Week 7 brought more chaos to college football. Indiana snapped a 46-game losing streak against top-five teams by beating Oregon 30-20 in Eugene. Texas destroyed Oklahoma 23-6 in the Red River Rivalry. Michigan and Arizona State both fell to unranked opponents on the road.
The quarterback class took some hits this week. Penn State’s Drew Allar went down with a season-ending injury against Northwestern. Alabama’s Ty Simpson added another solid performance in a road win at Missouri, but the top signal-callers mostly stayed quiet.
Instead, this week belonged to defenders and skill position players making their case for draft day. Here are five prospects who significantly improved their 2026 NFL Draft stock.
CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
Georgia’s defense shut out Auburn in the second half during their 20-10 comeback victory. Allen led the way with a monster performance that screamed first-round talent.
The 6’1″, 235-pound inside linebacker finished with 10 tackles, one sack, and two tackles for loss. He was everywhere on the field. His instincts showed up on every snap. His physicality dominated Auburn’s offensive line.
Allen entered the season as a borderline first-rounder. After Saturday’s performance, that debate feels settled. He’s smart. He’s physical. He’s consistent. His ability to blitz efficiently makes him even more valuable at the next level.
This junior season has been special for Allen. He’s proving week after week that he belongs in the first round conversation. Saturday at Auburn might have locked it in.
Damon Wilson, Edge, Missouri
Missouri’s pass rush duo of Damon Wilson and Zion Young has been terrorizing quarterbacks all season. Young earned recognition after Week 5. Now it’s Wilson’s turn.
Wilson recorded two sacks and five total pressures against Alabama in Missouri’s 27-24 loss. The 6’4″, 250-pound edge rusher combines springiness with athleticism and consistent production.
His numbers back up the tape. Wilson ranks 11th nationally with 27 pressures. He’s added 5.5 sacks and seven quarterback hits. Those aren’t fluky stats. That’s sustained dominance.
The 20-year-old junior keeps climbing draft boards. He’s playing himself into the middle rounds of Day 2. A few more performances like Saturday’s could push him even higher.
Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana
Indiana shocked Oregon on the road, and Sarratt made the plays that mattered most. He caught eight passes for 121 yards and scored the go-ahead touchdown midway through the fourth quarter.
That touchdown came on his signature back-shoulder catch. Defenders know it’s coming. They still can’t stop it. That’s the mark of an elite route runner.
The 6’1″, 213-pound receiver is one of the nation’s best at contested catches. He wins battles in tight coverage. He makes tough grabs look routine. His hands are reliable under pressure.
Testing at the combine will determine if Sarratt can sneak into Day 2. His skills say he belongs there. He just needs the measurables to match the tape.
Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State
Very few cornerbacks in college football are playing better than Igbinosun right now. His performance against Illinois proved why he’s climbing draft boards.
Igbinosun broke up four passes. He allowed just one catch for six yards on seven targets. That’s lockdown coverage by any standard.
Penalties were his biggest issue coming out of 2024. He committed 16 of them last season. This year? Only two. He’s found the balance between physicality and discipline.
Igbinosun has the confidence to press receivers. He has the instincts to jump routes. He has the ball skills to create turnovers. That’s a starting cornerback at the next level.
He’s positioned himself as a solid Day 2 pick. Another month of performances like Saturday could push him into the second round.
Xavier Chaplin, OT, Auburn
Chaplin hasn’t always lived up to the hype this season. Saturday against Georgia? He looked like a top-50 pick.
The 6’7″, 348-pound left tackle handled Georgia’s defensive line all game. He didn’t allow a single pressure. Zero. Against one of the best defensive fronts in college football.
Chaplin is known as a physical mauler in the run game. He displaces defenders. He creates holes. He’s a road grader in every sense.
His pass protection has been questioned at times. The Texas A&M game two weeks ago wasn’t pretty. But Saturday showed what he’s capable of when everything clicks.
The redshirt junior still has work to do. Consistency matters for offensive linemen. But if he plays like he did against Georgia for the rest of the season, he’s absolutely a top-50 pick.
The Bigger Picture
Week 7 didn’t feature the usual quarterback heroics. Instead, defenders and skill players stole the show. Allen might have punched his ticket to the first round. Wilson is climbing into Day 2 territory. Sarratt keeps making plays when Indiana needs them most.
Igbinosun has transformed from a penalty-prone corner into one of the nation’s best. Chaplin showed he can dominate elite competition when locked in.
The 2026 draft class keeps evolving. Players are rising. Others are falling. Saturday’s performances just reshaped several draft boards across the league.
Teams looking for linebackers just watched Allen dominate Auburn. Edge rusher needy franchises saw Wilson harass Alabama’s quarterback all night. Receiver-hungry teams watched Sarratt make contested catch after contested catch.
The evaluation process continues. But after Week 7, these five players made their case loud and clear. They belong in the conversation for early picks. They’ve earned it with their tape. For more information, visit Net Sports 247.
