NFL Draft Prospects to Watch in College Football Week 6

Week 6 has brought some interesting questions as prospects continue to shine when given the opportunity to step up. The biggest question being: Was this a flash in the pan, or is this who they truly are?

Whether it is a quarterback stepping up and filling in for a high-level prospect, defensive linemen being compared to previous late bloomers at the position, or offensive linemen stepping into the spotlight based on the competition they are having success against. Let’s take a look at some NFL Draft prospects to watch in Week 6 of the college football season.

Week 6 NFL Draft Prospects to Watch in College Football

Dylan Raiola | QB | Oregon

Yes, Raiola is technically a backup quarterback right now. But when Dante Moore went down with a concussion for the Oregon Ducks, Raiola, a former five-star recruit and starting quarterback for Nebraska, stepped in as if he had been the starter the entire season.

Operating within Oregon's scheme, he displayed poise and refined pocket presence, as well as command of an offense, as you would expect out of a veteran starting quarterback. His arm talent shines through with his ability to deliver snappy off-platform passes and pinpoint intermediate passes to the boundary or the wide side of the field.

The one place he has really improved is his ability to read defenses post-snap and go through his progressions. He wades through dirty pockets and has minimized plays that would normally turn into turnovers. His live arm allows him to attack every level of the field without having to gather or reset his base. While in rhythm, he can deliver the ball on time and place it in "my guy or no guy" areas, especially in the red zone.

It is unclear whether or not he will earn another start this weekend, but if Moore is out, you can bet scouts will be glued to Oregon's game to see if Raiola can put more good film out there.

Emmanuel Oyebadejo | DL | Florida

Oyebadejo has quickly adapted to the physicality and athleticism found in the trenches of the SEC. He combines length, size and explosiveness that allow him to immediately dominate a rep at the snap of the ball. He provides great leverage at the point of attack, doing a great job of stacking and shedding blockers in early-down run defense.

You can tell he used to play basketball by how fluid he is in his lateral movement and how he can quickly make sudden moves to defeat a block. His club-and-swim pass rush move is a natural, fluid-flowing move that only touches the surface of what his full abilities will be.

He has a relentless motor when he is chasing the ball. He has the ability to collapse the pocket as a 3-technique or fold the edge as a strong-side defensive end. He is a physically imposing matchup nightmare who is still learning how to play the game at the highest level.

Lance Heard | OL | Kentucky

The first thing that comes to mind when you think of Kentucky offensive tackle Lance Hurd is violence. His level of physicality is unsurpassed by anybody playing on the offensive line in college football today, at any position; it is why, going into the 2026 season, many believe that Hurd's best opportunity to have success in the NFL was to move inside to guard or even center.

This season, he has refined his skills and cleaned up many of the things that people thought would keep him from excelling at tackle in the NFL. This has now raised his value as a versatile chess piece that an NFL team could move around and place where they have the biggest need.

As he continues to play against elite SEC competition, that continues to highlight his ability to finish with a nasty streak. He also shows his technical ability, understanding how to work the speed rushers around the pocket, remain balanced against double moves and stunts, and show sharp recovery whenever he's knocked off of his spot.

Cayden Green | OT | Mizzou

Green has been praised for his technical proficiency at left tackle. He has the strength to anchor down against bull rushes and bigger, more physical 30-front defensive ends, and he has excellent short-area mobility, which allows him to quickly react to movements inside or outside the framework of his body. He is a balanced pass blocker who utilizes economical pass sets to save energy for contact rather than for recovery. He rarely gets caught oversetting when facing speed edge rushers, and he has excellent dexterity with both hands to handle movements around his outside or those trying to cut back across his face.

He is able to peel back on combo blocks and wipe out linebackers trying to chase from behind while he climbs to the second level. He also knows how to absorb power rushers without getting knocked into the backfield, which allows the pocket to stay open longer on his side.

He is a prospect with an extremely high floor. While his ceiling may not be what others in this draft can potentially reach, a bird in the hand is always better than two in the bush, making Green an extremely valuable asset in the draft.

Tae Johnson | S | Notre Dame

Johnson has been a Swiss Army knife in the defensive backfield for Notre Dame this season. He is all over the field, showing his elite-level range and ability to diagnose plays and anticipate movements by the offense. He excels in his duties as a two-high safety, as well as a deep middle prevention specialist. He can read opposing quarterbacks' eyes to jump routes, whether they are deep or intermediate passing concepts.

Johnson is not simply a coverage safety; he exhibits violent tendencies as a downhill tackler. He triggers fast against outside zone or toss plays, as well as jet sweeps and quick screens outside to receivers. He is able to knock ball carriers off their feet with his hit stick or utilize form tackling to bring down tough runners.

He is sticky on his coverage against tight ends and bigger receivers in the slot, and he is able to rally to and wrap up dump-offs to running backs or slow-developing screen plays.

Published Oct 8, 2026, 1:00 PM ETUpdated Oct 8, 2026, 1:09 PM ET