Analysis

9/13/21

13 min read

College Football: Week 2 Draft Stock Watch

College Football: Week 2 Draft Stock Watch

Week 2 of the College Football season has come and gone. Let's look back at some of the key matchups and what they mean for the 2022 NFL Draft.

Top SEC Matchups - CFB Week 2

  1. Kentucky OT Darian Kinnard vs Missouri ED Trajan Jeffcoat

New O-Line Coach Eric Wolford has Kinnard on a roll, with an 89.8 PFF Offensive Grade, 87.1 Pass Block Grade, and 0 pressures allowed through two games. A big, physical body with great length, Kinnard is the prototype at Right Tackle. He possesses rare natural upper body power that you can see in his ferocious punch. More impressive though, Kinnard looks lighter on his feet this year; with improved recovery ability in pass pro. Against a talented Missouri front led by Trajan Jeffcoat, Kinnard was a rock, displaying improved recovery foot quicks to mirror inside and counter rushes. With his already great anchor, Kinnard surrendered nothing in pass protection. While the PFF Run Grade wasn’t stellar (63.0), Kinnard is a tone-setter in Kentucky’s power-run and zone schemes.

  1. Mississippi State CB Martin Emerson vs NC State WR Emeka Emezie

While the pair only matched up for one target, which Emezie won decidedly, Emerson kept things interesting in coverage all day. Targeted 8 times (allowing 5 completions), Emerson was beaten badly on vertical routes. However, he was able to salvage a 76.7 Coverage grade, in large part due to his energized play underneath. Emerson is a demon driving on short routes; with foot speed to get out of his backpedal quickly and explode downhill, where he announces his presence with authority. As a press-man corner with questionable long speed, look for more production from Emerson in the vertical pass game as the year progresses.

  1. Mississippi State OT Charles Cross vs NC State Defensive Line

Cross faced a deep and talented NC State front last weekend, quietly one of CFB’s better D-Line destinations. Against a considerable Wolfpack group, Cross was solid, if unspectacular. With his great foot quicks and balance, Cross handles edge rushes and counters with relative ease. However, his average anchor and power render him vulnerable to bull rush and speed-to-power moves. Without a substantial punch or high-end size/length, Cross is also probably just functional in the run game, where he struggled to sustain blocks. In a good matchup, Cross reinforced who we know him to be.

2022 NFL Draft Stock Up:

  1. Tennessee DL Matthew Butler: 92.4 PFF Grade – 5 Pressures – 2 TFL/No Gain – 5 Tackles
  2. Ole Miss ED Sam Williams: 90.7 Pass Rush Grade – 6 Pressures – 2 Sack – 2 FF – 1 FR – 1 TD
  3. Kentucky WR Wan’Dale Robinson: 3 Rush/73 Yds – 5 Rec/101 Yds
  4. Kentucky OT Darian Kinnard
  5. Ole Miss WR Dontario Drummond: 6 Receptions – 107 Yds – 4 1st Downs – 2 TD

2022 NFL Draft Stock Down:

  1. Alabama TE Jahleel Billingsley: 2 Games/43 Total Snaps – 2 Targets – 0 Receptions
  2. Texas A&M OL Kenyon Green: 58.8 PFF Grade – 49.4 Run Block Grade 

Week 3: Notable Games

Alabama vs Florida

  1. Alabama WR’s John Metchie III & Jameson Williams vs Florida CB Kaiir Elam
  2. Alabama OL Evan Neal & Emil Ekiyor Jr. vs Florida DL Zachary Carter & Brenton Cox Jr.

Georgia vs South Carolina

  1. Georgia OL Jamaree Salyer & Justin Shaffer vs USC DL Kingsley Enagbare, Zacch Pickens
  2. Georgia DL Adam Anderson & Travon Walker vs USC OL Jazston Turnetine

Top BIG-10 Matchups - CFB Week 2

  1. Michigan EDGE Aidan Hutchinson vs Washington OT Jaxson Kirkland

This was the big matchup to watch entering the week, and it did not disappoint. Hutchinson had his way with one of the top tackle prospects in the upcoming draft, registering 2 sacks against Kirkland. He flashed his talent and traits including good hand usage, motor, burst off the LOS, pursuit and play strength. He finished the game with 3 sacks, 6 total pressures, 1 QB hit, a 25.8% pass rush win rate, and he had 0 plays with a negative run defense grade.

  1. Ohio State WR’s Chris Olave & Garrett Wilson vs Oregon DB Mykael Wright

Any time these two receivers step onto the field, scouts and coaches pay close attention. Both Buckeye pass-catchers won matchups against Mykael Wright in coverage, one of the top corner prospects in the Pac-12. When facing Wright, Olave caught 5 of 5 targets for 72 yards. Three of the targets went for first downs and Wright was the corner he had the most success against. Wilson caught 3 of 5 targets for 58 yards and a touchdown against Wright’s coverage. Wright was ill-prepared pre-snap as he caught looking down at his wristband as Wilson scored the Buckeyes' first touchdown. Wilson’s other two catches also went for first downs. Ohio State has questions at QB, but these two should ease the continued burden on Buckeye signal-callers.

  1. Iowa State QB Brock Purdy vs Iowa CB’s Riley Moss & Matt Hankins

Iowa’s corners passed another test in Week 2 after excelling last week against Michael Penix Jr. Hankins and Moss both held their own in a great team-effort, limiting one of the most talented QB’s in the country in Purdy and one of CFB’s top offenses to only 17 points. Purdy, when targeting Hankins, was 3 of 5 for 30 yards and 1 interception. When targeting Moss, he was 3 of 3 for 13 yards. Moss and Hankins also both had 1 PBU each as well.

2022 NFL Draft Stock Up:

  1. Michigan EDGE Aidan Hutchinson - 3 SKs, 6 TP’s, 1 QB Hit, 25.8% Pass Rush Win Rate
  2. Iowa CB Matt Hankins - 3 of 5, 30 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT, 1 PBU, 89.2 grade, 89.9 coverage grade
  3. Ohio State WR’s Chris Olave & Garrett Wilson - Combined for 20 catches, 243 yds, and 1 TD

2022 NFL Draft Stock Down:

  1. Ohio State OL Thayer Munford - 1 Sack allowed, 4 TP’s allowed, 1 penalty, 54.4 pass bloc grade
  2. Illinois OT Alex Palczewski - 2 Sacks allowed, 4 total pressures allowed, 52.3 pass blocking grade
  3. Wisconsin TE Jake Ferguson - 3 catches, 17 yards, 59.1 run blocking grade 

Week 3: Notable Games

Penn State vs Auburn

  1. Auburn OT Brodarious Hamm vs Penn State ED Jesse Luketa & Arnold Ebiketie
  2. Penn State WR Jahan Dotson vs Auburn CB Roger McCreary
  3. Penn State OT Rasheed Walker vs Auburn ED T.D Moultry

Indiana vs Cincinnati

  1. Indiana WR Ty Fryfogle vs Cincinnati CB Ahmad Gardner
  2. Indiana QB Michael Penix Jr. vs Cincinnati’s Defense
  3. Indiana OT’s Luke Haggard & Caleb Jones vs Cincinnati DE Myjai Sanders

Miami vs Michigan State

  1. Miami QB D’Eriq King vs Michigan State SAF Xavier Henderson
  2. Michigan State WR’s Jayden Reed & Jalen Nailor vs Miami CB DJ Ivey
  3. Michigan State OT AJ Arcuri vs Miami ED Zach McCloud & Deandre Johnson

Top BIG-12 Matchups - CFB Week 2

Top Matchups - CFB Week 2

  1. Iowa LB Jestin Jacobs vs Iowa St TE Charlie Kolar 

Kolar’s first game post-injury did not go as planned against a talented Hawkeye defense. Kolar had an overall offensive PFF grade of 62.4 whule most of his damage came from lining up as a slot WR against smaller Iowa defenders. Kolar at times had difficulty maintaining control through contact as his overall PFF receiving score was 65.6 which at time seemed to be influenced by the physicality of LB Jestin Jacobs.

  1. Texas Tech WR Erick Ezukanma vs SFA CB Myles Brooks

Texas Tech WR Erick Ezukanma had himself a day as he was responsible for 143 of the Red Raiders 174 passing yards on the day boasting a receiving grade of 73.2 per PFF. Ezukanma showed the ability to consistently win against soft coverage and made plays in space showcasing his ability to get to his second gear. At times concentration was an issues as SFA CB Myles Brooks maintained physicality at the point of attack complicating Ezukanma’s ability to work the completion through contact which accounted for two dropped passes.

  1. Baylor WR Tyquan Thornton vs Texas Southern DB Ja’Corey Benjamin 

Thornton posted a solid PFF receiving grade of 79.0 vs Texas Southern hauling in 5 of his 8 targets. Thornton seemed to do his best work against free release which allowed for him to greater manipulate Texas Southern DB Benjamin hips on the break point of routes. Thornton did a good job of reading the soft spots in zone coverage allowing him to find the sweet spot between second and third level defenders which allowed for easy pitch and catch plays with QB Gerry Bohanon. 

2022 NFL Draft Stock Up:

  1. Baylor WR Tyquan Thornton 5 rec 103 yds 20.6 avg 2 TD Long 48 yds
  2. Oklahoma St LB Malcom Rodriguez 13 tackles 8 solo 5 ast 0.5 TFL
  3. Kansas St WR Malik Knowles 4 rec 112 yds 28.0 avg 1 Kick return 17 yds
  4. Texas Tech WR Erick Ezukanma 6 rec 144 yds 24.0 avg 1 TD long 75 yds
  5. Baylor QB Gerry Bohanon 17/23 247 yds 3 TD. 5 car 27 yds 5.4 avg 2 TD

2022 NFL Draft Stock Down:

  1. Iowa State QB Brock Purdy 13/27 138 yds 5.1 avg 3 INT
  2. Texas Tech QB Tyler Shough 11/21 163 yds 7.8 avg 1 TD 2 INT. 6 car 22 yds 3.7 avg 1 Fum
  3. Iowa St TE Charlie Kolar 4 rec 34 yds 8.5 avg
  4. Iowa St RB Breece Hall 16 car 69 yds 4.3 avg 1 TD 1 fum. 4 rec 24 yds 6.0 avg

Week 3: Notable Games

Oklahoma vs Nebraska

  1. Nebraska CB Cam Taylor-Britt vs Oklahoma TE Brayden Willis
  2. Nebraska WR Samori Toure vs Oklahoma S Delarrin Turner-Yell
  3. Oklahoma RB Eric Gray vs Nebraska LB Garrett Nelson

Baylor vs Kansas

  1. Baylor OT Connor Galvin vs Kansas ED Kyron Johnson
  2. Baylor WR Tyquan Thornton vs Kansas S Kenny Logan Jr.
  3. Kanas WR Kwamie Lassiter II vs Baylor CB Raleigh Texada

Top ACC Matchups - CFB Week 2

  1. Miami QB D’Eriq King & LT Zion Nelson vs App State Edge Demetrius Taylor & LB D’Marco Jackson

Zion Nelson had a better day this week against a quality opposition, after a rough first game versus Alabama. Nelson leaves plenty of room for improvement, after allowing another 3 pressures, 2 hurries, and 1 QB Hit. However, he was able to salvage a solid 76.4 PFF Pass Block Grade and 67.6 overall grade. While his box score stats may not paint the full picture (20/33, 200 passing yards, 19 rushes for 79 yards), King also bounced back nicely. PFF thinks he performed extremely well, giving him an 87.4 overall grade, and a 91.1 Passing Grade that ranked 13th among all FBS QBs this week. The Hurricanes stifled Taylor, diminishing his impact on the contest, while Jackson had a solid afternoon, notably against the run.

  1. NC State OT Ikem Ekwonu vs Mississippi State Edge Savion Jackson

Ekwonu absolutely dominated this matchup, allowing 0 pressures, hurries, hits, or sacks on his way to an 89.3 PFF Pass Block Grade and 90.3 Run Block Grade. Savion Jackson was muzzled much of the game, particularly when facing Ekwonu, and registered merely a single pressure (against a different blocker).

  1. NC State WR Emeka Emezie vs Mississippi State CB Emmanuel Forbes

NC State hunted Forbes, matching Emezie up on him opposed to the Bulldog’s top cover guy Martin Emerson. Despite the scheme, Emezie didn’t have a great game, as his two drops largely overshadowed his solid stat line (6 catches, 92 yards). His resulting 53.8 PFF grade tells the story - this was not a great showing for Emezie in a matchup he should win.

2022 NFL Draft Stock Up:

  1. UNC QB Sam Howell: 21/29 (72.4%) 352 yards 3 TD 0 INT 94 PFF Grade
  2. Virginia QB Brennan Armstrong: 27/36 (75%), 405 yards, 5 TD, 1 INT (Ripped out of WR’s hands), 94.7 PFF Grade
  3. NC State OT Ikem Ekwonu: 87.4 PFF Grade against tough SEC opposition
  4. Duke LB Shaka Heyward: 16 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 QB HUR

2022 NFL Draft Stock Down:

  1. Notre Dame SAF Kyle Hamilton: 5 tackles, 2 TFL, 61.5 PFF Grade
  2. Miami SAF Bubba Bolden: 8 tackles, 1 TFL, 47.3 PFF Grade
  3. Miami TE Will Mallory: 5 targets, 3 catches, 16 yards, 52.1 PFF Grade
  4. NC State LB Payton Wilson: 3 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack, 62.7 PFF Grade

Week 3: Notable Games

Michigan State vs Miami

  1. Miami IDL Jonathan Ford vs. Michigan State IOL Matt Allen
  2. Miami DL Nesta Jade-Silvera and Jonathan Ford, S Bubba Bolden vs. Michigan State RBs Kenneth Walker III and Jordon Simmons
  3. Miami QB D’Eriq King and TE Will Mallory vs Michigan State SAF Xavier Henderson and LB Cal Haladay

UCF vs Louisville

  1. Louisville DB Chandler Jones vs. UCF WR Jaylon Robinson
  2. Louisville RB’s Hassan Hall & Jalen Mitchell vs. UCF LB Tatum Bethune and DL Kalia Davis
  3. Louisville CB Kei’Trel Clark vs UCF QB Dillon Gabriel

Purdue vs Notre Dame

  1. Notre Dame TE Michael Mayer & RB Kyren Williams vs. Purdue LB’s Jalen Graham & Jaylan Alexander
  2. Notre Dame EDGE Justin Ademilola vs. Purdue OT Greg Long
  3. Notre Dame CB Tariq Bracy vs. Purdue WR David Bell

Top Pac-12 Matchups - CFB Week 2

  1. Washington OT Jaxson Kirkland vs Michigan ED Aiden Huchenson

Jaxson Kirkland played poorly for the most part against Michigan’s talented defensive front. Kirkland rightly received a 58.9 PFF grade this past weekend, allowing 2 sacks and 3 pressures. In pass sets he routinely allowed defenders inside his shoulders, forfeiting leverage. Kirkland also struggled in the run game – missing a few key blocks with poor technique at contact. Overall, it was a sloppy game for Kirkland as both a run & pass blocker that he will need to counter moving forward.

  1. Oregon CB Mykael Wright vs Ohio State WR’s Garrett Wilson & Chris Olave

Mykael Wright was bested by Garrett Wilson & Chris Olave - and it really wasn’t even close. Wright was targeted 11 times, allowing a brutal 8 receptions for 130 yards and a TD (on the TD there was some confusion among Oregon’s defense and Wright was focused on reading the play on his wrist). He was beaten mostly by Chris Olave – who’s route running was just too much for Wright. Wright struggled stopping his feet to match routes, and also had a hard time opening his hips covering vertical routes, resulting in routine poor position. Wright’s PFF grade of 43.7 reflected his poor play this week.

  1. Utah LB’s Devin Lloyd & Nephi Sewell vs BYU RB Tyler Allgeier

Lloyd and Sewell were able to keep Allgeier (27 carries, 97 yards) in check on the ground. Lloyd (73.7 PFF) and Sewell (77.2 PFF) were both active sideline to sideline, combining for seven stops defensively and 17 total tackles. Sewell particularly stood out - displaying solid play recognition, range to the ball, and balance to tackle in the open field on most plays. He was also a presence as a blitzer, adding pressure on Utah’s pass-game. Overall, the Utah LB duo will be one to watch going forward – with solid finishes, both should continue to rise up draft boards. 

2022 NFL Draft Stock Up:

  1. Oregon RB CJ Verdell - 20 carries, 161 yards, 2 TDs, 4 expl. runs, 3 rec, 34 yards, 1 TD, 69.5 PFF
  2. Colorado LB Nate Landman - 10 TOT, 10 solo, 2 TFLs, 2 PDs, 6 stops, 79.7 PFF
  3. Utah LB Nephi Sewell - 11 TOT, 4 solo, 2.5 TFLs, 5 stops, 2 hurries, 77.2 PFF
  4. California QB Chase Garbers - 16/27, 309 yards, 2 TDs, 18.1 ADOT, 5 big time throws, 91.4 PFF
  5. Arizona State QB Jayden Daniels - 20/29, 175 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, 13 carries, 125 yards, 6 missed tackles forced, 6 explosive runs, 81.3 PFF

2022 NFL Draft Stock Down:

  1. Oregon CB Mykael Wright - 10 TOT, 8 rec. allowed, 130 yards allowed, 1 TD allowed, 43.7 PFF
  2. Washington OT Jaxson Kirkland - 2 sacks allowed, 3 pressures allowed, 58.9 PFF
  3. California CB Josh Drayden - 2 TOT, 2 solo, 4 receptions allowed, 4 first downs allowed, 36.5 PFF
  4. USC QB Keedon Slovis - 27/42, 223 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 2 turnover worthy plays, 69.7 PFF

Week 3: Notable Games

Arizona State vs BYU

  1. OT Kellen Diesch v ED Uriah Leiataua
  2. ED’s Travez Moore & Michael Matus v OT Blake Freeland
  3. CB Chase Lucas v WR Neil Pau’u

Minnesota vs Colorado

  1. C John Michael Schmitz v DL Jalen Sami
  2. RB Trey Potts v LB Nate Landman
  3. WR’s Dylan Wright & Daniel Jackson v CB Mehki Blackmon

USC vs Washington State

  1. OT Abram Lucas v ED Drake Jackson
  2. CB’s Jaylen Watson & Derrick Langford v WR Drake London
  3. ED Brennan Jackson v OTs Courtland Ford & Jonah Monheim

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