Every college football season is full of surprises, from teams (hello, Vols and Horned Frogs) to coaches to individual players who seemingly come out of nowhere and become stars. The things and people we don't see coming often become the best stories.
When the 2021 season kicked off, how many saw Stetson Bennett quarterbacking Georgia to its first national title since 1980? Kenneth Walker III had been a solid running back at Wake Forest, but he became the best ball-carrier in the country for Michigan State. Kansas State's Felix Anudike-Uzomah had three tackles and a sack as a true freshman in 2020, but then emerged as one of the nation's best pass-rushers, piling up sacks and forced fumbles to earn first-team All-Big 12 recognition.
This season has provided its share of surprise players, and with two months of games in the books, it's time to recognize 25 of them. The goals of the list are to have a nationally representative sample, selections from different positions, and to identify those who have impacted their teams in ways few predicted back in August. I surveyed some coaches and my ESPN colleagues to put together the group.
Players who truly stood out in 2021 -- think league or national honors, team records -- aren't on the list, so while Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker doesn't appear below, his top receiving target surely does. I also didn't include impact true freshmen such as Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins, as I wanted to compare evidence from the previous college season.
The list skews toward skill players, but I tried to highlight a few others, too.
Here they are in alphabetical order.
Pitt RB Israel Abanikanda | Junior
2022 numbers: 1,086 rushing yards, 16 touchdowns, 183 carries, 2 receptions, 11 receiving yards
2021 numbers: 651 rushing yards, 7 touchdowns, 123 carries, 24 receptions, 197 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi hasn't hid his feelings about the team's aversion to running the ball last season, even though the Panthers won the ACC. But an offensive coordinator change from Mark Whipple to Frank Cignetti Jr. has re-emphasized Pitt's rushing attack, allowing Abanikanda to blossom and lead the nation in all-purpose yards (177.9 ypg), rushing touchdowns (16) and total touchdowns scored (17). Abanikanda ranks fifth nationally in rushing yards per game (135.8).
"This guy could have done it last year, too," Narduzzi told ESPN. "We just never ran the ball. It's not a surprise to me because we had success when he did run it, and when he gets inside, he pops through and he's gone. He's just explosive, strong, he's physical, he's a great-looking kid. No surprise because I knew once the guy gets going, he's different."
Narduzzi has never coached a running back with Abanikanda's combination of speed, size motor and ability to break tackles. He broke Tony Dorsett's single-game team rushing record with 320 yards against Virginia Tech, and tied a 112-year old team record with six touchdowns.
Abanikanda also has been capable of handling a larger load, logging 25 carries or more in five games, including each of the past three.
"He's got a little bit of everything," Narduzzi said. "There was one run against Virginia Tech, it looked like a 2-yard loss or a 1-yard loss and he pops through and scores a 20-something-yard touchdown. It was like, 'Whoa.' He's got a motor. Still working on his passing game stuff, but he can catch the ball. He's special."
TCU QB Max Duggan | Senior
2022 numbers: 2,212 pass yards, 22 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 67.4% completions, 276 rushing yards, 4 touchdowns, 64 carries
2021 numbers: 2,048 pass yards, 16 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 63.9% completions, 352 rushing yards, 3 rushing touchdowns, 105 carries
Duggan's pre-2022 profile is more substantial than most players on the list, and includes two seasons with 2,000 pass yards and two with 500 rush yards. But he's still one of the most surprising players in the country. Duggan went through a coaching/scheme change, lost the preseason quarterback competition to Chandler Morris, stepped in after Morris went down in the opener at Colorado and hasn't looked back.
He has put together the best stretch of his career to put himself on the Heisman Trophy radar. Since Week 2, Duggan has produced at least 278 pass yards and multiple touchdown passes in every game, after reaching 276 pass yards just twice in 2021 and once in 2020. He leads the Big 12 in passing yards and passing touchdowns, ranks fourth nationally in pass efficiency (182.5) and has just two interceptions on 221 pass attempts. Despite not winning the starting job initially, he has been a perfect fit for the Sonny Dykes/Garrett Riley offense, leading Power 5 quarterbacks with 14 touchdown passes of 20 yards or more.
"He's a more talented passer than most people would think, and honestly probably a little more than I thought coming into the job," Riley told ESPN. "It's not like he's just a runner, he's not. You get that guy confident and he's moving through his reads faster and things like that. That's where he's already shown improvement without a doubt. And it's led to him being more accurate."
Penn State OT Olu Fashanu | Sophomore
2022 numbers: Started all eight games at left tackle; helped offense to six games of 400 or more yards; according to Coaches By The Numbers, has not allowed a sack in 233 pass plays
2021 numbers: Appeared in nine games, made first career start against Arkansas in the Outback Bowl
Penn State's prolonged offensive line issues were a major story entering the season. How could a program so steeped in producing strong linemen and running backs have such a hard time running the ball? PSU's front isn't dominant but better, and Fashanu might be the biggest reason why. The 6-foot-6, 308-pound redshirt sophomore has emerged as one of the top line prospects for the 2023 NFL draft.
He allowed zero pressures on 49 pass attempts in the season opener against Purdue and followed up with another zero-pressures allowed performance against Ohio. Fashanu has continued to protect Sean Clifford's blind side well. At just 19 years old, Fashanu has stood out by combining natural ability with consistency.
"He's strong in the weight room, but has got unbelievable play strength," coach James Franklin said Tuesday. "He's usually in great position. If he is out of position, he has the ability to get himself back into a winning position against a defensive end. But more than anything, it's about his consistency. The guy has play after play of protecting the quarterback's blind side and finishing blocks."
Syracuse TE/WR Oronde Gadsden II | Sophomore
2022 numbers: 41 receptions, 671 receiving yards, 6 touchdowns
2021 numbers: 2 receptions, 24 receiving yards
Syracuse's offense has transformed this season after finishing 121st nationally in passing last fall. Gadsden, who has been listed both as a tight end and a wide receiver, has become quarterback Garrett Shrader's favorite target. He emerged after a Week 3 come-from-behind win against Purdue, where he had 112 receiving yards and two touchdowns on six receptions. He then eclipsed 100 yards in wins over Virginia and then-No. 15 NC State.
The 6-foot-5, 216-pound Gadsden has consistently stretched the field, averaging more than 14 yards per reception in each of the past seven games. In the last six games, he has 35 receptions for 590 yards and five touchdowns, an average of 16.9 yards per reception. Gadsden ranks second in the ACC in receiving yards, third in touchdown catches and fourth in receptions per game (5.1). He's one of only four ACC players with three 100-yard receiving performances.
Tennessee WR Jalin Hyatt | Junior
Jalin Hyatt hauls in the dime from Hendon Hooker for their second pitch-and-catch touchdown.
2022 numbers: 45 receptions, 907 receiving yards, 14 touchdowns
2021 numbers: 21 receptions, 226 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns
After 2021 didn't go like he wanted, Hyatt changed his approach. Offensive coordinator Alex Golesh told ESPN that new wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope set a goal for Hyatt of catching 15,000 balls on the JUGS machine. Hyatt completed the task this summer.
Hyatt "started living right off the field," Golesh said, and improved his grades. He also refined his technique.
"Hands have gotten a lot better," Golesh said. "He's always been fast, become a better route-runner. He's still got a long way to go. The production masks some of his deficiencies, but he knows that. Every night, he'll be out there catching JUGS. That stuff has become important to him."
Hyatt's speed is his best attribute, and has shown during SEC play. He delivered one of the greatest performances in league history against Alabama, torching the Tide for 207 receiving yards and five touchdowns, tying the SEC record. He has four more receiving touchdowns than any FBS player, and has nine receptions of 40 or more yards, more than 117 FBS teams so far this season.
"He can run run," Golesh said. "Once he gets going, it's hard to catch him. And he's become a smart player."
Troy DE T.J. Jackson | Sophomore
2022 numbers: 32 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 3 quarterback hurries
2021 numbers: 12 tackles, 1 tackle for loss
In spring practice, first-year Troy coach Jon Sumrall saw Jackson display natural pass-rushing elements, such as matching his hand with quarterbacks to force them to throw around or through him. Jackson still had some rawness to his game, especially with his stance at the line of scrimmage. Even after he recorded a forced fumble in the season opener against Ole Miss, Sumrall wanted him to make some adjustments.
"He's improved his technique each week and he's continued to keep the negative plays and production really high," Sumrall told ESPN. "He's a very coachable kid, very willing. And he's got physical traits: He's twitchy, he's loose in the hips, he's got some suddenness. He's got a lot of just natural athletic movement ability for a big guy that has allowed him to create some negative disruptive plays."
Defense has fueled Troy's 6-2 start, and Jackson has been one of the biggest stars. The third-year sophomore recorded 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble in a 16-7 win over Marshall on Sept. 24, which sparked Troy on a five-game win streak. Jackson battled an ankle injury to record two tackles for loss, a sack and a quarterback hurry in the Trojans' road win over South Alabama on Oct. 21. He has recorded at least one sack in five of eight games.
"He does not walk in the room and you go, 'Oh, wow, look at this big D-lineman,'" Sumrall said of the 6-foot-1 Jackson. "He's my height, but he's very active. He is always on the move, just persistent and steady. Am I surprised he's having a good season? No. Am I surprised he has put up the production he has? Yeah. He's playing at a higher level than probably anyone saw coming."
Purdue WR Charlie Jones | Senior
2022 numbers: 72 receptions, 840 receiving yards, 9 touchdowns, 99 punt return yards, 78 kick return yards
2021 numbers (at Iowa): 21 receptions, 323 receiving yards, 3 touchdowns, 285 punt return yards, 635 kickoff return yards, 1 kick return touchdown
Few players in college football benefited more from a scheme change than Jones, who joined a wide receiver's paradise at Purdue and has capitalized. Purdue coaches knew about his speed and impact on returns -- Jones had a 41-yard punt return and a 36-yard kickoff return against the Boilers last year -- but were most intrigued by his ability to make contested catches.
"What separates the good receivers from the great guys is that they can make catches when there's somebody attached to them, or when the ball is thrown in an area and it's him and one guy," Purdue wide receivers coach Garrick McGee told ESPN. "He can track the ball well and he's extremely competitive. He's always competing for the ball when the ball is in the air."
Known more for his return skills at Iowa, Jones has shown he can be a featured wide receiver in the right system. He made an impact immediately by recording career highs in receptions (12) and yards (153) in Purdue's season opener against Penn State. Jones had 32 receptions for 474 yards and five touchdowns in the first three games, and has five 100-yard receiving performances and three games with multiple touchdown grabs.
After losing record-setting wideout David Bell, Purdue has leaned on Jones, who has 47 more receptions and 565 more receiving yards than any other receiver. Jones ranks second nationally in receptions per game (9) and sixth in receiving yards per game (105).
"He can run and stop, we try to have him do a lot of different things," McGee said. "Most of the [NFL] scouts who come in say they really like him. We just want to continue to make a statement that if you're a transfer player and you're going to hit the portal, we have an example of a kid who didn't have many catches a year ago. He transferred here, and now he could potentially get an opportunity to be an NFL player."
Temple LB Layton Jordan | Junior
2022 numbers: 38 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery, 2 quarterback hurries, 3 defensive touchdowns
2021 numbers: 18 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles
Jordan showed snippets of his potential last season, but has truly blossomed in his fifth season at Temple, playing for Stan Drayton and a new coaching staff. He moved from defensive end to outside linebacker in spring practice, and has been a consistent playmaker both in the pass rush and in coverage.
He recorded 4.5 sacks and an interception return for a touchdown in September, and has added two more touchdowns since to set a single-season team record for a defensive player. Only three teams have more defensive touchdowns than Jordan this season. Pro Football Focus gives Jordan the highest grade for pass coverage among edge rushers.
Jordan is second in the AAC in tackles for loss, tied for second in sacks and tied for third in forced fumbles.
Marshall RB Khalan Laborn | Senior
2022 numbers: 1,061 rushing yards, 13 rushing touchdowns, 204 carries, 12 receptions, 67 receiving yards
2021 numbers: Did not play in 2021; had 63 carries, 297 rushing yards, 4 touchdowns for Florida State in 2019
Marshall's run game appeared to suffer a substantial blow in August when the team announced Rasheen Ali, the nation's rushing touchdowns leader in 2021, would be out indefinitely. Laborn, who transferred to Marshall in December, hadn't played a down since 2019 at Florida State, but has shown he's more than capable of being a featured back.
The Thundering Herd have leaned on Laborn, who ranks fourth nationally in rushing and second in carries. Beginning with a 31-carry, 163-yard performance in Marshall's road upset of Notre Dame, Laborn would average 29.8 carries over a six-game span before recording only 16 in Saturday's loss to Coastal Carolina.
"He gets stronger as the game goes on," Marshall coach Charles Huff told ESPN. "He's got really good body and balance control, he runs with a really low center of gravity. He takes some hits and kind of pinballs off and stays off, smart, understands the game, is able to tell you, 'Hey, they're playing this front. The D-end's slanted in, so I went outside.'"
UCLA LB Laiatu Latu | Junior
Laiatu Latu drops opposing QB for the sack
2022 numbers: 26 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 4 pass breakups, 1 quarterback hurry
2021 numbers: Did not play due to injury; last played in 2019 at Washington, recording 16 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one-half sack, 1 safety, 1 pass breakup
Latu isn't merely one of the biggest surprises in college football, but one of the nation's best stories. Before spring practice in 2021, then-Washington coach Jimmy Lake announced that Latu would medically retire from football because of a neck injury he had sustained during 2020 that required surgery. The plan was for Latu, who had last played in 2019 as a true freshman at Washington, to spend the rest of his college career as a student assistant.
But on New Year's Eve, Latu announced that he not only would return to football, but transfer to UCLA. This fall, he has emerged as one of the nation's best pass-rushers and a bona fide NFL draft prospect. He leads the Pac-12 and is tied for second nationally in sacks and fifth nationally in forced fumbles. Latu has recorded at least a half-sack in all but one Pac-12 game this season, including three at Colorado.
"He's an uber talented player and works extremely hard," Bruins coach Chip Kelly said earlier this season. "The fact he's on that upward trajectory, I hope he continues on that same trajectory, and continues to grow. He's got a lot of tools and he's got a lot of talent. And it means a lot to him."
South Carolina RB MarShawn Lloyd | Sophomore
2022 numbers: 556 rushing yards, 9 rushing touchdowns, 100 carries, 17 receptions, 173 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns
2021 numbers: 228 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 64 carries, 44 receiving yards, 3 receptions
Lloyd's college career got off to an unfortunate start, as he tore his ACL on the second day of his first fall camp in 2020. After playing as a reserve in 2021, Lloyd has become one of South Carolina's most consistent and productive offensive players this fall. He ranks fifth in the SEC in yards per carry (5.6), and has averaged 96.2 yards and 6.6 yards per carry with seven touchdowns in South Carolina's last five games.
The 5-foot-9, 212-pound Lloyd has a knack for the end zone, scoring touchdowns in all but two games this season. He also has shown greater durability, logging a combined 40 carries for 202 yards and three touchdowns in South Carolina's wins over Kentucky and Texas A&M.
"He's a great kid, extremely hard working and football is very important to him," South Carolina coach Shane Beamer told ESPN. "One man rarely brings him down. He's finally healthy this season and it shows. He's explosive and has improved as a pass-catcher."
North Carolina QB Drake Maye | Redshirt freshman
2022 numbers: 2,671 pass yards, 29 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, 71.3% completions, 439 rushing yards
2021 numbers: 89 pass yards, 1 touchdown, 7-of-10 passing, 62 rushing yards, 3 rushing touchdowns
Maye had the bloodlines to be special. His father played quarterback at UNC and ranks 11th on the school's all-time passing list (3,459 yards). His brother Luke starred for North Carolina's national championship-winning basketball team in 2017. Another brother, Cole, won the College World Series with Florida that same year. Tar Heels coach Mack Brown knew Drake would have no trouble competing, including for a starting job this offseason with Jacolby Criswell.
What Brown didn't fully see coming was Maye's remarkable consistency and production as a first-year starter. Maye leads the nation in total offense (388.8 ypg) and touchdowns responsible for (32), while matching Ohio State's C.J. Stroud for most touchdown passes (29) and USC's Caleb Williams for most red zone touchdowns (18). He's third nationally in both passing yards per game (339.9) and passing efficiency (185.5 rating).
"He's got the great advantage of height, so he can see," Brown told ESPN of Maye, who stands 6-foot-4½. "His dad taught him to have a great throwing motion over the top. He's got a very quick release, he's really accurate, he has the ability to find the open guy, so he's thrown to eight or nine receivers per game. But probably the thing that shocked everybody the most is he's really a good runner. He's about 220 at 6-5, and he can make plays with his feet."
Maye's ability to spread around his targets has fueled a UNC offense with a clear No. 1 wideout in Josh Downs but nine others who have between 8 and 23 receptions. His mobility also has helped, especially North Carolina's running back room being hit hard by injuries.
"A lot of his runs have been off scrambles," Brown said. "People are playing a lot of man coverage against us, or they're dropping deep in zones and he is able to slip the pass rush and scramble and make those yards. Drake's a guy who has really made a lot of those yards on his own."
Maye has four games with at least four touchdowns and no interceptions, including last week against Pitt, which he lit up for 388 passing yards and five scores.
"He's a first-rounder," Narduzzi said.
Alabama CB/PR Kool-Aid McKinstry | Sophomore
2022 numbers: 23 tackles, 2 interceptions, 1 sack, 11 passes defended, 1 fumble recovery, 18 punt returns, 319 punt return yards
2021 numbers: 25 tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception, 2 passes defended
A player named Kool-Aid who starts for Nick Saban in the secondary as a true freshman isn't going to go unnoticed. McKinstry did some good things in 2021, especially after becoming a starter down the stretch. But he has emerged this season as a playmaker on both defense and special teams. He's tied for the SEC lead in passes defended, five more than any other Crimson Tide player. McKinstry was named a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award alongside teammate Will Anderson, considered the nation's most talented defensive player.
After not returning a single punt in 2021, McKinstry has become one of the nation's best returners, leading the FBS in both yards per return (17.7) and total return yards. He contributed 136 return yards against Louisiana-Monroe as Alabama broke a 75-year-old single-season team record for most punt return yards in a game (262).
TCU RB Kendre Miller | Junior
2022 numbers: 120 carries, 731 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns, 8 receptions, 75 receiving yards
2021 numbers: 83 carries, 623 rushing yards, 7 touchdowns, 12 receptions, 117 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD
TCU's transition to a new coaching staff, plus the transfer of primary back Zach Evans to Ole Miss, raised some doubts about the viability of the run game. Miller has put those to rest with an exceptional first eight games for one of the biggest surprise teams in college football. After moderate performances against Colorado and Tarleton, Miller went for 142 yards and a touchdown on only 17 carries against SMU, and has evolved into a reliable featured back. He logged a career-high 29 carries against Kansas State, and last week notched his fifth 100-yard rushing performance in the past six contests against West Virginia.
First-year coach Sonny Dykes was optimistic about Miller, noting several big performances he had last year, including an 185-yard effort against Texas Tech.
"You put the tape on from last year and there were a few games where Kendre looked better than Zach," Dykes told ESPN. "We thought he was going to be good, but he just wears people down. Running backs are the hardest guys to judge because they don't ever get tackled in practice. You don't really know how good they are until you get into games. He gets stronger as the game goes on."
Kansas State LB Austin Moore | Junior
2022 numbers: 55 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 interception, 3 pass breakups, 3 quarterback hurries
2021 numbers: 18 tackles, 3 tackles for loss
Moore is known as "The Machine" around the Kansas State program. The former walk-on doesn't talk much but never stops operating, from his early days on the scout team to a mostly reserve/special teams role in 2021 to a featured position for this year's defense. Moore leads the Wildcats in tackles, is tied for the team lead in forced fumbles and ranks second in tackles for loss.
"He's definitely 'The Machine,'" Kansas State coach Chris Klieman told me and Gabe Ikard during a recent interview on Sirius XM. "He goes nonstop, 100 miles an hour."
Kansas State's staff has been impressed with Moore's ability to run, as offenses often try to match up wide receivers against weak-side linebackers with wheel routes and other patterns. His coverage skills have shown up this season, and Moore also has been effective against the run, as Kansas State allows only 3.7 yards per carry.
Klieman also noted that Moore has become a more vocal leader, mentoring younger players like Cody Fletcher did for him last season.
"He's consistent, he knows our defense inside and out," Klieman said. "He has taken his game to another level, from just understanding what offenses are trying to do, understanding our defense, taking care of his body and playing really confident."
Arizona OT Jordan Morgan | Junior
2022 numbers: Started first eight games at left tackle
2021 numbers: Started the final 11 games at left tackle
Arizona hasn't had an offensive lineman selected in the NFL draft since Eben Britton in 2009 (second round, Jacksonville), but Morgan likely will end that lull next spring. Despite obvious talent, Morgan had some struggles in 2021, his first full season as the starter, with both pass-protection and injury. But he turned in a strong offseason and has played much cleaner so far this fall, helping Arizona rise to No. 3 nationally in passing offense.
Morgan protects the blind side of dynamic quarterback Jayden de Laura, and has displayed strong athleticism and range of movement, especially at 6-foot-6 and 320 pounds. Arizona allowed only eight sacks in the first six games before struggling a bit lately.
Oregon QB Bo Nix | Senior
2022 numbers: 2,221 pass yards, 20 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 72.3% completions, 441 rushing yards, 11 rushing touchdowns
2021 numbers: 2,294 pass yards, 11 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, 61% completions, 168 rushing yards, 4 rushing touchdowns
Nix isn't a surprise in the traditional sense. He had spurts of brilliance during an up-and-down career at Auburn. His talent has never been in doubt, and ESPN rated him as the No. 23 overall player in the 2019 recruiting class. But he's putting together the best stretch of his career after transferring to Oregon, where he reunited with coordinator Kenny Dillingham. Nix ranks second nationally behind Maye in touchdowns responsible for (32), and is tied with Louisville's Malik Cunningham for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (11).
After an opening performance against Georgia that reflected Nix's struggles in the SEC, the senior has been spectacular, displaying accuracy and playmaking ability every week. Nix has benefited from operating a more quarterback-centric offense, where he has more influence over playcalls and decisions. Oregon also has been more willing to stretch the field than the offenses Nix operated at Auburn, and he has spread the ball extremely well to the Ducks' wide receivers, tight ends and running backs. The veteran is comfortable checking the ball down because he knows more shot play opportunities are coming.
Oregon is capitalizing on all of Nix's physical gifts, plus his intelligence and experience from starting three years in the SEC.
"It's that comfort of when he takes the snap every time, he has a good plan he believes in," a Pac-12 coordinator said. "Everybody knows how talented he is. He was a five-star [recruit] for a reason."
Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. | Junior
Michael Penix Jr. airs it out for 45-yard touchdown
2022 numbers: 2,934 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, 67.8% completions, 2 rushing touchdowns
2021 numbers: 939 pass yards, 4 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, 53.7% completions, 2 rushing touchdowns
For a stretch in 2020, Penix was one of the most feared quarterbacks in the country after lighting up Ohio State for 491 pass yards and five touchdowns. But Penix tore his ACL the following week -- the second of three season-ending injuries at Indiana. Little went right for him in 2021, when he had more interceptions than touchdowns and had a career-low completion percentage.
But Washington coaches saw the arm strength and the super quick release. They knew if Penix was in the right system, he could be special. Penix has delivered, leading the FBS in passing and eclipsing 300 yards in all eight games. He ranks second nationally in total offense, fourth in completions per game and fifth in passing touchdowns. His accuracy is back to where it was in 2019, when he worked alongside Washington coach Kalen DeBoer at Indiana. He has thrown multiple touchdown passes in all but one game.
"That has really helped him play ultra confident, that he is high on the protection, the pressures, into the coverages, and not only is it keeping him upright, but he's getting a little bit quicker on understanding where to put the ball," offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb told ESPN. "You line guys up and go, 'OK, is this guy fairly accurate or really accurate, where does he lie?' Mike is really accurate. Then you've got to get him to be able to play confident, play fast."
Grubb said Penix has had "one bad quarter this season," the second at UCLA, when his eyes dropped on pass attempts and he threw two interceptions. But he still finished with 345 pass attempts and four touchdowns. He now leads Washington into a stretch run that includes Oregon State, Oregon and Washington State.
"This is a quarterback-centered offense for sure, but we don't want Mike to throw for 500 yards every week," Grubb said. "Especially now. In the Pacific Northwest, you're going to have some weather challenges when games are really, really important. I'm excited to see Mike create offense in other ways, whether it's shorter throws or using his feet or getting run checks down that are the subtle difference makes, and when he has to make a big-time throw in not the best weather, I'm excited to see him do that."
Ohio QB Kurtis Rourke | Junior
2022 numbers: 2,725 pass yards, 21 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, 68.5% completions, 234 rushing yards, 4 rushing touchdowns, 62 carries
2021 numbers: 1,817 pass yards, 11 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, 65.5% completions, 327 rushing yards, 3 rushing touchdowns, 74 carries
MACtion kicked off Tuesday night, and those who tuned in saw Rourke lead Ohio to bowl eligibility after throwing for 317 yards and five touchdowns against Buffalo. After a challenging first season as Ohio's QB1, Rourke has become one of the nation's most productive signal callers. He ranks 10th nationally in passing average (302.8 ypg) and tied for 12th in passing touchdowns.
Ohio coach Tim Albin credits Rourke's development to a strong offseason where he developed his lower body, after missing much of the previous offseason while recovering from a broken collarbone. Rourke can now make effective off-platform throws.
"You're not transferring the weight back with your front foot, your feet are parallel and you're throwing the ball with different arm angles, he's made some throws like that," Albin told ESPN. "You look at the Western Michigan game, first or second series, he scrambles to his left and he whips his feet around and throws the ball back across his body. When he did it, I was like, 'What is he doing?' But it was right on the money.
"He could not make that throw last year."
Rourke, who displayed good accuracy in 2021, has thrown multiple touchdown passes in six games this season. He set Ohio's single-game passing record with 537 yards against Fordham on Sept. 24, and had 427 pass yards and only three incompletions against Akron. Ohio is a pass-centric offense, but Rourke also has contributed nicely with his legs, eclipsing 30 rushing yards in four games.
"He's always had arm talent, but his feet parallel and arm-angle throws are off the chains," Albin said. "He's able to extend plays with his eyes downfield. He's a dude you can just move the ball with his arm, and the accuracy is there with the development."
Arkansas LB Drew Sanders | Junior
2022 numbers: 65 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 3 pass breakups, 6 quarterback hurries
2021 numbers: 24 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 4 quarterback hurries, 2 pass breakups
Sanders is the type of player whose success never comes as a total shock. He was ESPN's No. 36 overall recruit in the 2020 class, and went to Alabama pegged as a potential star at outside linebacker. But after a solid start to last season, Sanders broke his hand against Ole Miss, was leapfrogged by Dallas Turner on the depth chart and ended up transferring in January.
He made an immediate impact at Arkansas, recording all of his sacks in the first five games, and forcing two fumbles in a win over South Carolina. Sanders can be both a prolific tackler -- 11 or more stops in four games -- and also a playmaker for the Razorbacks. He leads the SEC in sacks, edging his former Alabama teammate Will Anderson Jr., and is tied for the league lead in forced fumbles.
"He's a grinder," Arkansas coach Sam Pittman told ESPN. "He fits in really well. Just comes in, goes to work, loves the game, good to his teammates. I thought he'd be really good here."
Texas TE Ja'Tavion Sanders | Sophomore
Ja'tavion Sanders scores 18-yard receiving TD
2022 numbers: 34 receptions, 396 receiving yards, 5 touchdowns
2021 numbers: 12 games played, 0 receptions
Sanders was Texas' highest-rated recruit and ESPN's No. 13 overall prospect in the 2021 class, but he didn't record a single catch as a freshman despite playing in all 12 games, mostly on special teams. His second season brought immediate production, as he had six receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown in the opener against Louisiana-Monroe, displaying an obvious chemistry with new quarterback Quinn Ewers.
He has continued to produce, whether Ewers or Hudson Card is throwing passes. Sanders has recorded three or more receptions in all but one game, and made two touchdown grabs in wins against both West Virginia and Oklahoma. Texas hadn't had a tight end record multiple touchdown catches in a game since 2011. Sanders has eclipsed 70 receiving yards three times and ranks second on the team behind Xavier Worthy in both receptions and touchdown receptions. His receptions total is tied for fourth most among tight ends in team history, and the record of 50 is within sight.
Illinois S Kendall Smith | Senior
2022 numbers: 13 tackles, 4 interceptions, 3 pass breakups
2021 numbers: 13 tackles
After playing cornerback and primarily special teams for Illinois in 2021, Smith decided to transfer and entered the portal. But Illini coach Bret Bielema sensed there would be a role for Smith at safety, especially if standout Kerby Joseph entered the NFL draft.
"Every game he would show up," Bielema said. "So I did something with him that I've never done with another portal request."
Bielema kept the door open for Smith's return. He told Smith to explore transfer options, but when Joseph declared, the coach dispatched defensive coordinator Ryan Walters and others to Smith's hometown. About a day later, Smith told Bielema he wanted to rejoin the team.
"Sometimes people are just in denial, they think they're something they're not," Bielema said. "He played corner, and I kept saying, 'He's got good ball skills, he's rangy, he's long, he's athletic, can't we look at him at safety?' So we moved him to safety. That's when Kendall really started to shine. You knew that he had big-play mentality."
Smith is tied for sixth nationally in total interceptions and interceptions per game (.6). He had interceptions in three of the first four games, and all of his picks have come against Power 5 opponents.
North Texas CB Ridge Texada | Sophomore
2022 numbers: 28 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, 14 passes defended
2021 numbers: 19 tackles, 1 tackles for loss, 2 pass breakups
The 5-foot-8, 181-pound Texada has quickly become one of the nation's most productive defensive backs against the pass. A transfer from McNeese State, he started three games last season but has been a mainstay in the Mean Green secondary this fall. He leads the FBS in total passes defended with 17, and ranks 14th nationally in interceptions, the first North Texas player to record three or more picks since 2018.
Texada, whose brother Ranthony played cornerback at TCU and other brother Raleigh played cornerback at Baylor, had a 58-yard interception return for a touchdown against Florida Atlantic. He ranks sixth nationally in interception return yards (124). Texada also is tied for fifth on the team in solo tackles with 26.
Wisconsin S John Torchio | Senior
2022 numbers: 42 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 5 interceptions, 5 passes defended
2021 numbers: 35 tackles, one-half sack, 3 interceptions
Since three-time All-America defensive back Jim Leonhard returned to coach Wisconsin, the team has regularly had standout players in the secondary. Torchio is not a new name to Badgers fans, as he started a game in 2019 and three more last season, when he flashes his playmaking potential with three interceptions. But he has boosted a secondary hit hard by injuries since the spring, and is tied for the national lead in both interceptions and pick-sixes (2).
He became the first Wisconsin player since 2010 -- and just the second since 2000 -- to record multiple interception returns for touchdowns in the same season. Torchio also set a team record with a 100-yard interception return in the opener against Illinois State. He leads the team in pass breakups and also has been an active tackler, ranking second in stops.
Arkansas State TE Seydou Traore | Sophomore
2022 numbers: 39 receptions, 529 receiving yards, 3 touchdowns
2021 numbers: 12 receptions, 97 receiving yards
There haven't been many bright spots for Arkansas State this season, but Traore has emerged into one of the nation's top pass-catching tight ends. He ranks fourth among FBS tight ends in receiving yards and sixth in receptions. After recording just three receptions total in Arkansas State's first two games, Traore has recorded at least three catches and 47 or more yards in every contest.
A native of London, England, Traore played only one season of American high school football before heading to Arkansas State. On Sept. 24, he became the first Arkansas State tight end to eclipse 100 receiving yards since 2016 when he went for 120 against Memphis. Traore has seven more receptions and 102 more receiving yards than anyone on the Red Wolves roster.