Devy Roundup: Week Four

The SEC finally joined the college football party and it felt like the games were more intense and fun. The past few weeks have had memorable moments but it felt like preseason. The SEC signalled it was time to take games seriously and now it feels like the race for a championship has truly begun.

The stars didn’t disappoint for the most part and there were a few gigantic stat lines and two big upsets as well. Let’s dive into some of the top performances and a few of the duds as well.

All of the final scores can be found here.

Top Devy Performers

Kyle Trask, QB FLORIDA

The senior Gator quarterback completed 30 of 42 passes for 416 yards and six touchdowns in the team’s rout of Ole Miss. Trask looked sharp and confident – it certainly helps when your top target will be playing in the NFL soon also. I will talk about this top target later in the column.

Trask is a pocket passing quarterback, Saturday he had time and was moving around the pocket well. When he is pressured, he is not as reliable and hasn’t shown the ability to create on his own. His arm is good but not great, he doesn’t throw a good deep ball often. He makes smart throws and doesn’t often push outside of his comfort zone when throwing downfield. I like Trask a lot and he is in discussion to be drafted on day two with the potential to go higher if he stands out in 2020.

KJ Costello, QB MISSISSIPPI STATE

Costello transferred to Mississippi State from Stanford in the off-season and easily won the starting job. The Bulldogs’ offense under head coach Mike Leach gives the senior quarterback an opportunity to immensely improve his draft stock. Drawing the defending champion LSU in his first game, he responded by completing 36 of his 60 pass attempts for 623 yards. He tossed five touchdowns but also two interceptions in the upset of the sixth-ranked Tigers.

The good about Costello: he has a great arm, makes throws from difficult angles, and can really launch the ball downfield. He is not afraid to make any throw. Therein lies the bad about Costello. His fearlessness leads to ill-advised throws and often turnovers. He’s a gunslinger who now has the coach and the offense now to let him throw often. I’m not sold this will translate to NFL success but I sure as heck am going to be watching him every time he plays.

Zach Wilson, QB BYU

The latest starting quarterback out in Provo is an interesting prospect. Wilson torched Troy this weekend, completing 23 of 28 passes for 392 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Wilson is another quarterback in the mold of a gunslinger like Costello. He is fearless with the ball and also a dangerous runner. When on the run, he can unleash a pass downfield and do it with accuracy. Wilson is an intriguing prospect who struggles at times with consistency. I’d like to see him put together a huge season facing weaker defenses and we could be talking about him in April.

Najee Harris, RB ALABAMA

Our first game in 2020 seeing my RB2 for the 2021 draft, Harris ran for 98 yards and scored three times against Missouri. He will enter the draft as the most complete back in the class. There isn’t anything he can’t do and he is a true three-down back. Harris runs with power and vision, can catch out of the backfield, and has faced top competition – faring well in every situation asked of him. He may lack the home-run speed of Travis Etienne and Chuba Hubbard but he is not a slow back. Harris isn’t the sexiest prospect but with a good landing spot, he could be an RB1 in the NFL.

Kylin Hill, RB MISSISSIPPI STATE

The running back in the best situation to improve his 2021 draft stock is junior Kylin Hill. There have been flashes of being a special player and 2020 is critical for him. He only rushed for 34 yards but caught eight passes for 158 yards and a touchdown – the long TD in this clip below.

The play displayed some of what he brings to an offense. The soft hands to catch the ball, ability to keep his feet inbound, and then the speed to take it 75 yards for a score. One of the things I wanted to see in his game was pass-catching ability and if this game is an indication, he’s going to vault up rankings. The Bulldogs are going to score in droves and Hill could easily score 20 touchdowns this season.

Breece Hall, RB IOWA STATE

The Iowa State offense looked rough again and quarterback Brock Purdy was less than impressive. Thankfully, the sophomore Hall carried the offense on his back by rushing for 155 yards and three touchdowns on only 18 carries.

The first play in the clip really gave the Cyclones a jump start which carried them to a win. The hole is there and Hall’s vision coupled with the speed allowed him to hit the hole and once he hit the second level, it was over. I am always impressed by his power and speed combination when I watch his game tape. Hall has the opportunity to evolve into a special back and he is currently my RB1 in the 2022 eligible class.

Elijah Moore, WR OLE MISS

One of the bright spots for Ole Miss in their loss to Florida was Moore. He caught ten passes for 227 yards and was gouging the Gators pass defense all game. Moore is an intriguing guy to watch in 2020. There were glimpses of what he could in 2019, his sophomore season. If he can replicate anywhere near these numbers all season – he’s going to shoot up draft boards.

Moore is a smaller receiver at 5’9” and 185 pounds and is best suited as a slot receiver. Going against man coverage, he is overmatched at times. From the slot, he is able to consistently create separation with deceptive route running. He has great body control and awareness, his technique helps him win despite his size and lack of elite speed.

Terrace Marshall, WR LSU

The Tigers offense will heavily revolve around Marshall, he is now their most established receiver and should lead the receiver corps in 2020. He caught eight balls for 122 yards and two touchdowns versus Mississippi State. He has developed a strong connection with new starting quarterback Myles Brennan and will be the top target if he can stay healthy.

In their historic run last season, Marshall caught 13 touchdowns and despite seeing a limited role was one of their most reliable deep threats. His acceleration and deep speed are strengths – he builds up speed deceptively and can slip by defensive backs. Route running is a bit of an issue but he has a solid route tree and it won’t be a liability. Marshall could be primed for a huge season and is currently a day two prospect with upside to go higher.

Osirus Mitchell, WR MISSISSIPPI STATE

In all of Costello’s slinging the ball downfield, Mitchell was the receiver of the biggest throws and looked to be the quarterback’s favorite target. He hauled in seven passes for 138 yards and scored twice.

The first three years of his career weren’t the most productive due to the offense and personnel Mississippi State had. As I have mentioned, things are much different now. He has great hands and has shown ability to outmuscle and outmaneuver defensive backs in jump ball situations. He uses his 6’5” height and wingspan to pluck balls out of the air and adjusts well to the ball when it is in the air. Mitchell is my sleeper to watch in this offense. The team has options but I love his skill-set in this offensive scheme with Costello at quarterback.

Seth Williams, WR AUBURN

Anyone who has listened or read anything I have done has probably heard how much I love this Auburn junior receiver. Williams is mired in an offense that doesn’t have the elite offensive production to highlight a player with his skills. Against Kentucky in week four, he caught six passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns as sophomore quarterback Bo Nix looked for him in key situations.

Williams is an underrated prospect who may go much higher than his production has dictated. He caught 59 passes for 830 yards and eight touchdowns last season. Facing elite cornerbacks in the SEC and being the only consistent pass-catching option at Auburn. He makes spectacular catches and puts himself in a position to win consistently. His route-running is clean and crisp, without wasted movements. The lack of top-end speed is a knock on his game but Williams has the alpha dog mentality you want from a boundary receiver.

Kyle Pitts, TE FLORIDA

And finally, my devy performance of the week – this may sound like crazy talk, but Pitts could be the first pass-catcher taken in the 2021 NFL Draft. I know Ja’Marr Chase is on the board but having a tight end who is as elite as Pitts is can drastically change an offense. Against Ole Miss in week four, he hauled in eight passes for 170 yards and four touchdowns – defenses know he is getting the ball and still can’t stop him.

Pitts has elite athleticism for his size and can pluck the ball out of the air with strong, sure hands. At 6’6” and 240 pounds, he runs refined routes with good movement and deception. He has the size of a tight end with the receiving ability of a receiver. Coupled with speed and athleticism rare for his size, it makes him incredibly difficult to game plan against.

Poor Devy Performances

Malik Cunningham, QB LOUISVILLE

From the highs of the first few weeks, the Cardinals ran into a tough Pittsburgh defense and Cunningham struggled. He only completed nine passes for 107 yards with a touchdown and three picks. The whole offense was off and aside from a huge Javian Hawkins run, they struggled to move the ball all day. I won’t worry too much, Cunningham is still a day-three guy I am watching all season and hopefully, his good games far outnumber the bad.

Spencer Rattler, QB OKLAHOMA

It’s tough to say it was a poor performance, but Rattler looked human and made a few poor throws against a defense that couldn’t stop Arkansas State in their season opener. Rattler did throw for 387 yards and four touchdowns and pushed the offense easily down the field. The three interceptions were backbreaking in a close game which Oklahoma should have easily won. Against a tougher defense, this wouldn’t be a discussion. He’s only a sophomore starting his second game so I am not alarmed at all from a devy standpoint.

Marquee Week five Matchups

Full Schedule

#7 Auburn at #4 Georgia 10/3 @ 7:30 PM EST

The first big test for Georgia brings Auburn into town and the Bulldogs could have their hands full. Auburn’s tough defense limited Kentucky in their opener and they will look to control the game versus a Georgia team with questions but a lot of star power.

Junior quarterback Stetson Bennett looked decent against Arkansas in their opener and junior running back Zamir White looks ready to finally be the man. Sophomore George Pickens is as talented a wide receiver prospect as you will find in all of college football. It’s a huge test and one to watch closely. I’m taking Auburn to upset Georgia and it likely won’t be a pretty game.

#13 Texas A&M at #2 Alabama 10/3 @ 3:30 PM EST

A&M struggled to defeat Vanderbilt in their opener and now get the luck of the draw of travelling to Tuscaloosa to take on the Tide. The Aggies will hand the ball to talented sophomore running back Isaiah Spiller, who rushed for 117 yards on only eight carries in their win. Stud freshman wideout Demond Demas didn’t see the field last week but will be needed if they want to try to hang with the second-ranked team in the county.

Alabama has a trio who will be playing on Sundays next season in Harris, Devonta Smith, and Jaylen Waddle. It will be a tall task to even slow them down and quarterback Mac Jones will have this offense humming. Tide will roll easily in this one.

#12 North Carolina at Boston College 10/3 @ 3:30 PM EST

The Tarheels were unable to find an opponent last week and hopefully used the off week to iron out some of the offensive woes which plagued the team in their first game. Sam Howell is my QB1 for the 2022 class and he is throwing to junior Dyami Brown, senior Dazz Newsome, and freshman Josh Downs.

Boston College is always a tough game and will be looking for a huge upset at home. Junior quarterback Phil Jurkovec, a former four-star who transferred from Notre Dame, has looked poised and gives the Eagles a stable signal-caller. The team doesn’t have the star power from a devy standpoint but always play their opponents tough.

The Wrap-Up

It’s getting tough to pick only three games to highlight and I may extend it to more and give shorter previews as the season goes on. There is so much to watch and with the shorter season, players will have fewer chances to showcase what they can do.

Thank you all for reading this column and I hope it finds you in good health and good spirits. We all are in this for the love of the game and the spirit of competition. Treat each other well and make new friends through this hobby we all love. Take care.