College Football Week 8: Stock up, stock down

A disappointing slate of games

Well, that was a disappointing weekend. We didn’t see many close games outside of an offensively atrocious 9OT matchup between Penn St. and Illinois and three-quarters of the Alabama vs. Tennessee game. However, dozens of 2022 NFL Draft prospects turned in eye-catching performances while others might’ve been better off staying in bed.

Please keep in mind that this article only includes players eligible for the upcoming draft. True freshmen and sophomores do not qualify, so don’t complain about not seeing Will Anderson Jr.

Feel free to tell me in the comments or on Twitter @Sam_Teets33 if you saw a player over the weekend that belongs on this list.

UP: Corey Sutton, WR Appalachian St.

Sutton caught all six of his targets as the Mountaineers toppled the undefeated Coastal Carolina Chanticleers on Wednesday. His 113 receiving yards only trailed fellow senior Malik Williams’ total. Sutton is 6' 3" and weighs 205 lbs. Wednesday’s matchup was his fourth game this season with over 100 yards. He only had three 100-yard games entering the year.

DOWN: Eric Gray, RB Oklahoma

Gray was a dynamic back who averaged 85 rushing yards per game for Tennessee in 2020. He transferred to Oklahoma during the offseason to form a superstar backfield with Kennedy Brooks. However, his role as an equal alongside Brooks hasn’t materialized.

Brooks carried the ball 24 times on Saturday, while Gray only had one carry for five yards. He still made plays out of the backfield, leading Oklahoma with three receptions for 42 yards. That highlights a massive decline in touches even since the season’s opening weeks.

UP: Leo Chenal, LB Wisconsin

Chenal’s greatest weakness is in coverage. He allowed six receptions on six targets for 67 yards against Purdue, which is on par with issues he experienced in 2020. However, the rest of Chenal’s performance in Week 8 overrode his struggles in coverage. The junior recorded nine tackles (eight solo), 5.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks.

Chenal and fellow Badgers linebacker Jack Sanborn are having career years, which could vault them into the second or third tier of draft-eligible linebackers.

DOWN: Ikem Ekwonu, OT N.C. St.

Many analysts went into the season viewing Ekwonu as a guard prospect even though he plays left tackle for the Wolfpack. The third-year sophomore played at an elite level for his team’s first six games before running into some trouble against Miami. Ekwonu surrendered a season-high three pressures as N.C. St. failed to establish the running game in their second loss.

UP: Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE Oregon

Throughout the year, I’ve pounded the table for Kyle Hamilton, but Thibodeaux might’ve solidified himself as the top prospect in the upcoming draft on Saturday. He recorded nine tackles (eight solo), 4.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, ten pressures, and two sacks. Thibodeaux doubled his season’s solo tackle and sack production in the win.

Thibodeaux is one of a few players in contention for the first overall pick. He’s beginning to separate from the other candidates.

DOWN: Kedon Slovis, QB USC

Slovis is clinging to USC’s starting job, but his NFL stock is all but dead. The Arizona native was amazing as a freshman, disappointing as a sophomore, and is collapsing as a junior. He completed 27 of 37 pass attempts for 299 yards and an interception against Notre Dame while taking three sacks. Slovis has nine passing touchdowns and six interceptions this year.

UP: Jaquarii Roberson, WR Wake Forest

Roberson opened the season slowly, failing to cross the 100-yard threshold in four consecutive games. He’s since strung together three straight performances with at least six receptions and 135 receiving yards. The junior snagged eight receptions for a season-high 157 yards and career-high three receiving touchdowns.

Roberson has a thin frame at 6' 1", 182 lbs., but it’s impossible to deny his recent production.

DOWN: Emil Ekiyor Jr., IOL Alabama

Ekiyor hasn’t recaptured the dominant play he displayed in 2020. As a 324 lb. right guard, the junior still creates plenty of room in the running game. However, he’s been less physically assertive in 2021 and is struggling in pass protection. Ekiyor allowed four pressures against Tennessee, and he’s already allowed more pressures in 2021 than in 2020.

UP: Thayer Munford, IOL Ohio St.

Munford had his best performance since shifting to left guard against Indiana, blowing the Hoosiers off the line of scrimmage. He allowed zero pressures on 29 snaps in pass protection as the Buckeyes ran away with a 54-7 win. We’ll see if NFL teams evaluate Munford as a guard or allow him to kick outside again.

DOWN: Josh Jobe, CB Alabama

Jobe is battling for a spot in the first-round, and he was trending in the right direction after a dominant showing against Mississippi St. in Week 7. Unfortunately, the senior’s star play didn’t carry over to the matchup against Tennessee. Jobe allowed four receptions on four targets for 99 yards and a touchdown.

Jobe still has a high ceiling, but it’s becoming increasingly unlikely that he’ll crack the top 32 prospects when all is said and done. He’s already allowed more yards and touchdowns in coverage this year than he did in 2020.

UP: Romeo Doubs, WR Nevada

Doubs put on a show against Fresno St., making a whopping 19 receptions for 203 yards and a touchdown. His 10.7 yards per reception were below his season average, but nearly half of his production came on yards after the catch. Doubs has 45 receptions, 590 receiving yards, and three touchdowns this season. He’s not a first-round receiver but could push for a Day 2 selection.

DOWN: Alontae Taylor, CB Tennessee

Taylor is one of this year’s most underrated cornerback prospects, but he predictably had a rough outing against Alabama. The 6' 0", 193 lb. senior allowed three receptions on five targets for 44 yards without recording a pass breakup. Taylor also struggled a week earlier in Tennessee’s game against Ole Miss, allowing 122 yards on five of nine targets.

UP: Neil Farrell Jr., DT LSU

LSU took a beating against Ole Miss, but Farrell arguably had the best game of his college career. The fifth-year defensive tackle recorded seven tackles, three tackles for loss, five pressures, and a sack as his breakout year continued. Farrell is 6' 4" and weighs 325 lbs. He could climb draft boards at a good clip considering the lack of superstar defensive tackle prospects.

This coming draft features plenty of run-stopping interior defensive linemen. Add Farrell’s name to the growing list of players ready to give NFL running backs trouble.

DOWN: Alec Anderson, OT UCLA

Facing Thibodeaux was a nightmare for Anderson. The junior right tackle allowed five pressures and a sack against Oregon’s dominant defensive front. The poor performance comes on the heels of a game against Washington where Anderson allowed two pressures, meaning seven of his 12 pressures allowed this year came in UCLA’s past two games.

UP: Charleston Rambo, WR Miami

Rambo’s decision to transfer from Oklahoma to Miami isn’t looking so bad right now. The junior caught all nine of his targets for 127 yards and two touchdowns against No. 18 N.C. St. in Miami’s Saturday night upset win. Rambo has two games this season with over 120 receiving yards after only having one such performance during his three years with the Sooners.

DOWN: Zach Charbonnet, RB UCLA

Charbonnet wasn’t in the conversation for RB1 entering the 2021 season, but the Michigan transfer began hearing his name in those debates over the past few weeks. Some of that excitement will dissipate after No. 10 Oregon held Charbonnet to 35 yards on 15 carries. He entered the weekend averaging 99 yards per game.  

UP: Kenny Pickett, QB Pittsburgh

Saturday wasn’t Pickett’s best game of the season, although he set several program career records. However, the win over Clemson cemented Pittsburgh as a candidate for the ACC title and Pickett as a Heisman Trophy candidate. The fifth-year quarterback completed 25 of 39 attempts (64.1%) for 302 yards and two touchdowns.

Pickett is the season’s surprise quarterback. His draft stock is trending up, but his ceiling as a prospect remains murky.

DOWN: Jaylin Williams, CB Indiana

This weekend wasn’t a high point for Indiana’s defense in general. The Hoosiers gave up 54 points to Ohio St. While Williams still hasn’t missed a tackle attempt this season, he allowed five receptions on ten targets for 72 yards and a touchdown. It’s the second game in 2021 where Williams allowed over 70 yards and a touchdown in coverage.

Two Tight Ends for the Road

UP: Jeremy Ruckert, TE Ohio St.

The Buckeyes notoriously use their tight ends as blockers but barely get them involved in the passing game. Saturday night was a rare outing as Ruckert saw five targets, catching all of them for 47 yards and two touchdowns. That’s the second-most receiving yards he’s produced in a game during his collegiate career.

Ohio State’s offense makes it difficult to evaluate Ruckert, but his ability as a blocker and underrated skills as a pass-catcher should command a Day 2 pick.

Cole Turner, TE Nevada

Turner has been on a tear over the past two weeks. The senior caught 12 passes for 175 yards against Hawaii in Week 7 before torching Fresno St. for 105 yards and two touchdowns on eight receptions. The 6' 6", 240 lb. Oregon native more than doubled his production this season over the past two weeks.

A few big performances make a difference in a weak tight end class. This year continues confirming that there aren’t any superstar tight ends coming out in 2022, but we’re discovering that there’s a surprising amount of depth at the position.

Honorable Mentions

Tyler Allgeier, RB BYU

Curtis Brooks, IDL Cincinnati

Payne Durham, TE Purdue

Xavier Hutchinson, WR Iowa St.

Kenny Logan Jr., S Kansas

Drake London, WR USC

A.T. Perry, WR Wake Forest

Carson Strong, QB Nevada

Demetrius Taylor, EDGE Appalachian St.

Josh Whyle, TE Cincinnati

Kyren Williams, RB Notre Dame