Dynasty Scouts Conference Reviews: PAC 12 and Around the Nation

Mike Valverde

Here at Dynasty Scouts, we’ll always do our best to keep you informed about the latest happenings in college football. We watch all of the games so you don’t have to. Here’s some of what we noticed this past weekend.

PAC-12

Premier Conference Performer

Marcus McMaryion, QB Oregon State (Sophomore) vs. Arizona

16/19 passes, 265 yards, five touchdowns, zero interceptions.

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Marcus McMaryion had an outstanding game the Arizona Wildcats. He only had 19 attempts but he completed 16 of them (84.2 percent). Turned those 16 completions into 265 yards (16.5 yards per completion) and five touchdowns. Simple game, but very efficient.

“Guys were just making plays, bottom line,” McMaryion said. “The play calls were there, real simple. I was trying not to over-complex things, just stick to my reads and not think too much. It definitely played dividends.”

All five of McMaryion’s touchdowns went to different receivers. He connected with Jordan Villamin for 53-yards then Ryan Knall for 11-yards in the first quarter and a 14-0 lead. He went to Timmy Hernandez for 27-yards in the second quarter (21-7). Then in the third quarter he spotted Trevon Bradford for a 33-yard score (28-10), and finally in the fourth Artavis Pierce got involved for a 10-yard touchdown.

Rising Players

Davis Webb, QB, California (Senior) vs. Stanford

34/57 passes, 393 yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions.

Davis Webb was good on 27 completions on 44 attempts for 393 yards and two touchdowns. He did not throw an interception. Last week against the conference-leading Washington State Cougars, Webb was extremely accurate completing 34 of 53 passes (64.2) for 425 yards and three touchdowns.

On Saturday against the Stanford Cardinal, Webb’s two touchdown’s was not enough to win. Cal scored 31 points but the defense failed again this season as they allowed 45 points and have lost their last four games.

Webb threw his first touchdown to Chad Hansen for 70 yards. Hansen caught a five yard slant pattern and let his speed do the rest. The second touchdown also went to Hansen. Webb’s pass was thrown short, but Hansen nearly went through the receiver to make the catch.

Webb, is going to get serious consideration for the first round, but most likely will go in the middle to late second. He is nearly a Jared Goff clone, as he has a good arm with pocket presence and flashes good field vision. He can make some pretty throws downfield and fit the ball into tight windows. 

Christian McCaffrey RB, Stanford (Junior) vs. California

31 carries, 284 yards, three touchdowns; Four receptions, 22 yards.

Christian McCaffrey ran for 284 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught four passes for 22 yards. Ever since he came off his injury he has been running over everyone. Its really good to see McCaffrey back. In his previous three weeks he has gone over 130+ yards in each game and has scored six touchdowns.

Against Cal there was no answer for him. He had a long of 90 yards that went for a score to put Stanford up 24-14 in the third quarter. His second touchdown he took to the left side, then made a one-cut to turn up the field and took it the rest of the way for 11-yards.

McCaffrey is still just a junior but more than likely he will come out this year. There is not much more to prove and he will be one of the top five running backs taken in a deep crop of running backs. He has all the skills. He is a Reggie Bush type, and has battled some injuries, but only time will tell if he is just a third down back or someone teams can rely on full time. On the season he has 1399 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns.

Chad Hansen, WR California (Junior) vs. Stanford

Seven catches for 114 yards, two touchdowns.

Chad Hansen has been on fire the last two weeks. A week ago he caught 11 passes for 139 yards and this week he turned seven catches into 114 yards and two touchdowns. For most of the season he has been on top of the list in receptions and yards in the nation.

Hansen caught his first touchdown on a five-yard slant that he took another 65-yards for the touchdown. He caught it mid run, and used his speed to blow by the rest of the Stanford defenders who had no chance of catching him. The second was all him. Webb threw a terrible fade pass to the right pylon of the end zone, where Hansen had to reach into the chest of the defender to take the ball. Both players hit the ground at the same time, and the officials awarded Hansen control and the score.

On the season Hansen has 82 receptions for 1093 yards and 11 touchdowns. There is no word if the 6-2 and 205-pound junior will be leaving Cal at the end of this season. He has the size and body for the pro game. Hanson also runs crisp routes and has great hands with solid speed. The one negative right now is an experience. This is the first time he has had time to develop himself as he played under others last season and is a transfer from Idaho State. Stay tuned.

Falling Players

Troy Williams, QB Utah (Junior) vs. Oregon

20/30 for 235 yards, one touchdown, zero interceptions; 10 carries, 40 yards, zero touchdowns.

Nobody gave much of a chance for Oregon to beat Utah, but that is what happened. One may put the heavy blame on Troy Williams. The junior multi-use quarterback was bad. He connected on a solid 67 percent of his passes but only for 235 yards and one touchdown. The good part about his passing was that he didn’t turn the ball over. Williams added ten carries for 40-yards but this didn’t move the offense all that well and he didn’t run for a touchdown. 

Against one of the worst defenses in Oregon, Williams could only get one touchdown on the board the entire first half. That touchdown was more of a result of the running game than his arm however. In the 65-yard drive, Williams accounted for 20 of those yards. The second touchdown was all runs, but he contributed a 22-yard scamper on second and 14. Utah’s third score was on a fumble during a punt return that Chase Hansen picked up and ran in. The fourth was all him and put the Utes up 28-24. Williams hit Evan Moeai for 30-yards and the score. 

Gabe Marks WR, Washington State (Senior) vs. Colorado

Six catches, 46 yards, zero touchdowns.

Gabe Marks is the leader for wide receivers on this high powered offensive team, yet he couldn’t do much when facing Colorado. The six catches are about one below his average and his 7.7 yards per catch average is one of his worst this season. When it comes to zero touchdowns, it is the only second time this season that he didn’t score. Just an overall poor performance in a game that the Washington State Cougars needed him the most. With Washington winning last week, Washington State will need to win this week to win the Pac-12 North championship.

Marks is a smooth route runner who catches the ball with his body instead of hands in traffic, but will make the tough catches. He has average speed and is tough over the middle. Will track the ball downfield well.

Freshman Spotlight

Justin Hebert QB, Oregon vs. Utah

30/43 passes, 324 yards, three touchdowns, zero interceptions; 13 carries, 44 yards, one touchdown.

Justin Hebert played lights out against the Utah Utes in a victory that many didn’t think they could achieve. With just two seconds remaining Hebert hit Darren Carrington II for the game-winning touchdown and killed any chance for the Utes to win the Pac-12 championship. The winning touchdown was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but replay showed Carrington II getting his foot down for the score.

“That was a long, long, long, long review,” Oregon coach Mark Helfrich said about the final play. “There would have been a lot of questions if that wasn’t ruled a touchdown. Our guys drove on an excellent defense in the fourth quarter in their stadium, down, but stared it right the face.”

The first touchdown was a reverse flea-flicker as Hebert handed the ball off to Royce Freeman who then handed it to Carrington II who ten pitched it back to Hebert. The quarterback spotted Jalen Brown all alone in the end zone for a 29-yard score.

His second put Oregon up on Utah 17-14, when Hebert rolled left and spotted Royce Freeman already in the end zone, he just tossed him the ball from the one-yard line for the score. The freshman quarterback also added a run from one yard. Hebert was in the shotgun position when he took the snap and ran left and dove into the end zone to avoid the tackler.

Hebert has shown good mobility in the pocket and is developing nicely in just the six games he has started. In those games he has 1756 yards with 18 touchdowns and four interceptions. Oregon even with a win next week may not make a bowl game for the first time since 2004.

Nation

Premier Conference Performer

David Washington QB, Old Dominion (Senior) vs. Florida Atlantic

26/36 passing, 416 yards, five touchdowns.

David Washington was dominating in the Old Dominion victory over the Florida Atlantic Owls as he threw for 416 yards and five touchdowns as Old Dominion overcame a 14-3 first-quarter deficit to earn a 42-24 win over the Owls on Saturday.

Washington found Jonathan Duhart for three of his five scores. Washington’s first touchdown came in the second quarter and closed the Florida Atlanta lead 10-7. Then in the third quarter they hooked up again for six yards and a 21-21 tie. Washington followed that up with a score to Zach Pascal for 45-yards and their first lead of the game. Duhart caught a one-yard touchdown at the end of the third quarter to extend the lead 35-24. In the fourth, Washington went deep for 85-yards to Jeremy Cox and the final score of the game.

On the season Washington has captained Old Dominion to eight victories and just three losses. They also have four straight victories. He has 2507 yards and 26 touchdowns. They will finish the season against Florida International.

Rising Players

Zach Terrell QB, Western Michigan (Senior) vs. Buffaloterrell

29/37 passing, 445 yards, four touchdowns, zero interceptions.

Zach Terrell threw 37 passes and completed 29 of them (78.4) for 445 yards and four touchdowns. He hit Corey Davis twice for scores. The first went for 22-yards. He hit Davis about the 15-yard line and the receiver did the rest of the work taking it in for a 7-0 lead. The second connection was in the fourth quarter as he connected with Davis in the end zone on a fade route for seven yards.

He got Jarvion Franklin involved when his pass went to the left sideline for 10-yards, Franklin broke a few tackles and took it to the house for a 20-yard touchdown. Then in the third quarter he threw to the left flat where Michael Henry caught and ran for 65-yards and the score.

The 6’2 and 200 pound senior is on the smallish size but has done a tremendous job for the Western Michigan Broncos. He has only one interception this season but has 27 touchdowns to go along with 2890 yards. He surely could be in the top ten of quarterbacks for the 2017 NFL draft and could climb.

Western Michigan still carries their undefeated record and will finish the last game against Toledo.

Jeremy McNichols RB, Boise State (Junior) vs. UNLV

31 carries, 206 yards, four touchdowns.

Jeremy McNichols rushed just 31 times, and made the most out of each carry (6.6 ypc) and gained 206 yards and score four times. McNichols now has three games of 200 yards or more this season and gone over 100 yards each game but two. The four touchdowns was a season high, and he has just two games where he has scored one or fewer times.

His first score McNichols broke to the outside after a defender broke through the A-gap, and once he was around the tackles he eased into the end zone. McNichols made it 21-0 Boise State when he ran up the gut untouched. His third quarter score came from four yards out to put Boise State comfortably ahead at 35-10. He saved his longest for the fourth quarter. McNichols took the handoff on the right side then ended up cutting through the UNLV defense from 31 yards out to make it 42-17 for Boise State.

The 5-9 and 212 pounds junior will most bolt to the NFL. He has dominated the ranks this season, and is probably a top five back. He has great athletic ability and can glide while finding the holes. Tough and determined and won’t shy away from contact.

Courtland Sutton WR, SMU (Sophomore) vs. South Florida

13 catches, 252 yards, two touchdowns.

Courtland Sutton continues to show he is improving and can be an upstart into his junior season. He is working well with freshman quarterback Ben Hicks. Sutton’s 13 receptions are the most this season and so his is 252-yards. He has been on a tear lately catching 12 passes last week for 166-yards and two touchdowns.

Suttons first touchdown came in the first quarter which was an eight-yard reception and tied the score at seven. His second came late in the third quarter on an 84-yard pass play that pulled the Mustangs within four points of South Florida.    

On the season, SMU has a won five games this season which is much better compared to where they have been in recent seasons. Sutton himself is having a solid season overall. He has caught 70 passes for 1189 yards and nine touchdowns.

Even though Sutton will hold at least one more season before turning pro, he is someone everyone playing dynasty should keep on their watch list.

Falling Players

Kalif Phillips, RB Charlotte (Senior) vs. Middle Tennessee

14 rushes, 67 yards, zero touchdowns.

Kalif Phillips had 67 yards on 14 carries (4.8 ypc) and no touchdowns in the 38-31 defeat to Middle Tennessee. This is the second week in a row that Phillips has not gone over 100-yards rushing after putting together a streak of three out of four.

Phillips has the seventh most yards in the conference, but has not been big in the touchdown department. He has only four all season, but has shown to be more active over the last four weeks in scoring three of his complete total.

Andy Isabella, WR UMass (Junior) vs. BYU

Six catches, 57 yards, zero touchdowns.

Andy Isabella has had a lackluster couple of weeks. Last week he only managed three receptions for 23 yards and zero touchdowns, and this week only six receptions for 57 yards and zero scores as well. UMass has a bad team (2-9), so it would be interesting to see how good Isabella could truly become. His 55-667-5 is top five in all categories in the Independent Conference.

Freshman Spotlight

Ben Hicks, QB SMU vs. South Florida

25/41 passes, 380 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions

Even though SMU lost to South Florida, Ben Hicks is coming into his own as a freshman. Against South Florida he connected on 61 percent of his passes for 380-yards and two touchdowns. He did have two interceptions but played well overall. Both of his touchdowns went to Courtland Sutton so he is going in the right direction.

On the season he has 2599 yards with 17 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

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mike valverde
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