Top Performers in NCAA Football Week 5

 

By Ken Noble

Once again we dive into which players helped their NFL Draft Stock with their performances this weekend. Each week the 2022 NFL Draft gets closer and closer. Who were the top performers in NCAA football week 5? Some of these young men stand to earn substantial money with every good game they have. Who stood out and who just stood in?

 

Kenny Pickett, Quarterback, Pitt

 

Pitt QB Kenny Pickett

Pitt QB Kenny Pickett

On Saturday I sat down excited to watch a couple big games. Could Ole Miss finally beat Alabama? Would Arkansas continue their hot streak? Well turns out I didn’t care as much as I thought. When I saw the Pitt game I couldn’t change it back. Who was this Pitt QB? He was absolutely carving up the same Georgia Tech defense that just gave Sam Howell, one of the top draft prospects, fits.

Pickett wasn’t just good, he was great and a joy to watch. He completed 64% of his passes for 389 yards and four touchdowns. For good measure he ran for 21 yards to hit 410 total yards on the dot. In doing so he earned ACC QB of the week honors and set a school record with 15 touchdowns over a three game span. Guess who held that record? Yep, Dan Marino.

Through just five games, Pickett has led the Panthers to a 4-1 start by completing 72% of his passes for 1731 yards with 19 TDs to just one interception. This young man definitely put himself on my radar and I will be taking note from here on. With games against Virginia Tech, Clemson and Miami on the horizon, Pickett is sure to be tested by some NFL talent. I will be watching to see how he fares, especially against that Clemson defense.

 

Cade Mays, Right Tackle, Tennessee

 

Tennessee OL Cade Mays

Tennessee OL Cade Mays (68)

At one time Cade Mays was a name I saw everywhere I looked when discussing offensive line talent. Now, it seems many have forgotten about him. Well I have not! Mays made our pre-season Top 50. Through the first few weeks, Mays was solid grading out in the 70’s each week per PFF. However, this week he took another step forward.

In the Volunteers rout of Missouri, he graded out at 83.7 according to PFF and paved the way for the Vols to gain 458 yards on the ground. On top of that, he hasn’t allowed a sack all season. He had played 264 snaps entering the game. According to UTsports.com, the versatile lineman has only allowed one pressure on the season.

With South Carolina up next, I’m hoping to see him across from Kingsley Enagbare. I want to see Mays block some of the top pass rushers. Two games after that, he will have his hands full against the Alabama defense in a game I assume Tennessee will be throwing in often. I don’t question his run blocking at all, I just want to measure him up against elite pass rushers as well.

 

Aidan Hutchinson, Edge, Michigan

 

Michigan Defensive End Aidan Hutchinson

Michigan Defensive End Aidan Hutchinson (97)

Most of us know who Aidan Hutchinson is. Many had him rated highly on their pre-season watch lists. Players can’t relax and expect that no one will surpass them on draft boards though. Hutchinson has kept his play level high through the season. As a matter of fact, he may be starting to challenge the likes of Kayvon Thibodeaux and Drake Jackson for best edge rusher in the 2022 NFL Draft.

The best way to describe Hutchinson at this point in the season is a game wrecker. On the season he has 4.5 sacks and 1 FF along with 14 tackles. In week 5 against Wisconsin, he had zero sacks but still managed to win PFF’s defensive player of the week. The senior only had .5 tackle for loss and three total tackles, but sometimes the best plays don’t show up on the box score.

Hutchinson was dominant, winning on 26.3% of pass rush attempts and helping generate the pressure that led to the Wolverines six sacks. I’m intrigued to see how he plays next week against Nebraska and mobile QB Adrian Martinez. Will he be able to contain him? If Hutchinson can continue to dominate as he has so far, look for him to be an early first rounder in next April’s 2022 NFL Draft.

 

Phidarian Mathis, Defensive Tackle, Alabama

 

Alabama DL Phidarian Mathis

Alabama DL Phidarian Mathis

As I said before, I was watching to see if Ole Miss could pull off the win over Alabama and Phidarian Mathis was a big part of why they didn’t. Mathis looked absolutely dominant against the Rebels offensive line. When his hands made contact with a blocker it looked like they were blown back by an explosion, an explosion named Mathis.

Mathis registered 3 tackles and one sack. That one sack was as impressive as any I’ve seen regarding hand punch. On the season Mathis now has 3.5 sacks and 1 FF. He is looking like he is carving out a role as an interior pass rusher. His ability to change direction and attack from different spots and even stunt is paying dividends.

Mathis looks like a 3 technique in the NFL and with a long season ahead I wonder how much more he can grow. With the defensive tackle class in the upcoming draft loaded with talent, he needs to continue to improve to help his draft position. This week was a good start considering this was a game every football fan nationwide was watching.

 

Alec Pierce, Wide Receiver, Cincinnati

 

Cincinnati WR Alec Pierce

Cincinnati WR Alec Pierce (12)

The Cincinnati Bearcats played Notre Dame in what may have been their biggest statement game to make the CFP. The Bearcats needed to win and win they did. Pierce has been the trusted target of QB Desmond Ridder for some time and Saturday was no different. Ridder would look for him and find him in his times of need.

Pierce was surgical with his routes against the talented Notre Dame defense. He hauled in six catches for 144 yards on six receptions. Notre Dame has some serious back end talent too. On the season Pierce had been slow to produce, so he needed this game.

We won’t be hearing his name along with the Chris Olaves or Garrett Wilsons, but he should be a late pick who offers some serious upside. Pierce reminds me a lot of a young Adam Thielen and if he turns out to be that good he will be a draft steal in April.

The Beacats look to have an easy schedule for most of the remaining season. Pierce needs to start dominating the lesser competition if he wants to help his draft stock. Luckily for him, he gets one of the best CBs in the nation every day in practice in Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner.

 

Honorable Mention

Other Top Performers in NCAA Football Week 5:

Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia

Isaiah Likely, TE, Coastal Carolina