2026 NFL Draft: College Game Recaps – Week 5

After the Miami defense limited Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love in Week 1, Love has been on a tear and he dominated Arkansas to start a blowout of the Razorbacks by halftime. In the first quarter, Love showed his impressive skill set on the Irish’s opening drive. His first carry saw him stop for a gain of three, but he used his power to push the pile and turn it into a gain of six. A few plays later, Love’s superb receiving ability was evident on a 25-yard catch. Love lined up as a receiver and got separation after contact at the break, and Love made a nice reception for the gain. Love showed his quickness with a 16-yard run on a third-and-7. At the one-yard line, Love powered through a tackler to get across the goal line for a touchdown.

On the next possession, Love got open for a seven-yard touchdown. Love got open in the flat and spun to catch the pass. He did another spin from a tackler and darted into the end zone. Later in the second quarter, Love followed his blocks and weaved his way through the Arkansas defense to score from 34 yards out on a screen pass. To end the first half, Love scored his fourth touchdown, plunging into the end zone from a few yards out. Love totaled 57 yards on 14 carries with two touchdowns rushing. He caught five passes for 70 yards and two touchdowns through the air.

For the NFL, Love looks like a three-down starter who is capable of being a work-horse back like Nick Chubb. Love is a physical downhill runner with excellent vision, patience, and cutting ability. Love shows serious power to pick up yards after contact and is capable of creating on his own. In the passing game, Love is pro-ready and very impressive. He runs good routes from a variety of places, has soft hands, and is athletic to adjust to the ball. Love has also blocked well in pass protection. As long as he can stay healthy, Love looks like a first-round pick for the 2026 NFL Draft.

Love’s backup, Jadarian Price, would be a starter at the vast majority of schools in the nation, and he could be a second-day pick in his draft class. In the first half against the Razorbacks, Price had a 20-yard touchdown run and picked up some clutch yards. In the third quarter, Price had an excellent after-the-catch run to score a 35-yard touchdown. Price ran for 86 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries with one catch for 35 yards and a touchdown. Price is a tough runner with a burst. He has good vision, cutting ability, and is a shifty runner. He could also be a good kick returner in the NFL. If Price were to enter the 2026 NFL Draft, he could be a late second-round or third-round pick.

Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green had some big performances to open the 2025 season, and there were some in the media comparing him to Baltimore Ravens MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson. Notre Dame’s defense has struggled in the past few weeks, but it did a good job of limiting the dual-threat quarterback. In the first half, Green had a quality start, finding some open receivers and guiding the Razorbacks to a field goal on the opening drive. He also had some good runs in the first half, including taking off on a 54-yard gain on a zone-read play. Green threw an interception in garbage time on a desperation throw. Green finished completing 17-of-32 passes for 207 yards with an interception. He ran for 81 yards on the ground. Green has a good arm with height, mobility, and some serious straight line speed. However, Green could use more development with his pocket passing for the NFL. Going back to school and developing would be best for Green’s long-term future.

There was the potential for a good draft matchup in this game, but it ended up disappointing. Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston is one of the top wide receiver prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft, and he was going against a quality secondary led by Ohio State star safety Caleb Downs. Unfortunately, the Huskies did not do a good job of giving Boston targets, and the Buckeyes’ offense was more effective at staying on the field to control the clock.

In the first quarter, Boston got open in zone coverage, but his quarterback didn’t see him. After scrambling, Boston helped his quarterback by running open on the sideline and getting wide open for a 17-yard reception. Boston showed his strength and toughness to move the pile on a wide receiver screen to get the Huskies a first down. Later in the drive, on a third down, Ohio State got away with hugging and holding Boston downfield to prevent him from running free. Boston totaled three catches for 26 yards. The Buckeyes sent extra attention to Boston, but that helped open things up for freshman receiver Dezmen Roebuck.

For the NFL, Boston is a big receiver who is tough, dangerous after the catch, and skilled at winning 50-50 passes. As a player, Boston is similar to the Falcons’ Drake London or the Panthers’ Tet McMillan. Boston could be an early-rounder next April.

Downs was impressive for Ohio State as he was clutch when the Buckeyes needed him to be. In the early going, Downs had an excellent tackle in space. He snuffed out a screen darting past blockers and making a tackle immediately after the receiver caught the ball. In the third quarter, Downs tracked down Jonah Coleman for a tackle at the six-yard line, and that tackle in space prevented a touchdown. Downs is a well-rounded safety with excellent instincts. He moves well in zone coverage and shows the ability to cover in man. Not many safeties end up getting drafted in the first round, but Downs looks worthy of going on the opening night of the draft.

Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese has been superb this season, and that trend continued against Washington. In the early going, Reese made a touchdown-saving tackle on a tight end running over from zone coverage and stopping him around the two-yard line. A few plays later, Reese was in zone spying the quarterback, and he chased him down for a sack after he scrambled. In the next Washington possession, Reese made a third-down tackle to force a field goal attempt. Thus far in 2025, Reese has been productive and stacking good tapes. Team sources feel that Reese is a special player as they like his instincts in combination with being big and athletic. At 6-foot-4. 238 pounds, Reese is a large linebacker with a versatile skill set. This tape will help Reese to be a first-round pick next April.

There was a great draft matchup in this game with Penn State edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton taking on Oregon left tackle Isaiah World. Both of them are early-round talents, and whoever got the better of their head-to-head reps could see a nice boost to their draft stock.

In the early going, Dennis-Sutton was active for the Nittany Lions. He pressured Dante Moore, but Moore was able to find Kenyon Sadiq in the flat. Midway through the first quarter, Dennis-Sutton came close to a sack, chasing Moore out of the pocket and forcing a throwaway. Late in the second quarter, Dennis-Sutton had a powerful bull rush, and he pushed the massive World into the turf to destroy the pocket. In the third quarter, Dennis-Sutton used a rip move to gain leverage on World. World had to reach and hold Dennis-Sutton to prevent a sack, and the incompetent officials did not throw the flag. After the play, Dennis-Sutton saw attention from trainers, but a few plays later, he was back in the game and made a tackle in run defense. Overall, this was a good tape from Dennis-Sutton.

For the NFL, Dennis-Sutton looks like a starting left end in a 4-3 defense. He is strong at the point of attack, using his length and strength to stand up tackles to hold his ground as a run defender. Dennis-Sutton has dropped weight and looks quick off the ball. He has some speed to close and fights hard in pursuit. Dennis-Sutton has some stiffness in the hips that hurts him when redirecting towards quarterbacks.

World had some plays that weren’t pretty, but he also had a lot of other plays where he won his block and kept a clean pocket for Moore. World was quick at the point of attack and showed the ability to fire to the second level in run blocking. He moves well for his size and is not stiff. World is massive, but he is not overpowering. He does more fighting, scraping, turning, and manipulating as a blocker rather than just knocking defenders off the ball. In overtime, Oregon ran behind World to get a short-yardage conversion that set up a first-and-goal. Thus, it would help World to get more functional strength for the NFL.

Penn State quarterback Drew Allar is a big quarterback with a cannon for an arm, but he has struggled in some big games against good opponents, and that trend continued against Oregon. Throughout the first three quarters, Allar seemed flustered with Oregon applying some pressure, and Allar had some happy feet in the pocket. That led to him having passes off the mark with some balls behind or too high for his receivers. He started the third quarter with some nice throws, but then took a bad sack from Oregon outside linebacker Teitum Tuioti to kill a drive.

Allar is a big-armed pocket passer, but he lacks composure, and that leads to him having some inconsistent ball placement. Over his career, he has struggled against good teams and pressure situations. As a result, Allar could end up getting backup grades from scouts.

Oregon defensive end Matayo Uiagalelei has an excellent skill set with size, speed, and power. However, he has been inconsistent in his college career. Uiagalelei is playing the run better this year, and playing with more effort, but this game was not just so-so. At the end of the first quarter, Uiagalelei had an impressive play, fighting through two blockers and taking down the running back for a loss. Early in he second quarter Uiagalelei got upfield quickly and used power to shed the right tackle to chase down Allar for a sack as he stepped up in the pocket. Late in the second quarter, Uiagalelei fired into the backfield on a busted play, but Drew Allar broke a tackle from Uiagalelei and was able to run for some positive yardage. Overall, this was a mixed tape from Uiagalelei, and he was not very active in the second half when Penn State made their comeback to force overtime. The inconsistent play from Uiagalelei could cause him to be a day-two pick even though he has a first-round skill set.

Alabama has been a factory in recent years for early-round offensive tackle prospects, and left tackle Kayden Proctor could continue that trend in 2026. Proctor was facing a fast and athletic Georgia front with players who would play on Sundays. Overall, Proctor was solid, but he illustrated that he needs development at the pro level.

In the first half, Proctor was generally reliable in pass protection and contributed to the rushing offense. In the final seconds of the first half, Alabama ran a trick play with Proctor as a tackle eligible. They shockingly threw a screen pass to Proctor, and he rumbled for 11 yards, bouncing off tacklers and blockers. It was a shocking and impressive play from Proctor.

In the third quarter, Proctor got in some trouble and was pushed to the side in pass protection when he got off balance. Proctor had a few plays where he had his man blocked, but gave up some penetration on second efforts.

For the NFL, Proctor has the ability to play as a pro, but he needs refinement. Proctor is said to have lost weight and is checking in at 359 pounds. That trend will need to continue for the NFL, as he could have issues with speed rushers and balance. He has a propensity to play a little too high and needs to improve his ability to bend at the knee, but his mass is so tough to move that even when his positioning is not perfect, defensive linemen struggle to win on a bull rush. Proctor could stand to improve his hand placement to improve his ability to sustain blocks.

After Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams had an electric freshman season, teammate Germie Bernard has gone under the radar, but he is a very good receiver prospect in his own right. Bernard was excellent against Georgia and helped get his team a lead in the first half. On Alabama’s first drive, Bernard did a good job on a wide receiver screen, dodging a tackle and then darting down the field for a chunk gain. To finish the drive, Bernard got open on a quick slant for a short touchdown reception. After a hot start, Georgia adjusted to limit Bernard, and he finished with five catches for 35 yards and a touchdown. Bernard looks like a good No. 2 receiver in the NFL. He is quick, runs good routes, and has reliable hands. Bernard could be a good day-two prospect.