrown pass that bounced in the dirt in front of a wide-open receiver. Throughout the first half, his wideouts were incapable of getting open. He was only 5-of-10 for 25 yards in the first half.

In the third quarter, Manning used his legs to help move the ball on one drive that ended with a goal-line fourth-down stop. On the next possession, Manning threw to a well-covered receiver, and Ohio State cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr. easily undercut the route for an interception. Manning was fortunate shortly later as Matthews tipped a pass, and Buckeyes linebacker Sonny Styles almost made a diving catch for a second interception. Late in the fourth quarter, Manning lofted a ball into the end zone, and his receiver, Parker Livingstone, was able to get late separation from Mathews for a 32-yard touchdown catch.

Manning got one more shot to tie the game late in the fourth quarter. After a missed throw for an incompletion, Manning threw a strike down the seam for a gain of about 30 to his tight end. However, Manning missed a few receivers, and that led to Ohio State getting a game-clinching stop. Manning finished 17-of-30 for 170 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Manning had 38 yards rushing.

For the NFL, Manning has a good skill set with a strong arm, running ability, good height, and superb mechanics. However, Manning is a young player, and he needs the reps. He seemed to get rattled and started pressing in the second half against Ohio State. Manning had a lot of passes behind, short, and off the mark. Manning’s accuracy in this game was ugly. Texas had a lot of missed opportunities for chunk gains because of Manning’s inaccuracy. Manning has plenty of time to impress in the weeks to come, but this tape definitely won’t help his draft grade.

There was a good draft match-up with Texas cornerback Jaylon Guilbeau taking on some talented Buckeye receivers. Star Buckeyes wideout Jeremiah Smith is not draft eligible, but looks like a top-10 pick in 2027. Aside from Smith, senior Carnell Tate is a talented wideout to challenge Guilbeau. In the first half, Guilbeau was doing a nice job of covering and preventing separation. He also contributed to run defense and made an impressive tackle, firing behind the line. In the fourth quarter, Tate finally made his presence felt as he got open running vertically against Guilbeau. The ball was underthrown, and Tate had to stop to work back for the pass. That let Guilbeau recover and get a hand into the chest, but Tate (2-47) caught the bobble and fell into the end zone for a 40-yard touchdown. Overall, this tape won’t have a big impact on either player, as they both had wins and losses going against each other.

With it being a low-scoring game featuring fourth-down stops and punters, it was not as noteworthy for some prospects. This game will be a good tape that helps Mathews. He ran the route to prevent separation and showed good ball skills with an interception and a pass breakup. Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs is one of the top prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft, but Downs was quiet overall against the Longhorns. Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles played well, making tackles in run defense, and showing his safety background by looking smooth dropping into pass coverage. Defensive end Kenyatta Jackson has a good skill set, and he was playing well in the first half before leaving the game early with an injury. Tight end Max Klare had a painful dropped pass on a fourth-and-1, but he had some other nice routes getting open for his quarterback. Klare could be one of the top tight end prospects for 2026.

There was a good draft matchup in this game with Alabama center Parker Brailsford taking on Florida State nose tackle Darrell Jackson Jr. Throughout the first half, Jackson was getting some penetration when he went against guards, but Brailsford was doing a solid job of stopping Jackson when they went against each other. In the third quarter, Brailsford was called for a holding, but otherwise he was very efficient and assigned soundly. Early in the fourth quarter, Brailsford stopped a bull rush from Jackson but had the extra help of both of his guards.

As a pro, Jackson is a heavy nose tackle with good size, strength, and moves well for his size. Jackson is quick off the ball and has the strength to shed blocks with a strong upper body. He could have some limitations as a pass rusher that lead to him leaving the field in the sub package. However, Jackson appears to be a strong candidate for a starting nose tackle.

For the NFL, Brailsford has the ability to play. He is very quick at the point of attack and shows an impressive ability to sustain his blocks. Brailsford has good hand placement to get into the chest of defenders and latch onto them. Even though he is not massive, Brailsford sinks his weight really well to stop bull rushes and keep them from collapsing the pocket.

Alabama sophomore Ryan Williams was a freshman sensation in 2024, but the 2027 draft prospect was shut down by the Seminoles. Germie Bernard picked up the slack as he had his way with the Seminoles’ secondary. Bernard was ripping off chunk receptions with excellent routes along the sideline and in the middle of the field. He showed good speed to get downfield with twitch out of his breaks to create separation. Alabama was also doing a nice job of having Bernard work underneath Williams, as Florida State was putting two defenders on Williams, and that was giving Bernard some good looks. Bernard totaled 146 yards on eight receptions, and he was the only consistent weapon for the Crimson Tide.

Bernard reminds me of John Metchie at Alabama with good quickness, route-running, reliable hands, and a steady ability to get open. At the pro level, Bernard may not be a No. 1 receiver, but he could be a solid starting number two or three receiver. This tape will help Bernard’s draft grade.

Florida State was led to this huge upset by transfer quarterback Tommy Castellanos. Castellanos terrorized the Seminoles when he was playing for Boston College, and he gave Alabama fits in his debut at Doak Campbell Stadium. Castellanos (5-11, 201) was a shifty runner who slashed up the Crimson Tide with 78 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown. He completed only 9-of-14 passes for 152 yards, but with the Seminoles ripping off 230 yards on the ground and the defense playing well, Castellanos didn’t need to throw the ball much. This tape could put Castellanos on the radar for NFL teams.

LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier could have been an early-round pick had he entered the 2025 NFL Draft, but Nussmeier decided to return to college. Facing a defense loaded with future NFL competitors, Nussmeier had a solid performance and brought his team back from a halftime deficit to get a tough road win.

In the first quarter, Nussmeier was not getting into much of a groove as a passer. Midway through the first half, Nussmeier threw a bullet pass to Zavion Thomas for 19 yards to get into Clemson territory. However, Nussmeier took a bad sack, making a bad decision on a rollout, thinking he could dodge a defender, and Nussmeier should have thrown the ball away to avoid the negative play. That led to a field goal for the Tigers, and that was their only score in the first half.

After halftime, Nussmeier led a drive deep into Clemson territory. A screen pass to the explosive Aaron Anderson went for 39 yards, and Nussmeier set up a first-and-goal with an accurate strike on a rollout. That led to a rushing touchdown that tied the game at 10. Early in the fourth quarter, Nussmeier connected with his giant tight end, Trey’Dez Green, boxing out Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell for a jump ball in the front of the end zone for a short touchdown pass. Nussmeier finished completing 28-of-38 passes for 230 yards with one touchdown and zero interceptions.

For the NFL, Nussmeier has a live arm and is capable of making all the throws. He can drive the ball accurately down the field and shows good passing instincts. This season, Nussmeier needed to show improvement with hanging in the pocket, stepping up, and not retreating backwards. He looked better in these areas against Clemson, and in the games to come, Nussmeier needs to show good ball security, as reducing interceptions was a point of improvement for this season. Versus Clemson, Nussmeier got this season off to a good start.

Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik could also go in the top half of the draft next April. Klubnik was not impressive against LSU, but did not play terribly.

In the second quarter, Klubnik had a nice gain as a receiver got wide open on a faked tunnel screen, and Klubnik found a receiver wide open on a slant for a gain of 26. He had two good runs on the drive to move the chains for the Tigers. Those plays helped set up a rushing touchdown for Clemson. Early in the third quarter, Klubnik had free rushers closing in on him, and Klubnik overthrew his receiver. The ball floated to Mansoor Delane for an interception. Early in the fourth quarter, Klubnik had a nice play on a third down to scramble away from pressure and then found an open receiver for a first down conversion. Getting late in the fourth quarter, Klubnik threw a perfect pass deep down the field, but his receiver dropped what would have been about a 40-yard gain.

Late in the fourth quarter, Klubnik had one more chance to tie the game. He got started with a nice play, seeing a free blitzer becoming, but he hung tough to throw a deep out for a chunk completion, knowing he was going to get rocked after the ball was released. However, on fourth-and-4 at the 15-yard line, Klubnik was being chased by Harold Perkins and threw a desperation pass that fell incomplete. He finished completing 19-of-38 passes for 230 yards with zero touchdowns and one interception.

Klubnik is a good college quarterback, but it will be interesting to see if NFL teams feel he has starter ability or has more of a backup skill set for the professional ranks.

Delane had an excellent debut with the Tigers. Not only did he have that crucial interception, but he got his defense off the field with superb coverage and batted a pass away on a third down midway through the fourth quarter. All night, Delane ran with receivers and prevented them from getting separation. This tape will help Delane’s draft grade.

Aside from Green’s touchdown, Terrell had an impressive game for Clemson to open the season. Early in the first quarter, Terrell flew over from zone coverage to deliver a bone-rattling hit on a LSU receiver and knocked the ball out. A teammate scooped up the fumble and returned it well into LSU territory to set up the Clemson offense with good field position. Shortly later, Terrell had excellent coverage on Aaron Anderson to force an incompletion on third down and get his defense off the field. The one low light was losing to a 6-foot-7 tight end on a jump ball in the end zone, but NFL teams won’t hold that play against Terrell. Overall, this tape will help Terrell to be a first-round pick next April.

LSU linebacker Harold Perkins Jr missed the majority of the 2024 season with an ACL, but before getting injured, Perkins did not look as dynamic as he did in 2023 and 2022. Perkins was quiet and playing like he was protecting himself from injury. Thus, Perkins had a lot to prove as far as health and being back to his old form against Clemson to open the 2025 season. That objective was achieved as Perkins was flying around the field showing his excellent speed, versatility, and instincts. He was active in run defense, had a sack, a tackle for a loss, and looked good in coverage. Perkins did a good job of spying on Klubnik and keeping him from creating a big play with his legs, especially in crunch time in the fourth quarter. It is imperative for Perkins to stay healthy this season, but he got off to a strong start against Clemson.