CFB DeptHITS: Tuesday, September 24
Getting you all caught up from an injury update Monday from across the college football landscape.
We make hundreds of tweaks and adjustments to each of the 134 live depth charts based on news, snap data and hunches. These are the “big ticket” items that we feel need your attention from over the last 24 hours…
Auburn ::: DB Champ Anthony is lost for the season with a broken tibia. This is a big loss for the Tigers secondary.
Further: Yeah, this isn’t wonderful news. Anthony is a very highly regarded player who can play multiple positions and was at the STAR spot for most of this season. What’s worse is that he was really coming into his own this year so far (15.9 rating; up from 12.5 to start the season). The Tigers will need to find others to step up and keep this secondary in tact. Caleb Wooden should see an increase in playing time with this loss. He is a solid replacement based on our ratings (13.1).
Oklahoma ::: QB Jackson Arnold has been benched in favor of Michael Hawkins Jr. for week five at Auburn.
Further: What a mess this has become. Remember, the OU brass decided to let Dillon Gabriel walk to Oregon because they thought Arnold was ready for this. That said, nobody really foresaw the offensive line woes and injuries at the wide receiver position to go the way that they have. It makes sense for the talented true freshman Hawkins, who is more mobile than Arnold, to get the call here. We’ll see how this plays out. Arnold’s arm talent is not in question and he certainly has a place as a starter at the P4 level if things continue to go south in Norman.
USC ::: TE Lake McRee was injured in the week four game against Michigan. He will miss week five and possible longer.
Further: McRee has developed into a decent part of the USC offense. We will likely see more of Kade Eldridge and Walker Lyons to fill this void. There will be a slight downgrade, but there is enough talent here to overcome it.
Nebraska ::: LT Turner Corcoran was injured against Illinois and will miss some time. Also, CB Tommi Hill was also banged up against the Illini and is considered "day-to-day".
Further: This is one that jumps off the page because he is a starting offensive lineman. However, part of what we try to do is figure out the impacts of these injuries. It appears that the most likely replacement, Gunnar Gottula (12.1), has a higher rating than Corcoran (10.1).
Wyoming ::: RB Harrison Waylee, who has battled injuries this season will be limited to four games to preserve a redshirt said head coach Jay Sawvel.
Texas Tech ::: The Red Raiders updated some injuries on Monday and that included a questionable tag on WR Josh Kelly.
Utah ::: QB Cam Rising is cleared to play, but he can't quite get the proper "zip" on the ball at this point with the finger injury. He'll remain likely a game-time decision heading into week five against Arizona.
Memphis ::: WRs Roc Taylor and Koby Drake both were banged up in the week four game and while they are not considered to be "long-term" injuries; they are both questionable heading into week five against Middle Tennessee.
North Carolina State ::: Monday injury updates from Dave Doeren include QB Grayson McCall "getting better" and DL DJ Jackson will miss week five but not much longer than that.
Penn State ::: The Lions lost both RB Cam Wallace and LB Dominic DeLuca in the week four game and will be questionable moving forward. No updates given on their status for week five against Illinois.
Virginia Tech ::: WR Ali Jennings was a game-time call for week four. Ultimately, he sat it out but was close. Now, he appears first on the depth chart and we do expect a return in week five against Miami.
Texas A&M ::: QB Conner Weigman tops the pre-week give depth chart and may make his return to the field and to the starting role as they prepare for Arkansas week five.
Florida State ::: RB Roydell Williams was announced "out" prior to week four kickoff. He will remain out as we await the diagnosis. Kam Davis moves into the No. 1 spot on the depth chart for the time being.
Louisville ::: WR Jadon Thompson is announced out for the season following an injury sustained in week four. Meanwhile, Caullin Lacy is going to be a game-time call for week five against Notre Dame we await his season debut.
Miami (FL) ::: DL Rueben Bain Jr. and OT Jalen Rivers are fully expected to return to action for week five against Virginia Tech, making the Hurricanes' trenches even stronger heading into the ACC opener.
North Carolina ::: Tar Heels injury updates include WR Nate McCollum expected back next week, while RB Darwin Barlow and EDGE Kaimon Rucker are out for week five. WR Christian Hamilton is out this week and likely beyond.
Massachusetts ::: WR Anthony Simpson has left the program. No reasoning given. He hadn't played since week two before warning up pre-game this past week four but didn't take the field.
|||||| READY FOR WEEK FIVE
As you may know, we don’t make automated adjustments to our depth charts. Our process includes making the “big” changes based on news as it breaks and then make meticulous changes to get them “ready” for the current week. Here is a quick look at the ones that are “ready” for week five:
Army at Temple - Thursday
Virginia Tech at Miami (FL) - Friday
Washington at Rutgers - Friday
Mississippi State at Texas
Ohio State at Michigan State
Oregon at UCLA
Illinois at Penn State
Wisconsin at USC
Oklahoma State at Kansas State
Oklahoma at Auburn
Minnesota at Michigan
Iowa State at Houston
Arkansas at Texas A&M
That’s our show for today. Thanks for following along with our little endeavor.
Temp13.513.5ArmyMiaFL-19-19VTRut-2.5-2.5WashTex-38.5-38.5MissStMichSt2525OSUUCLA24.524.5OrePSU-17.5-17.5IlliniUSC-14.5-14.5WiscKSt-6-6OKStAub1.51.5OUMich-9.5-9.5MinnHou1313IAStA&M-3.5-3.5Ark
