Devy Roundup: Week Three

Dwight Peebles

The Big Ten will be joining the fold in late October and next weekend, the SEC joins the schedule. This week did not have many good games but it feels so good to be getting closer to a large slate of games. There are only a few players I really felt worthy of highlighting this weekend and definitely a few substellar performances. The season is starting slowly, but it feels amazing to have football back.

All of the final scores can be found here.

Top Devy Performers

D’Eriq King, QB MIAMI

In a big showdown versus Louisville, King led his team to victory and looked like the quarterback he flashed glimpses of in 2018. He completed 18 of 30 passes for 325 yards and three touchdowns. The defense seemed to be fearful of his ability to run and he was delivering on-target passes to wide-open targets all night.

King has an incredibly strong arm and keeps his eyes downfield as he is scrambling. He can make any throw and can effortlessly whip the ball downfield with little windup. Working with Manny Diaz and Miami could unleash his potential and his stock could rise rapidly this season.

Malik Cunningham, QB LOUISVILLE

On the other side of the field, Cunningham struggled a little early and seemed to want to run too often. Miami’s defense is miles better than Louisville’s and defensive end Quincy Roche was in the Cardinals’ quarterback’s back pocket all night. Miami’s star safety Bubba Bolden was harassing receivers and the offense was not clicking at all.

Cunningham settled in and started dealing as the game went on and Miami’s defense backed off. He completed 26 of 36 passes for 307 yards but did turn the ball over twice. I was still impressed with his vision of the field and ball placement. His stock will also rise if he continues to impress.

Kenny Pickett, QB PITTSBURGH

The senior Panther quarterback had a solid game in week three versus Syracuse, completing 25 of 36 passes for 215 yards with two touchdowns and a pick. Syracuse’s respectful defense made top 2022 quarterback prospect Sam Howell look human in week two so I wanted to see how Pickett performed.

He isn’t the flashiest prospect and will likely not be a starter in the NFL. I could see him being in the league for some time as a backup and spot starter. Pickett is smart with the ball and makes intelligent throws with good placement. The biggest knock is consistency. He does things well at times – he has a big arm, good footwork, and senses pressure – but it isn’t consistent enough. Shoring up consistency would elevate Pickett’s stock and he could find his name called next April.

Dillon Gabriel, QB UCF

The Knights have a sophomore starting quarterback who could really make some noise and lead them to a ton of wins in the next few seasons. Gabriel has an absolute cannon and can make some NFL throws.

He completed 27 of 41 passes for 417 yards and four touchdowns with an interception in the team’s 49-21 win over Georgia Tech. Gabriel spreads the ball around and moves well in the pocket. The Hawaiian product looks to improve on a stellar freshman season and prove what he can do.

Jahmyr Gibbs, RB GEORGIA TECH

My devy breakout of the week goes to Gibbs, the freshman running back for the Yellow Jackets. The future is bright for the young back, he runs hard and has impressive speed in the open field. In his first collegiate game, he rushed 15 times for 66 yards and a score while also catching four passes for 60 yards and another score.

The clip above highlights the speed when he gets around the corner and ability to make defenders miss. If you would like to see a cutup of the whole game, please check out this video. Gibbs was a four-star recruit per 247Sports, the eighth-ranked back in the 2020 incoming class. The sky’s the limit for Gibbs. I love his overall skill set and he is one of my favorite running backs of the 2023 eligible backs.

Javian Hawkins, RB LOUISVILLE

The player who caught my eye most in the Miami and Louisville game was sophomore Hawkins. When he gets the ball, you hold your breath waiting to see what he will do. He carried the ball 27 times for 164 yards and a touchdown.

The ability to run inside at his size, 5’9” and 196 pounds, is really impressive. He has the speed and footwork to move laterally and evade defenders but also sees a little crease and explodes through a hole. The clip above showcases the skill – he doesn’t mess around and can get upfield insanely quick. Hawkins isn’t afraid to take a hit and can play through contact. I am really excited to see what he can continue to do and he is rising up my personal ranks.

Cam’Ron Harris RB MIAMI

Harris had another impressive game and we are going to continue to talk about him nearly every week. He only had nine carries but made them count. He ended up with 134 yards and had a 75-yard score. I would like to see him do a little more inside running and see how his vision measures up. When he gets outside and turns the corner, he’s gone. Harris has some elite acceleration and good top speed. He’s been a star of this young season and I am eagerly awaiting to see what he does next.

Tutu Atwell, WR LOUISVILLE

Another name from the game of the week, Atwell is such a fun player to watch. He ended the night with eight catches for 114 yards and two touchdowns. He is a small player at 5’9” and 165 pounds.

Size doesn’t matter when you make plays like these. He runs sharp clean routes and has impeccable footwork. Atwell explodes out of cuts and finds the spaces in defenses. And on top of all of this, his hands are silky smooth and he plucks the ball out the air we ease. Both of the catches in the clip above showcase the hands. Atwell plays bigger and he creates serious issues from the slot. He will be a lot of fun in a creative NFL offense.

Frank Ladson, WR CLEMSON

Trevor Lawrence only threw nine passes versus the Citadel, completing eight of them for three touchdowns. Three of the completions went to the sophomore Ladson and two of them went for touchdowns. The team is in need of an alpha receiver since the departure of Tee Higgins and loss of Justyn Ross.

The size and movement really pop in the way Ladson plays. He is smooth and runs routes cleanly, with efficient movement. The first catch on the clip showcases his ability to outmuscle defensive backs. Ladson is a complete receiver and is on his way to being the next great Tiger wideout.

Tylan Wallace, WR OKLAHOMA STATE

The Cowboys wanted to hit the ground running with one of the most proficient offenses in college football and the team sputtered to only 16 points versus Tulsa. One of the bright spots was seeing senior wideout Wallace on the playing field after a torn ACL shortened his 2019 season. He caught four passes for 94 yards and really extends the field for the offense. It was great to have him on the field and he’s a name to watch in an incredibly talented 2021 receiver class.

Marlon Williams, WR UCF

In only one game, Williams nearly amassed a quarter of his production in 2019. He caught ten passes for 154 yards and a pair of touchdowns. I have not scouted the senior wide receiver and he is available in many leagues. He looked impressive this past week and quarterback Dillon Gabriel loves him. Keep an eye on Williams – I will dig more into past tape and if he continues to produce, I will have a much deeper look at him.

Brevin Jordan, TE MIAMI

There was so much to take out of this game. Jordan also had an impressive game for the Hurricanes. He grabbed seven balls for 120 yards and a score – a 47-yard touchdown on a broken defensive assignment. His skill set is comparable to a wide receiver, he has great hands and runs clean, smooth routes. From the tight end spot, it’s very difficult for defenses to account for his speed, size, and athletic ability. He is my TE3 for the 2021 draft-eligible tight ends but if he continues to showcase what he can do, he could eclipse the opted-out Pat Freiermuth.

Poor Devy Performances

Chuba Hubbard, RB OKLAHOMA STATE

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result. Sometimes it feels insane watching Hubbard play. He runs into the line and into defenders over and over but occasionally there is a different result. The home run long run is always a possibility when he breaks into the second level. The final stat line versus Tulsa looks okay – 27 carries for 93 yards and a touchdown. A lot of those yards were gained in the second half. Hopefully he returns more to the form of 2019. Hubbard is my RB3 for the 2021 eligible backs and I am not panicking after one game.

Ian Book, QB NOTRE DAME

If you are holding the Irish’s starting quarterback in hopes of him being a starting quarterback in the NFL, it may be time to consider moving him. Perhaps someone will be tempted by the promise he has flashed and the numbers he put up as a junior last season. Watching him closer, Book has become timid and unsure with the ball and his accuracy is atrocious. I have lowered him twice already in my rankings for 2021 eligible quarterbacks already and I can’t see him being successful at the next level.

Marquee Week Three Matchups

Full Schedule

#23 Kentucky at #8 Auburn 9/26 @12:00 PM EST

The Wildcats have a veteran team led by redshirt seniors quarterback Terry Wilson and running back Asim Rose. The team doesn’t have elite devy talent at key positions but has a strong team that could cause problems in the SEC. They have a huge test in the first game of their season, travelling down to Auburn to take on sophomore quarterback Bo Nix and junior superstar receiver Seth Williams. Auburn has a suffocating defense and usually causes problems when playing the elite programs. Seeing what Nix does in his second season as a starter is my key to this game.

Mississippi State at #6 LSU 9/26 3:30 PM EST

Another key matchup right out of the gate, Mike Leach’s offenses tend to score in bunches and will test the defending national champions. The Bulldogs are led but grad transfer KJ Costello at quarterback and stud senior running back Kylin Hill. The Bulldog offense could cause problems if the Tigers can’t keep up with a totally new offense. Gone are Joe Burrow, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Justin Jefferson, and also Ja’Marr Chase. Redshirt junior quarterback Myles Brennan leads a new-look squad with junior receiver Terrace Marshall being the most significant weapon returning. The game has potential to be a trap game for LSU.

#16 Tennessee at South Carolina 9/26 7:30 PM EST

Yes, another SEC game… It feels good to have the most dominant conference back in action. The Volunteers are rebuilding their program and have another great incoming class coming in next year. Keep an eye on sophomore running back Eric Gray. He isn’t the starter but the Vols get him involved and he has the potential to be a great one. The Gamecocks have some uncertainty on offense after a spirited quarterback battle. Ryan Hilinski was the future of their program but inconsistency caused him to lose the job to grad quarterback Collin Hill. South Carolina is rolling out freshman running back Marshawn Lloyd, another future stud. The team tends to play every team hard and it should be a really good game.

BONUS – Just for Fun : #22 Army at #14 Cincinnati 9/26 3:30 PM EST

Adding one for fun, if you want to watch a contrast of styles, Army has outscored their first two opponents 79-7 and feature a rushing attack which can be very difficult for modern defenses to defend. The Bearcats look to defend their home turf led by potential NFL draftee quarterback Desmond Ridder. Cincinnati can score at will and this game could be pretty fun as far as scoring goes.

The Wrap-Up

The return of the SEC is the big story and with 35 games on the slate, the football season is starting to slowly feel more normal. Every game will have more playoff implications with each team playing shorter seasons.

Thank you all for reading – I love this game and even though life is far from normal, talking about college football definitely gives me a slice of normal each week. Take care!

dwight peebles
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