2027 NFL Draft: College Game Recaps – Week 2

Versus the No.1 Ohio State Buckeyes, Texas quarterback Arch Manning had a game for the ages. The Buckeyes seemed poised to blow out the Longhorns, but Manning made clutch plays in the second half to lead an epic comeback that will forever be remembered in Austin. This was a signature win that will impress NFL evaluators with Manning’s ability to rally, persevere, and bring his team back to beat a good team in the fourth quarter.

Early in the first quarter, Manning threw a deep ball to a wide-open Cam Coleman streaking deep down the field. The pass was overthrown a little bit, and Coleman dove to make the catch. Coleman rolled over as he hit the ground, and he was unable to hold onto the pass as it bounced up into the air and Buckeyes safety Jaylin McClain caught the deflection for the interception. McClain was beat on the play, but caught a good break. Manning overthrew it a little, and Coleman came up short on a great catch, but it was more bad luck than poor plays by either of them.

On the next series, Manning did have a chance to throw a pass away but instead took a bad sack on a third down to hurt the Longhorns' field position. Early in the second quarter, Manning stared down his tight end and Buckeyes safety Earl Little was reading his eyes to get underneath the tight end and almost made a leaping interception. Later on the drive, Ryan Wingo got open for about a 30-yard touchdown and Manning threw a perfect pass at the goal line, and Wingo dropped the touchdown. That was a four-point drop as the Longhorns settled for a field goal. Late in the half, Manning and Coleman had a couple of completions to get close to midfield. But Ohio State got a fourth-down stop and held Texas to a field goal in the first half. Manning had only 60 yards and an interception, completing 7-of-14 attempts.

Most of the third quarter was stalled drives, but on a fourth-and-6 late in the third, Manning made a great play to avoid the rush, roll out, and then throw across the field to his tight end for a conversion. To cap the drive, Manning threw a short touchdown pass that was an excellent throw by Manning, as he had a tough angle from the far hash to the sideline in the front portion of the end zone. That cut Texas's deficit to 13.

On a fourth-and-6 early in the fourth quarter, Manning threw a laser through the defense for a conversion. He used his legs for yardage and hit Coleman for 16 to get inside the 15. The Longhorns finished the drive with a rushing score to make it 23-17 with just over seven minutes remaining. After a missed field goal, Manning had over four minutes remaining down by six. Manning led the Longhorns down the field, including a slant to get to the one-yard line. That set up the game-winning rushing touchdown for Texas. Manning finished completing 23-of-37 passes for 195 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

For the NFL, Manning has the skill set to be a starting quarterback. He has a strong arm, can throw the ball accurately, works through progressions, and has mobility to extend or ad-lib big plays. This tape is going to help Manning to be a high first-round pick next April, as pro evaluators love to see a quarterback have the ability to lead his team back from a deficit to beat a good team in the fourth quarter. This was a great win for Manning’s draft grade.

Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith entered the season as the top prospect for the 2027 NFL Draft as he graded the highest on the team’s preseason watch list. Smith showed why and put on display his elite skill set against the No. 4 team in the nation.

In the first quarter, Smith got open in zone for a conversion on third-and-long. On the next possession, Smith got open on an out route against man coverage to get another third-down conversion. Late in the second quarter, Smith ran a deep post route, and he made a great adjustment and leaping grab for a 43-yard gain. In the final seconds of the first half, Sayin threw a rope to Smith down the seam for a 19-yard touchdown. At the half, Smith had six catches for 110 yards and a touchdown at the half.

In the third quarter, Smith got open running deep down the field, but the pass was underthrown by Sayin. Smith used his strong hands and size to outfight the cornerback for the ball and reel in another 43-yard reception. That produced another field goal for the Buckeyes. After that, Smith had a pass broken up on him and then had a drop on a pass that was behind him. He usually makes that catch, but it was difficult and a poorly located pass. Smith finished catching eight passes for 164 yards and a touchdown.

This was a tremendous tape from Smith as he showed his dominant combination of speed, size, strength, athleticism, and natural receiving ability. For the NFL, Smith looks like an elite No.1 receiver. He could be a Pro Bowl wideout early in his career, and I think Smith has the ability to be one of the best players at his position in the league. Smith reminds this analyst of Julio Jones, and I think Smith could be a superstar receiver like Jones was during his career with the Falcons. This tape will help Smith to be one of the first players drafted next April.

Texas wide receiver Cam Coleman is a first-round talent and looks like a top-20 pick next April. While Coleman did not dominate with three catches for 35 yards, he did show a special skill set. Coleman showed deep speed to go along with size. For the NFL, Coleman is a dangerous outside receiver who is capable of a game-changing play on any snap. Coleman has good speed to get downfield with the size to get position over defenders. Coleman has an elite ability to win 50-50 passes, and he routinely makes tremendous acrobatic catches. Coleman looks like a future No. 1 receiver in the NFL. Some team sources thought Coleman could stand to get stronger and develop his body more. They felt he could use refinement in hitting his landmarks and has room for improvement with his route-running on first and second down. That being said, Coleman was getting lots of praise and has drawn comparisons to A.J. Green and CeeDee Lamb.

Texas edge defender Colin Simmons is a future first-round pick, and he was active at times. He had a couple of tackles in run defense in the first half before notching a sack in the second quarter with an up-and-under move to beat the left tackle and take down Julian Sayin. In the third quarter, Simmons got a pressure that forced a third-down incompletion. He lined up in the middle before coming on a stunt around the corner to get in the face of Sayin. Overall, this was a respectable tape from Simmons showing his pass rush and versatility.

The other defdner that had a good game and helped himself was Ohio State edge rusher Kenyatta Jackson. He had a sack off a speed rush in the first half and showed improved run defense to set the edge and make tackles near the line of scrimmage. Jackson had five tackles with a tackle for a loss and the sack. Jackson looks like a big outside linebacker type, as he is at his best when he is standing up rather than putting his hand in the ground. Jackson has some versatility to be an edge rusher and outside linebacker for the NFL. This tape will help him in the months to come.

Entering the 2026 season, Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer has the potential to be a feast-or-famine prospect. His 2024 tape at Washington State and early 25 tape with the Sooners looked like a future first-rounder. After a broken thumb, Mateer struggled and produced some bad tape in 25. Mateer has everything riding on this season.

In the first quarter, Mateer was not getting into a groove as a passer, but he had a nice run for 13 to get Oklahoma a first down and near midfield. The drive stalled with Mateer throwing too far in front of a crossing receiver for the second consecutive drive. While Mateer was frustrated with the misses, the windows were extremely tight, and his receivers were not getting open. Mateer had some success just before half on some designed runs, and he had a nice play where he dodged a sack and then threw a short completion with defenders wrapping up his legs.

In the third quarter, Mateer threw a frozen rope on a post to tight end Rocky Beers for a gain of about 25 yards. Mateer made a good read, stepped in the pocket, and delivered a strike. Michigan had been winning with man coverage and not letting receivers get open, but they went to zone, and Mateer made them pay with a 17-yard completion to get across midfield. To cap the drive, Mateer found a receiver running wide open down the seam, and Mateer threw a perfect pass for a 22-yard touchdown. Mateer kept moving the ball with a short pass to Beers to lead him on the run and took off for a 43-yard gain. That led to a field goal to tie the game at 10 entering the fourth quarter.

Midway through the fourth quarter on a third-and-long deep in his own territory, Mateer threw a terrible pass to a blanketed receiver. The ball went right to the cornerback, who easily picked it off and had a return inside the five-yard line. That turnover was game-breaking for Mateer and Oklahoma. Mateer had one more chance, with just over two minutes left. Just past midfield on a fourth-and-7, Beer was open running a crossing route for a first down, but Mateer missed high for an incompletion. Mateer’s feet were out of whack on the throw, and that contributed to the inaccuracy. It was the fifth pass in the game where Mateer missed high. Mateer had one more chance staring back in his own territory; he started the drive with a 22-yard run, had an inaccurate pass, a good pass that fell incomplete, and then took a bad sack on the final play of the game to clinch the win for Michigan. Mateer finished completing 17-of-33 passes for 189 yards with a touchdown, an interception, and 45 yards on the ground.

For the NFL, Mateer needs to show more anticipation, accuracy, and consistency. His anticipation is lacking, and his accuracy can be streaky, with some perfect throws followed up with misses. It is too early in the season and 2027 draft process to give Mateer a true round estimate, but overall he needs to play a lot better, and this tape is going to hurt his draft grade.

Michigan cornerback Zeke Berry is an undersized corner, but he is a super gritty cornerback. Berry is similar to former Wolverine Mike Sainristil or Indiana cornerback D’Angelo Ponds. Berry was superb against Oklahoma. The Wolverines often matched him up against Oklahoma speedster receiver Isaiah Sategna, and Berry got the better of the matchup.

Early in the first quarter, Berry runs with Sategna on a crosser to force a third-down incompletion. On special teams, Berry made a good play downing the punt at the one-yard line and blocking it from rolling into the end zone. Early in the third quarter, Oklahoma tried to do a screen shovel pass, and Berry flew to the receiver to deliver a bone-rattling hit. The violence and power for a smaller corner like Berry was impressive. Early in the fourth quarter, Berry showed his special teams prowess again with an excellent open-field tackle on Sategna on a punt return. This was an excellent tape from Berry that is going to lead to some pro evaluators getting very excited about him.

For the NFL, Berry is a gritty cover corner who is physical, competitive, and aggressive. Berry shows versatility in coverage, being able to line up at the line of scrimmage, cover in off-man, or play zone. He is a twitchy athlete with quick reactions and an ability to explode out of breaks. Berry is effective in maintaining coverage, showing the ability to run the route and prevent separation. Berry lined up outside and inside with Michigan, but for the NFL, he could fit best as a slot corner. Given his size, Berry might be more of a second-round pick than a first-rounder.

Oklahoma’s wide receivers really struggled to get open against the Wolverines secondary, but Beers was superb. He created separation from coverage and was excellent running with the ball after the catch. Beers got his team going with a 25-yard gain on a touchdown drive, and his great run after a short catch for a 43-yard gain was the key play to tying the game. Beers has good size, speed, and athleticism. Beers needs to improve as a blocker, but he showed serious receiving ability with 94 yards on six catches. This tape will help his draft grade significantly, and he earned a stock-up for his performance in Ann Arbor.

Michigan stole a dangerous edge rusher from Utah in the transfer portal with John Henry Daley. Daley was superb for the Utes in 2025, and he looks just as special with the Wolverines. On a third down early in the first quarter, Daley had a big play to get his defense off the field with a spin move to the inside to get past the left tackle, and then he powered through the left guard to get a sack of Mateer. It was a phenomenal rush that showed Daley’s pass rush skill set with speed, athleticism, and moves. Shortly later, Daley got in the backfield and batted down a pass. Late in the second quarter, Daley got another sack as he bullrushed through the left tackle to take down Mateer as he stepped up in the pocket. In the second half, Daley had a nice tackle in run support.

As a pass rusher, Daley has a nice repertoire of moves and the physical talent to beat edge protectors. Daley is quick off the ball with a nice burst and has the quickness to charge upfield. He has a good spin move to move back to the inside, uses a rip move to get around the corner, and has active hands to chop and dip under blockers. Daley plays with good leverage to get underneath tackles to keep them from latching onto his chest. With his quickness, agility, and moves, Daley has a nice skill set as a pass rusher to go long with deploying a nice rush plan, setting up his different moves. Daley was not impressive as a run defender for the Utes in 2025, but he looked improved as a run defender against the Sooners. If Daley proves to be a well-rounded defender, he could be a first-round pick next April.