2026 Draft - QB Prospects

Some think Oklahoma's John Mateer is a pro prospect and they play #15 Michigan this week. Other than that? All the other top prospects are playing cupcakes this week.

 

Mostly all with cupcakes yeah. If you like Rocco Becht though and I kinda do lately, he plays at noon Saturday Iowa St vs. Iowa. That should be a good one

 

I'm pumped to see more of Mateer

 

Looking forward to seeing what Mateer does against a real defense, in a full game. You’ll swear it’s a safety filling in at QB, until you see the ball fire out on rope. Really quick release and pretty fun to watch. Not saying I love the guy. But I was surprised.

 

I’m with everyone else - shitty week for either great games or great QB competition. If my only interest is QBs, I’d focus on:

Texas-San Jose - to see how Arch rebounds.
Iowa-Iowa State - for Rocco Becht in an always-cool rivalry game.
FIU-Penn State - in a continuing quest for why I should love Drew Allar.
Troy-Clemson - because someone’s going to eventually be bullied into drafting Cade Klubnik.
South Florida-Florida - DJ Lagway against someone other than St. Coletta’s Day School.
Illinois-Duke - someone’s going to draft Luke Altmyer. May as well see why.
ArizonaState-MissState - for Sam Leavitt. Nobody’s favorite part of ASU 2024, but should be competing for a playoff slot. Plus, for science purposes, we need to study how a draftable, starting QB at Arizona State reacts when subjected to an avalanche of hot blondes.
Finally, Michigan-Oklahoma. John Mateer, two top-25 teams, night game in Norman. Because - football.

 

It’s a year too early for Darian Mensah (Duke) but a podcast I listen to is really high on him as a college player. Not sure how that translates to the pros but he’s a big strong kid. Curious to see how he looks.

I’m also interested to see what Jayden Maiava does at USC. They have the QB Heisman whisperer there and they opted to roll with him and not chase a portal QB. He’s built like Cam Newton.

 

Ross Dellenger’s piece on CFE? Great show and Ross is a must-listen for college news, but I miss the side-humor the original crew used to bring.

 

Is Anthony Becht's kid really named Rocco?

 

Bet you ten bucks you last about six minutes before Texas is up 14, the broadcast team is building an “Arch is back!” narrative, and you’re either searching for a new game or rooting through your shed for your leaf blower. Not to use, just early prep.

 

Either Arch is secretly hurt or his arm strength is just dead. He had a wide open guy 20 yards down the field and the guy had to throttle down to catch an under thrown ball on a wheel route.

I don’t think he is anywhere near a NFL prospect if this is his true arm strength.

 

Mensah on Duke is going to be really damn good at the next level. He’s such a natural thrower of the football whether his feet are set, he’s on the move or he’s unsettled in the pocket. He’s not lighting it up by any means right now but he’s already been handcuffed by a couple drops/sideline throws that should’ve been caught.

I didn’t realize he redshirted a year although I would guess he doesn’t come out with the $7.5 million NIL deal he signed at Duke. He’d be a really fascinating prospect if he comes out.

 

I have a new-found interest in Ole Miss-Kentucky. One of the better matchups of a bad lot. I’ll flip in and out to Austin Simmons (Ole Miss) against a usually decent Kentucky defense. The more I’ve seen and read about him, the more I’m convinced he’ll be in draft conversations. Semi-nuts to say, with only one start on his resume. Part of that is because of his talent, the other part is his situation.

Tall kid, strong arm, athletic, a two-sport athlete and a MLB prospect before he focused on football. Lefty. Smart. Got his Associates Degree while in high school. Who does that, and why?! On the field, a small sample size - we have last week and in 2024, whenever Jaxson Dart needed to fix his prettyboy hair. He torched a good UGA defense for one series when it was still a real game. He’s also still just a 19-year-old RS sophomore, not even eligible for the draft until November. One big twist - he already graduated last May.

Ole Miss should be in the playoff hunt. Tough schedule will put him on TV. Plus, he’ll rack up stats in an offense that likes to throw and wants to keep putting up points even in a blowout. Because in the SEC, 24-17 wins by Ole Miss and Alabama aren’t looked at equally. That’s Lane Kiffin’s own fault.

Simmons was 21-30, 341 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs. GA State isn’t good but shouldn’t be 63 points bad. Maybe they are. The two INTs tell you more about him than the three TDs. Talented, but over-confident and inexperienced. He was hit while throwing on the first one - an untouched DL coming from the blindside. Still should have seen it. The second one was no doubt drilled into him all week. His biggest issues all in one play. Over-confidence: the pass rush in his face and he still thought he was quick enough and strong enough to throw across his body, 20-yards downfield. Inexperience: still early and still a one-score game, 1st and 10, inside the red zone and a shitty decision throwing into coverage in the end zone. He missed the wide-open running lane to his right because his eyes were locked on that one WR in the endzone. Ignore that part. It was first down in FG range and a more experienced QB would know a sack isn’t the end of the world. Better than a sketchy throw that loses you both the ball and points.

Don’t mistake this as me lubing up for Austin Simmons after only one game. Just a kid with talent and tools, who should put up numbers and should eventually enter draft discussions.

 

I like Simmons too. That game should be fascinating. First time starting QB’s in their first road start are traditionally pretty bad. And Lane’s offenses on the road are generally unimpressive.

But he’s another kid with raw skill that probably should go back to school no matter what but will probably consider moving up.

 

Man… I really like Rocco Becht. His size is gonna be a big question mark and rightfully so but he’s got every tool you could want in a pro QB.

 

I want to live in a world where that alone gets him drafted and talent only moves him up.

 

I keep switching over but keep catching the Illinois offense. Whenever I watch Luke Altmyer, I feel like it’s only because bad people are holding my children.

 

Heard my first “Arch Manning bounces back!” reference. The O/U today is 85. I’m sure I’ve already missed at least a dozen.

 

Finally caught Mensah in his touchdown series right before the half. Based on the score, I timed it right. Although, 187 passing yards makes me wonder what I missed. Definitely looks like a player to watch.