CFB DeptHITS: Monday, September 2
We have made it (almost) all the way through week one around college football. We're reacting - but not over-reacting - to what we saw. Here are some tidbits you may just find interesting.
We make hundreds of edits and tweaks to our depth charts every single day. We pull out some of the more interesting/impactful ones to let you know about here in this feature. Enjoy.
PROGRAMMING NOTE: We are hard at work moving all 134 depth charts to “ready for week two” mode. We’ll pull out some interesting findings here and be sure to keep an eye on the “status bar” on each page. When it turns green; that team is fully ready for your analysis heading into the next week.
Also, because those tweaks take so much attention - and they drive everything else at our site, we will be focused on those early in the week and be a little shorter with the content. Just a heads up.
Okay, enough of that …
Minnesota ::: RB Darius Taylor missed week one and is "really close" to a return. With solid depth in the running back room, why rush him back? They likely won't.
Further: The next two opponents on the schedule are FCS Rhode Island and Nevada. We never suggest taking anybody lightly, but those are winnable games - though Nevada is looking tougher than originally anticipated - and rushing Taylor back with his extensive early injury history may not the best idea. We saw a lot of Marcus Major in the UNC game and we should see a couple of other names getting carries, including Jordan Nubin (who had just two carries; but three targets in week one) and maybe Sieh Bangura. Bottom line here is that this room is loaded with talent and the star of the show may not be needed. He needs to get healthy.
Michigan ::: The Wolverines quarterback room isn't the only developing situation. RB Kalel Mullings is looking like he's earned at least a split carry load with Donovan Edwards in the backfield.
Further: I guess this shouldn’t be too much of a surprise. Many doubt Edwards’ ability to be a true bellcow. Heck, even Blake Corum needed a spell from time-to-time. So, seeing a very talented back in his own right, Mullings, join the fray isn’t all that crazy. However, it is possible that Mullings actually works his way up into the lead back role with Edwards serving in his previous capacity of change-of-pace and home run hitter. Still very valuable.
Oklahoma State ::: Starting LB Justin Wright missed week one and the thought is that he'll miss another 1-2 weeks as a result.
Further: Not wonderful news. But not crushing news either. Depth is always important and Wright provides that for the Pokes. We’ll track to see when he can get back on the field.
Tulane ::: Darian Mensah appears to have won the starting QB job; he was first out in week one and threw it 12 times, running it four. Ty Thompson gets the second-string spot and Kai Horton is in third (for now).
Further: This three-way battle continued into week one; but this share of work gives us a better understanding of the pecking order. Mensah has a shot to take it and run with it. They do get Kansas State next week in New Orleans. That will tell us even more.
Bowling Green ::: Tracking two impact injuries for the Falcons. LB Demetrius Hardamon and WR RJ Garcia II -- neither suited up for week one. They are impact players and we'll track them heading into week two.
Further: It’s often the case that certain names in a long list on an “availability report” will get lost. We’ll try to pull them out for you and shine a light. The two to know on this one are Hardamon and Garcia. Both are expected to be contributors and if they are able to get back for week two, it would help. All of that said, they have Penn State in week two. Look out.
Penn State ::: Moved PK Sander Sayhaydak to the starter over Chase Meyer.
Further: Maybe we just missed this one coming, but Meyer came over from Tulsa as a very highly regarded transfer-in. Sayhaydak must have beat him out. He did miss his only field goal attempt and put through 4 PATs.
Northwestern ::: The Wildcats were without two key defensive players for week one against Miami (OH): CB Ore Adeyi and DT Carmine Bastone. No updates; but if they come back in week two it will make an impact.
Further: With Duke on the docket next, these two players playing in the game would impact things. This is what we’ll call a “tracking situation” — meaning, we’ll put them on a list and see if we can find anything out before kickoff and pass it along.
The also were missing starting LG Jordan Knox in week one. He is questionable to play week two. Nick Herzog filled in admirably in his stead.
BYU ::: Looks like a carry split in the backfield between Hinckley Ropati and LJ Martin. WR Darius Lassiter will be back for week two.
Further: Just a couple of notes from the BYU updates. We knew that Ropati got the call to be the starter and that was the case. However they split carries right down the middle in week one (13 each). That should continue.
For Lassiter, he is one of their starting receivers and a pretty good one. He missed the game because of an eligibility issue that has been resolved.
Indiana ::: Ty Son Lawton leads the running back room. OL injuries force a re-shuffle. WR Donaven McCulley remains questionable for week two.
Further: It’s good to get a glimpse of who separated from a crowded running back room there in Bloomington. Lawson is a really good one and he’s become the leader. He took 16 carries and scored twice. Justice Ellison had 10 carries and will remain a big part of that share…McCulley was banged up in week one and was never cleared to go back in, though he wanted to.
QUICK HITS ||||||
Just some more observations as we update depth charts leading into week two…
Florida: S Asa Turner got turned around badly and suffered what looked to be a significant injury to his leg.
UMass: OL Luke Painton was injured in the game and forced some shifts in the offensive line for the Minutemen.
LSU: WR Kyle Parker left the game early and was questionable to return.
Indiana: OL Vincent Fiacable is the second starting offensive lineman to be announced out for the season. Bray Lynch moved to start at RG and Drew Evans held down LG.
SMU: Noticing that WR Moochie Dixon has not garnered a target through two games. He has a really high rating and there is either an injury or he is in the dog house. He played 28 snaps against Nevada. None in week one.
BYU (more): QB Jake Retzlaff won the starting job and was very good in week one; throwing for 348 yards, 3 TD and 0 INT. It will be a different animal in week two against the SMU Mustangs in Dallas.
Michigan (more): TE Colston Loveland was the most targeted (by far) in week one, getting 9 looks, catching 8 of them and going for 87 yards and a touchdown. He's going to be a big part of this offense…. OL Dominick Giudice started at center while Greg Crippen came in for 13 snaps. That is a change.
Texas: While RB Jerrick Gibson did double up on Quintrevion Wisner, 10-5 in carries, it was Wisner who was in the rotation behind the starter Jaydon Blue….CB Jay'Vion Cole played just five snaps against Colorado State. We have him as a starting cornerback. Leaving for now due to the blowout nature of the game; but we'll track playing time in week two against Michigan.
Penn State: If week one is any indication, they may not go much deeper than the top two WR in targets. Harrison Wallace III (8) and Omari Evans (4) led and no other wide receivers got a look. TE Tyler Warren is third in line as he received three targets (caught all three; including a touchdown)….On the O-Line, there was a battle for the right tackle spot and it appears Anthony Donkoh has beaten out Nolan Rucci for that role.
Arkansas: WR Andrew Armstrong sat week one as a precaution but he is expected back and ready for week two against Oklahoma State…RB Rashod Dubinon played week one sparingly (as expected) to get him some work but not to risk any further injury. He should be good to roll against Oklahoma State week two. We're putting him as a split workload with Ja'Quinden Jackson going forward.
Tulane: WR Shazz Preston has a confirmed hamstring injury and will not be rushed back to action. When he does return to action, he should be an impact player on offense…Also, noticed that LB Jesus Machado did not play week one. He’s pretty highly rated and may have a hidden injury. Adding him to the tracker.
That’s the show for today. More to come. Keep an eye on the depth charts themselves for updates and follow on X if you so choose….oh, and please subscribe:
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