CFB DeptHITS: Friday, November 1
Let's get all caught up on the news of the day as we react to the start of week ten and prepare for a big Saturday.
We make hundreds of tweaks and adjustments to our 134 live depth charts at CFBDepth.com — this feature is designed to pull out the ‘big ones’ and get you all caught up on what you need to know for whatever it is you do with this information. That’s your business. We are in the business of providing updates and giving a little context beyond the news from time-to-time. We will also provide direct links to our “Game Cards” designed to bring a wealth of information on the game at hand to one page for your viewing / decision-making pleasure…let’s roll…
Indiana ::: QB Kurtis Rourke is good to go and will start week 10 after missing just one game with a hand injury. Good news for the Hoosiers as they try to keep their perfect season in tact against Michigan State.
Further: Great news here for the undefeated darlings of college football. They get their leader back after missing just one game.
SMU ::: QB Kevin Jennings has been medically cleared to play and will start for the Mustangs against Pitt.
Further: Jennings overtook struggling Preston Stone early in the season and has shown (once again) that these coaches don’t always get it right the first time. Jennings is a better player and the Mustangs are better off with him starting under/behind center. Stone is certainly a capable backup who has done it before, so it wouldn’t be the end of the world if called upon.
Washington ::: Huskies updates include DE Zach Durfee, WR Kevin Green Jr. and TE Quentin Moore will not play in week ten against USC.
Further: Durfee was listed probable a couple of times the past two weeks as he appears close to returning, but ultimately, he’s just not ready. He has three sacks in the five games he has been able to play. Green Jr. suffered his injury in fall camp and has not been able to get fully healthy. He was originally targeting this week for return. The fact that he isn’t close is concerning. Moore is a blocking tight end who has played in just one game this season. Keleki Latu and Decker DeGraaf are the starters here and done a nice job thus far.
UCF ::: When given the chance to name a starter for the Knights this week, HC Gus Mahzahn dodged it meaning that it's a true 'co-starter' situation between Jacurri Brown and Dylan Rizk. We have them both playing in the game - 60/40 Brown's way for now. Whoever is back there will want top weapon WR Kobe Hudson out there. He says he will play.
Further: It will be interesting to see if there is a fire lit under this struggling offense after Mahzahn handed off play calling duties to Tim Harris Jr. The KJ Jefferson experiment went south quickly and the Knights are searching for a leader. It has been a disappointing season with a lot of talent squandered in Orlando thus far.
Coastal Carolina ::: A big hit to the defensive line as HC Tim Beck provides updates on DE Will Whitson, who was hurt and has decided to take a redshirt this year. Also, fellow DE Emmanuel Johnson is out for the season with injury.
Further: These types of injuries don’t hit the headlines, but it will negatively impact this defense. The Chants aren’t exactly killing it already on that side of the ball and now with two down and not much help for star BANDIT Clev Lubin, opposing offenses can attack with more time to do so.
Kentucky ::: Two minor updates on the Wildcats' busy availability report are that ILB Jayvant Brown is downgraded to 'out' and CB DJ Waller Jr. is upgraded to 'probable' to play.
Florida ::: LB R.J. Moten was removed from the updated availability report for the Gators indicating they'll get a little depth back at linebacker. It's much needed with a defense that is still ravaged with injuries - especially in the secondary.
Vanderbilt ::: Updated injury report for the Commodores features the upgrades of DT Yilanan Ouattara, LB Langston Patterson and DE Khordae Sydnor to probable. Good news for the defensive unit. CB Kolbey Taylor and RB Sedrick Alexander remain questionable, while DT Christian James has been ruled out.
Arkansas ::: RB Rodney Hill was removed from the updated Availability Report, meaning he is good to go and we could certainly see him as Ja'Quinden Jackson will miss this week ten matchup with Ole Miss. He's likely third fiddle behind Braylen Russell and Rashod Dubinion.
Ole Miss ::: Rebels injury updates (or lack thereof) from Lane Kiffin include a "I hope he plays" tag on WR Tre Harris. Also, RB Logan Diggs has not played yet in '24 but the door on that has not completely closed as Kiffin hints at him possibly being back after the bye week that they get next week (11).
Further: Thanks, Lane. Always a wealth of information.
Texas Tech ::: Speculation has ended on the availability questions surrounding QB Behren Morton. He is "full tilt" and "ready to go" for the Red Raiders in a stiff test against Iowa State in Ames.
Tulane ::: Those awaiting the debut of WR Shazz Preston for the Green Wave got their wish last night. He made it on the field for 27 plays but was not targeted as Tulane didn't need to do much through the air against the 49ers. The Alabama transfer has been battling back from debilitating hamstring issues and it is good to see him back out there.
Georgia Tech ::: QB Haynes King is 'day-to-day' heading into the bye week. He has some time to get healthy as they play Miami (FL) at home next week (11) and then get another bye in week 12 before the home stretch of NC State and Georgia.
Central Michigan ::: WR Evan Boyd was injured in week nine game. The Chips have a bye this week but got some bad news on Boyd, who will be out 'an extended period' of time.
Charlotte ::: DeShawn Purdie drew the start for Charlotte against Tulane in the only Halloween game of the evening. The 49ers offense was, well, scary all evening long as Purdie struggled to a 5/12 line for 66 yards and one interception. He was eventually replaced by Max Brown, who was worse going 2/10 for 3 yards. Yes, three.
|||||| SATURDAY EVENING GAME CARDS FOR WEEK TEN
As is becoming customary here on the depth charts in-season, we’ll be providing direct links to our ‘Game Cards’ designed to bring everything you’ll need to know about two teams matching up into one page. You can draw your own conclusions from this wealth of information. All games have been posted up on the site and you can view them all here:
We’ll finish up with the Saturday evening slate:
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