We are back again with another few weeks worth of college football and NFL Draft thoughts. We focus on five quarterbacks, why I have concerns about a few of the bigger name guys in that group, and one who has really caught my eye that you need to be paying attention to. We also find our first player from a previous week who finds himself on the opposite side of the list.

7 Prospects Up

1. Austin Allen QB, Arkansas, #8 Junior (vs Alabama, Ole Miss) 

Tuning into Arkansas and Alabama, my Watch List for both teams was pretty substantial, yet it did not include Austin Allen. He of course is the younger brother of Brandon Allen, the Razorback QB who was drafted this year by the Jacksonville Jaguars. By about the 2nd quarter, however, two things were abundantly clear: Austin Allen could play, and he was better than his brother. High praise I know, as I liked Brandon a good bit, but watching Austin face the menacing Alabama defensive front with no semblance of a run game or pass protection and make big time throw after big time throw was the most impressive performance I have seen all year. Critics will point to the turnovers, but he showed things that I will be pointing out I have not seen from much more heralded QB prospects.  

Austin Allen finished the game with 400 yards passing, and his team had 73 yards rushing. This is not the typical Bret Bielema run first, run second attack, whether by design from an OL that is struggling, or graduating a couple tailbacks to the league, the offense moves as Austin can carry it. He was under siege the entire game, and what he showed was incredible movement skills within the pocket, manipulating it with ease to find throwing lanes and to subtly avoid oncoming defenders. Multiple times Allen evaded pressure and kept his eyes downfiend, not seeing the pass rush, and found his targets, making difficult throws on the run. He took a major beating in the game, and never flinched.

Prior to the Ole Miss game, I tweeted that Chad Kelly was not the best QB in the upcoming matchup, a pretty bold statement. However after watching the game, I was very confident that my assessment was correct. In a back and forth contest, Allen and Kelly had a great duel taking turns answering each score. As the game found itself nearing completion, both QB's found themselves trailing, facing critical 3rd downs. What was uncanny about each of these situations was Allen and Kelly found themselves against nearly identical pressure looks, eerily similar really. The end result for both QB's had to do with their level of awareness, and how they were able to manage the oncoming pressure.  

2. Matt Dayes, RB, North Carolina State, #21 Senior (vs East Carolina, Notre Dame) 

I have previously highlighted Jaylen Samuels and Tony Adams here, and I finally figured out that Matt Dayes is just a really good running back. In a potentially historic class, Dayes will probably fall victim to the same issues for most as he did with me. While he doesn't have the style of some of his counterparts, he has more substance than some of those same players. What stands out with Matt Dayes is his vision, and great feet that allow him to exploit the tiniest of creases when he finds them. He is great at putting a foot in the ground and getting upfield, showing enough burst to cause problems for defenders who find themselves out of position. His compact frame doesn't give a ton of surface area to hit, and he does a good job with subtle body lean to avoid taking killshots.

3. James Washington, WR, Oklahoma State, #28 Junior (vs Iowa State)

I have not seen his 9 catch, 296 yard assault on Pitt from earlier in the season, but James Washington's game vs Iowa State is the single most impressive performance I have witnessed by a WR thus far in 2016. Washington is a legitimate speedster, and in spite of his 6 foot, 203 pound frame, his catch radius presents major problems for the opposition. Against the Cyclones, Washington made sensational catch after sensational catch. a beautifully adjusted to back shoulder where he waited until the last possible second to make the all hands grab, a streak route where he again caught the ball with his arms extended while running in stride, and a full extension grab on a badly inaccurate Mason Rudolph slant pattern I will show at the end. The problem with burners is that most often they lack in their play demeanor, they might have issues catching the ball, Washington looks to me like a cross of Marquise Goodwin and Dez Bryant. Washington is phenomenal at the catch point. This is a player I really want to see how good he can be, because he has a dominant skillset. One thing I will be monitoring is Washington can be at times straight-linish, I have seen him run a few end a rounds and he seems to lack high end lateral agility.

4. Chris Godwin, WR, Penn State, #12 Junior (vs Ohio State)

Over the summer, Chris Godwin's name found his way to me, and after checking out a couple 2015 contests, I was very intrigued. Against the Buckeyes, Godwin again showed the top shelf ball skills that initially caught my eye. He is a very natural hands catcher, flashing soft and strong mitts depending on the situation and the pass thrown his way. He sports an NFL frame, and does a pretty good job as a route runner, able to get in/out of his breaks without having to gear down. Improval in he QB position has helped Godwin thus far in 2016, as he constantly had to show off those ball skills catching Hackenberg ducks. His TD against Ohio State was on talented CB Gareon Conley, who was in his hip pocket the entire time, except Godwin's elite ball skills and ability to contort his body rendered Conley's coverage useless. Moving forward, what I will be focusing on is what his play speed is, how much he can separate from his man, whether he is someone who can possibly be a #1 WR, or if he is a good to great #2.  

5. JT Barrett, QB, Ohio State, #16 Junior (vs Penn State)

This was the first time I really studied JT Barrett, I have watched him from afar many times the past few years studying other Buckeyes. I already knew he had the threat to hurt a defense with his legs, whether by design QB runs (he has a really good feel for setting up his blocks, gashing the opponent while also protecting himself) or as a scrambler as the pocket breaks down. Where Barrett really caught my eye was his calmness in chaos, multiple times he had trash all around him, and was able to find his way out. What took this next level was Barrett keeping the ball in a 'ready to throw' platform. He kept his eyes up, looking for a target to come open. This is a huge thing for a player who can hurt you with his legs, Barrett wanting to throw first, run second is something NFL teams will like. Urban Meyer swears by his leadership, and you need dig no farther than the QB dynamic with Cardale Jones and Braxton Miller to be able to understand why. I tweeted during the game that Barrett will probably end up being the Patriots #3 QB next year. It was a roundabout way of saying that smart NFL teams will recognize Barrett has enough ability as a passer, as a runner, and enough Football IQ to at the very least be the great kind of teammate he was in Columbus, not rocking the boat while putting team first, but also working behind the scenes trying to overtake the starter. Tools to work with, and a work ethic that helps you believe he will keep improving.

6. Kendell Beckwith, ILB, LSU, #52 Senior (vs Southern Mississippi)

The first thing you notice with Kendell Beckwith is that he sports the prototypical frame you want for an NFL ILB. And he knows how to use it in the ground game. Beckwith is really good at taking on blocks, stacking and shedding his man to find and stop the ballcarrier. At times, if he didn't initiate contact, he could get stuck on blocks, but showed an ability to keep moving towards the ball anyway. His pursuit angles are really good, rarely taking the wrong path cutting off the runner. His frame would suggest that he would have to be a two-down player only, but Beckwith has more juice than most men his size. While he is not Darrin Lee in terms of athleticism, I think he is a notch above Joshua Perry. Beckwith really reminds me of Denzel Perryman, although he doesn't have the striking power that DP52 had. The Ole Miss game is on the DVR, and I am anxious to see Beckwith against the overall team speed the Rebels have on offense. 

7. Haason Reddick, ?, Temple, #7 RS Senior (vs Memphis, USF)

I don't have a position listed for Hasson Reddick, as the Owls use him as an EDGE defender, both standing up and with his hand in the dirt. As he makes the transition to playing on Sunday's his 230 pound frame won't be a viable option at the POA on a regular basis. Knowing this, what is enticing about Reddick is his quickness, and even more impressive, his COD skills. A high school RB, those skills are quickly seen watching Reddick operate. He can make blockers look bad, contorting his body to gain the leverage advantage and win either inside or out. He takes good angles to the football, and is a plus tackler who flashes good form. He plays with decent functional strength, not finding himself overpowered. The All-Star games will be huge for him, as well as the Combine in showing how Reddick holds up against better competition and how he tests in trying to project his best spot moving forward. Lots to really like here. 

7 Prospects Down 

1. Chad Kelly, QB, Ole Miss, #10 Senior (vs Florida State, Arkansas)

Chad Kelly presents a great litmus test for what I think are the three baseline questions that a wise team builder asks when watching a prospect.  

1. What can he do?

2. Who is he?

3. What do we have?

Kelly's journey to Ole Miss and even some of his actions since then are real causes for concern, but before I ever waste a half second on worrying about whether or not he can grow out of his immaturity, my first priority is to determine whether or not he can actually play. Watching Kelly, the single biggest thing that stands out is his ability as a scrambler, he is deadly breaking down a defense with his legs. His arm talent is impeccable, he can make throws most other eligible QB's won't dare to even think of making. The problem for Kelly is that both of these blessings are also actually part of his curse as well.

Kelly reminds me a lot of Brett Favre when watching him, from a purely stylistic standpoint. 'Gunslinger' is an apt description. The arm talent leads Kelly to making throws he has no business making, leading to interceptions and plenty of other balls that could have been in the hands of the opposition. Coaches by nature want consistency and to trust they know what the QB will do, and Kelly will give his coaches a lot of added stress watching him. Kelly's ability as a scrambler ultimately undercuts his ability to move around in the pocket, and has him taking off too soon. I mentioned earlier Kelly having a crucial 3rd down trailing Arkansas late in the game, and Kelly was oblivious to the free rusher and ultimately took the sack. That athleticism doesn't shine through if he struggles to process pressure. Some concerning things before you evendig into his background. Here is the aforementioned play, again notice the similarities to the Austin Allen play, and the how each QB had a different result: 

2. Duke Ejiofor, DE, Wake Forest, #53 RS Junior (vs NC State, Florida State)

Duke Ejiofor is the first player who finds himself on the opposite side of a previous list. I have found my 'hit rate' is much higher with players who catch my eye early in the year, and as I watch week after week, they keep answering the bell, they keep making plays. It is disappointing getting excited about a player and then finding flaws, finding that issues come to the surface. In the case of Ejiofor, two things have caused concern: his functional strength at the POA is lacking, something that needs developed in order for him to become more than a niche player. The biggest concern is that Wake Forest simply does not use Ejiofor in Goal-to-go situations. This is damning. That really paints the picture of a 'niche' only type player. Pass rush skills are always coveted, but if you can't get to 3rd down to rush the passer those skills are rendered useless. As I watch him play down the stretch, I will be asking myself if this is not a player who needs to return for his Senior season to get his body right for the NFL grind.

3. Xavier Woods, S, Louisiana Tech, #7 Senior (vs Western Kentucky)

Coming into this one, I had a good idea of Xavier Woods' ability to come downhill and strike the ball carrier. What Western Kentucky offered from an evaluator's perspective was a chance to see Woods against a very pass heavy attack. I left this contest with more questions than I had answered. Woods does a good job finding his landmarks when in zone coverage, but at times was either late recognizing what was happening in his area, or struggled with conflicts if his zone was flooded. Only a few instances found Woods in man coverage, and he was not a liability here, he has good feet and was able to stick pretty close to his man. I don't think any position is harder to play for young players on Sunday's than either S spot, life comes at you fast against NFL quality passing attacks. Woods has a little bit of a ways to go to be trusted as the last line of defense in the passing game. 

4. Brad Kaaya, QB, Miami, #15 Junior (vs Florida State, Virginia Tech) 

Before tearing apart Brad Kaaya's game, I feel like I should have a disclaimer cautioning about how bad his OL is. Makes evaluating him almost impossible. The problem for Kaaya is terrible OL play is very much a reality on Sunday's, and the pass rush at the next level is a whole different animal. I lauded Austin Allen's ability to manipulate the pocket and find success while taking vicious beating against Texas A&M and Alabama, and those fronts are far more formidable than the ones Kaaya struggled against vs the Seminoles and the Hokies. If we switched the players, but kept everything else the same, I can't imagine the beating Kaaya would have taken.

The concerns outside of struggling mightily vs pressure for Brad Kaaya are with driving the football in the short to intermediate areas, he displays incredible touch and placement at times, but the throws requiring arm strength are ones he struggles with. His arm is noticeably stronger than what I saw when he stepped on the field as a true freshman, but he seems unwilling to make difficult throws. Protecting the football is nice, but defenses have a tendency to tighten everything up, to give a 'walls closing in' type feeling for QB's who are unwilling to threaten a defense with upper level throws. Kaaya also hasn't shown some of his ability to maneuver in the pocket I had previously seen, and moving forward you have to wonder if this is a David Carr type situation where the player sees ghosts.

5. Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State, #2 Junior (vs Iowa State)

Dating back to 2014, Mason Rudolph caught my eye instantly debuting late in the year in a rainstorm against Baylor, and with a performance against Oklahoma. Fast forward to 2016, and I was highly disappointed with his outing against Iowa State. Rudolph is a down-the-field vertical passer, who can really throw a beautiful deep ball. Check out any James Washington long TD the past few years, and you see Rudolph's ability here. The major concern is for his prototype size, Rudolph really seems to lack the powerful arm you would normally associate with a player of his stature. He had an opposite hash out route that made the term wounded duck wince. Really struggles driving the football. Equally concerning was how many throws where he didn't even come close to a tight spiral. Accuracy and ball placement in the short to intermediate was severely lacking. If not for James Washingtpn's previously mentioned elite ball skills, a large chunk of Rudolph's successes would have either hit the ground incomplete or been turnovers. His system does him no favors either, as far as translatable skills for the next level, I will have to see marked improvement in multiple areas before I would consider adding him to my Program.

6. Raekwon McMillan, ILB, Ohio State, #5 Junior (vs Penn State)

Besides having a simply awesome first name, I came into 2016 with high expectations for Raekwon McMillan based on what I saw from him previously  while forming a great LB trio with Darron Lee and Joshua Perry. In a pretty good LB group at the top, I thought McMillan was a player I would consider using a 1st Round pick on. While you never make sweeping judgements based on one game, McMillan was highly disappointing against the Nittany Lions. I will mention effort a trillion times as we discuss the prospects, and it was disturbing to watch McMillan get stuck in the trash, and show zero urgency to work his way through it. He was lethargic in multiple instances here. He doesn't have high end athleticism to translate to the next level, so his Football IQ and his effort are the two things he can control in making sure he can have a positive impact for a defense. I referenced my 1/11 theory earlier in the year, that at times you have to factor in the supporting cast, and how much added responsibility a player may have. McMillan clearly benefitted from playing alongside Lee and Perry, and you can see as his area of responsibility grew this has caused some struggle. His effort will be where I mainly focus here on out.

7. Chad Wheeler, LT, USC, #72 RS Senior (vs Arizona State)

Chad Wheeler was disappointing in this one. His resume was one that an evaluator would like, but issues quickly became apparent watching him. He shows good feet for the position, he was able to mirror his man on multiple occasions, showing the lateral agility to stick with his guy. The problem for Wheeler is he lacks functional strength, finding himself on skates a few times in the ballgame against power. He didn't generate a ton of push in the run game, not to the point of making a difference. The other concern that happened a lot was Wheeler finding himself overextended, being top-heavy as he lunged towards his target and getting himself off balance. Timing his punch better will help, but he needs some technical work to ensure his upper/lower body are in sync and working in unison. His lack of power for being a Redshirt Senior is a little concerning. How good is my Strength & Conditioning program will be a key point in deciding whether or not this player can project to any long-term success as we move forward.