#H2P... PITT IS IT! - A Pitt Panthers Dynasty (NCAA 14)

[TrophyKing80]

Moose! Cranking it up a notch with that slick as hell cover! Outstanding job, Moose.

[moose141]

Quote: Originally Posted by TrophyKing80

Moose! Cranking it up a notch with that slick as hell cover! Outstanding job, Moose.

Thanks TK, appreciate the kudos!

[moose141]

Season Preview: QB Room
Report by Matt Schmidlin | August 27, 2021

As we continue leafing through our copy of the Athlon College Football 2021 Season Preview, let's take a look at what the magazine has to say about some of the quarterbacks to watch out for in this upcoming season.

Top 5 QBs in the Nation

1. Clint Franklin (rSR), Florida -- Franklin is what Florida wishes that they could have gotten if Cam Newton stayed (not that they're particularly upset with Tim Tebow's output). A big bodied QB with good speed, Franklin has the arm and accuracy to make basically any throw on the field, while having the running ability to make you account for him on the ground as well. After 2600 yards through the air and 850 on the ground last year, the senior could pass for 3000+ and run for 1000+ this season with no problem at all.

2. Dustin Young (rSR), Ole Miss -- While his arm is a shade under the ability of Franklin's, Young is a speedster (92 SPD) who can make plenty of plays out in the open field. Had an incredible 13 rushing TDs last season while actually posting better passing numbers than Franklin, and should be right in the Heisman conversation as well.

3. Steve Tate (rJR), Michigan -- The redshirt junior probably has the best arm in all of college football (94 PWR, 99 ACC) and forced senior Zac Anderson to transfer to UNC after winning the starting job in the spring. He's your prototypical pocket passer and will have plenty of options in Ann Arbor to feed the ball to.

4. Taylor Savage (SO), Oklahoma -- Another player who forced a transfer, Savage won the starting job with a steller relief performance in Oklahoma's bowl game. Savage was the #1 QB recruit two offseasons ago and has the pedigree to star for an Oklahoma offense loaded with talent.

5. Kauanoe Kelekolio (SO), LSU -- Kelekolio took his lumps after assuming the starting job midway through his freshman season in Baton Rouge, and will need to bring up a completion percentage that finished at 48.9% last year. However, the youngster shows plenty of poise and can thread the ball into the tighest windows (97 ACC) so expect a resurgence for the Tigers behind his arm.

5 Under the Radar QBs to Watch

1. Tavares Cruz (rSR), San Jose State -- Cruz benefitted from an incredible offseason (+6 OVR beyond normal growth due to random progression roll) and finally takes over the helm for the Spartans after two years in backup duty. He can run (86 SPD) and has incredible accuracy (95 ACC) though his arm strength (86 PWR) won't allow him to take the top off of the defense. Definitely one to watch from a G5 program.

2. Karter Ford (SO), Georgia -- Ford went 5-3 as a starter to salvage a 5-7 season for Georgia in 2020. He provides good mobility to evade the rush and make plays, with a strong arm that might need some more polish. For Georgia to rebound this season Ford will need to link up with arguably the nation's best WR (more on that later) early and often.

3. Cornell Washington (rSO), Syracuse -- One of the biggest surprises was Washington winning the starting job for the Orange, causing the transfer of Steve Williams to Cincinnati (as so often seems to happen). Washington has one of the biggest arms in college football (97 PWR), and with a pair of 95+ rated receivers he may be poised for a breakout season for the struggling Orange.

4. Will Alford (SO), Clemson -- After graduating Zerrick Cooper, Alford steps in looking to lead Clemson back to their first ACC title in 4 seasons. The sophomore is a heady player with a lively arm, through limited play time to this point. He should have arguably the most talented offense in the conference with plenty of toys to play with to fill up the scoreboard.

5. Tristan Richards (FR), Washington -- This past season's #1 QB prospect elected to stay close to home and signed with the Huskies where he is the heir apparent to senior Casey Pearson. However, should Pearson struggle early it wouldn't be unfathomable to see Richards get his chance sooner rather than later.

[moose141]

Season Preview: Hand Leads HBs
Report by Matt Schmidlin | August 27, 2021

Top 5 HBs in the Nation

1. Bryan Hand (rSR), Alabama -- Despite playing second fiddle to Josh Jacobs last season, Grigsby made the play to remember in the national title game, running through 5 defenders for a 37 yard score. After nearly topping 1000 yards in 2020, he is poised to carry the Alabama offense that will have an inexperienced sophomore at quarterback.

2. Grant Grigsby (rSR), LSU -- Grigsby is a national champion for the Tigers who ran for 1180 yards and 15 TDs on just 154 carries (7.7 AVG) in his first full season as the feature back. He can also catch passes out of the backfield, hauling in 25 grabs out of the backfield, and will be the prime target to keep the pressure off of Kelekolio.

3. Michael Lowery (rSR), Ohio State -- Lowery was never given full reign at Stanford, with only 41 carries through his first three seasons in Palo Alto. Ohio State had no problems with a transfer HB in 2020, with Quadraiz Wadley coming in with much less of a pedigree and stull racking up 1141 yards on the ground and 14 total TDs. Lowery should exceed those totals in Columbus this season.

4. Brandon Weiss (rSR), California -- Weiss returns from Cal's Cinderella 2020 season off the back of a thousand yard campaign, so expect the speedster to play a big role in Cal looking to repeat for a Pac-12 North title.

5. Kayden Mitchell (SO), Purdue - Mitchell may be the most supremely talented player on this list (and even in college football). The speedster (97 SPD) starred as a freshman, with 820 rushing yards, 255 receiving yards, and 585 return yards to go alongside 8 TDs in 2020. If Purdue is able to make a splash in the Big Ten this year, it will be on the legs of Mitchell.

5 Under the Radar HBs

1. Antoine Byrne-Horton (SO), Oklahoma State -- Bryne-Horton nearly made the nation's top 5 HBs, not just the 5 Under the Radar, after running for 1381 yards and 11 TDs as a true freshman for the Pokes. If he keeps up this pace, the power back could be on pace to chase the national record for career rushing yardage should he stay for 4 seasons (don't expect him to).

2. Darien Williams Jr (SO), Alabama -- Williams will benefit from being the guy to spell Bryan Hand after opposing defenses have already been worn down, and the power back should relish in that role for the Crimson Tide. Expect a big jump from last season's 380 yards and 4.3 yards per carry.

3. Myles Bigsby (FR), Michigan -- Bigsby will be the starter from the get-go for the Wolverines, who will likely not be the focal point for opposing defenses due to Steve Tate's arm under center.

4. AJ Jackson-Stroud (FR), Georgia -- Jackson-Stroud could be this season's Darien Williams Jr (2020 Returner of the Year), as he is expected to return kicks in addition to serving as the backup to senior starter Tyler Stewart.

5. Da'vion Reynolds (FR), Pitt -- Reynolds is too talented to keep off of the field, and will push to take snaps away from the senior tandem of CJ London and Todd Sibley Jr.

[moose141]

Season Preview: ACC WR Crop Best in Nation
Report by Matt Schmidlin | August 27, 2021

Top 5 WRs in the Nation

1. Jay Keyes (JR), Pitt -- There's no way to not have the reigning Biletnikoff winner on top of this list. Keyes returns for his junior season after a 102 grab campaign that is among the best in Pitt history. What else could he do this year: will we see him in the backfield, running the ball and throwing passes as well?

2. Travis Morris (SR), Georgia -- Morris will certainly be Karter Ford's favorite target, as Georgia doesn't have too many options otherwise. He saw a bit of a regression last season from 34 to 25 catches, but expect a big turnaround as part of a Georgia squad with a lot to prove this year.

3. Brock Jones (rSR), Oklahoma -- Jones has been incredibly consistent in his career, with seasons of 29, 35, and 33 catches. Expect Taylor Savage to look to establish a partnership with Jones, who had his best total ever in 2020 with 9 TD grabs after 4 in each of the previous two seasons.

4. Ian Evans (rSR), Clemson -- Evans managed 51 catches in 2020 even while playing second fiddle to All-American Diondre Overton, and will be a constant big play threat for Clemson with his 17.2 YPC average on 93 career receptions. He could be the player to dethrone Keyes as top receiver in the ACC should he link up well with Will Alford.

5. Trai Fenton (SR), Syracuse -- Despite Syracuse's struggles over the last three seasons, Fenton has excelled, hauling in 130 career catches while finally busting out as a big play threat in 2020 after being more of a possession receiver in his first two seasons. With new starter Cornel Washington possessing one of the biggest arms in the nation, Fenton could be set for a star turn in Syracuse.

5 Under the Radar WRs to Watch

1. Jakobe Sutton (SO), LSU -- Sutton struggled to make an impact on the Bayou as a freshman, making just 14 catches with a single score. However, he should be a starter this season alongside Erik Fisher and will be expected to have a big season for an LSU offense with no shortage of weapons (we already mentioned both Kelekolio and Grisgby as well).

2. Jordyn Adams (SO), Nebraska -- Adams projects as a solid slot receiver at the next level, and showed that skillset off in his first year in Lincoln, hauling in 28 passes in 2020. Adams should continue to improve and provide an outlet for starting QB Matt Parker, who likes to get out of the pocket and improvise often.

3. Taevion Carter (FR), Notre Dame -- Carter comes in as the most talented receiver on the Irish roster already, and his blazing speed should enable him to evade coverage for new transfer QB Ben Guidry (from UCF). Expect to see freshman All-America type numbers from Carter.

4. Talik Byrd (FR), Ohio State -- Byrd fits right into an otherwise unspectacular but deep Buckeyes receiving corps and should get plenty of chances to excel alongside redshirt senior QB Brian Barbour. He has a penchant for making highlight reel grabs, so expect to see him in a few Top 10 segments this season.

5. Johnathon Peyton (SO), Troy -- Peyton is hard to label as under the radar after a Freshman All-American season where he made 73 catches for 14 TDs on a ridiculous 17.9 YPC average. However, when you play for Troy you often don't fit on the national TV program, and so Peyton is liking the best receiver you've never heard of and will continue to star for the Trojans this year.

[moose141]

Around the NCAA: Preseason Spotlight
Report by Matt Schmidlin | August 27, 2021

Meeting the Top 10

1. Alabama Crimson Tide (2020 Record: 15-0)

For the Crimson Tide, they managed to escape a question mark at QB last season by bringing transfer QB D'Eriq King. Matt Perry, who would have started last season as a freshman, finally takes the keys of an Alabama offense that is loaded with talent and will try to just not drive it off a cliff. He shouldn't have too much pressure offensively as the Crimson Tide can lean on Bryan Hand and Darien Williams Jr. in the ground game. Desmond Williams should step right into the starting MLB position as a freshman star, taking over from All-World MLB Ben Davis. Senior DT Quincy Bailey may be one of the best interior pass rushers in the country.

2. Clemson Tigers (2020 Record: 12-2)

Clemson will likely look to the pass, both offensively and defensively, in order to regain ACC supremacy from 3-time champions Pitt. Ian Evans and James Phillips combine for one of the best pass catching duos in the country, with Anthony Riggs and Andrew Hunter as one of the most underrated rushing duos as well. Freshman safety Jaylon Lindsay joins a secondary that likely has four NFL level talents already, with Adam Harris and William Walker as likely first round draft picks as well. If Will Alford can hit the ground running at QB, Clemson is a definite national playoff contender.

3. Florida Gators (2020 Record: 10-3)

Clint Franklin has been the talk of the town after a big coming out season in 2020, and looks set to be a Heisman favorite in 2021. Will Sparks and Joe Robinson combine to form a fearsome tandem on the defensive line for the Gators, who should have one of the best run defenses in the country this season. They will duel with Texas A&M early in the season for the expected chance to dethrone Alabama for the SEC title.

4. Texas Longhorns (2020 Record: 10-3)

Texas has just missed making the jump to the college football playoff in the last two seasons, and have a well-balanced squad that should create a two-horse race with Oklahoma in the Big XII. Senior Ben Kelly will likely get the first chance to start under center for the Longhorns, but will be pushed by a pair of youngsters in sophomore Jason Jean and freshman Jovanni Perry, both of whom impressed in camp. Tony Gordon ran for 1370 yards last season for the Longhorns and hasn't garned much national notice, so keep an eye on his production again this year.

5. UCLA Bruins (2020 Record: 11-3)

In spite of losing Heisman winning QB Dorien Thompson-Robinson, the Bruins have reloaded and are clearly favorites to win the Pac-12 and FINALLY get into the college football playoff after knocking on the door in three of the last five seasons. Junior Dwayne Meadows is a star set to explode at tailback, while senior Adam Dixon is expected to continue to offer solid change of pace work. Jacques Mitchell will take reigns under center and has a stellar arm, arguably better than Thompson-Robinson's, and shouldn't miss a beat early on. One star in the making to watch is sophomore OLB Jacob Babineaux, who racked up 71 tackles (11 TFL) and 3.5 sacks as a freshman last year.

6. Texas A&M Aggies (2020 Record: 10-3)

The SEC West will continue to be an absolute gauntlet this season, seeing 3 teams in the Top 10 (and 2019's national champion LSU on the outside looking in). Texas A&M is one to watch after struggling down the stretch in 2020, but boasts a stellar defense led by run stuffing DT Steve Morgan (a possible Top 5 pick next spring). The Aggies should excel in the trenches, with an interior offensive line featuring 94-rated or better starters at all 3 positions. Senior QB Cole Smith is back in the starter's role after throwing for 13 TDs and 10 INTs as a part-time starter in his sophomore season.

7. Ole Miss Rebels (2020 Record: 9-4)

The Rebels seem to always have one of the nation's most talented and fastest teams, but just as often seem to run themselves right out of national contention. Dustin Young is a bonafide star at QB and could singlehandedly help the Rebels compete for an SEC title, but it will be a murderer's row to try and get out of the SEC West division. Marcus Jackson is one of the nation's top MLBs and will anchor an underrated Rebel defense.

8. Pitt Panthers (2020 Record: 13-2)

Pitt's biggest question mark will be how well can Acey Reese replace Kenny Pickett at the quarterback position. The Panthers are stuffed with talent elsewhere on the offense and could see their production finally reach the level of the national elite if Reese meets expectations. Defensively, the Panthers will need to replace the best sack production in history up front, with five new starters in their front seven.

9. California Golden Bears (2020 Record: 12-2)

Cal will miss Heisman finalist Victor Viramontes at QB, but that loss will be offset by Hawai'i transfer Richard Stewart winning the starting job in fall camp. Stewart should link up well with star HB Brandon Weiss and junior WR Joe Casey, who tallied 46 grabs and 7 TDs in 2020. However, a lack of talent on the defensive side of the football may be tough for the Golden Bears to overcome again this season if the offense is not able to produce on par with their 2020 numbers.

10. Oklahoma Sooners (2020 Record: 9-4)

Taylor Savage pushed incumbent QB Al Dingle out the door to Oregon with a sensational bowl game performance, and should helm an Oklahoma offense that may be the best in the entire country. Terrence Mitchell, Dustin Coleman, and Brock Jones combine for likely the best trio of receivers on one team anywhere in college football, with speed to burn from all three talents. The Sooners entire offensive line is 91 OVR or better, and provided David Washington can be a solid contributor in the backfield then Oklahoma could be en route to a 50+ PPG campaign.





Moose's 2021 Players to Watch

Clint Franklin (rSR), QB, Florida - Franklin is probably the most talented quarterback in the country. The physical specimen can maul players on QB runs while having the arm to make every throw on the field. Franklin could finally be able to lead Florida back to an SEC championship in a competitive SEC East division.

Dustin Young (rSR), QB, Ole Miss - Young is explosive as a runner, with 13 TDs rushing last season while still passing for a 25:8 TD:INT ratio. If he can improve on those numbers, that is a tasty Heisman recipe.

Jay Keyes (JR), WR, Pitt - Keyes is already a superstar receiver, but can make plays in the Wildcat for the Panthers as well. 25 TDs is not out of the question for the junior.

Antoine Byrne-Horton (SO), QB, Auburn - Byrne-Horton probably won't be on the best team in college football, but he might put up the best numbers after the Cowboys fed him the ball repeatedly in 2020 and teams just were not able to stop him.

Grant Grigsby (rSR), HB, LSU - Grisgby is on this watch list yet again, as he should be the focal point of an LSU offense chockful of weapons. Averaged a ridiculous 7.7 yards for Tigers last season as the feature back.

[TrophyKing80]

I like the hint of Keyes potentially running and passing. I enjoy little wrinkles to schemes like that, so I'll be looking forward to seeing if Keyes notches some stats outside receiving yards.

[TrophyKing80]

Five new faces on the defensive front seven? Yikes! Those new pups will need to settle in fast.