The first College Football Playoff rankings of the year have been released, creating some interesting storylines. Ohio State remains the top team despite struggling with Penn State in the first half before
pulling away after halftime. Indiana sits right behind them. The Hoosiers had no trouble in College Park against the Terps. If both remain undefeated, they will collide in the Big Ten Championship Game. Undefeated Texas A&M comes in at #3 followed by one-loss SEC teams Alabama, Georgia, and Ole Miss. The Big 12 makes its appearance at #7 with undefeated BYU followed immediately by Texas Tech. More on them in a second. Oregon, whose only loss was to Indiana, comes in at #9 and two-loss Notre Dame comes in at #10. The final two spots belong to a couple of two-loss SEC teams: rivals Texas and Oklahoma. Noticeably absent are any ACC teams. Georgia Tech suffered its first loss of the season to NC State and fell down the rankings. UVA at #14 is the closest ACC team to the College Football Playoff field.
Several games will go a long way to deciding which teams make it. That starts this weekend with the only two Big 12 teams in playoff field facing off. A road win by BYU over Texas Tech would go a long way in solidifying their place in the playoffs. Texas A&M will face a ranked Missouri team that is far from a pushover. Oregon’s dynamic offense goes on the road to face a stingy Iowa defense. Alabama will host a disappointing LSU team, while Georgia will go to Starkville to take on Mississippi State.
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.
Luke Altmyer | QB | Senior| Illinois
With the injuries suffered by Jayden Daniels this season, it has become more important than ever to make sure the team has a pipeline of talent at the position behind him. Luke Altmyer has followed up a strong junior year with a consistent senior season. Some might be concerned about Altmyer’s size at 6’3”, 215 lbs, but it is sufficient for the NFL. Altmyer is an accurate passer who can get the ball out on time, but also has the athleticism to extend plays and make throws on the move. Arm strength is mediocre, but he can be effective in timing-based offenses that get the ball out quickly. Altmyer completed 19 of 31 passes for four touchdowns and an interception in a win over Rutgers. He also ran for 88 yards and a touchdown.
Jeremiyah Love | RB | Junior | Notre Dame
The Commanders need to improve their running game as promising flashes from Jacory Croskey-Merritt have dwindled. Jeremiyah Love is the closest thing to the consensus top running back prospect. That’s because he does everything well at the position. He has excellent vision and explodes through what appears to be the slightest creases in a defense. Once he gets in the open field, he has elite speed to break off long runs like the 94-yarder below. He is an effective receiver out of the backfield and will decleat defenders as a blocker. If there is an aspect of his game I’d like to see more of, it’s lowering his shoulder and running through defenders. He has the size to do it at 6’0”, 215 lbs. Notre Dame beat Boston College with Love rushing for 136 yards and scoring two touchdowns on 17 attempts.
Duce Robinson | WR | Junior | Florida State
Injuries and disappointing play have put the Commanders in a place where they need receivers. If the Commanders want to prioritize size, receivers don’t get much bigger than Duce Robinson. The man is 6’6”, 223 lbs, an absolutely huge target for Daniels. He has buildup speed and beats defensive backs down the field. His hands are reliable and he trusts them to make catches away from his body or in contested situations. At his size, he’s not getting into and out of his breaks as quickly as smaller receivers, but the routes are effective even if they are fairly limited. Robinson hauled in five catches for 148 yards and a touchdown in the Seminoles’ win over Wake Forest.
Sam Roush | TE | Senior | Stanford
The Commanders could replace one Stanford tight end with another. Zach Ertz will be a free agent after this season. The Commanders will still have John Bates, Ben Sinnott, and Colson Yankoff, but they need someone who will make an impact in the passing game as a receiver. Sam Roush is big, 6’5”, 260 lbs, and runs well at that size. He’s not the most agile and fluid mover, but he plays with good leverage in his routes to create enough separation. Roush won’t make defenders miss, but he bounces off tackles. He needs to improve his execution as a blocker by staying attached to defenders for longer and continuing to drive his legs on contact. Roush caught eight passes for 104 yards in a loss to Pittsburgh.
Chase Bisontis | OG | Junior | Texas A&M
Texas A&M remains the only undefeated team in the SEC after its beatdown of LSU. They are playing well in the run and pass games, but the play of their offensive line is leading the way. Junior Chase Bisontis is in year two of playing left guard after starting at right tackle and right guard as a freshman. Bisontis is 6’5”, 315 lbs, and his tackle background is evident in pass pro. His feet are always wide and active, looking to mirror the defender. His hand strikes can be a little wide, but he constantly reworks them to control defenders. He is athletic enough to pull in the run game and does a good job of neutralizing opposing players. In the run game, I’d like to see him stay on blocks a little longer and play a little nastier.
Romello Height | DE | Senior| Texas Tech
With Dorance Armstrong out and Von Miller past his prime, the Commanders’ pass rush has left much to be desired. Jacob Martin has played hard and flashed, but that is about the only positive in recent weeks. Texas Tech has arguably the best pair of pass rushers in college football in David Bailey, who I mentioned earlier this season, and Romello Height. At 6’3”, 240 lbs, Height looks to be a player who sees the field in pass rush situations rather than a full-time defensive end. He uses speed and agility to regularly beat blockers around the edge. Even for an undersized pass rusher, Height understand how to convert speed to power and use leverage to get under the pads of a tackle and walk him into the QB’s lap. He’s also shown an impressive array of moves to get to the QB. Being undersized, I think he’s more of a Day 2 pick in the mold of Nik Bonitto. Height made two tackles, both for a loss and one being a strip sack, in the Red Raiders win over Kansas State.
Arvell Reese | LB | Junior | Ohio State
The best linebacker in the country so far this year might be Arvell Reese. He is a huge part of why the Buckeyes have the best total defense in the nation. The rare blend of size, athleticism, and strength allows him to make plays all over the field and fill whatever role the Commanders need. Off the ball, he can run sideline to sideline or stack and shed linemen. He also can line up on the line and win pass rush reps against offensive tackles. I’d like to see more of him dropping into coverage, but his athletic traits suggest he’ll be good in this area. No question he’s a first-round linebacker, it’s just a question of how high he goes. Reese was all over the field in the win over Penn State with 12 tackles, 2.5 for a loss, and a sack.
Devan Boykin | CB | RS Senior | Indiana
Even after drafting Trey Amos, whose had a respectable rookie year, cornerback is still a big need for the team. Marshon Lattimore has struggled, especially with the top receivers he was acquired to defend. With a torn ACL, it is unlikely he will be back on the field before he’s a free agent. Indiana has two talented corners in D’Angelo Ponds and Devan Boykin. Ponds is the more talented cornerback, but Boykin is making a case for himself to make an NFL roster. He’s a little shorter than your ideal corner at 5’10”, but he weighs 195 lbs. His straight-line speed allows him to run with defenders downfield, and he has the hip fluidity to change directions as receivers break out of their routes. He’s a physical cornerback that has no problem tackling. Boykin had four tackles, one for a loss, and a forced fumble he returned for a touchdown.
Jalon Kilgore| Safety | Junior | South Carolina
Better play on the Commanders’ back end is necessary in order to prevent the explosive plays that they’ve allowed. Jalon Kilgore might be able to help in a number of ways. He is truly a defensive back as he is versatile enough to defend players in the slot or play deep safety. He isn’t a true centerfielder, but he could easily handle the split safety look used by the Commanders. At 6’1”, 211 lbs, Kilgore has the size for the position, but I would like to see him elevate the physicality of his play. Kilgore had two tackles, a PBU, and an interception against Ole Miss.
