Category: College

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Post Mortem Route : Tigers fall to FSU, 23-24

Embed from Getty Images

A heartbreaking blocked extra point probably isn’t the way Brian Kelly envisioned losing his first game at LSU. Credit where credit is due though, Florida State played an amazing game led by their star QB and an amazing haul of transfers who showed out in a big way in a big game. 

Jordan Travis is the Florida man:

In the words of Andy Moore (@AJMoore21 on Twitter) “I told you so”.

I was sceptical of Jordan Travis coming into this game, even with my apprehension regarding LSU’s somewhat shaky secondary, he proved me wrong though and put the rest of college football on notice with an incredible performance that should have the rest of the ACC worried.

With that said the stat line of 260 yards and 2 touchdowns doesn’t really show how good he was all night. With LSU’s elite defensive front coming after him on every play Travis kept cool making plays with his arms and legs. He found Ontaria Wilson in the endzone twice, once with a beautiful flea flicker that left the LSU defence with their hands in their pockets and again when Wilson hauled in a one handed grab for one of the most impressive catches of the week.

Johnny Wilson and Myach Pittman also made their presence felt; seemingly unguardable for a majority of the contest and to round off the Seminoles attack, running back Treshaun Ward was also harder to bring down than Derrick Henry as he went up against one of the best defensive lines in college football. 

Florida State’s defence was also solid, not allowing LSU to get into a rhythm until late with Albany transfer Jarred Verse blowing past the LSU offensive line on almost every play. Verse racked up two sacks, three tackles and enough pressure to suffocate any signal caller out there.

Tatum Bethune and Renardo Green seemed to be everywhere as well, wrapping up LSU players left, right and centre ensuring finding the endzone was almost impossible for the Tigers.

Embed from Getty Images

The All-American underachiever, Kayshon Boutte:

With 2 catches for 20 yards Kayshon Boutte very much disappointed last night especially as he’s the best receiver in college football (in my humble opinion). Boutte looked bothered and lethargic all night but is poised for a big bounceback as the Tigers face southern next week, probably just needed to shake the cobwebs off. 

Jayden Daniel’s looked shaky early behind a bad line, bad snaps and some bad reads. He managed to bounce back as the game progressed becoming the second LSU QB to pass for 200+ yards and rush for 100+ yards in a single game. Daniels found Jaray Jenksins twice for the end zone while hitting Mason Taylor, Brian Thomas Jr. and Malik Nabers as he moved down field. Nabers suffered the wrath of the LSU fan base this morning as his 2 dropped punts allowed FSU to get two scoring opportunities inside the 10 one of which was turned into points.

The LSU defence went exactly as expected, a shaky secondary exploited by a star QB when they should’ve been picking up slack from the offensive line that lost Maason Smith early to an injury and Ali Gaye to one of the most reckless plays I’ve seen from a player in a while. Despite his early trip to the medical tent BJ Ojulari looked solid all game with freshman Harold Perkins getting stuck in early and Senior safety Jay Ward showing his understanding of the defence and leadership skills as he helped control the defence from the secondary early on trying to pick up the slack left by his corners throughout the game. 

Oh and LSU’s kicker struggled, punter looked good though…

A disappointing outing for the new look Tigers but an absolutely stellar performance from FSU, a team I will very much look forward to seeing in the coming weeks. An ACC championship should be their goal now.

For more follow me on YouTube and twitter @KieranHorneCFB

Posted on by — Leave a comment

CFB 2022: Week 1 – Winners & Losers

Embed from Getty Images

Well, that was an explosive week of action. From 120+ point games, to huge upsets and standout individual performances, week one didn’t disappoint.

The best thing about the NFL season starting after the college football season is that we get a weekend of non-stop action, five days straight and at the time of writing it hasn’t even finished yet.

As always there are three winners and three losers, however there could have been a lot more this weekend. So on the winners side, shout outs go to Old Dominion, Caleb Williams/Jordan Addision and Cam Ward amongst others.

Winners – Andy – @Ajmoore21 

Spencer Sanders, QB, Oklahoma State

The performance of a quarterback will, like it or not, nearly always impact the result of a team – everyone that watches football knows that. Well, Spencer Sanders is one of the most frustrating quarterbacks in college football. One week he’s firing on all cylinders, the next he’s turning the ball over and costing his team.

Maybe that is set to change in 2022. Sanders dragged his team to victory on Thursday night, setting a career high in passing yards and accounting for six of the Cowboys’ eight touchdowns. WIth 406 yards and four passing scores, Sanders was imposing through the air, but that shouldn’t take away from how improved he looked outside of the pocket. There was a clear sense that his awareness had improved, with the alarm in his head triggering on time and getting him away from the defender in order to make a play.

Clearly there’s a lot of belief in OSU and Sanders this season, they wouldn’t have been ranked 12th in the preseason poll if that wasn’t the case. But after Central Michigan put up 44 points on the OSU defense, it would be reasonable to question whether it’s going to have to be the Texas native that propels his team to success in a soon-to-transform Big12. 

Georgia Bulldogs

The Georgia Bulldogs weren’t disrespected after their National Championship win, but it seems those that doubted whether they’d be the same dominant team in 2022 did at least do them a disservice.

In a game that was previewed by many as a battle of two respective football powerhouses, it certainly felt over after the first quarter. Georgia’s defense was dominant from the off, even with their former Defensive Coordinator standing on the opposite touchline, they never looked in any danger of being mismatched. Bo Nix was shaky, even by his standards, but that was mainly because of the work of the Bulldogs’ secondary, covering the Ducks’ receivers like a blanket all game long.

Stetson Bennett has had more than his fair share of doubters, but if anyone still thinks he lacks the quality to win at this level, it was the passing game which impressed most in this one. Bennett passed for 368 yards and two scores before being hooked with the scoreline out of reach. If anyone thought that Kirby Smart’s men wouldn’t be in the mix come the end of the season then they should have been forced to change their opinion after this performance.  

Jacoby Windmon, LB, Michigan State

If Bennett and Georgia were dominant as a whole, then Jacoby Windmon gets the award for dominant performance by an individual. The Michigan State linebacker put up four sacks, a forced fumble and seven total tackles in the Spartans’ win over Western Michigan.

The most impressive element of Windmon’s night was that he put on such a huge show on his debut. After transferring from UNLV in the offseason, the former three-star recruit did everything he could to impress Mel Tucker, earning a starting spot in the process. The faith Tucker showed in him evidently paid off for him big time, as his explosive play made him a one man wrecking ball in the Broncos’ backfield.

At 6’2” and 229lb, Windmon is in that ideal linebacker category, sizewise. However, it was his speed and ability to anticipate the move of the lineman opposite that ensured he had so much success on Saturday night. Draft scouts and opposing Big10 Offensive Coordinators will surely have been put on high alert after week one. 

Losers – Lee – @Wakefield90 

The Pac-12

Even though we have all but drawn a line under week 1 of the college football season, we can pretty much rule out the Pac-12’s involvement in the college football playoff for another year.

The conference faces an uphill battle each year with the way that the conference and its teams are viewed in the eyes of the playoff committee, as well as the majority of the college football community. Add that to the absolute bludgeoning the conference took in the offseason, with the imminent departures of USC and UCLA and the losses for Utah and Oregon this weekend really are compounding the misery out west.

Considering that the Utes and Ducks lost to SEC opposition, these results only take another step towards strengthening the grip that the SEC has grabbing a second playoff team this year.

Utah put up a fight, and only lost by virtue of a last minute, end zone interception so perhaps all isn’t lost and there’s still USC who have opened up the season 1-0 with their defeat of Rice, but let’s face it. It’s over. 

Big Ten Officials and UCLA Attendances

Staying with the theme of the summer and keeping the favour from above of the Pac-12 falling into deeper and deeper decline, let’s talk about buyer’s remorse.

As much as USC and UCLA are big brands, are they going to bring everything they can to the table… What I am talking about in particular is attendance and atmosphere.

I understand that the Big Ten wants the big schools to enhance its portfolio of name brands, but when fans turn on their TV, surely they want to see fans packing the stands and making a tonne of noise to support their teams?

Look at it. I guess it was only Bowling Green but when I think of the Big Ten fans, I think of Penn State white outs, I think of Wisconsin’s fans going crazy to Jump Around, I think of Iowa’s players and fans waving to the nearby children’s hospital and The Big House, holding more fans than any stadium can in the Western hemisphere. Does this look fit what the Big Ten is trying to achieve?

Steven here summed up Pac-12 thoughts quite nicely, I think.

Devin Leary and NC State

I’ve got to admit, I don’t love this one and perhaps I only feel like Leary is a loser this week because of preseason expectations on him and the Wolfpack. It also doesn’t help their case when we consider that there was very little in the way of upsets in week 1.

NC State entered the season ranked #13 and Leary, one of the better draft eligible passers, was there to lead them, and as we have come to expect, ranked teams serve themselves up a nice, easy game in week 1.

The majority of these ranked teams dispatched their smaller foes with ease; #12 Oklahoma State, #10 Baylor, #14 USC, #16 Miami all had routine wins and ran up the scoreline.

Not NC State though. They faltered against an East Carolina side who stuck around and defended doggedly, with no bigger example than on this fourth down.

So why am I pinning this mainly on Leary? 

Well, if we look at the numbers first; a 51% completion percentage with a touchdown and an interception, against this level of competition just doesn’t look great.

Next, drawing a bank in the second half completely in terms of points, just allowed East Carolina to stick around and make life a little hairy. It’s just not what is expected for a thirteenth ranked team and a high-quality passer, so for falling short of expectations Leary and the Wolfpack find themselves in the losers column this week.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Takeaways from Week 1; Tar Heels Overcome Mountaineers As Teams Share 124 Points In A Thriller

College football is back in full force, it is just week 1 and we already have an early contender for game of the year. Entering today, Appalachian State was the favorite against the Tar Heels who came into Boone with an already battered roster. Wide Receiver Josh Downs was seen on the sideline before the game in street clothes, making it clear that he would not be suiting up today. Fans would soon learn that would not be enough to slow down this North Carolina offense as they then went on to score 63 points, but this is just the tip of the iceberg for what happened today in Boone. 

Embed from Getty Images

Early on it was clear as day that this North Carolina defense was left behind in Chapel Hill. Falling to a quick 21-7 deficit, it seemed as if Appalachian State came prepared. That lead would be short lived as the Tar Heels would then go on to put up 34 points unanswered and it seemed like that would be all she wrote for today. Not quite, the Mountaineers would begin to bring themselves back into and would end up scoring a whopping 40 points in the fourth quarter alone. It seemed as if they had UNC right where they wanted them as they decided to go for two against a pitiful defense. It would go as a failed attempt which would put the game at 56-55 in favor of the Tar Heels. Then what happens next is potentially the most boneheaded moment of the whole game in which Bryson Nesbit returns the onside kick for six, leaving time on the clock and leaving the door open for the ‘Neers to tie it back up. Chase Brice would then lead another quick drive in under thirty seconds and put them in a position to tie up the game once more and potentially send it to overtime. Another failed two point attempt to call game in Boone, but not after what would be a wild sequence of events. 

So what is there to learn from what felt like a game that may last an eternity?

After endless scoring and many moments that would leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about the sport. For starters, this North Carolina team has a lot of questions on the defensive side of the ball. Gene Chizik, who had coached under Brown in Texas, might be having some growing pains to get reacclimated to the coaching position. Chizik who hasn’t coached since 2016 has been given the task to turn around an abysmal North Carolina defense, and so far it is proving to not be an easy one. Allowing 61 points to a non Power-5 team is just not a great feat and should be a concern for North Carolina fans everywhere. Another take away that should be concerning for this defensive unit is the fact that they did not have a stop on third down until after the halfway point in the second quarter. That secondary has some major questions as well, which is a huge let down since that is a position the North Carolina has really hit the hardest with many talented names at the position. Though their lead cornerback Tony Grimes did not take the field today after dealing with an injury that he had suffered early in their first game against Florida A&M. Let’s hit on some bright spots though, for both sides.

Drake Maye showed out in his second start for North Carolina, showing off his ability to stand in the pocket and make some tough throws. Throughout the game he stood in a collapsing pocket and made some excellent throws, while also showing off his mobility and scoring his first rushing touchdown of his career. To celebrate he found former UNC quarterback Sam Howell, who dealt with a similar situation as Drake Maye all last season having no defense and no offensive line to help.

Maye finished the day with 352 passing yards with a 70% completion percentage and 5 total TDs.

Now onto Appalachian State, who might have lost the game but are the real winners for today. A name who deserves some love is running back Nate Noel who punched in not one, but two touchdowns on the ground today and showed out for 116 yards on 14 carries. He easily was the best running back out there today and made a big-time play early on when he took a run up the middle and broke free for a 52 yard touchdown giving Appalachian State an early 7-0 lead. 

Finally, all eyes were on Drake Maye, the redshirt freshman who transferred from Alabama not too long ago and has seemed to take the ACC by storm. Let’s not forget to tip the cap to Chase Brice, who had a game full of ups and downs, but at the end of the day tore up this Tar Heel secondary. The Mountaineers quarterback threw for 363 yards, 6 TDs, and finished the day with a 69% completion percentage. The quarterback also had 35 yards on the ground, but came up short on the scramble to tie the game in the final seconds. At the end of the day it was an excellent quarterback battle that took place in Boone and will be one that fans can’t help but look back and smile about later on into the year. College football is back and boy does it feel good. 

Posted on by — Leave a comment

College Football Player to Watch; Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame

Embed from Getty Images

Welcome to the week 1 edition of a weekly feature here at the Full 10 Yards CFB where I will be putting one draft eligible player under the microscope each week. I’ll be giving you a player to watch for in the upcoming round of college football and a host of reasons why you need to get some eyeballs on them.

This week I’ve got Isaiah Foskey in my sights, the defensive end from the Notre Dame Fightin’ Irish. Very apt for a number of reasons. Firstly, I’ll never shy away from giving love to the edge rushers! Next, Georgia vs. Oregon aside, the Irish against the Ohio State Buckeyes is the game of the week and lastly, well… and this is tenuous, Ireland has just done itself proud with their hosting of Nebraska and Northwestern this past weekend, so anything Ireland is kind of in vogue.

First up, who is Isaiah Foskey?

Foskey arrived on campus in South Bend as a 4-star prospect who was a tight end/defensive end hybrid out of Concord, California. He stood at 6’4 and tipped the scales at 235lbs, right now, Notre Dame lists Foskey as 6’5 and 265lbs and he is well and truly a high-level defensive end.

Production wise, Foskey’s numbers have grown year-in, year-out at Notre Dame in almost every sense. He’s become more important to the team, he’s started more games, and his tackles for loss, sacks and forced fumbles have grown exponentially. Last year in his Junior season, Foskey registered 9.5 TFLs, 10 sacks and 6 forced fumbles, so we are looking at a player who is a star for this unit and can provide the Irish with splash plays.

As we covered on our Summer Scouting Podcast on Defensive Line and Edge Defenders – which you can listen to here via our LinkTree – I have Foskey slated as my number 3 ranked edge rusher moving into the season.

So, we can see that he puts up numbers – So how does he do it?

I’ve got a couple of plays cued up below but before showing you what he does, I’ll say that Foskey is a nuanced pass rusher, who has a nice balance between speed and power rushes and he’s a dynamic player who jumps off the screen. So there should be no problem keeping your eyes on #7 when he’s lining up on Saturday. 

Foskey lines up in a position known as the VYPER position in Notre Dame’s defense, which is the stand-up edge defender/linebacker hybrid. So as much as his preferred position is stood up at the line of scrimmage on the end of the three down linemen, it’s not uncommon to see Foskey on the second level of the defense dropping into coverage alongside the other linebackers.

Let’s start here with a demonstration of Foskey’s power and independent hand usage which comes from the USC game from last year…

Isaiah Foskey, Long Arm Sack vs. USC 2021

Foskey is the nearside of the screen (yellow arrow) aligned at wide-9 for the Irish, he starts with a little stutter-step and then jabs in the long arm, with his inside-arm. The independent hand usage can be seen from the second, endzone angle – As the tackle tries to engage, Foskey swipes his hand away with his off-hand, whilst driving him back with the long arm. Foskey then shows a nice amount of power and dips his shoulder momentarily to establish more leverage and walk the tackle back. The cherry on top is that he continues to keep his off-hand free and uses it to get the strip sack. 

Isaiah Foskey Finishes the Game with a Sack vs. USC 2021

Next up I’ve got a demonstration of pure effort and motor. The QB gets himself in trouble here, and that helps, but Foskey has his initial rush stopped, but he comes back, again showing good understanding of leverage and shows his power to unbalance the tackle (#70) before wrapping up the QB and the game.

Ok last one, this one is from the Cincinnati game from last year and I want to show you how Foskey can also be trusted in the run game…

Foskey Shows his Run Defense vs. Cincinnati 2021

Foskey lines up at his favoured wide-9 alignment, but the left guard and tackle double-team inside leaving Foskey isolated, with the right guard (#51) pulling in his direction. Foskey shows his stoutness and takes him on before dispatching him to the side, as the running back (Jerome Ford, now of the Cleveland Browns) gets into his vicinity and he, alongside a team mate, is able to stuff the run for no gain. I also love that Foskey almost drives the runner out of the frame.

Alongside these kinds of plays, I have seen a lot of evidence of Foskey’s athleticism, including his range to cover all the way to the sideline, both when he lines up as a linebacker and in backside pursuit. I also feel like Foskey shows great play recognition in the run game and can deconstruct blocks and flow to the ball with ease. However, to me, his best work comes when he lines up as a traditional pass rusher and he’s allowed to be a QB hunter.

Alongside all of this, it’s the potential match up which could make Foskey an even more mouth watering watch…

In particular, I will be looking at Foskey when he’s lining up against Ohio State’s new left tackle, Paris Johnson Jr. Johnson spent last year playing at right guard and is now flipping over to left tackle as Thayer Munford’s replacement.

This should be an adjustment for Johnson, albeit, he is rated highly by draftniks and fans alike. Johnson, like Foskey is a good athlete and he does have long arms which he could use to nullify Foskey, since one weakness of Foskey is his lack of natural and anatomical length. However, given the playmaking ability, the nuance in his game and ability to mix up his plan of attack, Foskey could catch Johnson cold before he gets into his stride at his new position.

Embed from Getty Images

So to conclude…

Foskey has all the tools at his disposal to cause Paris Johnson Jr., or indeed any of the other Ohio State lineman some issues this weekend. This is the #2 team in the country hosting the #5 team so there are going to be a tonne of matchups all over the field but I do believe that this not only involves a pair of talented, draft eligible players, but it could be a match up that the game could hinge on. If Foskey and his colleagues in the front seven can disrupt CJ Stroud, then Ohio State could be on the end of another early season humbling, just as they suffered vs. Oregon last year in week 2. 

Check back each and every Friday as I will be dropping these Player to Watch articles each week to set you up for your weekend of watching college football, and don’t forget to stick around for all of the other great work that will be rolling throughout the season from all of our guys. Isn’t it just great to have football back?!

Posted on by — Leave a comment

2022 CFB – Week One Previews

Embed from Getty Images

It’s finally here folks, the college football season in all of it’s alluring glory! Week zero was enjoyable for sure, but it was just the first tiny practice jump before a giant leap. 

There are so many enticing fixtures this week, with Georgia vs Oregon being one of the headliners. Thankfully, Will has already written a pretty in depth preview for that game, which is available here. Additionally, if you’re reading this on Thursday night you can read Andy’s Backyard Brawl preview here.

Without further ado, here’s the first full set of previews for 2022:

TCU @ Colorado  BT Sport

Saturday – 3am (UK) – Boulder, Colorado

Preview: One for the early birds on Saturday morning, TCU are a dark horse in the Big 12 this year and will look to get off to a good start against a fairly average Colorado team. Max Duggan looks like he will make his 30th start as a Horned Frog, but the week one depth chart lists him as an ‘OR’ alongside Chandler Morris. Head Coach Sonny Dykes anticipates playing both QBs in this one, but Duggan’s experience should give him the edge, especially if he can feast on a largely inexperienced Colorado secondary.

It’s not every year that the Buffalos manage to attract a transfer from Alabama to come to Boulder, but that’s exactly what happened when offensive lineman Tommy Brown joined the team this offseason. He’ll bring some four-star pedigree to the Colorado line as they look to keep Brendon Lewis or Jordan Shrout upright. Look for Alex Fontenont to be a threat on the ground. 

Key Matchup: Quentin Johnston (TCU, WR) vs Nikko Reed (Col, CB) – Quentin Johnson is the headline act on this TCU offense, he’s got all the makings of a high draft pick in 2023 and he’s absolutely dominant at the catch point. Nikko Reed is the best of a young Buffaloes secondary, but he figures to have his hands full this weekend.

Game Line: TCU 13.5 point favourite at the time of writing

Colorado State @ Michigan  BT Sport

Saturday – 5pm (UK) – Ann Arbor, Michigan

Preview: Sure, the game line for this one is big and Michigan should walk away victorious, but this could be a closer game that the bookies think. No-one really knows what to expect from Colorado State this season, they’ve got former Nevada Head Coach, Jay Norvell, at the helm and they’ve taken a hell of a lot of former Nevada players in the transfer portal. The most interesting duo are starting QB, Clay Millen, and deep threat, Tory Horton – look for those two to combine for a lot of yards this year.

On the Michigan side of things, there’s a lot that has stayed the same. Both QBs will play, Blake Corum will look to dominate in the run game and Ronnie Bell is always a threat. However, with Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo gone, it’ll be up to Jaylen Harell and Mike Morris to step up in the pass rush department. They’ll look to ease into 2022 and cause havoc for a new-look Rams defense.

Key Matchup: Dante Bivens (OT – CSU) vs Mike Morris (DE – Mich) – An offseason transfer from Tulsa, Bivens probably saw the week one matchup and rubbed his hands together at the chance of facing a high quality guy like Morris. This matchup will determine how quickly Michigan are able to get to ‘comfortable’ status in this one.

Game Line: Michigan 30.5 point favourites at the time of writing

UNC @ App State

Saturday 5pm (UK) – Boone, North Carolina

Preview: Set at one of, if not the most picturesque stadiums in the world of sport, this local rivalry game should be a close run thing. Our weekly feature looked at the debut of the Tar Heels’ new starting QB, Drake Maye, and it’ll be on him to continue the development of his relationship with star WR, Josh Downs, against a very solid App State side.

The Mountaineers gave Miami a run for their money last year, eventually succumbing to a two point defeat. This matchup doesn’t feel too dissimilar to that and the home side will be more than up for inflicting an upset. A talented stable of running backs will look to do the most damage for App State, so look for Camrun Peoples, Nate Nole and Ahmani Marshall to get the ball a lot. 

Key Matchup: Nate Noles (RB, App) vs Power Echols (LB, UNC) – There’s no doubting that App State’s backs will be a handful for UNC, but in Power Echols the Tar Heels have a disruptive ball magnet. Echols and his fellow linebackers will need to be at their best to limit the Mountaineers run game.

Game Line: UNC 1.5 point favourites at the time of writing

Cincinnati @ Arkansas

Saturday 8.30pm (UK) – Fayetteville, Arkansas

Preview: Both of these teams had very successful seasons in 2021 and this feels like a game which will establish if they can cope with off-season losses to the NFL Draft and continue that success. The Bearcats are yet to announce their QB for the game, but it’s looking increasingly like it’ll be Ben Bryant under centre. Despite the loss of two very good corners to the draft, Cincinnati still boasts an experienced secondary, if last year’s backups can step up, then Luke Fickell’s men stand a good chance in this game.

On the flip side, Arkansas will be without star receiver Treylon Burks in 2022. In Jadon Haselwood they have a decent replacement for the new Tennessee Titan, but Burks’ strength was his contribution all along the line of scrimmage as well as in the receiving game. There’s a lot of experience on this Razorback defense and it may prove a bit too much for a new look Bearcats offense.

Key Matchup: Jabari Taylor (DE, Cin) vs Luke Jones (LT, Ark) – KJ Jefferson does well when he’s outside the pocket, but against a good Cincinnati secondary he’ll need some time for his receivers to get open. Jabari Taylor is a big threat coming off the edge and Luke Jones will need to be at his best.

Game Line: Arkansas 6.5 point favourites

Utah @ Florida  BT Sport

Sunday – 12am – Gainesville, Florida

Preview: There’s a new dawn in central Florida this year, the Gators moved on from the old and welcomed Billy Napier and his coaching staff to Gainesville. However, a lot of the personnel still look the same for Florida, Anthony Richardson is being hyped as a possible top draft pick but without a lot of overhaul can this roster support him? Jason Marshall takes on a key role at corner after the departure of Kaiir Elam.

Utah come into the game as one of the favourites to emerge from the Pac-12 as a real threat in 2022. Cam Rising will look to exploit his fantastic connection with Brant Kuithe and Dalton Kincaid, whilst a very good defense will look to deal with the loss of Devin Lloyd and Nephi Sewell. If the Utes get up and running quickly, there’s every chance they could leave the East Coast with a statement win.

Key Matchup: Anthony Richardson (QB, FLA) vs Utah LBs – The Gators’ QB is light on his feet and likes to get out of the pocket, there’s every chance the Utes stack the box, but whether they can stop him is the big question.

Game Line: Utah 3 point favourite

Notre Dame @ Ohio State BT Sport

Sunday – 12.30am (UK) – Columbus, Ohio

Preview: A lot of people have got Ohio State playing Alabama for the National Championship at the end of the season. If that is to be the case then the Buckeyes have got to handle a tough opening day test against the Fighting Irish. CJ Stroud has got so many weapons at his disposal it is laughable, so expect a high scoring affair.

Notre Dame are entering a new era under Marcus Freeman and against lesser opponents there’s no doubt that they’ll be their normal defensively dominant selves. However, this week it feels like Tyler Buchner is going to have to lean on Michael Mayer and Chris Tyree a hell of a lot if the Irish are going to come out with a positive result.

Key Matchup: Notre Dame secondary vs Ohio State receivers – It could get ugly if the Buckeyes’ exceptionally talented receiver unit is allowed to run free. The likes of Clarence Lewis, Cam Hart and Brandon Joseph have all got big games in them, but can they all have them on the same night? It’ll be blockbuster viewing.

Game Line: Ohio State 17 point favourites

Florida State vs LSU

Monday – 12.30am (UK) – New Orleans, Louisiana 

Preview: The neutral site matchup which isn’t a neutral site, showcasing college football scheduling at its best. LSU will have a ridiculous amount of support at this game, and everyone knows the Tigers’ faithful create a good atmosphere. Whether their team will match the atmosphere is a big question mark. The LSU roster has talent all over it, Kayshon Boutte is the best receiver in the country at present and Ali Gaye looks primed for a monster season at defensive end. Brian Kelly’s ability to put it all together will be the key to the Tigers’ season.

Whilst some FSU fans were probably looking nervously towards this fixture a few weeks ago, the Seminoles’ domination in their week zero matchup may have instilled some confidence. The Noles’ had three running backs go for more than 100 yards and Jordan Travis looked solid with his deep ball before being hooked later in the game. However, LSU are a much harder opponent for FSU to test themselves against and they’ll have to be firing on all cylinders if they’re to extend their 7-2 series lead.

Key Matchup: Kayshon Boutte (WR, LSU) vs Omorion Cooper (CB, FSU) – Keeping Boutte relatively quiet will be the priority for FSU’s defensive staff. It’s easier said than done, but Cooper is an adept player that has seen more than his fair share of quality receivers in the ACC.
Game Line: LSU 3 point favourites

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Week 0 Scouting Notes – Nebraska vs. Northwestern

Embed from Getty Images

Here we are, back for another year of scouting notes from the world of college football.

Week 0 didn’t throw up too much in excitable match ups, but there was clearly one game that had some decent prospects to look at, and that was the Cornhuskers and Wildcats going at it over in Dublin, Ireland.

The game itself had a little bit of everything, and certainly was a better watch than I was expecting. It did throw out a few impressive performances from some guys who were on my radar already, and a few who weren’t, so let’s get to them…

Nebraska

Not a great deal to get excited about Offensively for the Cornhuskers. QB Casey Thompson is an exciting college player, but I don’t see high NFL traits with him. The off script plays with him are exciting, but unfortunately we have accuracy issues and some questionable decision making too. WR Trey Palmer, who is a transfer over from LSU, had some nice flashes but had a bad drop too. He looks like he could be productive in this offense as I think they’ll try and use him more as a gadget guy than a pure receiver, and if he can clean the drops up he may open some scouts eyes. 

TE Travis Vokolek was a factor in the passing game (5 Catches) but he struggled run blocking, often getting rag dolled by the Northwestern front seven. There’s no denying his nice athletic profile, but we’ll need to see him do better in the run game before we get too excited about him.

JUCO transfer RB Anthony Grant had an impressive debut. He ran hard and with authority, grinding out the tough yards but also broke a couple of nice gains too. Scored 2 TD’s on the ground and looks like he’ll become the feature back for Nebraska going forward.

The Offensive Line was terrible, but OC Trent Hixson held his own more often than not. He was the solid piece whilst everything else was crumbling around him and he looks like a nice replacement for round two draft pick Cam Jurgens. I had some good grades on him back in 2019 when he started at guard but he has barely played the last couple of years. Now he has a chance to put himself on the NFL radar, although he’ll hope for more help from his fellow lineman than he got in this game to get noticed.

Embed from Getty Images

Defensively for the Cornhuskers there were a couple of guys who flashed and both are transfers from other power five schools. CB Tommi Hill really impressed me. He has great size, length and fluid movements and was a former 4-Star recruit who was at Arizona State last year. Only a true Sophomore, so this is a name for the 2024 draft cycle at the earliest, but if you liked Cam Taylor-Britt last year for the Cornhuskers, then this guy has the potential to be better than that.

EDGE Ochaun Mathis spent the last four years at TCU with mixed results, but always flashed some top end traits. He was good here, consistently setting a good edge against the run and flashed some nice pass rush moves. Hopefully he’ll get a full season of top tape, as he has the size and athleticism of a top-100 player, he just needs to find consistency.

Lastly for the Cornhuskers was a guy who only played 20 snaps in the game and has just 183 total snaps in 4 seasons, but he looks like someone who definitely has next level ability. DT Stephon Wynn Jr. was a 4-star recruit who spent his previous seasons stuck behind many future NFL draft picks at Alabama. He’s not listed as a starter for Nebraska, but if he can replicate the disruption he caused in 20 snaps in this game, then a bigger role in this defense should be his, as he looked every part of a well coached former top recruit. He’s certainly one for the late round notebook.

Northwestern

The most surprising thing about the Wildcats’ shock win was just how efficient their Offense looked. They aren’t noted as a team to usually tune into when they have the ball, but perhaps 2022 will see scouts take a good look at some of these guys, especially as they have a pre-season first round calibre offensive tackle on their roster.

Let’s start though with the QB Ryan Hilinski. He flashed as a Freshman at South Carolina in 2019 but ended up transferring to Northwestern before the 2021 season. He was a part time starter last year with very average grades but in this game we saw a lot of improvement and control. I don’t think he’s going to wow anyone with arm strength or athleticism, but what he did do was lead his team efficiently and take good care of the football. He’s a former 4-star recruit, with a tragic family backstory, so he’s someone who is easy to root for.

Embed from Getty Images

There were 2-star offensive performances for the Wildcats, and we’ll start with that highly rated Lineman. OT Peter Skoronski was my OT3 going into the year, and although this appears to be a lesser offensive line class in general, he would still grade as a round 1-2 player for me right now. He is one of the most technically sound tackles in the nation, with good balance, strength and athleticism and all of those traits were on display here. Now he wasn’t up against great Nebraska EDGE’s but he took care of what was in front of him and that’s all you can ask. He was excellent in the run game, getting great push off the snap and creating lanes which their running backs exploited. The only issues he had was with exposing his chest in pass protection and getting shunted back quickly. This only happened a few times but it was also noticeable on his 2021 tape too, and because he has shorter arms he has trouble recovering. There are many experts who think he should move inside to guard at the next level, and you can see why they think that, but I’d at least give him a chance to prove himself at tackle first, as he’s too good not to get that opportunity for me.

RBs Evan Hull and Cam Porter had impressive games, with both sharing the workload almost evenly. Hull was the better player, with his powerful running style and nice hands out of the backfield. Porter is more explosive and has bigger play ability but also loses yardage too and had a bad fumble in this game as well. They will be a great one-two punch though going through the season and both have some NFL appeal to them. 

Embed from Getty Images

The Wildcat defense got off to a pretty sloppy start, but once the new season nerves had gone they took over this game, and it was behind a stellar second half performance that the game was won. There were numerous stand out’s but we’ll start with my MVP of the game, and that is EDGE Adetomiwa Adebawore. He has graded well for me over the last couple of years and that carried on in this game. He looks longer than his listed 6’2 which probably means he has long arms and he certainly knows how to use them. He was constantly clearing his chest of offensive linemen with his strength and length and he was a constant menace for the Nebraska offensive tackles. They shifted him inside on third downs and he got to embarrass the interior guys too, so he has nice versatility which is vital in today’s NFL. Now he’ll face better Lineman than this going forward, but this is the benchmark he has set and if he can maintain it for the season we should be looking at round 3-4 draft range.

Northwestern had corner, Greg Newsome go in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft and the buzz is they have another possible first rounder in CB Cameron Mitchell. There’s quite a few similarities between the pair of them, but I think Mitchell is behind Newsome and needs a really good year to get that first round talk going. Now when he was in press man coverage he was fantastic. He was strong at the snap, fluid in transitions and never allowed any separation for receivers. He had a late Interception whilst in great coverage illustrating this. The problems seem to arise when in off man or zone looks, as he seemed to struggle to process quickly the route concepts that were happening. He is also a bit disinterested in playing the run and that will annoy some teams. Obviously the NFL loves a great man corner, and this is where he excels, so he will be valuable come draft time, but I hope we can get a more all round polished corner by then to elevate his stock further. I do love an aggressive safety who isn’t a total liability in coverage and

Northwestern have the perfect example of one in S Coco Azema. This guy wants to take your head off at every opportunity but this does lead to the odd missed tackle here and there. He has nice coverage ability, particularly if it’s all in front of him, as he closes quickly to compete at the catch point or at worst wrap up tackles for minimal gains. He is one of those fiery leaders that every team needs and he’s a guy I’ll keep my eye on for the rest of the season. 

By Keith Lucken – Follow Keith on Twitter @lordlucken

Posted on by — Leave a comment

2022 CFB: Drake Maye Teases Potential in Debut – Jake Tweedie

Embed from Getty Images

Last month we took a dive into the ACC Quarterbacks of 2022, detailing their attributes and projecting how they would get on. At the time of writing it appeared that UNC were torn between Jacolby Criswell and Drake Maye, they both played bit part roles last year behind Sam Howell, and there were plenty of questions around who would lead the Tar Heels into the 2022 regular season.

The build-up to last weekend’s game saw Drake Maye named as starting quarterback. It was just six days before the Week 0 clash with Florida A&M. UNC were billed as 44-point favorites leading up to the game, and despite a sluggish show on defense, Maye showcased what he had to offer by leading them to a 56-24 victory.

Who is Drake Maye?

Maye left Myers Park High School as a four-star prospect after being named MaxPreps North Carolina Player of the Year, initially committing to Alabama. However, he later decommitted from the Crimson Tide and pledged himself to the University of North Carolina. His decision was likely based on Bryce Young’s presence, with Maye seeing his chances of playing time limited by the dominant five-star signal caller. It’s also worth noting that playing in Chapel Hill meant that Maye could play in front of his friends and family in his native Carolina.

Although the move to UNC was initially difficult, given the presence of Sam Howell, Maye now has every chance of being the long term starting quarterback for the Tar Heels. Especially if his debut is the sign of things to come.

Impressive Debut

Maye’s debut for the Tar Heels has made waves in the national media. He was ranked number one in Athlon Sports’ list of the best debuts for quarterbacks in week 0, earning high marks for such a composed and commanding performance.

The debut was also record breaking, Maye’s five touchdowns in his debut game set a new UNC programme best as he finished an impressive 29 of 37 passes complete, 294 yards and no INTs. However, his play also allowed a running game that picked up 314 yards as the A&M defense threw everything at the passing game.

He targeted ten different receivers, albeit relying a bit more on Josh Downs, hitting the wide receiver nine times for 78 yards and two touchdowns, but overall he worked the field without hitting any big downfield passes. His longest reception was for 33 yards, but it was an assured performance which will have excited the Tar Heels’ fans.

Not to be limited to just the pass, Maye also showed some positivity on the ground. He picked up 55 yards from four carries, including a nice 42-yard run in the first quarter that would have settled the nerves. 

Performance Report

For a player that stands at 6’5, 220 pounds, Maye’s footwork in the open field was mesmerising from the off, pushing him all the way to the FAMU 19 yard line, where he then found Kamari Morales in the end zone to make a 19 yard completion and the opening touchdown.

He looked nimble on his feet, and shifted his body weight with ease and composure. This enabled him to avoid a few tackles, as he used his body to pick up an extra three or four yards after first impact down the sideline. It was just an early indication of what he can do with the ball when options are limited down the field, and he looked assured throughout his run. 

From a throwing perspective, the opening touchdown was exactly what the UNC faithful wanted to see. Maye had a defender running at him, threw it slightly off balance over two defenders to find Morales in the end zone. He used all his height to loop it over the defenders but he did so quickly and effectively.

The first two scores of the game saw him manage the pocket beautifully, showing off nice composure and finding the open receiver for the second touchdown. However, his third touchdown was more impressive. He was pressed and forced out of the pocket around the 10-yard line, went left and found the open receiver in the end zone. Another demonstration of how he can adjust to what is going on but also showcase what he can do with his feet.

Opposition defenses will surely already be worried, as Maye showed that anything around the 20-30 yard line could easily wind up with a receiver catching the ball in the end zone. Three times from an open pocket he waited for the opportune moment and released the pass beautifully into the hands of his receiver. 

Overall Perception

There’s no doubt that Maye had a highly productive day at quarterback for UNC. He looked assured within the pocket, but he also showed what he can do with his feet when pressured into moving outside of it. His three touchdown passes to the end zone were perfect, timing the pass beautifully with the runs of the receivers whilst also showing composure when pressed into making something happen away from the designed play.

It was the perfect debut for the redshirt freshman, and there is little doubt he will show the same ability in the next couple of games before a tough run of games from week four onwards.

With Notre Dame, Miami (FL), Pittsburgh and Wake Forest all to come before the end of the season, it will be very interesting to see how he adapts to stronger opponents, but from what we saw in Week 0, Drake Maye is one to watch for 2022.

By Jake Tweedie – @AccukAnalysis1

Posted on by — Leave a comment

2022 CFB: West Virginia Mountaineers @ Pitt Panthers Preview

Embed from Getty Images

After a weekend of football that more than wet the appetite, it feels like the real fixtures are here as we approach week one.

Later this week you’ll be able to read a wider preview of some of the key games, but after Will previewed Georgia’s matchup with Oregon it felt necessary to preview the Backyard Brawl as well.

For those wondering, the game gets its name given the proximity of the two schools, Morgantown sits a mere 70 miles from Pittsburgh and the Panthers’ campus. It’s the American equivalent of a local derby, and there’s certainly no love lost between the fanbases.

West Virginia will be looking to continue their recent (well 2009-2011) series dominance, they’re on a three game win streak against the Panthers and they’re 7-3 over the last 10 games. Coming into 2022 they’ve also got a new QB and a new Offensive Coordinator in JT Daniels and Graham Harrell. At USC Harrell embraced an air raid scheme that played to his tendency to throw the ball all over the park, however he failed to complement that with an effective running game – putting the pressure on an often beleaguered QB. That scheme may become even more aggressive this season, and it’s not a stretch to see the Mountaineers embracing the spread offense.

If Harrell’s offense is going to succeed on Thursday night it’ll be because of the play of Daniels. The big-armed transfer is now on his third team, never quite sticking long enough to become the star his talent has teased. His supporting cast is strong, with the highly touted Kaden Prather accompanying established receivers Sam James and Bryce Ford-Wheaton in an explosive position room. Look for the deep ball to be mixed in early and often if WVU’s offensive line can contain an impressive Pitt defensive front.

The Mountaineers defense ranked a respectable 37th in the nation in 2021, whilst not stacked with big draft prospects there are still a number of standout players. Dante Stills is the catalyst up front, he should combine with Taijh Alston to cause trouble for Pitt’s offensive line and Kedon Slovis. In the secondary Charles Woods is the mainstay, using his experience and impressive playmaking ability to make things difficult for opposition QBs, he’ll be relied on to limit Jared Wayne and co.

Pitt are heavily favoured to win on Thursday and the level of talent and experience across their roster is seemingly greater than the Mountaineers. Defensively, they should pose issues for a shaky WVU offensive line – particularly in the form of Habakkuk Baldonado, the 6’5” Italian pass rusher that was dominant in 2021. If the ball makes its way past the defensive line, then an imposing secondary is supplemented by one of the best linebacking corps in the ACC. Daniels will need to be at his best to put points on the board.

The question mark, and it is a pretty big question mark, for the Panthers this year is just how good Kedon Slovis actually is. At USC he flashed brilliance in his first season, but then poor decision making and injuries hampered his development, eventually leading to his transfer. If he can form a connection with the aforementioned Wayne, as well as Jaden Bradley and Konata Mumpfield, then there’s every possibility that draft scouts will start to take an interest again. Israel Abanikanda is a relative unknown in the backfield, but Slovis will be hoping he provides better support on the ground than some of his former USC teammates. 

The bookies have Pitt 7.5 point favourites for this one. That does feel about right, but the script could easily flip depending on how Daniels comes out of the blocks in Harrell’s offense. Either way, it should be a great game to get week one underway.

By Andy Moore – @ajmoore21 

Posted on by — Leave a comment

CFB 2022: Georgia vs Oregon Preview – Will Lane

Embed from Getty Images

Week 1 is finally here, and what better way to start off the new season than with a matchup between the defending champs and a very competitive Oregon team. A lot of stories have developed on both sides over a long offseason, with questions that will undoubtedly be answered over the coming weeks. 

Many have their concerns about Georgia, a roster that seemed to be picked apart by the NFL Draft not too long ago. But the Bulldogs aren’t going away anytime soon, the star studded roster has possibly the best defensive tackle in Jalen Carter, alongside names such as LB Nolan Smith and CB Kelee Ringo. On offense teams will still have to worry about TE Brock Bowers and Center Sedrick Van Pran, both of which are at the top of their respective positions. 

Will Oregon have enough names of their own to keep up with the defending champs? The talent is definitely there to keep this an interesting one. The Ducks are coming off a somewhat successful 10-4 campaign, and are entering the 2022 season as a contender out West. It was just last year that they pulled off a major early-season upset against Ohio State who were ranked #3 at the time. 

Oregon is entering this game with one of the most talented offensive lines that Georgia will see all season. Who will be under center is still a bit of a mystery as former Auburn quarterback Bo Nix has been battling it out with red-shirt freshman Ty Thompson. This vital question may not be answered until game time, so it is definitely something to keep an eye out for. The defense is led by linebacker Noah Sewell, who excels at patrolling the middle of the field, he has the size and the ability to be an NFL linebacker, running a 4.60 second 40-yard dash. His game will only show improvement under the coaching of former Georgia defensive coordinator Dan Lanning, who just assisted Georgia in their run to end their 41-year National Championship drought. The Oregon defense will be looking to overwhelm quarterback Stetson Bennett who still has questions hanging over him, despite last year’s Natty.

Lanning is entering his first year in Eugene with an Oregon team that isn’t rebuilding, but a team that is looking to be taken to the next level under new leadership. Using the transfer portal early in the offseason, the new Head Coach looked to really strengthen the offense and bring in guys like four star receiver Chase Cota from UCLA and fellow pass catcher Caleb Chapman from Texas A&M. It feels only fitting that Lanning’s first matchup is against his former team, which is already setting us up for an exciting story. 

So what can fans expect from this game? Well, a lot of defense. Both sides are bringing high-powered units to this fight and will be looking to absolutely smother their opponents’ offense early. The Bulldogs will look to show no rust after a successful campaign in 2021 and will have to take over in the second half to assert their dominance if they want to win this one comfortably. As for Oregon, they need to get out to a lead early and let their defense work their magic. Will they have the offensive firepower to do so? Ducks fans are looking on with interest to see who the QB is before answering that, but either way they’re looking to soar to new heights in 2022.

By Will Lane – @TheWillieLane

Posted on by — Leave a comment

WEEK 0 – CFB WINNERS AND LOSERS

Embed from Getty Images

College football is back, and so is our weekly look at who the biggest winners and losers of the weekend’s action were.

WINNERS

Ryan Hilinski

In a battle between two transfer QBs, many would have favoured Nebraska’s Casey Thompson to be the more impressive prospect against Northwestern’s Ryan Hilinski. For long periods of the first half that may have been the correct opinion as Thompson spread the ball around early and often.

However, it was Hilinski who ended up driving his team to their first win of the season with some consistent and accurate play. The backstory of the former South Carolina signal caller is beset with challenges. In the year prior to his collegiate career he was dealt a devastating blow as his older brother took his own life. Despite this, Hilinski was named the starter for his freshman season with the Gamecocks, before losing that role the following season.

Now, with less perceived pressure outside of the SEC and a season under his belt in Evanston, the California native has every chance of succeeding with the Wildcats.

Chase Brown

The University of Illinois doesn’t produce a lot of NFL talent, since 2019 only five players have been drafted after plying their trade at Memorial Stadium. Chase Brown is looking to buck the trend and become the next player on that list with a huge season for the Fighting Illini.

After one game it is certainly looking good for him. Against an average Wyoming side, Brown put up 151 yards and two scores on the ground, adding 16 yards and a touchdown through the air. It certainly looks like Brett Bielma will turn to Brown to be the difference maker after using him in a job-share role last season. 

Games against Indiana and Virginia will give the Canadian the chance to showcase his talent against higher quality opposition over the next two weeks. 

FSU’s RB Room

With the exception of the Nebraska-Northwestern game, the week 0 slate didn’t really throw up many close games. What it did offer was some of the better teams the chance to give their depth players some snaps.

FSU have always produced good players in the rushing department and with Jashaun Corbin leaving for the NFL, the starting gig appeared up for grabs. Mike Norvell will be presented with a good problem going into next weekend’s matchup with LSU as three Noles’ backs went for more than 100 yards on Saturday.

Treshaun Ward got the start, turning 14 carries into 127 yards and two scores, with power back Trey Benson and Lawrence Toafili each topping reaching triple figures and adding a score apiece. It may only have been Duquesne, but there’s some positive signs for the Seminoles ahead of their visit to New Orleans.

LOSERS

Scott Frost

Saturday’s defeat means that Nebrasksa have now lost 21 games by less than one score under Scott Frost. It’s hard not to feel a bit sorry for Frost given how different the outlook would be for him if even ten of those games had gone the other way.

However, that sympathy falls away given the proud boast that the Nebraska coaching staff had worked their offensive line so hard that they were vomiting multiple times a day. Maybe, given the outcome of Saturday’s game, Frost and his coaching staff should work on both their decision making and the mentality of their team. 

After starting the second half strongly, Frost opted to go for an onside kick to keep the ball in Casey Thompson’s hands. The plan failed, Northwestern got the ball back and from there the momentum stayed with Ryan Hilinski and co. 

Mike DiLiello

This one was not so much for the all round performance, but unfortunately for Mike DiLiello he became the first player to go viral this season. The Austin Peay QB threw a bad interception and proceeded to give his all to track down the Western Kentucky CB. Sadly it got worse for DiLiello as he stumbled and fell down in stages as the CB jogged in for the score.

Wyoming’s Passing Offense

It could be considered unfair to single out Wyoming for criticism, but given the small slate of games their offense is the third ‘loser’ this week. The Cowboys have produced some considerable talent over the years, including arguably the best QB in the NFL at present, Josh Allen.

However, it was a sorry showing for Craig Bohl’s men on Saturday as they managed just 30 yards through the air in the 38-6 defeat to Illinois. Utah State transfer, Andrew Peasley, got his first start in Wyoming colours, but it was a sorry performance as he averaged 1.5 yards per attempt with just five completions on 20 throws going for 30 yards. He’ll look to bounce back against Tulsa next week.

By Andy Moore – @ajmoore21