College Football Week 5: 2026 NFL Draft prospects to watch
By Jack Brentnall
We are properly getting into conference play this weekend, and that means plenty of big games for prospects to shine in.
I’ll be doing a separate article covering the players to watch in the Penn State-Oregon game, but here are six other players I’ll be watching closely this weekend.
Makai Lemon - WR, USC (5-11, 195, Junior)
USC has started off the season strong, going 4-0 and leading the country in EPA per play, success rate, and averaging over 10 yards per play.
A big factor in that success has been wide receiver Makai Lemon. Through four games he has recorded 445 yards and three touchdowns. His 5.06 yards per route run ranks third amongst Power Four receivers.
Lemon has earned a reputation as one of the most sure-handed players in college football, with strong hands and toughness working over the middle of the field. He is also a dynamic YAC threat, whose background as a kick returner shows in the open field.
The pre-draft conversation around Lemon will no doubt be focused on whether he is a slot-only receiver at the pro level, but while he might not ever be a true alpha WR1 capable of tilting coverage, he feels like one of the safer receiver prospects in the class.
This weekend USC will travel to face Illinois, who are fresh off a big loss to Indiana. Despite last week’s humiliation, the Illini are still the best competition USC has faced this season, and scouts will be interested to see how Lemon holds up against Brett Bielema’s man-heavy defense.
Jonah Coleman - Washington (5-9, 228, Senior)
If you are looking for a running back who has made themselves some money through the first four weeks of the season, look no further than Washington’s Jonah Coleman.
The former Arizona man decided to return for his senior season and through three games it looks to have been a very smart decision. Coleman leads the FBS with nine rushing touchdowns and is averaging a career-best 6.8 yards per attempt.
Coleman is never going to be the fastest or most elusive ball carrier, but his blend of contact balance and vision make him a very intriguing prospect. He came into the season as my RB5 in the 2026 class, and he has continued to show scouts how his skillset can translate to Sundays.
This weekend is the big test though, as the Huskies host Ohio State in a matchup that scouts across the country will be keying in on. One of the criticisms of Coleman is that his production tends to falter against top competition (he had 34 yards against Oregon and Penn State combined last season). This is a great opportunity to prove his doubters wrong.
Trinidad Chambliss - QB, Ole Miss (6-0, 200, Senior)
One of the surprise storylines of the season so far has been the success of Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss.
Chambliss transferred to the Rebels this offseason to serve as their backup, but an injury to starter Austin Simmons has seen him start the last two games. He has barely put a foot wrong, averaging 11.6 yards per attempt and a passer rating of 127.4.
The former Ferris State star made his name at the Division II level with his dual-threat playmaking and that really popped in Week 4 against Tulane. Chambliss finished the game with 113 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries.
As an NFL prospect, Chambliss has a good arm and impressive mobility, but he still has a little room to develop his placement and touch as a passer. He is also on the smaller side and is likely smaller than his listed 6’0” and 200 lbs.
This weekend he will face the toughest test of his career as he goes up against an elite LSU defense. If he can maintain his current form against that sort of competition he’s going to really force NFL scouts to sit up and take notice.
Whit Weeks - LB, LSU (6-2, 225, Junior)
On the other side of the Ole Miss-LSU matchup is a player that I am very excited to watch. Weeks emerged as a starter for the Tigers last season and quickly established himself as a key part of their defense.
He finished the season with 56 defensive stops, the second most in the SEC behind only Jihaad Campbell. He was duly named a First Team All-SEC member. Weeks started 2025 off well too, with a dominant outing against Clemson in Week 1 that saw him record six pressures.
As a prospect there is a lot to like about Weeks. He plays the game with commendable competitive toughness and has the perfect blend of sharp eyes and a quick trigger when working downhill.
This weekend’s game against Ole Miss should be a great test for him. Lane Kiffin’s offense is designed to make life tough for opposing linebackers, constantly putting them in conflict with a heavy dose of play action and RPOs. Scouts will want to see how Weeks handles that.
Demond Claiborne - RB, Wake Forest (5-10, 192, Senior)
You won’t find many running backs that have been more productive on a per play basis this season than Demond Claiborne. The Wake Forest back has recorded 247 yards and four touchdowns on his 25 carries, averaging 9.9 yards per attempt.
A big chunk of that production came in Week 2 against Western Carolina, where Claiborne went for 193 yards and three touchdowns on 10 carries. He wasn’t able to replicate that in his last outing, being held to just 35 yards on 12 carries against NC State.
This inconsistency says more about the Wake Forest offense than it does Claiborne, who is one of the most intriguing backs in the 2026 class. At 5’10” and 192 lbs he isn’t the biggest, but his quick twitch and explosiveness make him a true big play threat every time he touches the football.
Nevertheless, scouts will want to see that he isn’t just a flat-track bully and that he can dominate against better competition. This weekend’s game against Georgia Tech should be a good test for that. The Yellow Jackets look like one of the better teams in the ACC, although they have had some issues in run defense. If Claiborne can exploit that weakness he’ll definitely boost his draft stock.
CJ Allen - LB, Georgia (6-1, 235, Junior)
The Georgia-Alabama matchup might not be the elite heavyweight battle that it was in the Nick Saban era, but it still plays host to plenty of NFL talent. One of the names I am particularly keen to watch is Bulldogs linebacker CJ Allen.
Allen has been a key part of Georgia’s defense since his true freshman season, which is a testament to his talent. He is a talented athlete, but also shows real promise as a processor too. His sound and physical tackling will no doubt earn him plenty of fans in NFL scouting rooms.
The early returns in 2025 for Allen have been mixed. He looked good through Georgia’s first two games and has now logged 22 tackles without a single missed attempt. He struggled against Tennessee in Week 3 though, particularly in run defense and as a blitzer.
With plenty of eyes on this clash, this game presents Allen with an excellent opportunity to get things back on track against a quality opponent.
JACK BRENTNALL
HEAD OF NFL DRAFT CONTENT
Previously the founder of The Jet Sweep, Jack joined The Touchdown as head of Draft Content in 2024. A Scouting Academy alumnus, Jack has been Covering the NFL Draft since 2020. Follow him on Twitter @Jack_Brentnall.