Devy Roundup: Week 11
While plenty of teams play this week, most fans will have their eyes on the LSU/Alabama game on Saturday. We do not often get a matchup of the two top-ranked teams during the regular season.
Hopefully Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will be healthy enough to play because the Crimson Tide are going to need him. This is not the same LSU team Alabama has grown accustomed to facing en route to eight straight victories over their SEC rival. Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Justin Jefferson lead one of the top passing attacks in the country and Clyde Edwards-Helaire has been consistently solid on the ground.
In addition to being a great game, there will be plenty of NFL and devy talent playing in this matchup and it is a great barometer to see how they stack up against tough competition.
Top performers
Below are some of the top performers of the week. Of course, I could not list everyone who played well, but here are a few who stood out. You can find the full set of statistics from the week here.
Isaiah Spiller, RB Texas A&M (217 yards rushing, 3 TDs, 1 rec, 7 yards)
The true freshman had his best game of the season as he ran all over UTSA. He routinely displayed his explosiveness as two of his three touchdowns came on runs of 50 yards or more.
Travis Etienne, RB Clemson (212 yards rushing, 2 TDs, 1 rec, 23 yards)
They did play Wofford, but Clemson took care of business and Etienne had a ridiculous stat line along the way. He turned just nine carries into 212 yards and displayed why he is a threat to score on nearly any play. I am also encouraged by his increased usage in the passing game this year.
Juwan Johnson, WR Oregon (7 rec, 106 yards, 3 TDs)
Oregon destroyed USC and Johnson was a big reason why. He caught all three of quarterback Justin Herbert’s touchdown passes and has been a solid fit in Oregon’s offense this year. The Ducks continue to be just outside the playoff picture but there is still a chance they can sneak in.
Hunter Bryant, TE Washington (6 rec, 105 yards, 2 TDs)
Quarterback Jacob Eason had a big day as well, but I wanted to highlight Bryant here. He is one of the best tight ends in the country and is honestly not receiving as much attention as he should be. He has great size and moves very well, which allows him to line up in the slot a lot and play like a receiver. While not nearly as fast, his role in the Washington offense reminds me of the one Evan Engram has with the Giants and did at Ole Miss. I know “he is just a tight end” but keep his name in the back of your head for upcoming rookie drafts.
AJ Dillon, RB Boston College (242 yards rushing, 3 TDs)
Dillon and teammate David Bailey ran all over Syracuse on Saturday. I have absolutely no concerns about whether or not Dillon can handle a lead role. He carried the ball 35 times against Syracuse and has had at least 17 carries in each game this year.
Chuba Hubbard, RB Oklahoma State (223 yards rushing, 2 TDs, 1 rec, 5 yards)
Are you tired of seeing Chuba’s name on here nearly every week? I am not. He puts up video-game numbers nearly every week and is still the leading rusher in college football this year by over 300 yards.
Kylin Hill, RB Mississippi State (234 yards rushing, 3 TDs, 1 rec, 1 yard)
After a few down weeks, Hill has had back-to-back big games running the football. He remains one of the most underrated running backs in college football. His blend of power, toughness, balance, and agility should transition well to the NFL.
MARQUEE MATCHUPS
Below are some of the games I will be sure to tune into for this upcoming week’s slate. You can check out the full week eleven schedule here.
#5 Penn State @ #13 Minnesota – 11/9 @ 12 PM EST on ABC
KJ Hamler and Pat Freiermuth are the main targets for the Penn State passing game and their running game is a complete committee with five players playing a sizeable role so far. Penn State is the higher-ranked team, but Minnesota has a real chance to pull off the upset at home. To do so, they will likely need big contributions from one of my favorite wide receiver tandems in the country, Tyler Johnson and Rashod Bateman.
Florida State @ Boston College – 11/9 @ 12 PM EST on ACCN
This matchup features two running backs from the spectacular 2020 class. Cam Akers continues to play well and offers some of the highest upside at the running back position in college football. It will be interesting to see what the NFL thinks of him on draft day. AJ Dillon is one of the most physically imposing running backs in college football and has been consistently productive for each of the last three years. I question his receiving profile but he has displayed improvement in that area each year.
#1 LSU @ #2 Alabama – 11/9 @ 3:30 PM EST on CBS
This is easily the matchup of the week. Let’s hope Tua Tagovailoa can play in it. LSU has already beaten a few really good teams but this will be their toughest test of the regular season. It’s time we find out how good they actually are. You can start to pencil in the winner of this game for one of the four spots in the college football playoffs.
- Devy Roundup: Week 14 - November 26, 2019
- Devy Roundup: Week 13 - November 20, 2019
- Devy Roundup: Week 12 - November 12, 2019
