Top College Football Players Week 8: NFL Draft Eligible Standouts
Big Week
This was a big week 8 for college football and for us here at DraftDive. We saw a lot of top 25 teams trip up including Coastal Carolina, Penn State, and Oklahoma State. Here at DraftDive, we launched our first affiliate FansEdge apparel. So if you need team gear get it here and help support your new favorite fan friendly draft site.
What top college football players stood out in week 8? I noticed some under the radar guys that made some splashes and caught my eye as potential late round picks in next April’s draft. A pair of of Mohameds caught my attention further this weekend. Mohamed Diallo of Arizona and Mohamed Kamara of Colorado State both played exceptionally well for their teams Friday night. I will be dedicating time to film study on both of these young men this week.
But the question remains, who made my weekly Rising Stock? Well let’s dive in with the offensive players first.
Carson Strong and Romeo Doubs, Nevada Wolfpack
Yes, I know they are two different people and I have never done this before, but I want to pair them together. Firstly because they are an amazing tandem and secondly because I had six guys this week.
Nevada QB Carson Strong (12) and WR Romeo Doubs (7).
Let’s start with Carson Strong, one of the top college football players , my current QB 4. Strong played lights out in a close loss to Fresno St. He completed 49 passes for 476 yards along with 4 TDs and 1 INT on the night. He now ranks 5th in the nation in passing yards and has completed over 70% of his passes. In a game that saw more offense than many predicted, Strong showed up on what I deemed an important occasion.
Playing for Nevada, he doesn’t see the most talented teams or defenses each week. Fresno St was a true test and he wont have many more. Fresno St. was only allowing 19 ppg and 183 yards per game passing entering the night. Carson Strong must be really good to put up those numbers this weekend.
Romeo Doubs
His counterpart Romeo Doubs was a big part of his success. Doubs hauled in 19 receptions for a measly 203 yards and a score. Doubs is a player I have had my eyes on all season and believe he is the real deal. Just like Carson Strong though, I was wanting to see him play a more talented team.
I could argue that both Doubs and Strong played some of their best ball this season against their toughest opponent. Just what I want to see as a scout. Big time players step up in big time situations. Or I guess you can say they are “clutch” performers. Unfortunately just not quite clutch enough to pull out the win.
With only one game left before bowl season to truly be tested, Nov 13th vs San Diego St, I will be looking to that game and their bowl game to further evaluate where these two smaller school studs stand prior to draft day. Either way, they both belong in the NFL and will be playing on Sundays.
Charles Cross, Tackle, Mississippi State
I know it’s not often an offensive lineman makes the, list but Cross has earned it. I know they played Vanderbilt this weekend, so his opponent might not be helping my case here, but Cross looked great and has the last couple weeks.
A player that entered the year on our top 50 players to watch list, he has not disappointed at all. In seven games he has allowed only seven pressures. In the past 2 weeks he played against Texas A&M and Alabama and allowed 0 pressures on 133 passing plays. Do we need mention who plays defensive end for those two teams? That would be DeMarvin Leal and the nation’s leading sack man, Will Anderson Jr. Not too shabby.
Cross was someone who I hadn’t been hearing enough about in scouting circles. His play has been great, but the praise has been lacking. Therefore, I thought we would give him his due. I did see PFF recognize him as a member of their team of the week as well, so good eyes. I am looking forward to his game against Ole Miss. Certainly I want to see how he holds up in his last regular season game against the talented Sam Williams.
Damone Clark, Linebacker, LSU
The LSU Tigers’ football team has been under plenty of scrutiny the last couple seasons. With the recent news that they will part ways with Coach O at years end, it hasn’t gotten any better. One of the lone bright spots in Death Valley has been senior LB Damone Clark. Damone Clark made our pre season Top 50 as well.
LSU LB Damone Clark
He has been catching my eye week after week, but not many of his teammates have joined him. We keep hearing about Devin Lloyd, who I love, and a few others, but lets focus on Clark for a minute. Clark leads the entire country in tackles with 99, nine more than next on the list. 19 of those tackles came Saturday against Ole Miss and Matt Corral. If that isn’t impressive enough, he added a sack and a FF.
In his last 2 games combined he has recorded 30 tackles, 1 sack, 2 FF, and 1 INT. Clark is screaming look at me when most people are beginning to look away from the Tigers. I expect to hear his name mentioned the next few weeks for the Butkus Award. Likewise, I am excited to hear his name called by announcers for years to come.
Depending on defensive scheme, some teams may value him as high as day two. He may go as high as round two if he keeps playing like he has the last couple weeks. With Alabama this week, I will be focusing on Clark when the Crimson Tide have the ball to see how he plays against a top notch offensive line.
Will McDonald, Defensive End, Iowa State
Iowa State DE Will McDonald
It seems like Will McDonald has just barely missed making my rising stock top 5 every week. Well he hasn’t given up and continues to play well week after week. The Cyclones defensive end showed up big on Saturday in an upset victory over Oklahoma State. McDonald was a beast in the trenches.
In the run game, he played bigger than his 6’4” 245 lb. frame and as a pass rusher he did his job and got home twice. He is now tied for third in the nation with 7.5 sacks. He has recorded a sack in 5 of the Cyclones 7 games. McDonald isn’t going to hear his name mentioned with Thibodeaux or Hutchinson, but he will be a valuable addition that a team likely won’t have to spend a first round pick on.
My favorite part of McDonald playing so well this week is what I liked most about Carson Strong and Romeo Doubs. He shows up when the lights are the brightest. With a stout schedule ahead, Will McDonald has some prime time games to continue to state his case. Who knows, maybe he can make himself a day 1 guy.
Zion Tupuola-Fetui “ZTF”, Defensive End, Washington
Washinton Edge Zion Tupuola-Fetui
This is one of my favorite stories. Zion Tupuola-Fetui may not be one of the top college football players this week, but he is one of the best stories. Zion is one of my favorite pass rushers and I love to watch him play. This was just his second game back from a ruptured Achilles tendon. He returned to the field after missing just 6 months. That’s damn near Wolverine levels of healing. Last week against UCLA he managed to play just 10 snaps, but it was a start.
Friday night against Arizona, he saw the field more than that. Tupuola-Fetui reminded us all of his pass rushing prowess by picking up his first sack since returning. Certainly this is an element of the Huskies defense they have been missing. With 5 games remaining in the regular season, it will be nice to see him continue to see more and more playing time.
With each snap he plays he reminds scouts and NFL coaches of his talent and reassures them he is healthy. I mean if he never gets hurt we may be talking about a top 5 pass rusher in the 2022 NFL Draft. Keep an eye out for “ZTF!”
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Honorable Mention
Both stud defensive ends Kayvon Thibodeaux and Aidan Hutchinson continued to impress and both made the PFF team of the week. This was Hutchinson’s third time in as many weeks. They are definitley two of the top college football players in the country. I know they can’t really improve their draft stock since they should both be top 10 picks. However, they sure as heck didn’t hurt themselves either.
Tanner Mordecai, Quarterback, SMU
Every team hopes to find a sleeping giant ala Tom Brady. Tanner Mordecai may not be the best college football player, or my number one quarterback. However, Mordecai should be available a little later in the draft and possesses some great traits. This week against Tulane he threw for 427 yards and 3 TDs while completing 71% of his passes. If you like taking developmental quarterbacks later in the draft Mordecai is a name to keep your eye on.
