Every week, players either strengthen their position on my draft board or give me a reason to go back and reevaluate them. Some are climbing, some are holding steady and a few are beginning to separate themselves from everyone else.
Here is where I stand after this weekend.
STOCK LOCKED — Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
At this point, Jeremiah Smith isn’t simply the best wide receiver in college football. He is the best overall prospect in the country.
Smith has everything NFL teams look for in a franchise receiver: size, speed, body control, strong hands and the ability to take over a game. There really isn’t a glaring weakness in his game.
Unless something drastic changes, Jeremiah Smith is locked in as the No. 1 overall pick.
STOCK HOLDING AT THE TOP — Colin Simmons, EDGE, Texas
Colin Simmons continues to hold his place among the elite prospects on my board.
Even when Texas struggles as a team, Simmons remains disruptive. He can win with speed off the edge, convert that speed into power and affect the quarterback without needing much help from the scheme.
The forced fumble against Oklahoma was another example of his ability to immediately change a game. Simmons remains one of my top three overall prospects and could go extremely high depending on which teams are picking and how badly they need an edge rusher.
STOCK HOLDING AT THE TOP — Chris Cole, LB, Georgia
Chris Cole remains my top linebacker in this draft class.
Cole has the size, athleticism and versatility NFL teams want at the position. He can run sideline to sideline, play downhill against the run, drop into coverage and create pressure when Georgia sends him after the quarterback.
What separates Cole is that he isn’t limited to one role. He has the physical tools to remain on the field in every situation and become the centerpiece of an NFL defense.
I currently project Chris Cole as a mid-to-late first-round selection. He is the first linebacker off my board.
STOCK HOLDING — Dylan Stewart, EDGE, South Carolina
Dylan Stewart is trying to keep his place among my Top 10 overall prospects, and his performance against Florida helped him do exactly that.
Stewart returned from his suspension and immediately reminded everyone what makes him different. He forced two fumbles and brought the kind of violence, explosiveness and disruptive presence South Carolina’s defense has been missing.
The talent has never been in question. Stewart has the physical tools to become a difference-maker at the next level. What scouts will be watching now is his consistency, discipline and ability to affect every game—not just flash for a handful of plays.
Right now, Stewart remains a Top 10 talent. It’s up to him to stay there.
STOCK UP — Kade Pieper, OL, Iowa
Kade Pieper is becoming one of my favorite interior offensive linemen in the country.
He brings the physicality you expect from an Iowa offensive lineman, but there is more to his game than brute strength. Pieper moves well, plays with balance and creates movement at the point of attack. His ability to play guard or center will only increase his value to NFL teams.
Pieper is already firmly in the Top 100 conversation. If he continues playing at this level, he could work his way into the late first-round discussion. He’s my top IOL in the 2027 group.
STOCK UP — LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina
For the third consecutive game, LaNorris Sellers looked more comfortable in Kendal Briles’ offense.
Against Florida, he completed 23 of 35 passes for 279 yards and four touchdowns without an interception. He also ran for another score.
But the progress goes beyond the numbers. Sellers is playing more on time, seeing the field better and making more NFL-caliber throws. He still isn’t a finished product, and one performance doesn’t erase all the concerns we saw earlier in the season.
But this wasn’t just one performance. We have now seen three consecutive weeks of improvement.
We are finally beginning to see the version of Sellers many of us expected in Briles’ first season as offensive coordinator. Let’s not write off LaNorris Sellers just yet.
STOCK WATCH — Isaac Brown, RB, Louisville
Isaac Brown remains one of the most explosive running backs in the country. His 235-yard performance was another reminder of how quickly he can change a game when he finds daylight.
But when I stack this running-back class, I currently see Brown as the third-best option at the position.
That isn’t a criticism of his talent. This is a strong running-back group, and the difference between the top three may ultimately come down to size, durability, consistency and what each player can provide on passing downs.
Brown possesses big-play ability that cannot be coached. He is firmly in the conversation, but right now, I have two backs slightly ahead of him.
STOCK UP — Jamari Sharpe, CB, Indiana
Jamari Sharpe continues to move himself up my draft board and into position to become a Top 100 selection.
Sharpe has the length, athleticism and experience NFL teams want at cornerback. He has become more technically sound, more confident in coverage and more reliable as a tackler.
He may not receive the same national attention as some of the other defensive backs in this class, but NFL scouts know who he is. If he continues playing at this level, he won’t remain overlooked much longer.
Right now, Jamari Sharpe looks like a legitimate Day Two prospect.
