DeptHITS: Wednesday, August 27
Oh, week one is bearing down on us. We have some news to share and other features to highlight over at CFBDepth.com >> plus, we'll get you what to expect content-wise leading up to kickoff...
As we sit on the eve of week one kicking off, we have tons of news coming in. It’s also official ‘two-deep’ season, and we are reacting to those as they are released. Some are excellent sources of information, and others are spoofs (see: New Mexico). The key is to realize that data and experience will prevail in most of these situations. However, key players missing from depth charts could indicate injuries or other status concerns that could keep players out. How do you keep up with it all? You don’t. We do.
In today’s HITS, we’ll get you a few of the bigger impact injuries and other news, followed by the latest injury updates, injury impact reports, and links to valuable resources over at CFBDepth.com…
[The number in brackets is our data-driven player rating on a scale of 12. To learn more about our player ratings, check out this article » ]
*Click on the school names (links) to be taken to the full depth chart.
***Adding this note that we just received right as we pressed publish. Kansas State RB Dylan Edwards will miss week one and will remain doubtful for week two. The injury suffered on the first punt of the game will cost him even more time in the season.
Colorado ::: QB Kaidon Salter [15.6] has been named the starter for the Buffaloes in week one against Georgia Tech. Coach Prime 'hopes' JuJu Lewis [13.0] will get in the game. We can only speculate on that ‘hope,’ but it’s likely referring to the Buffaloes being up by so much that the true freshman can see a little time. That is very unlikely to happen, but it would not surprise if we see Lewis at some point getting a series to keep him involved.
South Carolina ::: RB Rahsul Faison [15.2] has been ruled eligible for the 2025 season. After a battle with the NCAA, word has come down that the star Utah State transfer will be able to participate for the Gamecocks this season. He was granted an injunction to start practicing just a couple of weeks ago, so this was the expected outcome and a big win for the South Carolina offense.
Texas Tech ::: The Red Raiders' will be without Colorado transfer and starting center Cash Cleveland [14.0] for the first two games of the season. He is expected back for week three against Oregon State. The former walk-on for the Buffaloes commanded a lot of his first name and got it from the NIL-rich Texas Tech program. Now, we’ll have to wait to see him actually on the field.
Texas A&M ::: The Aggies have some injuries to report as camp breaks and they prepare for week one. True freshman WR Jerome Myles [13.5] will miss his entire first season on campus with a season-ending injury. Additionally, swing OL Reuben Fatheree III [13.9] is a fringe starter who can play multiple positions on the line. He will miss the 'first few games' with a lower-body injury. Both are somewhat impactful injury updates coming out of College Station.
West Virginia ::: It appears the quarterback battle for the Mountaineers will run into the season as both Nicco Marichol [12.5] and Jaylen Henderson [11.9] are listed as co-starters on the initial two-deep. This is the value of having an FCS-level game in week one. Both can play, and you can see them in game action before making a final decision. We still lean Marichol winning the gig, but nothing is official until Rich Rod says it is.
Virginia Tech ::: The Hokies may be without their captain and starting linebacker Caleb Woodson [13.3], who was arrested Saturday on a DWI charge. Likely, he will miss at least some time while all this is hashed out. Not ideal. However, if there is a position group we’d say could handle a loss like this — it is linebacker. Look at the room as it stands:
North Carolina State ::: Lest we forget, both DL Brandon Cleveland [14.6] and OG Val Erickson [9.4] will miss the first half of week one, stemming from their ejections from the Military Bowl last year. That game got a little out of hand at the end, and there were a lot of ejections and a post-game brawl of sorts. This only fuels the fire as these two meet in week one, and it will be a heated battle. The loss of Cleveland is particularly impactful.
Northern Illinois ::: QB Josh Holst [10.6] was the favorite to win the Huskies' job, and he has secured that heading into week one against Holy Cross. He beat out Jackson Proctor [13.3] and Brady Davidson [7.4].
Oregon State ::: WR Darrius Clemons [13.3] was seen on a boot and utilizing a scooter earlier in camp. The hope was that it was not a serious ailment. However, we now know that it is, in fact, a ruptured Achilles tendon, and he's out for the season. Bummer.
Purdue ::: No. 2 WR De'Nylon Morrisette [11.8] is injured and said that if the season were to start today, he would be 'out'. That makes him very questionable and closer to doubtful for this weekend.
LATEST INJURY UPDATES ::::::
Here are the latest injury updates made over at the site and impacting depth charts.
USC ::: DE Jahkeem Stewart [13.4] — Said to have a 50/50 chance to play week one against Missouri State.
Clemson: RB Jay Haynes [12.8] — Still dealing with the recovery from ACL injury and is limited-contact jersey. Will not play vs. LSU week one.
San Diego State: WR Will Cianfrini [9.1] — Not listed on the initial two-deep and mentioned to have a lingering injury.
Vanderbilt: TE Eli Stowers [18.0] — Dealing with some lingering injuries but expects to play week one, even if it is short-lived playing an FCS opponent.
USC: K Caden Chittenden [16.3] — Expected to miss a few weeks into the season with an injury.
Oklahoma: DB Eli Bowen [16.2] — Not looking like he will be ready as he was omitted from the official depth chart dealing with injury.
Oklahoma: WR Jayden Gibson [14.9] — Suffered a new knee injury and will miss a good part of fall camp. Not listed on initial depth chart. Moved to doubtful.
North Carolina State: DT Brandon Cleveland [14.6] — Suspended for the first half of week one due to ejection from the Military Bowl last year.
Oklahoma State: DE Kyran Duhon [14.3] — Was expected to be on the OSU 2 deep but is missing, possible injury?
Oklahoma: DB Kendel Dolby [14.3] — Not on the initial depth chart as he works through injuries. Doubtful to play week one.
Houston: LB Corey Platt Jr. [14.2] — Returning from an achilles injury but is ready to go. Now probable to play.
Oklahoma State: WR Jaylen Lloyd [13.9] — Was expected to be on the OSU 2 deep but is missing, possible injury?
Kansas State: RB Dylan Edwards [13.7] — Remains questionable after an injury occurred early in the week zero game. Very questionable heading into week one.
Michigan State: TE Jack Velling [13.7] — Is dealing with some sort of lingering foot injury. Returned to practice on 8/18.
Vanderbilt: CB Jordan Matthews [13.3] — Trending more towards playing but would not be surprising to give him time to heal up.
Texas: WR Emmett Mosley V [13.3] — Batting some sort of leg injury and is now questionable to play against Ohio State in week one.
Vanderbilt: LB Bryan Longwell [13.2] — Tweaked an ankle' in practice leading up and is questionable for week one.Notre Dame
TE Cooper Flanagan [12.8] — Underwent surgery and missed spring with an injury suffered at the end of the '24 season. Expected back near mid-season.
Notre Dame: OL Charles Jagusah [12.7] — Injured in an offseason UTV accident. Initial prognosis is "favorable" and will be back at some point in '25.
Texas: OL Trevor Goosby [12.5] — Questionable to play week one but Sarkisian expects him to play.
North Texas: WR Landon Sides [12.3] — Not listed on the initial depth chart, possibly indicating an injury that will keep him out week one.
Jacksonville State: WR Michael Pettway [12.2] — Considered questionable for week one with an injury, he was left off the initial depth chart.
Sam Houston: OL James Dawn II [12.0] — Sitting week zero against WKU. Ahead of schedule, but still questionable for week one.
Louisiana Tech: WR Jay Wilkerson [11.9] — Dealing with some sort of injury that is limiting him early in fall camp. Announced out for week one and likely a couple more weeks.
Memphis: WR CJ Smith [11.8] — Battling some injuries and was left off the initial two-deep; that makes him very doubtful to see the field in week one.
Pittsburgh: WR Censere Lee [11.8] — Dealing with an injury and is considered questionable for week one.
Sam Houston: WR Michael Phoenix II [11.6] — Did not play week one due to an injury, but said to be okay and should be in the rotation for week one.
Vanderbilt: RB Chase Gillespie [11.0] — Mentioned as 'questionable' heading into week one with an undisclosed issue.
Notre Dame: OL Devan Houstan [11.0] — Announced as 'out' for the week one game against Florida State.
Connecticut: DL Trent Jones II [10.6] — Indicated by Mora on 8/26 that everybody except Jones would be available for week one.
Penn State: WR Josiah Brown [10.5] — Suffered a "long-term" injury in camp. Expected to miss significant time.
INJURY IMPACT REPORT :::::
Okay, so there are a lot of injuries and suspicion around who will be suiting up this week. How can we possibly put that into a metric to see who is most impacted by injuries? We got you.
Here is a snapshot of the top ten most impacted teams by injuries (weighted by status):
Head over to the site to check out the full report and click on each team to see detailed updates concerning injuries and status:
WEEK ONE PROJECTIONS ::::::
Our team and player projections are up and live over at the site as well. These projections are tied directly to the playing time projections and model simulations and are constantly updating and evolving as news breaks. Head over to the site to check out the full suite of projections for week one!
That’s our show for today…we have much more coming your way, including Game Cards, Model Plays articles for Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Thank you for following along. If you haven't yet subscribed, please consider doing so.