Build The Team: CFB Standouts Week 6

Offense

Reggie Corbin, RB
School: Illinois | Conference: BIG 10
College Experience: Junior | Age: 21?
Height / Weight: 5-10 / 200 lbs

If any of you follow area high school football you may recognize Corbin’s name. Corbin is a native of Prince George’s county Maryland and played high school football at Gonzaga in downtown D.C. before he landed at Illinois. Corbin wasn’t highly recruited I think he may have only been a 1 or 2 star prospect but he is making the most out of his opportunities this season at Illinois. Last season he didn’t see many carries last season and took the offseason to get in better shape. This season Corbin is the workhorse for the Illini and is a top 5 rusher in the BIG 10 in rushing yards. Corbin primarily rushes out of the shotgun but he uses his vision, agility, and speed to take advantage of the zone run scheme he plays in. Illinois has had some prolific runner’s in their history but Corbin is on pace to land a spot in their single season top 10 rushing list. He finished this matchup against Rutgers with 11 carries for 137 yards and a touchdown.

Gardner Minshew, QB
School: Washington State | Conference: PAC 12
College Experience: RS Senior | Age: 23?
Height / Weight: 6-2 / 220 lbs

Minshew started his collegiate football career at East Carolina. He was given a red shirt during that time and also graduated so now he is playing as a graduate transfer at Washington State. It’s going pretty well for him. Minshew is playing really well in Washington State’s air raid offense and he’s on his way to putting up career best numbers. Who knows what NFL future Minshew might have the transition for his predecessors from college to the pro’s hasn't been a smooth one. In the meantime he is one of the most prolific passers in the PAC 12 and that was on display this weekend as he lit up Oregon State going 30/40 for 430 yards and 5 TDs. If Minshew continues to play this way he will definitely catch the eye scouts and start receiving a lot more buzz.

Dexter Williams, RB
School: Notre Dame | Conference: Independents
College Experience: Senior | Age: 22?
Height / Weight: 5-11 / 215 lbs

At Notre Dame just because you begin the season as a starter doesn’t mean your job is safe. We have seen it with Ian Book replacing Brandon Wimbush and we can see it again with Dexter Williams replacing Tony Jones Jr. Williams along with book as provided a spark to the Notre Dame offense transforming it to one of the more prolific offenses in the FBS. Williams talents were on display this past weekend against Virginia Tech. Williams dismantled the Tech defense and ripped off several huge runs that helped propel the Irish to a win. Williams has legit speed and vision and once he gets into the open field he is hard to stop. Williams ran for 178 yards on 17 carries for 2 TDs this past weekend. In just two starts he has 339 yards on 39 carries and 4 TDs.

Steven Montez, QB
School: Colorado | Conference: PAC 12
College Experience: RS Junior | Age: 22?
Height / Weight: 6-5 / 235 lbs

Right now Montez is one of the most underrated QBs in college football. Montez got the keys to the Colorado offense last season and the growth from that year to this year is obvious. Montez leads a 5-0 Colorado team that is ranked 18th in total offense in the NCAA. A large part of that is how prolific Montez has been this year. What is most impressive about Montez’s growth is not his yardage, attempts, or touchdowns it is his accuracy. He is averaging a 75% completion rate for the season so far if he can keep up that kind of pace you’ll start hearing more about him by November. Montez picked apart Central Michigans offense this past weekend going 24/33 for 328 yards and 2 touchdowns. Special emphasis not necessarily on the numbers but on when and where he placed the ball. I’m liking him more each week.

Defense

Hasan Defense, CB
School: Kansas | Conference: BIG 12
College Experience: RS Junior | Age: 21?
Height / Weight: 5-11 / 187 lbs

Kansas lost but Hasan Defense picked off one of college football’s best quarterbacks not once but twice. The picks themselves are dope but what is even most impressive and encouraging about Defense as an NFL prospect is his ability to bait a quarterback and his instinct and ability to break on the ball at the last moment and convert those opportunities to touchdowns. In a conference often criticized for its defense there are few defensive players in the BIG 12 that could pull their weight in other p5 conferences. I think Defense is one of those guys. Plus, his name, its obvious. He finished this game with 7 tackles 1 pass defended and 2 interceptions.

Jachai Polite, EDGE
School: Florida | Conference: SEC
College Experience: Junior | Age: 20?
Height / Weight: 6-2 / 242 lbs

Florida is 5-0 and has looked pretty good in all their games. They are a real dark horse to make waves in the SEC. A huge part of that has been Florida’s defense a lot of the players are don’t have enough experience to be draft eligible but the Gator defensive unit is clicking as well as any other top defense in the country right now. A standout star in the making on that defense is Jachai Polite. He has already caught the eye of #drafttwitter and well as real NFL scouts. Perhaps aside from the question of length Polite has all the other coveted skills of an EDGE rusher. He is quick and fast and can make a tackle look silly. He can pursue and shut off running lanes. He can get to the QB and bend the edge to make the sack in just one fluid movement. Florida upset LSU this weekend in large part to Polite’s presence on defense. He finished this game with 6 tackles (2 for loss), 2 sacks, a forced fumble, and a pass defended.

Brian Burns, EDGE
School: Florida State | Conference: ACC
College Experience: Junior | Age: 21?
Height / Weight: 6-5 / 235 lbs

There isn’t much to be happy about if you’re a Florida State fan but there is no question that you can have pride in your best player Brian Burns who is also one of the best edge rushers in the country. Burns nearly destroyed the Miami offense and nearly broke my heart this weekend. Burns got after new starter N’Kosi Perry often and made a fool of the offensive line. Burns has the length so coveted by NFL teams off the edge and is relentless in his pass rush. Burns doesn’t just have potential he is so far above so many EDGE prospects already. He has a ridiculous swat, dip, and swim move that he uses to quickly beat protection and get after the QB. He’ll likely be a 1st round pick coming from a bad team. He finished this game with 4 tackles (3 for loss), 2 sacks, 1 pass defended, and 2 forced fumbles.

Montez Sweat, EDGE
School: Mississippi State | Conference: SEC
College Experience: Senior | Age: 22?
Height / Weight: 6-6 / 245 lbs

If it hasn’t clicked already there are some very good edge rushers potentially in this year’s class. One player that will be entering for sure is Montez Sweat. I don’t know what it is about Mississippi State Edge rushers but I have been in love since Preston Smith. Athletically Sweat is what some Redskins fan’s wish Smith was. Both players will be compared for obvious reasons but I think Sweat is more dangerous coming off the edge (I really like Smith BTW). Sweat has built an impressive resume at Miss State already. He is one of the nation’s sack leaders (8) and is almost past his career best he set last year (10.5) in just 6 games. The same goes for his TFL numbers this season (10.5) compared to last year (15.5). He is on his way to setting personal bests. Put simply he lives in the backfield and can take over games. His did just that against Auburn this past weekend. Sweat finished that game with 3 tackles (all 3 for loss), 3 sacks, and one forced fumble.