College Football: Week 9 Indiana at Nebraska

Indiana Hoosiers (5-2) vs Nebraska Cornhuskers (4-3)

***

INDIANA HOOSIERS | BIG TEN CONFERENCE

Coach: Tom Allen

Indiana Players to watch

*Junior WR Whop Philyor (5-11/172)

Through six games, Philyor has 41 catches, 553 receiving yards and three touchdowns. He’s second in the Big Ten in receptions, yards and yards per game, and first in receptions per game. He has become Michael Penix’s favorite target, because he has become a near-complete college wide receiver.

*Junior DT Jerome Johnson (6-3/290)

Up front, junior defensive tackle Jerome Johnson (Bassfield, Miss. ) was the Hoosiers’ leader in sacks with 3.5 as a sophomore. In 2018, he also earned the team’s Chris Dal Sasso Award (Outstanding Lineman) and was given IU’s Terry P. Cole Award (Old Oaken Bucket Game MVP). So far, in 2019, he’s got 5.5 tackles-for-loss and 4.0 sacks.

Senior WLB Reakwon Jones (6-2/237)

Jones picked up a loose ball and ran it in for a touchdown last week vs Rutgers. He’s currently tied for the team lead in tackles with 21. As a junior, Jones tallied 36 tackles, 24 solo, 4.5 for loss, one sack, one fumble recovery, two pass breakups and one quarterback hurry.

***rFreshman QB Michael Penix (6-3/206)

Indiana coach Tom Allen delivered some positive news on starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. on Thursday. He said the redshirt freshman, who missed nearly three quarters of the Maryland game with an undisclosed injury, has been able to practice this week. Penix is still a game-time decision. If Penix isn’t able to play, the reins of the offense will return to Peyton Ramsey, who started the OSU and UConn contests and helped the Hoosiers to a 34-28 win over Maryland.

***

NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS | BIG TEN CONFERENCE

Coach: Scott Frost

Nebraska Players to watch:

*Junior RB Dedrick Mills (5-11/220)

Nebraska Cornhuskers running back Dedrick Mills #26 vs Ohio State.
Photo by Jordyn Senstock/NU Communications

Mills leads Nebraska and ranks 13th nationally with seven rushing touchdowns, while totaling 350 rushing yards entering the Indiana game. Mills had experience at the FBS level as a freshman at Georgia Tech and in the junior college ranks at Garden City Community College before arriving at Nebraska. In 2018 at Garden City, Mills rushed for 1,358 yards and 19 touchdowns in 10 games.

*Junior OLB JoJo Domann (6-1/230)

Domann has played extensively in every game this season, recording 29 tackles, a team-best eight TFLs, 1.5 sacks and two pass breakups. Off the field, Domann has been equally successful, being named an Academic All-American in 2017; and selected to the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team (2017, 2018, 2019).

Senior OLB Alex Davis (6-5/255)

Alex Davis has started every game this season at outside linebacker. He had a productive start to his senior season, finishing with one tackle, one fumble recovery and one quarterback hurry against South Alabama. He scored the game’s final touchdown with a fumble recovery in the end zone in the fourth quarter. 

**Sophomore QB Adrian Martinez (6-2/220)

Martinez missed the last game with a left knee injury (sustained on Oct. 5), and it is unclear if he will be able to suit up Saturday versus Indiana. UCF transfer Noah Vedral, Nebraska’s no. 2 QB, took a hit to the knee Oct. 12 vs Minnesota. If neither Martinez nor Vedral can go, Nebraska would likely go to freshman Luke McCaffrey. Martinez is currently the team’s second leading rusher.

***

Memorial Stadium – FieldTurf
Oct. 26 | Lincoln, Nebraska

College Football: Week 8 Arizona State at Utah

#17 Arizona State Sun Devils (5-1) vs #13 Utah Utes (5-1)

***

ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS | PAC-12 CONFERENCE

Coach: Herm Edwards

Arizona State Players to watch

*Junior RB Eno Benjamin (5-10/201)

Eno Benjamin leaps over a Kent State defender in the season opener.

Eno took home 2nd Team All-American honors last year. He put up 1,642 yards, averaged 5.5 ypc, and set an all-time Sun Devils rushing mark. However, he’s not looked the same in 2019. Opposing defenses are keying on him, and keeping him in check. He’s been held to under 85 yards in three contests – including a pedestrian 38 yards on 11 carries against Michigan State. ASU needs to get Eno rolling if they hope to win the Pac-12 South.

**Sophomore DT DeVonta “DJ” Davidson (6-4/310)

Starting sophomore nose tackle DJ Davidson told Sun Devil Source that he is focusing on a low stance as well as being observant of the feet, hands and eyes of Moss in this week’s film studies to maximize chances for his unit to stop the run. Davidson is a becoming a stand-out on the ASU defense. He worked hard on his stamina in the off-season and has seen more action this season.

**Sophomore S Aashari Crosswell (6-1/200)

Crosswell comes into this weeks game with 6 passes defended and 1 Int. His ball-hawking skills were on display towards the end of last season, recording at least one interception in four of his last five games. He is a athletically gifted defensive back that plays with a physical edge.

***Freshman QB Jayden Daniels (6-3/190)

The true freshman has found himself forced to make plays with his arm, as opposing defenses are teeing off on Benjamin. He put up 363 yards with 3 touchdowns last week vs Washington State. He’ll need another performance like that to keep ASU competitive against the Utes.

***

UTAH UTES | PAC-12 CONFEENCE

Coach: Kyle Whittingham

Utah Players to watch:

Senior RB Zach Moss (5-10/215)

Moss has racked up over 3,100 yards with the Utes.

Big and powerful, Zach Moss has 14 100+ yard games in his career, including a personal best of 211 against UCLA at the end of last year. Against Oregon State, last week, he lit them up with 121 yards on only five carries and scored two touchdowns. Moss is definitely one of the more exciting running backs in the country.

Senior DE Bradlee Anae (6-3/265)

Anae has 20.5 career sacks and 31 career tackles-for-loss, so far. In 2018, Anae was name First-team All-Pac-12. He started all 14 games (the last 11 at right end); led the Pac-12 with 8.0 sacks; 15.5 tackles-for-loss tied for third in the Pac-12 and ranked second on the team.

Senior DT Leki Fotu (6-5/327)

Fotu is one of the best interior linemen in the country. He’s got a massive frame and those strong Tongan genes. Defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley says what makes Fotu such a great player is remarkable athleticism for a man of his dimensions.

Senior FS Julian Blackmon (6-1/190)

A former cornerback turned safety, Blackmon is growing into his new position. “Julian’s just got great range and great ball skills,” Scalley recently said. In 2018, Blackmon was named 2nd-team All-Pac-12. He started all 14 games at corner and led Utah with 10 pass breakups. The more comfortable Blackmon becomes at safety, the better the results will be.

***

Rice-Eccles Stadium – FieldTurf
Oct. 19 | Salt Lake City, Utah

College Football: Week 7 Alabama at Texas A&M

#1 Alabama Crimson Tide (5-0) vs #24 Texas A&M Aggies (3-2)

***

ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE | SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE

Coach: Nick Saban

Alabama Players to watch

*Junior QB Tua Tagovailoa (6-1/2018)

Tua has 23 touchdown passes and 0 interceptions so far in 2019. He continues to get better the more he plays. He’s put up 400+ yards passing twice this year, both against SEC rivals (SC and Ole Miss). He’s already thrown for over 6,000 yards this year & doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. Tua will be in the thick of the Heisman race once again.

*Junior WR DeVonta Smith (6-1/175)

Smith had a day for the ages last week against Mississippi. He was named national player of the week, hauling in 11 receptions for 274 yards and five touchdowns! Smith claimed Alabama records for touchdown receptions (old record was three) and receiving yards – the old record was 224. The five touchdowns also tied an SEC record held by a host of receivers.

Senior OLB Anfernee Jennings (6-3/259)

The Crimson Tide have been recruiting smaller, faster, linebackers to deal with today’s uptempo offenses. Jennings can come off the edge or play in space. He’s racked up 3.0 sacks so far and 5 tackles-for-loss. Three times, already this year, Jennings has earned defensive player of the week accolades from the Alabama coaching staff.

*Junior FS Xavier McKinney (6-1/196)

McKinney is now in his second year in the starting safety role after a standout sophomore campaign. Jennings comes into this weeks’ game with 41 tackles, 1 Int, and 1 Pbu. Cornerback Patrick Surtain recently said of McKinney, “He’s an alpha dog on the team. Whenever he steps his game up, you can tell the whole defense steps their game up. He’s a special player.”

***

TEXAS A&M AGGIES | SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE

Coach: Jimbo Fisher

TX A&M Players to watch:

*Junior WR Jhamon Ausbon (6-2/218)

Ausbon has become QB Kellen Mond’s favorite target in 2019. He has over 30 catches and close to 450 receiving yards coming into this weeks game against Alabama. He’s not the fastest guy on the team, but he has strong hands, good body control , and wins most of his 50=50’s.

*Junior QB Kellen Mond (6-2/217)

Mond is a duel-threat quarterback. He’s the second leading rusher on the team. His season has been pretty average looking so far. His best game, up to this point, was against #8 Auburn. In that game, Mond threw for 335 yards with 2 touchdowns and no interceptions. He’ll need another outing just as good, if not better, to upset the #1 ranked Crimson Tide this week.

*Junior DT Justin Madubuike (6-3/304)

Madubuike has been the Aggies’ highest graded player on either side of the ball so far. The big defensive tackle has great get off and is now over 300 pounds. He doesn’t have eye popping tackle numbers since he’s supposed to keep people off of the linebackers but he’s got four tackles for loss and three quarterback hurries.

Senior P Braden Mann (5-11/195)

Mann was 1st Team All-American last year, and has picked up where he left off. Once again, he is near the top of the list in ypp average. It’s not often a punter turns down a chance at the NFL to return for his senior season. In the field position game, Mann is the Aggie’s not-so-secret weapon.

***

Kyle Field – Grass
Oct. 12 | College Station, Texas

College Football: Week 6 Iowa at Michigan

#14 Iowa Hawkeyes (4-0) vs #19 Michigan Wolverines (3-1)

***

IOWA HAWKEYES | BIG10 CONFERENCE

Coach: Kirk Ferentz

Iowa Players to watch

*Junior DE A.J. Epenesa (6-6/277)

Epenesa led the Hawkeyes with 10.5 sacks last year without starting a single game. He also finished the season with 16.5 tackles-for-loss. Opponents are focused on neutralizing Epenesa so far this year. “There are a lot of things you can’t see unless you’re sitting in a film room,” Jay Niemann, Iowa’s assistant defensive line coach, recent said. “But he has been very, very disruptive.”

Senior QB Nate Stanley (6-4/242)

Stanley has a prototypical NFL size and excellent arm strength. He’s led the Hawkeyes to a 4-0 start without his favorite weapons from a year ago — T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant became the first tight-end teammates to be taken in the first round of the same NFL Draft. He’s thrown 8 Tds vs 0 Ints, but has yet to break the 300 ypg mark this year.

*Junior KR|WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Jr. (6-1/175)

Marsette earned Big10 Return Specialist of the Year in 2018 after averaging 29.5 yards per kick return. With 15 receptions in the first four games, Marsette looks to be a bigger part of the Hawkeye passing attack in 2019. He already has three touchdowns this year, matching last year’s total.

*Junior LT Alaric Jackson (6-6/320)

So far this season, Iowa has been without redshirt junior left tackle Alaric Jackson, who went down in the season opener against Miami (OH) with a right knee injury. Jackson is looking to return against Michigan. Jackson was voted Second Team All-Big Ten last year by coaches and the A.P. Born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Jackson was name Academic All-Big Ten in 2017.

***

MICHIGAN WOLVERINES | BIG10 CONFERENCE

Coach: Jim Harbaugh

Michigan Players to watch:

*Junior DE Kwity Paye (6-4/261)

Paye was mamed Big10 Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against Rutgers last week. Paye was born in Guinea as a refugee of the first Liberian civil war. He has worked hard at constantly improving his football skills, and the results are starting to show. Paye was named All-Big Ten honoree (honorable mention, media, 2018) and Academic All-Big Ten honoree (2018).

Senior QB Shea Patterson (6-2/203)

Patterson transferred to Michigan from Ole Miss in 2018, throwing for 2,600 yards for the Maize and Blue. He comes into this week with a 6-2 Td/Int ratio and had only a 43% completion percentage two weeks ago vs a stingy Wisconsin defense. Patterson needs to put his foot on the gas to keep his draft stock up.

***Freshman RB Zach Charbonnet (6-1/222)

Charbonnet, a true freshman, came in for the spring and took the job. But Charbonnet has struggled like the rest of this Wolverine team. In week two, he rushed for 100 yards vs Army. The following week he had 2 touches for 6 yds vs Wisconsin. After the Wisconsin loss, Harbaugh suggested Charbonnet hadn’t been fully healthy. Word out of Ann Arbor is Charbonnet should be ready to roll against Iowa.

*Junior WR Nico Collins (6-4/218)

The tall and muscular junior from Clay-Chalkville High School has 10 catches for 206 yards, so far this year. He looks to be one of Patterson’s favorite targets this season. Last year, Collins appeared in all 13 games with 11 starts at wide receiver with 38 receptions for 632 yards and six touchdowns.

***

Michigan Stadium – Field Turf
Oct. 5 | Ann Arbor, Michigan