The Heisman race this season is tighter than ever. Players like CJ Stroud, Hendon Hooker, and Bijan Robinson are highlighted across the media. But in Eugene, an unlikely name is making their case late in the year. Bo Nix has had a resurgence in Oregon after a less than ideal start to the season and it shouldn’t be ignored.
Bo Nix started the year with an ugly start against Georgia. It wasn’t just the Oregon quarterback, the entire team struggled against the reigning National Champions. Since then, the Auburn transfer has been on an absolute tear. He has thrown for 1,359 yards and 12 touchdowns with just one interception during the Ducks last six games.
Nix is coming off of a huge victory against UCLA, picking apart the defense and throwing five touchdowns while doing so. Everything is falling into place for the senior this season, and he had what some might say was his “Heisman moment” last weekend in a statement victory. As it stands, the Ducks have two top ten victories under their belt and are looking to add to that in the near future.
Oregon is in an excellent spot currently, and could contend for a playoff berth. Their last real match up comes on November 19th when they take on Utah, who as this is being written ranks 14th in the nation. There is also the increasing possibility that they could see USC in the PAC-12 Championship game. Setting the stage for Bo Nix to just add to his case for Heisman
So why has Nix been so successful recently?
It could be the fact that he has only been sacked once this entire season so far. That is not a typo. One can see that clearly his pocket presence has greatly improved. And not only that, but Nix has shown off his ability to evade the crashing pocket and make plays with his legs. The quarterback has 382 yards on the ground this season and has found the end zone eight times as well. Among all other quarterbacks, Nix holds the highest rushing grade with an 84.4 on the year.
To add on to his accomplishments, Nix became the third quarterback since 1996 to throw for at least five touchdowns in multiple games in a season. The last two quarterbacks were Oregon alumni Justin Herbert (2019) and Marcus Mariota (2014). Clearly that is an impressive feat as no other quarterback in the Heisman race this season has matched it.
The Oregon Ducks quarterback deserves his name thrown into the ring for the prestigious Heisman Trophy. He’s focused, he’s having fun, and the Ducks are winning. He really is a Heisman candidate this season and has the trajectory to catch the likes of Stroud or Hooker. This season Nix has flipped the narrative on his ceiling. His play has improved so much, and with the right tools around him he is showing the college football world just how far he can fly.
Week 8 didn’t have too many stand out match ups, but this encounter between LSU and Ole Miss looked like it could be decent on paper, and it certainly was.
I’d seen these teams much earlier in the season, so I was eager to get some eyes back on them and see what they were like now we’re in the thick of conference play.
It certainly seems that LSU have turned a corner and look very much on an upward curve, and even in defeat the Rebels still look like a very talented team that can push the very top of the SEC to their limits.
We’ll start the scouting notes with the very impressive Tigers…
LSU
The quarterback position has been a bit of a struggle for the Tigers since Joe Burrow led them to their greatest ever season.
The fans don’t have to worry anymore though, as Arizona State transfer Jayden Daniels is playing out of his mind right now. He absolutely destroyed the Rebel defense to the tune of 242 yards and two touchdowns through the air, and 121 yards and three scores on the ground.
He has such a calm demeanour about him, stays cool under pressure and takes care of the football, all very important traits to have. He was impressive during his career with the Sun Devils, but he has taken it up another level here in the SEC and this won’t go unnoticed.
There are limitations and question marks when it comes to evaluating him for the NFL.
Like, how much does he actually weigh? Why does he struggle with short touch passes? And, how good of an arm does he actually have?
But as a college quarterback he certainly is an entertaining watch, and he is putting himself into the Heisman trophy conversation too, which isn’t bad for a transfer who wasn’t expected to even win the starting job in the summer.
5 TOTAL TDS FOR JAYDEN DANIELS 😤
QB1 was putting on a SHOW in LSU’s upset over No. 7 Ole Miss
On the receiving end of Daniels throws should be star wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, but I think it’s fair to say he isn’t having the season that everyone was expecting.
Boutte hasn’t been playing at 100% health wise, and there was a run in with new head coach Brian Kelly before the season, so there are factors to why he is struggling, but right now he looks a shadow of what we saw the past two years.
He had 4 catches for 43 yards in this game, which aren’t big numbers at all, and he did have a drop too, but he was out there blocking his ass off on run plays when bigger ego players might not have bothered.
With a wide open WR1 for the 2023 draft, Boutte is still in that mix, but if the production doesn’t increase he’ll have to wow the scouts in interviews, and with his athletic testing to reach that lofty goal.
The recent Tiger defense’s haven’t always lived up to the levels that their predecessors were famed for, but they always produce NFL talent year in year out.
The 2023 NFL draft will have plenty of Tiger defenders in it, and there’s certainly one who could be a first round pick. EDGE B.J Ojulari is that player with a first round shot, and in this performance against Ole Miss it’s easy to see why. He is the brother of NY Giants EDGE Azeez Ojulari, and they certainly have a very similar style of play.
He is lightning quick out of his stance, can convert speed to power nicely and can dip under and around tackles in the flash of an eye. He isn’t the biggest and can get washed out on some plays, but there’s enough elite talent here to get first round looks, and at worst case he should end up a top 50 pick, just like his brother.
The Tigers other EDGE Ali Gaye is someone I wasn’t as high on as others during summer scouting, and he hadn’t impressed me in the couple of early season games I caught, but he was terrific here and showed why he could be a day two player.
He lacks the athletic traits that his teammate Ojulari has, but Gaye is a much bigger end who defended the run in this game well, and still showed enough as a pass rusher to worry the young Rebel tackles.
Testing will be key for him, but he looked a different beast in this game to what I’d seen previously, and hopefully he can continue to put these types of games on tape.
LSU knows how to produce cornerbacks, and the next one in line is Louisiana transfer Mekhi Garner.
He was part of a very stingy Ragin’ Cajun defense the last couple of years but decided to make the leap to the SEC and he has shone every time I’ve watched him. He was tested more in this game than my previous watches, but he came through well showing fluid transitions and good route recognition skills, which considering how big he is (6’2 217lbs) is very impressive.
Garner did give up a pass interference call on a quick slant where he was a fraction early on the play, but he really does look the part out there, and if he can answer the question about his long speed with good testing, he has the ability to be a round two guy for me.
It would be wrong if I didn’t mention true freshman Harold Perkins, who is having himself an excellent season. You can tell he is going to be a special player already, and although he is mainly lined up as an EDGE right now, with time you can see him moving inside to a more traditional off ball linebacker.
LSU true freshman linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. already has 1.5 sacks on the season.
His first step, speed and athleticism are impressing. He's going to be a productive player for LSU and a legit draft prospect. pic.twitter.com/lfj42AWI3s
He could very well be the next Micah Parsons, we’ll just have to wait another couple of years before we get to talk about him in regards to the NFL draft.
Mississippi
Any Lane Kiffin coached team is exciting to watch, and these Rebels are no different. Defensively they were found out in the second half, but the offense was a fun watch and they were just inches away on a couple of big plays that would have kept them up with LSU.
Quarterback Jaxson Dart is a true sophomore who transferred in from USC in the summer and has impressed so far this season at Ole Miss. He has nice touch, good arm strength and can be creative out of structure. He is also a very capable runner which he displayed in this game too, so a good all round package player.
Dart isn’t afraid to take a chance or two down the field, and that will get you into trouble at times as well, but let’s face it, we’d all prefer that type of quarterback over the boring efficient ones! Certainly a name for next year’s draft, which is shaping up to have quite a few top end QB prospects in it already.
It’s not often you get a transfer between Ole Miss and Mississippi State, but that’s what Wide Receiver Malik Heath has done, and it’s paying off handsomely for him.
You’d have thought being a receiver in the Bulldogs air raid system would be a better fit for him, but he is having the most productive year of his career in this more balanced Rebel offense, and also showing scouts there’s a more complete receiver profile to him.
Heath is a big, strong pass catcher who displays really good hands and strength at the catch point. There’s a little bit of former Rebel A.J Brown about him, but not as dynamic as the current Eagle is.
He has impressed me every watch so far this season and he may be one of my favourite sleepers at his position for the 2023 NFL draft.
The Rebel offensive line had struggles in this game, which isn’t surprising considering they were starting two freshman tackles. They do have two highly rated draft eligible guys on this Line, but both are having indifferent seasons.
Former Left Tackle turned Guard Nick Broeker was highly thought of during the summer, but I was never quite as high on him as the consensus was, and I’m still not.
For me, he struggled at tackle the past couple of years, so the move inside to guard was expected, but the level of play still remains inconsistent. There are nice flashes at times but there were so many plays in this game where he was beaten to his set points or just knocked off balance too easily, and it’s a big concern if he is still viewed as a top 100 type player.
I was much higher on former right tackle-turned-guard Jeremy James than most during the summer, but his move inside to guard for me isn’t playing to his strengths, and it’s causing him to slide down boards.
He is excellent in pass protection and staying at tackle would have showcased that more, but inside at Guard he is having to do more of the dirty work.
That said, he did consistently beat up on LSU defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy, who I’m pretty high on, so this tape is still good, I just wish he was out at tackle where I’m pretty sure he’ll be drafted to play in the NFL.
As I said earlier, this Rebel defense was torn to shreds in the second half of this game, but there was one stand out player who needs to get mentioned.
EDGE Jared Ivey is a transfer from Georgia Tech and he has taken the step up in competition to the SEC in his stride.
He has ideal size (6’5 265lbs) and length, and does a nice job rushing the passer from both the traditional outside role, and also inside as a three technique at times too. He has some decent bend to him and isn’t afraid to go through a lineman too if needed with brute strength, so plenty of nice traits to work with. He had a sack in this game, giving him 3.5 on the year so far, which is more than double what he managed in over 600 career snaps at Georgia Tech. Certainly a player on the rise, but as a true junior he may well go back to school to continue his progression and improve his draft stock.
Amidst all the close matchups and upset wins over the last few weeks, one thing has remained consistent. Ohio State’s offense is bullying teams.
The Buckeyes have an unbelievable conveyor belt of elite wide receivers, which is full credit to the recruiting staff and those that develop the players once they’re on campus. But those receivers would be nowhere near as productive without the dominant play of CJ Stroud.
On Saturday Stroud pushed Ohio State past Iowa in a scrappy game which saw turnovers galore. The Hawkeyes defense is strong, and that showed as they managed to shut down the Buckeyes running game. However, if teams commit to stopping TreVeyon Henderson and co then there’s a strong chance that Stroud will have plenty of favourable matchups through the air. With touchdown grabs for Julia Fleming, Marvin Harrison Jr & Emeka Egbuka, that was very much the case – and the Buckeyes were able to limit Jaxson Smith-Njigba thanks to their dominance.
Still, this wasn’t a vintage display by any means. Stroud threw an interception and fumbled, Henderson managed just 38 yards and there wasn’t quite the tempo that the Buckeyes’ fans are used to seeing. But this is exactly why they’re a winner. When you’re not playing at 100% but still beating a 3-3 team by 44 points, you’ve got an excellent shot at a National Championship.
Will Shipley
In a crucial game for Clemson, Dabo Swinney needed his highly touted QB to step up to the plate and dominate Syracuse’s defense. Sadly, as we’ve come to expect from DJ Uiagalelei, that didn’t happen.
If Uiagalelei isn’t playing well, the Tigers can often rely on their elite defense to carry them through a game. But for long periods at the start of Saturday’s game Garret Schrader was able to move the ball as he needed to. That certainly changed after half-time, with the Orange held scoreless, but there was only one reason that Clemson were still in the game at that point. That was sophomore running back, Will Shipley.
Time and again this season, Shipley has lifted Clemson’s offense with his hard running style and key third down conversions. Through five games in 2022, Shipley has carried the ball 123 times for 739 yards and ten touchdowns. Saturday’s performance was his best of the year, as his 172 yards and two scores proved vital in a 27-21 win.
The mark of a good team is having someone step up when others aren’t at their best. With Shipley supporting an average QB, he’ll be needed more often than not this year.
South Carolina
Texas A&M taking a beating seems to be a pretty regular thing this season. With Saturday’s loss, the Aggies have now dropped four games in 2022, a remarkable thing for a team that was boasting of a historic recruiting class during the Summer.
But the Aggies’ loss wasn’t all about them this weekend. South Carolina look like a dangerous team at present. With Spencer Rattler and the helm and Marshawn Lloyd tearing things up in the backfield, they’ve got a chance to make a splash in every game.
The standout player on Saturday however, was on defense for the Gamecocks. Darius Rush had a humongous game, with a 59 yard interception, a pass defensed and six solo tackles. The senior defensive back is having a strong year as he looks to be drafted in 2023.
With a win against the Aggies, South Carolina moved to 5-2 on the season. A remarkable feat considering the state the programme was in when Shane Beamer took over a year and a half ago.
LOSERS
Zach Gibson
With Jeff Sims knocked out of the game for Georgia Tech on Friday night, it was Zach Gibson’s time to shine as the Yellow Jackets looked to come from behind against the Virginia Cavaliers.
Gibson had a significant amount of experience as the starter for Tech in 2021, so he was no deer in the headlines when he ran out onto the field. Sure, he may not have been fully prepared to play, especially given the way Sims has played at times this season.
However, with the final play of the game, Gibson had the chance to make a play. Stepping out of the pocket to buy time, with the Yellow Jackets down seven points, everyone expected him to haul the ball down field. Instead, the Alpharetta native jogged out of play to end the game.
Georgia Tech, known for their prestigious academics. Highest regarded school in the state, producer of scholars pic.twitter.com/Da7s8R0Qk2
Miami have been a regular in this slot over the course of the season. What promised to be a bright season has fallen away into a poor first year for Head Coach, Mario Cristobal.
On Saturday, the Hurricanes were on the end of a drubbing from Duke. Before the season that would have been unthinkable, with Tyler Van Dyke and others drawing rave reviews from not only the CFB community, but everyone associated with the NFL draft.
With Duke QB, Riley Leonard, rushing for three touchdowns and the wider offense putting up 200 yards on the ground, there wasn’t much that Miami could do to slow them down. But it was the offensive line that struggled the most, as Duke tallied six sacks and seven tackles for a loss.
It’s blindingly obvious that there are holes all over the Hurricanes’ roster, but the one silver lining for Miami’s fans is that Cristobal is an expert at attracting talent. They’ll need to recruit some record breaking classes to turn things around in South Florida, could it all be a bit too much for the former Oregon Head Coach?
Grant Sands
If you’ve not seen the viral tweets about Weber State’s record breaking four safeties in their loss to Montana State, then do watch the below clip. Grant Sands is probably having a rough weekend after achieving viral fame, so the video can speak for itself.
And just like that we are at the halfway point in the college football regular season!
Week 7 had some great games on the slate, and I really wanted to get a deep look at the Michigan vs. Penn State game, but what unfolded in Knoxville needed to be written about, even if I’ve already done a deep dive on both teams already this season. This was probably the game of the season so far, with drama and talking points galore, and an upset win by the Vols 52-49 at the death.
So many players here helped their draft stock but there were also a couple who had uncharacteristic performances too, and I’ll try and cover as many as possible below, starting with the triumphant Tennessee Volunteers…
Tennessee
On my last deep dive with the Vols I suggested that Quarterback Hendon Hooker had put himself in the conversation to be QB3 next April. This performance, against a defense littered with future high NFL draft picks, will only push his case further, and there are now people suggesting that he is even in the Heisman Trophy conversation.
Top Quarterbacks need a signature win to stamp their CVs and this was Hooker’s. He threw for 385 yards, five TDs and one Interception, which are ridiculous numbers against this Bama defense, but more important than the stat sheet was how he led his team to the upset win.
Hooker was never fazed as the score went back and forth between the two teams, and he was never afraid to take the downfield shots when he could, or use his legs if he needed to, to keep his team moving down the field. Hooker took chances, and got away with an Interception that was called back for a questionable pass interference call, but you don’t beat teams like Alabama without taking chances, and he made his offense a threat to score every time they had the ball.
As I’m sure you can tell I’m a big fan, and right now I can’t see how he isn’t viewed as QB3, but there will be people using his age (he’ll be a 25 year old rookie) as a big negative.
I would say what he has is a mature head on his shoulders, and could lead an NFL offense with very little prep time needed, which is surely a plus point.
With star wide receiver Cedric Tillman still out, the Vols have relied on others to step up to pick up his slack. Jalin Hyatt stepped up in the biggest possible way with a career best 207 yards on just six catches, with five of them going for touchdowns!
Hyatt is a burner who turned on the jets for two of his scores, outrunning the Bama secondary each time showcasing his elite speed. He has had a couple of really nice games this year, especially with Tillman out, and he is doing himself no harm with putting tape out like this for scouts to drool over.
There’s a bit of Hollywood Brown about Hyatt, and the NFL does love a speedster, so he has value and will be moving up boards with games like this in his pocket.
For the offense to move down the field as easily as they did, the offensive line had to play well, and they did, particularly the two tackles.
Left tackle Gerald Mincey was having a great game but picked up an injury and didn’t play the second half. Right tackle Darnell Wright did play the whole game and he put in a dominant performance, especially considering he spent a lot of time up against a potential number one overall pick in Will Anderson.
Wright was exceptional in pass protection, showing great technique and strength in his hands controlling the pass rushers nicely. He displayed good footwork too, keeping a nice solid base but with good lateral movement as well to keep the pocket clean. He gave up zero pressures, and considering the talent he was up against, that’s some great tape to show scouts.
He is someone I wasn’t overly high on coming into the year, but his performances this season have been excellent, and he is certainly getting his name back out there and on some top ten tackle lists.
Defensively for the Vols there wasn’t much to shout about, as Alabama could consistently move the ball down the field with ease, but linebacker Jeremy Banks did impress though, often around the ball and in on plays. He can line up as a traditional off ball linebacker, or out on the edge, and was effective in both roles in this game.
He doesn’t have enough size to line up as a pass rusher in the NFL, but he was effective in that role here, getting five pressures and causing plenty of disruption when blitzed. In a more traditional role he showed good read and react skills and good tackling technique but is limited somewhat when asked to cover. He has that classic late round pick, special teams ace vibe to him.
Alabama
The Crimson Tide offense has looked a shadow of itself the last couple of games with star Quarterback Bryce Youngout injured. He was back for this game and showed how vital he is to this team. He was excellent from the start, testing his injured shoulder early, and then with confidence took his team up and down the field routinely. He finished with a massive 455 yards passing, two touchdowns and no picks, and looked as good as he did before the injury. He is a special talent who is in a fight to be QB1 with Ohio State’s C.J Stroud, and both should end up being top five picks in the draft.
We are used to having a bevvy of top Bama wide receivers prospects, but this is definitely a down year in that department.
Running back Jahmyr Gibbs has been a valuable weapon in the passing game as well as the run game this year, and he has helped his quarterback out in that department regularly.
Tight end Cameron Latu came through in this game too, with a breakout performance and one which should get him some draft buzz back. Latu came into the year graded by most scouts as the top senior tight end prospect, but his performances up to now have been a bit underwhelming and he has been overtaken by a few others.
However, he was a different beast though in this game, showing really soft hands when used in the passing game, and good solid run blocking, especially out on the edge, on run plays. This is the kind of level of performance we were expecting all year, so let’s hope this is the start of more consistent play so he can get his name back out there again.
The Crimson Tide offensive line has always churned out high quality prospects, but this current version is a little light on top end talent. Right tackle JC Latham is the one exception and he’ll be a big name in the 2024 draft, but their best draft hope for this year’s draft is left tackle Tyler Steen. Having to replace Evan Neal (seventh overall selection last year) is no easy task, but Bama is littered with five star recruits who should’ve stepped up into that role.
They didn’t, and it’s been left to Vanderbilt transfer Steen to come in and hold that position down, which he has done to a high standard. He won’t wow with athleticism or power, but he is a good technician and is very experienced, having been a three year starter at left tackle for the Commodores before transferring over the summer. He will most likely be a day three pick as the upside is limited with him, but he would make a valuable swing tackle at the next level, and teams will still invest decent draft capital to that role.
Now we’re not used to a Bama defense giving up 567 yards, but that is what happened in this game.
All the big name 2023 Bama defensive prospects had rough nights. EDGE Will Anderson had the quietest game I’ve ever seen from him. As mentioned before, Tennessee’s Tackles really shackled him and he couldn’t affect the game in any way really. We won’t overreact to this performance and move him down boards, he is still the best player in the country, all it proved was that he is actually human.
Linebacker Henry To’o To’o, Safety/Slot Corner Brian Branch and Safety Jordan Battle, all had indifferent games too, but again this won’t affect their draft stock too much as we pretty much know what players they are already.
One player whose stock may take a hit because of this game is Safety DeMarcco Hellams. He had been getting some buzz due to his play so far this year, but this was a disaster for him, as he was twice burned for touchdowns by Jalin Hyatt. They moved him away from covering Hyatt one on one in the second half, but he still missed some tackles and took a bad angle on another Hyatt touchdown. This is tape he’ll want to lose, but the scouts will already have seen the weaknesses exposed here, and no doubt he’ll end up falling down some boards accordingly.
The only Alabama defensive player who gets a pass is true sophomore Cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry, who was only targeted twice and gave up no catches. He had Tennessee receiver Bru McCoy in his pocket all game and looked every bit the next special Crimson Tide corner.
Follow Keith on Twitter @lordlucken
Read other scouting notes and the rest of our CFB content HERE.
A pretty seismic day of College Football saw the scales of power tip a fair bit, with Alabama, USC and Penn State all losing out to rivals in the playoff race.
As always, there’s plenty that could have been included but here are your winners and losers from week seven.
Winners
Tennessee
It’d be hard to start anywhere else but in Knoxville, where the Vols pulled off a historic win over Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide. From the get go, Tennessee made things difficult for Bryce Young and yet the future NFL QB managed to keep the game in the balance until the last kick off the game.
At this point it also looks like Hendon Hooker will be playing meaningful snaps on Sunday afternoons as well. This win will be the proof that scouts use to answer the question ‘how does he play in big games?’. With 385 yards and five passing touchdowns the Virginia Tech transfer was very much the focal point for the Vols. It’s also quite incredible that Jalin Hyatt reeled in all five of those TD passes.
But the real winner from this game were the fans, more than 100,000 watched the Vols win. Some of those then stormed the field, and the sea of orange flowed from and around the stadium for hours after the win. Great scenes that encapsulate football at its best.
Michigan
Hands up who thought Penn State at Michigan would be a close game? Nearly everyone did in their previews. Instead, Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards decided that Saturday would be the day that they reinvented the phrase, ‘thunder and lightning’.
In an excellent article, Lee has already covered off the strengths of Corum, and he looks more than ready to be drafted as one of the top running backs in next year’s draft. But Edwards is still emerging as a force to be reckoned with for the Wolverines. As a four star recruit, Edwards was ranked the fourth best running back prospect in the 2021 class. He also had the benefit of staying close to home after attending West Bloomfield High School. Now, in his second year on campus he’s showing why he came so highly rated.
The win moves Michigan to 7-0 and pushes them past one of the more difficult opponents left on their schedule. With Alabama’s defeat, it looks very likely that an undefeated season would see Michigan return to the playoff. Ohio State look like the most dangerous team that the Wolverines still have to face, and that promises to be a barnstormer on the final day of the season.
Utah
Continuing the theme of top 25 ‘winners’ this week are the Utah Utes. After a much hyped preseason the Utes stumbled to start the season, but they appear to be well and truly back on track with a one point victory over USC.
For large swathes of this game it looked like the Trojans might pull ahead and put this one out of reach, but credit to both sides of the ball for Utah – as they kept the game close enough for Cam Rising to run the ball into the end zone with 43 seconds left. The accompanying two point conversion provided all the necessary drama that was fitting for a go ahead score in a 43-43 game and Utah left with the W.
Special mention should go to Dalton Kincaid, who really should be getting more draft buzz than he is. With Brant Kuithe out for the season Kincaid has been the number one option on offense, and he’s already put up 558 yards and six TDs this season. With a PAC-12 only schedule to see out the season, Kincaid and Utah have got a lot of time left to push for a championship in 2022.
Losers
Florida
Two fourth quarter scores make Florida’s defeat to LSU seem closer than it really was. The Gators struggled to get the ball moving through Anthony Richardson and, despite a highlight reel run, it was clear that the highly rated QB needs some help if Billy Napier’s team is going to start winning consistently.
Facing a versatile signal caller in Jaylen Daniels, the Gators should have looked to pile on the pressure early and often. Yet the home side only managed one sack and three tackles for a loss all game. After a difficult start to the season, Daniels has grown in stature for the Tigers, and Florida were powerless to stop him at times.
With Georgia, Texas A&M and South Carolina coming up, it’s going to be a real struggle for the Gators to get past the seven win total this season. Something which may hurt them on the recruitment trail more than anywhere else.
NC State
This one is through no fault of NC State’s making, but after a promising start to the season the loss of Devin Leary for the season is devastating for the Wolfpack. With a difficult matchup against Syracuse, the announcement that their star QB was done for the year was only made public shortly before kick off.
Charleston Southern transfer, Jack Chambers, will deputise for Leary for the remainder of the season, but the difference in quality was evident against the Orange. Syracuse have been very good all year, as their 6-0 record now attests to, and 160 yards through the air was never going to be enough to beat them. There were flashes of talent from Chambers in the running game, but the Wolfpack’s coaching staff are going to have to make some adjustments during the week to make their offense far more effective.
Notre Dame
It seems like a lot of Notre Dame’s mediocrity is going under the radar this season. As with any sport, the main talking points tend to be excellence or incompetence, and Notre Dame don’t really look like they’re encapsulating either of those extremities.
However, this weekend they were handed a loss by a Stanford team that hadn’t registered a win of note prior to Saturday. It’s clear that things have been a struggle since Drew Pyne took over the starting role, despite the recent run of wins. And, with a resolute Stanford defense managing to make plays in the backfield, things just didn’t look fluid for the Fighting Irish.
Marcus Freeman has been dealt a difficult hand to get his head coaching career underway and in many ways he’s doing an impressive job. But the takeaway from this defeat will be Notre Dame’s failure to execute in key situations, which is something which Freeman must tackle with his players.
In the first part of our focus on College Football’s most exciting running backs, we look at a player who has really excelled in the 2022 season. His performance against Virginia Tech was a real indicator of what he has to offer, and really put himself on the map with his record-breaking performance.
This RBRB (record-breaking running back) is Pittsburgh’s Israel Abanikanda. The Junior from Brooklyn, New York, rushed for just 635 yards in 2021, with seven touchdowns, but he has already broken both his personal bests this year in half the time.
So just how has Abanikanda gone from being an average running back to one of the hottest in the country right now? We take a deeper dive into what he offers to Pittsburgh and the way he has adapted to be a pivotal part of their offense.
Who is Israel Abanikanda?
Abanikanda is a 5’11, 215lb running back that, in High School, was named as New York’s Gatorade Player of the Year, leading the Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) in rushing and scoring as a Senior.
His ability on the High School football field couldn’t be doubted, and as a Senior he rushed for 1350 yards and totalled 166 points (25 touchdowns and 8 two-point conversions). On top of that his athletic nature saw him as a two-time 100-meter gold medallist in the New York City Mayor’s Cup. A physical runner blessed with power and speed; he is really starting to show his worth in Pittsburgh.
Let’s use some of his clips to show what he can do.
In this clip of Abanikanda tying the ACC and Pitt touchdown record, he shows that pure physicality and speed to make the defense look like they aren’t even there.
As soon as he receives the ball there is clearly a bunch of players through the middle, cutting off a clear running route, however, the way he shifts his feet and follows the blocker he targets the open space made for him.
Then the accelerators burst into life, and he drives through the middle of three defenders, ending up in the endzone about ten yards in front of them. Even more impressive was the fact this was nearly halfway through the final quarter, for his sixth touchdown and brought him up to 298 rushing yards.
His performance was frighteningly good. He was explosive on the getaway, but his ability to turn mid-yardage drive into big drives shows true ability. He racked up nine carries of 10+ yards and seven carries of 15+ yards, accumulating 237 yards on designed rushing attempts of 15 yards, and this came from starting the game with -4 yards after three carries.
The difference between this year and last seems to be a combination of Pittsburgh’s confidence in him being able to create big plays, but also the heavy importance of how the offensive line helps him by creating spaces for him to drive into.
The first clip is a true example of that, if it wasn’t for the block and the space for Abanikanda to drive into, it wouldn’t turn into an 80-yard touchdown.
The reliance on Abanikanda can be seen just by the sheer amount of volume he now sees the ball. He had double-digit carries in games just six times entering this season, and 20+ carries just once.
Now six weeks into the season, Abanikanda has only seen single figures once, in the opening game against West Virginia. Since then, he has broken the 100+ yard mark four times in five games, his least productive outing coming against Georgia Tech.
The last two home games, either side of the Georgia Tech matchup, have really put him on the map. Abanikanda has rushed for 10 touchdowns, and 497 yards, averaging just over nine yards a carry. His explosiveness, his ability to maintain speed over larger distances and his control over the football has been a real pleasure to watch. This has enabled Pittsburgh to turn into a run-first offense, and with Kedon Slovis yet to really kick on, it has lifted the pressure on him following the loss of Kenny Pickett to the NFL.
Has Abanikanda put himself into the NFL draft mix?
With his performances this season, there is no reason why Abanikanda can’t be a high pick in the 2023 Draft, but there needs to be consistency between now and the end of the season for him to be even considered for the mix.
The 2021 season, dominated by Kenny Pickett, didn’t allow him to really stand out as a big threat on the ground, but now in a team that relies on running, Abanikanda has been given a platform to showcase his abilities.
So, will he need to be in a team that focuses more on the ground attack rather than the air attack? Possibly. We are yet to see what Abanikanda can do as a receiving threat due to the issues Slovis has faced so far this year, but that’s something that could be improved upon as Slovis finds his feet a bit more. But there are plenty of offenses in the NFL whose running threats are much greater than their receiving threats so he could be a good fit to a handful of teams.
In Conclusion…
Abanikanda is an exciting running back who possesses the explosiveness, speed and dominance on the ground to be a top-level running back. However, the main concerns will be his consistency and whether he can put up the numbers against the better teams in College Football.
Pitt has a bye week this week but three games against Louisville, UNC and Syracuse could be the real indicator of what he has to offer and if he can produce against the better teams. There are some big divisional matches coming up, and if Abanikanda can produce then Pittsburgh has a great chance of being ACC Champions.
The third Saturday of October is finally upon us, which can only mean one thing – it’s time to go hard or go home.
This weekend, #3 Alabama will take on #6 Tennessee in their 105th meeting. A rivalry that has been dominated for over a decade by the Crimson Tide, but this year seems different.
Tennessee is entering the matchup with Heisman hopeful Hendon Hooker behind center. Bryce Young is questionable to play after sitting out last week in a nail biter against Texas A&M. The Crimson Tide barely escaped that game thanks to some questionable decision making by Jimbo Fisher in the final moments of that game.
Going into Neyland Stadium will not make this any easier for Alabama, as the energy will reach levels fans have not seen in some time. Expect Knoxville to be covered in that beautiful Tennessee orange this weekend.
If Alabama is going to sneak out of Knoxville with a win, then look for them to limit the amount of mistakes they make this weekend. Last Saturday was far from pretty, as ball control was something that the Crimson Tide struggled with all game. They were lucky to squeeze past Texas A&M despite the mistakes, but the Volunteers will not be as forgiving. Without Heisman winner Bryce Young, Alabama will definitely struggle against this Tennessee team. But surely there is no way the Crimson Tide quarterback misses out on potentially one of the biggest games of the season?
In the other corner, Tennessee is looking to upset the Tide without wide receiver Cedric Tillman. The receiver is still recovering from ankle surgery, and hopes to be back for the Kentucky game instead. The Volunteers will look to overcome the lack of his presence and keep this offense at the top of College Football.
The high powered offense led by Hendon Hooker is definitely the Vols’ strongest point. The Tennessee quarterback will look to keep this high flying offense on course throughout. It currently ranks first in yards, averaging 547.8 yards of offense. The unit is also second in scoring offense with an average of 46.8 points per game. This will be Hooker’s largest challenge to date though.
Alabama’s defense ranks top ten in many categories this season, including yards per game and scoring per game. Highlighted by Will Anderson, a favorite by many in this year’s upcoming draft, the Crimson Tide will not make things easy for this Tennessee offense. That being said, getting to Hooker will not be easy either as the Vols have allowed the second lowest pressure rate in the country.
Tennessee will look to keep Alabama on their heels all game, flashing one of the quickest offenses in the nation. Alabama has not been the best in these up-tempo games, but will look to change that this weekend. No matter the outcome, the true winner will be football fans all over. This is lining up to be one of the best, if not the best matchup fans get all season.
Will’s Prediction
#6 Tennessee will protect Neyland Stadium and upset the opposing Crimson Tide. Heisman Hooker will look to cement his name in this race and this is just the game to prove it. Hard to bet against Nick Saban and Alabama, but I just do not think they can keep up with this Volunteer offense. This will be a nail biter nonetheless, cause why wouldn’t it? Tennessee will squeeze by Alabama with some late game heroics from Hooker and win 34-31. Expect another strong showing from the connection between Hooker and wide receiver Bru McCoy.
It’s Friday and we have all made it through to another week and we are on the verge of another weekend of college football!
And what does that mean? It means it’s time for another Player to Watch and this week we are focusing on Notre Dame tight end, Michael Mayer.
Keith whetted your appetite for Mayer in his excellent scouting notes review of the Irish’s game against BYU last weekend. Mayer had an excellent game, the best of his season so far – 11 catches for 118 yards, with a couple of touchdowns.
However, I’ll leave the one game scouting notes to Keith and I’ll get on with a deep dive on this talented tight end prospect…
Let’s go back to the start and find out who Michael Mayer is…
6’4, 265lb, Michael Mayer has always been a high flyer when it comes to football, a 5-star prospect out of Covington, Kentucky he attended Covington Catholic High School and he was the MVP on a team that won a Kentucky state championship in 2019.
Mayer was the 2019 Gatorade Kentucky Football Player of the Year and named the Kentucky Coaches Association Mr. Football in the same year. The accolades kept coming in 2020 as he was selected to the US Army All-American Bowl.
The recruiting process yielded an avalanche of offers from big, Power-5 schools; Georgia, Texas, Alabama, Tennessee, LSU and of course, his home state of Kentucky, amongst many more. However, he chose to enrol at the most prestigious catholic university in the world and head to South Bend, Indiana.
Mayer was the number one player in Kentucky and the number two tight end in the country, so there is no wonder that he was so sought after.
Once on campus, Mayer began to make an impact almost immediately – He played 12 games in his Freshman season, he was starting by game two and scored a touchdown in game three. He really was Playing like a Championfrom day one.
Ever since, Mayer has been one of the brightest tight end prospects in college football… Let’s dive into the tape to see why.
In the modern NFL, tight ends are versatile weapons and can be used in diverse ways in the passing game as well as being blockers in the run game too.
The bread and butter is the passing game and being that safety net for quarterbacks, which is the area of the game that I really feel Mayer excels in. I feel this gives him an excellent floor when entering the league, and as always there’s room to grow.
This first clip shows Mayer lining up in a traditional tight end alignment and making a nice catch with soft hands for a big gain. This from the Toledo game is 2021:
25 yards as easy as that. Ok, it is against Toledo and the defenders aren’t of the quality of Notre Dame’s more high-end opponents, but a nice release up the sideline, tracked the ball really nicely and brought it in easily.
We can see that Mayer isn’t a super-quick, jumbo receiver but he’s excellent at traditional tight end things. Which I think still valuable in today’s NFL.
Speaking of traditional tight end things…
As much as being a Travis Kelce or Kyle Pitts-type X-receiver masquerading as a tight end is fun, it is important to be able to run-block and be traditional, especially in an offense such as what the 49ers run with tight ends like George Kittle.
Mayer is certainly willing when it comes to run blocking. He motions across from the opposite side of the formation in this split-zone run, he opens up the lane to spring a big run, which is all very NFL run game, a team like the Rams run this kind of play a great deal, although this wouldn’t be Matthew Stafford running down the sideline.
Again, there is the caveat of Toledo and Mayer could be more aggressive in the block. However, you can see that he knows what he’s doing; he activates his hips and gets his hands underneath the pads of the defender to leverage him out of the way.
Whilst Mayer can do a lot of the traditional tight end things, he can also split out, off the offensive line, a la Kelce or Pitts. He isn’t the athlete of either of these two, he’s not even close, to be honest, but it’s nice to see this in his locker, big slot receiver’s are in vogue right now.
What I like about this clip from last year’s game against Cincinnati, is that he can make a long reception, in traffic with defenders diving and ready to lay a big hit on him. He is also able to run down the seam and show his physicality to shrug away the defender and create some separation.
We can see this kind of physicality on show in last year’s Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma State.
The added layer from the previous clip to this one is that we can add in that Mayer is a red zone weapon. Big bodies can be great in the red zone; they can body up smaller defenders and box out players on well-placed throws that only he can bring in. Mix in the fact that he can be used in a variety of ways – Y-tight end, in-line tight end, H-back and Notre Dame do so here.
The Irish are in heavy personnel, with 3 tight ends in 13 personnel which forces the Cowboys into base defense and expecting a run. There are only two men out on routes but two crossing routes put the defensive backs in a bind and Mayer has leverage and uses his physicality to get separation and it’s an easy catch and score.
Mayer also scored a second touchdown against Oklahoma State too, another red zone score which again demonstrates what his value will likely be in the NFL.
Big bodies over the middle in the red zone will never not be an option for quarterbacks. Mayer shows his hands again here with an excellent diving catch. He also shows a little bit of wiggle with a drop of a shoulder, and mix that with a nice play design and a high quality tight end means it’s going to be a touchdown as long as the QB makes the throw.
As is tradition for this article, there’s always got to be a but, the area of improvement.
It’s tough to show in one clip but I feel like you could see it in every clip I’ve got here but it centres around his athleticism. As much as Mayer can clearly threaten down the seam and he can make plays in the deep portion of the field, I feel like his lack of juice could limit his ceiling and perhaps the separation that he could attain in the NFL.
Can this get better? Maybe marginally but he is what he is at this point and he has the ready-made body of an NFL tight end which isn’t going to drastically change.
However, at the end of the day, I still feel he has a bright future in the pros.
So what can we expect this weekend against Stanford in one of college football’s most traditional rivalry games?
Well, Stanford isn’t having a great season so far, with a record of 1-4 in a fun Pac-12 conference, their only win coming against Colgate in their opening game. On the other side of the ball, Notre Dame has had a little bit of a resurgence after a somewhat sticky start to the season.
Stanford doesn’t really have any great safety or linebacker who will be tasked with guarding Mayer and attempting to take him out of the game. So perhaps the best comparison and battle could be offense vs. offense, and perhaps tight end vs. tight end.
Stanford has their own exciting tight end in Benjamin Yurosek. Yurosek isn’t of the same calibre of Mayer, albeit he was a 4-star prospect out of high school. Last season Yurosek had 658 yards and 3 touchdowns to Mayer’s 840 and 7. Not a million miles away, especially when considering Notre Dame was 11-2 and was ranked #8 in the country, whereas Stanford, well, was not.
I expect Notre Dame to win but Stanford’s offense can put up some points with Tanner McKee under center, who, by the way, is the best QB in this game on Saturday.
After this season, what can we expect some draft weekend?
Carrying on from earlier in the article, I fully expect the trend of Mayer being a high-flyer to continue come the spring.
As shown above, he is a plus-pass catcher and he will be ready to contribute on an NFL offense immediately. He has an NFL body and he passes the tight end eye-test, both on the field and also in the mugshot too. Just check out his Notre Dame bio, just look at that square jaw and thick neck, those are NFL traits as much as the height, weight and on-field play.
In terms of tight end, the college football landscape and in particular the media coverage is dominated by Georgia guys like Darnell Washington and most of all, Brock Bowers. However, Bowers isn’t draft eligible until next year and Mayer should be talked about just as much, I feel he just doesn’t bring the monster, highlight plays that you see from Bowers on social media.
This shouldn’t be thought of as a negative though, Mayer does a lot of things well and he’s one of the best out there. Mayer is likely to be the first tight end off the board in April and that should mean he’s a first round player.
So to conclude…
Mayer is a traditional tight end prospect who has the skill set to fit into a lot of offenses around the NFL. He can improve in run blocking and maybe get a little faster and stronger in a professional weight programme but I do think we will hear the phrase NFL ready when the calendar turns to 2023 and we are in the thick of the pre-draft cycle.
Mayer reminds me of a player like Hunter Henry; a big body who can be a safe pair of hands over the middle and down the seams, he can be a serviceable blocker and a red zone weapon. One for your fantasy teams and for a long career in the NFL, another great prospect out of Notre Dame and one I am looking forward to watching this weekend.
There were plenty of good games to choose from this week, but I’d always had my eye on this game as there were some very good potential match ups I wanted to watch. The game itself was an interesting affair between the more aggressive down the field style of BYU, against the more run based and time controlling Irish, and in the end Notre Dame prevailed, deservedly, 28-20.
We’ll start the notes with the defeated Cougars and a few players who are certainly creating some draft buzz…
BYU
Quarterback Jaren Hall has been getting plenty of plaudits for his performances so far this season, so I was intrigued to see how he did against a top quality defense. The answer was not great really. It started with his very first pass of the game, which was either horribly underthrown or a miscommunication with the receiver, which was easily intercepted.
After that Notre Dame controlled the time of possession so well, that he only ended up attempting 17 passes all game. Now when they were backed into a hole and had to take chances, Hall seemed to come alive and hit a few nice chunk plays to get his team going. He is clearly the leader of that team and they responded to him well, but there’s still a sense of rawness and limitations to his game.
He certainly isn’t the second coming of Zach Wilson, which is what the hype around him had become, but there’s certainly things to work with and he could still end up a late day two type of guy.
The biggest reason I wanted to watch this game was for the matchup between left tackle Blake Freeland, and Notre Dame Edge Isaiah Foskey. Unfortunately for me, Foskey only played just over half the available snaps, and when he was in there he was mostly lined up over the right tackle.
#71 Blake Freeland and #56 Clark Barrington are names you need to know in the ‘23 #NFLDraft class.
Freeland was absolutely dominant against the other pass rushers the Irish threw at him, looking in total control throughout. He is one of these elegant, dancing bear types, that always seem unfazed by the chaos around them.
He has long arms that ride defenders away from the pocket and he has enough strength in him to overwhelm static rushers too. His run blocking isn’t on the same level as his pass protection, but he still gets movement in the run game and has a good understanding of combo blocks and angles, and is rarely beaten to his spot.
Usually with BYU prospects we worry about their age, as they tend to go on two year mormon missions whilst at the university, but Freeman is still listed as 21 years old, and will be 22 come draft day, so nothing to worry about there.
I was really high on Brady Christensen a couple of drafts ago, but I think Freeland has better all round tools than him and he could end up being a first round guy, especially as this year the tackle class is a bit cloudy with no true standouts yet.
A name for the future is redshirt freshman receiver Kody Epps. The Cougars had been without their two best catchers in Gunnar Romney and Puka Nacua for a few games and in their absence Epps had shown up.
They were back for this game, but clearly not 100%, so it was still good to see Epps being used as a weapon and he made a couple of nice big plays, including a great catch and run touchdown. Not the biggest guy, but he is an exciting player when he gets his hands on the ball, and the type that gets you out of your chair.
Defensively BYU had a bend but don’t break attitude, and they made some nice plays when they needed to, which kept them in the game. None of the draft eligible guys did much to stand out but sophomore EDGE Tyler Batty had a nice game.
He is a long, athletic looking defensive end who had some nice results working against the right tackle in the run game and as a pass rusher. He is a good edge setter who understands his role, and when let loose he shows enough to scare some linemen. He won’t be a stat filler in this defense, but his pass rush win rate is really high, so there are traits and skills to work with, and he’ll be a fun watch for the next couple of years.
Notre Dame
This Irish offense has really taken off since quarterback Drew Pyne took over in week 3. They rely on the run game to move the chains, but Pyne can certainly sling it when he needs to, with poise and accuracy, and create splash plays. Now he’s built like Alabama’s Bryce Young, but obviously nowhere near the level of talent he is, but he is proving to be a good fit for this system and is at least making people sit up and take notice of him.
Pyne’s favourite target in this game was star Tight End Michael Mayer. Mayer was sensational, snagging 11 passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns. He has natural hands, plucking everything that comes his way, and is always making to look as much after the catch as possible.
He runs great routes, can create natural separation but is still strong enough to win contested catches too if needed. He isn’t the greatest blocker on the Earth, but he is willing and will always do a decent job, just don’t mistake him for George Kittle in that area. He isn’t the greatest athlete at the position either, but trust the tape, as this guy is the real deal and should be TE1 and a first round pick.
BYU’s left tackle Blake Freeland was fantastic for them, but Notre Dame’s Joe Alt was almost as good for the Irish in the same position.
The Irish offensive line has had a couple of down years, but Alt, a true sophomore, looks to have solidified the most important position at left tackle.
He caught my eye a couple of weeks ago when they played North Carolina, and he continued in the same vein here. He is a lot like Freeland in his style of play, a really dominant pass protector using his arms and height to control pass rushers easily. He looks like a real athlete too, moving around effortlessly in the arc and out in space in the run game. He hasn’t allowed a sack and has only 3 pressures allowed in 358 snaps so far this season, which is a phenomenal number.
He has the bloodlines too as his Dad was a first round pick in 1984, and showing my age now, I remember him playing for the Chiefs all those years ago. I’m planting my flag early for this guy, I think he could be special.
All eyes when the defense is out there are on star EDGE Isaiah Foskey. As I mentioned earlier, Foskey was on the field for just over half the snaps, which was odd as he is their best defensive player by a mile. This has been a bit of a frustrating season so far for Foskey, as I’ve seen him three times now and he just isn’t dominating like he did last year.
He still has a great get off, as you can see above, can win the edge in a flash, and he destroyed a running back on one play going straight through him and sending them both into the quarterback, but these are flashes rather than consistent play. I don’t know if the snap reduction is down to injury or trying to keep him fresh, but he needs to be out there alot more so we can see him take on the best guys, and get himself back up the rankings.
The other big name prospect for the defense is Safety Brandon Joseph. The Northwestern transfer has taken Kyle Hamilton’s old spot in the secondary, but so far hasn’t produced anywhere near the level that he did.
Joseph is still living off of his fantastic freshman season back in 2020, but whilst not making mistakes or giving up big plays, he isn’t making any either, and that’s what he was brought in to do. Hard to say where his draft stock is right now, but he may be better off staying for another season in South Bend to try and re-establish himself, otherwise he could get lost in the mix in this current draft class.
By Keith Lucken – Follow Keith on Twitter @LordLucken
Week 6 of the college football season is in the books and it feels like we are really into the thick of the season now, with storylines developing, draft stocks rising and falling and some huge performances being put in by players and teams around the country.
Let’s get straight into some of those big performances with the Winners section first…
Winners – Lee Wakefield (@Wakefield90)
Jalen Mayden, San Diego State
This is quite a story and the reason why this is the first name in the winners’ column today!
So Mayden transferred to San Diego State in 2021 as a backup QB from Mississippi State but after not cracking the starting lineup and the arrival of Braxton Burmeister, he switched to safety and appeared on the defensive side of the ball for the Aztecs in five games this year.
However, with Burmeister out with a concussion Mayden was required to switch back to quarterback for this weekend’s game against Hawaii… but could he make the migration back to signal caller?
How does 24/36, 322 passing yards and a touchdown sound?
It wasn’t a resounding scoreline by any means but 16-14 and a fairytale story for a young man.
San Diego State passing yards in their first 5 games: 310
Passing yards by San Diego State safety Jalen Mayden against Hawaii: 322
Mayden threw for the most yards in a game without throwing an interception by an Aztec quarterback since November 27th, 2010 (Ryan Linsley)
As an admitted Texas hater, I am not willing to say they’re back, far from it… I mean, they’re 4-2, but I am willing to give them their dues here for a 49-0 win over their biggest rivals. Although, does it say a lot that the other guys are in the other side of this article?
Texas was great though; they were in control, their stars played well and the crowd in burnt orange at the Cotton Bowl were well and truly revelling in it.
Quinn Ewers is a potential star at QB for the Longhorns and as he goes through this season and next, perhaps Texas will get closer and closer to being back, because that’s surely the aim, not least because they will need to get better if they are planning to have any kind of success in the SEC.
On the other side of the QB battle, it was plain to see that they were in trouble when it was announced that Dillon Gabriel wasn’t going to play and my own pre-match prophecy came true… And Oklahoma had five guys throw a pass in the game, which says an awful lot about their play on the day.
San Diego State passing yards in their first 5 games: 310
Passing yards by San Diego State safety Jalen Mayden against Hawaii: 322
Mayden threw for the most yards in a game without throwing an interception by an Aztec quarterback since November 27th, 2010 (Ryan Linsley)
The other main star for Texas who needs a quick shout out is running back, Bijan Robinson; 22 touches for 145 yards and two scores on the day to put the Sooners to the sword. He showed his prowess as a runner and as a receiver, especially with this catch below.
Could he be a first round running back to send Draft Twitter into meltdown?
Israel Abanikanda, Pittsburgh
Israel Abanikanda. Take a bow, Son.
320 yards rushing, on 36 carries and six, yes, six touchdowns against Virginia Tech. What a performance from the Junior runner, doubling his season total for touchdowns in one afternoon and becoming the first Power 5/BCS player to rush for over 300 yards in a game since Ricky Williams in 1998. He also became only the third player in 25 years to score six rushing touchdowns in a game, alongside Williams and TCU and Chargers great, LaDainian Tomlinson. The last player to do so from the University of Pittsburgh was in 1910.
Only two players in Pitt history have scored six rushing touchdowns in a game.
In rushing for 320 yards, he also broke Tony Dorsett’s single game rushing record for Pittsburgh, which had stood at 303 yards since 1975.
So quite the day for the young man. Can he capitalise on his once in a lifetime day and make it to the NFL?
Losers – Will Lane (@TheWillieLane)
Oklahoma
There was absolutely no way that head coach Brent Venables and his Oklahoma squad were escaping this one. It was an absolutely miserable performance from the Sooners in the 119th Red River Rivalry, one they will want to forget. The offense was non-existent, five different players threw a pass and they still did not acquire 50 passing yards. They saw some-what more success in their run game, but between the two they didn’t see the end zone once. The Sooners now fall to 3-3 on the year and are last place in the Big XII.
This was a Saturday to forget for fans and the team alike, being shut out for the first time since November 7th 1998. Ending a 311 game streak for the Sooners. This was also the first time that the Sooners were held without a touchdown for the first time in 167 straight games. A historic day for Oklahoma, but not in a good way.
Without quarterback Dillon Gabriel, this offense just looked lost. Pitt transfer Davis Beville got the start, and struggled mightily. The quarterback only completed six passes on 12 attempts and had an interception, while also finding nothing on the ground. To see an offense so lifeless is just so shocking from Oklahoma, who have had two Heisman winners in the past six years. Was there anything fans can take away from this game? Not particularly. Just look to regain next weekend Kansas who just fell 38-31 to TCU.
Brent Venables has broken the emotions of Oklahoma men everywhere. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. pic.twitter.com/eJoIqx2Epl
Losing to Notre Dame in 2022 will always get you in the losers column.
Notre Dame was able to accumulate over 500 yards of offense against BYU. The Cougars had a very lackluster first half, the pace was set when on the first play of the game Hall threw an interception. A slow start and a couple of questionable coaching decisions is what led to the loss against the Fighting Irish, who now lead the series 7-2 against BYU.
Jaren Hall was just 9 for 17 with 120 yards on the day, a performance that was all but impressive. The quarterback was definitely not feeling 100% entering Saturday’s game after being dinged up against Utah State. Yet it wasn’t that the offense wasn’t finding success, more like the defense could not get off the field. The BYU offense only attempted 46 plays while Notre Dame attempted 73.
Questionable decisions definitely played an impact in BYU’s upset loss against Notre Dame. Notably towards the very end of the game when on 4th and 1, when BYU strayed away from their power back Christopher Brooks and handed it off to scat back Lopini Katoa. The play got stuffed leaving less than four minutes on the clock and sending the Cougars home disappointed. Blowing it in prime time against fans in the Las Vegas Raiders Allegiant Stadium.
Michigan State
Michigan State is just terrible. No other way to put it.
Both sides of the ball are just abysmal. At half time, Ohio State had already accumulated 429 yards worth of offense while also scoring 35 points. In the second half, the Spartans were held to just seven points. Not something you want to see when you were already trailing big at the half.
Michigan State couldn’t stop anything yesterday, allowing over 370 passing yards and 200 rushing yards. Not something that you want to see from a defense, even if it is Ohio State. For obvious reasons the Spartans could not get their run game going, quite like last year they were down too much too early. Leaving it up to the passing game to try and keep this as a respectable loss. Which one could say they did, the passing attack looked impressive for one half, until bottoming out in the second half and letting the Buckeyes run away with this one.
I guess this is a problem then?
Michigan State gave Mel Tucker a 10 year, $95 million contract.
The Spartans have now lost four in a row and been outscored 149-68 😳
If he gets fired at ANY POINT during the contract, he's owed 𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 of his salary. pic.twitter.com/mFWmI2nKyK
