Devy Roundup: Week Five
It is hard to believe we are already approaching the sixth week of the college football season, but here we are. Saquon Barkley continues to impress every time he steps on the field. This week was no different, as he opened the game with a kick return touchdown. He even threw a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. I cannot wait to see him play in the NFL.
Bryce Love is another impressive running back who has dominated his opponents in the early part of the season. He has already rushed for over one thousand yards and scored eight touchdowns in just five games. He also broke Christian McCaffrey’s Stanford single-game rushing record last week against Arizona State. Love is quickly moving up my Devy rankings.
You can find the final results of each week five game here.
Top Performers
Performances ranked on a 5-star scale
5 stars – Bryce Love, RB Stanford (301 yards rushing, 3 TDs)
After rushing for 263 yards last week, Love made the list again this week. This time, he ran for over 300 yards and added three touchdowns. He showcased his speed and vision on numerous long runs.
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5 stars – Mason Rudolph, QB Oklahoma State (376 yards passing, 5 total TDs, 1 INT, 50 yards rushing)
Rudolph continues to put up impressive statistics every game. This week was no different, as he threw for over 350 yards and had five total touchdowns. He continues to have a strong connection with receiver James Washington.
4 stars – Dante Pettis, WR Washington (12 recs, 105 yards, 3 TDs)
Pettis makes his second appearance on this list, catching twelve passes for 105 yards and three touchdowns. Although he plays for one of the top-ranked teams in the country, Pettis is still an underrated playmaker.
Honorable Mentions: Kerryon Johnson (116 yards rushing, 3 TDs, 1 rec, 3 yards), Ronald Jones (128 yards rushing, 1 TD), Jordan Lasley (7 recs, 146 yards), Myles Gaskin (113 yards rushing, 1 TD, 1 rec, 9 yards), Jake Browning (293 yards passing, 4 total TDs, 1 INT), Jonathan Taylor (80 yards rushing, 2 TDs), J.T. Barrett (275 yards passing, 3 TDs, 89 yards rushing), Saquon Barkley (56 yards rushing, 4 recs, 51 yards, Passing TD, Kick Return TD), James Washington (9 recs, 127 yards, 1 TD), Lamar Jackson (249 yards passing, 4 total TDs, 100 yards rushing), Josh Adams (159 yards rushing, 2 TDs), Max Browne (410 yards passing, 4 TDs), Jacques Patrick (120 yards rushing, 1 TD, 3 recs, 26 yards), Zach Abey (185 yards rushing, 3 TDs), Emmanuel Reed (144 yards rushing, 3 TDs), Courtland Sutton (7 recs, 112 yards, 2 TDs), Josh Rosen (372 yards passing, 1 TD, 1 INT)
Poor Performers
Performances ranked on a 5-star scale
1 star – L.J. Scott, RB Michigan State (14 carries, 28 yards rushing, 1 rec, 2 yards)
Scott had trouble finding room to run with Iowa linebacker Josey Jewell manning the middle of the tough Iowa defense. He only managed 28 yards rushing on 14 carries.
2 stars – Sam Darnold, QB USC (164 yards passing, 0 TDs, 1 INT, 9 rushes, 25 yards, 2 TDs, Fumble)
Darnold has experienced an up-and-down start to the season. While he has flashed elite skills with many spectacular throws, he has also thrown a lot of interceptions. The numerous injuries to the USC offensive line allowed Washington State’s defense to really pressure Darnold in this one.
Depth Chart Battles
As we approach the sixth week of the season, below are a few positional battles I continue to keep my eye on.
Georgia Running Backs
Nick Chubb continues to be the lead back in the very crowded Georgia backfield. He received 16 carries against Tennessee, compared to eleven, seven, and five for Sony Michel, Elijah Holyfield, and D’Andre Swift respectively. Chubb showcased impressive patience on a few long runs in the second quarter as he looks to regain his pre-injury form.
Florida State Running Backs
Not so fast for freshman phenom Cam Akers. Jacques Patrick started the game against Wake Forest and received more carries than Akers. Patrick was also more productive, rushing for 120 yards including a long of 69 yards. After Akers received a majority of the carries last week, it seems like the Florida State backfield might be turning into more a timeshare.
My Rankings
Below is a preview of my Top 25 Devy rankings. I made a few adjustments after this week of play. You can find my full set of Devy rankings here.
Marquee Matchups
Below are some of the more intriguing games on this upcoming week’s slate. You can check out the full week six schedule here.
1.) Louisville @ NC State – 10/5 @ 8 PM EST on ESPN
Much like Saquon Barkley, Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson is a joy to watch nearly every time he steps on the gridiron. With Darnold struggling, Jackson has a chance to make his case as the top quarterback in college football once again this year. However, he still faces tough competition, including Baker Mayfield, Mason Rudolph, and Josh Rosen.
I will also be keeping my eye on NC State receiver Kelvin Harmon. He started the season strong but has had a couple of quiet games the last few weeks.
2.) Miami @ Florida State – 10/7 @ 3:30 PM EST on ESPN
Miami receiver Ahmmon Richards is one of the top wide receiver prospects of the projected 2019 class. It will be interesting to see if he is matched up with Florida State safety Derwin James on any plays.
I was thrilled to see Florida State receiver Auden Tate return from the shoulder injury he suffered two weeks ago and play last week. I cannot wait to watch him play this week and see if running back Cam Akers can receive some more carries.
3.) LSU @ Florida – 10/7 @ 3:30 PM EST on CBS
This prolific SEC battle has provided some great games in years past. Hopefully, Derrius Guice can play in this one. Florida players Antonio Callaway and Jordan Scarlett remain suspended, but teammates have stepped up in their places, including sophomore wide receiver Tyrie Cleveland.
4.) Alabama @ Texas A&M – 10/7 @ 7:15 PM EST on ESPN
This game features many top Devy prospects. Alabama has many offensive weapons, including Calvin Ridley, Damien Harris, Najee Harris, and Bo Scarbrough, and is almost always fun to watch. I am also interested to see how Texas A&M receiver Christian Kirk and running back Trayveon Williams play against the tough Alabama defense.
5.) Michigan State @ Michigan – 10/7 @ 7:30 PM EST on ABC
Michigan vs. Michigan State is one of the greatest rivalries in college football. Do you remember the punt block touchdown Michigan State had to win the game in 2015? Hopefully, they can rekindle that magic in this matchup. There are also plenty of talented players to watch in this game, including L.J. Scott and Donovan Peoples-Jones.
Other News/Notes
As of now, Saquon Barkley seems to be in the lead in the Heisman Trophy race. He showcases different skills and talents each week and provides highlights frequently. In addition, Penn State keeps winning and is currently ranked fourth in the country according to both the AP Top 25 and Coaches Poll. Baker Mayfield might be a close second, as he has guided Oklahoma to four straight wins to start the season and has his team ranked third.
Mason Rudolph and Lamar Jackson continue to post impressive stats, but both of their teams suffered losses that have them on the outside looking in for now. Stanford running back Bryce Love has had an impressive start to the season, but Stanford’s 3-2 record might make it difficult for Love to keep up with Barkley if Penn State keeps winning.
Look for this series to continue to be published every Thursday. In the meantime, feel free to follow me on Twitter @TheDevyDude and get ready for another exciting week of college football!
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- Devy Roundup: Week 14 - November 26, 2019
- Devy Roundup: Week 13 - November 20, 2019
- Devy Roundup: Week 12 - November 12, 2019
