{"id":446510,"date":"2026-09-24T18:44:21","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T18:44:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/446510\/"},"modified":"2026-09-24T18:44:21","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T18:44:21","slug":"bengals-scouts-eyed-these-red-raiders-and-cougars-2027-draft-prospects-in-lubbock","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/446510\/","title":{"rendered":"Bengals scouts eyed these Red Raiders and Cougars 2027 draft prospects in Lubbock"},"content":{"rendered":"<p id=\"inline-text-0\" class=\"mt-[18px] md:mt-0 mb-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5q\">Last week, while we were all enthralled with the Cincinnati Bengals and what they were about to do to the Houston Texans, their scouting department was already hard at work.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-1\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5v\">Bengals scouts were in attendance for the Houston &#8211; Texas Tech matchup, which featured future players who will have their eyes fixed on April\u2019s draft once their collegiate careers are done.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-2\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"60\">Here, we\u2019re going to take a look at whom Cincinnati\u2019s scouts were focused on and how they could play a future role for the Bengals as the roster is presently constructed.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Texas Tech will be well-represented in 2027 NFL Draft<\/p>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">15 NFL teams sent scouts to attend No. 13 Texas Tech vs. No. 22 Houston.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; New England Patriots<br \/>&#8211; New Orleans Saints<br \/>&#8211; Jacksonville Jaguars<br \/>&#8211; Pittsburgh Steelers<br \/>&#8211; Cincinnati Bengals<br \/>&#8211; Buffalo Bills<br \/>&#8211; Washington Commanders<br \/>&#8211; Cleveland Browns<br \/>&#8211; New York Giants<br \/>&#8211; San Francisco\u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Keith Inglis (@KeithInglisDT) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/KeithInglisDT\/status\/2101076067041812918?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow\">September 18, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-5\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6f\">When the Bengals made their way to Lubbock, Texas, they had their sights set on at least four Houston Cougars who will hear their names called either Friday or Saturday of the draft weekend.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-6\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6k\">One of the more high-profile players that Cincinnati\u2019s scouts were monitoring was Brice Pollock. The Red Raiders\u2019 CB ranks 56th on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tankathon.com\/nfl\/big-board\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Tankathon<\/a>, 73rd on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nflmockdraftdatabase.com\/big-boards\/2027\/consensus-big-board-2027?pos=CB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Mock Draft Database<\/a>, and 66th on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nfldraftbuzz.com\/Player\/Brice-Pollock-CB-MississippiState\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">NFL Draft Buzz<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-7\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6p\">In 2025, he had an incredible season, recording 48 tackles, four tackles for loss, five interceptions, and eight passes defended, which put the Senior on scouts\u2019 radar.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-9\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"70\">Then there is linebacker Ben Roberts, who ranks 96th for Tankathon, 104th for MDD, and 83rd for NFL Draft Buzz.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-10\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"75\">Roberts logged 90 tackles, four tackles for loss, four interceptions, six passes defended, and two forced fumbles in 2025.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-11\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7a\">Roberts showed that he could be the type of sure tackler who is capable of covering tight ends and running backs in pass coverage that the Bengals could use next season.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-12\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7f\">Running back J\u2019Koby Williams is climbing up draft boards already while he shares the backfield with Cameron Dickey. NFL Draft Buzz ranks Williams 142nd and currently places him in the fifth round.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-13\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7k\">Williams is having a career year so far, averaging 6.2 yards per carry while also proving to be an excellent receiver out of the backfield.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-14\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7p\">Other players with draftable grades for Texas Tech so far, along with their Tankathon rankings, include DT AJ Holmes Jr. (60th), TE Terrance Carter Jr. (76th), and possible UDFAs DT Mateen Ibirogba and LB Austin Romaine.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-15\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7u\">With doubts still abounding over Cincinnati\u2019s current starting linebacker and the contracts of both starting corners ending after this season, Roberts and Pollock are obvious players that the Bengals will keep an eye on. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Cougars have a receiver worth keeping an eye on<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-17\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"84\">For Houston, the scouting process was even more straightforward.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-18\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"89\">Wide receiver Amare Thomas brought in 67 receptions for 966 yards and 12 touchdowns last year. And through three games, he\u2019s off to another hot start for the Cougars.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-19\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"8e\">NFL Draft Buzz ranks Thomas 189th and predicts he\u2019ll go in the sixth round.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-20\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"8j\">A Day 3 receiver could be on the Bengals\u2019 bingo card in 2027, as wideout Andrei Iosivas is in the final year of his contract and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nfl\/story\/_\/id\/50014294\/sources-bengals-andrei-iosivas-expected-miss-4-6-weeks\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">currently on IR<\/a>. Iosivas does not have the fanbase clamoring for a contract extension that some of his teammates do.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-21\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"8o\">Another Cougars player heading to the NFL soon is edge rusher Adam Trick, a transfer from Miami of Ohio, whom NFL Draft Buzz ranks 107th overall.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-22\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"8t\">Meanwhile, Tankathon has Makhi Hughes (RB) and Conner Weigman (QB) on its list of NFL prospects for the Cougars. However, both remain unranked through two games.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-23\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"8y\">But that could change if Weigman continues on his 7:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio, and Hughes continues to average 5.3 yards per carry.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-24\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"93\">Cincinnati\u2019s backup QB situation is one of the best in the NFL this year. However, if Flacco decides to either call it a career or perhaps compete elsewhere for a starting role next offseason, the team will need another arm to compete for QB2.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-25\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"98\">Now we wait to see where the Cincinnati Bengals scouts will pop up next if that sort of thing is your jam.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.minutemediacdn.com\/platform\/google_discover_icon.svg\" class=\"shrink-0\"\/>Add us as a preferred source on Google<a aria-label=\"Follow stripehype.com on Google News\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=stripehype.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" preventdefault:click=\"\" class=\"flex h-[30px] w-[30px] shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-primary font-group-large text-sm font-medium text-white transition-colors hover:bg-secondary focus:bg-secondary md:w-auto md:gap-2.5 md:px-4 md:py-[5px]\" on:click=\"q-Cl4Uw_qF.js#s_lDqay9E5m5g[0]\" q:id=\"9e\">Follow<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Last week, while we were all enthralled with the Cincinnati Bengals and what they were about to do&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":446511,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[168,170,169],"class_list":["post-446510","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-lubbock","tag-lubbock","tag-lubbock-headlines","tag-lubbock-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/446510","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=446510"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/446510\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/446511"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=446510"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=446510"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=446510"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}