Oregon quarterback Drew Mestemaker has gone from a curious prospect to a legitimate early-round candidate for the 2027 NFL Draft, and he did it in just a month. While it’s rare for college football prospects to dramatically change their stock so quickly, Mestemaker is one of a handful of players already forcing scouts to sit up and take notice as the 2026 college season gets into full swing. These guys are either answering big questions or stumbling out of the gate, and Mestemaker is definitely doing the former.
Oregon’s Signal-Caller and The Trenches
Mestemaker, a redshirt sophomore, is a true wunderkind. He’s got that prototypical size and rare athleticism for a quarterback, paired with a strong, accurate arm. The big question mark was his limited experience, having been a backup throughout his high school career. But he answered that with a dazzling performance in an upset win against Oregon in mid-September, then followed it up with an impressive road victory against West Virginia last week. Seriously, this guy’s got scouts buzzing, and he’s suddenly a lock for early-round consideration.
Speaking of Oregon, even with all the flashy skill-position talent and a defensive front that’s gonna have at least four players drafted in 2027, right guard Dave Luli has somehow flown under the radar. But not for long. This dude plays with the kind of physicality you’d expect from his 6-foot-3, 332-pound frame. His first punch? Mike Tyson would appreciate it. And Luli isn’t just a brawler; he’s quick off the snap and shows killer lateral agility in pass protection. Guards typically don’t crack Day 2 grades, but Luli looks like he could be an early, effective NFL starter. Over at USC, offensive tackle Elijah Paige is another monster in the trenches that fans might not be talking about, but scouts certainly are. The 6-foot-7, 315-pound tackle is one of the most intriguing pass blockers in the country. He’s got the arm length and agility to stick at left tackle in the NFL, where he’s made all 24 of his career starts for USC. Through the first four games, Paige has basically put a force field around quarterback Jayden Maiava, giving up just two pressures and zero sacks. That’s ridiculous.
UCLA’s Breakout Bruiser
Meanwhile, down in Pasadena, linebacker Sammy Omosigho has completely turned his career around. After struggling to crack the starting lineup for three years at Oklahoma, he transferred to UCLA this past January. Now? He’s one of the breakout stars for the undefeated 4-0 Bruins. Omosigho leads the entire country with four forced fumbles, including a perfectly timed punchout against Purdue that was just pure fire. This guy is an explosive athlete who closes on ballcarriers with jarring force. He’s dropping bone-rattling hits that immediately put guys on the turf and makes scouts snap to attention. Plus, his pre-snap diagnostics have been super impressive.
The 2026 college football season is just getting started, and these guys have already made their mark in a big way. You can bet every scout in the league has them circled for the rest of the fall as they fight to keep that early-round momentum going.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
Leave a Reply