Darian Mensah, CJ Carr, more NFL Draft 2027 prospects to watch in college football Week 1

Key Points:

• College football's Week 1 offers key opportunities for NFL prospects to elevate their draft stock, highlighted by matchups such as Louisville vs. Ole Miss and Colorado vs. Georgia Tech.
• Notable players to watch include Miami QB Darian Mensah, a Heisman Trophy frontrunner with solid passing skills but average physical tools, and Youngstown State OT Desmeal Leigh, whose performance against SEC competition is critical for his draft evaluation.
• Oregon’s senior edge rushers Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti, along with Boise State’s Jayden Virgin-Morgan, are key defensive prospects to monitor in their Saturday game.
• The LSU vs. Clemson game features intriguing battles such as OT Jordan Seaton against edge rusher Will Heldt, both of whom have traits that attract NFL scouts despite some inconsistencies.
• Other prospects to watch include UCLA QB Nico Iamaleava, Notre Dame QB CJ Carr, Wisconsin RB Abu Sama, Louisville edge rusher Clev Lubin, and Ole Miss DT Will Echoles, all of whom have the potential to impact their draft status with strong Week 1 performances.