Charlie Campbell
2027 NFL Draft Stock Up
Arch Manning, QB, Texas
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. Down 23-3, Manning led his team to 21 points in the fourth quarter, and he made some huge clutch fourth-down plays. 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.
Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
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. 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.
Reed Harris, WR, Arizona State
Harris had a good start to the season in Week 1, and he was superb against Texas A&M in Week 2. In the first quarter, Harris used his tall frame to make a catch over a cornerback in close coverage for a touchdown from about 20 yards out. Early in the second quarter, Harris made a tremendous diving catch for a 35-yard gain. Late in the third quarter, with his team needing a big play, Harris got open on a crossing route about 20 yards downfield. After making the catch, Harris ran away from the Aggies secondary for a 58-yard touchdown. Harris finished the game with nine catches for 189 yards and two touchdowns. Through two games this season, Harris has 15 catches for 326 yards with four touchdowns. Harris looks very similar to Denzel Boston and Tet McMillan. Harris is having a breakout season and showing early-round potential.
Francis Brewu, DT, Notre Dame
Brewu was a disruptive force against Wisconsin in Week 1. Brewu had a sack, a number of tackles in run support, and was constantly shedding blocks to put pressure on the quarterback. Brewu played with excellent leverage to get under blockers, strength to move them to the side, and then quickness to close. It was an impressive tape from the Pitt transfer, and Brewu looks like he could be poised for a breakout season in college football.
John Henry Daley, DE, Michigan
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 after an impressive game against Oklahoma. 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. Daley produced a really good tape versus the Sooners, and he showed real growth from 2025.
Zeke Berry, CB, Michigan
Berry was excellent against Oklahoma to help limit the Sooners' passing game. 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 Isaiah 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.
Rocky Beers, TE, Oklahoma
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 in 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.
2027 NFL Draft Stock Down
John Mateer, QB, Oklahoma
Mateer struggled in the first half against Michigan, played well in the third quarter, and then gave the game away in the fourth quarter. Midway through the fourth quarter on a third-and-long deep in his own territory with the game tied at 10, 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, Rocky 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. 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.
Walt
