Coming to you a day late (had an issue over the weekend that required my attention), but nonetoless, this week’s scouting notebook is here. Hopefully some of you are repeat readers, and enjoy the four articles-in-one type format each and every week. Don’t be afraid to leave some comments, give me some emails (I’ll even take the “your a dumb*** variety), or talk via twitter about these thoughts.
This week, I’ll give my take on what I noticed from the Andrew Luck vs. Matt Barkley match-up this past weekend, as well as five small schools putting up unbelievable statisics, some Halloween based awards, and the Top 10 All-Purpose performers at the FBS level.
The Best Quarterback Match-up Since Matt Leinert vs. Vince Young
Andrew Luck is touted as the best quarterback prospect out of the college ranks since John Elway, something I support in my scouting of Luck. He’s the best. Enough said, and he’ll be the top pick in the draft unless the Rams keep the first overall pick. But, lets not forget that more than one quarterback will be taken in the Top 5 picks, and in my opinion, that quarterback should be Matt Barkley.
Scouts, draft followers, and fans got to see something that I hope they cherrished this past saturday night. Andrew Luck may be the best prospect ever, but Matt Barkley could be a Pro Bowl plus type player himself. And we got a chance to see these two giants of the position at the college level go toe-to-toe to see how they could match-up. Fans couldn’t have asked for a better showing by either player.
While I’m not a huge fans of stats, especially for quarterbacks, these two players (keep in mind they are playing in maybe the two most pro-style offenses in the country) combined for 57 completions, 614 yards, 6 touchdowns, and a 3 OT battle that will likely end up being the best game this season before the Bowl season.
What was most impressive to me for these two quarterbacks, however? The things the did without making the throws. They both had total command of their offenses, making reads at the line, audibling to run plays and effective routes, and picking apart defenses with great checkdowns and confidence in their throws. Neither player rattled off pass after pass after pass after pass the way people think quarterbacks need to be successful. They won within their offenese, controlling the game as they kept their offenses in the game each and every drive with smart decisions, not just plays to give them a chance to win.
Andrew Luck is still the top prospect on the board, and that hasn’t changed. But Barkley continues to show me while I’ll keep him at the #2 spot behind Luck at the quarterback position and still a Top 5 prospect in this draft. Robert Griffin is coming in hot behind Barkley on my quarterback rankings, and Landry Jones is the apple of some scouts eyes at the position, but Barkley still is the feature quarterback that he was touted as a high school junior, and if I’m the Dolphins, I won’t be too mad to NOT be the worst team in the NFL and be “stuck without Luck, but be at #3 for Barkley”.
Small Schools Forcing Themselves to Scout’s Eyes Through Stats
Let’s be real for a second: at a position where stats can be counted adequately, small school players almost NEED to be productive to have a shot at the NFL. While the FCS level has begun to be more and more in-depthly scouted and players that don’t necessarily wow in the stat book get a shot, at every level besides the FBS, stats are of the utmost importance.
At the Division II level, Trevor Kennedy, receiver from Mercyhurst, has put himself firmly on NFL radars this year despite being on a mediocre Division II team. With over 1000 yards so far this year, 13 receiving touchdowns, one returning touchdown, and averaging 198.13 all purpose yards per game, his combination of adequate size, fluidity as a runner, and consistent production have put him maybe in the draftable discussion. Also at the D2 level and still in the PSAC conference, fellow receiver Thomas Mayo of California (PA) recently passed the 4000 yard receiving mark in his career, a feat only 15 other D2 players have ever had in history. He’s averaging 117 yards per game and 10 touchdowns as well, and we have him graded as a 4th round prospect based on his talents right now.
Finally at the D2 level, running back Jonas Randolph of Mars Hill has been averaging a whopping 170 rushing yards per game, with 246 carries thus far and 10 touchdowns. Not built as well as you’d like for an NFL running back and doesn’t have great deep speed, he still is likely to get a shot after the draft as a camp tryout type player until he gets a chance to test his skills at a pro day or some combine. At the Division III level, receiver Mike Zweifel of Dubuque has put up some jaw-dropping numbers this season. With 189 receiving yards per game, 3 200+ yard receiving games to date so far, and 20 receiving touchdowns, his production is something myself and likely many other scouts are taking notice.
Halloween Awards
In the Halloween spirit (yeah, I know it was yesterday, but bare with me), I thought I’d give some mid-season awards with Halloween in mind. Here goes:
Scary Good Player to Play Against – Case Keenum, QB, Houston
The C-USA isn’t one of the best 6 or 7 conferences in college football, but putting up 32 touchdowns in 8 games, only 3 interceptions, and over 400 yards per game passing, Keenum has been tearing up every team he’s played, especially the stat-padding Rice Owls last week, in which he put up 9 TDs alone. As far as an NFL quarterback, he’s lack of a big arm, struggles throwing into tight windows down the field, and injury history, he likely won’t get much more than a mid to late round chance. But as a college quarterback, he should be firmly in the Heisman consideration.
Scary Good Team to Play Against – Clemson Tigers
The Tigers lost this past week to Georgia Tech, but they are still the most talented team in the ACC and likely could be one of the few teams in the ACC in the past few years that could compete and still be a Top 25 team in the SEC this year. Tahj Boyd has been a great surprise this year for this team and his connection with Sammy Watkins has been remarkable. As a complete team, Clemson should still be in the Top 10 mix (especially not below Virginia Tech, who they crushed early in the year, in the coaches poll.)
Trick Or Treat?
Tricks – Three teams that are over-ranked in the most recent BCS standings are Stanford (outside of USC win, nothing really I’ve been impressed with), Oregon (outside of Arizona State win, same as Stanford), and Penn State (one of the worst offenses in the country). All three teams should be a few spots lower until they thoroughly impress with legitimate wins, Penn State especially.
Treat – Three teams that are under-ranked and/or under appreciated are Kansas State (outside of Oklahoma lost, they’ve been very impressive), Houston (see Case Keenum, and they should run the table with maybe the countries toughest offense to defend), and Boise State (who continues to get little love and pushed down as other teams have big wins)
Top 10…All Purpose Performers in the FBS
To be clear, All Purpose yards are yards accrued from rushing, receiving, kick and punt returns. So, generally, players that lead in these catagories help teams in multiple ways on a consistent basis, mostly thanks to return yardage per game.
Of the players listed below, 3 are seniors (Rogers, Graham, and Stewart) and 4 are juniors (James, Austin, Wilson, and Page). While Rogers, Graham, and Stewart are no locks to be drafted, juniors LaMichael James and David Wilson surely will be in the mid round mix, while Austin and Page could help themselves into those early to mid round picks with another year. Finally, Sammy Watkins of Clemson is maybe one of the best receivers in college football, and he’s only a freshman. We’ve seen how guys like Calvin Johnson, AJ Green, Julio Jones, and Alshon Jeffery can dominate early, and I expect Watkins to be of that realm sooner rather than later.
1. LaMichael James, RB, Oregon (200.17 YPG)
2. Taveon Rogers, WR, New Mexico State (200.14 YPG)
3. Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson (186.78 YPG)
4. Tavon Austin, WR, West Viriginia (180.50 YPG)
5. Robert Woods, WR, USC (177.88 YPG)
6. TJ Graham, WR, NC State (177.00 YPG)
7. David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech (175.89 YPG)
8. Ronnie Hillman, RB, San Diego State (175.29 YPG)
9. Rodney Stewart, RB, Colorado (167.00 YPG)
10. Eric Page, WR, Toledo (166.00 YPG)
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