Week Eight Risers
1. Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame
Like teammate Mike McGlinchey, Nelson could have left after 2016 but opted for another year of seasoning under longtime college and NFL O-line coach Harry Hiestand. Hiestand has developed a number of current NFL offensive linemen with the Fighting Irish, including Zack Martin, Nick Martin, Ronnie Stanley, and Chris Watt.
Nelson, who is in his third year as a starter at left guard, is one of the strongest players in all of college football.
My thoughts: I rarely give a first round grade to a pure interior offensive lineman, but Nelson is on of the exceptions. Dominating at the point of attack, he blends power and technique.
2. Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan
Apparently, Maurice Hurst, Michigan's superstar defensive tackle, has taken up a part-time job driving for the popular ride-sharing service, Uber. Hurst earned a near-perfect grade of 98 from Pro Football Focus for his 10-tackle performance a few weeks ago against Michigan State. At last count, Hurst had 86 five-star ratings for a 4.96 (out of five) Uber rating.
Many predicted the Wolverines would live in the Penn State backfield, but the PSU offensive line only allowed 2 sacks, 7 tackles for loss, and 1 quarterback hurry (compared to 7 sacks, 8 TFL, and 4 QB hurries for the Lions). Specifically, RG, Brendan Mohoh did an admirable job against Hurst.
While his stat line vs Penn State (his 1 sack was his only tackle of the game) may not seem as impressive as his Uber score, Hurst has played like a first rounder for most of the season.
Pro Football Focus’ Steve Palazzolo compared Hurst to Atlanta Falcons DT Grady Jarrett. "Maurice Hurst is probably the best player in the country regardless of position right now.”
Yesterday, Palazzolo tweeted
No.1-graded interior pass rusher in college football: Maurice Hurst
No.1-graded interior run stopper in college football: Maurice Hurst
PFF analyst Josh Liskiewitz said. "He’s just dominant in every single phase," Liskiewitz said. "He reminds me of Gerald McCoy when he was at Oklahoma. I would be stunned at this point if he wasn’t a top 15 pick. Solomon Thomas is nothing compared to Maurice Hurst, and he went No. 3 overall last year."
My thoughts: Hurst has improved steadily throughout his career. He was a backup nose tackle for his first few seasons. Doesn’t have ideal size for an interior DL. He won’t be a nose tackle at the next level due to a lack of size (6’2″, 282 lbs.). Incredible off of the snap of the ball. Has that Warren Sapp, Aaron Donald type interior quickness to beat offensive guards. Gets his hands up to knock down passes if he can’t get the the QB. NFL bloodlines (his father played cornerback for the New England Patriots). Potential 1st/2nd round pick but top-five is way too rich for me.
3. Josh Adams, RB, Notre Dame
Notre Dame RB Josh Adams had a huge game against USC (19 carries for 191 yards, 3 TDs). Adams' performance helped lead the Irish to a dominating 49-14 victory over USC.
Adams, college football’s 7th leading rusher, has 967 yards on 105 carries. He is averaging 9.2 yards per carry (10.1 vs USC) and has scored 8 touchdowns.
My thoughts: Adams has an "upright" running style, but is very effective as a one-cut then go runner. His running style has been compared to Tevin Coleman. I need to watch more, as I question if Adams is somewhat a product of what should be called the best offensive line in college football.
4. Jordan Whitehead, S, Pittsburgh
Against Duke, Whitehead played both ways, finishing with ten tackles on defense and two carries out of the backfield. In Q3e had a great interception that was wiped away because on a hold called on a Pitt corner. Mins later, he got caught peaking in the backfield, giving up a long touchdown on a play action pass.Whitehead sealed the win with a game-clinching interception at the Pitt 8-yard line with 45 seconds left, and Duke threatening to tie the game.
For the season, Whitehead has 147 yards rushing and two catches on offense. He also has 35 tackles, and four passes defended (3 PBU, 1 Int) on defense.
Suspended for the first three games of the season, Whitehead was surely missed. Whitehead came to Pitt as one of the most highly recruited cornerbacks in the country before switching to safety. The 2015 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year and a freshman All-American that year, Whitehead had started every game he’s played in since his collegiate debut. However, Whitehead had already missed the last three games of 2016 with a broken arm, before missing the first three of 2017 due to the suspension. His 110 tackles two years ago were the most by a freshman in school history.
My thoughts: Listed at 5'11/195, Whitehead is slightly undersized for safety, his likely position in the NFL, and I am not sure what led to his suspension. However, his play on the field has been excellent since his true freshman season. I expect him to be a day two pick, either in 2018 or 2019, and to quickly adjust well to the NFL.
5. Darrin Hall, RB, Pitt
Against Duke, Hall ran for a career-high 254 yards and three touchdowns, including the longest TD run (92 yrs) in the history of Pitt football. All told, the junior running back had touchdown runs of 79, 92 and 4 yard, showing impressive breakaway speed for a 220 pound back.
My thoughts: I am not sure what to make of Hall's performance, as going into the game, Pitt ranked No. 113 in the country and last in the ACC, in rushing offense with just 113.7 yards per game. Hall himself, had only 108 before Saturday. Perhaps Duke's defense is just that poor, because they sure made Hall look good.
6. Troy Fumagalli, TE, Wisconsin
Against Maryland Fumagalli caught seven passes for 83 yards. Already an accomplish blocker, he looked even more committed to being a violent blocker than last season.
The Badgers used the 6-foot-6, 248-pound senior both on the line and in an off-set position, frequently shifting him in pre-snap motion. For the season, Fumagalli has caught 25 passes for 350 yards and three touchdowns. Last year, he led the Badgers in catches (47) and was second in receiving yards (580).
Fumagalli is coached by Paul Chryst, a former tight end himself who has developed five NFL TEs including Owen Daniels (Round 4, 2006), Travis Beckum (Round 3, 2009), Garrett Graham (Round 4, 2010) and Lance Kendricks (Round 2, 2011) at Wisconsin, and Tim Euhus (Round 4, 2004) at Oregon State.
My thoughts: One of my favorite players the past two seasons.
7. Jason Cabinda, LB, Penn State
Against Michigan, Cabinda has 13 tackles, including a sack and a forced fumble. Leads team with 53 tackles on the year.
Injuries limited Cabinda to just just nine games during his junior season, but he still finished third on the team in tackles with 81. His return was a massive boost and proved to be a big reason for the Nittany Lions’ season-changing win over Ohio State, as he returned that night to rack up 13 tackles and a pivotal sack on the Buckeyes’ second-to-last play.
My thoughts: A smart, tough football player against the run in the box, Cabinda needs more tackles for loss and plays that show off his range (pass deflections, creating turnovers, etc.) to make him one of the better inside linebacker prospects in the class. Whatever limits he has with athleticism, he makes up for with being in the right position.
8. Daesean Hamilton, WR, Penn St
Against Michigan, Hamilton caught six passes, for 115 yards. While, primarily working from the slot, I believe Hamilton beat each of Michigan’s four starting DBs at one point or another. For the season, he has 28 catches, for 481 yards, and leads all PSU WRs with four TDs.
Hamilton is Penn State's all-time leader in receptions, with 189. Hamilton looked like a future NFL player as a freshman, but his role has been reduced the past few seasons (82 catches as a freshman, then just 79 over the next two seasons).
My thoughts: While Hamilton was a way more productive player in college, I think a reasonable comp for him is short-term Panther, Kevin Norwood. I expect Hamilton to be drafted on day three.
9. Duke Ejoifor, DE, Wake Forest
In a game I did not watch, I just want to tip my hat to Wake Forest's Duke Ejoifor for his three sack game against Georgia Tech. While that accomplishment alone doesn't really require much context, I offer you this - Ga Tech only threw the ball eleven times.
Week Eight Sliders
1. Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville
Alexander missed last weekend's win over Florida State. The preseason All-American cornerback "suffered a setback," according to a release from the school. That was the fifth game he's missed with a knee injury. Alexander suffered the injury in the opener against Purdue. He returned in a limited capacity at NC State on Oct. 5, then was a full participant against Boston College.
The Charlotte product blossomed as a sophomore, picking off five passes and earning second-team All-ACC honors. Alexander burst onto the scene last year with five interceptions and nine pass breakups (tied for seventh in the nation).
My thoughts: Despite being somewhat undersized, (5-11,192), Alexander entered the 2017 season with a nearly universal first round grade, but was a shell of his former self against NC State. If Alexander is unable to return to form, this could play itself out like Kendall Fuller (injury contributed to fall from potential Rd1 to end of Rd3).
2. Equanimeous St. Brown, WR, Notre Dame
Against USC, Equanimeous caught just three passes for 29 yards, giving him 18 for 240 through seven contests this season.
St. Brown stands at 6’4" 205 lbs., and absolutely lit up the college world in his sophomore season as he caught nine touchdowns for 961 yards on 58 receptions. With legit NFL size and ability, I jumped on the bandwagon of analysts who penciled in St Brown into the first round over the summer.
Equanimeous is the son of John Brown, a two-time Mr. Universe and three-time Mr. World bodybuilder. With two younger brothers, who also play receiver, the St. Browns have been called College Football's Version of the Ball Family in this interesting piece by SI.
3. Iman Marshall, CB, USC
Against Notre Dame, Marshall appeared to sustain the injury early in the first quarter, after just two series. So, I am basing this mostly after having watched USC play Stanford, Texas, and Utah this season.
Prior to the 2017 season, PFF wrote "He’s a surefire and willing tackler who’s only missed 10 total tackles while compiling 91 throughout his two seasons."
However, this year, Marshall seems less willing to throw his body around. Like many collegiate corners, he gets grabby too far down field, and doesn't always get his head around when the ball gets to it's target. Additionally, Marshall had a total of seven penalties, ranking as the 11th most in NCAA last season.
My thoughts: Few players around college football have the physical attributes NFL front offices value at cornerback quite like Marshall, who entered the 2017 as a potential first round pick. I gave Marshall a Rd1 grade over the summer, and felt that he was a better pure corner than 2017 first rounder, Adore' Jackson. I am starting to have my doubts. In the last couple of games, he has been getting beat on occasion and making relatively few tackles. Even though Marshall is fast, his long speed is something that has been in question, as he difficulty recovering after being beaten on a route. At this point, I think teams may see Marshall as this year's Cordrea Tankersley, and see him sliding into the third round.
4. Mike McCray, LB, Michigan
Against Penn State, McCray was exposed as a below average athlete. While he was in on six tackles and was given partial credit for a sack, he remains somewhat of a liability in space.
Draft analyst Tony Pauline wrote:
the senior linebacker was badly exposed against Penn State. During the blowout loss, he gave up a number of receptions in coverage including one grabbed by Saquon Barkley down the flanks as McCray was unable to get his head around to locate the ball. McCray is a solid prospect but must prove he’s more than a two-down run defender.
McCray is the only returning starter on defense and will play at the weakside (WILL). He made 76 tackles, 12.5 TFLs, and 4.5 sacks during his first year as a starter in 2016.
My thoughts: A fifth year senior, McCray probably has more of an NFL inside linebacker frame at 6’4″, 248 lbs. He does lack some open-field quickness, but he’s solid in pass coverage (2 INTs, 7 PBUs) and pretty good stopping the run between the tackles. Has a history of nagging injuries and had a season ending shoulder injury in 2015. 4th/5th round?
5. Frank Ragnow, C, Arkansas
Ragnow will miss the rest of the season with a high ankle sprain. Ragnow sustained the injury in the Razorbacks’ 52-20 loss to Auburn last Saturday. He will have surgery and face a 12-week recovery.
A long-time favorite of Pro Fooball Focus' analytics, their analysts feel Ragnow is every bit as good as Ryan Kelly (18th pick, by Colts). The question with Ragnow has been more about his athletic profile vs his performance. If unable to compete at the Senior Bowl or NFL Combine, those questions may go unanswered.
My thoughts: Even before the injury, I felt Ragnow was more of a day two pick, and the injury won't really effect his final grade for me.
6. Jeremy McDuffie, S, Duke
Against Pitt, McDuffie finished with eight tackles, all solo. McDuffie was one of the Blue Devils I have been meaning to watch, but have only watched pieces of the Pitt and Miami games.
One of Bruce Feldman's Freaks, Feldman writes - "His track cred is spectacular, having won Georgia state prep titles in the 300 hurdles, the 110 hurdles, the triple jump and the 4×100 relay. At Duke, the junior has starred in the ACC as both a 110-meter hurdler and a triple jumper. This spring he also was named the Blue Devils’ co-most improved defensive player as he deftly made the shift from cornerback to safety. Some inside the program think he could become the team’s best defender this year."
My thoughts: I am hesitant to list McDuffie among my "sliders", but from what I have seen, I would recommend that he return for his senior season at Duke. While his speed and agility are pluses, his size (5’11", 175-pounds) for the safety position is a huge minus. A return to corner or significant progress in the weight room is required.