This week in college football, we saw several notable moves, including Penn State adding yet another intriguing prospect via the transfer portal—this time on the defensive side of the ball. In addition to that roster addition, this week’s NFL Draft Notebook also breaks down why Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer is seeing his stock rise after a strong 2024 season, highlights the frontrunner to lead Alabama’s offense, and more.
2026 NFL Draft news and notes
Scouting Luke Altmyer
One quarterback who boosted his stock significantly last season is Illinois’s Luke Altmyer. After a rough 2023 campaign where he threw 13 touchdowns to 10 interceptions, he bounced back in 2024 with 22 touchdown passes and just six picks, leading Illinois to a 10-3 record that tied the program's single-season wins mark. He also showed a clutch gene, becoming the only FBS quarterback to throw three game-winning touchdown passes in the final two minutes of regulation or in overtime. That said, Altmyer still needs to improve his poise when his first read is covered and develop better overall pocket presence.
Luke Altmyer gets it to Pat Bryant for the touchdown 🎯
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 3, 2023
The Fighting Illini are back out in front! @IlliniFootball pic.twitter.com/eaXx0GLwSP
Penn State adds another high quality transfer
In last week’s 2026 NFL Draft Buzz, I highlighted how Penn State landed one of the top slot receivers in the portal by picking up Syracuse’s Trebor Pena. This week, they added another well-regarded NFL prospect in middle linebacker Amare Campbell. Campbell, who transfers from North Carolina, recorded 76 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks last season. As a pro prospect, he’s an impressive athlete, fluid in coverage and aggressive against the run. Heading into this season, I’ve got a fifth-round grade on him.
Ty Simpson the man in Tuscaloosa
It’s starting to sound like Ty Simpson may win the starting quarterback job after a strong spring. The former five-star recruit saw limited action last season, throwing for just 167 yards. His mobility stands out, especially for a 6-foot-2, 215-pound pocket passer. Still, if he wants to become a legitimate draft prospect, he’ll need to improve his accuracy.
"If we're playing a football game tomorrow, Ty Simpson would start."Alabama OC Ryan Grubb
2027 NFL Draft Heads to Washington, DC
The NFL announced last week that the 2027 NFL Draft will be held in Washington, DC at the National Mall. Commissioner Roger Goodell made the announcement alongside President Donald Trump. The league is aiming for a record-breaking crowd, hoping to top the 775,000 fans who attended the draft in Detroit, which currently holds the attendance record.
Future prospect
Nashville Christian School quarterback Jared Curtis, the top quarterback in the 2026 recruiting class and the No. 2 overall player according to 247Sports' composite rankings, recently committed to play college football at Georgia. Though he's still at least four years away from being an NFL prospect, his raw talent already stands out. His biggest asset is his arm strength—he consistently makes off-platform throws and can challenge defenses deep with ease. That said, he needs to improve his timing and rhythm as a passer and learn to stay composed in the pocket. Curtis clearly has the physical tools to become a high-level quarterback, but if he doesn’t clean up those areas, living up to the hype will be a challenge.