2027 NFL Draft Prospects to Watch in Week 8

This week isn’t the most interesting week from a game standpoint. There are still NFL Draft prospects with good matchups, though, as we continue to build the full picture. Here’s who to watch in Week 8.

2027 NFL Draft Prospects to Watch in Week 8

Matchup of the Week – Indiana at Michigan (12:00 p.m. ET, Fox)

This matchup is the two Indiana receivers, Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh, against Michigan cornerbacks Jyaire Hill, Smith Snowden, and Zeke Berry. Marsh had a chance to win it against Ohio State last week, but lost track of where he was on the field and landed out of bounds. How does he rebound?

Indiana offensive tackle Carter Smith has his second tough matchup in a row, facing Michigan edge rusher John Henry Daley. Smith has limitations as he has short arms, but he’s worth watching as he’s tough and gritty.

2027 NFL Draft Prospects to Watch in Week 8: Thursday and Friday Night Lights

Last week, there weren’t any prospects worth watching in these slots, but that’s not the case this week. Memphis hosts East Carolina on Thursday (7:30 p.m., ESPN2). The prospect to watch is Memphis edge rusher J’Mond Tapp, who, at 275 lbs, is not the most athletic, but he does have power.

Friday night kicks off with an ACC matchup, Duke at Virginia (7:00 p.m., ESPN). Virginia linebacker Kam Robinson is draftable, and his matchup with Duke tight end Jeremiah Hasley will be interesting. Virginia left tackle McKale Boley projects as a pro guard and is worth watching.

The nightcap is a long road trip for North Carolina State as they visit Stanford (10:30 p.m., ESPN). Wolfpack quarterback CJ Bailey had the nightmare fumble that cost them the Vanderbilt game. However, one moment shouldn’t define his grade, and he is talented.

For Stanford, left tackle Niki Prongos is undersized, but he is talented. He’s a prospect who deserves more press. Also for Stanford, safety Jay Green is a versatile prospect who has tightness in his hips, but he does impact games.

Other 2027 NFL Draft Prospects to Watch in Week 8 (All Times Eastern)

South Carolina edge rusher Dylan Stewart has more punches thrown (three) than sacks (one) this season. Hosting Tennessee (3:30 p.m., ESPN), can Stewart round into form and show the consistency of a first-round pick? Right now, he’s more upside than a high-floor prospect and has a “boom or bust” feel about him.

It’s also watching South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers, who impressed in his last game against Florida, but needs to string together strong performances. Sellers’ favorite target, Nyck Harbor, is big and athletic, but must eradicate the drops from his game.

For the Vols, defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam is a rising prospect. Can he continue to cause mayhem and shrink the pocket for Sellers?

The big ABC game this week is Ole Miss at Texas (7:30 p.m.). Texas left tackle Trevor Goosby is the big name on the Texas offensive line, but the other tackle, Melvin Siani, is a rising prospect.

With Colin Simmons injured (per CBS Sports, he has a high ankle sprain and is out for around a month), the focus on the Texas defense is safety Jelani McDonald. The Ole Miss offense will test his range and tackling.

The health of Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacy is of mild concern. He came out of the game in the second quarter against Missouri, but returned to have a big game. It’s worth monitoring if he can play a full game this week.

One under-the-radar game is Houston at Utah (10:15 p.m., ESPN). Houston quarterback Conner Weigman was impressive against Oklahoma State last week. If he can deal with a hostile road environment and play well, the buzz surrounding him will continue to grow.

For Utah, Zereoue Williams had to be patient behind 2026 first-round picks Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu. He’s making the most of his chance in 2026 and is a rising prospect.

The Last Word

Even in a slow week in College Football, there are still interesting matchups for NFL Draft prospects.

The schedule works that Carter Smith, without a good matchup for the early part of the season, has a nice test two weeks in a row.

It’s great to have good matchups on Thursday and Friday night. It’s always a good way to find time for mid-late round prospects. The best prospect on show is Stanford left tackle Niki Prongos, who is excellent in pass protection.

Saturday will give Dylan Stewart a chance to show he’s rounding into shape. His indefinite suspension was only one game, so now it’s time for him to produce. The same goes for LaNorris Sellers, who was excellent against Florida, but needs to show he can play at this level consistently.

Keep an eye on Houston quarterback Conner Weigman in the late Saturday night game. He was highly rated at Texas A&M, but ended up struggling, losing the starting job, and transferring to Houston. He’s been playing well, but Utah on the road is a tough test.

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