Analysis

11/10/21

4 min read

Small School Standouts: Isaiah Ifanse Takes Over in Week 10

Small School Standouts: Isaiah Ifanse Takes Over in Week 10

While most of the fanfare and conversation about NFL Draft prospects traditionally surrounds high-profile FBS programs, schools at the FCS generate high-end talent every year, and prospects from those schools should not be overlooked. Each week, The 33rd Team highlights a handful of FCS standouts from small schools around the country. Here are 5 players who caught our eye in Week 10.

(Jr.) Isaiah Ifanse, RB, Montana State 

With his performance last weekend, Isaiah Ifanse is now one 5 FCS running backs to surpass 1,000 yards on the season.

In a matchup with top 5 Eastern Washington, Ifanse finished the day with 32 carries for 217 yards and added in 1 catch for 10 yards as a receiver. Ifanse ran for 11 1st downs, forced 9 missed tackles, and had the most explosive runs of any FCS running back in Week 10 with 9.

Ifanse’s biggest impact play of the game was a 43-yard touchdown to seal the game for Montana State in the 4th. All of this earned Ifanse the highest overall grade amongst FCS RBs at 93.9 and the top rushing grade at 93.7.

(R-Jr.) Roshaun Johnson, RB, Idaho 

Perhaps the most impressive individual performance in the FCS this weekend came from Idaho running back Roshaun Johnson. Johnson broke an Idaho school record with 6 rushing touchdowns along with 174 rushing yards on 30 carries.

He joined Broderick Reeves and Alex Ramsey as the only FCS running backs to rush for 6 touchdowns in a game since the start of the 2008 season. The record-breaking score came in the 3rd quarter when Johnson took the handoff, bounced the outside, and made a few guys miss on his way to the endzone. 

Johnson finished the day with the most 1st downs of any FCS RB with 14, the most missed tackles with 10, had 6 runs of 10-plus yards, and the second highest rushing grade at 84.3. 

(R-Sr.) L.B. Mack III, EDGE, Rhode Island 

In a win this weekend against UMass, their first FBS win since 2000, redshirt senior LB Mack III had a career outing. Mack’s career day included being the highest graded pass rusher in the FCS at 93.6 and recording 4.5 tackles for loss and 3 sacks. He also had 7 total pressures and a 46.7% win rate, which were both the highest of any player this weekend.

The 6th year senior has put together another strong season and now leads his team in sacks with 5.5. After an impressive road win against UMass, Mack and URI will take on New Hampshire this Saturday. 

(Sr.) Jalen Mackie, LB, Dartmouth 

Dartmouth senior Jalen Mackie continued his impressive season Saturday with 13 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and 0.5 sacks. He made his presence felt all day with a weekend-high 8 stops and guiding a defense that held Princeton to only 7 points. 

Mackie’s 13 tackles against Princeton were a season-high, and he’s now up to 78 on the season. Additionally, Mackie has 8 tackles for loss, 1 sack and 3 pass break ups after not seeing the field in 2018 or 2019. The former St. Thomas Aquinas standout will take on Cornell at home in his next matchup. 

(R-So.) Dominic Roberto, RB, Furman 

Furman’s Dominic Roberto ran for 196 yards on 24 carries and had 4 touchdowns in a loss to Western Carolina this past weekend. Roberto ran for 10 first downs in the game and added in 5 runs of 10-plus yards. Roberto’s top plays on Saturday were scoring runs of 35 and 11 yards in the third quarter that helped give his team a 42-31 lead. 

This was by far and away the best day Roberto’s had at Furman, as he ran for more yards last week than he had in all of 2019 or 2020. Despite the performance, Roberto still grades out very poorly at 61.8 overall with a 64.6 rushing grade. 

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