NFL Draft Prospects to Watch in College Football Week 8
NFL Draft

NFL Draft Prospects to Watch in College Football Week 8

Gene Clemons identifies five NFL Draft prospects to watch during College Football Week 8, including three high-upside defensive players and a pair of versatile centers.

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As Week 8 rolls in and conference battles start to shape out, we also watch the cream continue to rise to the top for NFL Draft prospects. 

Regardless of the glitz and glamour that comes along with college football, there is nothing like evaluating the trenches and looking to the secondary for names that will easily populate NFL rosters in 2027. Let's take a look at some prospects to keep an eye on in Week 8 of the college football season.

Week 8 NFL Draft Prospects to Watch in College Football

Trevor Lauck | OL | Iowa

It feels like every year we talk about an Iowa offensive lineman not getting enough love in the draft process, only to watch them enter the NFL and immediately become valuable for a team. Lauck is one of the next in that line. He has versatility as an offensive guard and an offensive tackle, and because he has Iowa pedigree, you know he's going to play the game the right way.

He has great hand placement and grip strength. He looks to lock onto defenders with a violent first strike and use that leverage to work them around the outside of the pocket or stop their momentum altogether. On 188 pass-blocking snaps this season, he has given up zero sacks and only three pressures. In the rushing attack, he anchors a front that has produced nearly 5.0 yards per carry in their gap scheme.

Scouts still want to see him improve against wide-nine speed rushers, where he can not only stop their speed, but also their bend around the edge.

​Justin Evans | C | Nebraska

Evans is an absolute technician at the position. He is the leader of the offensive line and operates it with flawless execution. After cross-training as a guard and center, he has become a physical force on the interior as the pivot man of the offensive line.

He has excellent pre-snap operational command, and he reads blitz packages and stunts quickly so he can adjust the offensive line to better service the quarterback.

The place that he shines the most is as a stone wall in front of defensive linemen who try to win with power. He has an ability to thwart the advances of any interior defensive lineman trying to use brute force to get to the quarterback or any running back. In pass protection, you rarely see him get pushed back into the quarterback's lap. That allows his QB to work with clean throwing windows.

​Quincy Rhodes Jr. | EDGE | Arkansas

The name of the game for edge rushers in today's football is to get pressure on the quarterback. Rhodes does that as well as anyone else in college football. So far this season, he has amassed 4.5 sacks, 7 tackles for loss and 18 quarterback pressures.

He has an intimidating first step that allows him to eat up a lot of cushion, and the length to make it hard for offensive linemen to get their hands on him. An 80-inch wingspan and quick first step is a lot to overcome for offensive linemen; he uses it to establish leverage and keep offensive tackles on their heels instead of dug into the ground.

He still needs to work to show more counters off of his speed rush, but make no mistake about it: his game is speed.

​Chris Peal | CB | Syracuse

Syracuse isn't exactly known for its cornerback pedigree, but Peal has emerged as one of the better perimeter defensive backs in the game. Opposing quarterbacks average under 50% completion when targeting players he's covering this season. He has taken two passes away and broken up another six to go with 24 solo tackles.

The thing that makes him an intriguing prospect is his ability to be fluid in his lower-body movement. It gives him the ability to mirror-match in off-man and in press-bail coverages. He isn't a violent press-man corner, but he does show physicality, and he's able to be patient as a counter to his aggression.

As a run defender, you still want to see him be more physical when shedding blocks and at the point of attack. Watching him trigger better against screen passes and quick throws will make him even more attractive to potential NFL suitors.

​Jalen Mayo | DB/S | Houston

Houston has seemed to surprise the country with its defensive play this season, and one of the reasons is the play of Jalen Mayo. Although he missed last week with an injury, he seems to be progressing towards returning to the lineup in Week 8. Through the six games he's played, he's amassed 31 tackles, a forced fumble, an interception and four passes defensed.

He anchors the back end of Houston's defense that has turned over opponents in the Big 12. Mayo plays with a level of intensity normally associated with downhill run defenders: He fills alleys well and does a great job of getting ball carriers on the ground. He can diagnose routes quickly as a hash safety and knows how to attack receivers swiftly.

Scouts still want to see better eye control from him at the third level, especially when he's playing deep middle. Showing that true single-high center field range, especially against teams with vertical passing concepts, will elevate his appeal during the draft.

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