I’ve spent the day taking the opportunity to watch college football at a non-ungodly hour for once and wanted to share a few notes. Before getting into it I want to mark your card for tomorrow. Curtis Allen’s first watch-notes piece of the season will be published at 7am PT.
— The Iowa vs Iowa State game was fascinating for the trench play. The three players I focused on were Gennings Dunker (RT, Iowa), Logan Jones (C, Iowa) and Domonique Orange (DT, Iowa State). I have all three graded as possible top-64 picks next year.
Orange had the biggest impact early on — getting off blocks, making disruptive plays in the backfield and flashing his pro-potential for a player with a fantastic combination of quickness and upper body power. He looks the part of a NFL defensive lineman and stood out in the early drives where Iowa struggled to get anything going.
Later on Dunker had an outstanding rep against Orange though. He had to get on the run and shoot inside, then engage Orange from an awkward angle. He arrived from a side-on position to the defender but squares up easily, engages contact and drives Orange off the ball and into the end zone, helping Iowa score a rushing touchdown.
I’m not sure if Dunker will stay at tackle at the next level but if he has to kick inside, I think he has massive potential at right guard. Not only that, his movement skills and ability to execute on the run further highlight his zone-blocking chops. He’s one to watch.
Overall it wasn’t the best of Logan Jones. He got very little push in the run game and wasn’t able to displace interior defenders. Pass-pro wise he was decent and managed to hold his ground. I think both Iowa blockers should remain on our radar throughout the year.
— Nobody is going to look at Garrett Nussmeier’s stat line today, or LSU’s result against Louisiana Tech, and spend much time hyping him up. He had an early interception on an underthrown pass. It went 45 yards downfield to the left sideline when it needed to go 55. On the plus side, it wasn’t the kind of calamitous error that dogged Nussmeier at times last year. It perhaps just highlights some arm limitations but I don’t think anyone ever thought he had a Josh Allen style cannon.
What he did show once again, however, were next-level quarterbacking skills that no other QB is close to matching a the moment. His pocket footwork, mobility, ability to throw on the run and natural throwing talent (he makes it look easy, has a good spiral and release) were there too see. He is by far the quarterback with the most obvious pro-potential.
Look at the touchdown he threw as a case in point. He’s going through his progressions, doesn’t panic in the pocket and moves his feet to avoid the pressure and create the throwing lane. The pass is inch perfect:
I think he has the potential to be really good. In particular I don’t think people realise how good he is at escaping pressure and throwing on the move. He is easily QB1 for me.
— The other quarterbacks are getting more hype but I don’t know why. It was another ho-hum day from Cade Klubnik as Clemson struggled past Troy. LaNorris Sellers is a long way from NFL ready and doesn’t justify the hype he gets. Today, in the first half against lowly South Carolina State, he was 6/13 passing for 63 yards.
There’s been a fair amount of frothing at the mouth about John Mateer. He’s fun to watch — creative, unpredictable at times and makes the games he plays in very entertaining. It was that way at Washington State too. He’s a very creative and athletic player.
However, there are issues. He throws way too many side-arm passes. A lot of his throws are at max-velocity even on shorter routes where it’s unnecessary. He doesn’t throw with touch on enough of his passes. Mateer had overthrows and misses in this game.
You take the rough with the smooth. He can help Oklahoma have a much better season this year. He can be a box office college football player all year. But that doesn’t mean he’s a projectable high pick for the NFL draft. At the moment, only Nussmeier warrants clear round one talk.
I think Drew Allar is in the mix for QB2 but as I said before the season began, the other name I would keep an eye on is Sawyer Robertson who had another very productive performance to lead Baylor from way back against SMU to cause an upset. He has the tools. There’s something to work with there. I will watch his tape from today’s game when it becomes available.
— I haven’t watched Allar or Penn State this week but there’s a player to keep an eye on besides the quarterback and the two running backs for the Nittany Lions. Dani Dennis-Sutton is a legit defender. I noticed he had two more TFL’s today. This is a name to remember and he could be a high pick next year.
