College Football Week 6: 2027 NFL Draft storylines to watch
By Jack Brentnall
It’s Week 6 of the college football season and that means we are deep into conference play. That gives us plenty of high-profile matchups from an NFL Draft perspective, headlined this week by the Alabama-Georgia game and the Red River Rivalry at the Cotton Bowl.
Here are six storylines to watch in Week 6.
Spotlight Game - Arch Manning (QB, Texas) vs Oklahoma
A prospect taking centre stage in one of the weekend’s biggest matchups.
Arch Manning has already demonstrated that he can deliver when the lights are brightest, with his performance against Ohio State in Week 2 the clearest example. He remained composed when Texas fell behind and led the decisive fourth-quarter drive that secured one of the season’s most significant victories.
That capacity to rise to the moment is a major part of his appeal. Manning is an exceptional pocket navigator who uses subtle slides and climbs to create time without abandoning structure. He processes well, throws with anticipation and possesses the athleticism to punish defenses as a runner when opportunities emerge.
The difficulty is reconciling that with the sloppiness that continues to plague his game. Manning’s performance against UTSA was particularly underwhelming considering the level of competition, and his persistent issues with accuracy and placement remain a concern.
The high-end ability remains sufficient to believe in his pathway towards becoming a franchise quarterback, but if he is to warrant discussion as a potential top five pick in the 2027 class, he needs to find more consistency.
The Red River Rivalry provides him with the perfect opportunity to do just that. Oklahoma has endured a disappointing start, but Brent Venables’ defense is always a challenge for opposing quarterbacks to unpick. This game has the potential to be a pivotal one for Manning’s season and his draft evaluation.
The Proving Ground - Ryan Coleman-Williams (WR, Alabama) vs Georgia
A prospect facing one of the toughest individual matchups on his schedule.
Ryan Coleman-Williams entered the season with a point to prove after some volatile sophomore tape. Though the athletic ability and route craft that characterised his freshman season were still there, his performances were often undermined by routine drops.
Through five weeks, that problem appears to be moving in the right direction. Coleman-Williams has caught 20 passes for 376 yards and four touchdowns this season, averaging 18.8 yards per reception. More importantly, he has not dropped a pass in his last four games.
His workload was limited to 33 snaps last weekend against Mississippi State due to a knee injury, but he remained productive. He caught three passes for 43 yards and a touchdown, including an excellent back-shoulder reception that showcased the adjustment skills which make him such a compelling prospect.
Georgia will provide his most demanding test yet. Bulldogs corner Ellis Robinson IV has allowed a passer rating of only 48.5 this season and is coming off an excellent performance against Vanderbilt. Robinson is a quick, fluid cover man with the foot speed to remain connected through breaks and the length to challenge receivers at the catch point. In many ways, he’s the exact type of corner who should be well equipped to handle Coleman-Williams.
Coleman-Williams has begun turning his flashes into more dependable production and looks much more like the player we saw as a freshman back in 2024. If he can overcome a tough test against Georgia and Ellis Robinson IV, he is going to be getting a lot more buzz once again.
Make-or-Break Performance - David Stone (IDL, Oklahoma) vs Texas
A prospect facing a significant rise in competition.
Few defensive tackles in the 2027 class possess a more exciting collection of physical traits than David Stone.
Stone explodes out of his stance with the burst and lower-body flexibility to shoot gaps, while also possessing the length and heavy hands to generate significant knockback. At his best, Stone looks capable of taking over a game. That was a big part of why he was my DT1 over summer. The problem is that those moments remain far too infrequent.
Consistency was the central concern entering the season. Stone’s hand placement and timing could become erratic, his pass rush plan remained underdeveloped and his urgency and effort appeared to diminish late in games.
These were all areas that you hoped would improve heading into 2026, but he looks like much the same player, and not in a good way. Stone has generated only three pressures through four games this season. In his two appearances against Power Four opposition, he has failed to record a pressure and has produced just one stop tackle.
For a player carrying first round expectations, that is simply not enough. Saturday’s meeting with Texas offers the perfect opportunity to get things back on track. It is obviously a big rivalry game and will see him tested against the top-ranked team in the country.
Rising Stock - Chris Marshall (WR, Arkansas) vs Tennessee
A prospect whose stock is rising and who has an opportunity to build further momentum.
Chris Marshall’s path towards becoming one of the most productive receivers in college football has been anything but straightforward.
A highly regarded recruit, Marshall has bounced around college football with stops at Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Kilgore College, Boise State, and now Arkansas. His talent was never particularly difficult to identify, but off-field issues and crippling drop problems when on it prevented him from turning that ability into sustained production.
At Arkansas, everything appears to be coming together. Marshall has caught 36 passes for 557 yards and two touchdowns this season while averaging 2.98 yards per route run. He has led Arkansas in receiving in every game and has been particularly impressive over the last three weeks.
He caught seven passes for 136 yards against Georgia before producing nine receptions for 195 yards and a touchdown against Tulsa. Marshall followed that with another seven catches for 76 yards and a score against Texas A&M.
The production is supported by an enticing combination of traits. Marshall possesses the size and explosiveness to threaten defenses vertically, while also showing the body control to adjust around his frame and complete difficult catches downfield.
Tennessee offers the next test. Another big outing would help catapult him further up NFL boards, and would make it increasingly difficult to treat this run as a hot streak.
Backing It Up - Jamal Roberts (RB, Missouri) vs Texas A&M
A prospect coming off a standout performance with the chance to show it wasn’t a one-off.
Jamal Roberts delivered one of the most destructive rushing performances of the season against Florida, rushing for 211 yards and three touchdowns with runs of 77 and 80 yards, while adding another 29 yards on three receptions, as Missouri dismantled a top-10 opponent.
Roberts now has 596 rushing yards and six touchdowns this season, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. With Ahmad Hardy still unavailable, he has established himself as Missouri’s bellcow back.
The Florida game showcased many of the qualities that make Roberts an appealing runner. He is decisive when attacking the line of scrimmage, possesses the vision to locate developing lanes and understands how to alter his pace while blocks form in front of him. His contact balance and toughness allow him to absorb glancing tackles and continue generating yardage.
Missouri’s offensive line deserves considerable credit for the rushing attack’s success, but Roberts consistently maximises the space it creates.
There are still questions about his athletic ceiling. Despite producing two enormous gains against Florida, Roberts does not possess an overwhelming top gear once he reaches the second level.
Texas A&M offers Roberts an opportunity to prove that last weekend was a sign of things to come. Another productive showing against a talented SEC defense would strengthen his case as one of the more reliable backs in the 2027 class.
Under the Radar - Horace Lockett (IDL, UCF) vs Oklahoma State
A lesser-known prospect with an opportunity to earn more attention.
It is difficult for a 6’5”, 362-pound defensive tackle to disappear, but Horace Lockett has received relatively little attention within the wider 2027 NFL Draft conversation.
Injuries have played a role in that. Lockett missed the entire 2024 season with a hand injury before a torn pectoral muscle disrupted his 2025 campaign. Those setbacks prevented him from assembling the sustained body of work required to attract greater attention over summer, but he is beginning to change that this season.
Lockett has generated six pressures, including one sack, while recording 10 stop tackles. Three of those stops came against Houston last weekend.
His power remains the defining feature of his game. Lockett uses heavy hands to jolt blockers and reset the line of scrimmage, while his forceful club-swim can knock opponents off balance. His combination of size and length also allows him to occupy space and obstruct running lanes even when he does not make the tackle himself.
There are natural limitations. Lockett’s pad level can rise, reducing the impact of his substantial power advantage, and his pass rush counters are underdeveloped. His extensive injury history is another concern, particularly when projecting him to the NFL level.
Saturday’s visit to ranked Oklahoma State is a chance to show that the physical profile translates against better competition, and that there is more here than a space-eating depth defender.
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.
