The college football Week 11 slate is upon us, and the team of draft evaluators and CFB analysts at Pro Football Network are here with instant takeaways from the weekend slate.
Find our immediate reactions to all the action from start to finish in college football’s Week 11 Saturday games.
College Football Week 11 Live Blog
Taking into account all of the weekend’s slate of action, our CFB/Draft department will all be on hand for their instant reactions as they come in.
For clarity’s sake, each takeaway, reaction, and result will be culminated by the initials of the analyst responsible: TP for Tony Pauline, IC for Ian Cummings, and CM for Cam Mellor.
Verse Proving To Be the Real Deal
9:25 p.m. — Edge rusher Jared Verse continues to impress since transferring to Florida State from Albany-NY, and he’s terrorizing Syracuse this evening. The Orange have not been able to move the ball against FSU and have just three first downs and 51 total yards as the first half is closing out.
Thus far, Verse has three tackles, one TFL, and a sack. The athletic pass rusher had 5.5 sacks and 12 TFLs coming into the game. He’s incredibly athletic, forceful, and makes plays in pursuit outside the box as well as up the field. The fact he’s doing it this evening against highly-rated left tackle Matthew Bergeron proves how good Verse really is. TP
McMillan the Ever-Improving Playmaker
9:15 p.m. — Washington receiver Jalen McMillan has played well in the all-important contest against Oregon. He leads all pass catchers in the game with five receptions for 76 yards as the second half is underway.
McMillan is a playmaker who improved this season, and he’s playing better than the fourth-round prospect I graded him to be over the summer. Washington will need his playmaking ability, as they just fell behind the Ducks for the first time this evening as the score reads 17-13 in Oregon’s favor. TP
USM Back in the Game
9 p.m. — When was the last time we mentioned Southern Mississippi when talking about NFL prospects? The program has just a single player drafted since 2018 and boasts only nine active players in the NFL.
The team’s highest-rated prospect, receiver Jason Brownlee, probably won’t be drafted but will have a chance to make an NFL roster. He’s a tall possession wideout with a nose for the end zone. Brownlee has 19 TD receptions in the past three seasons. He comes with really long arms and dependable hands.
Brownlee has helped USM overcome a 17-point deficit to Coastal Carolina with three receptions for 53 yards as the game heads toward halftime. TP
Duke Looks Good Rebounding From Injury
8:45 p.m. — Khalid Duke of Kansas State is one of the more interesting defensive prospects on my board. In 2020, he looked like a developing pass rusher but was sidelined with an ACL injury just three games into the 2021 season.
The Wildcats have been moving Duke around this season, using him in space as well as up the field on the blitz, and he looks good. He’s very athletic and covers a lot of area on the field, displaying a ton of speed on the field. Tonight, against Baylor, Duke has two tackles and one TFL. Duke has a lot of upside and should be watched moving forward. TP
Avila vs. Coburn — Battle of the Big Men
8:25 p.m. — One of the better matchups of the evening is watching TCU left guard Steve Avila face off against Texas defensive tackle Keondre Coburn. Avila has the power advantage and has out-positioned or blocked down on Coburn to remove him from the action.
The Texas defender has a definite mobility/agility advantage over Avila. Several times, Avila was unable to handle Coburn’s quickness and ability to adjust, redirect or immediately change direction. Avila has a third-round grade on my board with Coburn rated a frame later. TP
The Next Top Center Prospect Named Jurgens
8 p.m. — Wake Forest has been getting hammered in recent weeks as the offensive line has not found a way to stop the pressure brought by opponents. As a result, quarterback Sam Hartman is getting pummeled.
MORE: Top 10 Interior Offensive Linemen in the 2023 NFL Draft
One Wake blocker that has played reasonably well is center Michael Jurgens, a senior stamped as a sixth-round pick on my board. He’s a taller center with a great head for the position who moves well around the field. Jurgens must fill out his 6’4 1/2″ frame and get stronger, but he’s a terrific position blocker. TP
Trice — The Next Top Husky Defender
7:45 p.m. — We’re watching the development of the next top pass rusher/defensive front seven prospect from Washington. Redshirt sophomore Bralen Trice, who just sacked Oregon quarterback Bo Nix and halted the Ducks’ drive toward the end zone, has exploded on the scene after just two starts a year ago.
The sack in the first quarter gives him 7.5 for the season. Trice is athletic, explosive, and relentless. He shows ability out of a three-point stance as well as standing over tackle. TP
Carter Looks Every Bit an Early First-Round Prospect
7:30 p.m. — I took a bit of a wait-and-see approach towards Jalen Carter entering the season, and the junior has definitely made a believer of me. What’s most exciting is that Carter seems to be playing better each week and fully transitioning his athletic ability into football production. Last week, he dominated Tennessee’s offensive line, making several game-impacting plays. He’s off to a hot start this evening against Mississippi State. TP
Brian Branch a 2-Phase Playmaker With Round 1 Ability
7:10 p.m. — Brian Branch came up big several times for Alabama today, as he often does. In the box, his play recognition, explosive athleticism, and tackling ability helped him make several stops in support. But his biggest play undeniably came on the final rep, where he matched up against Jonathan Mingo, mirrored him through the end zone on a slot post, and broke up the final pass of the game with stellar coordination and focus.
Branch often plays the STAR position for Alabama, but he has the versatility to play in space, in the box, and be a catalyst wherever the Tide need him. This game was as big an endorsement as any. He has first-round ability if he declares for the 2023 NFL Draft. IC
Byron Young Has a Mini-Breakout Game
7:05 p.m. — He’s always been a great run defender, but until today, it was unclear how much Byron Young offered beyond that as a prospect for Alabama. Today, he expanded beyond that role, contributing a couple sacks and a pass deflection at the line on passing downs for the Crimson Tide.
Young has always flashed the necessary tools to be a pass-rushing threat. Today, it looked like he took a step toward putting it all together. He’s a hustle player who has some lateral athleticism and power generation with his length and base alignment. His high-level run defense ability also gives him an exciting floor to work with on Day 1. IC
Miles Battle an Intriguing CB Sleeper for Ole Miss
6:35 p.m. — There’s a lot of depth in the 2023 NFL Draft cornerback class, which means some names naturally get flushed out or overlooked. Miles Battle falls under that category. The 6’3″ cornerback has two picks and 11 deflections over the past two seasons for Ole Miss. Today, in particular, he’s been a key cog in keeping Alabama’s scoring attack at bay.
No play was more important for Battle than his most recent one. On 3rd-and-goal, Alabama attempted to hit tight end Cameron Latu for another score. Battle, however, was able to match Latu’s lateral move at the stem and used his 6’3″ length to obstruct the passing lane and knock down the intended pass.
At his size, Battle offers the unique ability to both drape smaller receivers and match up against tight ends when needed. Even for his taller frame, his proportional length is excellent, and it affords him a wide playmaking radius. IC
Clayton Tune Remains Clutch for Houston
6:30 p.m. — True to form, the Houston Cougars found themselves in another close game this week, this time against the Temple Owls. They were down 36-35 in the closing seconds, but quarterback Clayton Tune came up big again. With a four-man rush coming downhill, Tune stayed composed, and at the top of his drop, launched a perfect deep throw to Matthew Golden for a game-winning score.
On the very next rep, Tune extended with his legs and ran in a two-point conversion himself to make it a seven-point game, lowering into contact to break the plane. Tune showed off a lot of traits in this closing sequence, but above all, his toughness stands out. It’s why he’s on the Shrine Bowl roster and stands to generate lots of NFL interest. IC
Tyler Nubin Helps Set the Tone for Minnesota
6:25 p.m. — Minnesota has held Northwestern to just three points so far today. It’s been a strong team effort on defense, but senior strong safety Tyler Nubin has been an especially strong contributor. Coming into today’s game with 42 tackles, two TFLs, three picks, and two deflections, he’s only added to his contributions on the year.
Moments ago, Nubin made one of his best plays on the night. Backpedaling in two-high, Nubin quickly recognized and triggered on an intermediate out, flipping his hips and closing to the sideline, where he jarred the receiver at the catch point and prevented him from making a high-difficulty boundary catch.
At 6’2″, 205 pounds, Nubin has great size and physicality, and he’s a solid athlete as well. Top-end speed isn’t an overwhelming strength of his, but he’s shown to have enough fluidity and burst to work in coverage and close ground in condensed zones. He’s a heady, proactive defender who carries appeal in an uncertain safety class. IC
Anthony Richardson’s Upside, Will Levis’ Stagnation Creates Interesting Discussion
6:15 p.m. — There’s no surefire right answer for QB3 after Stroud and Young. But seeing how Levis has stagnated down the stretch this year, it’s hard not to look at Richardson and say he shouldn’t be higher ranked.
Tony mentioned earlier that Levis has struggled with consistency. And even as Levis has gained experience, that inconsistency has frustratingly lingered. Richardson has a similar inconsistency within his game as well. But for all of Levis’ elite tools, Richardson’s tools are even better — and he’s two years younger, providing extra developmental real estate for NFL teams.
Levis’ upside is alluring, but so far this season, he’s done little to build around that raw physical profile. And seeing the flashes Richardson has with pocket management, ball placement, and creation off-script, he makes a lot of sense as the next man up after the first two signal-callers. IC
Zay Flowers Continues To Dominate
5:50 p.m. — All Zay Flowers has done this season is make plays. Nothing’s changed in Week 11. Midway through the third quarter in a tight game against NC State, Flowers has six catches for 116 yards and two scores. His season totals have now risen to 66 catches for 907 yards and 10 touchdowns — all career-high values.
Flowers, who accepted an invite to the Shrine Bowl earlier this week, has a rare brand of dynamic ability at the WR position. He’s a bit undersized at 5’10”, 172 pounds, but his blend of explosiveness, twitch, and balance makes him a dangerous threat both as a separator and a run-after-catch threat. He’s produced with both skills today, showing off his early-round upside in the process. IC
Bryce Young’s Vision in Off-Script Situations Remains Uncommon
5:45 p.m. — In a way, Alabama having less supporting talent and synergy this season has allowed Bryce Young to shine even more. He’s more often needed to put the Crimson Tide offense on his back, and in doing so, has truly shown the full extent of his creative capacity. He’s an elite athlete with truly otherworldly instincts, always having a feel both for pressure and for his options in the receiving game.
On a recent snap against Ole Miss, Young was immediately pressured by a blitzer up the middle. He scraped free from contact and started upfield to draw defenders in, before suddenly snapping to his right and dishing a pass to a receiver in the flats. The control that Young provides in chaotic situations is very much worth an early first-round pick. IC
Cameron Latu Shows Separation Ability in TD
5:20 p.m. — At times, the Alabama offense has been a one-man show this year with Bryce Young. But today, he’s getting a little more help from his receiving weapons, most notably tight end Cameron Latu. Latu has three catches for 38 yards, including a crucial scoring catch made with the half winding down.
On that red-zone TD catch, Latu pressed upfield from an in-line position, hit his man with a quick squirt release at the stem, then surged inside and created space. Latu’s route was a nice combination of nuance and athletic ability — squaring up his defender, but also showing off the necessary lateral agility and burst to get open over the middle.
Latu’s hands can still be a bit more consistent at times, but his natural separation athleticism makes his NFL projection very appealing at the right price. IC
Lukas Van Ness Flashes High-Level Talent on the Line
5:15 p.m. — While we’re on the topic of exciting young talent on Iowa’s defense, we have to bring up Lukas Van Ness, who just logged sack number 6.5 of the season on Graham Mertz. Lined up on the interior, Van Ness hit his opposing guard with a brutal forklift-swim combo, wrenching his blocker aside and swarming the QB in the pocket.
Standing at 6’5″, 264 pounds, Van Ness has the lean build of an edge rusher, but the actionable power to blast open lanes wherever he lines up. He’s not only explosive and long but also incredibly proficient at loading power through his hips and maximizing exertions with rotational torque, all while stressing linemen laterally. He’s a rare talent. IC
Cooper DeJean a Name To Watch in 2024 Cycle
5:10 p.m. — Iowa’s defense is legit, but the team’s best player in the secondary might not even be draft eligible right now. True sophomore Cooper DeJean is a budding star for the Hawkeyes. He came into this week’s action with three interceptions and seven pass breakups, and he added to his total with a pick-six moments ago, reading a sail route all the way and undercutting for the score.
MORE: 2024 NFL Draft Prospect Watchlist
DeJean has good size at 6’1″, 203 pounds, but what stands out on tape is how smooth he is as an athlete. He freely matches receivers and throttles up and down with impressive control and has the closing burst to erase windows and make plays on the ball. He’s also versatile, with slot capabilities. Once he’s eligible, he’ll have early-round upside. IC
Kei’Trel Clark Playing Above His Weight Class
4:45 p.m. –– Kei’Trel Clark has five interceptions and 26 pass deflections in his four-year career with the Louisville Cardinals. At 5’10”, with a weight in the 170s, you’d expect him to be more of a coverage specialist with his sticky athleticism and ball skills.
It’s true — he’s dangerous with his click-and-close ability. But don’t let his frame fool you. He can play in run support, too.
One play against Clemson today was indicative of this. On a first down, Clemson dialed up a bubble screen to the right side. Clark immediately identified the play and started downhill. Rather than flushing himself out of the play, however, he paused, freezing the blockers, then pried through the double-team and exploded into the receiver for a loss.
Clark’s instincts and explosiveness serve him well in both phases, and early on today, he’s showing why. The Shrine Bowl commit is quietly a quality 2023 NFL Draft CB prospect, with the potential to rise up boards down the stretch. IC
Anthony Richardson Starting Strong Against South Carolina
4:35 p.m. — Anthony Richardson has been inconsistent overall in 2022, but he’s off to a strong start today against South Carolina. He got the Gators on the board first with a rushing touchdown and now just found the end zone through the air with an impressive pass. Off a quick play-action drop in the red zone, Richardson instinctively stepped into the pocket to avoid outside pressure, then fired a dart that Ricky Pearsall was able to high-point with a defender looming.
Tony Pauline reported two weeks ago that Richardson was leaning toward entering the 2023 NFL Draft. This latest TD pass gives him 10 touchdowns to seven interceptions on the year, to go along with over 500 rushing yards and nine scores on the ground.
As a passer, there’s still room to grow for Richardson. But looking at the uncertainty after Young and C.J. Stroud in the 2023 NFL Draft QB class, it’s hard to imagine teams wouldn’t be willing to bank on Richardson’s rare traits. IC
Bryce Young’s Elite Creation Capacity Continues To Shine Through
4:25 p.m. — Ole Miss is handling business against Alabama so far today, but from an evaluative standpoint, Bryce Young is still putting reasons on tape to bet on his NFL potential. In a modern NFL where you look for elite traits to build around with quarterbacks, Young’s elite creation capacity consistently generates appeal.
Between inconsistent blocking and receiver play, the Crimson Tide offense isn’t giving Young much help. But with his high-end short-area twitch and agility, he’s able to consistently evade pressure, extend plays, and send defenders lurching in open space, all while pressing upfield. Young’s ability to create amidst adversity and keep plays alive remains an awe-inspiring trait, and it’s why many have him as QB1. IC
Blake Corum Finds the End Zone Again With Explosive Ability
4:20 p.m. — Blake Corum has been having a phenomenal season for the Michigan Wolverines, and he’s carrying the momentum forward today — both literally and figuratively. A quarter of the way through against Nebraska, Corum has eight carries for 33 yards and a score — his 30th career touchdown in the Blue and Maize.
Corum has quickly developed into one of the top running back prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft. He offers the density and natural leverage you want at 5’8″, 210 pounds. But what truly completes his game is his combination of quick vision and even quicker burst to the second level. He’s a lightning bolt in pads, who brings surprising thunder at contact. IC
Ji’Ayir Brown Playing Fast for Penn State
4:10 p.m. — Penn State will look to finish the 2022 regular season on a high note over the next few weeks, and that starts with a win against Maryland. So far, the defense is playing up to par, and a lot of it has to do with the presence of safety Ji’Ayir Brown.
In what’s become an expectation for Brown, the high-level 2023 NFL Draft safety prospect is playing fast, both in coverage and in run support. On Maryland’s most recent drive, Brown closed downhill quickly on a short completion and was quick to wrap up and nullify the play behind the sticks.
Brown is a playmaker through and through, with range, ball skills, and ability in run support. He should be one of the top players at his position come next April. IC
Bryan Bresee’s Presence Felt Early Against Louisville
4 p.m. — It hasn’t taken long for Clemson’s talent across the board to overwhelm Louisville in Week 11. Particularly on defense, first-round defensive line prospect Bryan Bresee has already been a nightmare to deal with. On early downs, he’s using his explosiveness and length to slab run blockers and hold his place. And on Louisville’s last third down, he notched a sack on a twist, using a quick double swipe to get free while off-setting his blocker and exploding into the pocket.
With his combination of explosiveness, lateral agility, and length, Bresee can be a blue-chip addition to an NFL defensive line. He still struggles with leverage at times, but the physical combination of tools is elite. IC
Haladay Dominating the Opposition
3:20 p.m. — Michigan State has finally kicked it into gear after a slow start to the season. And linebacker Cal Haladay has been a catalyst during the Spartans late season push. Handed a third-round grade on my board over the summer, Haladay was inconsistent at the start of the season but has really been on a tear recently. He had 13 tackles during the victory over Wisconsin, nine tackles a week ago when the Spartans upset Illinois, and presently has 14 tackles against Rutgers with five minutes left in the game.
Haladay is a safety-sized linebacker with great speed and instincts. He’s outstanding in pursuit and plays with reckless abandon. TP
Martin Again Standing Out for Illinois
3 p.m. — Purdue and Illinois are locked in a terrific battle, which will help determine the West division of the Big Ten. The Fighting Illini have one of the best defenses in the conference, and while I mentioned defensive backs Devon Witherspoon as well as Sydney Brown during the preview, once again it’s unheralded Jartavius Martin that’s the star of the show.
Martin has broken up two passes today, having an interception bounce off his hands, while totaling four tackles. He entered the game with three INTs and nine PBUs as well as 44 tackles. A fifth-year senior, Martin was ignored by scouts entering the season, but he’s done enough to get late-round consideration. TP
Baskerville Doing the Little Things Well
2:35PM- With all the star power on the LSU defense, I remain impressed with linebacker Micah Baskerville. The senior is a tough, disciplined defender who does a great job quarterbacking the unit and positioning himself to make plays on the ball.
Baskerville doesn’t make the “wow” plays many of his teammates do, nor does he have huge stats, but he’s consistent and dependable. Scouts I’ve spoken with tell me he’s a UDFA, but I have a sixth-round grade on Baskerville. TP
I Have My Concerns About Will Levis
2:25 p.m. — For all the love thrown at Will Levis, I have my concerns. While many see a potential top-15 pick, I see a big, athletic quarterback with a major-league arm, but an inconsistent signal-caller with a big bust factor. As they say in the scouting world — he’ll look like a world beater on one play then looks like an egg beater the next snap.
MORE: 2023 NFL Draft Big Board
The Cats are presently struggling against a terrible Vanderbilt squad, albeit in awful conditions, and Levis has looked rather pedestrian. Levis was terrible against Tennessee a few weeks ago and looked ordinary against Florida earlier in the season. He presently ranks behind Hendon Hooker of Tennessee on my big board, which should be released here at PFN in a few weeks. TP
Don’t sleep on Eric Gray
2:15 p.m. — While the Oklahoma offense has been up and down this season, Sooner RB Eric Gray has been a consistent force for the team and is getting a lot of chatter in scouting circles. At the start of the third quarter against West Virginia, the senior ball carrier has 126 yards on 14 carries with a touchdown. That puts Gray over the century mark for rushing yards this season.
Gray is a bigger back with a terrific burst of speed but not a ball carrier that can run to daylight. Like many running backs to come out of Oklahoma recently, I expect Gray to end up as a Day 3 pick, then go on to have a very productive NFL career. TP
Ojulari Looking Like the Complete Package
1:30 p.m. — The LSU-Arkansas affair has been an uninspired contest with a lot of bad offense and a score of 6-3 in favor of the Tigers at halftime. LSU pass rusher BJ Ojulari has looked impressive, and it’s not just his ability to rush the edge but also his athleticism as well as agility defending the run.
Ojulari plays with great leverage as well as balance, and his ability to adjust off blocks and then redirect and bring down running backs is impressive. TP
Armstrong’s Struggles Going From Bad To Worse
1:10 p.m. — Brennan Armstrong’s poor campaign is going from bad to worse.
Entering the season, the UVA passer was graded as a middle-round pick, yet many — including present company — believed he had the goods to make a move up draft boards and possibly peak into the late part of Day 2. It’s not going to happen.
Entering today’s contest against Pittsburgh, Armstrong was completing a little more than 50% of his throws (54.9%) and tossed 10 INTs. Presently, UVA is getting hammered by the Panthers 28-0 midway through the second quarter, and Armstrong is 3 of 7 passing with two interceptions.
A fourth-year senior, Armstrong would be best off returning for a second senior season to UVA or another school with the intention of getting his game back on track. TP
DaShaun White — Small but Mighty
12:55 p.m. — The Oklahoma Sooner defense has had their share of issues this season — no doubt. Yet, every once in a while, a Sooner defender flashes ability, which turns heads.
Such is the case for linebacker DaShaun White, who plays with great speed and shows a lot of ability in pursuit. The quickness and speed he plays with laterally and the way he’s able to catch ball handlers in backside pursuit reminds me of former Sooner Brian Asamoah, a third-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings last April. TP
Witherspoon vs. Jones Turning Into a Terrific Battle
12:40 p.m. — Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon, whom I mentioned in the open, is having a great battle against Purdue receiver Charlie Jones, a Week 7 riser.
Witherspoon has made a few nice plays but was called for a very questionable PI penalty against Jones. For his part, Jones has been Mr. Reliable and shows great hands as well as a great head for the position and game. TP
Don’t Be Surprised if Slovis Ends up in Day 2
12:20 p.m. — I have Pittsburgh quarterback Kedon Slovis stamped as a fifth-round pick, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he ends up being selected earlier in the draft.
Watching the film, Slovis is always in control of the offense and makes some incredible next-level throws, as he’s presently doing against Virginia.
Injuries and inconsistency have been his downfall, yet I could envision an offensive coordinator or quarterback coach watching the film in the offseason and lobbying for his team to select Slovis in Round 4, if not earlier. TP
Chase Brown = Late-Round Steal
12:15 p.m. — Illinois’ Chase Brown continues to show why he’s going to be a late-round steal. The nation’s leading rusher — who was a Week 6 riser — just threw a great block to pick up the blitz, which allowed quarterback Tommy DeVito to connect on a 32-yard pass.
Brown then picked up 24 yards on the next three carries, culminating in a two-yard touchdown run. Brown comes with average size/speed numbers, yet is a terrific all-around back that would be a great fit on a Sunday depth chart. TP
Zach Evans Heading to the NFL?
Teams at the top of the national rankings have it relatively easy on the college schedule today. Georgia, Ohio State, and Michigan all have competitive opponents, yet they all should easily come out on top. TCU outclasses Texas on paper, but the Longhorns would like nothing more than knock the Horned Frogs from the ranks of the unbeaten.
Alabama travels to Oxford this afternoon for a meeting with the Ole Miss Rebels. This should be one of the better battles of the day, and there will be a lot of NFL talent on the field.
One of the top next-level prospects in this contest is the Rebels’ highly-rated ball carrier Zach Evans, presently graded as a third-round prospect on my board. The junior is a nice-sized ball carrier with terrific short-area quickness and decent speed.
People from Mississippi told me this week the feeling is Evans will enter the 2023 NFL Draft. He will be another name for what is developing into a solid group of ball carriers in next year’s class.
The fast-rising LSU Tigers take on Arkansas in what’s been a bitter rivalry from the past. There’s a terrific battle in the trenches as Razorback center Ricky Stromberg will try and slow down Jaquelin Roy, the big explosive LSU defensive tackle. Stromberg is graded as a fifth-round pick, while Roy has been getting Day 2 love in the scouting community.
Purdue quarterback Aidan O’Connell once again has a tough challenge, this time against Illinois. The Fighting Illini have a pair of draftable defensive backs, safety Sydney Brown and corner Devon Witherspoon, who is graded as a middle-round choice in some areas of the scouting community. TP
