With the Pittsburgh Steelers in the market for a quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft, Steelers Now will be taking stock of the draft class every week of the 2025 college football season. Week five saw more smoke to prospect fire and top prospects struggle against strong competition.
STOCK UP: Sam Leavitt, Arizona State
After a rough week two, Leavitt’s stock took a hit. However, since that loss at Mississippi State, the play has bounced back. Not only has it bounced back, he’s led some wins that fit the Steelers’ bill.
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In one possession games this season, Leavitt and the Sundevils are 2-1. Those two wins have come in back-to-back weeks. In week four, Leavitt led his offense in a back-and-forth battle. He got the final opportunity to win it and came through with an 11-play march to set them up for a game winning field goal.
This week, the Oregon native led a comeback win after falling behind 17-0. Both games ended with the final score of 24-27. Add the fact the Steelers visited his practice and game this week, it’s safe to say he is on their radar after strong performances.
MDDB Ranking: Week 5, No. 87, QB10
Season Stats: 99-of-157 (63.1% comp. rate), 1039 yards (6.6 yards/attempt), 8 TD, 3 INT
STOCK DOWN: Tommy Castellanos, Florida State
While Castellanos wasn’t a preseason first-round hype train, he has been at the center of a resurgence. With him under center, he had led the Seminoles to a 4-0 start. Unfortunately, Florida State was subject to a massive upset Friday Night.
Castellanos played his worst game of the season and watched his team fall in overtime after throwing a fourth down interception. While he has impressed with his opportunities and willed his team to wins, week five was a step back.
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Games like this are an opportunity to bounce back. The Steelers have seen Castellanos play in person in his biggest win of the season: week one against Alabama.
MDDB Ranking: Week 5, No. 271, QB21
Season Stats: 45-of-70 (64.3% comp. rate), 848 yards (12.1 yards/attempt), 4 TD, 3 INT
STOCK DOWN: Garrett Nussmeier, Louisiana State
After a week where things were on the rise, the Tigers went to Ole Miss and fell back down. Certainly, it was a tough task in a battle of top-15 ranked SEC teams. However, Nussmeier underwhelmed.
Nussmeier averaged less than 6 yards per pass attempt, turned the ball over, and LSU couldn’t eclipse 20 points. So far against stronger competition, Nussmeier hasn’t been great. He hasn’t been awful, either, to be clear.
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If the Steelers are considering him in April, the play against stronger competition needs to accelerate. The SEC is a notoriously tough conference, but Nussmeier isn’t in his first rodeo in this conference.
MDDB Ranking: Week 5, No. 1, QB1
Season Stats: 118-of-171 (69% comp. rate), 1159 yards (6.7 yards/attempt), 7 TD, 3 INT
STOCK UP: Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss
On the other side of the field from LSU was a 13th ranked Ole Miss team. They were led by a suddenly noteworthy Juco transfer in Chambliss who is making waves in the SEC. He took over going into the Arkansas game and hasn’t looked back.
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He has averaged well over 300 yards a game, thrown five touchdowns, and has overall taken care of the football. Chambliss doesn’t just get it done with his arm. He has rushed for 266 yards including 71 against the LSU defense.
If there’s one thing Tomlin likes in his quarterback, it’s mobility. Chambliss is intriguing as his play continues to progress. He will need to continue to improve as a passer. Could he be a dark horse in April?
MDDB Ranking: Week 5, No. N/A, QB N/A
Season Stats: 65-of-101 (64.4% comp. rate), 1033 yards (10.2 yards/attempts), 5 TD, INT
STOCK UP: Drew Allar, Penn State
At first, this was trending towards stock down. Allar and his offense were down 17-3 with seeming to have lost any momentum. Suddenly, the Lion wasn’t sleeping anymore. Allar willed his team back into the game.
His fourth-quarter play showed the flashes of what makes him one of the most intriguing prospects in April. Not only did he respond with a quick drive after falling behind 17-3, he also led a 15-play drive to score and force overtime.
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Unfortunately, his untimely and lone turnover cost Penn State the game. This is a concerning trend in big moment, but Allar did enough to show he can compete and overcome adversity.
His grit and determination alone was impressive in and of itself. Keep in mind, he was thought to be one of 2025’s best draft prospects before he decided to return. Could he have sparked his way to a QB1 pursuit in April?
MDDB Ranking: Week 5, No. 15, QB6
Season Stats: 71-of-112 (63.4% comp. rate) 763 yards (6.8 yards/attempt ), 6 TD, 2 INT
STOCK UP: Dante Moore, Oregon
Talk about a challenge for the Ducks quarterback. Penn State is already tough to play against. In their stadium on white out night is as hard as it can get–ask Bo Nix (’21 Auburn at Penn State.)
It was a defensive battle throughout the night. Though Moore didn’t light up the stat sheet, he made huge plays for his offense in the second half–silencing an electric home crowd. Most importantly, he took care of the football against a talented and opportunistic defense.
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Moore almost certainly will have the attention of scouts, fans, and college football media. Has he put himself in first-round talks for the Steelers? He would be the third-consecutive Oregon quarterback taken in the third round or higher if he is in that conversation.
MDDB Ranking: Week 5, No. 58, QB8
Season Stats: 100-of-134 (74.6% comp. rate), 1210 yards (9.0 yards/attempt), 14 TD, INT
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: 2026 NFL Draft QB Stock Report Week 5: Leavitt Interest Heats Up, Dark Horse Chambliss Climbs
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