College Football Week 14: 2026 NFL Draft prospects to watch
By Jack Brentnall
Week 14 brings two things: rivalry week and the end of the college football regular season. It’s always an important milestone from an NFL Draft perspective, offering a chance to see prospects in their final college outings and in high-leverage, high-profile matchups.
Here are six prospects to watch in Week 14.
Ty Simpson - QB, Alabama
The Iron Bowl offers a huge stage for Ty Simpson at a time when his stock has flattened. A month ago he was widely discussed as the potential QB1 of the 2026 class, but recent film has been much more up-and-down.
His accuracy has wavered, especially on intermediate throws where timing and placement have been inconsistent, and the two interceptions against Eastern Illinois in Week 13 were further illustrations of his struggles.
There is still plenty to like. Simpson’s decision making and pocket navigation remain appealing traits, but with only one year of starting experience, evaluators will want to see him show more consistency. How he handles Auburn’s defense could weigh heavily on whether he returns in 2027 or pushes for the draft.
Keldric Faulk - EDGE, Auburn
On the other side of the matchup is Keldric Faulk. I came into the season lower on Faulk as a prospect and while I still don’t quite buy the top 10 hype, I have seen some encouraging signs of improvement.
Faulk has imposing size, length and power to reset the line of scrimmage. He is an excellent run defender who will be able to contribute immediately on early downs, and he flashes enough as a pass rusher to keep scouts invested.
Where Faulk needs to grow is in the technical side of his game. Too often he relies on natural strength instead of sequencing moves or setting up tackles. That partially explains his production struggles, with just two sacks and one quarterback hit the season.
Scouts will be intrigued to see how he fares against a talented Alabama offensive line. In this matchup last year he had some incredible moments of dominance, and a standout performance this weekend would carry real weight in his draft evaluation.
Malachi Lawrence - EDGE, UCF
UCF’s redshirt senior Malachi Lawrence has not been talked about as much as some of the bigger-name edge rushers in the class, but he has quietly built a strong résumé.
He brings a well-proportioned frame, long 35-inch arms and a diverse pass rushing arsenal that shows up consistently on tape. His 37 pressures and seven sacks this season reflect that ability to get after the quarterback.
When he’s been able to pin his ears back, Lawrence has quietly been one of the most disruptive pass rushers in the country. His 36.8% pass rush win rate ranks eighth among draft-eligible prospects, ahead of big-name prospects like Rueben Bain and Cashius Howell.
With UCF at 5-6, this may be his final college outing, making the matchup with BYU an important last look for scouts.
Caleb Banks - IDL, Florida
The return of Caleb Banks was one of the key storylines of Week 13. After missing ten weeks with an ankle injury, the senior defensive tackle stepped back in and immediately made an impact.
His size and length are obvious, but it was his quickness off the ball that stood out against Tennessee. While the box-score production was modest, he created disruption on several snaps by beating his man early and forcing the play off schedule.
With Florida out of bowl contention, this is likely Banks’ last college outing unless he uses a medical redshirt to return in 2026. If he can pair another strong performance with more tangible backfield production against Florida State, he will no doubt draw renewed interest from NFL scouts.
Eric Rivers - WR, Georgia Tech
One of the highlights of rivalry week is the matchup between Georgia and Georgia Tech. Both teams are fighting for places in their respective conference title games, so this is a must-win affair for both sides.
One of the players to watch is Georgia Tech receiver Eric Rivers. The FIU transfer has delivered a solid first year with the Yellow Jackets, posting 534 yards and a touchdown on 40 receptions. His 119-yard performance against Boston College two weeks ago underlined his ability to threaten all three levels of the field.
Consistency has been the missing piece. Rivers has flashed high-end moments but has not always sustained them week to week. This matchup provides a strong platform for him to show he can be the reliable target his skill set suggests.
Arch Manning - QB, Texas
If you had asked me a few weeks ago I’d have said that there was no chance Arch Manning would declare for the 2026 Draft. While I still expect him to return to school for another year, his recent form has caught my attention.
After a rough first half of the season, Manning has put together an impressive four-game stretch with 1,314 yards, 11 touchdowns and just two interceptions. His accuracy has improved as his footwork and timing have settled, and his operation looks far more controlled than it did in September.
Texas A&M gives him one of his toughest tests yet. The Aggies are unbeaten and field one of the best defenses in the country, creating a meaningful evaluation point for Manning regardless of his 2026 decision. Even if he returns, how he finishes the year will shape the offseason narrative around his development.
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.