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. Gee Scott Position Switch
Scott’s move to TE makes a lot of sense. First off, the OSU receiving unit is unbelievably loaded with talent. There’s going to be a large logjam over the next three years. Secondly, Scott is a top-notch run blocker for a receiver and is extremely physical. OSU claims Scott is nearing 225lbs, but how much bigger can he get? Can he get over 240lbs and not lose his speed or athleticism? Does he even have the frame to hold that weight? The move is intriguing nonetheless. Can he become a productive college tight end, sure? I just question how he’ll be able to transition to the league.
Not getting my hopes up for Scott in C2C leagues either. While Scott might have more reps lining up as a WR with his background compared to previous TEs, the outlook for OSU TEs for CFF isn’t pretty (see below). Last year was the best fantasy season for TEs in the last five years, heavily driven by Ruckert turning nearly 40% of his receptions into TDs. A very unsustainable rate. Scott will most likely never be a startable option in your Campus leagues unless OSU has a change in offensive philosophy. Then you are hoping and praying that an undersized TE makes it in the league. With some extra buzz around his name right now, this might be the perfect time to sell Scott.
2. Better Late Than Never
Let’s take a look at some players that we’ve been waiting to breakout but just haven’t yet. Maybe 2021 is the year?
Kevin Austin, WR, Notre Dame: I don’t believe there is a more talented receiver on the Irish roster in 2021, but can Austin get on the field? He played sparingly as a freshman in 2018, and his 2019 was lost to a full season-long suspension. 2020 was to be Austin’s year before he broke his foot in fall camp. He came back and made a few guest appearances in the middle of the season before reinjuring his foot. Austin elected to wait and have surgery on his foot until this past January setting him back from partaking in spring practice. Austin has the skills to have a late breakout like Miles Boykin and Chase Claypool have had in previous years for the Irish. Austin will be the difference between having a good or mediocre receiving core for the Irish in 2021. Lots of unproven names for Brian Kelly at the receiver spot, but Austin has the highest potential if he were to finally hit.
DJ Matthews, WR, Indiana: Matthews is a former top 10 receiver in the 2017 recruiting class. After four disappointing seasons at Florida State, Matthews finds himself as an Indiana Hoosier now. With the departure of Whop Philyor, Matthews is walking into an ideal situation to put up some numbers. Matthews has the chance to slide into IUs WR2 role behind Ty Fryfogle. Due to size, Matthews most likely won’t be viewed highly by the NFL, but he’s got some sneaky C2C potential in 2021. Very cheap addition.
Tyrell Shavers, WR, San Diego State: Why not? Shavers signed with Alabama back in 2017 along with Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs, and Devonta Smith. Not quite the career path of the fellow receivers in his Crimson Tide class. After spending a portion of 2020 in Starkville with Mississippi State, Shavers finds himself at his third school in as many years. After four years of college ball, Shavers has just ten career catches to his name. A step down in competition could lead to Shavers having a nice year against MWC DBs. Might be a decent C2C stash but SDSU isn’t known for throwing the ball so don’t expect a lot of startable weeks.
3. Irish Incoming Backs
Notre Dame snagged two top 35 backs in the last recruiting cycle. Both backs have a bright future and are underrated by the Devy community.
Audric Estime: Estime is the highest-rated of the two backs. He came in as 247s 16th rated back. Estime had a monster senior year that saw his recruitment blow up, rushing for over 1,800 yards and 22 TDs on just a hair under 10 yards per carry. Estime committed to the Michigan State Spartans only to flip to the Irish on the last day of the early signing period after a late offer from Notre Dame. Estime had significant improvement from his junior year to his senior season.
Estime has the build of a college junior already. Transitioning to the college game physically shouldn’t be an issue for the future Irish back. Estime is advanced strength-wise for a high school back. He’s an extremely physical runner that runs with great power. He’s able to truck high school defenders with ease. Estime is a downhill runner that doesn’t try to bounce the ball outside too often. Estime lacks top-end speed. He won’t be ripping off a lot of big chunk plays at the college level. Estime won’t wow you with his quickness either. His ability to create for himself and break off big plays won’t be a strength. The ability to constantly break off intermediate gains will be where he makes his money. Estime’s patience and power will allow him to be a good college back.
While Estime may be college-ready physically, Kyren Williams will be the Irish’s go-to back for the 2021 season. In 2022, Estime and Chris Tyree will make a great one-two punch for the Irish rushing attack.
Logan Diggs: Much like Estime, Diggs had a big final year of high school. Diggs only rushed for 832 yards and 203 yards as a receiver, but this was enough to earn a late offer from the in-state LSU Tigers. Have some consideration, Diggs stuck to his ND commit. He finished ranked by 247 as the 35th back in the class. Diggs doesn’t have the sheer size of Estime but is the quicker and more slippery of the two incoming backs. Diggs lacks top-end speed but runs with good power for a sub-200lbs back. Shows good vision and patience. Diggs is very good in the passing game and will be a pass-catching asset in college.
Both backs have similarities but still compliment each other very well. With the expected departure of Kyren Williams after the 2021 season. One of these backs should find themselves competing for the RB2 role behind Chris Tyree.
4. Veteran Transfer
One of the more notable items to come out of Monday’s conversation with Husker coaches is that grad transfer Samori Toure is staring off at slot wide receiver.
“He can do a lot of different things,” Lubick said. “He’s very smart. He’s an experienced player who has played four years of football. Comes from a great program. Very well coached. Learns fast. Big-bodied guy that has great catch radius. Can go up and attack a ball in the air.”
On that latter point, Lubick added that, “50-50 balls aren’t 50-50 with him. He goes up and gets them. And then he’s a very good route runner, very polished.”
Lubick noted that Toure can play slot or outside, which is a lot to mentally handle for a first-year player. But Toure is a former FCS All-American who had 2,488 receiving yards at the University of Montana. “He’s picked it up really well.”
Toure is entering now his sixth year of college. After redshirting in 2016 for the Grizz, Toure was a productive force for Montana over the next four years. He finished the 2019 season on a tear. On the season he hauled in 1,495 yards on 87 receptions. Toure was on fire to end the year. He capped the 2019 season off with 48-905-10 over the final six games of the year. Upon entering the Transfer Portal, Toure heard from Florida State, Miami, and Oregon before landing in Lincoln, Nebraska. The seasoned vet should add great experience to an inexperienced receiving core. With the loss of Wan’Dale Robinson to Kentucky, the ‘Huskers are looking for somebody to step up out wide. Second-year receiver, Zavier Betts is a personal favorite for a breakout season in 2021, but Toure will play a big role for the ‘Huskers in 2021. I like Toure more as a late C2C stash rather than a Devy prospect. His older age is a bit of a turnoff but somebody has to haul in receptions for Nebraska and he’s as good a bet as anybody else currently on the roster.
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. This week I’ll be chatting up Iowa incoming WR, Keagan Johnson. Johnson is the younger brother of South Dakota State and current NFL Draft prospect, Cade Johnson. Johnson’s other brother, CJ Johnson, played at receiver at Wyoming a few years back and his father Clester played at Nebraska in the 90s. Johnson failed to make the Devy Watch Guide on the original release, but he’s a prospect I’ll fight for to get in the updated version dropping around June.
In seven games as a senior, Johnson totaled over 1,300 all-purpose yards and 17 TDs. I can’t find a breakdown of his rushing, receiving, or return yards from the season though. Johnson was a 4-star athlete according to 247Sports. Johnson has defensive back skills but is going to play receiver for the Hawkeyes. Johnson is listed at 6’1” and 180lbs, not ideal at the moment but he’s got time to develop his body. Johnson shows good speed and is able to take the top off of a defense. The freshman is already receiving great reviews from spring practice (see below). He’s got the opportunity to be an early contributor for the Hawkeyes. With the losses of Ihmir Smith-Marsette and Brandon Smith to the NFL Draft, there’s plenty of vacated production. The two combined for 48-576-6, not a lot on paper but they totaled 34%-36%-66% of the teams passing totals.
I’m a big fan of Johnson’s game, he’s a guy I’d target late in a C2C. With Iowa’s lack of a passing game, don’t be shocked if he’s never a startable fantasy option for your college squad though. If Johnson is able to get a decent early workload, he’ll find himself a much higher ranked Devy prospect next season. As we’ve seen in recent years with prospects like Marvin Mims and Jordan Addison, early production means a lot.
