NFL Insider's 2026 Draft stock watch: Risers and sliders after Week 9 games ft. Jayce Brown, Gabe Jacas and more

Week 9 on the college football schedule saw some close calls, yet there were no major upsets at the top of the rankings, which should remain unchanged. On the NFL prospect front, several receivers who project as Day 3 picks have really stood out this season and continue to turn in great performances. And a quarterback who came out of nowhere keeps rolling. Here are the Risers and Sliders for Week 9.

Risers

1. Trinidad Chambliss/QB/Mississippi: With all the concern and questions at the quarterback position for the upcoming draft, Chambliss has stepped up and is playing better each week. Forced into action after an injury to starter Austin Simmons, Chambliss has been brilliant and has outplayed higher-rated, better- known quarterbacks almost every game.

This weekend, Mississippi went into Norman and beat the Sooners, 34-26, as Chambliss was head and shoulders better than John Mateer, graded as a potential first-round pick by many. The senior was 24 of 44 passing for 314 yards, making it six straight games of at least 250 passing yards since he stepped into the starting lineup. He’s incredibly athletic with great arm talent, yet Chambliss is short, may struggle to measure six feet even and is unrefined in many areas.

He’s unlikely to be selected until the late rounds of the draft, yet Chambliss’ rise to prominence after being a non-entity in the scouting community as well as the college football world has been fascinating.

2. Jayce Brown/WR/Kansas State: Looking towards the 2026 NFL Draft, no position looks more jumbled, and some would say disappointing, than the receiver spot. There’s no clear-cut No. 1, and the position lacks depth and offers just a few speed receivers.

One of those vertical wideouts that has shown consistent improvement the past two years is Brown. His numbers this season read 36 receptions, 577 yards and four TDs. During Saturday’s victory over interstate rival Kansas, Brown caught four passes for 160 yards.

Brown is 40 fast as well as football fast with the ability to take the top off a defense. He’s a smaller wideout with a thin frame that would be best lining up in the slot, yet the junior is a solid middle-round choice who can be used as a receiver as well as run reverses on occasion.

3. Ted Hurst/WR/Georgia State: The Sun Belt is fast becoming a farm system for the power four conferences, and the top NFL prospects are transferring to bigger programs. Hurst chose to stick around and is having a terrific season. Graded as my top next-level prospect in the SBC prior to the season, Hurst has been a dominant gamebreaker for Georgia State, whose record presently stands at 1-7. During the recent loss to Southern Alabama, he caught five passes for 110 yards with two TDs. For the season, Hurst has 47 receptions for 689 yards with five TDs. Hurst is football fast rather than 40 fast, which will push him into the draft’s late rounds, yet he possesses the tools and ability to make an NFL roster as a No. 5 receiver.

4. Skyler Bell/WR/UConn: Entering the season, grades for Bell were all over the place in the scouting community, ranging from the fifth round to a barely signable free agent. Based on his play this season, the former was the correct call.

Bell has been the dominant offensive force for a surprising UConn squad and has 68 receptions for 845 yards with eight TDs this season. On five separate occasions, Bell has totaled more than 100 yards receiving, including the recent contest against Rice, a double-overtime loss, when he posted 158 yards on eight catches.

He comes with a compact build and better-than-average speed for the next level. Based on his improvement and play the past two seasons, Bell should land in the middle of Day 3 during the 2026 NFL Draft.

Sleeper Prospect

1. D'Angelo Ponds/CB/Indiana: The Hoosiers keep rolling along and remain undefeated after drubbing UCLA by a score of 56-6. All facets of the football team are clicking as they move to 8-0, and each week there’s a new hero on the team NFL scouts are watching.

This past weekend, it was Ponds, the small but tough cornerback who projects as a next-level player. Ponds had two PBUs during the Hoosiers’ latest win, giving him four for the season.

He’s quick with excellent ball skills and consistently displays the ability to stay on the opponent’s hip and defend passes. Ponds projects as a middle-round pick who will line up in dime packages on Sundays.

2. Kaleb Proctor/DT/SE Louisiana: Like quarterback and receiver, the defensive tackle position is in flux heading towards the 2026 NFL Draft, which affords opportunities to players like Proctor. A three-year starter for Southeast Louisiana, Proctor is a small yet explosive playmaker on the defensive line.

He’s shown a lot of improvement in his game this season and has totaled 7.5 TFLs as well as five sacks while also breaking up two passes. He’s a one-gap, three-technique penetrating lineman who could slide into the late rounds if he works out well prior to the draft.

Sliders

1. Gabe Jacas/DL/Illinois: Hopes were high for Jacas entering the season, with some projecting the pass rusher as a potential first-round pick. And while the senior has had his moments and flashes big-time ability, there’s been little consistency as well as average production.

One year after totaling 74 tackles, 13 TFLs and eight sacks, Jacas’ numbers this season include 27 tackles, 5.5 TFLs and 4.5 sacks. Jacas has been the recipient of double-team blocks weekly, which makes his job extremely difficult, yet the inability to show improvement from a year ago will undoubtedly hurt his draft stock.