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TOP PERFORMANCES
There has not been a more dominant skilled position player over the last four years in the FCS and to this point in the season than Cal Poly WR RAMSES BARDEN (6060, 227). Barden showed why those claims can be made by breaking Jerry Rice’s NCAA FCS record with a touchdown catch in the 27th game of his career. He finished the day with a career-high 12 catches for 217 yards and two scores in helping the Mustangs tack 69 points on the board Saturday. He now has 42 career touchdown receptions and broke the school record for career receptions with 181. Barden has now caught a touchdown pass in 15 consecutive games, a school record and just two shy of the NCAA mark held by Rice. This performance also earned him Great West Offensive Player of the Week honors.
One of the best-kept secrets in college football lies in Hartwick College QB JASON BOLTUS (6025, 219) who showed once again why he is attracting the attention of NFL scouts with another record-breaking day last Saturday. Boltus tied for the most yards thrown in an NCAA game this year with 508 and tossed six touchdowns on 28 of 46 passing. He also finished with no interceptions.
Fort eh first time this year, Virginia State WR JEROME CHOICE (6015, 218) earned CIAA Receiver of the Week honors with three catches for three scores in their 54-0 win over Lincoln Saturday. He had 49 yards total and moved into a tie for sixth-place among the all-time leaders at VSU in touchdown catches with 15 career grabs.
Most of the attention in the CAA has been on JMU QB Rodney Landers due to the inconsistency of UMASS QB LIAM COEN (6011, 223) who showed why he is still considered a Payton Award candidate with 389 yards and five touchdowns on 11 of 18 passing.
Prairie View A&M ILB ZACHARY EAST (5116, 264) has been one of the top linebackers in the SWAC over the last two years and showed why he is on the Buck Buchanan Award list on Saturday with 13 tackles, one and a half for loss, and an interception returned for 20 yards for a touchdown to earn SWAC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
A report would not be complete with a solid game by All-America Liberty RB RASHAD JENNINGS (6010, 230) who tallied 127 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries and caught one pass for eight yards. Jennings averaged an impressive 5.5 yards per carry, respectively.
If there was any player getting extra attention due to past prospects it has to be Jackson State CB DOMONIQUE JOHNSON (6015, 184) who has drawn comparisons to Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie because of his similar physical tools and HBCU background. Johnson has been stellar this year and continued his impressive play with 10 tackles and two picks in their thrilling win over Mississippi Valley State Saturday.
James Madison had another late game heroic play to keep them undefeated in CAA play and ranked No. 1 in the nation and was due to the play of All-America QB RODNEY LANDERS (6000, 217) who earned CAA Offensive Player of the Week honors after throwing for 184 yards on 8 of 12 passing and rushing for another 133 yards on 25 carries. He finished with three touchdown passes on plays of 55, 23, and 35 yards out, including his final toss that game on the game’s final play for a game-winning strike to Bosco Williams off a tip.
This next performance is not surprising at all if you read this week’s Scout’s Buzz as West Texas A&M WR CHARLY MARTIN (6011, 205) has been tearing up the Lonestar Conference this year and did so again this past weekend with 147 yards against Angelo State to earn Co-South Offensive Player of the Week honors. Martin became the all-time LSC receiving yardage leader and now has 3,442 career receiving yards. Martin has caught at least one TD pass in eight of the Buffs’ nine games this season and has extended his LSC record to 37 TD receptions.
Nebraska-Omaha QB ZACHARY MILLER (6037, 236) has been productive all year long and showed why NFL scouts are looking at him with 317 yards and five touchdowns in their 38-33 win over Central Missouri to earn MIAA Offensive Player of the Week honors. Two of his scores came as they scored the game’s final 17 points and the go-ahead score on a 43-yard run on a draw play with 52 seconds left. Miller finished the game 17 of 19 passing with a 89.5 completion percentage to set a school single-game record. His 43-yard score was included in a 65-yard effort on the ground off 19 carries and three touchdowns.
Preseason All-Missouri Valley performer Illinois State FS TOM NELSON (5110, 193) showed why he is considered one of the best in the FCS with a 12-tackle performance that included half of one for loss and a fumble recovery this past week.
NFL Scouts have taken notice of Northern Iowa DT EVERETTE PEDESCLEAUX (6043, 305), a former Minnesota transfer, after a very impressive start to the season and his performance this past weekend showed the type of playmaker he can actually be. Pedescleaux earned Missouri Valley Defensive Player of the Week honors with seven tackles, two for loss, a sack, and forced fumble in their victory over Youngstown State. The fumble came with two seconds left in the game to seal the win.
There is always a D2 player who is off the beaten path at a school that is not a regular stop for scouts or one that is not a traditional power and Ouachita Baptist WR JULIUS PRUITT is one of those type prospects this year. While he is off the beaten path he has been a big-play threat all year long and showed why with a monster effort on Saturday with 11 catches for 102 yards and one touchdown in their 47-45 win over Southwest Baptist.
Holy Cross QB DOMINIC RANDOLPH (6021, 224) earned Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week recognition for the second time in three weeks with 330 yards and three scores on 28 of 39 passing in their 34-21 victory over Lehigh on Saturday. Randolph set a Patriot League and Holy Cross record with his 14th-career 300-yard effort, as he topped the 300-yard mark for the fourth consecutive game.
The Missouri Valley Conference named North Dakota State RB TYLER ROEHL (5095, 232) their Offensive Player of the Week for his season-high 229 yards and three touchdowns on 30 attempts in their roan win over Illinois State. He scored on touchdown runs of 46, 4 and 36 yards and finished with a 7.6 yard per carry average. This was his fourth 100-yard rushing game off the year and the 10th of his career.
Perhaps the most underrated linebacker in FCS is Portland State All-American ILB ANDREW SCHANTZ (6011, 225) who has been stellar all year long and showed his toughness with some injuries that have not kept out of much action. He finished with 16 tackles, two for loss, a pass breakup, and an interception on Saturday to show why many scouts have him as a possible mid-round selection.
With starting QB Billy Malone on the bench, Abilene Christian RB BERNARD SCOTT (5104, 197) ran for 259 yards and three touchdowns to earn Lonestar Co-South Offensive Player of the Week honors. Just as in previous weeks, Scott did most of his damage in the second half with 166 yards and two touchdowns in the final 30 minutes of the game. He scored on a 22-yard first-quarter run and then had third-quarter touchdown runs of 4 and 30 yards. The 30-yarder came on the first play after a sack and fumble by TSU quarterback Scott Grantham and put ACU ahead 30-10 with 3:03 left in the third quarter.
The GNAC named Central Washington CB COURTNEY SMITH (5100, 190) the Special Teams Player of the Week after setting one GNAC record and tying two others. His 98-yard fourth-quarter kickoff return was the longest return in GNAC history and he tied GNAC season and career marks with two kick returns for touchdowns. He also had three tackles and a critical interception in the second quarter.
For the fourth time this year and the first time on defense, Nicholls State S LARDARIUS WEBB (5095, 175) earned Southland Player of the Week honors with six tackles, a sack, forced fumble, fumble recovery, and two breakups in their upset over No. 11 McNeese State. While this is Webb’s first defensive award, he has been recognized as the league’s special team player of the week three times, including each of the past two weeks.
SCOUTS BUZZ
One of the more athletic linemen in this draft is Grand Valley State OG SAMUEL ALLEN (6054, 300) who shows a nasty streak on tape and the ability to dominate at the second level and in space. Some sources have him as high as the 5th round while most have him as a likely 6th-7th round pick.
Three teams were in attendance at the Appalachian State vs. Furman matchup in Boone, NC to check out Furman OT JOEL BELL (6072, 308) whose size and dominant play has attracted the attention of just about every NFL team this year. Don’t be shocked if Bell lands in the 4th-5th round range if he checks out medically as Bell has had surgery on both shoulders and three surgeries on his knees. He is a great kid who has improved steadily as the season has progressed and has a few teams intrigued enough to give him mid rounds grades.
One player receiving varying grades from teams is Northwestern State OG TIM HENDERSON (6024, 330) and not because of his play but other issues. Some teams have him as a pure PFA due to off field concerns while others have him in the 4th-5th round range. His stock is one to monitor as the season goes on.
In my recent conversations with scouts one of them recently called Stillman DE/DT SAMMIE LEE HILL (6037, 329) a “raw beast” that needs to be seen on a national stage because of his athletic ability and imposing size. Many scouts feel that Hill could go as high as the 5th or 6th round with a solid postseason.
West Texas A&M WR CHARLY MARTIN (6011, 205) has been getting rave reviews from area scouts over the last few weeks and is considered to be a draftable player if he can run in the 4.5 range. Don’t be surprised to see Martin attract plenty of attention in the postseason after what has been a very stellar senior campaign to this point.
While he has not yet created a huge buzz among scouts, Eastern Washington DE GREG PEACH (6022, 250) is a player to monitor over the next few weeks as the word is starting to get around on him. Most scouts consider him a tweener that is a free agent at best but those remarks were made before he started his tear on FCS competition that includes 14 sacks to date. While he is a tweener he is very quick and could be a situational pass rusher in the NFL. Don’t be shocked if Peach follows in the footsteps of last year’s Montana DE Kroy Biermann and not only win the Buck Buchanan Award but impress during the postseason.
Recent talks with NFL scouts have confirmed what we thought that West Texas A&M DE BRANDON SWAIN (6025, 230) is seeing his stock plummet due to some off field issues. Swain has improved his numbers from early in the year and currently boasts 23 tackles, seven for loss, and four and a half sacks but could have damaged his stock too much by a rough start to the year. He does have an abundance of talent and should be re-evaluated; however, it is likely that only a standout postseason could rescue his stock. Most scouts polled said he is a pure free agent who will only be considered by a hand full of teams due to his off-field issues.
JUNIOR WATCH LIST
Here are some names of juniors who have been impressive thus far in the FCS.
DT CHRIS BAKER, HAMPTON, JR.
Stats- 34 TT, 9.5 TFL, 5.5 SCK, 8 QBH in 7 games.
CB EDDIE CALVIN, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE, JR.
Stats- 44 TT, 1.5 TFL, 4 INT, 6 PBU, 1 FR, 5 KR, 143 yards, 28.6avg, 56 long in 8 games.
WR VICTOR CRUZ, UMASS, JR.
Stats- 49 catches, 794 yards, 16.2avg, 4 TDs, 99.2 yards per game, 1 att, 21 yards, 21.0avg, 2 KR, 44 yards, 22.0avg, 24 long, 3 PR, 32 yards, 10.7avg in 8 games.
QB ARMANTI EDWARDS, APPALACHIAN STATE, JR.
Stats- 103 comp, 174 att, 1456, 15 TDs, 2 INT, 59.2%, 155.6 pass eff., 182.0 yards per game, 131 carries, 561 yards, 4.3avg, 8 TDs in 8 games.
RB WILLIAM FORD, SOUTH CAROLINA STATE, JR.
Stats- 132 carries, 792 yards, 6.0avg, 8 TDs, 113.1 yards per game, 14 catches, 63 yards, 4.5avg in 7 games.
LB CHASE GAZZERRO, MONTANA STATE, JR.
Stats- 43 TT, 10 TFL, 4 SCK, 1 INT, 1 PBU in 8 games.
CB CORTEZ GILBERT, APPALACHIAN STATE, JR.
Stats- 51 TT, 0.5 TFL, 2 INT, 10 PBU, 1 BLK in 8 games.
TE CLAY HARBOR, MISSOURI STATE, JR.
Stats- 26 catches, 308 yards, 11.8avg, 2 TDs, 44.0 yards per game in 7 games.
DE LARRY HART, CENTRAL ARKANSAS, JR.
Stats- 29 TT, 17 TFL, 12 SCK, 2 PBU, 1 FF in 8 games.
WR TERRELL HUDGINS, ELON, JR
Stats- 69 catches, 923 yards, 8 TDs, 13.4avg, 102.6 yards per game in 9 games.
DE TIM KNICKY, STEPHEN F. AUSTIN, JR.
Stats- 47 TT, 15.5 TFL, 10 SCK, 1 PBU, 1FR, 4 FF in 8 games.
QB BRYANT LEE, SOUTHERN, JR.
Stats- 179 comp, 288 att, 2277 yards, 18 TDs, 4 INT, 146.4 pass eff., 62.2%, 284.6 yards per game, 110 carries, 405 yards, 3.7avg, 6 TDs in 8 games.
DE KEVIN LINEHAN, WEBER STATE, JR.
Stats- 50 TT, 11.5 TFL, 8.5 SCK, 3 PBU, 2 QBH, 2 FR, 4 FF in 9 games.
WR MATT LUFT, HARVARD, JR.
Stats- 40 catches, 674 yards, 16.9avg, 4 TDs, 66 long, 112.3 yards per game in 6 games.
WR MARC MARIANI, MONTANA, JR.
Stats- 42 catches, 863 yards, 20.5avg, 12 TDs, 107.9 yards per game, 1 att, 12 yards, 12.0avg, 13 PR, 147 yards, 11.3avg, 34 long, 16 KR, 374 yards, 23.4avg, 38 long in 8 games.
RB DAVID MCCARTY, ALBANY, JR.
Stats- 240 carries, 1140 yards, 4.8avg, 6 TDs, 142.5 yards per game, 20 catches, 301 yards, 15.1avg, 4 TDs in 8 games.
CB/RS SCOTTY MCGEE, JAMES MADISON, JR.
Stats- 18 PR, 232 yards, 12.9avg, 2 TDs, 69 long, 13 KR, 452 yards, 34.8avg, 1 TD, 99 long, 14 TT, 1 INT, 1 PBU in 8 games.
RB TONY NELSON, UMASS, JR.
Stats- 160 carries, 809 yards, 5.1avg, 7 TDs, 101.1 yards per game, 13 catches, 100 yards, 7.7avg, 1 TD, 14.3 yards per game in 7 games.
WR ANDRE ROBERTS, THE CITADEL, JR.
Stats- 58 catches, 797 yards, 13.7avg, 10 TDs, 99.6 yards per game, 4 carries, 19 yards, 4.8avg, 17 PR, 342 yards, 20.1avg, 2 TDs, 64 long, 2 TT in 8 games.
DE JAMES RUFFIN, NORTHERN IOWA, JR.
Stats- 42 TT, 10.5 TFL, 7 SCK, 2 PBU, 3 QBH, 1 FR, 2 FF, 1 BLK in 8 games.
RB DAVID SINISI, MONMOUTH, JR.
Stats- 207 carries, 1295 yards, 6.3avg, 17 TDs, 161.0 yards per game, 9 catches, 77 yards, 8.6avg in 8 games.
DE ADRIAN TRACY, WILLIAM & MARY, JR.
Stats- 43 TT, 12.5 TFL, 7 SCK, 1 PBU, 6 QBH, 1 BLK in 7 games.
DE STEVEN WULFF, UC DAVIS, JR.
Stats- 21 TT, 8.5 TFL, 7 SCK, INT, 3 PBU, 1 FR in 9 games.  Trackback(0)
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