Week 4 of the 2026 college football season delivered high-stakes drama, instant classics, and game-changing individual performances across the nation. Texas held off Tennessee behind a record-setting five-sack performance from star edge rusher Colin Simmons, while Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith continued to prove himself as completely unguardable, exploding for 217 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell turned in a flawless four-touchdown masterpiece, Florida running back Jadan Baugh solidified his status as RB1, and a handful of upsets shook up the Top 25 picture. From dominant offensive lines to major 2027 NFL Draft movement, here are the draft stock takeaways you need to know from an unforgettable weekend of college football.
📈 Stock Rising
Quarterbacks
- Jayden Maiava (QB, USC | 6’4″, 230 lbs): Showed steady rhythm and execution in the RPO and play-action game against Oregon. Projects as an NFL developmental backup or spot-starter due to limitations in overall athleticism and ball placement.
- Julian Sayin (QB, Ohio State | 6’1″, 214 lbs): It’s easy to dismiss Sayin’s production when you realize who he’s throwing to most of the time (we’ll get to him later), but Saying might’ve had his strongest performance of the year against Illinois. Going 27-for-36 for 367 yards, four touchdowns and not a single interception or sack boosts the junior’s stock while a few other QBs in the potentially loaded 2027 class continue to raise questions.
Running Backs
- Jadan Baugh (RB, Florida | 6’1″, 225 lbs): Rushed 25 times for 142 yards and 3 TDs in a 52-28 win against Ole Miss, while RB2 Kewan Lacy was sidelined on the opposing sideline. Joined Leonard Fournette (2015) as only the second player in 20 seasons to record 100+ rushing yards and 2+ rushing TDs in each of the first four games of a season. Separating himself as RB1 in the 2027 draft class and a potential top-20 / 1st-Round selection with elite contact balance, lower-body quickness, and explosive home-run ability. Area to improve: Pass-protection awareness.
- Wayne Knight (RB, UCLA | 5’7″, 193 lbs): Transferred from James Madison and has dominated through a 4-0 start, scoring 9 touchdowns across four games while averaging 111.25 yards per game. After posting over 1,700 all-purpose yards at JMU last year, he remains one of the most efficient skill players in college football with strong production against Cal, San Diego State, Purdue, and Maryland.
Offensive Line
- Kentucky Offensive Line Unit: Dominated against South Alabama, powering a rushing attack where three players rushed for at least 100 yards while allowing zero pressures on the day.
- LT: Lance Heard (6’6″, 325) Sr.
- C: Coleton Price (6’3″, 308) Sr.
- RG: Tegra Tshabola (6’3″, 329) Sr.
- Moshood Giwa (RT, Rutgers | 6’6″, 325 Sr.): Delivered a standout performance at right tackle.
- Greg Johnson (IOL, Minnesota | 6’6″, 325 Sr.): Solidified his status as a premier interior offensive line prospect for the 2027 draft after shifting seamlessly from left guard to center amid team injuries. Offered clean snaps and a great PFF grade for Center. Boasts over 2,200 career snaps and zero pressures allowed on the season. Offers elite versatility and plug-and-play potential across all interior spots.
Wide Receivers & Tight Ends
- Jeremiah Smith (WR, Ohio State | 6’3″, 225 lbs): Caught 12 passes for 217 yards and 4 TDs against Illinois, averaging an astounding 6.38 yards per route run. Widely regarded as the consensus top overall prospect in the 2027 draft class, displaying physical dominance, elite route running, and undeniable production. Many will call him the greatest receiver they’ve ever scouted, and the wild thing is they might not be wrong, considering he’s drawing comparisons to Julio Jones and Ja’Marr Chase.
- Deuce Alexander (WR, Ole Miss | 6’0″, 180 lbs): Posted 7 receptions for 134 yards and a TD against Florida, displaying elite play speed verified by on-field GPS tracking routinely in the 20-22 MPH range. Entering 1st-Round conversations due to vertical threat ability, route-running suddenness, and progression into Ole Miss’s primary WR1 role.
- Nick Marsh (WR, Indiana): Praised by evaluators for his physical blocking traits, highlighted by an H-back pancake block that projects well for a Top-50 draft grade. #WideoutsThatBlock
- Tre Spivey (WR, Arizona | 6’4″, 215 lbs): A true X-receiver who logged 7 catches for 129 yards and 2 touchdowns in a win against Washington State.
- Carlos Hernandez (WR, Wake Forest | 6’0″, 190 lbs): Key driver in Wake Forest’s 3-1 start (including last week’s win over No. 16 Louisville). Ranks 5th nationally with 30 catches for 516 yards, most recently catching 9 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown against Louisville.
- Jamari Johnson (TE, Oregon | 6’5″, 255 lbs): Returned from injury to post 7 catches for 119 yards against USC. Displays speed down the seam, an expansive catch radius, and creation after the catch to push for TE1 status and 1st-Round consideration. Would love to see better displays of his In-line blocking.
- Jacob Harris (TE, Wisconsin | 6’6″, 265 lbs): Caught 5 passes for 105 yards, including a 72-yard stiff-arm, game-winning touchdown on 3rd-and-13 to complete a 14-point comeback over Penn State.
- Luke Dehnicke (TE, Northwestern | 6’6″, 240 lbs): Redshirt Sophomore transfer from Minnesota Duluth (where he posted 61 receptions for 1,119 yards and 14 TDs in 2025). Smooth athlete with a massive frame who registered 7 receptions for 140 yards against Indiana.
Defensive Line & Edge Rusher
- Colin Simmons (EDGE, Texas | 6’3″, 246 lbs): Tied the Texas single-game record with 5 sacks and 8 total tackles in a 20-17 win over No. 14 Tennessee. Generated 11 pressures on 36 pass-rushing snaps (pushing his season pressure rate over 20% against elite competition, including Ohio State and Tennessee). Week 4 will be the week he solidified his status as EDGE1 in the 2027 class with elite bend and speed-to-power. He drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for a urinary celebration that negated one of his sacks, so I’m sure NFL evaluators will address that during pre-draft interviews.
- Myles Bradley (EDGE, Bowling Green | 6’0″, 230 lbs): Named PFF Defensive Player of the Week after recording 8 pressures, 6 combined sacks/QB hits, and 2 forced fumbles on just 22 pass-rushing snaps. While undersized for an traditional edge player, his multi-year production at Bowling Green draws stylistic parallels to Ivan Pace Jr.
- Xavier Gilliam (DT, Tennessee | 6’2″, 305 lbs): Penn State transfer who recorded 4 tackles and 1 sack against Texas, demonstrating high-level backfield penetration.
Linebackers
- Austin Romaine (LB, Texas Tech): The K-State transfer earned National Team of the Week honors after becoming the first Texas Tech player ever to record two pick-sixes in the same game, and the first Big 12 player to accomplish the feat since Kansas State’s Bobby Walker in 2002. Craziest thing? He did this on back-to-back snaps.
- Chris Cole (LB, Georgia | 6’3″, 235 lbs): Posted 8 tackles, 1 sack, and 2 fumble recoveries—including an 85-yard scoop-and-score—in a 41-13 win over Oklahoma. Currently holds LB1 status and mid-to-late 1st-Round projection due to ideal range, athleticism, and downhill diagnostic speed.
- Raylen Wilson (LB, Georgia | 6’1″, 235 lbs): Recorded a game-high 11 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, and 4 pressures against Oklahoma. Solidifying Day 2 range as part of Georgia’s dynamic linebacking tandem.
- Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa (LB, Notre Dame): Returned from injury to deliver three consecutive impactful performances. Logged multiple defensive stops against the run (including a TFL) and generated 2 pressures on just 6 blitzing snaps.
Secondary
- Ashton Hampton (CB, Clemson | 6’2″, 205 lbs): Logged 3 tackles and 3 pass breakups against Cal. Solidifying a 1st-Round grade as a press-man corner with strong hip-pocket tracking and plant-and-drive capability.
- Elliot Washington II (CB, Clemson | 5’11”, 200 lbs): Intercepted 2 passes against Cal. The Penn State transfer continues his rise into Day 2 draft projections.
- Matthew Bailey (S, Illinois | 6’2″, 222 lbs): Racked up a game-high 14 tackles against Ohio State, reinforcing his ranking among the top senior safety prospects.
- CJ Heard (S, Vanderbilt | 5’11”, 210 lbs): Recorded 9 tackles against Auburn; projected as a mid-round prospect with rising draft stock.
💎 Non-Power-4 Gem
- Myles Bradley, EDGE, Bowling Green: PFF’s Defensive Player of the Week; Bradley posted 8 pressures, 6 combined sacks/QB hits, and 2 forced fumbles on just 22 pass-rushing snaps. He’s a tad undersized at 6’0”, 230 lbs. which will challenge his draft stock alongside his Non-Power-4 status, but he’s been a contributor for Bowling Green since his Redshirt Sophomore season and we’ve seen players similar to Bradley like Ivan Pace Jr. carve out roles in the league.
👶 Underclass Overachievers
- Keelon Russell (QB, Alabama): Named National QB of the Week after completing 21-of-27 passes for 365 yards, 4 TDs, 0 turnover-worthy plays, and a 14.3% big-time throw rate.
- Kamario Taylor (QB, Mississippi State): Threw for 360 yards and 3 TDs, leading a 4th-quarter comeback win over No. 19 Missouri (31-24). This kid is awesome.
- Dylan Raiola (QB, Oregon): Came off the bench following an injury to Dante Moore and showcased 1st-Round arm strength, high composure, and downfield aggressiveness to secure a road win against USC (eligible for the 2028 NFL Draft).
- Jeffrey Overton Jr. (RB, Virginia Tech): Rumbled for 209 rushing yards on 25 carries (8.4 YPC), highlighted by a 76-yard touchdown run.
- Kalvin Janssen (OG, Wyoming): The freshman stood out upfront with dominant run-blocking movement and strong pass protection grades via PFF.
- Ladamion Guyton (EDGE, Texas Tech): Another freshman, showed elite quickness and backfield penetration that made him an elite recruit during rotational snaps.
📉 Pump the Brakes
- Arch Manning (QB, Texas): Completed 14-of-19 passes for 201 yards, but suffered 6 sacks and threw an interception into double coverage in a 20-17 win over Tennessee. September body of work has underwhelmed relative to top-overall-pick expectations, showing delayed pre- and post-snap processing, lingering reads, and inconsistent footwork on easy throws. Current trajectory points toward returning for another college season.
- John Mateer (QB, Oklahoma): Continued a difficult stretch of play in 2026, struggling with accuracy and decision-making while trending downward on draft boards.
- Dylan Stewart (EDGE, South Carolina | 6’5″, 250 lbs): Generated 4 pressures on 18 pass-rushing snaps against Alabama, but displayed major composure and character concerns. Punched an opposing tight end multiple times in front of officials and refused to leave the field when subbed out, resulting in a heated exchange with head coach Shane Beamer. Indefinitely suspended by the team, introducing severe risk-management red flags.
- Andrew Rappleyea (TE, Penn State): Posted a career-low 43.8 PFF grade in a loss to Wisconsin, going without a reception on 23 routes and struggling as a run blocker. Has recorded just 47 receiving yards through four games.
- Koi Perich (S, Oregon): The marquee portal transfer struggled in run defense and logged zero defensive stops for the second consecutive week. Aligned as a deep safety on 60+ snaps for the first time in his college career without visible improvement in impact or production.
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