Football News

[NCAA] Week 4 – Dallas turns heads

September 24, 2023

Every Sunday, the DNA of Sports editorial team offers you an update on the NCAA championship and the players eligible for the 2024 NFL Draft.

Quarterback of the week: Cameron Ward (Washington State)

Former star of Incarnate Word in the FCS, Cameron Ward had a sluggish 2022 year for his first season with Washington State. But the 2023 vintage looks like that of confirmation for the quarterback, who splashed his talent in the clash against Oregon State. Author of 404 yards in the air and 5 total touchdowns, Ward has a powerful arm and extraordinary mobility.

The most notable progression is in his pocket management, as well as in the variety of throws. Ward has gained patience and maturity, and now seems a player capable of reading the defense more efficiently in order to punish the opposing squad for every mistake. We’ll have to follow him this season, because he could well be the surprise of the draft.

Quarterback mentions

  • Chandler Morris (QB, TCU): 23/32, 261 yards, 3 TDs, 38 yards rushing
  • Bo Nix (QB, Oregon): 28/33, 276 yards, 4 TD, 1 Int, 9 yards rushing
  • Tyler Van Dyke (QB, Miami): 17/24, 220 yards, 3 TDs, 39 yards rushing
  • Taulia Tagovaiola (QB, Maryland): 21/36, 223 yards, 4 TD, 1 Int, 37 yards rushing
  • Jalon Daniels (QB, Kansas): 14/19, 130 yards, 3 TDs, 54 yards rushing
  • Jayden Daniels (QB, LSU): 20/29, 320 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT, 36 yards rushing
  • Ben Bryant (QB, Northwestern): 33/49, 396 yards, 4 TDs
  • Caleb Williams (QB, USC): 20/31, 322 yards, 5 TD, 10 yards rushing
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After a career of ups and downs at Auburn, Bo Nix became a College football sensation in just over a season in Oregon. More precise, more intelligent, he has changed dimensions in his reading of the game and is evolving in a system that suits him. He could be the surprise first round of the 2024 draft.

Tyler Van Dyke is also a returner, after finishing the 2023 season on the bench. If he is not the most athletic, he remains a player with a very pure throwing movement, great precision and sufficient mobility to dominate.

Great performance also from Jalon and Jayden Daniels (no relation, only child), who were also able to demonstrate their dual threat profile for Kansas and LSU respectively. Finally Caleb Williams continues his demonstration season,

Offensive Player of the Week: Troy Franklin (WR, Oregon)

Every week, college football is a big laboratory to determine who will be the number 2 receiver of the vintage. And without making much noise, Troy Franklin is accumulating good performances every week to the point of becoming a credible candidate. Against Colorado, Franklin accumulated 126 yards and 2 TDs, displaying the reliability of his hands and the purity of his movements. What impresses the most remains his progression in the routes, making him a much more diversified weapon than before, in the intermediate zones in particular.

Offensive mentions

  • Brock Bowers (TE, Georgia): 121 yards, 2 TDs)
  • Marcus Carroll (RB, Georgia State): 186 yards, 1 TD
  • Braelon Allen (RB, Wisconsin): 125 yards, 2 TDs
  • Ashton Jeanty (RB, Boise State): 254 yards, 2 TDs
  • Keon Coleman (WR, Florida State): 86 yards, 2 TDs
  • Rasheen Ali (RB, Marshall): 174 yards, 2 TDs
  • Peny Boone (RB, Toledo): 211 yards, 2 TDs
  • Ahmari Huggins-Bruce (WR, Louisville): 110 yards, 2 TDs
  • Jawhar Jordan (RB, Louisville): 209 yards, 3 TDs
  • Deshaun Fenwick (RB, Oregon State): 101 yards, 3 TDs
  • Josh Kelly (WR, Washington State): 159 yards, 3 TDs
  • Rome Odunze (WR, Washington): 125 yards, 2 TDs

Brock Bowers listened to our podcast, and launched his 2023 season right away. Finally in phase with his new quarterback, he can resume his flight towards the top 10. Braelon Allen continues to increase his value in a very heterogeneous runner market, he who shines with his patience but also seems to have added muscle to his game But the “revelation” of the week at the position remains Jawhar Jordan, the dual threat from Louisville who walked on water this week.

Rome Odunze also continues his good season, he who is in the contenders for the first round, as discussed in our podcast. It was the runners’ week, between the returning Rasheen Ali and the surprising Ashton Jeanty. As is often the case in recent seasons, good riders can be found at every turn.

Defensive Player of the Week: Dallas Turner (LB, Alabama)

Expected to be one of the best pass rushers of the season, Dallas Turner had a very average start to the season. He woke up in the best way against Ole Miss, with 2 sacks and 3.5 tackles for losses.

The versatile pass rusher was able to showcase his speed and explosiveness to get the best of a line unable to respond to Turner’s banderillas. If he still has a power deficit, he is reminiscent of Nolam Smith in his ability to create panic in the opposing squad.

Defensive mentions

  • Ricardo Hallman (CB, Wisconsin): 3 tackles, 2 interceptions
  • Danny Stutsman (LB, Oklahoma): 13 tackles, 1 sack, 3.5 tackles for loss
  • Edgerrin Cooper (LB, Texas A&M): 8 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 tackles for losses
  • Maxwell Hairston (DB, Kentucky): 4 tackles, 3 passes defended, 2 interceptions, 2 touchdowns
  • Jordan Burch (DE, Oregon): 3 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 tackles for loss
  • Jonah Elliss (DE, Utah): 10 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 5 tackles for loss
  • Byron Murphy II (DE, Texas): 4 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 tackles for loss
  • Alijah Huzzie (DB, North Carolina) :; 1 tackle, 2 interceptions, 1 touchdown
  • Solomon Byrd (DE, USC): 5 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 tackles for losses

Scoring a defensive touchdown is a feat, so scoring two like Maxwell Hairston did is bound to be remembered. The defensive performances of Oregon and Texas A&M are also worth highlighting, notably the enormous performance of Jonah Elliss, absolutely irresistible against UCLA in a crucial duel at the top of the PAC 12.

USC is not known for its defense, and yet they had 8 sacks against Arizona State, including 2 to Solomon Byrd and Romello Height. But in the air also the Californians were able to dominate. Callen Bullock made an interception, which bodes well for the safety who has been conspicuous by his inconsistency this season and must become a regular playmaker.

Disappointment of the week: Shedeur Sanders (QB) and the entire Colorado team

After three victories, Deion Sanders’ gang came back down to earth against Oregon. The first act ended with a clear score: 35 to 0, checkmate. Shedeur Sanders was helpless, like his team. A salutary reminder that the difference between beating average universities and facing the top of the basket has nothing to do with an increasingly heterogeneous college football.

If Sanders wants to become an NFL prospect, he’s going to need to work on many aspects of his game, but his movement in the pocket is his biggest work in progress. Identifying the opponent’s pattern, avoiding the sack, knowing when to go on the run, all aspects need progress. He is not the only one to have lost credit, as his line and his targets did not seem affected.

Action of the week

Entering during the match, quarterback Max Johnson led Texas A&M to victory. But the great story is that his first touchdown of the evening was thrown… to his brother! There is no doubt that the Johnson family must be happy.

The bonus of the week

Authors of a surprise season in 2022, the University of Kansas is full of confidence. With a full game of offense and an opportunistic defense, the Jayhawks begin a second straight season at 4-0 for the first time since… 1915!

Safety Kenny Logan, in addition to being one of the team’s best players and a possible draft choice, even got himself a pick six.

September 24, 2023
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