2027 NFL Draft: College Game Recaps – Week 4

Oregon quarterback Dante Moore was a consensus top quarterback prospect for the 2027 NFL Draft, and his season is in question after suffering a scary injury at USC. It isn’t clear how serious the injury is or when Moore might be able to return to the field.

In the second quarter, Moore climbed the pocket and found Jamari Johnson running open down the seam. Moore lofted in a perfect pass for a 37-yard gain. A couple of plays later, Moore took off on a scramble and had some good yardage before starting to slide in front of a Trojan defender. The defender cleaned out Moore with a bone-rattling hit to the upper body and head. Moore had his arms open and he was twitching on the ground. The trainers raced onto the field, and Moore ended up being strapped to a stretcher, carted off the field, and loaded into an ambulance. The play was similar to the hit on Trevor Lawrence by Azeez Al-Shaair a few years ago that caused Lawrence to miss the final five games of the 2024 season.

Moore’s status is in question going forward, but as long as he can return to health, Moore looks like a likely first-round pick next April.

USC quarterback Jayden Maiava entered the season with advance NFL scouts projecting him with a backup grade, so this was a big opportunity to show pro evaluators that he has starter potential. NFL eyes will watch this tape a lot in the months to come as Maiava was playing against a defense that has a starting four comprised of future pro players. Maiava had a solid performance, but was not especially impressive versus the Ducks.

Midway through the second half, Maiava spotted a mismatch with his slot receiver lined up with a linebacker in man coverage. The receiver ran down the seam and Maiava lofted in a perfect strike for a 31-yard touchdown. Oregon’s defense did a nice job of getting off the field in the remainder of the first half. In the third quarter, Maiava had a well-located back shoulder pass for a 27-yard gain to set up a first-and-goal. Maiava finished the drive with a short touchdown run. Early in the fourth quarter, Maiava had a rollout and lofted in a short touchdown pass to tie the game at 27 early in the fourth quarter. The Ducks offense was able to score and put the game away. At the end of the fourth, Maiava threw a desperation pass into a crowd in the end zone, and it was intercepted.

Maiava finished completing 23-of-42 passes for 326 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Overall, this game showed Maiava has quality size and arm strength. However, he will have some throws get away from him and his placement can be off. Maiava looks more like a backup-caliber player for the NFL.

The Oregon defensive line of end Matayo Uiagalelei, tackle Bear Alexander, nose tackle A’Mauri Washington, and edge Teitum Tuioti has had a disappointing start to the season, but they were active in the first half against USC. In the first quarter, Uiagalelei came on a stunt and Tuioit came around the right side and they met at Maiava for a sack. Later on the drive, Alexander fired past the left guard to get a sack. In the second quarter, Washington used his power and speed to get into the backfield for a tackle for a loss. Washington had a key batted pass in the second half to help force a punt. Overall, they all played better but need to produce more given their talent level. They all look more like second or third rounders rather than true first-round picks right now.

Oregon tight end Jamari Johnson had a monster game against the Trojans. He ate up the USC defense down the seam, showing the speed to get open, finding soft spots in zone, and adding more yardage after the catch. Johnson caught seven passes for 119 yards against USC in an impressive performance. This tape showed Johnson’s starting ability as he is a dangerous receiving tight end. This tape will help Johnson, and he could be a first- or second-round pick next April.

South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers has an excellent skill set, but he has struggled with being a consistent pocket passer during his collegiate career. Sellers has great athleticism and running ability with a power arm capable of making lethal throws deep down the field. However, Sellers struggles with accuracy in the short to intermediate part of the field, and that was given further proof against Alabama.

Early in the second quarter, Sellers had a nice run as he scrambled to avoid the rush and then took off for a good gain. That set up a field goal for the Gamecocks. Later in the second quarter on a third-and-2, he had a designed quarterback draw and was stopped well short of the first down. With a 300-pound defensive tackle on his back, Sellers showed his power by carrying Deven Thompkins on his back for two yards to fall for the first-down yardage. While it was not a highlight reel play, NFL evaluators are going to be impressed by the power and strength that Sellers displayed on that play.

Sellers had some lowlights in the first half, including a third-down play where he overthrew a wide-open receiver in the flat. Shortly later, Sellers stared down an out route and had a cornerback jump a route and returned it about 22 yards for a touchdown. It was a terrible play by Sellers. He came back to find receiver Nyck Harbor running open down the field after Harbor shed a defensive back that was trying to hold him. Sellers lofted in a strike for a 41-yard touchdown.

In the third quarter, Sellers showed his amazing escapability to break a tackle and take off for a first-down run. On the next play, he overthrew incomplete to the sideline on a completion he needs to make. Sellers finished 18-of-30 for 185 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

In this game against a good opponent, Sellers did not look improved over his play from 2025 and 2024. His accuracy looks to be just as streaky as it was last year. He has not improved significantly in throwing the short-to-intermediate completions that are essential in the NFL. Sellers is a project, but one has to worry about whether he can round into form. Sellers has amazing escapability, size, strength, running ability, and a power arm. But his lack of refinement might push him out of the first round of the 2027 NFL Draft.

Alabama wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams showed the big-play ability that led to him taking college football by storm in 2024. Coleman-Williams got his night started with a completion versus talented corner Vicari Swain, with Coleman-Williams making a leaping grab on an out route. Later in the first quarter, Coleman-Williams ran a great route with a stutter and go, with the safety being late to help over the top, and the pass was lofted in for a 32-yard touchdown. Shortly later, Coleman-Williams got open on a deep crosser, getting behind a freshman safety. Russell threw an accurate pass, and Coleman-Williams turned upfield to bolt another 20 yards or so for a 42-yard touchdown. In the third quarter, Coleman-Williams had an impressive 26-yard punt return. He finished with five catches for 98 yards and two touchdowns. This tape is going to help Coleman-Williams with pro evaluators by showing his speed, run-after-the-catch ability, and explosiveness.

South Carolina defensive end Dylan Stewart is one of the top-rated prospects for the 2027 NFL Draft. After missing the first two games, the Gamecocks have worked Stewart back into the defensive line rotation. In the early going, Stewart had a roughing-the-passer penalty and then got an earful from his head coach for walking off the field. He came back to get some pressures late in the first half. In the third quarter, Stewart flew into the backfield with a speed rush around the tackle, and his pressure helped start a third-down sack. Midway through the fourth quarter, Stewart landed a penalty for punching an Alabama player after a touchdown run from Alabama. Overall, this tape is going to hurt Stewart with pro evaluators. They won’t like the penalties and especially will dislike the punch, as that is the kind of action that leads to suspensions in the NFL. Stewart looked frustrated, but pro evaluators want players to keep their composure. This tape won’t help Stewart, but he still looks like a first-rounder next April.

Alabama edge defender Yhonzae Pierre had a good game that helped himself against South Carolina. On the first drive of the game, Pierre faked like he was rushing before dropping back into coverage. He leapt to deflect a pass and almost had an interception for himself or a teammate on the deflection. Pierre was active with a good tackle in support and then, on a third down, pushed the left tackle into Sellers to get pressure on the quarterback. In the third quarter, Pierre bull-rushed the left tackle again to collapse the pocket, and he bear-hugged Sellers to take him to the ground as he stepped up in the pocket. This was a good tape from Pierre that will help his grade. He showed impressive strength to bull rush, speed to close, athleticism to drop in coverage, and instincts to read-and-react. This tape is going to help Pierre’s draft grade.

There was the potential for a good draft matchup in this game with Michigan defensive end John Henry Daley taking on Iowa left tackle Trevor Lauck. Both of them have early-round potential for the 2027 NFL Draft, so this was an important tape. Overall, they both had some wins.

In the ground game, Lauck was winning reps over Henry pushing him back and controlling him. Daley was not fighting off the blocks or pushing Lauck backwards. Daley got in on a couple of tackles, but Lauck did better in the ground game. While Lauck won the ground game reps, Daley had more success rushing the passer. Versus both Lauck and other blockers, Daley was getting penetration and pressures. Late in the second quarter, Daley got the better of Lauck as he got upfield, and then peeled away to get a sack on the quarterback as he stepped up in the pocket. Late in the fourth quarter on the second-to-last play of the game, Daley got caught up in a pile and had his legs rolled up on. Daley had to be helped off the field.

For the NFL, Daley is a dangerous pass rusher with speed to get upfield, good moves to shed blocks, and he has a real nose for the quarterback. In the ground game, Daley needs to improve significantly to become a three-down starter as a pro. Daley could be more of a day-two pick given his limitations as a run defender.

Lauck looks like a solid tackle who could be a pro starter. He is strong at the point of attack, blocks through the whistle, and has good technique. Lauck may not have the skill set of exceptional speed or athleticism, but he could become a starting edge protector in the NFL. From this game, both Lauck and Daley looked like second-day talents for the 2027 NFL Draft.

Iowa right guard Kade Pieper has some fans in the scouting community. He had a solid game against Michigan with some nice blocks as a run defender. In the second quarter a speed rusher got Pieper retreating and Pieper was unable to latch on. That let the speed rusher redirect and chase down the quarterback for a sack. Some sources think Pieper could go in the middle of the range while others think he has early-round potential. Overall, this tape made him look more like a potential late second or third-rounder rather than a first- or high second-round pick.

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.

Texas edge defender Colin Simmons is a potential first-round pick, and he had a legendary performance to help lead his team to a road win. 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.