Somehow, it’s already Week 11 of college football in one of the craziest college football seasons we’ve seen in recent memory. If you’re an Atlanta Falcons fan, this may be one of the first weeks you’re actually reading this, and if so, welcome in! If not, I apologize for not being here last week; I had some really bad internet issues. But we’re back, and with an abbreviated slate of games this week, there are only eight 2027 NFL Draft prospects that I want to focus on for the Falcons and their fans.
WR Carlos Hernandez, Wake Forest @ SMU
Gerald J. Ford Stadium – Dallas, TX – 12 pm EST – ESPN
Before you leave, I promise there will be plenty of big men that we are going to talk about, but I wanted to make sure we discussed one of the better risers in the receiver market for the 2027 draft. Carlos Hernandez is seventh in the nation in receiving yards with 945 and is third in the ACC, behind only Malachi Toney and another 2027 riser, Umari Hatcher.
Hernandez is a three-level winner and one of the more explosive receivers with great ability with the ball in his hands. If Jahan Dotson or Zachariah Branch doesn’t push the needle down the field, Hernandez can become that guy who can open up the offense in the future.
OT Earnest Greene III, Georgia vs. Missouri
Sanford Stadium – Athens, GA – 3:30 pm EST – ABC
I will not allow us to forget that there is a potential left tackle of the future down the road in Athens. Earnest Greene III has all the nastiness that you want from a run-first tackle and enough in his kick-step and long enough arms (35”) to hold his own in pass protection. He also signals the movement toward more size that seems to be happening in Atlanta with his 6’5”, 340-pound frame. Let’s see if the Outland Trophy Player of the Week from last week can follow it up with another test against Daeden Hopkins, who has been quiet since his 3.5-sack day against Mississippi State, and Darris Smith, who has some freaky traits to watch.
OT Elijah Paige, USC @ Indiana
Memorial Stadium – Bloomington, IN – 3:30 pm EST – CBS
The NFC South is a weird division, and the Falcons, especially this season, are a weird team. Which means that there is a slim chance that this Falcons team overachieves down the stretch and falls out of the top ten in the draft. If they do, and they still want to find a great offensive tackle, USC’s Elijah Paige is subject to fall a bit due to the sheer amount of talent at the position in this draft. Paige is a fluid mover and, while he’s not as wide, his 6’7”, 320-pound frame is more than imposing enough, especially when he’s on the move. He’s a violent run blocker and has a chance to showcase that against the Indiana defense, which has the 7th-best rushing success rate against the run allowed, according to GameOnPaper. Indiana also employs the Big Ten sack leader in Tobi Osunsanmi, which should make for a great matchup.
OT Lance Heard, Kentucky vs. Florida
Kroger Field – Lexington, KY – 6:15 pm EST – ESPN
When building a culture, there is something to say about the attitude of the players that you bring in. Lance Heard brings some of the nastiest attitude you can find in an offensive tackle, and he’s going to need every bit of that nastiness against Florida and their twitched-up edge rusher Emmanuel Oyebadejo.
S Ty Benefield, LSU vs. Texas
Tiger Stadium – Baton Rouge, LA – 7:30 pm EST – ABC
Trading Jesse Bates hurts; there’s no doubt about that. However, if there was any draft class to find a potential long-term safety, it’s the 2027 class. One of the players who may find themselves falling due to the number of names in this class, similar to the Paige conversation, is LSU safety Ty Benefield. At 6’3”, 216 pounds, Benefield is a massive defensive back who has truly special versatility both near the line of scrimmage and ranging in coverage. While Xavier Watts is ranging, Benefield can cause pure havoc underneath. Against Arch Manning, Ryan Wingo and a returning Cam Coleman, Benefield has a chance to really show out against Texas.
CB Vicari Swain, South Carolina @ Arkansas
Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium – Fayetteville, AR – 7:45 pm EST – SEC Network
The Falcons need cornerback help in the worst possible way. While I will admit, I would hope for a cornerback that is a bit bigger than 6’1”, 190-pound Vicari Swain, but his talent is too much to ignore. Swain has awesome speed and acceleration that allow him to not only be a great cornerback, but also an amazing returner as well, which can give the Falcons a future kick return duo of Swain and Branch, if Branch can develop into the type of returner we believe he can be in the future. Also, despite the quarterback play for the Razorbacks, Swain has a fun matchup against 6’2, 224-pound Chris Marshall.
DT Anthony Holmes Jr., Texas Tech @ Oklahoma State
Boone Pickens Stadium – Stillwater, OK – 9:30 pm EST – ESPN
Speed. To. Power. Anthony Holmes, Jr. is one of those guys where you look and say, “300 pounds shouldn’t be able to move like that. As Texas Tech ramps up for another potential CFB playoff run, they have to get over Drew Mestemaker, Justin Bowick, and the Oklahoma State Cowboys offense, which has one of the better interior offensive linemen in the country in center Tyler Mercer and right guard Joseph Hanson.
OT Zereoue Williams, Utah @ Arizona
Casino Del Sol Stadium – Tucson, AZ – 10:30 pm EST – Fox
I think Zereoue Williams may be the biggest riser in this season’s NFL Draft, period. His extremely active feet and hands, along with his strength and flexibility, just make him the perfect offensive tackle prospect. He’ll need every inch of that flexibility going up against the explosive Chase Kennedy and having to keep up with this explosive Arizona offensive attack, headlined by the combination of Noah Fifita and Isaiah Mizell.
