NCAA Football Today: Drew Mestemaker Emerges as Top NFL Draft Prospect

Evaluating Quarterbacks in NCAA Football Today

The on-field chaos of the 2026 college football season has created major shifts in how professional evaluators view upcoming professional prospects. As the landscape of ncaa football today continues to evolve, a midseason poll conducted by ESPN surveyed 25 scouts and executives to determine who will lead the position group in the next draft class.

Initial summer expectations for a historically deep crop of signal-callers have faced setbacks. Prominent athletes like Arch Manning, LaNorris Sellers, and Sam Leavitt have experienced choppy performances, altering initial evaluations.

Drew Mestemaker Captures the Spotlight

Oklahoma State player Drew Mestemaker has surged to the forefront of draft discussions. In the midseason executive poll, 17 out of 25 scouts voted him as the projected top quarterback selection, marking a stark contrast to an August poll where he received zero votes.

Observers point to his size at 6-foot-4 and 211 pounds, alongside his arm strength and accuracy, as key factors driving his rise. His performance on September 12—where he threw for 317 yards and two touchdowns while adding a 75-yard rushing score in an upset win over Oregon—served as a major turning point.

Shifting Projections and Other Contenders

While the top spot has shifted, other players continue to draw attention from professional evaluators. Notre Dame's CJ Carr secured four votes in the midseason survey, while Miami's Darian Mensah gained support after climbing the statistical charts with a high completion percentage.

Conversely, setbacks have impacted other top names. Dante Moore suffered a concussion during a September 26 game against USC that will sideline him for the rest of the year, potentially affecting his draft projection. Meanwhile, evaluators note that players like Arch Manning retain potential to work back into the first-round conversation despite recent accuracy and turnover struggles.

Sources: ESPN, NFL Spin Zone, 247Sports.