The 2026 college football season is nearing its midpoint, and several 2027 NFL Draft prospects have struggled and hurt their stock. Here are the biggest fallers so far this season.
Manning was the top recruit in the class of 2022 and joined Texas out of New Orleans. He backed up Quin Ewers for the first two seasons he played at Texas. In 2025, he took over as the starter, playing solidly with 3,163 yards, 26 touchdowns and seven interceptions on 61.4 percent completion. So far this season, Manning has passed for 1,295 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions on 63.9 percent completion.
He has the size, physical tools and pedigree to be a good NFL quarterback, but Manning has struggled with his consistency. Manning can have better, and quicker, decision-making under pressure. He also has had inconsistent mechanics throughout his college career. When he lets it loose and plays freely, he usually does well, but he has been hesitating and holding back. Manning’s stock has taken a hit and he may stay in college for another year recoup some of it.
Stewart was a coveted recruit who joined South Carolina in 2024. That season, he had 23 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. During the 2025 season, he battled injury to have 33 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. He returned and has battled injury and had a suspension. In 2026, he has six total tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack in just three games played.
While Stewart has the size and athleticism that is coveted of an NFL edge rusher, the suspension, which happened following the game against Alabama in which he punched a player and did not take coaching well, has hurt his stock. Teams will dig into him as a person before drafting him. He will also want to finish the year with more sack production, as he has generated some pressure, but struggled to finish plays. Stewart will have plenty of questions to answer for NFL Draft evaluators, even if the physical tools are there.
Mateer began his college career at Washington State. He backed up Cam Ward for two seasons before taking over as a starter in 2024. He passed for 3,139 yards, 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions on 64.6 percent completion. Following that season, he transferred to Oklahoma. He played in 12 games while dealing with a hand injury, but passed for 2,885 yards, 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions on 62.2 percent completion. Through six games this season, Mateer has 1,308 passing yards, nine touchdowns and seven interceptions on 65.1 percent completion.
He is a good athlete who has run well, but Mateer has struggled and turned the ball over too much. After a mundane 2025 season that started off hot, he was given the benefit of the doubt after he came back from his hand injury. He has not played at the level he did early in his career and his stock has taken a hit. A quarterback that was once seen as a possible day two pick likely will go at least a couple of rounds later than that.
Perich joined Minnesota in 2024 and immediately starred for the Golden Gophers. He had 46 total tackles, five interceptions and three passes defended as a freshman. In 2025, he totaled 82 total tackles, one interception and two passes defended. Following that season, he transferred to Oregon. With the Ducks, he has 40 total tackles, two interceptions and one pass defended.
It looked like Perich could be a top-5o pick before the season, but has not played like it for Oregon. He has been beat in coverage too often to warrant being selected that highly in the 2027 NFL Draft. Perich can tackle and help against the run, but he has not had the same tape in coverage this season. Perich will need to pick up some steam late in the season or another year in college could be in store.
Stone joined Oklahoma in 2024, registering six total tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack. He played a lot more in 2025, totaling 42 total tackles, eight tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. So far in 2026, he suffered an injury and hasn’t been as effective. He has 22 total tackles, two tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks.
While he has played through a knee injury, Stone just hasn’t been as effective this season. He didn’t have any pressures in some of Oklahoma’s early-season games and then had the knee injury. While he has shown improvement lately, he will need to play better down the stretch to help get his stock back up.
Sayin originally signed with Alabama to play for Nick Saban, but when he retired, he became a Buckeye. He played in relief of Will Howard in 2024, as the Buckeyes won a national championship. As the starter in 2024, Sayin passed for 3,610 yards, 32 touchdowns and eight interceptions on 77 percent completion. So far in the 2026 season, Sayin has passed for 2,007 yards, 19 touchdowns and four interceptions on 68.2 percent completion.
There were always questions about Sayin’s arm strength, but it hasn’t improved this season. He has looked out of rhythm at times and can struggle to get back on schedule when pressured a lot. In the game against Indiana, Sayin didn’t play great and then hurt his elbow. He is now expected to miss at least a few weeks, which will make it hard for him to restore his draft stock. Sayin will need to be healthy and have some big games to help his stock.
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