Heading into a new college football season I thought it would be important to remind you what this report is intended to present to you. Every week of the College Football season I will be selecting 4-6 key games around the country. I will give a brief analysis of the game, what I see happening in it, and it’s impact (if any) on national rankings. I will also be listing top pro prospects for each team for you to watch, including their uniform number.
Week 1 may be the best and biggest important game lineup in college football history. My apologies in advance fro those of you checking in and realizing your favorite team is not featured. Maybe next week, or next month.
FRIDAY Sept. 2 9PM /ET FOX SPORTS 1
KANSAS STATE @ STANFORD by 8
K-State is always a competitive team with the dean of college coaches BILL SNYDER at the helm. But traveling to the left coast and facing a likely Top 10-15 team is probably too much for them to handle as their start to the season. STANFORD welcomes back 47 lettermen, but unfortunately for them, 4-year starting QB/KEVIN HOGAN is now in the NFL. This game will tell us a lot about their QB slot for 2016. The best news is that Heisman candidate, multi-dimensional RB/CHRISTIAN McCAFFREY is back, for probably his final season of college ball. CHRIS can do it all and should post some big numbers to start the season in this contest. I look for Stanford to wear down a smaller and less athletic roster to win by a TD-plus, but I expect them to have to work hard to squeeze out a victory. Players to watch:
KANSAS STATE STANFORD
#22 DANTE BARNETT/S 6’1/195 #57 JOHNNY CASPERS/OC 6’4/300
#24 CHARLES JONES/RB 5’10/206 #29 DALLAS LOYD/S 6’3/213
#10 DONNIE STARKS/CB 6’0/180 #99 LUKE KAUMATULA/DE 6’7/295
#75 JORDAN WILLIS/DE 6’5/258 #3 MICHAEL RECTOR/WR/RS 6’1/189
SATURDAY SEPT 3 NOON/ET ABC
HOUSTON vs OKLAHOMA +4
The Sooners are a solid Top 10 team, but had best be ready for a severe test from the Cougars and their multi-threat QB/GREG WARD. Ward is a huge threat with his legs, but if the defense keys on that aspect of his game he will scramble around and find his receivers downfield. BAKER MAYFIELD/QB of the Sooners, is a also a multi-threat leader who has 47 returning lettermen who will have his back this season. Being a game played in NRG Stadium literally makes this a home game for the Cougars, which Okie HC BOBBY STOOPS must also overcome in preparing his team. Watch for a fourth quarter shootout especially if Houston has a the ball and a chance to win with a score at the end of the contest. Players to watch:
HOUSTON OKLAHOMA
#21 CHANCE ALLEN/WR 6’3/215 #26 JORDAN EVANS/ILB 6’2/235
#81 TYRUS BOWSER/OLB 6’3/240 #5 GENO LEWIS/WR 6’1/205
#94 CAMERON MALVEAUX/DE 6’6/270 #13 AHMAD THOMAS/S 6’0/215
#93 B.J. SINGLETON/DT 6’4/315 #11 DEDE WESTBROOK/WR 6’0/175
#41 STEVEN TAYLOR/LB 6’1/225 #6 BAKER MAYFIELD/QB 6’1/212
#1 GREG WARD/QB 5’11/185
SATURDAY SEPT 3 8PM/ET ABC
ALABAMA by 6 vs SOUTHERN CAL @ ARLINGTON, TX
Saturday night at Jerry’s World should be a major party, which also just happens to feature a key match-up of Top 15 teams. The defending National Champs from ALABAMA return 48 lettermen, but QB is probably their top ? going into the 2016. But that seems to almost be an annual event for NICK SABAN’s elite program. Their Defense should once again be carrying this team in most of their games. USC comes into the game with a whopping 52 lettermen coming back, but they too are looking to replace their QB/CODY KESSLER. Whoever starts will have 2 RB to hand off to who rushed for over 900-yards each. They also have 89-catch super star WR/JUJU SMITH-SCHUSTER in place to catch balls from whomever mans the QB position. Both defenses are tough with lost of returning despite losses which cost each team 6 starters on that side of the ball last season. This could look an awful lot like a pro football battle once they kick it off. Players to watch:
ALABAMA SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
#93 JOHNATHAN ALLEN/DE 6’3/291 #73 ZACH BANNER/OT 6’9/360
#22 RYAN ANDERSON/LB 6’2/253 #22 JUSTIN DAVIS/RB 6’1/200
#10 REUBEN FOSTER/LB 6’1/236 #48 TAYLOR McNAMARA/TE 6’5/245
#88 O.J. HOWARD/TE 6’6/251 #22 LEON McQUAY/S 6’1/195
#4 EDDIE JACKSON/S 6’1/194 #1 DARREUS ROGERS/WR 6’1/215
#50 ALPHONSE TAYLOR/OG 6’5/340 #72 CHAD WHEELER/OT 6’6/310
#56 TIM WILLIAMS/OLB 6’4/252
MONDAY SEPT 5 8PM/ET ESPN
OLE MISS vs. FLORIDA STATE by 5 @ Orlando, FL
Yet another high profile opening weekend game at a neutral sight. But then again it is almost a home game for he Seminoles. The biggest edge in this contest may be the fact that Ole MIss has a quality vet QB returning in Jim Kelly’s nephew CHAD KELLY. The Rebels also have 60 other lettermen back on their roster, in addition to a Top 10 recruiting class. FSU was a very young team last Fall and HC JIMBO FISHER welcomes back 57 lettermen, including Heisman candidate RB/DALVIN COOK/JR. But he must replace vet QB/SEAN MAGUIRE, who is lost indefinitely with a serious leg injury. Redshirt Frosh DEONDRE FRANCOIS/#12 is expected to start in his place. FSU has a strong D, but unless they generate some scoring on O, it will be tough to contain Ole Miss with KELLY at the helm. Players to watch:
MISSISSIPPI FLORIDA STATE
#8 QUINCY ADEBOYEJO/WR 6’3/195 #29 NATE ANDREWS/SS/6’0/214
#1 TONY BRIDGES/CB 6’0/185 #72 KAREEM ARE/OG 6’6/325
#12 TONY CONNER/SS 6’0/220 #44 DEMARCUS WALKER/DE 6’4/280
#17 EVAN ENGRAM/TE 6’3/227 #27 MARQUES WHITE/CB 6’0/185
#93 D.J. JONES/DT 6’0/321 #8 KERMIT WHITFIELD/RS/WR 5’8/182
#10 CHAD KELLY/QB 6’2/224 #3 BOBO WILSON/WR 5’10/184
Remember to check you TV listings because this is only a sampling of the top notch college action this Labor Day holiday weekend. Get your recording devices cranked up and programmed.
Pigskin
