Elite Eleven Series: Week 2 College Football Preview

#1 Georgia

We won’t be able to learn much about this new-look Georgia team until they face a real challenge in Week 3 vs. South Carolina. What we do need to see against Ball State this week is a better showing all around. In their first game, the Bulldogs didn’t look as dominant as they should have against UT Martin:

  • They were only able to score 17 first-half points
  • Didn’t have a single rusher over 54 yards
  • Allowed nearly 5 yards per carry on defense
  • Only registered one sack on defense
  • Almost got outrushed by the Martin run game

I want to see a better start from the offense, an improved defensive performance against a much inferior opponent, an improved rushing attack on offense, and a better pass rush from the Bulldogs this week.

#2 Michigan

Similar to Georgia, we won’t be able to learn much about Michigan until later in the season when they face some real competition. All you can ask for if you are a Wolverines fan is that the team keeps building off of the stellar performance they put together last week. The Michigan defense allowed just 235 yards of total offense, as well as not allowing a single point until the fourth quarter. J.J. McCarthy looked more than comfortable as he put together one of the best QB performances of Week 1. One area that looked lackluster for Michigan was the pass rush, as they failed to record a single sack in week 1, so I would like to see that improve this week vs. UNLV.

#3 Alabama

Unlike the first two teams, we are going to know a lot about this Alabama squad after this week. Alabama didn’t leave much concern for their defense in week 1; they forced three fumbles, recorded three sacks, and allowed just 211 total yards. What most people will want to see is how this new-look Alabama offense with Jalen Milroe performs against a respectable Texas defense. Milroe looked good against MTSU in week one, but I need to see more before I have confidence in him leading the Crimson Tides offense. Milroe needs to show he can be a proficient passer, as well as hurt you with his legs. Accuracy has been an issue for him in the past, and he needs to prove he can be the Quarterback Alabama needs him to be before I have confidence in this Alabama offense again.

#4 Florida State

Florida State is back! After beating LSU handily in week 1, the Seminoles proved to everyone in the college football world they are a playoff contender once again. Where do I begin with how impressive this team was? Jordan Travis looked like one of the best QBs in the country, the offensive line looked incredible, their pass rush and run defense was terrific, and their receivers looked unstoppable. The one area Florida State could improve upon might be the run game, seeing as their leading rusher only averaged 3.9 yards per carry and the team as a whole averaged 4.0 yards per carry, but other than that, it was an immaculate performance, proving that the Seminoles are back and here to stay. We won’t be able to learn much more about the Noles this week, seeing as they are playing Southern Miss, but we learned plenty about who this team was in week 1.

#5 Ohio State

There isn’t any beating around the bush; the Ohio State offense wasn’t good in week 1. Kyle McCord looked uncomfortable at times and was unable to find some of his biggest targets throughout the game. Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka had a combined five catches for under 40 yards. TreVeyon Henderson couldn’t get going either, only gaining 47 yards on the ground. In order for the Ohio State Buckeyes to compete for a national championship this season, the offense has to improve. The good news is they have two straight weeks of easy games (Youngstown State and Western Kentucky) to figure things out offensively. The defense left no room for concern, holding Indiana to 153 total yards and 3 points. Look for the Ohio State offense to attempt to turn things around over the next few weeks before their big matchup with Notre Dame on the 23rd of this month.

#6 USC

USC has looked impressive over their first two games this season. Caleb Williams is a star, Lincoln Riley is an offensive genius, and Tahj Washington is one of the biggest threats in the country, but that defense is still a huge question mark. Giving up a combined 42 points over their first two games against Nevada and San José State isn’t the best look, especially when you see they didn’t record a single interception and allowed nearly 400 yards a game to both squads. I will be looking for a better USC defense this week against the 1-0 Stanford Cardinal, who boast a decent offense themselves. I don’t think that the USC offense has a single doubter in the country; the fate of their college football playoff dreams rests on the shoulders of that defense. Look for them to steadily improve as the season progresses.

#7 Penn State

There won’t be much to learn about Penn State this week, seeing as they are playing Delaware, but we did learn a lot about them last week when they took on West Virginia. The biggest takeaway was that the Drew Allar hype is real. The former #1 overall QB recruit in 2022 showed us he is the real deal by throwing 21 of 29, 325 yards, and three touchdowns. The offensive line looked solid, KeAndre Lambert-Smith looked explosive, and the defense held up. The biggest thing with Penn State this year will be getting consistent play from both sides of the ball. They have the skill to compete for a playoff spot, but they need it all to come together on a weekly basis. The good news for them is they have a reasonable amount of time to gel before their big game against Ohio State on October 21st.

#8 Washington

Washington will be looking to improve the defensive side of the ball this week against Tulsa, who don’t have a horrible offense in their own right. In week 1, Washington allowed 402 yards of offense to be racked up against them by Boise State and allowed 21 first downs and nearly 5 yards per carry. In order to be considered a playoff contender, that defense will need to tighten up as the season progresses and show improvement throughout the year. Now, when you take a look at the Huskies’ offense, it’s clear they are one of the best in the nation. This offense will be good enough to compete with anyone in the Nation this season, led by senior quarterback Micheal Penix Jr. and one of the best-receiving pairs in the country in Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan. I’m looking for an improved defensive performance against Tulsa this week to prove to me that Washington has what it takes on both sides of the ball to call themselves contenders this season.

#9 Tennessee

Like some of the other teams on this list, little will be learned this week about the Volunteers, as they are taking on Austin Peay in week 2. Despite that, Tennessee looked impressive during their week one matchup against Virginia. Joe Milton looked more mature, the Vols running game looked overwhelming, and the defense held Virginia to only 201 total yards. What I want to see out of Tennessee this week is the continued maturation of Joe Milton; if he can prove he has gotten that giant arm of his under control and he can guide and direct that offense, Tennessee has the potential to be scary good this season.

#10 Note Dame

Over their first two games this season, the fighting Irish have been about as dominant as a team could be, outscoring their opponents a combined 98-6. But this week, they finally get their first real test when they travel to Raleigh and take on the 1-0 NC State Wolfpack. Notre Dame has proven their defense is elite over the last two weeks. Granted, they have played two inferior opponents (Navy and Tennessee State), but they held them to under 170 total yards in both games and didn’t allow a single touchdown. The key with Notre Dame, similar to Penn State, will be getting consistent play from both sides of the ball week in and week out. The Irish must show they can relieve some of the pressure off Sam Hartman with their running game, and Audric Estime has been doing that over the last two weeks. I want to see if that Notre Dame running game can pick up and if the offense can be above average every week. They can have a fantastic season if they can accomplish those two things.

#11 Texas

As I said earlier, the Texas versus Alabama game is the game of the week. Texas showed some strengths and weaknesses in their first game vs. Rice that Alabama will definitely be looking to exploit this weekend. To start with Texas’s strengths, Quinn Ewers looked great, Xavier Worthy once again looked like a significant receiving threat, and the run defense was astonishingly good. Despite those good areas, the Longhorns showed a lot of red flags:

  • The offensive line wasn’t great, allowing three sacks, eight tackles for loss
  • Averaged 4 yards per carry against a Rice defense they should have dominated
  • The running game never got going like it should have, with their leading rusher having just 55 yards
  • The offense got off to a slow start, only scoring 16 first-half points
  • Possession time was split 31:36 (Texas) to 28:24 (Rice)

I want to see the Longhorns come out against Alabama and clean up their offensive line play, get their running game going to relieve pressure on Quinn Ewers, and get off to a better start so as not to dig themselves into a hole to start the game. If Texas plays like they did versus Rice, it will be a long night for them.

Short Snapshots: The Will Levis Dilemma

As the NFL Draft progresses, it is not uncommon for unexpected things to happen. As of just one day ago, Will Levis was thought to be a potential Top 5 pick as he had become the Vegas betting favorite to go second overall. However, as the first round of the draft passed, Levis shockingly remained undrafted.

For many teams, trading up to draft a quarterback in the second round can be a tricky decision, but for the Tennessee Titans, it might be the perfect opportunity to solve their quarterback dilemma for the upcoming season and perhaps beyond.

Although some fans and may have been hesitant to draft Levis as a top pick in the draft, he still has the potential to develop into a very good game managing Quarterback, making him an excellent prospect for a second-round pick. If Levis is still available when the Titans are on the clock, or if it takes trading up in the second round to draft him, it might be wise to take a chance on him.

Looking ahead to the next season, it is uncertain what the Titans’ quarterback situation will look like. Ryan Tannehill will be 35 years old, and his time in Tennessee might be coming to an end. If Levis is drafted this season, he will have a year to learn from Tannehill and prepare himself for the starting role in the future, which would be very valuable for a player like Levis. He has proven himself to be a talented quarterback during his time at Kentucky, and being drafted in the second round while getting a chance to sit behind a veteran like Tannehill would be an excellent opportunity for him to continue his growth as a player. With no immediate pressure to perform as a starter, Levis could focus on learning and developing his skills, ultimately making him a more prepared Quarterback and a valuable asset for the Titans.

Moreover, and perhaps most important, drafting Levis would solve the Titans’ quarterback issues for next season. By having a young and talented quarterback like Levis on his rookie contract, the Titans could allocate their resources to other areas of need on the team.

The decision to draft Will Levis in the second round might be the best move for the Tennessee Titans. By drafting him, the Titans could solve their quarterback issues for the upcoming season while also securing a valuable asset for the future. Although Levis was not the top pick many expected him to be, he still has solid upside as a second-round pick, making him a worthy investment for any team looking for a quarterback of the future.

Top Potential Day Two and Three Analytical Left Tackle Prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft:

This list of players is compiled of Draft eligible Left Tackles that were standouts statistically this season in the listed statistics below. Each players statistics are an average of their career not just the 2022-23 NCAA season.

Braeden Daniels: Utah

  • 6’4″ / 297lbs
  • Averages One Penalty Every 101 Offensive Snaps
  • Averages One Sack every 282 Pass Blocking Snaps
  • Allows One Quarterback Hit Every 353 Pass Blocking Snaps
  • Allows One Quarterback Hurry Every 32 Pass Blocking Snaps
  • Allows One Quarterback Pressure Every 27 Pass Blocking Snaps

Daniels is a versatile Left Tackle who can play multiple positions on the offensive line. Daniels started his career at left guard, playing there for 2 and a half seasons before switching to right tackle in 2021. It was announced in 2022 that he would transition to left tackle and Daniels has really found a home there. Allowing no sacks, no quarterback hits, and only receiving two penalties all season, Daniels has proven he is an NFL-caliber Left Tackle.

Blake Freeland: BYU

  • 6’8″ / 305lbs
  • Averages One Penalty Every 164 Offensive Snaps
  • Averages One Sack every 701 Pass Blocking Snaps
  • Allows One Quarterback Hit Every 127 Pass Blocking Snaps
  • Allows One Quarterback Hurry Every 48 Pass Blocking Snaps
  • Allows One Quarterback Pressure Every 33 Pass Blocking Snaps

Freelands first two seasons at BYU were spent at right tackle where he was still a solid lineman, but wasn’t getting much NFL buzz. After the 2020 season, he made the switch to left tackle where he has solidified himself as the nations leading statistical left tackle. He cut his pressures and hurries allowed in half after making the positional switch and in total has allowed just 8 quarterback hurries in the last two seasons combined (872 pass-blocking snaps).

Karsen Barnhart: Michigan

  • 6’5″ / 308lbs
  • Averages One Penalty Every 371 Offensive Snaps
  • Averages One Sack every 271 Pass Blocking Snaps
  • Allows One Quarterback Hit Every 180 Pass Blocking Snaps
  • Allows One Quarterback Hurry Every 32 Pass Blocking Snaps
  • Allows One Quarterback Pressure Every 25 Pass Blocking Snaps

Barnhart is a lineman that has never really found his home on the Michigan offensive line. He’s played 550 snaps at right tackle, 361 at left tackle, 174 at left guard, and 25 at right guard. If a team is looking for a swing tackle or a solid versatile lineman who can play anywhere on the offensive line, Barnhart is worth a look.

Anton Harrison: Oklahoma

  • 6’5″ / 315lbs
  • Averages One Penalty Every 124 Offensive Snaps
  • Averages One Sack every 250 Pass Blocking Snaps
  • Allows One Quarterback Hit Every 334 Pass Blocking Snaps
  • Allows One Quarterback Hurry Every 39 Pass Blocking Snaps
  • Allows One Quarterback Pressure Every 30 Pass Blocking Snaps

Harrison is your classic lockdown Left Tackle prospect who is a two-year starter on the Sooner’s offensive line. He has played over 95% of his college snaps at Left Tackle and seems to have a hold of that position.

Kadeem Telfort: UAB

  • 6’8″ / 330lbs
  • Averages One Penalty Every 101 Offensive Snaps
  • Averages One Sack every 198 Pass Blocking Snaps
  • Allows One Quarterback Hit Every 132 Pass Blocking Snaps
  • Allows One Quarterback Hurry Every 80 Pass Blocking Snaps
  • Allows One Quarterback Pressure Every 38 Pass Blocking Snaps

Telfot is one of the few players on this list that is a pure left tackle. Telfort was a 4-star Offensive Tackle recruit coming out of High School and originally committed to Florida before switching his enrollment to UAB. He is an absolute eraser on the edge and handles Conference USA edge rushers and defensive ends with ease. His mobility isn’t the greatest (Being 6’8″ and 330lbs) and struggled a bit during his only non-conference game this season against LSU allowing 2 QB hits which were his only ones allowed all season.

Darnell Wright: Tennessee

  • 6’6″ / 335lbs
  • Averages One Penalty Every 122 Offensive Snaps
  • Averages One Sack every 146 Pass Blocking Snaps
  • Allows One Quarterback Hit Every 132 Pass Blocking Snaps
  • Allows One Quarterback Hurry Every 44 Pass Blocking Snaps
  • Allows One Quarterback Pressure Every 27 Pass Blocking Snaps

Wright is a swing tackle that has progressed every single year he’s played at Tenessee. He was considered the top offensive tackle in the class of 2019 and came into Knoxville as a right tackle. After his first two seasons, he moved to left tackle where he played and started the 2021 season before being moved back to right tackle for the 2022 season. He really came into his own this year allowing no sacks and only 5 hurries all season. Against Georgia and Alabama combined, Wright allowed only one pressure and one hurry and the starting right tackle. While Wright broke out this season at a right tackle, it is still a possibility he could work his way back to being a left tackle in the NFL with some time and coaching.

Anderson Hardy: Appalachian State

  • 6’6″ / 290lbs
  • Averages One Penalty Every 164 Offensive Snaps
  • Averages One Sack every 138 Pass Blocking Snaps
  • Allows One Quarterback Hit Every 122 Pass Blocking Snaps
  • Allows One Quarterback Hurry Every 46 Pass Blocking Snaps
  • Allows One Quarterback Pressure Every 27 Pass Blocking Snaps

Hardy is another pure LT prospect.

Matt Goncalves: Pittsburgh

  • 6’6″ / 315lbs
  • Averages One Penalty Every 499 Offensive Snaps
  • Averages One Sack every 268 Pass Blocking Snaps
  • Allows One Quarterback Hit Every 101 Pass Blocking Snaps
  • Allows One Quarterback Hurry Every 40 Pass Blocking Snaps
  • Allows One Quarterback Pressure Every 26 Pass Blocking Snaps

Goncalves is an extremely disciplined swing tackle prospect. Playing over 500 career snaps at left tackle, over 800 snaps at right tackle, and even over 40 snaps at left guard, he can provide extreme value to a team that values versatile linemen up front. He is perhaps the most consistent tackle prospect eligable for the draft never allowing more than 8 hurries a season all 3 years at Pitt.

Javon Foster: Missouri

  • 6’5″ / 319lbs
  • Averages One Penalty Every 163 Offensive Snaps
  • Averages One Sack every 150 Pass Blocking Snaps
  • Allows One Quarterback Hit Every 210 Pass Blocking Snaps
  • Allows One Quarterback Hurry Every 39 Pass Blocking Snaps
  • Allows One Quarterback Pressure Every 27 Pass Blocking Snaps

Ryan Hayes: Michigan

  • 6’7″ / 305lbs
  • Averages One Penalty Every 339 Offensive Snaps
  • Averages One Sack every 237 Pass Blocking Snaps
  • Allows One Quarterback Hit Every 118 Pass Blocking Snaps
  • Allows One Quarterback Hurry Every 33 Pass Blocking Snaps
  • Allows One Quarterback Pressure Every 23 Pass Blocking Snaps

Fly’s Heisman Watch: Cole McDonald

This week on the Heisman watch we look at Cole McDonald, a tall athletic quarterback from Hawaii who has all the tools to be a great Quarterback at the next level and has the numbers to be a legit Heisman Canadite. Through the first six weeks of the college football season, Cole McDonald already has 24 touchdowns and just two interceptions on 240 pass attempts. If he keeps up this pace, he will have 4,500 yards and 52 passing touchdowns, along with 488 rushing yards with 5 more scores on the ground. He is one of the most gifted Quarterbacks we have seen playing at his level in almost a decade. If he can continue to produce at a high level watch out for this kid in the future. #HeismanWatch