Darian Mensah, quarterback, Miami
Darian Mensah, quarterback, Miami
There were many great performances throughout Week 8 of the college football season, and here are five of the best offensive NFL Draft risers from Week 8 of college football.
5 Offensive NFL Draft Risers From Week 8 of College Football
QB Sam Leavitt, LSU
Leavitt had his best game of the season in a road win against Auburn. He completed 32 of his 45 pass attempts for 387 passing yards and three passing touchdowns. Leavitt also had good production on the ground with 54 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. He finished with the second most passing yards during the week and was named SEC Offensive Player of the Week. Over the last two weeks, he has completed over 75% of his passes with seven passing touchdowns and zero interceptions. Leavitt has been extremely efficient this season, and has now completed over 70% of his passes five games in a row.
QB Darian Mensah, Miami (FL)
Perhaps no quarterback in college football has been better than Mensah so far this season, and he continued his elite play in Week 8. Against Pittsburgh, Mensah completed over 83% of his passes and finished the game with 387 passing yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions, leading his offense to a 52-point scoring performance. Through the first seven games of the season, Mensah has an incredible 81.4% completion percentage.
He also ranks in the top ten in total passing yards, has a 22-1 TD-INT ratio, and leads the country in QBR with an 89.7 QBR. Mensah is maybe the most pro-ready quarterback in college football right now, and has a great chance to be one of the first two quarterbacks selected in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Darian Mensah, quarterback, Miami, NFL Prospects Week 5
Oct 3, 2026; Clemson, South Carolina, USA; Miami Hurricanes Quarterback Darian Mensah (10) passes the ball down field during the first quarter against the Clemson Tigers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ashley Tumlin-Imagn Images
RB Raleek Brown, Texas
Brown helped Texas end a two-game losing streak with a season-high 157 rushing yards against Ole Miss. He showed tremendous vision and patience as a runner in the game, and also got showed great acceleration to create multiple big plays. Brown had a 23-yard run, a 28-yard run, and a 47-yard run in the game. He is a smart runner with good footwork and speed along with solid contact balance. Brown is currently a projected Day 3 pick in the NFL Draft.
WR Isaiah Sategna III, Oklahoma
Sategna had eight receptions for the third time in four weeks against Mississippi State. He also recorded a career-high 164 receiving yards and one touchdown. Sategna has elite speed and is both great with the ball in his hands after the catch and a good deep ball threat. Against Mississippi State, Sategna scored a 36-yard touchdown after an impressive run after the catch, and also created separation downfield to record a 48-yard reception and 54-yard reception. Along with a great 164-yard receiving game, Sategna also had 24 rushing yards on three carries in the game.
TE Eli Finley, Louisiana Tech
Finley has been one of the most productive tight ends in college football this season, and he continued his great success in Week 8 against Old Dominion. Against the Monarchs, Finley had 10 receptions for 128 yards and one touchdown. Finley now ranks third among all tight ends in college football in receiving yards with 462 yards, and he is also one of only five tight ends in the FBS with five or more touchdowns so far this season. With his play so far this season, Finley has a great chance to be a Day 3 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
The Last Word:
There were many great quarterback performances in college football in Week 8, including Leavitt and Mensah, who were both extremely accurate and smart with the football. At running back, Brown had an incredible performance in a win against Ole Miss. He showed tremendous vision and acceleration in the game, having his most productive game of the season. Sategna continued his great success in recent weeks, recording eight receptions again and also showing his elite speed and big-play ability in the game. Finley has been one of the best tight ends in college football this season as well, and had a career-high 10 receptions along with 128 receiving yards in Week 8.
More NFL Draft News:
2027 NFL Draft Watch: Evaluating Prospects in Week 8
Cooper Barkate Early 2027 NFL Draft Profile
4 NFL Draft Risers From Week 7
Main Photo: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images