The college football Week 8 slate is upon us, and the team of draft evaluators and CFB analysts at Pro Football Network are here with instant takeaways from the weekend slate. Find our immediate reactions to all the action from start to finish in college football’s Week 8 Saturday games.
College Football Week 8 Live Blog
Taking into account all of the weekend’s slate of action, our CFB/Draft department will all be on hand for their instant reactions as they come in.
For clarity’s sake, each takeaway, reaction, and result will be culminated by the initials of the analyst responsible: TP for Tony Pauline and CM for Cam Mellor.
Sanogo Standing Out in a Defensive Battle
9:30 p.m. ET — Mississippi transfer MoMo Sanogo has been playing well for his new school, Louisville, and has been terrific this evening in the defensive battle against Pittsburgh. He’s recorded five tackles in the first half and has also forced a fumble.
Coming into the contest, Sanogo had recorded 31 tackles with 4.5 TFLs in six games. He’s a stoutly built two-down defender that stacks well against the run. Sanogo could make an NFL roster as an eighth linebacker/special-teams player. TP
Knowles Finally Meeting the Expectation of NFL Scouts?
9:20 p.m. — Kansas State is looking to pull the upset over TCU and knock them from the ranks of the undefeated. The Wildcats are leading the Horned Frogs 28-10 on the road with eight minutes left in the first half. One of the more interesting stories of KSU prospects is receiver Malik Knowles, who has three receptions for 69 yards tonight.
Knowles is a prospect scouts want to like, and he’s graded by some as a late-round pick despite menial production in college. His best season was 2021, when Knowles posted 29 receptions for 441 yards with four TDs — solid numbers, for a freshman.
Scouts have been waiting for a breakout season by Knowles, and they are likely to get it in 2022. Still, Knowles is more bark than bite at this point, and if he’s drafted, it will solely be as a developmental prospect. TP
Little-Known Receiver Helping Lead the Charge for ECU
8:40 p.m. — While Kansas was the darling of every underdog the first month of the season, East Carolina is a program that has kept the momentum going. At one time the yearly doormat of the American Athletic Conference, the Pirates entered tonight’s game against Central Florida with a 4-3 mark and are presently up 10-0 midway through the second quarter.
One player I had graded as a UDFA prior to the season is wideout Isaiah Winstead, who has since shown a lot of improvement in his game.
The big-bodied receiver (6-foot-3, 210 pounds) came to ECU by way of Toledo and Norfolk State. Entering tonight’s game, he led ECU in receiving with 52 receptions and 719 yards. He also has three TDs on his tally. Tonight, Winstead has caught two passes for 36 yards. Ignored by scouts coming into the season, plenty of NFL people will be attending the ECU Pro Day next March to watch Winstead. TP
Pickens Dominating the Aggies
8:10 p.m. — Defensive tackle Zacch Pickens has been a one-man wrecking crew for South Carolina as the Gamecocks are presently up 17-0 over Texas A&M with five minutes left in the first quarter.
The big man has done a great job penetrating the line of scrimmage to disrupt the action and is also occupying blockers to allow his teammates to make the play. He’s displayed great quickness, explosion, and power. Several scouts graded the 6-foot-4, 305-pound defensive tackle as a second-round prospect before the season, and he’s looked every bit that this evening. TP
Jurkovec Watching His Draft Stock Plummet
8 p.m. — It was another tough Saturday for Boston College signal-caller Phil Jurkovec. During the 43-15 loss to Wake Forest, Jurkovec was vastly outplayed by Deamon Deacon passer Sam Hartman. He completed just 20 of 38 passes for 221 yards, 61 of those yards which came on a scoring toss to Zay Flowers.
Despite many grading Jurkovec as a top-60 prospect prior to the season, I stuck to my guns and gave him a fifth-round grade. Now, it seems I may have overrated the Boston College senior.
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League insiders I spoke with last week told me they believe Jurkovec could go undrafted next April, his play has been so bad this season. And while I don’t agree with that sentiment, it’s my opinion that Jurkovec would be better off returning for another senior season rather than entering the draft with draft grades that are plummeting. TP
A Barn-Burner in Stillwater
7:40 p.m. — It’s another four-hour extravaganza in the Big 12, and once again, Texas is involved. This has been one heck of a crazy game as Oklahoma State has come back, scoring the last 17 points to take the lead.
Texas defender DeMarvion Overshown has looked good with seven tackles, two TFLs, one sack, and one PBU. Overshown is a terrific linebacker and a nice combination of instincts and intensity. Tipping the scales at 225 pounds and timing in the 4.7s will likely keep Overshown out of the initial 60 selections. TP
Jarrett Speaking With Agents
7:25 p.m. — Before we get into the evening’s action, a bit of news. Maryland defeated Northwestern by a score of 31-24 to become bowl eligible. Wideout Rakim Jarrett led the Terps with eight receptions, 82 yards, and a touchdown.
For the season, Jarrett has 33 receptions in eight games. He’s been having conversations with agents about possible representation for the 2023 NFL Draft and has more interviews slated — a sign the junior is considering jumping to the next level. TP
Marshall Puts It to JMU
6:55 p.m. — It was just a week and some change ago that JMU was ranked No. 25 in the AP poll. However, after two straight disappointing weekends of action, the Dukes are left looking up at the top of the Sun Belt standings.
Utilizing a strong defense and stout rushing game, Marshall took advantage of JMU’s backup quarterback situation as Micah Abraham iced the victory with a late interception. Khalan Laborn continued his career resurgence with a 150-plus-yard performance and two scores.
JMU’s defense was the nation’s top run defense coming into the game and Laborn ran all over them. A former five-star recruit, Laborn is a player to watch as a deep sleeper this season and into the 2023 NFL Draft. CM
Oregon Defenders Noah Sewell, Brandon Dorlus Make Big Plays
6:30 p.m. — Seemingly sealing the deal, the Oregon Ducks defense came up big in clutch spots against UCLA. On a fourth-down play, LB Noah Sewell served as a quarterback spy on UCLA QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Sewell perfectly slow-played his pass rush and kept contain on DTR during a scramble drill before ultimately pulling the trigger on his blitz that forced an errant throw and interception.
The Ducks got to fourth down after an impressive stop from DT Brandon Dorlus. After ripping through the offensive line, it was Dorlus who tracked down yet another ball carrier behind the backfield. It’s Dorlus who has made multiple plays against UCLA that has showcased his versatility against the run and pass. CM
Bo Nix Balling Against UCLA
6:15 p.m. — It’s time to put some more respect on Bo Nix’s name after today. Playing with unbelievable confidence, Nix completed a pass to RB Bucky Irving on a 4th-and-4 situation, converting a wheel route thrown with accuracy and precision for a touchdown.
The score essentially puts the game out of reach for UCLA, as Nix has now thrown five touchdowns on 21 of 25 passing. Undoubtedly his best season to date, Nix now has 17 touchdown passes, a career-high, compared to just three interceptions.
Kenny Dillingham has been dialing up an impressive game from his offensive coordinator role, but Nix’s confidence and arm talent have shown up time and time again today. CM
Rayshad Williams Comes Up Big for Texas Tech
6:10 p.m. — Just moments after SaRodorick Thompson ran in another score for Texas Tech, cornerback Rayshad Williams came up with a huge interception on JT Daniels of West Virginia. Pressured in the pocket, Daniels threw a sideline fade into Williams’ coverage.
Williams undercut the route and used his incredible athleticism to snag the interception along the sidelines. He dragged his toes in for the pick and gave the ball back to the Red Raiders, up 28 points late. These kinds of plays have been missing from Texas Tech at times this year but not today against WVU. CM
A Battle in Stillwater Goes to Half
5:45 p.m. — The Texas vs. Oklahoma State game has certainly not disappointed if you like offense. Through the first half finally, the Longhorns lead the Cowboys, 31-24, after the first two frames took two hours and one minute to trickle 30 minutes off the game clock.
The teams have combined for 19 possessions, 669 yards, and 93 offensive plays. Flip this second half on your TVs if you like offense, as each team has caught fire on the offensive side of the ball. CM
Behren Morton Continues to Shine for Texas Tech
5:30 p.m. — Playing in place of Donovan Smith, Texas Tech QB Behren Morton has shown his ability at every turn. Starting the day for the Red Raiders against West Virginia, Morton has commanded the offense brilliantly en route to a big halftime lead.
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Morton hit Xavier White on a progressive-read throw that showcased his maturity above his age. He has a great arm and his mechanics are improving every game. Morton is a name to watch as the season unfolds and we eventually turn the page to 2023. CM
Texas Battling Against Oklahoma State
4:55 p.m. — Locked in a battle with Oklahoma State, the Texas Longhorns have looked to their stars for sparks early in the first half. Running back Bijan Robinson has already made his mark on the game, hauling in a 41-yard touchdown reception to go with a 42-yard TD run.
Robinson is flexing his all-around game yet again, as the Longhorns’ RB is looking more and more like a lock to be the first running back selected, and likely the only one in the first round in next April’s draft. CM
Nix, Troy Franklin Impressive Early Against UCLA
4:30 p.m. — In a highly-anticipated contest in the 3:30 window, Oregon and UCLA have each traded blows to start the game. Bo Nix, however, has looked the most impressive early on. Nix dropped a perfect pass to WR Troy Franklin from 50+ yards out to give the Ducks a 17-10 lead.
It was Franklin who, on the very next drive after a successful onside kick, made potentially the play of the game for Oregon as well. Franklin, a defender blocking his view, utilized his athleticism and large frame at 6’3″ to snatch a pass out of the air for a big gain.
Franklin’s catch was made even more impressive by the pass interference and continues a hot streak from the Ducks in the second quarter. CM
91-Yard Punt in Toledo vs. Buffalo
4:10 p.m. — You read that headline correctly, a 91-yard punt happened in the Toledo vs. Buffalo game. Hidden to most on ESPN+, Toledo punter Jonathon Batzke booted a 91-yard punt from the shadow of his own goal posts.
Batzke got a very favorable bounce that carried the ball, but it still went 50+ yards in the air before bouncing out of the back of the end zone. The 91-yard punt netted 77 yards of field position for Toledo, but Buffalo would still score on the next possession. CM
Tulane Flexing Early vs. Memphis
3:58 p.m. — It’s an early lead, but it’s a big early lead for Tulane in their first game as a ranked team in over three decades. Michael Pratt led an impressive drive for their offense before Jha’Quan Jackson took a punt 90 yards to the house for a big 14-0 lead in the first quarter.
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Safety Macon Clark then proceeded to make a highlight-reel play of his own, jarring the ball loose from the Memphis tight end on the next drive. Clark is a hard-hitting safety who has made multiple plays in seemingly every game this season. CM
Hyatt Dominant Once Again
3:20 p.m. — Granted, it’s a performance against IAA competition, but Jalin Hyatt put up huge numbers in the Volunteers’ thrashing of UT-Martin. With more than 10 minutes left in the final quarter, Hyatt has seven receptions for 174 yards with two TDs, including a 66-yard scoring romp.
With Tennessee up 65-21, Hyatt was taken out of the game long ago. Next week, Tennessee plays Kentucky, then it’s a three-week stretch against Georgia, Missouri, and South Carolina, teams with corners and secondary players that grade as top-three-round prospects who will challenge Hyatt.
As mentioned at the start of the day, Hyatt has been talking with agents, and the feeling from his inner circle is the junior will enter the draft. TP
Clemson’s LT Also Playing Well
3 p.m. — I mentioned how well I thought Orange left tackle Matthew Bergeron looked in the opening of the Syracuse-Clemson contest. Tigers left tackle Jordan McFadden also deserves plaudits as he’s played well, especially in pass protection.
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McFadden is a wide-bodied blocker who plays with terrific fundamentals. Scouts I’ve spoken with have a Day 3 grade on McFadden, but I have him as a third-round prospect, albeit at guard rather than tackle. TP
Uiagalelei Benched
2:40 p.m. — Updating the post from 2:05 today, Dabo Sweeney evidently saw enough poor play from quarterback DJ Uiagalelei and has benched him in favor of freshman Cade Klubnik. TP
RU Secondary Senior Leaders Shutting Down Indiana
2:40 p.m. — After falling behind 14-0, Rutgers has rallied to take the lead by three points over Indiana and has shut down the Hoosier offense. Much of the credit goes to a pair of defensive backs previously mentioned in this blog.
Safety Christian Izien leads Rutgers with six tackles, while corner Christian Braswell has broken up three passes. Both players are PFA types, yet each has next-level traits and will compete for roster spots this upcoming summer. TP
Uiagalelei Needs a Lot of Work on His Game
2:05 p.m. — Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei shows a lot of next-level flashes but needs a ton of work on his game. He’s constantly missing open wideouts and pass catchers, underthrowing targets (as we just saw), or throwing behind them, which results in a loss of opportunity. I love his upside, but it would be a huge mistake for Uiagalelei to enter the 2023 draft, given the present unpolished state of his game. TP
Moss Helping Keep Iowa in the Game
1:30 p.m. — The Iowa defense has kept the Hawkeyes in the game against Ohio State, allowing 19 points in the first half and minimizing the damage by keeping the Buckeyes out of the end zone and forcing four field goals.
I have been very impressed with the play of Riley Moss, an underrated cornerback that has made several big plays thus far. The fifth-year senior has next-level size at 6’1″ and 194 pounds, though his deep speed is suspect. Moss is tough, smart, and will nicely fit into dime packages on Sunday. TP
Don’t Forget About Orhorhoro
1:20 p.m. — With all the love thrown at members of the Clemson defensive line, such as Bryan Bresee and Myles Murphy, it’s easy to forget about Ruke Orhorhoro. Rest assured, the big, athletic DT is well thought of in the scouting community and believe Orhorhoro will end up in the middle rounds.
Orhorhoro has next-level size (6-foot-4, 305 pounds), growth potential,and a ton of upside. He’s already knocked down two passes today against Syracuse. TP
Bryant Definitely Has Next-Level Potential
1:15 p.m. — I continue to be impressed with Ben Bryant of Cincinnati — impressed meaning he’s giving me more than I expected. Bryant has decent size (6-foot-3 and 215 pounds) and a next-level arm. He definitely makes a lot of next-level throws, though his game needs polish. TP
Eichenberg: The Einstein of Linebackers
12:50 p.m. — I gave Ohio State linebacker Tommy Eichenberg a wait-and-see grade prior to the season, and the junior has shown tremendous progress in his game.
He’s made several big plays to shutdown Iowa drives, and his instincts, as well as awareness, are out of sight. Size (6’2″, 234 pounds) and speed (4.78 40) are questions that must be answered, but there’s no denying Eichenberg has a next-level brain. TP
Bush Gets the Early Advantage
12:25 p.m. — Cincinnati cornerback Arquon Bush, mentioned in today’s preview, just made a terrific interception to put the Bearcats in scoring position. While the pass was thrown behind Rashee Rice, the ability to keep the action in front of him and the way he burst to the ball out of his plant, as well as his hands, shows why scouts are excited about the next-level ability Bush brings. TP
Good Opening Series for Week 7 Riser
12:20 p.m. — It was a solid opening series for Syracuse, who moved the ball downfield against Clemson until an incomplete pass on 4th-and-3.
I was impressed with SU left tackle Matthew Bergeron, a Week 7 Riser. He easily moves about the field and is very effective in motion. His ability in pass protection to stop Myles Murphy out of a three-point stance, as well as Xavier Thomas, who rushed the passer standing over tackle, was impressive. TP
Hyatt Meeting With Agents
It’s a bit of a soft schedule for the noon kickoffs today, though there is one important matchup in the Big Ten as Iowa travels to Columbus for a meeting with Ohio State.
I’ve been outspoken about my affection for Buckeye linebacker Steele Chambers as well as the Hawkeye tight end duo of Sam LaPorta and Luke Lachey. The former two have been solid this season, though not as dominant as I expected, while Lachey had a good game against Michigan, but that’s about it.
Chambers is your classic weakside linebacker, very effective in space, so it will be interesting to see how he holds up against LaPorta, and eventually, Lachey.
An important game takes place in the American Athletic Conference as Cincinnati meets SMU in Dallas. The Bearcats need this game to keep pace with conference-leading Tulane. The Mustangs can kiss goodbye their hopes of being in the conference title game if they don’t win. The important next-level matchup here is UC cornerback Arquon Bush trying to slow down SMU wideout Rashee Rice.
Rice was an early-season riser in my column, and he’s off to a terrific start. I was never as high on Bush compared to NFL scouts, who informed me he was a Day 2 pick on their board. Bush has played more like the fifth-round prospect I graded him as prior to the season. He played reasonably well against Tulsa two weeks ago, but the matchup against Rice will be his stiffest test this season.
Updating news from earlier this week — during the draft news and rumors mailbag on Thursday, I was asked if Jalin Hyatt would enter the draft. My answer? People close to him told me they believe Hyatt would enter the draft after the season.
I can now report Hyatt has had meetings — or at least teleconferences — with agents in recent weeks. Though it’s not a definite he enters the 2023 NFL Draft, it seems Hyatt is leaning that way. TP