Welcome to “I Got 5 On It”, each week I’ll be picking five news-worthy subjects based around college football to cover. Ranging from views on Devy prospects, general college football talk, interesting stats, and a little bit of hip-hop music mixed in now and then.
1. No Pickens? No problem?
News is just starting to break that junior-to-be George Pickens has suffered an ACL injury requiring surgery. While this doesn’t totally eliminate any chance that Pickens plays this Fall (Amari Rodgers and Jadon Haselwood had similar injuries and timing of said injury and player later that Fall). It will at the least greatly impact his offseason training and availability for the beginning of the 2021 season. So who steps up next for UGA?
Jermaine Burton, SO: Burton was a top 30 prospect in our Devy Watch Guide that dropped at the beginning of the month. Here’s what Brad McDaniel had to say about him: “Burton is a three-level WR and the best route runner on a team full of highly-regarded WRs. He creates separation with footwork and multiple release types. The techniques in his stem create space from DBs. Burton’s spatial awareness and footwork allow him to stay in a DB’s blind spot and repeatedly turn him around. He doesn’t take wasted steps at the line of scrimmage or in his route breaks. He owns the skill set to play both inside and outside. He was second on the team in routes run from both in the slot and outside. His versatility allows Georgia to include him in the gameplan in more ways than one. Burton tracks the ball better than most and demonstrates great ball skills. He’s confident catching the ball with his hands away from his body. That allows him to attack the ball and maximize his catch radius. Georgia put him in positions to get YAC. While he accelerates quickly after the catch, he still tries to do too much at times. He could get away with this in high school, but not in college.” Brad sees Burton as a future superstar for the Dawgs.
Kearis Jackson, rJR: Jackson had a good start to the 2020 season while Pickens got off to a slow start with then starting QB Stetson Bennett. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Jackson get a large role in the Dawgs offense to begin the season. He’s not as talented as Burton or Pickens but I like what I saw from him early in 2020.
Arian Smith, rFR: Smith might not play a big role, but he’ll play a part in the offense. Smith is most likely the fastest player on the roster. Running a blazing 10.39 100-meter, Smith has elite speed. Notre Dame freshman RB Chris Tyree won the fastest man at the Nike Opening Finals in back-to-back years, but Smith beat him in a race at the Under Armour All-American Game during the week of practice. Smith is an amazing athlete but still has refining to do as a receiver before he’s a featured part of the Dawgs offense. Smith’s senior year of high school was his first time being a full-time receiver after jumping around from QB, RB, WR, and DB. He only managed to catch 19 balls for 382 yards (20.1 YPR) and 6 TDs.
Those are the three most intriguing options after Pickens, but Marcus Rosemy and seasoned veteran Demetris Robertson will see some playing time as well. Outside of Burton and Jackson, I would expect to see some type of `rotation.
2. Mookie Cooper
Cooper is a former 4-star Ohio State Buckeye signee that hit the transfer portal after one year in Columbus. Cooper is now a rFR and making his mark already in Missouri’s spring practice.
“Two of the biggest additions to Missouri’s offense this offseason are freshmen Mookie Cooper and Dominic Lovett, who should help Missouri spread the field vertically in the passing game.
Cooper even had some formations from the backfield alongside running backs Tyler Badie and Elijah Young.”
Cooper appears to be already running with the 1’s despite his short time with the Tigers. Below is my write-up on Cooper from the ’21 DWG. I’m excited to see how Cooper is unleashed in 2021.
The St. Louis native initially signed with Ohio State in the class of 2020. Cooper was a 4-star and the 31st rated receiver in his class. As a junior in high school, Cooper racked up 29-869-9 (29.9 YPR). Cooper was forced to sit out his senior year of high school due to transferring schools. Ohio State signed three other receivers in the 2020 class. All three ranked as top 10 receivers in the class; Cooper was always the odd man out for the Buckeyes. After not seeing the field as a true freshman in 2020, Cooper decided to transfer. In short order, he ended up with his in-state Missouri Tigers and on a much more friendly-looking depth chart. It wouldn’t be a shock to see Cooper as a starter in 2021.
Cooper is short but stocky. He has a very bulky lower body. Earlier in his high school career, he was a running back before splitting time between the two positions. His stocky lower half reminds you of a back. Despite his size, Cooper is tough. He’s physical with the ball in his hands and a willing blocker. He’s not scared to try and knock a defender’s head off. Cooper projects as a slot receiver with the ability to play out of the backfield. He should be utilized in short to intermediate routes to get the ball in his hands and allow him to work his YAC magic. Much like a Wan’Dale Robinson, I can envision Cooper getting 3-5 attempts out of the backfield per game. I have my doubts if that’ll happen, but he has the skills to be used in several different ways.
3. Big 10 Deep Devy Dive
Daniel Jackson, WR, Minnesota: Jackson will be battling with Autman-Bell for the Gophers’ WR1 spot. The tSO is athletic and is primed for a breakout. The Gophers’ top two receiver spots have been good for CFF over PJ Fleck’s tenure. Cheap C2C add. Transfer Dylan Wright might throw a wrench into the Jackson and Autman-Bell combo but it’s no sure thing.
Chase Brown, RB, Illinois: A former W. Michigan Bronco finds himself as a senior with a great opportunity in a run-heavy offensive approach. Brown has the chance to develop into a key piece in Illinois’ new offense. With Bielema’s offensive approach, Brown can be a solid CFF producer with some NFL upside. With Mike Epstein currently away from the team, it’s hard to not see Brown as a potential bellcow for Bielema.
Blake Corum, RB, Michigan: Corum struggled big time in 2020 as a tFR, but he has elite speed and quickness. Add in good pass-catching ability and Corum has NFL role-player potential. He’ll be stuck behind Hassan Haskins and most likely Donovan Edwards in 2021, but he should be able to carve out a role. Corum has too much speed and big-play potential to not see the field.
Tim Baldwin Jr, RB, Indiana: Baldwin looks to be stepping into Stevie Scott’s vacated production in 2021. The second-year player possesses the ability to be a solid Big Ten back with good fantasy potential. IU’s other back, Sampson James, just doesn’t appear to have any juice in his game. He’s a slow plodder that’s not very intriguing.
Lowkey Incoming Freshman: Donaven McCulley, Indiana…Mar’Keise Irving, Minnesota…Keon Coleman, Michigan State…Harrison Wallace, Penn State…James Carnie, Nebraska…Al-Shadee Salaam, Rutgers…Aaron Steinfeldt, Indiana…Keagan Johnson, Iowa.
4. Keilan Robinson
The darkhorse to watch in the Alabama backfield is Keilan Robinson. He isn’t playing over Brian Robinson or Jase McClellan but the injured Trey Sanders better watch out.
“He’s doing great. He’s got great speed. He’s gotten bigger and stronger. He’s really playing fast. He’s playing really good on special teams. He’s a potential kickoff returner for us. He was before when he was a freshman. So that’s certainly a role. And he’s made great progress as a running back. He’s got pretty good carryover knowledge and experience wise from the year before. I’m really pleased with what he’s been doing.” – Saban
“We’re excited to have him back in the room with us,” Brian said on Monday. “We missed him last year. He still has all of his abilities. He’s very fast. He picked up some weight this off-season so he has a new look to him.
“We’re just excited to see what he can bring to our room with him returning this year and we missed him last year.” -Brian Robinson Jr.
Keilan Robinson signed with Alabama as a 4-star and isn’t what you’d expect out of an Alabama back. At the time he was listed at 5’9″ and 185lbs. Robinson didn’t fit the mold of previous backs like Derrick Henry, Najee Harris, or even Jase McClellan when came to stature or playing style. Robinson was more of a jitterbug than a power-back. As a true freshman in 2019, Robinson rushed for 254 yards on 39 carries and opted out of the 2020 season. Robinson rolls into the 2021 season as a rSO looking to make a name for himself. The RB3 gig is up for grabs with Trey Sanders being out until the Fall with a hip injury. This is Sanders second major surgery in as many years on campus.
If you’re in a very deep Devy or C2C league, Keilan Robinson is worth a stash. I can’t envision Robinson ever being Alabama’s RB1, but he can be a fine role player with enough skill to snag an NFL job.
5. Freshman Spotlight
Moving forward until next Fall, when we have some game action again, I’ll be highlighting an incoming freshman each week in the 5 spot. Time to shine a light on UNC’s under-the-radar RB signee in Caleb Hood.
Hood found himself as a 4-star and the 21st rated athlete by 247Sports. Hood played QB his entire high school career but has bulked up to play running back for the Tar Heels. From April of 2019, Hood has a 4.40 40-yard dash and a near 37” vertical leap. At the time Hood was listed at 5’11” and 205lbs. Hood claims to have bulked up to 220lbs to prepare for being a college back. Due to North Carolina state rules, Hood didn’t play ball as a senior. He’s now enrolled on campus as high school football in North Carolina kicks off. As a junior, Hood ran for over 900 yards and 16 TDs as a QB while tossing for over 2,100 yards.
“He’s just a very well-rounded player,” Richmond Senior High coach Bryan Till said. “He’s obviously extremely athletic, but he has this really high football IQ. He’s been around football his whole life.”
“He’s just a guy that is very athletic and can do a lot of things in an offense,” Gillespie added. “In talking to (UNC offensive coordinator) Phil (Longo), he’s a guy we can do a lot of different things with as far as direct snaps and moving him all around the football field. He’s a smart kid, and obviously, he is a Tar Heel, his dad played football here, so I think it meant a lot for him to join us. Some of the things we are doing with the running backs, catching the ball, being in space — I’m just excited to see what he can do once he gets here. And the fact that he’s an early graduate makes it even better.”
Hood joins Kamarro Edmonds as 4-star backs to sign with UNC in 2021. Edmonds is one of my favorite backs in this class so Hood is going to have a fight on his hands for three to four years with Edmonds for carries. Hood has an obvious learning curve as he adjusts to taking handoffs rather than designed QB runs or scrambles. Hood shows good speed on the field, I don’t quite see the 4.4 speed though. Hood shows good lateral quickness and agility to navigate through a defense. Runs with great vision in the open field.
Hood has gained 15-20lbs since his junior highlights. How does this affect his speed and quickness? I’m intrigued to see how Hood moves with this added mass during UNCs spring practice.
