Gunnar Watson – QB – Troy

The Butler, GA native was rated a three-star prospect and the 49th finest pro-style quarterback recruit from the 2018 prep class. He spent the final two seasons because the understudy to Kaleb Barker who threw for 3,628 yards with a 30-10 ratio in 2019. Watson noticed restricted motion, finishing 13-of-22 passes for 89 yards in mop-up responsibility because the normally dominant Troy limped to a 5-7 end.

The disappointing report had extra to do with a disappointing protection permitting 34.eight PPG than any deficiencies on the offensive aspect of the ball. Troy’s offense averaged 33.eight PPG and 456 whole yards final season, that are each the best marks this offense has produced since 2013. With seven returning starters, the continuity is in place for this offense to maintain these whole regardless of the lack of their senior captain sign caller, Barker.

Watson held off a problem from JUCO switch Jacob Free to win the beginning quarterback job in fall camp. He accomplished 70 p.c of his passes for 248 yards and a 2-1 ratio in a simple 47-14 win over MTSU within the season opener, however stumbled a bit in opposition to a BYU workforce that has wreaked havoc on their G5 opponents. This weekend’s efficiency was Watson’s better of the yr, finishing 33-of-46 passes for 338 yards and a 4-Zero ratio in a 37-13 blowout of Texas State. He now will get to feast on Jap Kentucky subsequent Saturday earlier than embarking on Troy’s appetizing Solar Belt convention schedule. Count on to see extra 300+ yard passing performances out of Watson within the coming weeks.

Tank Bigsby – RB – Auburn

The four-star RB was rated because the fourth-best again on this yr’s freshman class and 40th total participant within the nation in keeping with 247 Sports activities. Although he obtained appreciable hype getting into camp, the dearth of spring follow and shortened acclimation interval meant Bigsby would probably be relegated to committee work for the primary few video games.

Within the season opener in opposition to Kentucky, Bigsby labored in behind starter Shaun Shivers and veteran D.J. Williams as he logged six carries for 15 yards within the 29-13 Auburn win. Nevertheless of their second recreation in opposition to Georgia, Shivers obtained injured which allowed Bigsby to see prolonged motion. He made probably the most of his alternative, dashing eight instances for 31 yards and excelling within the go recreation with seven receptions for 68 yards in a 27-6 loss.

Heading into Saturday’s contest in opposition to Arkansas, Shivers was unable to swimsuit up leaving Bigsby to shoulder the vast majority of backfield touches. The proficient true freshman erupted for 146 yards on 20 carries whereas additionally snagging 4 passes for 16 yards in a good 30-28 win over Arkansas. He displayed all of the elusiveness and energy you’d need to see out of your SEC bell-cow working again, averaging 7.Three YPC on the day. He showcased a Ps-worthy spin transfer whereas ending runs off by punishing would-be tacklers. All-in-all it was a blinding first begin for the budding Auburn super-star.

Michael Carter – RB – North Carolina

The 5-foot-10, 200 lb. senior simply barely managed to cross the 1,000 yard barrier in 2019, ending with 1,003 dashing yards, three touchdowns and a 5.7 YPC. Getting into 2020 Carter and backfield-mate Javonte Williams have been anticipated to kind a 1A/1B backfield combo for a UNC offense that has the potential to attain 40+ factors per recreation this yr.

Their first recreation in opposition to Syracuse supplied a peek into how UNC OC Phil Longo would rotate the 2 backs this yr. Williams dealt with the short-yardage/objective line work as he rushed 14 instances for 57 yards and three touchdowns whereas Carter thrived in an all-purpose position, dashing for 78 yards on seven carries to go together with six receptions for 60 yards within the air. The association held Week 2 in a 26-22 win over BC, with Carter dashing 16 instances for 121 yards however no touchdowns whereas Williams posted 11 carries for 57 yards.

Nevertheless this week the backfield exploded in opposition to a depleted Virginia Tech protection that was lacking a number of gamers to pandemic associated absences. Williams rushed 20 instances for 169 yards and two touchdowns whereas Carter posted a career-high 214 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries. This was the primary recreation that we obtained to see the facility of this North Carolina offense unleashed, as they racked up 399 dashing yards and 656 whole yards on the day. It’s clear that OC Longo prefers to make use of his RB’s liberally within the Gold Zone. Count on extra large days forward for Carter and Williams as UNC faces @FSU, NC State, @UVA and @ Duke over their subsequent 4 video games.

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Caleb Chapman – WR – Texas A&M

A four-star recruit who was rated the 60th finest WR within the 2018 highschool class, the towering (6’5/215) wideout Chapman was introduced with the chance for extra taking part in time within the wake of 2019 WR1 Jhamon Ausbon opting-out. He caught a red-zone landing whereas recording 4 catches for 40 yards in a 17-12 ugly win over Vanderbilt however was shut down with only one reception final week in opposition to Alabama.

Nevertheless this week in opposition to Florida, Chapman was Kellen Mond’s go-to-guy when he want a giant completion catching 9 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns within the thrilling 41-38 upset victory. His most interesting second got here on a 51-yard landing reception to tie the sport up 38-38 lat within the fourth-quarter when he obtained behind the protection and easily out-muscled the smaller Florida defender for the pivotal game-tying TD.

Chapman depends on physicality and physique management to realize a bonus on defenders, utilizing his thick body to protect defenders in contested catch conditions. He’s not a velocity burner and virtually performs like a small-tight finish. However his palms are right-as-rain and his refined route working is tailor-made to maximise his bodily attributes. Chapman has a stretch of interesting matchups developing in opposition to @Miss St./Arkansas/@South Carolina and will proceed to be Kellen Mond’s favourite red-zone goal.

Kenny Yeboah – TE – Ole Miss

It appeared like each time I seemed on the display screen, Kenny Yeboah was making an affect play in opposition to Alabama. The previous Temple-transfer was a matchup nightmare for the Crimson Tide, as Ole Miss HC Lane Kiffin moved him everywhere in the formation to drive slot and boundary corners to pick-up the hulking tight finish in one-on-one conditions.

Yeboah’s most interesting second got here when he lined up within the slot and ran a slim publish up the seam when QB Matt Corral hit him with a perfectly-timed laser that allowed Yeboah to separate the converging safeties and run for a 68-yard landing within the third-quarter. He additionally caught the primary TD of the day for both workforce on a six-yard gold-zone TD strike on Ole Miss’ first drive of the sport. When he wasn’t utilizing his dimension and athleticism to attain touchdowns, he was strong-arming the smaller exterior Alabama corners at will for sideline jump-balls.

The redshirt senior TE caught 19 passes for 253 yards and 5 touchdowns final season for his former faculty, Temple. In three video games this season, he has produced at the very least three catches for 81 yards in every recreation. Moreover he has caught a landing in all of his video games to date in 2020. All instructed, Yeboah has 15 receptions for 355 yards and 4 touchdowns because the athletic flex tight finish is on an All-SEC caliber tempo to date this yr.