While the 2026 NFL Draft is still far off in the distance, players who will be drafted early are on the field now. Each week presents unique matchups for draft prospects and this week is no different. Here are NFL Draft prospects to watch in college football week 12 Recap.
Related: NFL Draft Prospects to Watch in College Football Week 12
Alabama had a tough game offensively against Oklahoma and lost 23-21. The offensive line didn’t play their best, but neither did Simpson. He missed some open targets and threw an interception. He finished 28/42 passing for 326 yards and one touchdown to go along with the pick.
Simpson has missed some open receivers downfield in the last few weeks. He generally has good accuracy and has plenty of arm talent. Simpson can fill out his frame a little more and can make more plays out of structure. Overall, Simpson still has plenty of talent, despite the poor performance and is a projected first-round pick.
Georgia got a big win over Texas, winning 35-10. The defense played well, as they didn’t let Texas sustain a lot of drives. Their defense had playmakers all over and one of those was an interior defensive lineman, Christen Miller. Miller played better than the boxscore would indicate, as he had just one tackle.
Miller showed his ability to push the pocket as a pass rusher , which can help give him more value. He already plays good run defense and the ability to take on multiple blockers. Continuing to work on his pass rush could make his stock go up even more. He is currently projected to be a day two pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
USC notched a big win over Iowa to stay alive in the CFP race, although they’ll need some help. The offense did enough in this game and is a large reason why USC is still in it. A lot of credit for the offensive firepower goes to wide receiver Makai Lemon, who had 10 catches for 153 yards and a touchdown against Iowa.
Lemon continues to see his stock soar this season. While he is a smaller receiver, he attacks the football well and can make acrobatic catches, as he had a few this week. He has good route running and run-after-the-catch ability. His run blocking can improve, but Lemon does so much positively that he looks like a great bet to go in round one.
Clemson got a close win over Louisville on the road on Friday night. They won 20-19 and their defense locked in. TJ Parker had a solid game for the Tigers, helping them get the road win. He finished the game with three total tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss.
While the performance wasn’t elite, it was solid. Parker has just average burst at the snap and his length could come into question. The lack of production is concerning, but Parker is a good athlete with nice hand usage. He also has a good motor. Parker is still projected to be a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
San Diego State has had a great season and they are in contenion for the MWC. This week, they lined up against Boise State with a chance to take a big step towards that goal. Their defense stepped up, including Chris Johnson. Johnson finished the game with six total tackles and one pass defended.
Johnson is a great zone corner, who has good awareness and ball skills. His long speed could come into question, but he has shown great coverage ability this season. He has seen his stock rise over the course of the season and is now seen as one of the best corners in the class. Johnson is projected to be a day two pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
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