CFB DeptHITS: Tuesday, October 15

Big news coming from every direction on Monday with coaches holding press conferences and more information divulged on injuries and player status heading into practice pre-week eight...

We make hundreds of tweaks to our 134 live depth charts over at CFBDepth.com. This feature is designed to pull out the “hits” and get you a little more context around what it all means. Today, we’ll go over the biggest news that broke over the last 24 hours…enjoy.

Tennessee ::: LB Keenan Pili will miss the rest of the season for the Vols. He is a major part of the defense and a team captain.

Further: Ouch. Anytime you lose a key contributor it stings, but this one seems particularly cruel for the Vols. They will need more out of Jeremiah Telander in the middle and he seems up to the task if his rating tells us anything. He was averaging 27 snaps per game, but now he’ll take on a full role.

Utah ::: Upon further review by the Utes medical staff, Cam Rising will in fact miss the remainder of the 2024 season.

Further: News that comes at little surprise to most, unfortunately. Rising is talented, but just couldn’t stay healthy. The door was not shut on the possibility that Rising returns to the Utes for yet another season, claiming a medical redshirt which would be available to him. We’ll have to see what he decides this off-season. Isaac Wilson is the starter going forward for the Utes.

Colorado State ::: WR Tory Horton needs season-ending surgery following another injury suffered week seven.

Further: Horton was QB Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi’s favorite target when he was able to be on the field. He got 26% of the targets. Now that he is done for the season, the Rams will need Jamari Person and Armani Winfield to continue to step up into even larger roles. Horton will likely get healthy and prep for the NFL Draft.

Old Dominion ::: LB Jason Henderson has announced he will redshirt and keep a season of eligibility as he works through an injury. No word on if he plans to return to ODU in 2025.

Further: Henderson played in just one game so the loss won’t be felt too drastically all of the sudden. However, this will impact depth they thought they would have upon his return.

Wyoming ::: The injuries keep piling up for the Cowboys. Now, add both starting linebackers Shae Suiaunoa and Connor Shay to that list. Both are questionable for week 8. The full injury list has been updated thanks to 7220sports.com's Cody Tucker for the full update.

Further: Talk about a MASH unit. The Cowboys have struggled this season and injuries could be partly to blame. We will see if either of these guys can get back on the field for week eight as they travel down to San Jose to take on the Spartans.

UTSA ::: RB Rocko Griffin has entered the Portal as a grad transfer. He was once a member of Vanderbilt and has good experience. He could be a complimentary piece somewhere in 2025.

Further: Griffin did not have much of a role behind Kevorian Barnes and Robert Henry. He’ll retain a year of eligibility and likely look to latch on somewhere where he’ll see more carries.

North Carolina ::: TE Bryson Nesbit suffered an injury in week seven that will keep him out indefinitely.

Further: Nesbit was splitting time with John Copenhaver, but he was more involved in the passing game. In fact, his 18.1% target share (when playing) was tops on the team. He had 38 targets, 21 catches, 242 yards and three touchdowns thus far. This injury seems like it could be the season-ending variety.

Iowa ::: TE Addison Ostrenga missed week seven and is not listed on the early week eight depth chart. We'll move him to 'doubtful' heading into the clash with Michigan State.

Purdue ::: QB Ryan Browne did enough in Purdue's 1-point, shootout loss to Illinois in week seven to retain the job over Hudson Card. Card, who was going through concussion protocols is technically still questionable, but this appears to be a coaches' decision to get Browne the start week 8 against Oregon.

South Florida ::: This latest injury to QB Byrum Brown appears to be one that could keep him out for an extended period of time. We'll move him to doubtful and keep the projection on Bryce Archie for the time being.

Oklahoma State ::: The Cowboys defense has been looking for some help and it may come in the form of the return of LB Justin Wright. He's back getting in work and may return soon to the lineup. We won't project him in there until we hear or see him in there for sure.

Houston ::: As expected, but now confirmed that QB Zeon Chriss will take over the Cougars offense for the time being. He was very good in their upset victory over TCU a couple of weeks ago and after the bye, he holds the job over Donovan Smith.

Texas ::: S Derek Williams Jr. will miss the remainder of the season after an injury suffered in Red River (week 7) against OU.

Ball State ::: WR Ty Robinson is out for the season after a leg fracture in week seven against Kent State. He missed time earlier this year with a thumb issue. Can't seem to buy a break (no pun intended).

Notre Dame ::: Another week, another lost Irish key contributor lost for the season. This time it is CB Benjamin Morrison's hip injury that will require surgery.

Georgia Tech ::: QB Haynes King is considered 'day-to-day' after an injury suffered in week seven. Zach Pyron is waiting in the wings for the potential start against Notre Dame coming up in week eight.

Georgia State ::: We have a quarterback battle in-season for Georgia State. We'll call it a Co-Starter situation for now between incumbent Christian Veilleux and Zach Gibson. Dell McGee says they will be evaluated and they will pick a starter for week eight at Marshall.

Florida ::: Update on RB Montrell Johnson Jr.'s lower body injury and it is said that is is not 'long-term' and that's good news for the long-term, but we'll keep him very questionable for the short-term, which is week eight against Kentucky. The Gators have a bye week nine.

Georgia ::: Update on RB Branson Robinson's injury. It is an MCL sprain and while the full timetable is TBD, he is definitely "out" for week eight at Texas.

Temple ::: QB Evan Simon is healthy but may not get the starting nod per head coach Stan Drayton. Forrest Brock has been playing primarily and we'll go ahead and put a split between the two heading into week eight against Tulsa coming of the bye week.

UCF ::: QB Jacurri Brown is most likely going to get the first-team work and start the Knights next game against Iowa State on the road. That will be a tough scenario for the Miami transfer as UCF looks for stability at the quarterback position after the benching of KJ Jefferson starting a week ago.

Miami (FL) ::: LT Jalen Rivers is expected back on the field for week eight against Louisville. He has not played since week one and would give this Hurricanes offensive line a nice boost and depth help. Markel Bell is likely to move back to the backup role behind Rivers, but could also be deployed elsewhere.

Louisville ::: RB Maurice Turner has been sidelined since an injury suffered in week four; while there is no timetable for his return, he may be getting back out on the practice field soon. Meanwhile, Isaac Brown has ascended to the top of the depth chart at the running back position for the Cardinals.

UTSA ::: RT Makai Hart was hurt in the week seven game against Rice. Monday morning it was revealed that it was a season-ending injury.

Florida ::: QB Graham Mertz is expected to miss the rest of the 2024 season due to the knee injury suffered in week seven against Tennessee. DJ Lagway is expected to take over the job full-time.

Lots of updates today. Hope you enjoyed getting caught up. As always, please consider subscribing here and/or spreading the word. It really does fuel us to keep on going…