College football: Week 8 Player Awards, Jerreth Stern tape watch
College football: Week 8 Player Awards, Jerreth Stern tape watch
What happened in Week 8?
There are plenty of places to give you the news on what really happened in college football in Week 8. At Seaside Joe, I just focus on which players are standing out for the 2022 NFL Draft, and sometimes a draft or two later than that.
These are the Week 8 players of the week and a little extra.
Week 8 Notes
Jerreth Stern’s season
The only receiver who had a season in 2020 like what Sterns is doing now is DeVonta Smith. The three players to be this productive in 2019 were Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Omar Bayless. So just exactly how good do Sterns, Bailey Zappe, and the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers actually look? Here’s the full game against FIU from this past week:
Jerreth Sterns is small. Small-small. He’s built like a 5’9 running back, but he’s lining up as a receiver and leading the nation in receptions and yards.
Very up tempo offense; not seeing anything NFL-worthy from Bailey Zappe
For a 5’9 player to be this team’s number one target, it must mean Jerreth Sterns has done exceptionally well in so many key attributes as a receiver, from hands to routes
I’ll need to watch more and go back a few games! Let me know what you think of Sterns in the comments.
The Athletic midseason All-Americans
Offense: QB Kenny Pickett; RB Bijan Robinson, RB Kenneth Walker III; WR David Bell, WR Drake London; TE Isaiah Likely; OL: Ikem Ekwonu, Nicholas Petit-Frere, Kenyon Green, Tyler Linderbaum, Evan Neal
Defense: DE Aidan Hutchinson, DE Arnold Ebiketie; DT DeMarvin Leal, DT Jordan Davis; LB Nakobe Dean, LB Will Anderson, LB Devin Lloyd; S Kyle Hamilton, S Jaquan Brisker; CB Ahmad Gardner, CB JaQuan McMillian
Special Teams: K Nick Sciba, P Tory Taylor, Returner Jayden Reed
PFF’s team of the week - Week 8
Offense: QB Sam Hartman (Wake); RB Devon Achane (Texas A&M), Chase Brown (Illinois); WRs Romeo Doubs (Nevada), Jaquarri Roberson (Wake), Tyrice Richie (N Illinois); TE Ko Kieft (Minnesota), LT Charles Cross, LG Joshua Pena (Navy), C Luke Wypler (Ohio State), RG Paris Johnson Jr (Ohio State), RT Luke Goedeke (Central Michigan)
Defense: DT Neil Farrell (LSU, Manny Jones (Colorado State); EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux, Aidan Hutchison; LB Cam’Ron Carter (Colorado State), Avery Roberts (Oregon State); CB Jay Shaw (UCLA), Tyreek Chappell (Texas A&M); S Joey Blount (Virginia), Coco Azema (Northwestern); Flex Jarvis Brownlee (Florida State)
National Players of the Week: QB Sam Hartman (Wake), LB Leo Chenal (Wisconsin)
Notes
Is QB Sam Hartman going to turn into an NFL prospect? PFF: “Hartman got through his progressions and made the right decisions in the true dropback passing game, tore Army up on Wake’s patented run-pass options and delivered accurate and anticipatory throws downfield. The redshirt sophomore completed 11 of his 15 10-plus-yard throws for 382 yards and four touchdowns. On run-pass option (RPO) pass attempts, he went 8-of-10 for 177 yards and a score.”
There’s a lot of love for Oklahoma true freshman QB Caleb Williams. Okay, I love good play, I’m all here for it. I worry this is a bit premature and people love a hype train, but let’s see what happens. It can derail so many folks.
Speaking of True Fresh, Wisconsin RB Braelon Allen had 140 yards and 2 TDs vs Purdue. Allen has 379 yards over his last three games, four touchdowns, and over eight yards per carry.
SEC Players of the Week
QB Bryce Young, Alabama
LB Chance Campbell, Ole Miss (10 tackles, FF, sack)
DL Sam Williams, Ole Miss (FF, sack, pressure)
DL Tyree Johnson, A&M (two sacks)
OL Kenyon Green, A&M
LT Charles Cross, Mississippi State
WR RaRa Thomas, Mississippi State (Freshman of Week)
Big 12 Players of Week
QB Brock Purdy, Iowa State
DE Will McDonald, Iowa State
RB Devin Neal, Kansas
DB Charles Wood, West Virginia
ACC Players of Week
QB Hartman - 458 yards, 5 TD, 23/29 vs Army.
RB Jaylan Knighton, Miami
WR Dontayvion Wicks, Virginia - Perhaps most unexpected breakout of 2021. Had almost nothing to show before season, is now creeping into first round talk.
OL Caleb Chandler, Louisville (G)
OL Carter Warren, Pitt (T)
DL Rondell Bothroyd, Wake
LB James Skalski, Clemson (18 tackles)
LB SirVocea Dennis, Pitt
DB Traveon Redd, Wake
K Jude Kelley, Georgia Tech
QB Tyler Van Dyke, Miami (Freshman)
Big 10 Players of Week
RB Chase Brown, Illinois
LB Leo Chenal, Wisconsin
QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State (Freshman)