While the 2026 NFL Draft is still far off in the distance, players that 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 3.
After losing in week 1 to Miami, Notre Dame was off in week 2. They now have another tough game against Texas A&M and will need to win to stay in a good position to make the CFP. Jeremiyah Love will need to have a big game, as he rushed for just 33 yards in the season-opener against Miami.
Love has proven to be a great running back and Notre Dame needs to use him more in this game. He is a home-run threat with the ball in his hands with good speed and solid elusiveness. Love needs to continue working on his pass pro and is an injury risk with how much he tries to hurdle defenders. He is projected to be the first running back selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Texas A&M hasn’t played up to their potential this season, but they are 2-0. Their defense hasn’t been the most consistent unit yet, but they have shown a lot of good flashes. Howell is one of the players who has done well so far, registering five total tackles, three tackles for loss and three sacks.
While Notre Dame’s offensive line had a rough week one, they have a lot of talent, so Howell will have his work cut out for him. He has nice burst on the edge, with good speed and agility. Howell also has solid pass rush moves and a good motor. He is undersized and can struggle against length. Howell will also need to set the edge better against the run. He is currently projected to be a day two pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Georgia is 2-0 on the season, but the offense hasn’t been the greatest so far. Gunnar Stockton is still learning the ropes at quarterback and some of his teammates need to step up to help him. In a big game against Tennessee this week, his tight ends could prove to be vital. Luckie is one of two good tight ends for Georgia. He has just one catch for six yards this season.
Luckie isn’t the biggest tight end at 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds. He will need to add strength and improve his blocking to be a good in-line tight end at the next level. Luckie is a good route runner who can find the soft spot against zone. He also is a red zone threat who has the ability to use his size well when he has a matchup advantage. Luckie is currently projected to be a mid-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Tennessee has impressed in their first two games this season, as they have a 2-0 record. Their defense has been particularly impressive, which has been noticeable, especially after losing talent to the NFL and having some injured players. Edge rusher Joshua Josephs has stepped up, registering eight total tackles, two tackles for loss and two sacks on the season.
At 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, Josephs could stand to add some strength, but he does appear to have solid length for an edge rusher. He sets the edge well against the run, but also has a decent amount of pass-rush moves. Josephs converts speed to power well after a nice burst at the snap. He’ll have to be at his best this weekend to give Tennessee a chance to upset Georgia.
Florida has had a rough start to the season. After defeating LIU in week 1, they lost to USF in week 2. The offense hasn’t been efficient and some of that is on the offensive line. One of their stars, Austin Barber, has played great at left tackle for the Gators, ranking as the eighth best tackle in the country per PFF.
This week Florida plays LSU, who looks to have a much more impressive defense. Their offensive line will have to play well to give Florida a shot, which puts pressure on Barber. He has solid size, but can add strength to his frame. Barber moves well for his size and uses his hands well. His pad level can get to high and he can have trouble anchoring in pass pro. He currently is projected to be a day two pick.
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