Analysis

9/20/21

9 min read

College Football: Week 3 Draft Stock Watch

Top SEC Matchups- CFB Week 3

  1. Florida CB Kaiir Elam vs Alabama WR’s John Metchie III & Jameson Williams

Alabama had little success throwing Elam’s way. The Crimson Tide targeted the SEC’s top corner 7 times, completing only 1 pass, with Elam forcing 3 incompletions. Elam is physical in coverage, plays with great technique, and has the top-end speed to recover and/or carry vertical routes.

  1. Florida DL Gervon Dexter vs Alabama OL Emil Ekiyor Jr.

Ekiyor, like all of Bama’s O-Line, had a tough time with Dexter, likely one of the top prospects for the 2023 NFL Draft. While only responsible for 1 pressure, Ekiyor was often off-balance in the run game. Dexter’s imposing size, length, and strength were too much for Ekiyor on more than one occasion.

  1. Auburn CB Roger McCreary vs Penn State WR Jahan Dotson

The draft hopeful pair matched up for 4 targets, resulting in an even split (2 complete/incomplete). Both were productive in one of Saturday’s most entertaining contests, where McCreary finished with a 74.7 coverage grade and 1 INT, while Dotson posted a solid 72.4 receiving grade, 80 yds, and a TD.

2022 NFL Draft Stock Up:

  1. Ole Miss QB Matt Corral: 23/31 – 335 Yds – 3 TD – 68 Rush Yds – 4 TD
  2. Florida CB Kaiir Elam
  3. Georgia ED Nolan Smith: 90.2 Pass Rush Grade – 2 Sacks

2022 NFL Draft Stock Down:

  1. Alabama LB Henry To’o To’o: 42.4 PFF Grade – 38.2 Run Grade
  2. Alabama OL Emil Ekiyor Jr.: 48.7 PFF Grade – 54.1 Run Block Grade
  3. Florida OT Jean Delance: 49.8 Pass Pro Grade – 3 Pressures Allowed

 

Week 4: Notable Games

Texas A&M vs Arkansas

  1. Texas A&M DB’s vs Arkansas WR Treylon Burks
  2. Texas A&M RB Isaiah Spiller & TE Jalen Wydermyer vs Arkansas SAF Jalen Catalon

 

Mississippi State vs LSU

  1. MSST WR Jaden Walley vs LSU CB Derek Stingley Jr.
  2. MSST OT Charles Cross vs LSU DE Ali Gaye

 

Top PAC-12 Matchups - CFB Week 3

  1. USC WR Drake London vs Washington State CB’s Jaylen Watson & Derrick Langford

London dominated both cornerbacks in this game. He showed above-average route running, separation ability on his routes, and even when he was unable to gain separation – he showed strong hands, routinely catching the ball away from his body (5 contested catches). It was a big performance from London with backup QB Jaxson Dart throwing him passes for the majority of the game. 

  1. UCLA WR Kyle Philips vs Fresno State’s Secondary

Philips played most of his snaps from the slot or lined up near the LOS. He showed sharpened route running, an ability to track the deep ball, and strong separation skills. He consistently generated separation from his defenders and was excellent in setting them up with his crisp routes.

  1. Arizona State OT Kellen Diesch vs BYU ED’s Uriah Leiataua & others

This was Diesch’s first week of the season where he finished with a PFF overall and pass block grade below an 80.0 (64.4). He struggled to keep good pad level and let defenders get to his chest quickly. When defenders got to his chest he struggled to re-gain leverage. 

2022 NFL Draft Stock Up:

  1. California OT Valentino Daltoso - 38 PBA, 0 pressures, sacks, hurries allowed, 92.6 PFF
  2. USC WR Drake London - 13 rec, 170 yds, 2 TDs, 9 1Ds, 3 MTF, 3 explosive plays, 84.6 PFF
  3. UCLA WR Kyle Philips - 7 rec, 113 yds, 2 TDs, 4 explosive plays, 75.4 PFF

 

2022 NFL Draft Stock Down:

  1. AZ State QB Jayden Daniels - 21/29, 265 yds, 2 INT, 10 car/8 yds, 1 TO worthy play, 76.1 PFF 
  2. Utah QB Charlie Brewer - 14/26, 104 yds, 1 INT, 5 turnover worthy plays, 37.6 PFF
  3. Washington State CB Jaylen Watson - 9 rec allowed, 1 TD, 6 1Ds, 51.7 PFF

 

Week 4: Notable Games

UCLA vs Stanford

  1. WR Kyle Philips vs CB Kyu Blu Kelly
  2. QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson vs Saf’s Kendall Williamson & Jimmy Wyrick

 

California vs Washington

  1. QB Chase Garbers vs LB Edefuan Ulofoshio
  2. OT Valentino Daltoso vs ED’s Ryan Bowman & Jeremiah Martin

 

Top Big-10 Matchups - CFB Week 3

  1. Penn State ED Jesse Luketa & Arnold Ebiketie vs Auburn OT Brodarious Hamm

Penn State has one of the best defenses in the conference, featuring their top two players in Jesse Luketa and Arnold Ebiketie. Against Auburn OT Brodarious Hamm, Ebiketie had the better game of the two, finishing with a 74.2 PFF grade, 80 pass-rush grade, 2 QB hits, and 2 hurries. Luketa had a solid game as well, especially against the run - 77.2 run defense grade, 7 tackles, and 1 QB hurry. This defense and especially this duo is one to watch throughout the rest of the season.

2. Penn State WR Jahan Dotson vs Auburn CB Roger McCreary

Penn State’s go-to WR Jahan Dotson came through in a big game with 10 catches, 80 yards,1 TD, and drew a key DPI. Dotson can separate from corners at the top of his routes, and is dangerous with the ball in his hand. Dotson was targeted 4 times when lined up against McCreary, catching 2 for 22 yards. He also created a lot of separation on one of the targets but Clifford overthrew him. Dotson was all over the field and came up huge constantly throughout the game.

3.  Indiana WR Ty Fryfogle vs Cincinnati CB Ahmad Gardner

Ty Fryfogle has had a solid start to the season and is the clear-cut number one WR for the Hoosiers. Gardner is one of the top cornerback prospects in the country and is definitely one of the top corners Fryfogle will face all season. Gardner got the upper hand in this matchup, only allowing 1 catch for 13 yards, and Fryfogle was targeted only twice when Gardner covered him. Fryfogle was very quiet all day long, and Gardner was a big reason for that.

 

2022 NFL Draft Stock Up:

  1. Penn State WR - Jahan Dotson - 13 targets, 10 catches, 80 yards, 1 touchdown
  2. Michigan State RB Kenneth Walker III - 27 carries, 172 yards, 1 receiving touchdown
  3. Michigan State ED Drew Beesley - 4 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 hurries, 1 forced fumble, 83 PFF Grade

 

2022 NFL Draft Stock Down:

  1. Ohio State WR Chris Olave - 4 targets, 0 catches, 0 yards, 1 drop, 59.2 PFF Grade
  2. Indiana WR Ty Fryfogle - 8 targets, 1 catch, 13 yards, 2 drops, 49.5 PFF Grade
  3. Indiana OT Luke Haggard - 5 pressures allowed, 39.4 PFF grade, 45 pass-blocking grade 

 

Week 4: Notable Games

Wisconsin vs Notre Dame

  1. Wisconsin LB Jack Sanborn vs Notre Dame RB Kyren Williams
  2. Wisconsin RB Chez Mellusi vs Notre Dame’s Defense

 

Michigan vs Rutgers

  1. Rutgers WR Bo Melton vs Michigan CB’s Gemon Green & Vincent Gray
  2. Michigan’s RBs vs Rutgers LB Olakunle Fatukasi

 

Top Big-12 Matchups - CFB Week 3

  1. Oklahoma St RB Jaylen Warren vs Boise St Defense 

Jaylen Warren had arguably his best performance as a member of the Cowboys, accounting for 19 key plays and an offensive grade of 69.1 per PFF. Warren demonstrated good patience to find the hole, cut, and accelerate past first and second-level defenders on the Broncos.

  1. West Virginia RB Leddie Brown vs Virginia Tech LB Dax Hollifield 

Leddie Brown was the workhouse for a WV team this week, and the Mountaineers relied heavily on the big back, who graded in at 69.3 for rushing per PFF. Brown’s toughness at the point of contact allowed him to consistently be a problem in this game for Hollifield as he broke through arm tackles. At times, his decisiveness to make a cut and accelerate forced Virginia Tech’s linebacker into less than favorable pursuit angles. 

  1. Oklahoma St LB Malcolm Rodriguez vs Boise State rushing offense 

Malcolm Rodriguez was very good in run defense (PFF 81.5 run defense) against a Boise State team that has relied heavily on the running back by committee approach so far in the 2021 season. Rodriguez effectively shed blockers through initiating contact in line to filling gaps and wrapping up ball carriers, all the while playmaking ability on display, actively punching at the football, forcing a critical fumble which led to a Cowboys go-ahead touchdown, a significant momentum-changing moment. 

2022 NFL Draft Stock Up:

  1. West Virginia RB Leddie Brown 19 car 161 yds 8.5 avg 1 TD long 80 yds 1 fumble lost. 3 rec 35yds
  2. Oklahoma St RB Jaylen Warren 32 car 218 yds 6.8 avg 2 TD long 75 yds 
  3. Baylor QB Gerry Bohanon 19/23 269 yds 2 TD. 5 car 33 yds 6.6 avg 1 TD

 

2022 NFL Draft Stock Down:

  1. Oklahoma QB Spencer Rattler 23/34 214 yds 6.3 avg 1 TD, 6 car 35 yds 5.5 avg 1 TD long 14 yds 
  2. Oklahoma St QB Spencer Sanders 6/13 82 yds 6.3 avg. 18 car 26 yds 1.4 avg 1 TD long 10 yds
  3. Kansas QB Jason Bean 8/17 57 yds 3.4 avg 1 TD, 12 car 65 yds 5.4 ave long 25 yds 

 

Week 4: Notable Games

TCU vs SMU 

  1. TCU DL Kenny Turnier vs SMU C Alan Ali 
  2. TCU CB La’Kendrick Van Zandt vs SMU WR Rashee Rice 

 

Baylor vs Iowa State 

  1. Baylor OT Connor Galvin vs Iowa St ED Eyioma Uwazurike 
  2. Baylor QB Gerry Bohanon vs Iowa St LB O’Rien Vance

 

Top ACC Matchups - CFB Week 3

  1. Florida State Jermaine Johnson II vs Wake Forest T Zach Tom

This was a huge matchup between two superb football players, as Zach Tom didn’t allow a pressure through 2 weeks, while Johnson had amassed 13 pressures and 5 sacks in his first 2 games. Neither was superb in this game, with Tom getting a 65.1 PFF Grade and Johnson a 68.9. Johnson didn’t get a sack, but had 3 pressures and was solid in rush defense.

2. Notre Dame RB Kyren Williams vs. Purdue LBs Jalen Graham and Jaylan Alexander  

Kyren Williams was excellent in this game, going for 91 yards and a TD on 12 rushes and 2 catches for 47 yards and a TD on 3 targets. Graham and Alexander both missed 2 tackles, allowing Williams and other Notre Dame players to break bigger gains, which became an issue for Purdue in this one.

3. Miami QB D’Eriq King and WR Charleston Rambo vs. Michigan State CBs Ronald Williams, Chester Kimbrough, and Kalon Gervin

King had his struggles in this game, throwing 2 interceptions, but was very good when targeting Rambo, completing 12 of 16 to him for 156 yards and 2 TDs. Of the Michigan State corners, Ronald Williams was the best, allowing only 6 catches on 12 targets overall for just 57 yards. King and Miami struggled with running the ball, so they had to throw to win and weren’t able to pull it off.

2022 NFL Draft Stock Up:

  1. North Carolina WR Josh Downs: 9 targets, 8 catches, 203 yards, 2 TD, 92.7 PFF Grade
  2. Notre Dame DB Kyle Hamilton: 10 tackles, 7 solo, 2 passes defended, 83.9 PFF Grade
  3. Virginia QB Brennan Armstrong: 39/54 (72.2%), 554 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT, 85.6 PFF Grade

 

2022 NFL Draft Stock Down:

  1. Boston College WR Zay Flowers: 2 targets, 1 catch, 10 yards, 60.6 PFF Grade
  2. Wake Forest WR Jaquarii Roberson: 4 targets, 2 catches, 11 yards, 47.3 PFF Grade
  3. Miami T Zion Nelson: 4 pressures, 2 hurries, and 2 sacks allowed, 57.3 PFF Grade

 

Week 3: Notable Games

Notre Dame vs Wisconsin 

Notre Dame IDL Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa & Jayson Ademilola vs. Wisconsin IOL Kayden Lyles 

Notre Dame RB Kyren Williams vs. Wisconsin LBs Jack Sanborn and Mike Maskalunas

 

Clemson vs North Carolina State 

Clemson EDGE Myles Murphy vs. NC State OT Ikem Ekwonu 

Clemson CB Andrew Booth Jr. vs. NC State WR Emeka Emezie 


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