NFL Draft Prospects to Watch in College Football Week 8

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 8.

1. Zxavian Harris, DL, Ole Miss Rebels

Ole Miss is still undfeeated on the year, with a lot ot play for down the stretch. Their offense has been great, but their defense has been inconsistent. One bright spot on the defense has been defensive lineman Zxavian Harris. In the first six games, he has 25 total tackles, five tackles for loss and two sacks. He’ll need to be on his game against Georgia this week.

Harris is a huge defensive line prospect at 6-foot-8 and 330 pounds. He is good at stopping the run, with the ability to take on multiple blockers and help the team out. Harris struggles to keep his pad level low, which in part is due to his height, but also won’t offer much as a pass rusher. He is currently projected to be a day two pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

2. C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia Bulldogs

Georgia just has one loss this season, which was to Alabama. Their team has plenty of potential for the rest of the season, but their defense has been inconsistent. Linebacker C.J. Allen has played well so far this season. He has 46 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. Allen will have to play well to give his team the best chance to defeat Ole Miss in week 8.

Allen isn’t the biggest linebacker, but has a filled-out frame at 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds. He diagnoses plays quickly and can make an impact in run support. He has good athleticism and instincts. This season has seen him get more pressure on the quarterback, but he needs to continue to refine his coverage to help his stock. He is currently projected to be a first or second round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

3. Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama lost to Florida State to begin the season, but they have rebounded well and look like national championship contenders. The offense has taken a huge step forward and one of the reasons why is wide receiver Germie Bernard. This season, Bernard has caught 28 passes for 412 yards and five touchdowns. This week, he will go up against a talented Tennessee secondary.

Bernard has decent size at 6-foot-1 and 204 pounds. He has shown great hands and ball skills, with the ability to track the ball and make contested catches. Bernard is a good route runner that can run a diverse route-tree, but needs to guard against rounding off some of his routes. He can be bothered by press coverage and lacks some elite athletic traits, but is a solid receiver despite that. Bernard is currently projected to be a mid-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

4. Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee Volunteers

Tennesse dropped a game to Georgia, but have played well in every other game this season. Their offense has been great, but their defense deserves a lot of credit too. With star cornerback Jermod McCoy out, other secondary players have stepped up, including Colton Hood. Hood has 23 total tackles, one interception and six passes defended this season. He’ll have to step up against Alabama’s passing attack this week.

Hood has ok size for an NFL cornerback at 6-foot and 195 pounds, but he could fill out his frame a bit more. He plays an aggressive style of corner, as he isn’t afraid to help against the run and is physical in man coverage. Hood could tackle more consistently and has some concerns about his long speed, but he has played well this season. Currently, he is projected to be a first or second round pick.

5. Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah Utes

Utah has just one loss on the season and still has hopes of winning the Big 12 and making the CFP. They are great in the trenches with two tackles who could end up being first-round picks. Spencer Fano has received a lot of fanfare, but Caleb Lomu deserves some recognition as well. Lomu will have to play well against undefeated BYU in a rivalry game this week.

Lomu has a decent frame at 6-foot-6 and 308 pounds, but he can continue filling it out and adding strength. He is a great athlete for the position, which shows in his ability to mirror pass rushers, but also get to the second level as a run blocker. Lomu can continue working on his technique and his run blocking, but the rest of his game looks like it is NFL ready. He is currently projected to be a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

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