College Football Week 1: 2027 NFL Draft storylines to watch
By Jack Brentnall
Week 1 brings the first full weekend of the season, and the opening slate gives evaluators plenty to sort through. Openers mean fresh tape, new-look rosters and a raft of transfers debuting in new systems, with prospects from Power Four regulars to small school names all back under the lights.
Here are five storylines to watch in Week 1.
Spotlight Game - Jordan Seaton (OT, LSU) vs Clemson
A prospect taking centre stage in one of the weekend’s biggest matchups.
Jordan Seaton enters 2026 as one of the top prospects in the class, having transferred to LSU this offseason after two seasons starting at left tackle for Colorado. A former five-star recruit, Seaton is already an outstanding pass protector, pairing rare movement skills with light feet, controlled sets and accurate hands.
Clemson should provide an immediate test, particularly through Will Heldt, who generated 45 pressures and 10 sacks last season. Heldt is a technically refined rusher with an impressive variety of moves, making this an intriguing battle between two players who win with technique despite sharing some issues with pad level.
The bigger question may be how Seaton’s remodelled frame translates to the field. After reportedly playing above 330 lbs at Colorado, he was down to 302 this summer. Seaton was already an exceptional athlete at the heavier weight, so the intrigue is whether getting leaner has added anything to his game and, equally importantly, whether sacrificing that mass affects his ability to generate and absorb power. His run blocking remains the biggest area for improvement, particularly his knee bend, hand placement and tendency to lunge into contact.
There will be plenty more draft talent on display too, with Sam Leavitt, Sammy Brown, Ashton Hampton and Trey’Dez Green among the other names worth following.
The Proving Ground - Eryx Daugherty (IOL, Louisville) vs Ole Miss
A prospect facing one of the toughest individual matchups on his schedule.
Eryx Daugherty’s Louisville debut could hardly provide a more demanding test. After starting at left guard for Boston College last season, he opens his new chapter against Ole Miss defensive tackle Will Echoles, one of the top interior defenders in the 2027 class.
Daugherty wins with natural leverage, active hands and a strong anchor, showing the knee bend to absorb power and the grip strength to sustain blocks once attached. Echoles should challenge all of that. He combines leverage and first step quickness with advanced hand usage, using an effective collection of moves to defeat blocks.
Pass protection is the biggest area to watch for Daugherty. His base can become too wide and he has a tendency to lunge and overset, creating opportunities for technically accomplished rushers. A strong showing against a player of Echoles’ calibre would be an excellent way to begin his Louisville career, but this will be a difficult assignment.
The Step Up - Desmeal Leigh (OT, Youngstown State) vs Kentucky
A prospect facing a significant rise in competition.
Desmeal Leigh has put plenty of impressive tape together at Youngstown State, but his limited exposure to FBS opposition remains one of the biggest questions surrounding his projection. It was somewhat surprising that Leigh did not transfer up this offseason, making games such as Saturday’s trip to Kentucky particularly valuable for evaluators.
At 6’6” and 324 pounds, Leigh wins with length, powerful hands and an excellent anchor. Once he gets his hands inside, his punch and grip strength make him extremely difficult to dislodge. The concern is whether his lower-half stiffness can be exposed by better athletes.
Kentucky should provide a useful measuring stick. Mi’Quise Humphrey-Grace brings strength and physicality off the edge, while defensive tackle Tavion Gadson offers an intriguing combination of length, flexibility and closing burst inside. These are exactly the types of matchups scouts will want to see Leigh handle before projecting his FCS success to Sundays.
Return to Action - Jahiem White (RB, North Texas) vs Indiana
A prospect returning from injury and looking to get back to his best.
North Texas will look almost completely different in 2026, with just three returning starters after Eric Morris left for Oklahoma State and took much of his roster with him. New head coach Neal Brown has leaned on familiar faces to rebuild, and one of the most intriguing additions is former West Virginia running back Jahiem White, reuniting with the coach he played his best football under in Morgantown.
White was limited to two games by a knee injury last season, but his previous two years showed why he remains worth monitoring from an NFL Draft perspective. Both came under Brown, who oversaw his development into one of the best backs in the ACC. Across 2023 and 2024, White rushed for 1,685 yards while averaging 6.5 yards per carry.
At 5’7” and 190 pounds, White is undersized by NFL standards, but his explosiveness makes him dangerous. He is light-footed and elusive with good vision, showing an impressive ability to weave through traffic before accelerating into open space.
It remains unclear whether White is completely back to his pre-injury level, but he is expected to play this weekend. Facing reigning national champion Indiana should provide a demanding first test.
Under the Radar - AJ Green (EDGE, Louisville) vs Ole Miss
A lesser-known prospect with an opportunity to earn more attention.
Clev Lubin may attract much of the attention on Louisville’s defensive front, but AJ Green is another name worth following as a potential breakout candidate.
Green generated 38 pressures and four sacks last season, with a physical profile that immediately stands out. At 6’6” and 250 pounds, his exceptional length allows him to establish first contact, keep blockers away from his chest and control the engagement. There is more polish to his game than the modest sack total suggests too, with Green able to work through a varied collection of moves off his primary power rush.
The next step is adding more force to that imposing frame. His punches currently lack the pop to consistently shock blockers, while playing tall can further limit his ability to generate power.
If that part of Green’s game develops, the combination of length, technique and effort gives him a chance to become considerably more prominent in the draft conversation.
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.
