NFL Draft Rapid Fire: Darian Mensah passes another test, plus a new RB explodes onto radar

With some of the major teams and top prospects enjoying a bye week, the college football schedule didn’t disappoint in Week 5, delivering record-setting performances and upset victories that shined a new light on rising 2027 NFL Draft prospects.

While there was no Arch Manning, Drew Mestemaker, Dante Moore or Colin Simmons dominating the highlight reel, other top prospects like Miami’s Darian Mensah, Notre Dame’s CJ Carr and Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith provided plenty of excitement.

But it was some of the lesser-known prospects who really made their presence felt during a stellar weekend of college football.

In this Week 5 edition of NFL Draft Rapid Fire, we offer quick reactions to some of the biggest performances of the week and what they could mean for each prospect's 2027 NFL Draft stock.

Darian Mensah passes his first big test

After taking over the No. 1 spot in NFL Mocks’ 2027 NFL Draft QB power rankings, Darian Mensah was put to the test against Clemson in an ACC showdown Saturday night.

Though the numbers weren’t as dominant, Mensah used both his arm and legs to help the No. 4 Miami Hurricanes take down Clemson in a 41-13 victory. More importantly, he continued to protect the football, finishing another game without throwing an interception.

As far as passing, Mensah completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 277 yards and a touchdown. One of the highlights was a 61-yard strike to Cooper Barkate, who turned a short pass into a trip to the end zone.

The other explosive play was a 34-yard touchdown run by Mensah, who did have the ball stripped as he was nearing the end zone but recovered it for the score.

In our weekly full-round mock draft, we have Mensah landing with the Miami Dolphins as a top-five pick. After showcasing the poise and control under pressure he displayed against Clemson, Miami may be lucky if Mensah is still sitting there at No. 4.

CJ Carr just keeps delivering

A top-tier quarterback knocking at the door of that No. 1 spot is Notre Dame’s CJ Carr.

Week 5 against North Carolina was just another day at the office for Carr, who dissected Bill Belichick’s team by completing 21 of 29 passes for 234 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions.

After beating Michigan State, this was the next big test for Carr, and he passed it with flying colors as he led No. 3 Notre Dame to a 37-26 win.

With both Miami and Notre Dame improving to 5-0 on the season, everything is setting up for quite the showdown between Mensah and Carr on Nov. 7, assuming both quarterbacks continue their dominance.

If Carr keeps playing this clean and efficient, Mensah may have some real competition for that QB1 spot.

Jeremiah Smith continues his WR1 dominance

While the QB1 race is just heating up, there is no doubt who WR1 is in the 2027 NFL Draft. In fact, there’s a rising question as to whether Smith should be the first player off the board, period.

In another record-setting performance, Smith shattered the school’s career receptions record against No. 14 Iowa in Week 5. His 11 receptions brought his career total to 208, surpassing former teammate Emeka Egbuka.

Smith also recorded his second consecutive 200-yard performance, finishing with 206 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the 31-14 road victory.

As his Heisman stock rises, so does his case to be the No. 1 player taken in the draft.

As the NFL Draft order currently stands, there are three teams with the first three picks who already have a quarterback in place. Unless those teams are ready to move on from those quarterbacks, selecting a generational talent like Smith could be the move that helps elevate the quarterback already on the roster.

So, yes, there is a real case for selecting a wide receiver over a quarterback, especially if the team sitting at No. 1 believes it already has its guy under center.

Breakout performer of Week 5: Aiden Flora

While Florida’s Jadan Baugh has garnered plenty of attention when it comes to 2027 NFL Draft-eligible running backs, several others are starting to force their way into the conversation. That includes Iowa State’s Aiden Flora.

The 6-foot, 195-pound running back had one of the biggest breakout performances of the season in the Cyclones’ 45-42 win over West Virginia on Saturday.

All he did was rush for 212 yards on 22 carries with three touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 48 yards and two more scores. The highlight was this 63-yard touchdown run:

In all, Flora accounted for 260 yards of total offense with five total touchdowns.

Talk about announcing yourself to the NFL Draft world.

Flora is one of those Day 3 prospects who could quickly move up draft boards because of his versatility in the backfield and blazing speed. That explosiveness could also make him a kick-returning threat early in his NFL career.

After what he did in Week 5, Flora is officially a name to watch.

Darius Taylor makes winning plays in upset over Michigan

Another running back to watch on Day 2 or potentially Day 3 of the 2027 NFL Draft is Darius Taylor.

In Minnesota’s 20-14 upset win over Michigan, Taylor accounted for two touchdowns on the day. He showed off his physical, downhill running style throughout the game, but his power really showed on a 2-yard goal-line score to open the game.

Then later, he showed off his pass-catching ability on a game-winning 3-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Drake Lindsey.

Overall, it wasn’t an explosive day as far as yardage for the 6-foot, 215-pound running back, but what Taylor showed is just as important for his NFL projection. He can make winning plays in big games and deliver in clutch moments.

That ability could make him an intriguing Day 3 target for any team looking to add running back depth.

TJ Bush Jr. is a defender to watch

It wasn't just the offensive prospects making noise in Week 5. There were several impressive defensive performances across the country.

Missouri’s defensive front completely shut down Florida running back Jadan Baugh in a 45-17 blowout. Minnesota’s pass rush was outstanding in the team’s upset win over No. 24 Michigan, and No. 7 Alabama created havoc against No. 16 Mississippi State, forcing prized quarterback Kamario Taylor into four total turnovers.

But when it comes to individual performances, Minnesota’s TJ Bush Jr. stood out, recording 2.0 sacks and three quarterback hits in the victory.

The 6-foot-3, 265-pound defensive end showcased the relentless motor that NFL scouts love to see, consistently pursuing the quarterback and making his presence felt against Michigan.

He is also an excellent run defender, giving him the type of three-down skill set that could push his stock toward the back end of Day 2.

With some of the biggest teams and prospects on byes in Week 5, it was an eventful weekend of college football that allowed some new names to step into the spotlight.

We saw Mensah and Carr continue to strengthen their cases in the QB1 race, Smith make even more history and players like Flora, Taylor and Bush give NFL Draft fans a few more names to add to the big board.

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