College football is back in our lives. Whether you are a fan of it or not, the Browns and their front office are going to be paying very close attention to a lot of players in the upcoming class. The 2027 NFL Draft is working up to be one of the better classes in recent memory.
One way to stay as caught up as the Browns will be is to follow our prospect previews starting now. We'll focus heavily on prospects who fit the team's projected needs in the 2027 NFL Draft. We are going to be looking at five players from the Notre Dame-Wisconsin matchup.
The game may not be very close, but the talent within the game is going to be interesting to see unfold in 2026, starting in Week 1. Here are the five players we are looking at from the game.
Abu Sama III, RB, Wisconsin
The lone Wisconsin
player we will have our eyes on is running back Abu Sama III. He comes to Wisconsin after transferring from Iowa State. While with the Cyclones, Sama proved to be a reliable piece of their offense in a backfield that used multiple pieces. At Wisconsin, in his first game, he is going to see the toughest defense of his career. They are likely to be down early, so he may not get as many touches, but he still remains a home run threat with the limited touches he is likely to get.
CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame
CJ Carr is a massive projection by some who think the Fighting Irish quarterback is going to be a top-five pick in April. To achieve that, he has to dominate in the games people expect him to. This Wisconsin matchup is one where he is expected to look impressive. Good decision-making should be on display, natural arm talent, and touch on his passes; he can be the complete package at a position we seldom see it from.
Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame
Arguably the best player in the 2027 NFL Draft could be Leonard Moore when the draft process is all done. Everyone will focus on Jeremiah Smith, but Moore is going to be someone that every opposing offense has to game plan for and look for at the line of scrimmage every snap. In man coverage, there is no one better in college football this year, and against Wisconsin he is going to be able to showcase himself a bit.
DJ McKinney, CB, Notre Dame
Everyone will be focused on Leonard Moore from a fan and opposing team perspective, which will create opportunities for DJ McKinney opposite him. The long, lanky-built cornerback transfers in from Colorado and is someone who has shown to be able to track the ball well and be reliable in man coverage. He will get some chances to make plays tonight against Wisconsin.
Tae Johnson, SAF, Notre Dame
Tae Johnson is getting put in the middle of first-round mock drafts early in the process. The Notre Dame safety is projected as a blue-chip prospect for some because of the coverage and run support he provides. The safety position has had a lot of first-round talent in recent years, and while I am unsure if Johnson fits into the same mold as a Dillon Thieneman or Malaki Starks, he could still carve out his own tier with his talent.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: 2027 NFL Draft: 5 Prospects to watch in Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin
