One game – let alone one quarter – cannot make or break a player. NFL draft Evaluation. But NFL teams pay attention to how prospects react in big moments, especially when faced with adversity.
So, expect to hear a lot more about Arch Manning returning the bell at Texas 20 Saturday night, or about Drew Messemaker bouncing back from a nightmare opener. We’ll be talking about Wild 2 Week for a while.
What stood out in the NFL draft landscape?
Texas is back against Ohio State
Chris Vannini
1. There’s no escaping Arch Manning’s storylines this season, so what did we learn about him in Texas’ wild comeback win over Ohio State? Did other prospects stand out in that game?
This was a Manning performance that could be interpreted in many ways. He struggled at times in Ohio State’s zone coverage and turned down throws he should have made. He’s also looked timid at times, and his final numbers (23-of-37 for 195 yards, one TD and one interception) look pretty pedestrian.
But Manning had a much better night than the box score would indicate, especially because of his execution on “When” in the second half.
Had Texas come up short on fourth-and-6 in the fourth quarter, the game would have essentially been over. But Manning fired a 12-yard run on a snap to keep that drive alive. His touchdown throw earlier in the quarter was from a long hash to Ryan Wingo in good coverage. And there were several broken plays that Manning used to extend his legs, buy time and find an open receiver.
The box score also doesn’t show plays that should have been made, such as Wingo’s drop in the end zone or a deep kick to Cam Coleman that turned into an interception.
I’m not trying to sell you that Manning was superior, or that this type of game would cement him as No. 1. But he was strong and made enough plays to beat the top-ranked team in the country. Let’s not pretend it’s nothing.
As for Ohio State, QB Julian Sain had a solid performance overall, but didn’t make enough plays in the second half.
And what can I say about Jeremiah Smith that hasn’t already been said? He’s the best player in college football, a full stop and one of the best prospects I’ve seen in the last two decades. Regardless of the coverage, with his speed, physicality and ability to win the ball, he feels inevitable.
On top of that, I’m excited to see the film dive into the remaining prospects.
2. We have already covered it The performance of Drew Mastemaker in the Oklahoma State upset. But how will a rough day — and a loss to Oregon — affect Dante Moore’s draft stock?
As I noted on social media, Moore is “scary” and nothing short of “media creative” when it comes to his NFL prospects. Apparently, that’s not true — he’s gotten major hits from NFL teams this season.
But he didn’t play his best game Saturday and contributed to the loss.
Credit the Oklahoma State defense, because it brought the fight to the dugouts, and Moore had few answers as he felt the heat. There were several examples in the financial crunch when Moore’s team needed to make the play, and the timing of the reads and decisions wasn’t there. (It didn’t help that his most trusted target, Jamari Johnson, missed the game with an injury.)
But it wasn’t entirely a disaster for Moore. He made several impressive throws, including a bucket by Dacorin Moore for a 36-yard touchdown. But we also learn that the supporting cast around Moore is a problem. Oregon’s offensive line has several new starters, and it shows. Several drop drives have ended; A fumble by the Dyer Hill junior running back fueled a potentially game-changing final drive. There were also frequent head-scratching moments from the play calling.
Moore wasn’t perfect, especially in the first half, but this loss was an indictment of Oregon’s issues — not the quarterback’s.
About two dozen NFL personnel were in Stillwater, Okla., for this game. If you were there to scout the quarterbacks, you were probably even more impressed with Mestemaker. The body of work spans more than one game, but this result will likely go unnoticed when it comes to Moore’s final evaluation.
3. His team lost, but Arizona State wide receiver Reid Harris put on a show at Texas A&M (nine times for 189 yards and two TDs). What is Harris’ NFL vision?
I watched a lot of Boston College passing game Louis Bonds (a 2026 sixth-round pick by the Houston Texans) last season, but it was Harris — with size and speed — who repeatedly caught my eye and made a case for a pre-round class. The Montana native was a popular Portal target this offseason before choosing Arizona State.
Harris has started the year on a high note. My summer standards (No. 12 underclassman wide receiver), but he is making the case much higher.
Cutter Boley to Reed Harris 😈 58 yard strike
📺 ABC pic.twitter.com/98Wu4YI0G3
— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) September 12, 2026
He caught six carries for 137 yards and two touchdowns in the opener last weekend, but that was Morgan State’s first F.C.S. Yawning.
We know his performance against Texas A&M this week will tell us a lot. And Reed, already underrated, surpassed his Week 1 numbers.
Reeds is 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, and I bet he runs in the 4.4s in the 40-yard dash. His speed mix is the base of the downhill, but he is well-adjusted with his body control because he rarely throws the ball and his receiving hands.
Arizona State drafted a first-round receiver last April (Jordin Tyson). I’m not saying Reed should be in the 10-10 conversation like Tyson was, but Jayden Higgins gives me flashes. He should be talked about as a draft pick and a contender to be a top-40 draft pick.
4. What other promises surprised you this week?
Reed wasn’t the only wide receiver who stood out in the Arizona State-Texas A&M matchup. Aggies senior Isaiah Horton scored a pair of touchdowns as he continued to adapt to a new quarterback and a new offense. This time last year, Horton was at Alabama and had some top-100 love from NFL scouts, but he didn’t have the highly anticipated 2025 season.
It wasn’t a particularly memorable day for Oregon’s defense, but senior linebacker Devon Johnson was undoubtedly the most impactful player. On Oklahoma State’s first offensive play, Mestimaker broke loose on a 75-yard run that looked like a touchdown, but Johnson — who was initially covered by a block — didn’t give up. He showed off his superior speed by outrunning everyone on the field and knocking Mestemaker out of bounds at the 3-yard line.
It was a blowout play for the Cowboys, but their punt splashed at the goal line and they settled for a field goal. Johnson’s speed and effort saved four points.
Then, after an Oregon spell, Mestemaker led the Cowboys back to the field. But he had the tip of a red-zone pass, and Johnson intercepted it and returned it 96 yards for a touchdown. Big-time speed puts you on the NFL radar, but can you use that speed to put points on the board (or pick them up for your opponent)? That’s how scouts talk.