Mazi Smith was No. 1 on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List over the summer, and he’s playing up to the hype this season for Michigan. Photo Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports.
After a disappointing Week 3 in college football, Week 4 stepped it up with six ranked teams, including two in the top-10, losing. In stadiums packed with rabid fans and inebriated students, some of the best 2023 NFL Draft prospects helped carry their teams to victory while others left much to be desired.
As Clemson managed to takedown Wake Forest in OT (don’t worry, the Demon Deacons covered) thanks to a strong performance from the much-maligned DJ Uiagalelei, Blake Corum was running wild on the Maryland defense and a MAC team (Kent State) led by head coach Sean Lewis gave Georgia a slight scare. Meanwhile, Tyler Van Dyke was benched after a putrid performance in a loss to Middle Tennessee State and Bijan Robinson fumbled away a Texas win against Tech.
Those were just a few of the highlights (and lowlights) from the week that was, but two games made major headlines. The first was the duel between Hendon Hooker and Anthony Richardson, a pair of potential top-five QB prospects, with Hooker’s Tennessee Volunteers emerging victorious (and the buzz for him as a prospect reaching an all-time high), and the second was by the Ohio State Buckeyes and their Heisman favorite passer.
Prospect of the Week:
CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State
Coming into the season CJ Stroud sat atop most QB rankings, save for a few who had him No. 2 behind Heisman winner Bryce Young. Stroud has lived up to the title of QB1 through the Buckeyes first four games with a 4-0 record to go with 1,222 passing yards and 16 touchdowns on 10.9 YPA with a 70.5% completion rate. Not only is he leading the Heisman race as the first month of the season comes to an end, but he looks the part of a franchise savior.
Given the quality of Ohio State’s opponents through the first three weeks (the Notre Dame win is a lot less impressive in retrospect), Stroud’s dominance was expected. But in Week 4, Jim Leonhard’s defense was supposed to be one of the toughest tests of the season. Instead, Stroud made a perennially elite Wisconsin unit look like just another MAC cupcake game.
In Ohio State’s 52-21 win (it wasn’t even as close as the score suggests), Stroud shredded the Badgers to the tune of 281 yards and 5 scores. From the start it was a beatdown with the Buckeyes leading 21-0 in the first quarter thanks to a pair of Stroud touchdowns. The video game numbers are something we’ve been used to with Stroud, but it was the quality of the throws that made his dismantling of a program that prides itself on stellar defense so impressive.
On the opening drive he layered a throw to tight end Cade Stover (who is a big-time riser) perfectly over the linebacker and in front of the safety and a few plays later he stayed strong in the pocket before hitting slot receiver Emeka Egbuka in stride on a deep post to set up a score. The very next drive, he flashed his patience and poise with a designed roll to the left that leaked Stover wide open to the right for another six.
In the second quarter he had another wow throw to Stover where he put one high on post for his tight end to climb the ladder and make a play right in front of the safety. In the third quarter he threw a strike to Julian Fleming on a slant for a touchdown that perfectly showcased his ability to work through his reads and get to an open man.
But the best throw of the day was touchdown number four to Egbuka where he just ripped a laser over the corner and in front of the safety in the only place his man could make a play and the defender couldn’t… the placement was spectacular.
Stroud was like a point guard from the pocket, placing the ball perfectly all over the field for his star playmakers to thrive in space while rarely putting the ball in conflict. Between his processing speed, ball placement, anticipation, and ability to layer throws on every level, Stroud looks like the ideal franchise QB prospect.
Stock Up:
Mazi Smith, IDL, Michigan
Being No. 1 on Bruce Feldman’s annual Freaks List is no small thing. That list is required reading for all draftniks as they prepare for the college football season. Previous top freaks include Evan Neal, Kwity Paye, Tristan Wirfs, and Rashan Gary—all five of them played in the trenches and became first-round picks. Adding to the Michigan Wolverines rich history of freaks, 2022’s list was topped by Mazi Smith.
The interior defensive lineman is listed at 6-3, 337 pounds and boasts a 33-inch vert, 9-4 broad, 4.41 shuttle, and an outrageous 6.95 3-cone. Despite the freaky athleticism, the former four-star recruit didn’t make an impact until last season when he became a full-time starter racking up 37 tackles and 2.5 TFLs. Those numbers don’t jump off the page but the potential was there on tape with his rare combo of size and explosion.
Now as a senior, Smith is beginning to reach for that high ceiling and turned in his most dominant performance on Saturday against Maryland. In the process of putting together 8 tackles and a TFL, Smith reminded the entire country why he sits atop the Freaks List.
Moving around the Wolverines front from nose tackle to 1 to 2 to 3-tech, Smith’s ability to stack, shed, and make tackles around the line of scrimmage stood out most. His quick twitch didn’t show up just with his first step to get off the ball, but in his hands too where he won with a club-swim before exploding laterally to track down the back at the line. Early in the game, his TFL came on a third and five lined up at nose where he used a club to beat the center before swallowing the running back.
Those two plays encapsulate what Smith can be at his best as a run defender with his heavy hands getting him off blocks and his short area quickness getting him to the ball carrier. What was even more promising about what he did against the Terrapins though was his improved pass rush impact. He notched four pressures by converting that explosiveness and low center of gravity to power.
When factoring in his size and athleticism, Smith has plenty of potential and he seems to finally be scratching the surface of what he can be at the next level. If he continues to build on this performance, he could be yet another Michigan D-lineman to go in the first-round (in an already loaded interior defensive line class).
Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland
In recent years the NFL Draft has been rich with offensive tackle talent—the last three draft classes have produced 15 first-round tackles—but the 2023 class is much murkier than its predecessors. Entering the season, Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski and Ohio State’s Paris Johnson Jr. (who hadn’t even started a game at tackle prior to 2022) looked like the only safe bets to go in the first-round and were the consensus top two.
After Skoronski and Johnson Jr. it was a bit up in the air, but fellow Big Ten tackle Jaelyn Duncan seized the opportunity to round out that top-three. Duncan, who many (including myself) viewed as OT3 over summer, has lived up to those expectations through Maryland’s first four games.
With much of the country watching as the Terrapins fell to the Wolverines this past weekend, Duncan turned in a quietly dominant showing. Dealing with a deep and talented Michigan front, the 6-6, 320-pound mammoth was damn near flawless. Outside of two reps where Mike Morris got the best of him, Duncan was shutting down pass rushers.
Not only did he play controlled and balanced while mirroring pass rushers, but he was violent and technically sound with his hands. On multiple occasions, Duncan battled heavy handed pass rushers by displacing their hands while ensuring his feet remained under him as he reached his landmarks. This allowed him to wash rushers outside of the play and when they’d counter in, he’d slide and replace hands with ease.
Though the pass protection prowess is what will get him selected early in April, his movement skills, physicality, and edge are why offensive line coaches are going to fall in love with him. It felt as if every time Maryland ran the ball (successfully or not) Duncan was the first one out of his stance and routinely reaching the second level and driving defenders out of the play through the whistle.
As the season progresses, Duncan will battle with more and more Big Ten pass rushers with NFL futures, and like Skoronski and Johnson Jr., if he keeps up this level of play he won’t wait long to hear his name called in Kansas City.
The Maryland OL has come to play today against Michigan giving Taulia Tagovailoa all day. Left tackle Jaelyn Duncan is a stud—such a good job mirroring the defender with his lateral agility while using his hands to stymie the pass rush. pic.twitter.com/Oiw3Sz3S0K
— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) September 24, 2022
Garrett Williams, CB, Syracuse
The ACC has owned Thursday and Friday night football through the first four weeks with Pitt’s win in the Backyard Brawl, Louisville taking down UCF, but then falling to Florida State the next week, and most recently, Syracuse’s 22-20 win over Virginia. It was an ugly game, but thanks to Garrett Williams being Johnny-on-the-spot, Dino Babers Orange remained undefeated.
Williams, a consensus top-10 cornerback prospect over the summer, was hands down the best player on the field. The Cavaliers potent passing attack couldn’t get anything going, especially when Williams was lined up across from their most dynamic playmakers Dontayvion Wicks and Keytaon Thompson.
He showed his cover versatility playing press-man and mirroring like a pro with patient feet and fluid hips while also spending time in cover 2 and showing his eye discipline and willingness to get physical. The sign of a playmaker on defense is how frequently they end up around the ball, and Williams spent the night taking it.
In the first quarter the ball popped out of Brennan Armstrong’s hands on a scramble and right into Williams. Then, in the second quarter with Virginia going for it on a 4th and 3, Williams closing speed and ball skills came through as he broke on an out to Thompson to disrupt the pass. Finally, in the fourth quarter he flew across the field on a play-action deep shot to intercept Armstrong.
In what looks like a talented cornerback class, Williams has quietly had a superb season. Playing for Syracuse won’t get him his due right now, but as NFL Draft season approaches he’ll cash in on his impressive play.
Like taking candy from a baby for Garrett Williams. He’s been the star for Syracuse tonight with this INT, a huge PBU, and a fumble recovery. One of the top CBs in the 2023 NFL Draft class is showing out on a Friday night. pic.twitter.com/Z9IbRXmelY
— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) September 24, 2022
Tweeners have long been a hard evaluation because although they thrive at one position at the college level they may not fit the mold of it in the NFL and that doesn’t mean a position change will necessarily work out. That’s the situation we’re in with Wisconsin’s Nick Herbig, one of the most disruptive pass rushers in the country (13 sacks in his last 17 games), due to his lack of size (6-2, 227 pounds).
Despite the projection of moving him from edge rusher to off-ball linebacker at the next level, he’s clearly one of the most talented defensive players in the country. However, his flaws showed against Ohio State on Saturday.
Taking on a pair of NFL offensive tackles in Paris Johnson Jr. and Dawand Jones, Herbig was shut out as a pass rusher. Johnson Jr.’s nimble feet and athleticism allowed him to keep up with Herbig’s speed and Jones’ massive frame and strength helped him battle with the edge rushers’ violent hands.
Outside of a batted ball when he zone dropped to the hook/curl and disrupted a CJ Stroud pass intended for a slant, Herbig had very little impact. Seeing him get washed out of run plays was a subtle reminder that size does matter, especially in the NFL.
That being said, Herbig’s athleticism, pass rush repertoire, and motor are all reasons to be excited about him as a prospect. The issue right now is figuring out the best way to deploy him in the NFL given his size and inexperience as an off-ball backer.
The Wide Receiver Class
In recent NFL Draft history, the wide receiver class has been one of the richest positions in terms of both top talent and depth. It’s proven to also be one of the quickest positions to assimilate to the NFL and make a major impact. In the last five NFL Draft classes, 71 wide receivers have been drafted in the first three rounds, nine different receivers have made at least one Pro Bowl, and four of the 2022 first-round receivers (Chris Olave, Drake London, Garrett Wilson, and Jahan Dotson) already look like hits. So, what’s going on with the 2023 class?
Over the summer it looked like a group that had a ton of talent and was ready to explode, but many of the players near the top of the rankings haven’t turned in the type of season expected. And Week 4 of CFB was a perfect example of the letdown.
On Thursday night, West Virginia’s Bryce Ford-Wheaton was plagued by drops on his way to just 3 receptions for 23 yards against Virginia Tech. The very next night, Virginia’s big play threat Dontayvion Wicks looked out of sorts with 5 receptions for 42 yards and a pair of drops.
Saturday wasn’t much better, with Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba still out while dealing with an injury and Tennessee’s Cedric Tillman missing the win over Florida. Meanwhile Maryland’s dynamic duo of Rakim Jarrett and Dontay Demus were held to just 6 receptions for 24 yards against Michigan.
Johnny Wilson, Florida State’s new star power forward who moonlights as a receiver, had just 2 receptions for 12 yards himself in a blowout of Boston College. Even North Carolina’s Josh Downs, who has dealt with injuries this year, didn’t have the most productive day despite two scores on 5 receptions for just 32 yards against Notre Dame.
The most perplexing part of it all is the lack of usage for two of the best playmakers in the country (and the top two WR prospects for most over the summer), Quentin Johnston and Kayshon Boutte. On the season Boutte has a measly 10 receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown in three games while Quentin Johnston has had even less of an impact with 8 receptions for 73 yards in three games.
Right now, this class’s biggest names are struggling (other than reigning Biletnikoff winner Jordan Addison), and if they don’t step it up, other names will need to emerge or this could be the weakest wide receiver class in years.
Four weeks into the college football season and the 2023 wide receiver class has left a lot to be desired. TCU’s Quentin Johnston, a consensus top-three WR prospect, has just 73 yards in three games. Photo Credit: Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press.
You never want to play Kansas State. Bill Snyder made taking down ranked opponents as an underdog as common as tuition putting students into debt. The Wildcats whole persona has been based around hard nosed technically sound football dating back to the early 90’s and Chris Klieman has continued that.
With Lincoln Riley off to Southern California (he twice lost to K-State), it felt like things could be different this time around. In fact, new Sooner head honcho Brent Venables played and coached under Snyder at Kansas State.
Turns out, it doesn’t matter who’s calling the shots when the royal purple and white come to Norman. The Wildcats blew the Sooners defense out of the water by gashing them for 275 rushing yards (thanks to Nebraska transfer Adrian Martinez). The player Oklahoma desperately needed to step up was Reggie Grimes.
After flashing NFL potential as a sophomore in the D-line rotation in 2021, Grimes was dominant to start the year with 6 TFLs and 4 sacks in three games. But the Wildcats offensive line (led by Cooper Beebe, one of the top IOL prospects in the country) kept him at bay.
Grimes was consistently moved out of his gap and blown out of the play by the hulking Kansas State linemen. Without him being able to anchor down and set an edge, Martinez and Deuce Vaughn had no trouble ripping off chunk run after chunk run. When it came to pass rushing, he didn’t fare much better with his lack of plan being a hindrance against a physically imposing front and mobile QB.
To see Grimes convert his athletic potential and NFL traits into more consistent production, and a higher draft grade, developing a deeper pass rush repertoire along with playing more discipline vs. the run will be key.