Over the years I’ve moved from being an online draft writer to working as a pro scout who watches summer workouts and college games in person, and one thing has become clear: it’s uncommon for a prospect to radically change how evaluators view him after just the opening weeks of the season. That said, the 10 players below have already shifted perceptions — some upward, some downward — after answering (or failing to answer) important questions early in 2026. Scouts will be watching them closely as the season progresses and we move toward the 2027 NFL Draft.
RISERS
1. Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State
Mestemaker has quickly forced people to take notice — most notably during Oklahoma State’s upset of Oregon. The redshirt sophomore pairs ideal size and uncommon mobility with a strong, accurate throwing arm, though he arrived at this point with very little live-game experience. After an eye-catching win at Oregon and another solid outing at West Virginia, Mestemaker has moved from intriguing prospect to a plausible early-round selection.
2. Dave Luli, OG, Oregon
With most of the spotlight on Oregon’s skill players and its defensive front, guard Dave Luli has quietly impressed. At 6-foot-3 and 332 pounds he plays with heavy hands and a powerful initial punch, but he also shows surprising quickness off the snap and the lateral movement needed to mirror in pass protection. While guards are typically Day 2 picks, Luli projects as a plug-and-play starter at the next level.
3. Elijah Page, OT, USC
Page hasn’t drawn a lot of mainstream buzz, but scouts view him as one of the nation’s more promising pass protectors. Listed around 6-foot-7 and 315 pounds, he brings the length and agility NFL teams want in a left tackle and has started every game at USC. Through four outings he’s yielded almost no pressure on his quarterback, underlining his value as a reliable blindside protector.
4. Sammy Omosigho, LB, UCLA
After transferring from Oklahoma, where he rarely started over three seasons, Omosigho has blossomed at UCLA. He leads the country in forced fumbles and consistently finishes plays with violent, drive-stopping hits. He’s also shown strong pre-snap recognition and communication, traits that have scouts upgrading his projection as a dynamic linebacker.
5. Vicari Swain, CB / PR, South Carolina
Swain arrived into 2026 already established as an elite returner after three punt-return touchdowns last season, and he’s added two more this year to break a 55-year school record. Beyond his return skills — excellent vision, fearlessness and open-field speed — he’s improved in coverage and tackling, attributes that have bumped his draft stock further.
FALLERS
1. LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina
Sellers possesses tantalizing physical traits and playmaking ability, but his performance in the 49-18 loss to Alabama raised big questions about consistency and decision-making. Critical mistakes, including a costly interception that turned into a pick-six, highlighted persistent issues in his reads and ball security. Although his tape contains spectacular plays, the trend in his touchdown-to-interception ratio has not improved with more starts, and that will concern NFL evaluators.
2. Isaac Brown, RB, Louisville
After explosive first two seasons — including 18 rushing TDs and a huge yards-per-carry mark — Brown’s production has slowed this year. He added roughly 12 pounds in the offseason to become a more every-down back, but the tradeoff appears to be reduced burst; his average per carry has dipped into the low 4s. Brown still makes big plays on occasion, but the loss of the explosiveness that made him a top prospect has tempered early-round expectations.
3. Xavier Chaplin, OT, Florida State
Chaplin was once viewed as a first-round talent after earning All-America honors at Virginia Tech, but he struggled in Florida State’s recent game against Alabama. Despite his massive frame (around 6-foot-8, 346 pounds), he looked slow-footed and out of balance against speed rushers, allowing multiple pressures. With a slate of formidable edge rushers coming up on Florida State’s schedule, he’ll need to tighten up his technique to stop sliding down draft boards.
4. Jyaire Hill, CB, Michigan
Hill began the season as one of the more appealing corner prospects on my board, but a poor outing against Iowa exposed weaknesses. He missed tackles and surrendered several catches that converted into first downs or scores, showing limited hip fluidity and a tendency to guess routes rather than mirror them. Those traits left him vulnerable on critical downs and raised questions about his ability to handle NFL-caliber receivers.
5. Ty Benefield, S, LSU
Benefield’s combination of size, tackle strength and speed intrigued scouts when he arrived from Boise State, but recent game tape has raised concerns about angles and technique. In LSU’s loss to Ole Miss he was seen lunging and missing tackles rather than taking sound pursuit lines and wrapping effectively. If he wants to be viewed as a legitimate top-100 prospect, Benefield needs to demonstrate cleaner fundamentals in pursuit and tackling, not just highlight-reel hits.
Fan take: Early-season swings like these matter because they reshape draft boards and force teams to re-evaluate who fits their roster-building plans. Small sample sizes can be misleading, but standout performances — good or bad — often alter which players get coveted workouts, interviews and early draft attention.
Source: www.foxsports.com
