Devy Digest: Week 1 Preview
Week 1 is finally here and we have a full slate of games to enjoy, starting on Thursday. In this weekly preview, we'll discuss the top devy assets and their matchups along with the top C2C games.
Devy games to watch
August 31, 2023
Florida at (14)Utah
For Utah we have RB-Ja'Quinden Jackson who gained a lot of steam in the offseason, the former Quarterback looks to continue to build on that offseason hype. Florida has RB-Trevor Etienne who stated in the offseason, he wanted to be a complete back. Catch passes and be a better pass blocker. Etienne has trimmed down and looks to be more explosive this season. Florida has a slew of incoming freshman wide receivers. WR-Eugene Wilson III has garnered a lot of buzz in fall camp, we finally get to see this twitchy athlete in the afternoons and see what he does in his first game. Other notable players for Florida to watch is RB-Montrell Johnson who will be a duo with Etienne this year. Other Freshman WR-Aiden Mizell and WR-Andy Jean, will be worth monitoring their snap count.
Southern Utah at Arizona State
QB-Jaden Rashada makes his debut and will be without star WR-Eljhah Badger for the first half due to a targeting call to end last season, not that it should matter but we'll get to see Rashada in live game reps with live bullets, should be a fun game to see him utilize some of his skills. RB-Cameron Skattebo makes his debut after an impressive season at Sacramento State, we'll see how the Sun Devils deploy their running back position.
Saturday September 2, 2023
East Carolina at (2)Michigan
For Michigan QB-JJ McCarthy, RB- Blake Corum, RB-Donovan Edwards, TE-Colston Loveland all should have good efforts while they are on the field and it will be worth watching how Michigan will use the RB in a rotation, until the reserves are in the game. JJ McCarthy was not named a team captain but will be a leader on the field and will need to perform better to accomplish the goals set in front of them. TE-Colston Loveland is a Devy Digest darling and he should blossom as the lead tight end, in the spring, he was deployed out wide and used in various ways, that we have not seen in a Michigan offense. It was stated that Coach Harbaugh wanted to be more dynamic in the pass game, we'll have to see if that comes to light this season.
(3)Ohio State at Indiana
Ohio State named QB-Kyle McCord as the starting Quarterback, but it appears QB-Devin Brown might see some action as well. Either way, they'll just need to be distributors and get the ball out to the group of Wide Receivers of WR-Marvin Harrison Jr, WR-Emeka Egbuka, incoming Freshman WR-Carnell Tate who impressed in the spring game and non early enrolle but fellow hyped Freshman WR-Brandon Inniss. RB-TreVeyon Henderson looks to put behind him an injury plagued 2022 season and make fans remember his true Freshman season when he was regarded as one of the best backs in the nation.
Rice at (11)Texas
Is this the year that Texas is back? QB-Quinn Ewers looks to improve his stock and be the third, if not second Quarterback taken in the NFL draft next spring. He has an arsenal of weapons at his disposal. RB-Jonathan Brooks and incoming Freshman RB-CJ Baxter will handle majority of the workload on the ground and Ewers will be playing catch with WR-Xavier Worthy, who looks to put a down Sophomore season behind him and looks to put behind the notion of his drop issues. Incoming Freshman WR-Johntay Cook II was our Freshman wide receiver #1 and it will be exiting to see how he is used. TE-JT Sanders has day two draft hype and is an athletic Tight End who will look to improve his devy stock.
Nevada at (6)USC
We saw what USC did against San Jose State, game 2 we look to see the usage of WR-Zachariah Branch, he was used at or near the line of scrimmage for all of his offensive touches, we will see if his aDOT improves in game two. One thing to note, WR-Makai Lemon actually outsnapped Branch last week and we see if WR-Duce Robinson was another who had an impressive debut and we'll have to monitor the trio of Freshman Wide Receiver and see how they are used. WR-Dorian Singer, the one non Freshman that is still a hold at the moment as we see how the Wide Receiving room sorts itself out. QB-Caleb Williams continues to impress each time we see him. We should have another big game before resting on the sidelines when the game is out of hand. QB-Malachi Nelson is the QB3 on the depth chart, but we hope to see him get into the game, possibly late in the 4th Quarter. He was our Freshman Quarterback #1.
Middle Tennessee at (4)Alabama
As of this writing, Alabama has not named a starting Quarterback, but indication is that QB-Jalen Milroe will be named the starting Quarterback, he brings more elusiveness and the ability to extend plays for his wide receivers. WR-Malik Benson is probably the most athletic and all around the most complete receiver they have but they do like to reward seniority, so we'll have to see how that shakes out and if he begins the season in the slot or if WR-Isaiah Bond will be the slot. Alabama will look to lean on the ground game that will be spearheaded by RB-Jase McClellan, RB-Jam Miller, and RB-Roydell Williams. Hyped Freshman RB-Justice Haynes has been nursing an injury so we'll see if he gets any game action or not.
West Virginia at (7)Penn State
West Virginia has RB-CJ Donaldson but he should have a pretty quiet game as Penn State has an excellent defense and Penn State will look to use the run game with RB-Nick Singleton and RB-Kaytron Allen, both of which expect to hear their names called in the 2025 NFL draft. They hype is around QB-Drew Allar, who we are down on due to situation. Penn State has a great defense, great run game with suspect wide receivers and a conservative coach by nature.
(21)North Carolina at South Carolina
North Carolina and QB Drake Maye look to improve on their 2022 season and North Carolina has a new offensive coordinator, we'll have to see how different this offense looks. In the spring, it was noted that the same concepts will be used and Drake Maye will have input, we'll have to see how it works in the afternoons. WR-Devontez Walker received a waiver and will be the wide receiver one for North Carolina and has a lot of devy hype behind him. He is paired with a top 3 Quarterback in next spring's NFL draft, there will be continued buzz with Walker. South Caroling has QB-Spencer Rattler, who looks to improve on his draft stock and his number one target WR-Antwane "Juice" Wells is back along with exciting Freshman WR-Nyckolas Harbor. We'll get to see how he will be used in the afternoons. Another Freshman to watch is RB-Djay Braswell, he appears to be rotating with the second team in fall camp but is one to watch.
Sunday September 3, 2023
(5)LSU at (8)Florida State
Without a doubt the game of the week. LSU has returning WR-Malik Nabors who is our wide receiver two for the upcoming NFL draft to lead a deep, yet unproven receiving room. WR-Aaron Anderson is an exciting transfer from Alabama, who brings a lot of speed and elusiveness, Anderson has been used in gadget plays and plays devised for him in fall camp, he should have a roll early on and is a different type of receiver than what they have in their room, which makes him an interesting prospect. Incoming Freshman WR Shelton Sampson, WR-Jalen Brown and WR-Kyle Parker have each received praise this spring and fall, this is a room worth noting and see how the snaps play out in a big time game, more than likely none of them will be used too much, due to the importance of this game, but we shall see. QB-Jayden Daniels will have to improve his play if LSU will be in contention for the playoffs. The run game is supported by Notre Dame transfer RB-Logan Diggs and exciting track athlete RB-Kaleb Jackson. TE- Mason Taylor has some devy hype around him and someone to take note. Florida State has RB-Trey Benson who garnered a lot of offseason buzz and has become a devy darling among the devy community, I have concerns who his durability and if his medicals will check out, but he is an exciting prospect and someone that Florida State will lean on. QB-Jordan Travis returns for another year and has a slew of weapons at his disposal including 6'7" WR-Johnny Wilson, exciting Michigan State transfer WR-Keon Coleman and another portal transfer TE-Jaheim Bell.
C2C Games to watch
Friday September 2, 2023
Stanford at Hawaii
We knew coming into this season Hawaii was going to be exciting from a C2C and CFF perspective with their modern run and shoot offense of Timmy Chang. QB-Brayden Schager should be a usable asset in this format based on volume. WR-Steven McBride the Kansas transfer flashed his speed in his debut and scored two touchdowns and while the community prefers him, I'm quite high on Redshirt Freshman WR-Pofele Ashlock. He won the job as a Redshirt Freshman and played great in his first game with a statline of 7-127-1 and the touchdown was a play that was devised for him, pretty good quality to have for a Redshirt Freshman. He isn't the speedier option of the two but is a bigger target who runs routes pretty well and gets open space in this modern run and shoot offense. For Stanford, we have a new look offense that has a lot of mystery behind it, TE-Benjamin Yurosek is the known commodity that we expect to return dividends.
Colorado at (17)TCU
There's a lot of mystery involved with this game. Colorado has made up an entire new time of portal transfers and at the key positions we have QB-Shedeur Sanders, RB-Alton McCaskill, WB/CB-Travis Hunter, WR-Jimmy Horn Jr. We all expect Colorado to be bad, but will that equate to great C2C and CFF production? TCU has a battle at the running back position between Alabama transfer RB-Trey Sanders, whose career has been sidetracked by a myriad of injuries. RB-Emani Bailey is a violent runner with good explosiveness and was effective in limited usage last season. Freshman RB-Cam Cook has positive spring and fall camp reports. WR-Cordale Russell is the one that has garnered the most attention, but for CFF purposes WR-JP Richardson has been the one that is expected to be the WR1 in the room.
Louisiana Tech at SMU
Louisiana Tech has QB-Hank Bachmeier who looked pretty good in his debut, the former Boise State starter. He found an instant connection with WR-Smoke Harris and if RB-Marquis Crosby misses another game, we'll see who is worth watching as Crosby has missed most of fall camp with an injury. SMU has QB Preston Stone and we'll get to see the debut of former TCU and 5* prospect WR-Jordan Hudson and see if he makes an immediate impact at his new school.
Boise State at (10)Washington
Boise State has a sensation in QB-Taylen Green, he is now the full time starter and has produced at a tremendous rate in C2C and CFF formats when he has played, he is expected to be one third of a great rushing attack that also features RB-George Holani and RB-Ashton Jeanty. Washington has QB-Michael Penix and returning WR-Rome Odunze and WR-Jalen McMillan, one name to watch is WR-Germie Bernard. He was originally committed to Washington, only to decommit once the coaching change took place and played a year at Michigan State, only to transfer to Washington, he is next in line to take over next year, but we'll see how he is used this year.
South Florida at Western Kentucky
South Florida lists 4 as the starting Quarterback. QB-Byrum Brown is the one that C2C and CFF managers are hoping wins the job, all spring and fall camp, it has been a two Quarterback race. It will be interesting to see how the position plays out. Western Kentucky features a high octane offense with QB-Austin Reed, and WR-Malachi Corley, this is one of the better CFF games to watch from a production standpoint.
Washington State at Colorado State
Washington State has returning QB-Cam Ward and an intriguing transfer in WR-DJ Sheffield. Colorado State is in the second year of their offense and look to improve their offensive line to help QB-Clay Millen and if he gets more time, he'll look to get WR-Tory Horton and WR-Justus Ross-Simmons involved as important potential CFF pieces.
South Alabama at (24)Tulane
For South Alabama we look to see who becomes the leading target earner and if it's WR-Caullin Lacy or WR-Devin Voisin and for Tulane, QB-Michael Pratt looks to improve his devy stock and see if he can climb up to be the QB3 of the 2024 draft class. The position battle is at running back and it is between RB-Iverson Celestine, RB-Shaadie Clayton-Johnson or Freshman RB-Arnold Barnes. It appears to be a three headed battle but I took a shot on RB-Shaadie Clayton-Johnson as I really enjoyed his tape from the limited opportunities he received in 2022.
Fantasy football was always a hobby, rooting for the Michigan Wolverines was always a passion. It was only a matter of time when the world’s collided. Then came devy, what started as watching film to being a better fan, I became obsessed with finding the next NFL fantasy stud while in college. Devy is a passion and I’m excited to talk about potential stars you may not know about today, and why you should know their name for tomorrow.