CFB DeptHITS: Tuesday, October 8
We'll take a look at the latest injury news from around college football and focus in on the big volume changes we saw on the offensive lines today.
We make hundreds of little tweaks and edits to our live depth charts over at the site. This feature is meant to draw out some of the “top news” items and provide you with a “what you (may) need to know” segment to get your day started. Today, we’ll continue our look at volume changes from week five to week six and prep for week seven - focusing on the all-important offensive lines.
Liberty ::: DB Dominick Hill, formerly of South Carolina and Temple, will take a redshirt for the remainder of the season and plans to transfer to a new school in 2025. He did not earn a spot in the Flames' secondary rotation this year, playing just one game.
Arizona State ::: WR Malik McClain will redshirt and sit the rest of this season out. He plans to return to the Sun Devils in 2025. This is a case of a player falling down the depth chart and will use the time to learn the depth chart and have a bigger impact the following year. A good use.
Wyoming ::: The Cowboys will be without their top three running backs week seven against San Diego State. DJ Jones joins Harrison Waylee and Dawaiian McNeely on the shelf, leaving Sam Scott and Jamari Ferrell as the lone healthy backs with any touches this season. They are also without two rather important players in the secondary with Wyett Ekeler and Isaac White confirmed out.
Utah ::: HC Kyle Whittingham said that we could start to see more of Jaylon Glover in the run game. He hasn't played since week two, we thought due to injury. Either way, we'll move him to probable and give him a bit of a share in the carries for the Utes against Arizona State.
Kentucky ::: RB Chip Trayanum has suffered a set back in the broken hand injury that has held him out and is moved back to "doubtful" heading into week seven against Vanderbilt.
Texas ::: It is looking more and more probable that we'll see Quinn Ewers' return to the field for the Longhorns for Red River against OU this weekend. We are moving him back in at a projected full load moving forward.
Tennessee ::: Tennessee suffered some injuries in their loss to Arkansas in week six; they included WRs Squirrel White and Bru McCoy, along with DT Bryson Eason. None are expected to be season-ending or long-term, but they are questionable for Florida this week seven.
Louisville ::: Starting LT Monroe Mills was banged up pretty good in the week six loss to SMU. He will miss some time apparently but HC Brohm does expect him back at some point in 2024. Even then, he'll have to play through some stuff.
Alabama ::: DT Jeheim Oatis has decided to take a redshirt after playing in four games this year for the Crimson Tide. He will enter the portal. A depth hit to the defensive line that is being exposed currently.
Notre Dame ::: The injuries continue to pile up for the Irish and this one is big: DL Boubacar Traore is out for the season with a left knee injury.
Penn State ::: As expected, RB Nicholas Singleton is fully confident that he'll play week seven against USC. It was a lingering stomach bug that held him out week six against UCLA.
Iowa ::: WR Kaleb Brown sat out week six and he has decided to utilize his redshirt season with the intent to transfer elsewhere in 2025.
|||||| OFFENSIVE LINE DEPTH / VOLUME CHANGES
Penn State ::: RT Anthony Donkoh left week six game clutching his wrist and was replaced by Nolan Rucci. He did not return and Rucci continues to get more playing time there as Donkoh works to get healthy.
Arizona State ::: Kyle Scott has taken over full-time duties at RG it appears as he played all 72 snaps there in week six. He surpasses Cade Briggs for the spot. Unless we hear of an injury to Briggs, this move likely sticks going forward.
California ::: Either LT Nick Morrow as hurt and played just nine snaps against Miami in week four; or he has been supassed as the starter by Victor Stoffel. Our ratings say that Stoffel is the more complete player at the moment.
Michigan ::: The Wolverines were without two starting offensive linemen against Washington. LT Myles Hinton and C Dominic Guidice were DNPs. Greg Crippen (C) and Jeffrey Persi (LT) filled in and the latter (Persi) in particular, struggled.
Georgia ::: Starting C Jared Wilson was not able to get it going in time for the week six game; sitting it out. He is going to be questionable going forward. Drew Bobo held down the center spot against Auburn and will do so again if Wilson's injury lingers.
Ball State ::: Starting LT Damon Kaylor DNP week six and the Cardinals moved Chris Hood over to take his place in week seven against CMU. No word on the severity of the injury to Kaylor at this point.
Florida State ::: Interesting to see Andre' Otto draw the start at RG over Richie Leonard IV and Keiondre Jones. We've made this adjustment and we'll see if it continues.
San Diego State ::: Starting C Brayden Bryant played just about a half load in week six as he works baack from injury. He should be good to regain his full strength week seven at Wyoming.
Baylor ::: RT Campbell Barrington returned after a one-game absense to hold down the right side of the line against a really good Iowa State team in week six and his health is crucial heading down the stretch for the Bears.
Michigan State ::: Starting LT Stanton Ramil returned to duty after missing week five with an injury.
Jacksonville State ::: Starting C Brock Robey was helped off the field and the injury seems bad enough that he may miss time. We'll track it as the Gamecocks prep for New Mexico State in week seven.
Virginia ::: RT McKale Boley and RG Ty Furnish were healthy and returned to duty as starters on the Hoos offensive line. They helped lead the Cavs to a big win over Boston College.
Marshall ::: LG Bryce Ramsey needed just the one week (five) to get back to full strength and return to the line against Appalachian State.
Pittsburgh ::: LG Ryan Jacoby sat out week four and used the bye week five to get healthy and return to the offensive line for the Panthers in week six against UNC.
Toledo ::: C Jakob James returned to full duty after missing week four. He got healthy over the bye week and returned to middle of that Rockets offensive line.
Texas A&M ::: RG Ar'maj Reed-Adams was a game-time call against Mizzou week six. He ended up giving it a go and played a limited number of snaps. He'll remain probable for week eight after the bye week.
|||||| TUESDAY NIGHT ACTION
We have some action for Tuesday night for the first time this season. FIU is coming off a bye week and Liberty is coming off a double-bye week with a scheduled bye a week ago and a game cancellation in week five. So, we have some well-rested squads meeting up in Lynchburg, VA tonight.
The Model sees this one much like Vegas. With the Flames a 17.5-point favorite and a total set at 54.5. Here is what our simulation produced:
That equated to a slight lean on Liberty to cover and a 1-UNIT play on the UNDER. Again, this Model is very much still a work in progress and something to take for what it is worth (at this time, it’s worth about even-money).
That’s our show for today. Hope you enjoyed it. Please consider subbing and spreading the word.