John Spytek is determined to build the Las Vegas Raiders through the NFL Draft. So, while the 2026 season has begun, and the Silver and Black have a big Week 1 matchup against the Miami Dolphins, the Raiders' college scouting staff must keep a keen eye on what transpires on Saturdays this fall.
So, to give this great fanbase an idea of what Las Vegas' talent evaluators might be seeing, we'll write a weekly piece for Sunday morning about the top college performers from the few days prior. The focus will be on positions the Raiders need, like wide receiver, defensive tackle, safety, linebacker, etc.
And to avoid redundancy, we will not mention great players like Jeremiah Smith or Colin Simmons every week unless something really special occurs. Without further ado, five players from the Week 2 college football slate who should be firmly on Las Vegas' radar during the 2027 NFL Draft:
5 huge showings from Week 2 of the college football slate that should have the Raiders paying attention
Reed Harris, WR, Arizona State
Harris built on a 6-catch, 137-yard, 2-touchdown performance last week against Morgan State and brought that same production against a Power 4 opponent in Texas A&M, logging 9 catches for 189 yards and 2 more scores.
At 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, there is a lot to like with Harris, as he can line up out wide or in the slot, and he can get yards after the catch. Run blocking was an issue on Saturday, but he's a big play waiting to happen, whether that's on a deep bomb or a screen behind the line of scrimmage.
Jayden Jackson, DT, Oklahoma
Oklahoma didn't have a great game against Michigan, losing in a huge upset, but Jackson was one of the lone bright spots. He totaled six tackles, including one for a loss, and five run stops for the Sooners in the loss, and he notched two pressures as a pass rusher as well.
Although not the heaviest interior player at 6-foot-2 and 306 pounds, Jackson played 10 snaps at nose, 36 at the 3-tech, and even one over the tackle. He can stop the run, get after the quarterback and line up all over the front. Sounds like a player the Raiders should be interested in.
Collin Dixon, WR, Illinois
Against Duke, Dixon doubled his production from the UAB game in Week 1, catching 11 of his 16 targets for 166 yards and three touchdowns, with all three scores in the first half. That staggering statline is made even better by the fact that Dixon more than did his job as a run-blocker once again.
Dixon isn't incredibly dynamic after the catch, but he does great work in the middle of the field in both short and intermediate areas, and he's capable of catching deep balls and contested passes. Dixon is not huge at 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds, nor does he have inside-out versatility, but he's one to watch.
Tony Rojas, LB, Penn State
Penn State played Temple on Saturday and held them to nine points, thanks in large part due to Rojas' play. He notched a team-leading seven tackles, five of which were solo, made four run stops, gave up just one reception for two yards, had an interception, and logged a sack for the second week in a row.
Rojas, at 6-foot-2 and 236 pounds, has the ability to play in the slot or be an outside linebacker on the line of scrimmage, in addition to his off-ball role. He can play the run, cover well and is a chess piece on defense, so the Raiders should make sure they're familiar with him.
Kingston Lopa, SAF, California
Lopa is not your typical safety, as he stands at a massive 6-foot-5. He can play deep, in the box or in the slot, and Lopa has tremendous ball skills. He put those on display against Syracuse on Saturday, picking off three passes, including one for a touchdown and another to seal the game.
Not only that, but Lopa is an active tackler, logging five in the ACC matchup, and helping out against the run with four stops. He also didn't give up a single catch in 53 coverage snaps, so Lopa should be on the Raiders' radar with every non-rookie safety set to be a free agent next spring.
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