Every Sunday, the DNA of Sports editorial team offers you an update on the NCAA championship and the players eligible for the 2025 NFL Draft.
NCAA Player of the Week 11 – Jalen Milroe (QB, Alabama)
His game (at LSU): 12/18, 109 yards, 12 carries, 185 yards rushing, 4 rushing touchdowns
Jalen Milroe is real poison. A glutton hungry for yards who swallows up all the spaces that defenses present to him. If the front line charges, he throws a screen pass. If the cornerbacks come to press their opponent, the long pass is possible. And finally, if the defense locks down the backfield, Jalen Milroe can swim between defenders with his legs.
LSU chose its poison. It was the legs. First those of the running backs for the first touchdown then Jalen Milroe for the next four. His new head coach, Kalen De Boer, knows he has gold in his hands. He makes it easy for him with his calls and concocts running play designs specifically for his quarterback.
On all the Alabama series, is a steamroller, like in the era of Derrick Henry. The sequences are long and mastered, the time controlled. When everything clicks, Jalen Milroe recalls a certain Lamar Jackson, all things considered. Its light feline style mixed with its violent hooks supports this visual impression.
The measurements are also quite similar. Jalen Milroe is 188 cm tall and weighs 102 kg. However, if the young quarterback wants to claim the same praise as Lamar Jackson, he must improve further in passing. Some readings are shaky and throws are imprecise. When his team is trailing, the quarterback often gives in under pressure.
After eleven weeks of competition in 2024, Jalen Milroe has thrown for 2,046 yards, 13 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. He completed 66.5% of his passes. He added 668 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns (university record). Jalen Milroe is a double threat who will see his name called early in the upcoming draft.
👀👀👀
📺: ABC pic.twitter.com/kIfdICmlES
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) November 10, 2024
NCAA Players of the Week 11 – Honorable Mentions
- Dillon Gabriel 23/34, 183 yards, 3 touchdowns
- Quinn Ewers (QB, Texas): 19/27, 333 yards, 5 touchdowns
- Princely Umanmielen (OLB, Ole Miss): 5 tackles including 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble
- Jared Ivey (DL, Ole Miss): 7 tackles including 2 sacks, 2 passes defended (one intercepted)
- Jihaad Campbell (LB, Alabama):
Dillon Gabriel didn't amass crazy stats. But in his team's easy victory against Maryland, he just broke a record. Not a record but THE record. The quarterback became the player with the most career touchdowns at the university level. With 179 touchdowns he now surpasses Case Keenum. The NFL which no longer seems capable of developing quarterbacks will find a proven pitcher in Dillon Gabriel.
Quinn Ewers scored 5 touchdowns while in control. As usual, the Longhorn did not take any risks and applied their coaches' game plan to the letter. A clear and flawless victory to be largely credited to him.
The Georgia offensive line had a hell of a night in Week 11. The fault lies with two Ole Miss defensive linemen. Jared Ivey used his heavy and powerful physique to crush his opponents and take up space on the line. The player often only wins one way but it works. His work ethic and desire will please NFL teams.
His friend Princely Umanmielen highlighted very different qualities. His first lively step damaged the opposing left tackle. He combined this with movements requiring a good dose of agility and technique. Since enlisting at the university the progression of the outside linebacker has been linear but this year it is exponential. The player offers a complete and sought-after range to hear first-round whispers for the next draft.
Jihaad Campbell establishes himself as one of the very best linebackers in the country week after week. The impressive player takes up space on the ground but also in the air. Its fluidity for its size and weight is rare. Both powerful and feline, he also shows liveliness to chase the quarterback. He checks all the boxes in the first round of the draft.
Could also have been cited: Shedeur Sanders (QB, Colorado), Travis Hunter (WR/CB, Colorado), Andrew Mukuba (S, Texas)
The revelation of week 11 NCAA – Mike Green (DL, Marshall)
His game (Southern Miss): 5 tackles including 3 for loss and 3 sacks
Mike Green is starting to make noise among all draft fans. Author of a thunderous season, the pass rusher amasses sacks (12) and especially pressures (42) consistently over the 2024 financial year. His latest outing to date in week 11 is a brick well cemented to this building.
Facing modest adversity, Mike Green amassed 3 sacks, in his own way. From outside the line he easily manipulates opposing tackles. His range of movements is good and executed to perfection. The player with average measurements (193 cm for 112 kg) also gains power with good timing to attack the inside shoulders of his opposite number.
If he still misses a few tackles while chasing players, when the duel is head-on, especially when running, he is a valuable asset. Mike Green controls the sides of a defensive line very well and doesn't get carried away by offensive linemen. He is therefore a very complete player.
Mike Green's only problem is the adversity he plays every weekend. His only difficult game was against Ohio State. He came out with honors but without breaking the screen. Enough to make NFL scouts doubt.
🏹😤 @Mikegreen42021 pic.twitter.com/A5qm7froUR
— Marshall Football (@HerdFB) November 9, 2024
Week 11 NCAA Revelations – Honorable Mentions
- Nick Nash (WR, San Jose State): 6 receptions, 161 yards, 1 touchdown
- Eric O'Neill (DE, James Madison): 3 tackles, all for losses including 2 sacks
- Donovan Ezeiruaku (DE, Boston College): 4 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble
- Xavier Carlton (EDGE, California): 5 tackles, 2 sacks
- Carson Schwesinger (LB, UCLA): 7 tackles, 2 passes defended, 2 interceptions
Nobody saw Nick Nash coming. Its slender, muscular profile is a real strength, however its use is exclusively in the slot. Thus he compensates for his technical weaknesses when engaging the ball. Nick Nash is therefore a very effective receiver against zone defenses in the intermediate zones. His adjustment to the ball is a great strength and his technical progression on the hands allows him to produce this year. It was time after 6 years at university.
James Madison's pass rusher, Eric O'Neill, blackens the statistical sheet. The defender, slightly small for his position, is playing his first season in the FBS after being the defender of the year in his FCS conference in 2023. And the step does not seem too high for the player. At least in the envy and violence of his gestures. His development is not complete and for the moment he is not guaranteed to be drafted but the quality matches are slowly accumulating.
Since Week 5 of the 2024 season, Donovan Ezeiruaku has struggled to accumulate sacks. Yet the pressures are still there (40). The compact pass rusher continues to be a demon from the moment the ball is engaged. Lively and with a low center of gravity, he has also developed counterattacks to become a complete player. It's only size that's holding him back from climbing the rankings.
Xavier Carlton has it all to please NFL scouts. Its progression is linear. His physical assets are well above average. His ability to convert his speed into power is good. And this season he ends his numerous pressures with sacks.
Carson Schwesinger is a rare commodity, a linebacker who knows how to cover. He’s not a weak link at tackle either. But the sample of games is small. The player has only started this year.
Could also have been mentioned: Arden Walker (DE, Colorado), Dariel Djabome (LB, Rutgers), Anthony Wilson (S, West Virginia), Nick Andersen (S, Wake Forest), Carson Schwesinger (LB, UCLA), Eli Sanders (RB, New Mexico)
The flop of week 10 NCAA – Carson Beck (QB, Georgia)
His game against Ole Miss: 21/32, 186 yards, 0 touchdown, 1 interception, 2 fumble
Him again.
Carson Beck strings together complicated performances. Against Ole Miss, the quarterback did not exist but to his credit, the entire attack accompanied him.
The aftertaste of the match is also quite special. Despite the catastrophic statistical record of the leader of Georgia, Carson Beck is perhaps the player least responsible for the latter and the defeat.
Its offensive line was unable to contain the incessant enemy attacks. Tate Ratledge (OG, Georgia), announced as a possible first round pick, did not hold his place either.
The receivers dropped a significant number of balls in good situations. Yet Carson Beck tried to protect them with placed throws.
The quarterback also has his faults, like his ball protection. But observers were also able to see his ability to advance in his readings. A lesser evil, the only one.
Could also have been cited: Sebastian Castro (S, Iowa), Jaydn Ott (RB, California), Kaleb Johnson (RB, Iowa)
NCAA Week 11 Summary
There were no clashes between highly ranked teams this week but some interesting meetings for the SEC and the playoffs.
Ole Miss (16) defeated a Georgia team (3) in style (28-10). Lane Kiffin's men win for the first time against a Top 3 team in 12 meetings. Georgia has lost to a team other than Alabama for 4 years. Mississippi can once again dream of qualifying for the playoffs.
Alabama (11) taught the lesson, 42 to 13, to an LSU team (15) once again too tender. The Tigers probably say goodbye to the playoffs while the Roll Tide recovers.
Indiana (8) escapes from the trap of the defending champions Michigan (20-15), a fiercely contested meeting. The Wolverines, like injured beasts, came back to score in the second period but were never able to give the final push to win. Nathan Rourke (QB, Indiana) keeps his team undefeated (10-0).
Army (25) is also one of the teams that has not yet experienced defeat! Thanks to a small victory (14-3) against North Texas, the Black Knights should climb the standings.
Finally, BYU (9) makes a field goal 4 seconds from the end of the match to beat Utah 22-21 and maintain its invincibility (9-0).
Texas (5) easily defeated Florida (49-17). Oregon (1) does the same with Maryland (39-18) to maintain their first place. Tennessee (7) sweeps Mississippi State (33-14).
Ohio State (2), Penn State (6) and Notre Dame (10) secure their place thanks to very easy victories.
The surprise of the weekend remains the defeat of Miami (4) against an unranked Georgia Tech, and with an injured quarterback unable to throw. Mario Cristobal's men only scored 23 points despite a Xavier Restrepo record. And above all, the Miami defenses conceded 28 points while the Yellow Jackets' game plan was as readable as possible depending on the quarterback on the field. A fall in the rankings is expected for The U.
Week 11 action
Ashton Hampton (CB, #23, Clemson) is only 19 years old and is not afraid of the big guys. Besides, he steals their snacks and the ball at recess.
HOW DID HE CATCH THIS pic.twitter.com/aSYWRhvZbl
— CFB Kings (@CFBKings) November 9, 2024
The reception of week 11
Tru Edwards (WR, #16, Louisiana Tech) basketball player? Sprint? Footballer? We are still hesitant.
BUT WHAT IS THIS RECEPTION! 🤯
WR Tru Edwards, Louisiana Tech.
📺CBSpic.twitter.com/tRumu8oCYh
— TBP College Football (@thebluepennant) November 9, 2024