We’re about a third of the way through the college football season and there is a lot to cover. Clemson suffered a second ACC loss, this week to Syracuse, and at 1-3, there are questions of where they go from here. Will they follow in the footsteps of Oklahoma State who fired their coach of 20 seasons after a slow start this season? Notre Dame finally got a win against Purdue, but after two losses to ranked opponents, will running the table be enough for them to make the College Football Playoff?
How far will undefeated teams like Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech go this season?
There were a few ranked-on-ranked matchups in Week 4 that deserve mentioning. Texas Tech went into Utah and, even after losing their starting quarterback, pulled out a 34-10 victory. The Red Raiders defense looks as good as any in college football. The same might be said of Indiana after they blew out Illinois and scored nine touchdowns.
The premier game of Week 5 has to be Oregon traveling across the country and playing at Penn State in a game featuring teams ranked in the top six. Right behind that is an undefeated Georgia team looking to hand Alabama its second loss and significantly diminish their chances of making the playoff. On the other hand, it might be LSU vs. Ole Miss, a thrilling game last season where LSU needed overtime to pull out a win. There are a lot of games that should be competitive and go a long way to deciding what happens in the postseason.
Here 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.
Josh Hoover| QB | Junior | TCU
Marcus Mariota filled in admirably for an injured Jayden Daniels, getting a win for the Commanders. While the quarterback room is talented and capable, the team should keep an eye out for youth that they can develop in this system. TCU’s Josh Hoover is following up a breakout sophomore season with a strong start to his junior year. He’s helped the Horned Frogs to an undefeated record, most recently beating ACC opponent SMU. He isn’t much of a runner, which might be good given he’s only 6’2”, 200 lbs. He does have enough athleticism and quickness to navigate the pocket and get out of trouble.
What impressed me most is his accuracy on the move and how quickly he can get the ball out of his hand. TCU stayed undefeated behind his five touchdown passes and 379 yards on 22 of 40 passing. As a bonus, check out #1 Eric McAlister at receiver unless you can’t be convinced a wide receiver from TCU will be good.
Robert Henry, Jr. | RB | Senior | UTSA
The running game carried the offense against Las Vegas with Jeremy McNichols breaking off a 60-yarder for a touchdown. If the Commanders want more explosive runs, Robert Henry, Jr. should be at the top of their list of running backs. The FBS leader in rushing yards hasn’t had less than 144 yards in a game this season. He’s done this by using excellent vision to find the right hole, then explodes through it with enough speed to leave behind defenders. At 5’9”, 205lbs, he’s dense and can run through contact with ease. To secure a win over Colorado State, he contributed 144 yards and a touchdown on 21 attempts, plus two catches for 76 yards and a touchdown.
Makai Lemon | WR | Junior | USC
Last week, I featured a big receiver in Chris Brazzell II. The receiver this week is smaller, but incredibly impactful. Makai Lemon is 5’11”, 195lbs, and for whatever he lacks in size, he makes up for with ability. His route-running is crisp and his quickness helps him separate at the top of his routes. Once he gets the ball in his hands, he is very good running after the catch. I think he has the versatility to play wherever Kliff Kingsbury needs him and find success. That versatility was on full display against Michigan State with Lemon having eight catches for 127 yards and a touchdown. He also ran in a touchdown.
Rohan Jones | TE | Senior | Arkansas
Arkansas suffered a tough loss for the second week in a row, this time to Memphis. Their offense put up points behind some big plays by Rohan Jones. Arkansas deploys Jones almost like an H-back, lining him up in the backfield and all over the formation. Being 6’3”, 242 lbs, he has speed to threaten defenders downfield. A willing blocker, this is a part of his game that can be improved, something that’s true for most tight end prospects. Jones had two catches for 102 yards and a touchdown plus a rushing TD.
Isaiah World | OT | RS Senior | Oregon
The Commanders offensive line played well this week with Andrew Wylie at right guard and Chris Paul at left guard along side Laremy Tunsil, Tyler Biadasz, and Josh Conerly, Jr. Each week, I vacillate between what is the biggest need on the line: depth at tackle, guard, or center. I’d like to know what you think below and how’d you’d approach improving the group. I’ll focus on Isaiah World this week. The left tackle transfer from Nevada replaces Josh Conerly, Jr. for the Ducks and it’s easy to see why. Like Conerly, Jr., he looks incredibly athletic, even more considering he is 6’8”, 318 lbs. All of the physical attributes are there: the length, the strength, the agility. His technique is what needs to be improved, but the physical traits could see him selected early in the draft. Check out #76 below.
Max Llewellyn | DE | Senior | Iowa
The defensive line was productive against Las Vegas with five sacks and eight QB hits. The Commanders still need to improve along the edge and Max Llewellyn is an intriguing prospects. With excellent size for the position – 6’5”, 263 lbs – Llewellyn has demonstrated a plethora of pass rush moves from speed rushes around slower tackles to an effective spin move that Aidan Hutchinson would be proud of. Unlike a lot of young pass rushers, he also uses counters if his initial rush is stopped. His athleticism and speed look good, not elite, but he has a high-motor. Against Rutgers, LLewellyn had three tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection.
Daniel Wingate | LB | Junior | Maryland
The Commanders’ linebackers looked more like fans were used to on Sunday. Bobby Wagner led the team in tackles and sacks and Frankie Luvu was among the tackle leaders. I think I saw Jordan Magee make a play or two as well. Maryland’s Daniel Wingate wouldn’t have to go far to join the Commanders. A Bowie, Maryland, native, Wingate has been productive for the Terps, leading the team in tackles through four weeks. Wingate does this with a mix of impressive size at 6’5”, 230 lbs, range to cover tons of ground on the field, and long arms that help him wrestle players to the ground. At that height, he has to get better leverage tacking on blockers, but he doesn’t shy away from contact in the least. He was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after amassing 11 tackles, a sack, and 1.5 TFLs.
Chris Johnson | CB | Senior | San Diego State
The Caliornia Bears started the season undefeated, but that came to an end against the San Diego State Aztecs and Chris Johnson. No, not that Chris Johnson. This Chris Johnson is 6’, 195 lbs, and he’s one of the best corners in the Group of Six, maybe in all of college football. He is fluid in his backpedal and transitions, he’s patient and doesn’t panic when the ball comes his way, and he has the hands to take the ball away. San Diego State uses him as a gunner on special teams where he uses his speed to beat blockers to the returner. He had more points than Cal himself with a 97-yard pick six to go along with six tackles, one TFL, and a PBU.
Kamari Wilson | Safety | RS Junior | Memphis
Memphis overcame an 18-point deficit to defeat Arkansas. Florida transfer Kamari Wilson played a significant role in the comeback. The 6’1”, 210 lb safety flew around the field making big hits, breaking up passes, and even snagging an INT. When he sees a play to be made, he breaks on the ball quickly. For the big hits, I’d like to see him form tackle a little more often. Wilson had eight tackles, a PBU, and an interception to take down the Razorbacks.
