Week One QB Prospect Recap

Welcome to my first article here on Ghost! I am excited for this move and think it will help me continue to bring great content to all of you who take the time to read this analysis.

Over the summer, I did a deep dive into all of who I viewed to be the top QB prospects of the 2026 draft, and today we are taking stock of each of those QBs performance in their Week One matchups.

Cade Klubnik - Clemson

In my summer write-up I said the following,

"He is not afraid to take shots when delivering the football or when running. The latter will most likely be coached out of him in the NFL."

This was one of my favorite traits of Klubnik's last season. That gets the ball out to his receiver at all costs level of gutsiness in the pocket. But that trait was missing on Saturday against LSU. It was evident that after an early blown assignment by an RB and poor pass protection from his offensive line, Cade bailed early and often. I do not blame him entirely for this, because wow, did that LSU defense look mean, but it did not matter who he played last year; he was not fearless. I am concerned about some regression in his best trait, and if that does not change quickly, he will be tumbling down my rankings.

All the negativity aside, when in rhythm and not pressured, he looked really good. He had one chance to throw a deep ball, and it was beautiful before it fell harmlessly to the ground because of tight DB coverage and a WR who couldn't quite reel it in. That was a consistent story as well, which makes me think some of the other takes about Cade's poor performance are a smidge overblown.

Trending: Even with an eye on the pressure handling bringing him down

Garret Nussmeier - LSU

I liked Nussmeier in my summer series, but nowhere near as much as most prominent analysts who had him as a nailed-on top 3 QB. I knocked him on his pocket presence and too quick reads, but in week one against Clemson, both of those skills seemed to have improved. When under pressure, his decision to rollout was quicker and more aggressive than last year.

The LSU offense is built to help the QB find quick and easy wins and Nuss took advantage of that. Plus, he threw some really gutsy passes deep down the sidelines that only gave his receiver a chance. I really like the trust in his teammates to go win those duels.

I really liked his control pre-snap too, where of all the times he called out a protection switch or audible, it seemed to work every time before a fumble that was his WRs fault on a quick screen.

His lack of elite arm strength with a propensity to take a higher risk throw worries me, as in the NFL, I'm not sure he will be able to cash the checks he thinks his arm can write. He got lucky to have two throws not intercepted because of that in this game.

Trending: Cautiously Up

LaNorris Sellers - South Carolina

LaNorris Sellers played a very typical LaNorris Sellers game on Sunday. He made about five plays where you think "Holy Shit" and five where you think "Well shit". See his TD contributions for plays in the first category, and his sacks for plays in the second (yes, he could've avoided the safety).

Overall, this performance only showed one potentially new aspect to Sellers' game, an accurate bullet throw. It was always weird how bad he was at that specific type of pass compared to the typically much harder lofted throw, but his accuracy looked much better on the flat, quick passes he missed on so often last year. If I continue to see that improve, good things are coming for South Carolina and a top drafting team's way.

Trending: Up

Ferndando Mendoza - Indiana

Fernando Mendoza did not start this season the same way he did the last but that is ok. I still hold that his 2024 season opening first half against Auburn was the most impressive half of football played by any QB in this draft class. I just wanted to see more consistency, and generally, that is what we got in his performance against Old Dominion week one.

Only having one play that made you question if this guy ever played football is a boost to the consistent four or five per game he pulled last year, so if that trend continues, as well as his improved footwork and his normal ability, things are looking good in Bloomington.

Trending: Up

Drew Allar - Penn State

Allar and the Nittany Lions played a non-power conference team at home against the Nevada Wolfpack and took care of business. Allar got some easy reps and looked his typical self. Mobile enough, with a super strong arm, and generally good decision making. I can nit-pick his lack of true anticipatory throws on tape this week, and a couple of wayward long balls, but it is extremely nit-picky. Unless something crazy happens, I am not sure any part of his play before the September 27th game against Oregon will change my opinion.

Trending: Even

Non-First Rounder Round Up

Some quick observations on other QBs who may be in the draft this year, but do not look like top round picks, or are most likely not declaring. By no means is this list exhaustive; this list includes only games I've watched.

Josh Hoover - TCU

Yeah, he is pretty darn good. Made Bill Belichick and his new look UNC team look silly. Get ready to tune into TCU's games vs SMU, Baylor, Arizona State, and Iowa State for some really good, but currently underrated QB play.

Kevin Jennings - SMU

Looks bigger than he did last year, and that's a plus. Had two turnovers, which were not exactly his fault, but not not his fault either, against a lower-tier opponent in East Texas A&M.

Haynes King - Georgia Tech

God, he is so much fun to watch. He puts his body on the line every play to win a game. Wish that the NFL had a position that he could play, but alas, the single wing is not run anymore.

Jackson Arnold - Auburn

I think he watched Haynes King and went, "I can do that!" This torpedoes his NFL chances, but makes him all the more fun to watch every weekend.

Sawyer Robertson - Baylor

27 of 48 for 419 yards and three TDs, while also taking four sacks. A very typical Sawyer Robertson game, exciting to watch and disappointing to evaluate in near equal measure.

Arch Manning - Texas

A College QB makes his first start in a truly hostile environment and struggles. His last drive encapsulates the Arch experience: Two beautiful deep balls down the sideline that few other QBs have the talent to make, followed immediately by misses that end his team's chance of winning the game. Not worried about anything in the long term at all.

That's it for QBs this week! Look out for tomorrow, when I put together a watch list of the most important college games this weekend for NFL prospects.