College Football Week 2: 2027 NFL Draft storylines to watch
By Jack Brentnall
Week 1 gave us plenty to chew on from an NFL Draft perspective, and Week 2 is where those early impressions start to firm up. For some prospects, this weekend is a chance to build on a hot start against a genuine step up in competition. For others, it is already about putting a poor opener behind them and convincing NFL scouts that a disappointing Week 1 was nothing more than a blip.
Here are six storylines to watch in Week 2.
Spotlight Game - Arch Manning (QB, Texas) vs Ohio State
A prospect taking centre stage in one of the weekend’s biggest matchups.
Few games did more to change the perception of a prospect last season than Arch Manning’s opener against Ohio State. Texas lost 14-7, with a Longhorns offense that struggled to find any rhythm and Manning falling well short of the expectations that had followed him throughout the summer.
What was particularly concerning at the time was where those struggles came from. Accuracy and poise had been among the more encouraging aspects of Manning’s limited early tape, yet both deserted him against Ohio State as his mechanics and comfort within the pocket deteriorated.
Manning’s 2026 evaluation looks considerably different. He showed substantial growth down the stretch last season and looked good in Texas’ opener, outside of a poor red zone interception. His pocket navigation and processing remain among the best traits in the class, while his athleticism provides another dimension when structure breaks down.
A year on from the game that first introduced real hesitation into his draft projection, this rematch is a fascinating measuring stick for how far Manning has come.
The Proving Ground - Lance Heard (OT, Kentucky) vs Yhonzae Pierre
A prospect facing one of the toughest individual matchups on his schedule.
There might not be a more physical individual matchup on the Week 2 slate than Lance Heard against Alabama edge rusher Yhonzae Pierre.
Both players are built around power. Heard combines elite arm length with a jarring punch and firm anchor in pass protection, while Pierre wins with heavy hands and the ability to convert his explosiveness into pocket compression.
There is history here too. One of Pierre’s best performances of 2025 came against Tennessee, where Heard played last season, with the edge rusher finishing that game with two sacks and three stop tackles.
Both started 2026 strongly against much lighter competition. Heard did not allow a pressure against Youngstown State, while Pierre recorded a sack and an interception against East Carolina. This is the first meaningful test for either player this season, and a strong showing in such a fascinating matchup could give either prospect’s stock an early boost.
The Step Up - Peter Clarke (TE, Temple) vs Penn State
A prospect facing a significant rise in competition.
Peter Clarke quietly produced 30 catches for 483 yards and six touchdowns for Temple last season, but opportunities to measure him against Power Four competition have been scarce.
His two such games in 2025 produced little receiving production, with Clarke held without a catch against Oklahoma before finishing with two receptions for 28 yards against Georgia Tech. There is important context there, with both performances coming while he was still establishing himself in the starting lineup.
Clarke has an intriguing NFL foundation at 6’6″ and 263 lbs. He offers the size and strength to contribute inline, while strong hands and a large catch radius make him a reliable possession target. His athletic ceiling and ability to create separation are the bigger questions.
After failing to register a catch against Rhode Island in Week 1, a trip to Penn State is a considerable jump in difficulty. These are exactly the sort of games where Clarke needs to show up if he is to convince NFL scouts that he’s worthy of consideration in the 2027 class.
Under the Radar - Jamal Roberts (RB, Missouri) vs Kansas
A lesser-known prospect with an opportunity to earn more attention.
Ahmad Hardy received most of the attention in Missouri’s backfield last season, but Jamal Roberts was quietly one of the more efficient complementary runners in the SEC.
Despite operating as the RB2, Roberts finished 2025 with 759 yards and six touchdowns on 123 carries. He also forced 31 missed tackles and recorded 15 breakaway runs.
Roberts is a patient, decisive runner who understands how to pace his carries and let blocks develop. His contact balance is particularly impressive, allowing him to absorb tackles and consistently manufacture extra yardage. He does however lack the twitch and long speed of some of the more explosive backs in the class.
With Hardy still unavailable, Roberts has an opportunity to take on a more prominent role in Missouri’s backfield. An early-season rivalry game against Kansas is the perfect stage for a player who has spent much of his career operating in somebody else’s shadow.
Make-or-Break Performance - Drew Mestemaker (QB, Oklahoma State) vs Oregon
A prospect who needs a statement performance to stop his stock falling further.
Drew Mestemaker entered 2026 as one of the more intriguing developmental quarterbacks in the class. His composure in the pocket and willingness to challenge tight windows stood out despite his limited starting experience, but Week 1 was a reminder of how much development remains.
Mestemaker averaged only 4.9 yards per attempt against Tulsa and threw two interceptions. His accuracy was particularly concerning downfield, finishing with an adjusted completion rate of just 38.4% on throws of 10+ air yards.
That creates an enormous amount of pressure heading into Oregon. His tendency to commit to reads before the snap and some inconsistent footwork were already concerns on his summer tape, and another underwhelming performance would make it increasingly difficult to view him as a realistic 2027 prospect.
The other side of that equation is what makes Saturday so intriguing. Respond strongly against a team of Oregon’s calibre and Mestemaker can quickly begin to repair some of the damage from Week 1.
Backing It Up - Keyshawn Johnson (EDGE, Syracuse) vs Cal
A prospect coming off a standout performance with the chance to show it wasn’t a one-off.
Few newcomers made a louder introduction in Week 1 than Syracuse edge rusher Keyshawn Johnson.
Playing just 25 snaps against New Hampshire, Johnson finished with three sacks, four stop tackles and a forced fumble, an extraordinary level of disruption in his first appearance since transferring from UT Martin.
The production itself should not have been a complete surprise. Johnson was a dominant FCS edge rusher in 2025, recording 14 sacks and 38 stop tackles before making the move to Syracuse. What matters now is whether that disruption carries over as the level of competition rises.
Cal should provide a much more meaningful measuring stick than New Hampshire. One dominant performance against an FCS opponent will attract attention, but following it with another impactful outing against Power Four competition would make Johnson far harder for NFL evaluators to ignore.
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.
