College Football 2023 Stock Up, Stock Down Week 11: Jayden Daniels, Terrion Arnold, Dorian Strong & More
Week 11 of college football didn’t buck many trends that would alter the 2024 NFL Draft
Week 11 of college football didn’t buck many trends that would alter the 2024 NFL Draft. Many of the top risers from the overall season continued to perform well. We’ll touch on some of those performances today, but we’ll also explore a few new prospects that I haven’t covered this year.
This article will be one of my shorter Monday morning columns. I lost a lot of sleep staying up to watch Oregon vs. USC, so I’m pushing through Sunday on willpower and fumes.
Only draft-eligible players appear in this series. I tried to avoid picking prospects from blowouts or “tune-up” games against lesser competition. All heights and weights are unofficial unless specified.
Feel free to tell me in the comments or on Twitter @Sam_Teets33 if you saw a player that deserves to be on this list.
Stock Up: Terrion Arnold, CB Alabama
Kool-Aid McKinstry is Alabama’s best prospect in the secondary this year, but Arnold is at least in the top 50 conversation. The junior intercepted his third pass of the year against Kentucky on a play that he read beautifully. Arnold broke at the perfect time and showed off his closing speed to undercut the receiver for a big turnover. He also forced a fumble earlier in the game.
Arnold is coming off a strong showing against LSU last week. He broke up two passes and hauled in a cleanup interception that he should Venmo Dallas Turner for. On a different play, Arnold stayed attached to Kyren Lacy on an intermediate comeback near the sticks and broke up the pass with textbook technique.
Some of Arnold’s other notable plays against LSU included flying past a Brian Thomas Jr. block to blow up a screen early in the third quarter, forcing an incompletion on a pass attempt to Malik Nabers, and delivering a hard hit on a short pass to Thomas to hold him to no YAC.
Arnold has rebounded well after a rough outing against Texas earlier this year.
Stock Up: Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, DB Texas Tech
Taylor-Demerson picked up his fourth interception of the year as Texas Tech upset Kansas. He ripped the ball away from the intended target after sharply changing directions and recovering into the route. DTD had three interceptions in 2021 and 2022, making him one of the most productive defensive backs in college football.
Taylor-Demerson is a little on the small side (5'11", 195 lbs.), but he’s comfortable bumping pass catchers mid-route and competing at the catch point. His closing burst and range make him one of the fastest moving players on the field. DTD is willing to come downhill and make plays against the run, which allows Texas Tech to play him in the slot and near the box instead of just in deep alignments.
Taylor-Demerson appears to have good arm length for a defensive back. He is awesome at the catch point and knows how to break up passes even when he isn’t in a position to create a turnover. His veteran savvy and some of his testing numbers will help in the pre-draft process.
Stock Up: Kitan Oladapo, DB Oregon State
Oladapo had a career day against Stanford. The physical sixth-year safety intercepted two passes and generated a third turnover on a pass breakup. It all started late in the first quarter with Oladapo working in a two-high alignment. He saw Stanford’s quarterback eyeing star sophomore Elic Ayomanor in single coverage and ranged over to make a leaping interception in front of the larger receiver.
Oladapo’s second interception also came in front of Ayomanor. This time, he was in single coverage, carrying the receiver on a crossing route in man coverage. Oladapo used his strong hands to maintain control of the ball despite Ayomanor’s resistance at the catch point.
Oladapo created a third interception on a big hit late in the third quarter. He drilled the intended receiver in the back, which popped the ball into the air for freshman Jermod McCoy to intercept.
The other big play Oladapo made was a broken up pass in man coverage. Stanford had a red zone possession in the second quarter, and Oladapo played the slot slant well. He timed his punch perfectly to reach around the receiver, knock the ball out, and prevent the touchdown without committing the foul.
Stock Up: Dorian Strong, CB Virginia Tech
Strong had an impressive freshman campaign in 2020 when he flashed against Sam Howell’s Tar Heels and Sam Hartman’s Demon Deacons. His rise stalled over the past two years as he missed most of 2022 with a fracture in his hand near the base of his thumb, but Strong is in the middle of his best campaign yet.
Strong got rolling early against Boston College. He intercepted Thomas Castellanos on the first offensive play of the game by streaking in front of the intended receiver on a route breaking over the middle. Strong stayed attached to the receiver throughout the route and left no room for the pass to be completed.
Strong came back for more later in the first quarter. Operating as the field corner in press-man coverage, he perfectly mirrored the outside release and stayed in-phase. Strong’s inside leverage made the interception easy since the receiver was on his back and had no path to the ball.
Stock Up: Jayden Daniels, QB LSU
Daniels needs no introduction. My favorite to win the Heisman Trophy offers unrivaled speed and mobility among the nation’s truly elite quarterbacks. He torched Florida for 372 yards and three touchdowns through the air and 234 yards and two touchdowns on the ground (12 carries), including this 85-yard sprint. Daniels isn’t as elusive as someone like Lamar Jackson, but he makes defenders miss in space and can be a dynamic creator.
Daniels’ lead build and recklessness will raise concerns about his durability, but he has taken plenty of punishment this year and bounced right back. The Arizona State transfer is a team captain who has the leadership traits, toughness, and developmental history to attract NFL teams as early as the second round.
Daniels also has a good arm. His arm strength and velocity fall short of elite, but are more than adequate to access downfield throws to Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. and challenge tight windows. Thomas beat Jason Marshall Jr. downfield for 50+ yards in the third quarter. He and Nabers combined for 12 receptions for 282 yards and two touchdowns against Florida.
Stock Up: Xavier Worthy, WR Texas
Worthy and Adonai Mitchell torched TCU cornerback Josh Newton Saturday night. He made ten receptions on 13 targets for 137 yards, including this 45-yard downfield shot. Worthy used his acceleration and speed on the outside release to stack Newton and only came up short of the end zone because he tripped after making the catch.
Worthy had another almost-touchdown on a deep out-route. His vertical stem had Newton in panic mode before he created four or five yards of separation on the break. Quinn Ewers was late with the throw, which allowed Newton to try to undercut it. He missed, and it looked like Worthy cruised to the end zone. Unfortunately, he stepped out of bounds.
Worthy forced Newton to commit two penalties. The TCU cornerback is expected to be a late third to mid-fourth round pick. Worthy also hustled on Ewer’s interception to track the defender nearly 40 yards and jump on the loose ball after Jordan Whittington punched it out.
Worthy has the speed to take the top off defenses and erase angles after the catch.
Also, please watch this ridiculous route Mitchell ran that should’ve gone for a touchdown. It’s insane that a receiver that large moves so well.
Stock Up Week 11 Honorable Mentions
Reggie Brown, WR James Madison
Brown dominated during James Madison’s game against Connecticut. He caught all nine of his targets for 202 yards and two touchdowns. The sixth-year receiver patiently waited for his time to make an impact and has been rewarded this season. His latest showing was his third multi-touchdown game and his fourth outing with more than 120 yards this year.
Brown’s first touchdown against Connecticut was an 80-yard play where he tracked the ball over his shoulder and completed the catch despite a UConn defender diving to try to break the pass up. His second score was a 55-yard walk-in touchdown after he generated more than five yards of separation against the safety on a slant-go double move.
Brown is having a great season. He isn’t a physically dominant player, but he sells routes and tracks the ball well on deep throws.
Rasheen Ali, RB Marshall
He’s back! You know I had to work one of my guys into this article. Ali carried the ball 24 times for 165 yards and three touchdowns against Georgia Southern. He generated 108 yards after contact, including a few yards as he carried a defender into the end zone on this short two-yard plunge.
Ali’s biggest play of the night was a 55-yard explosion off a direct snap. He has excellent burst to reach the third level and terrific finishing speed to make house calls. Ali approaches 20 miles per hour when he reaches cruising speed and has probably crossed that threshold in the past. His vision is also fairly impressive.
Chop Robinson, Edge Penn State
Michigan saw Robinson dominate their right tackle several times on their first two possession and decided to stop throwing the football. The Wolverines limited Robinson’s impact by committing to the ground game. The Maryland transfer isn’t a weak run defender, but his best impact comes as a rusher.
Robinson only had nine pass rush attempts on Saturday, but he generated two quarterback hits and an additional pressure. To put that in context, Robinson was applying pressure on 16.81% of his pass rush attempts entering the weekend, and his performance against Michigan bumped that number up to 18.03%.
Robinson has excellent burst off the line to immediately put tackles in losing positions. That explosiveness, plus a two-handed swipe, led to a straight shot at J.J. McCarthy. Robinson also has nice bend to flatten his rush angle. He projects as a first round selection.
Brennan Jackson, Edge Washington State
Things are coming together for Jackson in his sixth season. He has four or more pressures in six games, including the recent game against Cal. Jackson finished the day with a forced fumble and 2.5 tackles for loss, including 1.5 sacks.
Jackson got the strip-sack early in the third quarter. After failing to move the tackle with a push-pull, he continued to push vertically and had enough bend to reach the quarterback before he could get the ball out. Jackson’s half-sack came lined up as a 4i-tech. He released against the left guard and fired his hands into the lineman’s chest, creating knockback to open the A-gap. From there, he played through the guard’s futile resistance and took a straight line to the quarterback.
Jackson projects as a day three rotational edge rusher.
Week 11 Notes from the Field
Texas running back Jonathon Brooks suffered a torn right ACL against TCU. Brooks is sixth in the FBS in rushing yards. He produced 178 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 24 touches against the Horned Frogs. The injury could affect if he declares for the draft or returns to school.
Jordan Whittington is fourth on the Longhorns in receiving yards but leads the team in hustle plays. He missed the initial tackle attempt when TCU picked off Quinn Ewers but got back up, tracked down the defender, and forced a fumble on the return. Xavier Worthy recovered the ball. Whittington has been an excellent security blanket for Ewers this season.
Jer'Zhan Newton continues his march toward postseason awards. He notched a sack in his third straight game in an overtime win against Indiana to accompany four other pressures. Newton has the best hand usage of any interior defensive lineman in the 2024 class.
Rutgers’ Max Melton has been one of the most consistent Big Ten cornerbacks over the past two years. He recorded his second interception of the season this past weekend. Melton is an impact special teams player and an instinctive cornerback who excels when allowed to read the quarterback’s eyes.
Tez Johnson has emerged as a legitimate second receiving option for the Oregon Ducks. Johnson lacks ideal size (5'10", 160 lbs.) but offers elite agility, explosiveness, and speed to threaten teams vertically or generate yards after the catch. Johnson made seven receptions for 126 yards and two touchdowns against USC.
Speaking of Oregon wide receivers, potential first round pick Troy Franklin made one of the funniest plays of the year on an 84-yard touchdown. A little shoulder and hip fake left USC’s safety completely in the dark. He had no idea where Franklin went.
Brenden Rice trails Tahj Washington for the most receiving yards by a Trojan, but he’s arguably been the most impressive USC receiver this year. Rice combines his size (6'3", 210 lbs.) with good speed and excellent body control. He made five receptions for 81 yards and a touchdown against Oregon. Rice projects as a day three pick with traits-based upside.
I was low on Ladd McConkey over the summer, but he has been a star for Georgia this year. McConkey pairs a well-rounded athletic profile with A+ route running and salesmanship. He shifts gears and cuts so smoothly, showing off his agility. McConkey toasted Ole Miss corner Deantre Prince on a stutter-go for what should’ve been a touchdown if Carson Beck made a better throw.
Jarius Monroe has quietly been one of college football’s most consistent cornerbacks since becoming a star at Nicholls State. It took him a bit to adjust when he transferred to Tulane in 2022, but he is in complete control this year. Monroe has excellent ball skills, good size (6'2", 205 lbs.), and long arms. He got up for this interception against Tulsa.
Rome Odunze doesn’t create a ton of separation, which would ordinarily be a big issue in a crowded wide receiver class. However, Odunze’s ball tracking and ball skills are so good that it doesn’t matter. He thrives making catches with defenders in his face and finishing through contact.
Someone flicked Bralen Trice’s “on” switch a few weeks ago. He has 54 pressures (tied for the FBS lead) this year and 36 over the past four weeks, including six pressures against Utah. Trice forced a hold against the left tackle late in the third quarter. He’s a handful for linemen who aren’t prepared to handle his long arms and power.
Two of the most explosive offenses in the Pac-12 have talented tight ends flying under the radar. Washington’s Jack Westover showed off his ball skills and catch radius on this clutch fourth down conversion, and Oregon’s Terrance Ferguson scored a touchdown by out-leveraging the linebacker up the seam against zone coverage. The two tight ends combined for 13 receptions for 124 yards on Saturday.
Ashton Gillotte hit double-digit sacks earlier in the week with a strong showing against Virginia. The first of his 1.5 sacks was an unblocked rush, and the second came on a well run stunt. Gillotte is one of fewer than ten FBS defenders with at least 50 pressures this season.
Outside of Laiatu Latu, North Carolina’s Kaimon Rucker might have the best hands among edge rushers in the 2024 class. Against Duke, he recorded six pressures, including a half sack that resulted from a rip move and relentless leg drive. Rucker doesn’t have ideal size, but his power, bend, and pass rush moves make him worthy of the nickname The Butcher. He is tied for the FBS lead with 54 pressures.
It’s pretty rare to see a two-sport football player in the Power Five. Usually, it’s a mix of football and basketball, but safety Dante Trader Jr. doubles as an honorable mention All-American for Maryland’s Lacrosse team. Trader intercepted two separate Nebraska quarterbacks on Saturday. Both picks were overthrows, but they showed off his ball skills, tracking, and anticipation.
Georgia running back Kendall Milton is primarily known for his power and ability to create after contact, but he showed off his burst against Ole Miss. Milton carried the ball nine times for 127 yards and two touchdowns, including this 55-yard run between the tackles.
One Sophomore to Highlight
I forgot Purdue’s Nic Scourton was still a sophomore and wrote this paragraph, so enjoy it. Scourton made his eighth sack of the year by executing a chop on the blocking tight end and pinning the blocker’s outside arm. The sack artist already has a polished spin move that sets the tone for a growing bag of pass rush moves. Scourton has terrific size (6'4", 280 lbs.) and good arm length.