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 6.
Miami has started the season undefeated with some good wins under their belts. A lot of the credit has to go to their offensive line, which has done well in both run and pass blocking. Francis Mauigoa has been an anchor to rely on for the Hurricanes at his right tackle position. He’ll have to be great against Florida State this week.
At 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds, Mauigoa has good size for an NFL offensive tackle. He is a good athlete who can get to the second level on run plays. Mauigoa mirrors well and has heavy hands. He’ll need to refine his hand placement and stay balanced to help improve his stock. Mauigoa is currently projected to be a first round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Florida State is 3-1 on the season with a win over Alabama. Their defense has been good at times, but inconsistent. They have some talent upfront, specifically with defensive tackle Darrell Jackson. Jackson has 13 total tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack on the season. He’ll have a tough matchup against a good Miami offensive line in week 6.
Jackson has great size for an NFL interior defensive lineman, standing at 6-foot-5 and 330 pounds. He has good strength and can take on double teams. Jackson is a weapon against the run, but it doesn’t always show up in the stat sheet. His pass rushing will need to improve or he likely will not be used in passing situations. He is currently projected to be day two pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Vanderbilt is undefeated and ranked after a good start to the season. Their offense has been dynamic with several key players stepping up. One of those players is Eli Stowers, who can really open up the offense. So far this season, he has 22 catches for 301 yards and two touchdowns. If Vanderbilt is going to beat Alabama on the road, Stowers will have to be a matchup problem.
Stowers, a former quarterback, has a good frame at 6-foot-4, but needs to continue to fill it out as he is just 235 pounds. He is a good athlete with nice speed that can help him separate as a good route runner. Adding strength and becoming a better blocker can help him play on the line of scrimmage and be more of a fit for an NFL offense. He is currently projected to be a mid-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Ohio State is undefeated and their defense looks like an elite unit. It is a bit surprising, as they lost a lot of talent to the NFL, but several players have accepted and thrived in larger roles. Arvell Reese is one of those players. This season, Reese has registered 25 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. While the game against Minnesota likely won’t provide too many issues for the Buckeyes, Reese has been a big riser so far this draft cycle.
Reese is a huge linebacker at 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds. With his size, comes solid strength, but he also is a great athlete, showcasing nice pursuit speed. He can rush the passer, play the run and drop in coverage, although he could use more experience in coverage. He’s fooled too much on play action and can fill the wrong gaps against the run that will need to be cleaned up. Reese is currently projected to be a day two pick, but his stock is rising fast.
Cincinnati lost to Nebraska in the opening week of the season, but have won each game since. Their offense has been fun to watch with quarterback Brendan Sorsby being a lightning rod. One of his favorite targets is tight end Joe Royer. This season, Royer has 10 catches for 162 yards and two touchdowns. The Bearcats will need him when they go up against Iowa State in week 6.
Royer left week 5 game with an injury, so the Bearcats will hope he plays against Iowa State. He has a good frame at 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds. Royer is a solid athlete and route runner who can separate from man coverage and find the soft spot against zone coverage. He will need to continue working on his blocking. Royer is a projected mid-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
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