2026 NFL Draft Stock Up: Haynes King, Cade Uluave, and more standouts from Week 9

Week 9 of college football was a showcase for undervalued players proving they belong in the NFL.

Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King, while not an elite passer, showed he has the tools and toughness to carve out a role at the next level.

On defense, California linebacker Cade Uluave continued his breakout season, setting career highs in tackles and establishing himself as a legitimate mid-round prospect.

College football Week 9 standouts:

 1. Haynes King, QB, Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech’s Haynes King continues to be one of the most overlooked quarterbacks in college football. In Week 9 against Syracuse, he put together another standout performance, setting a school record by completing 81% of his passes while throwing for a season-high 304 yards and three touchdowns. He also torched the defense on the ground, adding 91 rushing yards and two more scores. King’s toughness, physical running style, and football IQ make him a sneaky Day 3 prospect who could easily earn a shot in the seventh round of the NFL Draft.

2. Cade Uluave, LB, California

California linebacker Cade Uluave has seen one of the biggest stock jumps in college football this season. Once projected as an undrafted free agent, he’s now firmly in the fourth-round conversation. Against Syracuse, Uluave put on a show with 19 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks. It was his fifth double-digit tackle game of the year, and he now has 10.5 tackles for loss. With his production, instincts, and motor, Uluave could be an ideal fit for a team like the Colts, who are looking to upgrade their linebacker unit.

3. Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas

While California’s Cade Uluave is watching his draft stock climb, Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. has seen his move in the opposite direction. Entering the Longhorns’ matchup against Mississippi State, he had just one tackle for loss and no sacks after posting 16.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks last season. Against the Bulldogs, though, Hill looked more like his 2024 self, finishing with 10 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and his first 2.5 sacks of the year. I mentioned before the season that Hill would be a good fit for the Carolina Panthers, and that still holds true. Taking him in the second round now feels like the smarter move instead of the first-round projection I had before the season.

4. KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

Texas A&M looks like the best team in the SEC and a legitimate national championship contender, and wide receiver KC Concepcion is a major reason why. The Aggies are averaging 38 points per game, and Concepcion’s explosiveness is a big part of that. Against LSU, he made plays in multiple ways, catching three passes for 45 yards and a touchdown while also taking a punt 79 yards to the house. Concepcion projects as a dynamic slot receiver and return specialist at the next level, the type of weapon who can flip field position or score any time he touches the ball.

5. Justin Joly, TE, North Carolina State

The gutsiest play of Week 9 came from North Carolina State tight end Justin Joly, who scored on a 59-yard reception despite limping through the final 25 yards on an injured leg. He finished the game with six catches for a career-high 101 yards and two touchdowns. The Green Bay Packers appear to have significant interest in Joly, sending five scouts to watch him in this game as they continue to look for depth behind Tucker Kraft at tight end.

6. Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State

The biggest game in college football in Week 9 featured No. 1 North Dakota State against No. 2 South Dakota State, but it wasn’t close as the Bison rolled to a 38-7 win. Quarterback Cole Payton was the driving force behind the blowout, completing 18 of 23 passes for 243 yards while adding 137 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground. I currently have a seventh-round grade on Payton, but that could rise with a strong showing during the All-Star circuit.

7. Rohan Jones, TE, Arkansas

No tight end in college football has produced more explosive plays this season than Arkansas’s Rohan Jones, who leads all tight ends with an incredible 34 yards per catch and tops all SEC tight ends with 408 receiving yards on just 12 receptions. Against Auburn, he hauled in passes of 41, 36, and 50 yards, becoming the first Arkansas tight end since Hunter Henry in 2015 to record multiple 100-yard games in a season. At 6-foot-3 and 236 pounds, Jones will likely be a late-round draft pick, but his speed and big-play ability would make him an intriguing fit for the Miami Dolphins’ offense.

8. Justice Haynes, RB, Michigan

Former Alabama running back Justice Haynes has seen his 2026 NFL Draft stock rise sharply since transferring to Michigan. After rushing for just 448 yards last season with the Tide, he’s now established himself as one of the top backs in college football, surpassing 100 yards in all but one game this year. Against Michigan State, he posted his second-highest total of the season with 152 yards and two touchdowns. Dallas would be making a smart choice if they take the Wolverine on the second day of the 2026 NFL Draft.

9. Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

While Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson gets most of the attention in the 2026 wide receiver class, Washington’s Denzel Boston isn’t far behind. In his latest game against Illinois, he proved he has the skill set to be an NFL number one receiver, catching a season-high 10 passes for 153 yards, both personal bests, and even adding a 12-yard touchdown pass. In my latest mock draft, I had the Saints selecting Boston in the second round, and that projection still feels like the right fit.

10. Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern

One of the most underrated offensive linemen in the 2026 NFL Draft is Northwestern’s Caleb Tiernan. I have him graded as a second-round prospect, yet he was recently ranked just 149th overall by NFL Mock Draft Database. In his latest game against Nebraska, Tiernan earned the highest PFF pass-blocking grade of any offensive lineman in the FBS. He didn’t allow a sack in that matchup, which is no surprise considering he’s given up only one all season and just seven total pressures.