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Coming into the 2026 school soccer season, g was the consensus No. 1 quarterback on most NFL Draft boards. Whereas Manning had an up-and-down 2025 season, his expertise mixed with a robust end final fall gave many optimism that he would be capable of construct on that this 12 months.
Thus far in 2026, it’s been extra of the identical for each Manning and this Texas offense. The highs have been very excessive for the previous five-star quarterback, corresponding to his a at 24. However there are nonetheless too many lows, too many inconsistencies in his sport at this level. Because of this, he’s now not No. 1 on these lists.
Manning wasn’t the one one to see his inventory drop over the weekend. Nico Iamaleava, who was rising up boards because of his sturdy begin to the season, e on Saturday in opposition to Oregon. He now has an extended street again, that’s doubtless going to take him out of the pre-draft course of, and his inventory has dropped out of the highest 10 in consequence.
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On the constructive aspect of issues, Drew Mestemaker had one other wonderful day to guide Oklahoma State to an enormous win over UCF, and Austin Simmons was spectacular in opposition to a really proficient Texas A&M protection. s additionally had an enormous day in opposition to Vanderbilt to get again on monitor popping out of Ole Miss’ bye.
Which a kind of three took Manning’s spot atop the NFL Draft QB rankings?
1. Drew Mestemker, Oklahoma State
Final week: 4
Mestemaker’s inexperience, going all the best way again to the truth that he didn’t play quarterback in highschool, held again his inventory in the beginning of the 12 months. However midway by way of the 2026 marketing campaign, he’s the QB1 on this draft class and is a man that each NFL staff can have close to the highest of their boards at this level.
The North Texas switch has proven that he can actually do all of it. He has an ideal arm that he isn’t afraid to make use of, as he’s continuously pushing the ball down the sector and producing explosive performs even to receivers who aren’t open. That aggressiveness naturally results in some turnovers and a few inconsistency, however it’s a lot simpler to rein in an inexperienced quarterback like this than to get him to be extra aggressive when he isn’t comfy with that.
2. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss
Final week: 2
Chambliss confirmed what he’s all about as a passer even within the rain on Saturday in opposition to Vanderbilt. The priority for shorter quarterbacks is often accessing the center of the sector, however the Heisman contender has no such hassle and is an professional at utilizing his toes to entry throwing lanes in that space of the sector. He has a stiffer check coming this weekend when Ole Miss takes on Missouri.
3. Arch Manning, Texas
Final week: 1
Manning is only a bit extra of a venture than anticipated at this level. He clearly has a great arm and might make all of the throws when he’s feeling good, and he has wonderful athleticism and pocket motion. He’s already pretty comfy figuring out of muddy pockets. All of these items are high-end NFL traits that not a whole lot of prospects have, which is what makes him so attractive.
However we’re nearly 20 video games into Manning’s analysis as a prospect now, and the failings proceed to indicate up. His decision-making is erratic, and he routinely makes boneheaded performs just like the pick-six he threw in opposition to Oklahoma. His accuracy and ball placement, whereas at occasions superb, is all over at different occasions. He fails to maintain the offense on schedule a whole lot of the time due to an unwillingness to take the free yards on brief throws on early downs.
Maybe probably the most regarding trait for Manning is how gradual he goes by way of his reads on pure development performs. Too typically, he will get caught on one receiver ready and hoping it comes open as an alternative of going by way of the development in a well timed method. That’s accountable for lots of the sacks that he takes.
Manning and this Texas offense faces one other powerful check on Saturday in opposition to Florida.
4. Darian Mensah, Miami (FL)
Final week: 3
It’s onerous to guage Mensah when he isn’t actually being challenged all that a lot. Miami has performed a weak schedule and Mensah has largely been working beneath, throwing to open receivers who do a whole lot of work after the catch. He’s a really intriguing prospect as a point-guard model of quarterback, however it will likely be price monitoring how he performs when the competitors steps up in a couple of weeks.
5. C.J. Carr, Notre Dame
Final week: 7
Carr continues to play sound, stable ball for Notre Dame, however Saturday shall be an enormous check. After beating up a Stanford protection that seemed so much like enjoying staff on air, Carr will go on the street to Provo to tackle one other prime 10 staff in BYU. If he continues to deal with the soccer and play with the identical poise that he has thus far this 12 months in opposition to inferior competitors, Carr’s inventory will proceed to rise.
6. Austin Simmons, Missouri
Final week: 5
Simmons continues to impress together with his nice bodily instruments and elite arm energy, which permits him to entry all areas of the sector for this Missouri passing sport. The nuances of enjoying quarterback, particularly mentally, are nonetheless coming alongside for Simmons, however extra expertise for somebody who hasn’t performed an entire lot ought to assist speed up that growth. He has one other probability to show it in opposition to a difficult protection on Saturday in opposition to Ole Miss.
7. Dante Moore, Oregon
Final week: 6
It stays to be seen whether or not Moore will play on Saturday in opposition to Nebraska, however it’s a great signal that he’s already again at follow after struggling that brutal concussion in opposition to USC. If it’s not Moore, it will likely be fascinating to see the place Dan Lanning goes after Dylan Raiola was benched for Brock Thomas in opposition to UCLA.
8. LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina
Final week: NR
Simply once you’re out on Sellers, he reels you again in. The most effective model of the proficient quarterback emerged in an upset win for South Carolina over Florida on Saturday, as Sellers completed 23-of-35 with 279 yards and 5 complete touchdowns. His course of is enhancing, and he’s beginning to make higher selections with the soccer in consequence. If the accuracy can stay constant prefer it was for probably the most half on Saturday, Sellers will proceed to rise.
9. Julian Sayin, Ohio State
Final week: 8
Sayin continues to be a polarizing participant, and his draft profile is the traditional fee pattern of traits vs. manufacturing. The Ohio State star produces at a excessive degree, and did once more in a 45-16 win over Maryland. However his arm leaves so much to be desired, therefore why he’s so low on this checklist and is prone to being handed by gamers like Sellers.
10. Jayden Maiava, USC
Final week: NR
Maiava is a really proficient passer, and he has performed some superb soccer over the previous couple of weeks which have gotten him again into the highest 10 right here. When he has it rolling, he could make nearly any throw on the sector, and that could be a main half of what’s retaining USC within the Faculty Soccer Playoff race. On Saturday in a win over Penn State, Maiava went right into a hostile atmosphere and completed 21-of-33 with 301 yards and three touchdowns with a 97.4 QBR.
There’s nonetheless some inconsistency with Maiava, particularly his accuracy, that will get irritating at occasions. However video games like Saturday will proceed to assist him transfer up.
Subsequent 5: CJ Bailey (NC State), Drake Lindsey (Minnesota), Brendan Sorsby, Nico Iamaleava (UCLA), Josh Hoover (Indiana)
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