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. Deep Diving: G5 FR QB
Lets find some G5 FR in the deep depths of the ocean for your C2C or CFF dynasty teams.
Taylen Green, Boise State: Boise State went down to the Lone Star State to grab the signature of a 6’5” and 215lbs (looks closer to around 200lbs) QB. He completed just over 62% of his passes for 2,600 yards and 24 TDs. Green added nearly 700 yards and 8 TDs as a rusher. Green is tall with a lanky frame. He’s got a lot of room to bulk up during his time in college. Green has good arm strength and shows good touch on his deep passes. He’s got good mobility and can be an above-average runner. Green has a 4.64 40-yard dash on his resume.
Outlook: Green is a pretty intriguing prospect. He’s got the size and arm, Green has the potential to blossom once he gets into a college weight room. Green can develop into a top-level G5 QB with some NFL upside. He’s got a lot of tools that are coveted in a QB.
William Haskell, San Diego State: Haskell signed with SDSU despite grabbing a handful of P5 offers. Haskell didn’t have lofty stats over his career as a junior; he only threw for 1,400 yards and jumped up to 1,800 yards in 8 games in 2020. He did add 965 yards and 14 TDs on the ground in 2019. Haskell is a crazy athlete, with a short running start he can leap onto the top of an SUV. Haskell is a top-notch QB rusher. Haskell brings a skillset to SDSU that I don’t really ever recall having. Haskell has the potential to be a playmaker that the Aztecs aren’t used to having lined up underneath center. To go along with his rushing abilities, Haskell has a pretty good arm as well.
Outlook: Haskell has the ability to change up a pretty bland SDSU offense that we are used to seeing. Haskell’s ceiling is really high. He could develop into one of the premier G5 QBs in the nation. He has all the tools to work with. SDSU isn’t known for producing good QBs for CFF but if they utilize Haskell’s legs enough that might change.
Bryce Drummond, North Texas: Drummond signed with UNT over offers from Texas State and Tulsa. He capped off his high school career with a monster season. Drummond completed over 72% of his passes for over 4,000 yards and 58 TDs. He added another 700 yards and 18 TDs on the ground. Drummond isn’t as good a runner as you’d think looking at those stats. He’s an average runner beating up on some weak Oklahoma competition. He’s got decent top-end speed but isn’t overly athletic. Drummond does have a big arm though. Capable of tossing the ball 50-60 yards in the air with good velocity on it. His Arm will only get stronger as he bulks up, still pretty slender right now.
Outlook: Drummond actually looks very intriguing. He’s got good size and good arm talent. Could be a nice CFF option in a few years. Potential two or three-year starter for UNT.
2. Deep Diving: G5 FR RB
Antario Brown, N. Illinois: Brown is a very interesting case study of why the hell did he end up in the MAC? Brown was a GA 1st Teamer in 2019 and was briefly committed to South Carolina before their coaching change. As a junior, he rushed for over 1,000 yards and caught another 500 yards. Brown has a 10.9 100-meter on his resume. Brown only appeared in five games in 2020 but rushed for 375 yards. Listed at 5’11” and 210lbs, Brown has a college-made body. Brown has size, speed, power, and pass-catching. Why did he slip to the MAC? Seems like we are missing a few pieces to our puzzle.
Outlook: I don’t see a reason why Brown can’t be a future All-MAC performer in his college career. NIU already has a couple of talented backs heading into their second seasons but Brown is just more talented. Brown should be an early contributor. Something still feels off about his whole situation though…
Joseph McKay, ECU: ECU coaches raved too much about him to ignore. Plus McKay walks into a backfield with only two other scholarship backs (both are true sophomores though). McKay claimed offers from schools like Alabama, Florida State, Memphis, and Ole Miss. ECU’s new RB Coach on McKay “You watch this guy’s film and it’s like, ‘Man, how did we get this guy here?’” Foster said. “He’s a guy that has a very special talent. Another bigger back that can run. He’s physical and can make you miss. He’s got a little bit of everything.”
As a junior, McKay tallied over 1,200 yards and 20 TDs. As far as I can find for his senior year, McKay rushed for over 1,000 yards again. McKay has great size, listed at 6-foot and 216lbs. He’s got a documented 4.97 40-yard dash in March of 2019, not ideal. His speed is what prevented him from going to one of his bigger offers. On film, McKay has trouble running away from high school defenders so that slower 40 is probably somewhat accurate. Outside of his below-average speed, McKay has a lot to like. He’s a downhill runner with some wiggle. McKay has good vision to bob and weave through a defense.
Outlook: McKay has the potential for some early reps. The Pirates only have three scholarship backs including McKay. The only issue with that is the two backs in front of McKay are both true sophomores who performed well as tFR in 2020. While he might get some early playing time not sure he can snag a full-time role for a year or two. McKay has intriguing talent but the sheer lack of speed caps his upside.
Jordan Hornbeak, Fresno State: Hornbeak signed with Fresno State over half a dozen PAC12 offers. Cali recruits didn’t have a senior year due to COVID but Hornbeak had a big 2019. He rushed for nearly 1,700 yards and 18TDs on 7.7 YPC. Hornbeak is a sub 200lbs back but runs with great power. Listed at 6’, Hornbeak has plenty of room to bulk up and over that 200lbs mark. He’s no burner but he possesses good speed.
Outlook: Ronnie Rivers has this backfield locked down for 2021 but upon his departure that starting gig is up for grabs. It’s not crazy to think that Hornbeak grabs that starting spot in 2022 and gives you three to four years of really good college fantasy production.
3. Deep Diving: G5 FR WR
Dylan Goffney, SMU: Goffney was a three-year producer for Bridgeland High School in Texas. In seven games as a senior, Goffney hauled in 50-788-12. Goffney has already made an impression during SMUs Spring Practice. “Dylan Goffney is really turning heads with his play. He made a terrific grab on a deep bomb that not many guys can make. He worked well in 1-on-1s, creating separation and clearly is more comfortable than he was on Day 1. If there was a top performers for practice on Tuesday, Goffney would’ve been right near the top.” Goffney displays good speed and quickness. He creates a ton of separation at the high school level.
Outlook: Goffney looks to be a player that can get on the field early for SMU. While he might not be a starter on Day 1, Goffney can contribute. Goffney has a good combination of speed, quickness, separation, and route-running ability. Goffney might not be a big freshman producer, but I would expect that he’s a major role player for SMU in his second year on campus.
Carlton “CJ” Guidry, Houston: Guidry signed with the Cougars over the other two finalists of Nebraska and Texas Tech. From March of 2019, Guidry has a 37” vert at a Nike Opening Event and ran a 10.84 100-meter from February of 2020. As a junior, Guidry averaged nearly 25 yards per catch on 25 receptions. In 2020 Guidry pulled in 26-440-10 to cap off his high school career. As evident by his 100-meter time, Guidry is a blazer. He displays top-notch speed on the field. It appears Guidry has the potential to become an ace return man for the Cougars as well. List at 5’9” and 165lbs that is one of the few negatives surrounding Guidry’s game.
Outlook: Guidry has all the makings of being a playmaker on Saturdays. Due to his size, his Sunday’s future isn’t bright. Guidry is worth a late C2C flyer for his potential college production.
Eric McAlister, Boise State: McAlister picked Boise State over some P5 offers from Utah and Wisconsin. He had a monster junior season in 2019, hauling in 62-1449-23 (23.4 YPC). He capped that in his senior year with 75-1631-21 (21.7 YPC). McAlister has nice size; listed at 6’3” and 180lbs. He’s got a good, lean frame that can hold plenty more mass. McAlister doesn’t appear to be playing the best competition that the state of Texas has to offer. He’s got above-average athletic ability for his size. McAlister has a basketball background as well.
Outlook: Given a year or two of seasoning and weight room development; McAlister has the potential to be a multi-year starter and future All-MWC performer. Boise State’s previous WR1s have put up some major CFF numbers.
Jamari Gassett, Buffalo: Buffalo was able to dip into the Sunshine State for a speedster. Gassett has a 10.92 100-meter time under his belt from the Spring of 2020 but claims he’ll be down to 10.7 by the end of his senior year. Gassett received late offers from Rutgers and Utah but stuck to his Buffalo commitment. As a senior, Gassett hauled in 45-1066-9 (23.7 YPR) and 4 total returns on special teams for TDs. Gassett plays at the second-highest level in the state of Florida and displays great speed against top-level competition. Incredibly elusive in the open field.
Outlook: Gassett has a ton of talent and will give MAC defenders a lot of fits. Buffalo isn’t known for having productive receivers but I think Gassett can be a worthy C2C stash. Antonio Nunn had a decent season in 2020 that gives me some hope for Gassett.
4. Rising Senior Spotlight
The first rising senior I’ll be taking a look at is Penn State commit Kaden Saunders.
Saunders is one of the fastest players in this entire recruiting class regardless of position. The future Nittany Lion was hand-timed at a 4.31 and 4.41 from February of 2021. At this same event Saunders shredded DBs and even shined when he flipped the script and played cornerback shutting down receivers. Saunders committed to Penn State last summer over Notre Dame. The Ohio native racked up 47-958-13 (20.4 YPC) in 2020. A major bump from his sophomore year of 20-370-4.
Saunders’ speed on film looks very legit. His speed is a couple notches above anybody else that he faces on a high school field on Friday nights. His ability to accelerate off the line of scrimmage just eats up any cushion that a high school DB gives him. Saunders can reach his top speed very quickly. His burst and acceleration will be among the best in this entire class. He’s extremely smooth, flying around a football field is effortless for Saunders. The crazy part about Saunders’ game is that Penn State does an amazing job at physically developing their personnel in the weight room. Saunders could still get bigger, faster, and more explosive. Saunders is an above-average route runner for a high school recruit, he’s able to create separation without even having to try due to his speed and quickness. Saunders plays a lot out of the slot in high school and I would expect him to do a lot of the same at Penn State. Giving Saunders a free release of the line of scrimmage with his speed and acceleration is a terrifying idea.
Listed at 5’10” and 172lbs, if those numbers are anywhere near legit Penn State should have no problem getting him over 180lbs during his career. Currently rated 247s 11th best receiver in the country, I expect Saunders to be hovering around a top 5 receiver this time next year for my personal ranks. Saunders has the makings of a special college player. IF Penn State can develop a halfway decent college QB, Saunders will be a major threat on Saturdays in the near future.
Saunders on how Penn State plans to use him:
“They see me playing inside and outside — not just limited to the slot — because of the matchup problems that I can bring,” Saunders said. “With the offense that Coach Yurcich is bringing in and the schemes that he sets, they see me playing inside and outside. Just getting to the best matchups and getting the ball in space.”
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. I don’t ever recall a prospect being ranked so highly (247s WR6) and getting such little buzz surrounding him. I haven’t heard a peep from him in the Devy and he’s barely going in C2C drafts (freshmen or startups). Cody Jackson comes from the same high school as former Sooner, CeeDee Lamb. As a senior, Jackson hauled in 54-939-12 (17.4 YPR) a slight dip from his 65-1366-21 (21.1 YPR) in 2019. Listed at 5’11” by OU with no weight listed (looks around 165-170 lbs range right now).
It’s very clear that Jackson is a downfield home run hitter. Jackson shows good speed and acceleration. Using his quick burst off the line teamed with his good overall speed, Jackson is able to win vertically. He excels at getting open down the field and converting that into scores. The areas Jackson excels in are very similar to fellow OU FR Mario Williams but the trouble for Jackson is that Williams does it better. So Jackson might be a slightly redundant piece on the OU offense. Lincoln Riley does an excellent job of scheming his receivers into space. I imagine Riley is capable enough of a coach to find a way to get both Jackson and Williams on the field at the same time, despite being similar players. Just imagine a four wide set with both Jackson and Williams lining up in the slot with free releases. That sound you hear is Sooner fans erupting from a touchdown score.
Jackson isn’t the type of receiver you are going to look for on a 3rd and 6 to hit the slant route for the first down. His abilities to win vertically are what are going to get him on the field.
