Kids who will be playing on Sundays: Football mastermind CJ Carr's NFL Draft stock is skyrocketing after leading Notre Dame to win over Miami

No. 11 Notre Dame (8-1) should climb in the College Football Playoff rankings, which will be revealed on Tuesday. That will bolster CJ Carr's Heisman case and his chance of being a first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft (scheduled April 29-May 1 in Washington). As of Sunday morning, FanDuel Sportsbook lists the Notre Dame QB as the Heisman favorite (+150). In his latest mock draft, Fox Sports' Rob Rang has the Cleveland Browns selecting him with pick No. 16. 

Notre Dame Fighting Irish senior WR Jordan Faison 

A QB, of course, needs reliable targets. Luckily for Carr, he has Faison. Against Miami, the pass-catcher logged six receptions for 77 yards and one TD. 

"Jordan Faison is going to be a third-round pick and play in the league for a decade," Brugler wrote while reacting to his TD. "Love his route athleticism. Shows an instinctive feel for creating catch windows. And strong, confident hands to finish. He's small, but plays like a pro."

Faison is listed at 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, but his speed offsets concerns about his ability to stretch the field. Per Pro Football Focus, the wideout has an aDOT (average depth of target) of 11.3 this season, above average. 

Faison is also an excellent punt returner, ranking sixth in the country in yards per punt return (16.0, 192 yards on 12 returns) — increasing his value. Teams are willing to keep smaller receivers if they're an explosive punt returner. Take Denver Broncos fourth-year WR Marvin Mims Jr. (5-foot-11, 182 pounds), for example. 

Texas Longhorns senior RB Raleek Brown 

With senior RB Hollywood Smothers (knee) out for the rest of the season, the Longhorns need Brown to emerge as the lead back. He's doing just that.

In a 34-20 road win over the Missouri Tigers, Brown had 133 yards (85 rushing, 48 receiving) and two TDs (one rushing, one receiving). Over his past three games, the RB has had 272 rushing yards on 48 carries (5.6 yards per carry, above average).

"I see shades of Bucky Irving and Kenneth Gainwell in his game, with some Kyren Williams' footwork and contact balance (although Brown isn't as thick as Williams)," wrote The Ringer's Todd McShay on Nov. 1. "Irving was a fourth-round pick; Gainwell and Williams went in the fifth. Brown looks like the kind of middle-round back who could similarly outplay his draft position."

Tennessee Volunteers senior LB Arion Carter

Carter is donating $427 to cancer research for every tackle this season and larger sums for sacks ($500), turnovers ($1,000) and defensive touchdowns ($5,000). The LB's girlfriend, Mariah Bryant, was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer in February and underwent a double mastectomy and months of chemotherapy. 

Per Emmett Siegel of the Knoxville News Sentinel, Carter has now donated $27,193 after totaling 13 tackles (four for loss) and two sacks in a 34-6 win over the Kentucky Wildcats. The LB — who has 59 tackles (No. 19 in the SEC) in eight games — is on pace to donate $37,390.38 for the season. (The NCAA suspended Carter for the first two games of the season after he accepted a $427 flight from an agent, which he paid back.)  

Carter could continue to do good on and off the field in the NFL. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. noted that the Tennessee star just missed the cut for his top five LBs on his updated big board. He could enter the conversation if he helps the No. 13 Vols (7-2) win out and sneak into the CFP. 

Utah Utes senior OT Zereoue Williams 

Former Utah OTs Spencer Fano (Browns, No. 9) and Caleb Lomu (New England Patriots, No. 28) were first-round picks in the 2026 draft. Williams may continue to build the Utes' pipeline of stellar offensive linemen. 

PFF credited Williams with one sack allowed on 38 pass-block snaps in a 28-20 home win over the BYU Cougars. That's the only one he has surrendered this season on 323 pass-block snaps. 

"Not a lot of true pass sets for Zereoue Williams (6-foot-8, 305 pounds) today vs. BYU, but the natural tools, lower body suddenness, and core strength that make him a contender for OT1," wrote ESPN's Jordan Reid.

As of Sunday, NFL Mockdraft Database projects the Tennessee Titans will grab Williams with pick No. 28 in the draft.