# Five names Eagles fans should watch this fall

> Jimmy Kempski's weekly scouting list flags the college players who fit Philly's 2027 draft board, plus one who never will.
- Title: Five names Eagles fans should watch this fall · PhillyVoice
- Summary: Jimmy Kempski's weekly scouting list flags the college players who fit Philly's 2027 draft board, plus one who never will. Safety is the Eagles' clearest…
- Keywords: eagles, nfl draft, college football, scouting, safety, news, local, Five, names, fans, watch, fall
- Source: PhillyVoice — https://phillyvoice.com/five-college-prospects-eagles-2027-nfl-draft-jeremiah-smith-jelani-mcdonald-john-henry-daley-koi-perich-zabien-brown
- Published: 2026-09-12T10:51:59.659+00:00
- Read time: 3 min
- Topics: eagles, nfl draft, college football, scouting, safety, news, local
## A weekly scouting habit
Every college season, PhillyVoice picks five players a week worth watching because they make sense for the Eagles in the following spring's draft. This is the September 12 list.
## Koi Perich, safety, Oregon
Perich lit up as a true freshman at Minnesota in 2024: 46 tackles, 5 interceptions, a forced fumble, plus kick and punt returns. He transferred to Oregon for 2026.
## The sophomore dip
His 2025 follow-up at Minnesota was flat, and the staff even tried him at wide receiver. At Oregon he steps in for first-round pick Dillon Thienemann.
## Track star athleticism
Perich ran 10.89 in the 100 meters in high school and won a state long jump title. He was a star basketball player too.
## The Cooper DeJean comp
Kempski sees DeJean in him: same versatility, same appeal to Philly's front office. Perich hits harder, but DeJean was the better college player overall.

> Perich is a more physical hitter, but DeJean was better overall college player, in my opinion.
## Pair him with Mukuba
If Perich declares after this season, the Eagles get a shot at a long-term starter next to Andrew Mukuba on the back end.
## John Henry Daley rushes the passer
The 6'5, 252-pound Michigan edge finished seventh nationally with 11.5 sacks last year at Utah. Relentless motor, real move set, including a nasty inside spin.

> He has a motor that doesn't stop, and a nice repertoire of pass rush moves.
## The edge money problem
Jonathan Greenard is signed through 2029 and Nolan Smith's fifth-year option covers 2027. Jalyx Hunt's rookie deal ends in 2027, and Philly wants to extend him.
## Why a Day 2 edge fits
Paying Hunt, Quinyon Mitchell and DeJean may squeeze Nolan Smith out. If he's gone by 2028, a Day 2 rusher works as EDGE4 now and EDGE3 later.
## Zabien Brown is a Fangio corner
The Alabama corner plays clean man technique and reads zone unusually well. Kempski's read: you can see the coaching in every rep.

> He plays with good technique in man coverage, and outstanding awareness in zone.
## A ballhawk who tackles
Three picks as a true freshman in 2024, two pick-sixes in 2025, and he shows up in run support. Another year like that makes him a 2027 first-rounder.
## Can Philly spend there?
Riq Woolen is probably gone in 2027 either way. But with huge extensions coming for Mitchell and DeJean, a first-round corner on top of that is a stretch.
## Jeremiah Smith is the one
Ohio State's receiver has 76-1,315-15, then 87-1,243-12, and 8 catches for 151 and 2 scores in his 2026 opener. Top five pick, Julio Jones and A.J. Green comps.
## Root against the NFC East
The Eagles would need a disaster season to reach him, so the real hope is that the Commanders and Giants win enough games to pick after him.

> It's worth rooting for those teams to win some games this season just so that this guy lands somewhere other than the NFC East.
## Jelani McDonald, Texas thumper
Mukuba's former teammate is a bigger downhill safety who can still cover tight ends and contest deep balls. Instinctive, tough, likely an early Day 2 pick.
## Key takeaway

Safety is the Eagles' clearest 2027 need, and the 2027 class looks deep there, so Perich and McDonald are the names that actually matter.