Week 7 was everything we could have hoped for it to be, except for the Red River Rivalry result. Let’s see what Week 8 has in store for us.
RBs that Need More RUN
After we got a glimpse of them, many of us called for an increase in volume for running backs like Caden Durham, Isaac Brown, and Fluff Bothwell. And damn, were we right or what?
Next up needs to be Quinten Joyner. Let me help you out, Linc. Listen closely. QJ is the clear DUDE in SoCal. On 31 carries, Joyner dwarfs Woody Marks in the rushing metrics of YPC (9.1 to 5.7), YPC after contact (4.48 to 3.32), missed tackle forced rate, and breakaway % (49.8 to 37.3). It is time to feature Joyner and transition Woody to a 3rd down back.
Where I Was Wrong – 2023 Freshman QB Class
A segment that was started earlier this season on the Pulse is one I admit where I was dead wrong. I thought the 2023 freshman QB class was potentially generational. I loved the talent and the landing spots. Well, it’s simply all gone to crap less than a year and a half later. Here are my freshmen QB rankings at the time and what’s up with them now:
- Dante Moore: Already transferred once. At least it was to the program he should have signed with, but now he’s a year behind schedule.
- Nico Iamaleava: Promising freshman year and bowl, but disappointing year two so far
- Malachi Nelson: Holy smokes
- Aidan Chiles: Similar to Nico in that he showed so much promise early, but this Sparty rebuild may have him seeing ghosts for years
- Jackson Arnold: Holy smokes
- LaNorris Sellers: Looks fine at times but is stuck playing superior competition with an inferior WR room, O-line, and offensive coordinator
- Arch Manning: Finally, someone on this list that looks great! The only problem… he’s the only one on this list so far with less than three career starts
- Jaylen Raynor: It hurts my soul to see how bad he’s been this year.
- Avery Johnson: At least there is hope. But man this kid is a limited passer and his staff has done a poor job at hiding that.
- Jaden Rashada: Holy Smokes
A Budding Star for an RB Kingmaker?
LA Monroe true freshman Ahmad Hardy looks to be the next big deal in a Bryant Vincent system that has produced the likes of Jacory Croskey-Merritt at New Mexico and DeWayne McBride, Spencer Brown, and Jordan Howard at UAB. Hardy has scored a TD in every matchup except for Texas. And while he is on pace for the 200+ carries we typically see from a Vincent workhorse, his production is more than just volume-based.
Digging deeper, we see that his advanced metrics are eye-popping for a freshman. His missed tackles forced rate is one every 2.32 carries, which puts him 3rd behind only Corey Kiner (2.15) and Ashton Jeanty (2.25). His yards after contact per attempt is 4.02, which is good for 18th in the country. At 5’10” and 205 lbs, Hardy has all the makings of a monster CFF option for the next couple of years.
Paging Dr. Rising…
The news of Cam Rising shutting it down due to injuries means he could likely get another medical waiver since he participated in less than five games. He can already play next year because of a transfer rule reversal. That would put him at eight years in college. Hell, a quarterback who started his career in 2019 could potentially play a game in 2027 if he makes a New Year’s Day bowl.
Rising had me making a list of other Van Wilder types in CFB that seem to surprisingly have another year left. Here it is:
RJ Harvey, Micah Bernard, Jay Ducker, TJ Finley, Elijah Gilliam, Jalon Daniels, Kentrel Bullock, Cam Davis, Chandler Morris, Ricky White, Jacolby Criswell, DT Sheffield, Malachi Fields, Daniel Hishaw.
Shameless Plug Time
Everyone, please check out Defending the Natty with me and Jared Palmgren on the Chasing the Natty podcast feed. We discussed dynasty trades earlier this week, and we plan to have Canadian extraordinaire and runner-up of the inaugural season of my 24-team CFF Dynasty league, Volume Pigs on with us next month!
Cheers to a profitable Week 8! Good luck, all!
