CFB DeptHITS: #VoluMonday, October 7
It's a #VoluMonday as we look at the biggest changes in volume from previous game(s) to week six. Be it due to injury or performance, these are the ones you'll want to know.
On Mondays, we’ll do what we affectionately call #VoluMonday to look at the biggest changes in volume or playing time due to a myriad of factors. These are mainly the players who either completely sat out, left games due to injury or returned to action from the QB, RB, WR and TE positions. We’ll sprinkle in the offensive linemen and defensive players throughout the week leading up to week seven…enjoy:
|||||| QUARTERBACK
North Carolina State ::: QB Grayson McCall made his return to the starting lineup for the Wolfpack before another injury forced him out. CJ Bailey entered and led the offense to its most success seen in a while week six against Wake Forest.
Texas A&M ::: QB Conner Weigman was a game-time call and got the start for the Aggies against Missouri and led them to a big win. He's back as the starter over Marcel Reed in College Station.
Old Dominion ::: QB Colton Joseph got the start with a couple of injured players ahead of him (Grant Wilson and Emmett Morehead). He performed well and may earn another shot. He went 22/40 for 263, 3 TD and 1 INT. He also added 68 yards and a score on the ground.
UCLA ::: QB Ethan Garbers could not go for the Bruins so we got our first look at Justyn Martin in week six. We saw some good, going 22/30 for 167 yards and a TD against a stout Penn State defense on the road. We may see more of Martin going forward.
UAB ::: QB Jacob Zeno's injury popped up late in the week and he was not able to get it going week six and Jalen Kitna struggled mightily in a lopsided loss to Tulane in week six. The Blazers will need Zeno back quickly.
Stanford ::: QB Ashton Daniels' ankle injury is lingering enough to keep him out week six. Justin Lamson got the start in an ugly loss to Virginia Tech. Lamson was not very good, going 13/24, 103 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, 36 rush yards on 19 carries.
Louisiana-Monroe ::: QB Aidan Armenta took over for General Booty as the starter for ULM and led the Warhawks to a 21-19 win over James Madison. His final line was nothing crazy, but he has certainly taken over as the starter here.
Marshall ::: QB Braylon Braxton has taken over as the starter for Marshall. He got the start over a now-healthy Stone Earle and had a solid game against a now hapless Appalachian State, going 8/14 for 129 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT and 140 on the ground with two more scores.
South Carolina ::: QB LaNorris Sellers made his return to the field against Ole Miss this weekend. The Rebels contined him and the entire South Carolina offense, holding them to 3 points. Sellers appears healthy going forward.
West Virginia ::: QB Garrett Greene had to leave the field during the week six contest briefly, but did return. This is not expected to keep him out for a big week seven game against Iowa State.
Boston College ::: QB Thomas Castellanos returned to the field Saturday. He looked healthy and was efficient with his throws, going 22/30 for 254 yardsl, but threw two costly interceptions and was held to negative yardage on the ground. Virginia had a good game plan for him.
East Carolina ::: QB Jake Garcia was replaced by Katin Houser in week 6 against Charlotte with the offense stalling out. Houser didn't fare much better, going 11/29 for just 88 yards, no TD and a pick. Garcia should remain the starter here, but they may split time.
|||||| RUNNING BACK
Bowling Green ::: RB Terion Stewart was again unable to go for the Falcons, leaving the bellcow duties to his backup Jaison Patterson, who took 18 carries for 52 yards and two scores. Stewart will remain questionable heading to week seven against NIU.
UAB ::: RB Isaiah Jacobs did not play week six and we'll assume it is injury-related though we did not hear anything about it heading into week six.
Massachusetts ::: RB Jalen John was not able to play week six and the duties were to go to his backups Brandon Campbell and CJ Hester. Hester led with 15 carries (for 71 yards) as Campbell didn't receive a touch. He may have an injury as well.
Toledo ::: RB Willie Shaw III did not play a snap week six after being a clear part of their committee approach. It is likely injury related and we're adding to our tracker.
Western Michigan ::: RB Jalen Buckley did enough to get back on the field week six, but was clearly limited, playing just 18 snaps in the game. They may just be working him back in, but a re-injury is not impossible. We'll track it.
Wake Forest ::: RB Demond Claiborne wound up playing despite some injury concerns and led the Deacons with 20 carries for 136 yards and two scores in the 34-30 win over NC State.
SMU ::: We have moved the versatile RB/WR Roderick Daniels Jr. to the running back room as he took six carries - second only behind Brashard Smith - and scored. He has stepped up into a role playing both positions with LJ Johnson Jr also making his return as the 3rd option in that banged up backfield.
Coastal Carolina ::: RB Braydon Bennett made his return to the committee of backs for the Chanticleers in week six after being hurt in week two. He took nine carries for 48 yards and two touchdowns.
Oklahoma State ::: RB Ollie Gordon III left week six with an injury and another down performance (13 carries, 50 yards) by his own lofty standards. We'll track for any long-term issues.
Penn State ::: RB Nick Singleton had a stomach bug which prevented him from playing week six. He should be fine for week seven against USC.
Northwestern ::: RB Cam Porter made his return to the field against Indiana in week six but found very little room to roam. He took six carries for just 15 yards.
Northern Illinois ::: RB Antario Brown gave it a go but he is just not healthy. He limped off the field and appears he needs more time to get fully ready to roll.
|||||| WIDE RECEIVER
UTEP ::: WR Jaden Smith did not play week six, rather unexepectedly, and now will be placed on the injury and status report until we hear more. He was playing a full-load, getting seven targets per game before this. Tracking.
UCLA ::: WR Rico Flores Jr. was not able to play week six and will remain questionable for the Bruins going forward.
Appalachian State ::: WR Christan Horn sat out week six and will remain questionable moving forward for the Mountaineers until we hear more of his status.
Florida ::: WR Tank Hawkins was a big return for the Florida receivers corps, as he took 8 targets, hauling in 7 of them for 60 yards. While the Gators wait for Eugene Wilson III, the top option, to return, they are getting solid contributions as others get healthy. Chimere Dike and Elijhah Badger are also chipping in.
USC ::: WR Makai Lemon made his return to the field for the Trojans after leaving week four game in an ambulance. He caught all three of this targets for 37 yards.
Oklahoma State ::: WR Da'Wain Lofton made his 2024 debut for the Cowboys. He was impactful in this return, playing 24 snaps out of the slot, catching all three targets for 73 yards. This return coincided with the absense of Talyn Shettron, who missed week six with an apparent injury.
Virginia ::: WR JR Wilson made his 2024 debut week six against Boston College and took six targets, caught 4 for 44 yards. He'll remain a top three option for Anthony Colandrea and this passing attack going forward, especially while Trell Harris remains out.
South Alabama ::: WR Jamaal Pritchett cleared all protocols necessary to play week six and balled out with 11 targets, 7 catches for 137 yards and two scores.
Wisconsin ::: WR Bryson Green was injured during the week six game and is on the watch list for week seven at Rutgers. Green is the No. 2 option in the passing attack thus far with 4 targets per game.
Ole Miss ::: WR Tre Harris, the leading receiver for the Rebels, played week six and suffered an apparent re-injury during the game. He will remain questionable moving forward and is one to watch.
Purdue ::: WR Jahmal Edrine was supposed to miss "multiple" weeks with an injury suffered in week three, but made his return already in week six. He managed just two catches for 26 yards in another lopsided loss to the Badgers.
Ball State ::: WR Ty Robinson made his return to the field for the Cardinals this week. He took 26 snaps on the outside and 12 in the slot, getting 5 targets, catching 3 of them for 44 yards and one touchdown. A welcome weapon added to the offense on Muncie.
Clemson ::: Both WR Troy Stellato and Antonio Williams made it on the field for the Tigers this week. Stellato received 4 targets, 3 catches for 16 yards and one carry for 11 yards. Williams got 6 looks, 3 catches for 84 yards, including a 57-yard touchdown.
Colorado State ::: WR Tory Horton is officially back with 13 targets, 8 catches for 148 yards and a score against Oregon State in week six.
Wisconsin ::: Both WR Bryson Green and Will Pauling left the week six game with injuries. We'll track them both for severity as we go forward. Update: Pauling was able to return to the field.
|||||| TIGHT END
Georgia Tech ::: TE Jackson Hawes sat out week six against Duke and he's been added to the injury and status report. No news on his condition following the game, so we'll add it to the tracker.
Utah State ::: TE Broc Lane sat week six and there is likely an injury at play that has caused quite a discrepency in snap counts. We'll keep him on the watch list as "questionable" util we hear (or see) more from Lane.
Arkansas ::: TE Luke Hasz is playing, but in a limited capacity as he showed up on the second availability report heading into week six. He played 27 snaps in the upset of Alabama, about half his normal load. Barring any setbacks, he should get back up to a full workload after the bye for week 8 against LSU.
Oregon ::: Concerns over TE Terrance Ferguson, after a head injury in week five, are squashed after he played a full 52 snaps in week six for the Ducks. He chipped in with two catches, including a 62-yard play against Michigan State.
Miami (OH) ::: TE Jack Coldiron made his return to the field after a one-week absence.
That’s our show for today. More volume and playing time alerts and breaking news coming in our regularly scheduled DeptHITS programming for the rest of the week. Thanks for following along…
