There were not a ton of surprises in Week 9 of the college football season. Unbeaten teams Indiana, Georgia Tech, and BYU beat their opponents handily. Another unbeaten, Texas A&M, pulled away in the second half of their game against LSU, resulting in the firing of their head coach, Brian Kelly. In a battle of ranked one-loss teams, Vanderbilt got the win over Missouri to keep their hopes of making the SEC Championship Game alive. Other one-loss teams in the top 10 - Alabama, Oregon, Ole Miss, and Miami - finished the weekend with victories.
Week 10’s featured matchup was supposed to be Ohio State versus Penn State, but with the Nittany Lions on a four-game losing streak, the Buckeyes will likely win big. Other matchups that might be more competitive include Vanderbilt facing Texas, who might be without starting quarterback Arch Manning due to a concussion. South Carolina just played a close game against Alabama, so maybe they will prove a challenge against Ole Miss this weekend. One-loss Cincinnati will face a tough Utah team in a game that could be a big factor in the Big 12 Championship Game.
Below are a few players who had a good week and might be able to help out the Commanders. Let me know what you think about these prospects and feel free to post players that stood out to you.
****Conner Weigman | QB | Junior|****Houston
Houston pulled off an upset of Arizona State thanks to heroic play by their QB Conner Weigman. The transfer from Texas A&M made plays with his arm and legs to secure the win. Weigman has a baseball background and was a top QB recruit, but he never quite lived up to that billing at Texas A&M due to inconsistent play and injury. When he is healthy and playing his best, Weigman can play as well as any QB prospect. He displays accuracy, even when throwing on the move. Weigman’s arm is not the strongest, but it is sufficient for the NFL. While he has the size for the position at 6’3”, 210 lbs, I worry about his durability at the next level given he’s had significant injuries in college. If he can stay healthy, he would be a good developmental QB. Weigman went 17 of 22 for a touchdown while adding 111 yards and two touchdowns on the ground in the win over the Sun Devils.
Justice Haynes****| RB | Junior |****Michigan
With the Paul Bunyan Trophy on the line, Michigan topped Michigan State on the strength of Justice Haynes’ running. The 5’10”, 210 lb transfer from Alabama has excellent long speed once in the open field as evidenced by multiple touchdown runs over 50 yards this season. Although he has good vision, he doesn’t have a lot of shiftiness to evade tacklers. His above-average contact balance helps deal with defenders he can’t avoid. He’s also a very willing blocker. Haynes had 152 yards on 26 attempts and two touchdowns in the win over their in-state rival.
Denzel Boston | WR | Junior | Washington
The Huskies have put a lot of wide receivers in the league recently. Denzel Boston looks to be the next Washington wideout to make an impact in the NFL. His role is similar to the one Rome Odunze played at the school, top receiver that does a little bit of everything. He has receiving, rushing, passing, and punt return touchdowns this season. His blend of athleticism and size - 6’4”, 210 lbs - is what allows him to be so versatile. As a receiver, he is a big target that runs routes well and surprises defenders with his deep speed. His size makes him hard to bring down after the catch. To beat Illinois, Boston hauled in 10 catches for 153 yards and a touchdown while also passing for a TD.
****Ethan Davis | TE | RS Sophomore |****Tennessee
As only a redshirt sophomore, I suspect Ethan Davis to return to school rather than entering the draft. However, he’s an intriguing player if you want to bet on upside. Davis played basketball in high school and brings that skillset to the position. His size, 6’5”, 245 lbs, makes him a large target and a mismatch for smaller defenders. This makes him a great option down the seam, but he needs to diversify his route tree. I haven’t seen a lot of his blocking, so I’ll keep an eye out for that. Unfortunately, he’s missed time this year due to an undisclosed injury. Davis only had two catches for 23 yards, but one of those catches went for a touchdown.
Keylan Rutledge****| OG | Senior****| Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King accounted for five touchdowns against Syracuse thanks in part to strong play of the offensive line. Keylan Rutledge might be the toughest player on the Yellow Jackets’ line. He has the requisite size at 6’4”, 330 lbs. Moving at that size isn’t an issue for Rutledge as Georgia Tech uses him in zone blocking schemes and as a puller in gap concepts. In pass protection, Rutledge is stout and moves well, but he can lunge to generate power. That makes him susceptible to swim moves by quicker defenders. Check out some of #77’s work below.
**Quincy Rhodes, Jr. **| DE | Junior |****Arkansas
Arkansas has not had the season it hoped for as they have dropped six games in a row, the most recent to Auburn. One bright spot has been the play of Quincy Rhodes, Jr. He is a relentless pass rusher with a hot motor and an effective spin move. He has flashed the ability to use other pass rush moves effectively, but learning when to use them and developing counter moves is a work in progress. Once he gets to the quarterback, it is hard for them to escape his grasp since Rhodes, Jr. is 6’6”, 275 lbs. At that size, Arkansas lines him up inside - like in the video below - against slower linemen with success. His size also makes him effective at running twists and stunts. Rhodes, Jr. had five tackles and two sacks against Auburn.
****Cade Uluave | LB | Junior |****California
With 81 total tackles on the year, Cade Uluave is one of the most productive linebackers in the country. It’s because the 6’1”, 235 lb linebacker has good acceleration to get to ball carriers and plenty of stopping power when he gets there. The quick acceleration and speed is a blessing and a curse because it can cause him to false step or overrun a tackle. If he can play a little more disciplined, he has the potential to be a good starter in the NFL. He had a whopping 19 tackles, three for a loss, and two sacks in a win over Virginia Tech.
****Evan Williams | CB | RS Junior |****BYU
BYU remained undefeated by beating Iowa State. The Cougars’ defense forced four turnovers in the win, one of them belonging to Evan Williams. My favorite trait of Williams is he is physical despite being only 6’0”, 185 lbs. He does a good job of making tackles in the open field. In coverage, he has quick feet and change of direction. It’s one reason BYU trusts him to play in the slot. He reacts quickly to the ball which allows him to get his hands on it. Williams had six tackles and a PBU to go with his interception in the victory over the Cyclones.
Tao Johnson****| Safety | RS Junior |****Utah
It is odd for a safety to have no tackles in a game, but Tao Johnson didn’t have one in Utah’s domination of Colorado. The big reason why is because Johnson’s value is playing deep safety for the Utes. A converted wide receiver, Johnson uses his recognition and speed to limit big plays in the passing game. His receiver background allows him to take the ball away when he has the chance. When he does have to come up and make a play, Johnson closes quickly and uses his 6’1”, 200 lbs frame to finish tackles. He had an interception and a PBU against Colorado.