Analysis

9/27/21

11 min read

College Football: Week 4 Draft Stock Watch

Running backs 2022 Draft

Top SEC Matchups

  1. Arkansas EDGE Tre Williams vs Texas A&M OL Jahmir Johnson & Kenyon Green

In a breakout primetime performance, Williams had his way with Texas A&M’s patchwork front. Williams showed great bend and closing speed in his rush attempts, routinely getting the corner on NFL Draft hopeful Jahmir Johnson (prior to Johnson’sdepature due to injury). Potential early pick Kenyon Green (as an Interior O-Lineman) fared no better against Williams on the blindside – surrendering 2 pressures himself. Williams may not have the pass-rushing prototype body, but the Missouri transfer has traits and production that will earn him an NFL look.

  1. South Carolina ED Kingsley Enagbare vs Kentucky OT Darian Kinnard

The matchup between one of the SEC’s most productive pass rushers and top Right Tackle did not disappoint, with both winning their fair share in a tough contest. Enagbare found rare success against Kinnard - forcing a holding call while applying some pressure to UK’s pass game with his skills and developed toolbox. Kinnard had to work in pass protection, but when he could land his punch in run or pass, he largely won. This tape will likely loom large in both NFL hopefuls’ draft evaluations.

  1. Arkansas WR Treylon Burks vs Texas A&M Secondary

Burks underscored his NFL future on Saturday, victimizing a talented Aggie secondary. The Hogs WR1 torched CB Myles Jones for an early 85-Yd TD 1-on-1 with a great adjustment in-phase and long speed to finish. Burks followed up soon after with a deep, contested catch over SAF Demani Richardson, and later flashed his outstanding body control and natural hands with a spectacular one-handed catch and highlight-reel near-catch along the boundary. Burks dominated his matchups – elevating his stock while likely damaging the draft profiles of those lined up across from him.

2022 NFL Draft Stock Up:

  1. Arkansas ED Tre Williams: 85 PFF Grade – 9 Pressures – 1 QB Hit – 1 Sack – 1 TFL
  2. Texas A&M ED Micheal Williams: 90.6 Pass Rush – 1 TFL – 5 Pressures – 2 QB Hits – 1 Sack
  3.  Arkansas WR Treylon Burks: 87.8 PFF Rec Grade – 5 Rec – 163 Yds – 1 TD – 3 1st Downs

2022 NFL Draft Stock Down:

  1. Texas A&M OL Kenyon Green: 38.3 PFF Grade – 4.4 Pass Block Grade – 4 Pressures Allowed
  2. Texas A&M OT Jahmir Johnson: 40.5 PFF Grade – 5 Pressures Allowed – 1 Sack
  3. Texas A&M CB Myles Jones: 30.0 PFF Grade – 1 Target – 1 Rec Allowed – 85 Yards, TD

Week 5: Notable Games

Ole Miss vs Alabama

  1. Ole Miss QB Matt Corral vs Alabama Defense
  2. Ole Miss WR Dontario Drummond vs Alabama CB Josh Jobe

Georgia vs Arkansas

  1. Georgia CB Derion Kendrick vs Arkansas WR Treylon Burks
  2. Georgia WR’s & RB’s vs Arkansas DB Jalen Catalon

Top PAC-12 Matchups

  1. Arizona State QB Jayden Daniels vs Colorado LB Nate Landman

Daniels did a great job in this game utilizing the read-option. He was able to sell the run, forcing multiple defenders to bite on the option, allowing him to tuck and run for some sizable gains due to a lack of discipline by the defense. As a passer, he got the ball out of his hands quickly; made no mistakes, and was efficient enough to win the game comfortably for the Sun Devils.

  1. USC ED Drake Jackson vs Oregon State OT Brandon Kipper

Drake Jackson dominated Kipper in this game. Jackson utilized his combination of speed and length to beat Kipper multiple times around the edge. He was often able to bat away Kipper’s punch attempts well before it could land. Look for Jackson to develop an inside counter rush, as he relies heavily on bending the edge.

  1. Utah LB Devin Lloyd vs Washington State QB Jarrett Guarantano

Lloyd was highly involved in the blitz game to disrupt Wazzu’s pass attack this week (18 Pass Rush Attempts, per PFF). He was effective in adding on to generate pressure – using his speed to close the gap quickly and has active hands to shed blocks. He was great in coverage as well, (1 catch on 3 targets), highlighted by a fantastic diving interception.

2022 NFL Draft Stock Up:

  1. Arizona State QB Jayden Daniels: 18/25, 236 yds, 7 att/75 yds, 2 TDs, 5 explosives, 85.6 PFF 
  2. UCLA OT Sean Rhyan: 74.7 PFF Overall Grade
  3. California DT JH Tevis: 3 Tackles, 3 solo, 1 PD, 2 pressures, 1 stop, 72.3 PFF Grade

2022 NFL Draft Stock Down:

  1. Washington State OT Abraham Lucas: 60.5 PFF Grade - 3 Pressures Allowed
  2. Colorado LB Nate Landman: 44.8 PFF Grade - 10 Tackles - 8 Solo - 2 Missed Tack - 5 Stops
  3. Colorado ED Carson Wells: 62.4 PFF Grade - 5 Tackles - 2 Solo - 0.5 TFL - 1 Stop

Week 5: Notable Games

Oregon vs Stanford

  1. Oregon SAF Verone McKinley III vs Stanford QB Tanner McKee
  2. Oregon OC Alex Forsyth, OG’s TJ Bass & Ryan Walk vs Stanford DL Dalyn Wade-Perry

Arizona State vs UCLA

  1. Arizona State OT Kellen Diesch vs UCLA ED Mitchell Agude
  2. Arizona State TE Curtis Hodges vs UCLA SAF Quentin Lake 

Top Big-12 Matchups- CFB Week 4

           1. Iowa State RB Breece Hall vs Baylor LB Dillon Doyle 

Breece Hall put together his most complete game of the 2021 season showing what he could do not only as a ball carrier but also a receiver generating nearly 250 yds of total offense and an 81.0 offense grade per PFF. Baylor LB Doyle was one of the most effective defenders against the run generating a run defense grade of 73.5 per PFF. 

  1. Oklahoma State WR Tay Martin vs Kansas State DB Cincere Mason 

Cincere Mason was the top-graded secondary player for the Wildcats with a coverage grade of 79.8 in a defense that overall struggled to contain the talented skill position players for Oklahoma State. Notably, WR Tay Martin excelled at high pointing the ball and completing the catch through contact totaling 100 yds receiving and a 75.7 receiving grade per PFF.

  1. Oklahoma State DB Kolby Harvell-Peel vs Kansas State Offense

Oklahoma State was collectively able to limit one of the best rushing attacks in the country through three weeks of the season as they limited the Wildcats to just 62 rushing yards on the day. The top run defender per PFF for the Cowboys was S Kolby Harvell-Peel boasting an impressive 81.4 grade.

2022 NFL Draft Stock Up:

  1. TCU WR Taye Barber: 5 rec 114 yds - 1 TD - long 60 yds
  2. Iowa State RB Breece Hall: 28 Att/192 yds - 6.8 avg - 2 TD - 5 Rec/52 yds - 1 TD
  3. Baylor QB Gerry Bohanon: 14/19 158 yds - 2 TD - 10 car - 39 yds - 1 TD

2022 NFL Draft Stock Down:

  1. Oklahoma QB Spencer Rattler: 26/36 256 yds - 1 TD/1 INT – 9 Att/0 yds  
  2. West Virginia RB Lennie Brown: 15 Att/56 Yds - 3.7 avg - long 20 yds – 2 Rec/-4 yds 
  3. Oklahoma RB Eric Gray: 12 Att/38 yds - Avg 3.2 - long 8 yds - 3 Rec/52 yds - long 38 yds 

Week 5: Notable Games

Oklahoma vs Kansas State 

  1. Oklahoma OT Wanya Morris vs Kansas St ED Khalid Duke 
  2. Oklahoma ED Nik Bonitto vs Kansas St OT Logan Long 

Baylor vs Oklahoma State

  1. Baylor ED Victor Obi vs Oklahoma St OG Josh Sills 
  2. Baylor QB Gerry Bohanon vs Oklahoma St LB Malcolm Rodriguez

Top Big-10 Matchups

  1. Wisconsin LB Jack Sanborn vs Notre Dame RB Kyren Williams

This game was a ranked matchup and had the most hype entering the week. One of the biggest matchups to watch in this game was how Wisconsin’s defense, primarily LB Jack Sanborn, was going to handle the experienced running back, Kyren Williams. Sanborn and co. were able to slow down Williams, limiting him to only 33 total yards and 1.8 yards per carry. Sanborn had an adequate game, finishing with 5 total pressures, and 5 total tackles. He did miss two tackles and allowed two catches on three targets for 13 yards. He finished with a 60.3 PFF grade. He showed good mental processing, and good timing when blitzing the QB. 

2. Wisconsin RB Chez Mellusi vs Notre Dame’s Defense

Chez Mellusi has so far had a very strong start to the 2021 season. This Notre Dame defense, led by SAF Kyle Hamilton, is one of the toughest defenses he will face all season. Mellusi had his worst performance of the year, finishing with 54 rushing yards on 18 carries. He also had 2 catches for 39 yards. His 3.0 yards per carry is nothing to write home about, and this was partly due to his offensive line not creating many opportunities for him. However, he did not break many tackles and made a man miss was on his 35-yard reception. This was his lowest graded game (58.6) according to PFF.

3. Rutgers WR Bo Melton vs Michigan’s Secondary

Bo Melton is a wide receiver prospect who tends to fall under the radar due to the simple fact that he plays for Rutgers. This was a good opportunity for him to show that he deserves more recognition. However, he did not capitalize on the opportunity. He finished the game with 4 catches for 26 yards on 9 targets. Michigan has a talented secondary led by SAF Daxton Hill and supported by CB’s Gemon Green/Vincent Gray. Melton was targeted twice against Hill and he caught both targets for 11 yards. He was targeted once against Green and caught an 8-yard pass. Vincent Gray held Melton without a catch, and Melton was only targeted twice when Gray matched up against him. Gray, against all receivers, was targeted 6 times and only allowed 1 catch for 5 yards. Green allowed 3 catches for 40 yards on 5 targets. Hill allowed 4 catches on 4 targets for 18 yards. Hill also finished with 2 total pressures and 5 tackles.

2022 NFL Draft Stock Up:

  1. Michigan State ED Jacub Panasiuk: 14 Tot. Pressures - 3 Sacks - 2 QB Hits - 1 FF – 3 Tackles
  2. Michigan State WR Jayden Reed: 4 Rec/59 yards – 1 Rec TD – 1 Punt Ret. TD
  3. Indiana RB Stephen Carr: 25 Att/109 yards - 2 TD - 2 Rec/16 yards

2022 NFL Draft Stock Down:

  1. Minnesota QB Tanner Morgan: 32.1 PFF - 7/15 84 yards - 0 TD/2 INT - 3 turnover worthy plays
  2. Wisconsin TE Jake Ferguson: 53.0 PFF Grade - 3 Target – 1 Rec/11 yards 
  3. Michigan St. OL Kevin Jarvis: 38.1 PFF Grade – 21.7 Pass Block - 2 pressures allowed, 1 penalty

Week 5: Notable Games

Maryland vs Iowa

  1. Maryland WRs Dontay Demus Jr. & Rakim Jarrett vs Iowa CBs Matt Hankins & Riley Moss
  2. Maryland OTs Jaelyn Duncan & Spencer Anderson vs Iowa ED Zach VanValkenburg

Michigan vs Wisconsin

  1. Michigan ED Aidan Hutchinson vs Wisconsin OTs Tyler Beach & Logan Bruss
  2. Michigan SAF Daxton Hill vs Wisconsin TE Jake Ferguson

Top ACC Matchups

  1. Notre Dame RB Kyren Williams and C Jarrett Patterson vs Wisconsin Rush Defense

Wisconsin came into this week’s game with the fewest rushing yards allowed per game (33), and left with an even better average, allowing just 3 total rushing yards against the Irish. Williams had 18 carries for just 33 yards and he didn’t record a catch for the first time this season. Wisconsin’s defense, especially LBs Jack Sanborn and Mike Maskalunas did an excellent job keeping him contained in this one. Patterson also struggled, not getting much push in the rushing game, but he was still solid in pass protection.

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

Booth and the rest of the Clemson secondary struggled to contain Emezie, allowing him to convert 14 of his 16 targets into catches, including 8 for first downs and 1 for a TD. Booth was no match for Emezie’s size and physicality, not letting him get wide open, but still not being able to prevent him from completing the catches.

3. NC State OT Ikem Okwonu vs. Clemson EDGE’s Myles Murphy and Xavier Thomas 

In what was his toughest task of the season, Ikem Okwonu finished with his lowest-graded performance thus far. After only allowing 1 pressure in his first three games, Okwonu allowed 2 en route to a 72.6 overall PFF grade. Clemson’s Xavier Thomas finished as the 10th highest-graded EDGE last weekend with 2 sacks, 5 tackles, and 2 TFL. Myles Murphy was largely non-disruptive as he failed to record a sack for the third game in a row. 

2022 NFL Draft Stock Up:

  1. Pittsburgh QB Kenny Pickett: 93.3 PFF Grade - 24/28 (85.7%)/403 yards - 5 TD/0 INT
  2. NC State WR Emeka Emezie: 76.3 PFF Grade - 17 Targets/14 Rec/116 Yards - 1 TD
  3. Clemson EDGE Xavier Thomas: 74.6 PFF Grade - 5 Tackles - 3 solo - 2 sacks - 2 TFL

2022 NFL Draft Stock Down:

  1. Notre Dame RB Kyren Williams: 59.7 PFF Grade - 18 Att/33 yards - 1.8 YPC
  2. Clemson WR Joseph Ngata:59.3 PFF Grade - 5 Targets/2 Rec/36 Yards - 0 TD
  3. Clemson CB Andrew Booth Jr: 52.8 PFF Grade - 12 targets/9 Rec Allowed - 82 Yds allowed/2 TD

Week 5: Notable Games

Clemson vs Boston College

  1. Clemson CB Andrew Booth Jr. vs Boston College WR Zay Flowers
  2. Clemson EDGE Xavier Thomas vs. Boston College OT Tyler Vrabel 

Notre Dame vs. Cincinnati 

  1. Notre Dame WR Kevin Austin vs. Cincinnati CB Sauce Gardner
  2. Notre Dame DB Kyle Hamilton vs. Cincinnati QB Desmond Ridder 

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