Dynasty Scouts Conference Reviews: Big Ten and ACC
We will be reviewing the risers, fallers, a premier conference performer, and we will shine a spotlight on the top freshmen every week. These weekly recaps will keep you informed on the “hot” college players around the country and will make studying for your future rookie draft effortless.
BIG 10
Premier Conference Performer
Ezekiel Elliott, RB Ohio State (Junior)
23 carries, 274 yards, three touchdowns, two catches, 12 yards vs. Indiana
The only Buckeye to have ever rushed for more yards in a single game was Heisman winner Eddie George in 1995. Elliott took over in the second half with three touchdown runs of 55, 65, and 75-yards. This was Elliott’s fourth career 200-yard game.
Rising
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Justin Jackson, RB Northwestern (Sophomore)
20 carries, 120 yards, two catches, 14 yards vs. Minnesota
Jackson consistently churned out yards against the Golden Gopher defense. The Wildcats relied on him to help sustain long drives. This was his fourth 100-yard game of the season and he ranks third in the Big Ten in rushing with 636 yards.
L.J. Scott, RB Michigan State (Freshman)
18 carries, 146 yards, two touchdowns, one reception, four yards vs. Purdue
The freshman Scott started the game off hot. He scored on two touchdown runs in the first quarter to help put the Spartans up 14-0. He barreled through the defense for a 30-yard gain in the first quarter.
Jalin Marshall, WR Ohio State (Sophomore)
Six catches, 110 yards vs. Indiana
He was a dependable target for quarterback Cardale Jones. He was able to beat coverage and get open multiple times. Marshall would have had a touchdown but Jones was off the mark on a throw causing the pass to just miss Marshall’s hands in the end zone. His day wasn’t perfect. He fumbled inside the twenty after a 54-yard catch and run.
Falling
Cardale Jones, QB Ohio State (Senior)
18/27 passing, 245 yards, one touchdown, one interception, nine carries, -20 yards vs. Indiana
The stat line in the box score suggests Jones had a decent game, but that wasn’t the case. He lacked touch on a lot of his throws, causing OSU to settle for a field goal because he couldn’t deliver an accurate pass to his wide open receiver in the end zone. He also surrendered another scoring opportunity when he was intercepted inside the 15-yard line. Indiana’s defensive line rattled him causing him to fumble the ball twice. The Hoosiers corralled him when he decided to tuck the ball and run, causing him to not be able to convert critical first downs.
Jordan Howard, RB Indiana (Junior)
14 carries, 34 yards, two catches, 16 yards vs. Ohio State
Howard had a few runs where he was aggressive and hammered the defense with his physical running style. Other than that he wasn’t able to get much going. The Buckeye defense was able to keep him from busting out any large gains. Howard came out during the first half due to an ankle injury. The injury prevented him from coming back in the game. Head coach Kevin Wilson stated that the injury wasn’t serious and that it was minor. We will see how the ankle injury will affect Howard’s play in the near future.
Joel Stave, QB Wisconsin (Senior)
21/38 passing, 234 yards, two interceptions vs. Iowa
The Badgers couldn’t get the run game established and they needed Stave to step up and take control of the offense and it didn’t happen. He lacked accuracy on a lot of his passes. He was sacked two times and had trouble managing the pass rush. Turnovers hampered the flow of the Wisconsin offense, and Stave had four turnovers, throwing for two interceptions and fumbling twice.
Freshman Spotlight
Clayton Thorson, QB Northwestern (Freshman)
14/19 passing, 128 yards, 11 carries, 22 yards, two touchdowns vs. Minnesota
Thorson didn’t light up the score board, but he was highly efficient completing 73.7 percent of his passes. He didn’t turn the ball over and he took what the defense gave him. He showed off his mobility by scoring on two short rushing touchdowns.
ACC
Premier Conference Performer
Marquise Williams, QB North Carolina (Senior)
13/24, 134 yards, 15 carries, 148 yards, two touchdowns, one catch, 37 yards, one touchdown vs. Georgia Tech
North Carolina was down 21-0 in the middle of the second quarter before Williams took the game over with his immaculate performance. He caught a touchdown pass in the beginning of the fourth quarter to give the Tar Heels the lead. He rushed for a 27-yard touchdown at the end of the fourth quarter to seal the game. He gained a grand total of 319 yards.
Rising
Joseph Yearby, RB Miami (Sophomore)
17 carries, 113 yards, one touchdown, two receptions, one yard vs. Cincinnati
Yearby scored on an eight-yard touchdown run to give the Hurricanes the lead in the second quarter. He displayed his elusiveness when he shook a defender straight out of their shoes with a nasty jump cut to finish a run for a 19-yard gain. His play kept the Hurricanes in the game during the second half. Yearby looks to be the heart and soul of Miami’s offense.
Tyler Boyd, WR Pittsburgh (Junior)
Five catches, 48 yards vs. Virginia Tech
Boyd caught 33.3 percent of quarterback Nathan Peterman’s pass attempts. He was able to create separation during tight coverage. Even with minimal volume in the passing game, Boyd was still a very important piece to Pitt’s offense.
Lamar Jackson, QB Louisville (Freshman)
10/27 passing, 103 yards, one touchdown, 19 carries, 121 yards, one touchdown vs. North Carolina State
Utilizing his rushing ability, Jackson took things into his own hands. He rushed for a 68-yard touchdown in the first quarter and passed for another in the second quarter to help the Cardinals defeat the Wolfpack 20-13.
Falling
Brenden Motley, QB Virginia Tech (Junior)
9/20 passing, 91 yards, one touchdown, three interceptions vs. Pittsburgh
There were four turnovers to Motley’s name in this game. Pitt’s defense pinned their ears back and sacked him seven times. He was erratic on a lot of his throws, causing him to complete just 45 percent of his passes.
Dalvin Cook, RB Florida State (Sophomore)
Two carries, 94 yards, one touchdown, one catch, eight yards vs. Wake Forest
Cook started the game off with an electric 94-yard touchdown run. He hurt his hamstring catching an 8-yard pass late in the first quarter. He didn’t return to the game and he was seen wearing street clothes on the sidelines. Hamstring injuries usually linger, which could affect his production going forward.
Mark Walton, RB Miami (Freshman)
12 carries, 34 yards, one touchdown, three catches, forty yards vs. Cincinnati
Walton had trouble getting anything going on the ground. He was stuffed often by a tenacious Cincinnati run defense. He averaged 2.8 yards per carry. He wasn’t able to find any creases in the defense to bust any big gains. He was effective in the passing game. He caught a 26-yard reception in the first quarter that led to his six yard touchdown run.
Freshman Spotlight
Qadree Ollison, RB Pittsburgh (Freshman)
19 carries, 122 yards, one touchdown vs. Virginia Tech
Ollison pounded the Hokies defense into submission with his bruising running style. He rushed for a 25-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to help give the Panthers a 17-7 lead. He set the tone in the second half by starting things off with a 43-yard run.
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