CFB Scouting Notebook: Week 1

By Rory Daniels

As expected the first proper slate of college football action did not disappoint. There were comebacks, a Head Coach calling plays from his hospital bed and even dance moves from a joyous 68 year old Mack Brown as he returned to the sideline at North Carolina! Si has given you the lowdown in his weekend summary piece but the scouting notebook is all about the prospects. Without further ado let’s see whose stock rose and whose dropped.

Offensive Performances of the Week

Eason

Jacob Eason, QB, Washington – Eason never really got a proper crack at Georgia. An up and down freshman stint followed by an injury that cut short his sophomore year. In came Jake Fromm and as they say, the rest is history. Eason gets his second chance with the Washington Huskies and his opening gambit was all they hoped for. He fits the prototype big-armed prospect NFL teams love. Posting numbers of 27/36, 349 yards and 4 TDs, the QB made short work of the Eastern Washington defense. His play of the day- a beautiful 50 yard shot to Andre Baccellia.

Travis Etienne, Running Back, Clemson – Running back is rapidly falling down the list of priorities at the next level but there are a few prospects that want to change that. The 2020 Draft is shaping up to be deep at the most devalued position in the game. All that said, don’t expect Clemson’s running back to be there on Day 2. Travis Etienne was the star of the show on a rough night for his superstar QB Trevor Lawrence. The Tigers leaned heavily on the running game and Etienne ended the night with 205 rushing yards and 3 TDs. He has the speed to explode past defenders who seemingly have the angle on him and should be a tricky playmaker at the next level.

Defensive Performances of the Week

Myles Jones, Cornerback, Texas A&M – Texas A&M will take on the National Champions this week and they warmed up well with a solid victory over Texas State. The gulf in class between the two teams was obvious and the Aggies defense made hay all day. One of the key standouts was junior cornerback Myles Jones. At 6’4, 185lbs it will be interesting to see how NFL teams view Jones.

His height means some teams may favour him at safety. However, he displayed the type of ball skills needed for a boundary corner with his pair of picks. The first, jumping the route of the receiver and the second, showing his ability to flip his hips and turn his head to make the grab travelling towards his own goal line. He will face a stiffer test vs the likes of Tee Higgins and Justyn Ross this week but is a name to watch going forward.

Kenneth Murray, Linebacker, Oklahoma – We had to wait until Monday night to see Kenneth Murray in action but it was worth it. There is nothing better than seeing a linebacker come thudding downfield and creating havoc in the backfield. At 6’2, 243lbs, Murray is the physical leader of the Sooners defense. However, he isn’t a one trick pony. Murray’s side-to-side athleticism makes him an exciting watch for scouts at the next level. The NFL is looking for linebackers who can make plays but also drop into coverage against spread defenses. Murray is a fantastic open field tackler and his numbers should be through the roof by the end of the year. In the Big 12 he will get plenty of opportunities to flash against pass-heavy offenses.

Play of the week

Tylan Wallace, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma State – Wallace was second nationally to Andy Isabella last year in receiving yards and made a promising start at the weekend. He contributed 92 yards and two touchdowns as Oklahoma State outgunned Oregon State.  There were plenty of big plays in Week 1 proper, nod to Aaron Fuller’s one handed grab for Washington, but I’ve opted for Wallace. It might not be the flashiest play but sums up what Wallace does well. He shows insane route running ability to throw off the defender and then gets up to highpoint the ball and land the TD. Wallace could be a day 2 prospect with a solid season.

A Tough Week For

Jordan Love, Quarterback, Utah State – Jordan Love is looking to break into the top tier of QBs in this draft cycle. Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert sit out front, with Georgia’s Fromm most people’s third choice. Love is a gunslinger who has even drawn offseason comparisons with Patrick Mahomes. He displayed plenty of what scouts will love. Throws on the move, nice touch and the ability to drive the ball into tight windows. On the flip side, there were three interceptions. One in the redzone, one deep in his own half that led to a TD and one in the final throes as they tried to comeback. Love will need to improve his consistency and reign in his instincts to be considered a round 1 signal caller.

The Auburn Defensive Line – The big game of the weekend lived up to expectations. A late comeback from the Auburn Tigers derailed a Justin Herbert led Oregon, who were in control of the game for large parts. Key to that was their their dominance in the trenches. The Auburn defensive line featured three draft eligible prospects:- Marlon Davidson, Derrick Brown and Nick Coe. They struggled to get pressure on Herbert or stop CJ Verdell in the running game. There were no sacks or tackles for loss from the trio as they were stonewalled by the Ducks experienced line. They will get more chances but the opener was an opportunity missed in a head-to-head with other high ranking prospects.

Non Draft-Eligible Prospect to Note

Patrick Surtain II, Cornerback, Alabama – Patrick Surtain is a familiar name to NFL fans. The All-Pro cornerback played for the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs in his 10 year career. With that in mind it’s no surprise that his son is already on a lot of people’s watchlists. As a true freshman he played in 15 games and flashed potential while the Tide’s defense was beset with injuries. In Week 1 of this season it looked like things had truly began to click. Surtain looked comfortable in coverage, with excellent long speed. His main contribution for the evening was a forced fumble. Alabama’s 2019 secondary is the stength of the defensive unit. Trevon Diggs and Xavier McKinney are draft eligible elite prospects, but opposition offenses should be warned – single out Surtain at your own peril.

Mock Draft

Rory-Joe Daniels

Cfb contributor

formerly writing for the inside zone, rory will be breaking down college tape and keeping you up-to-date with all things CFB for the touchdown. an avid bengals fan, you can also find some of rory’s work at stripehype.com

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