Build The Team: CFB Standouts Week 8

Offense

David Blough, QB
School: Purdue | Conference: BIG 10
College Experience: Senior | Age: 22?
Height / Weight: 6-1 / 205 lbs

If you’ve never heard of David Blough before I don’t blame you. Blough has been a painfully average college CB thus far in his career. But this past weekend in primetime he played what is without a doubt the best game of his career. Blough picked apart one of the best defenses in the country and helped pull off a major upset of Ohio State. Blough played smart, cool, and composed on what probably was one of the biggest stages of his college career thus far and took advantage of a cocky Ohio State team who never recovered after he threw his first touchdown. Blough’s future as an NFL QB is very much up in the air but if there ever a performance you wanted to put on tape for scouts this was it. He finished this game going 25/43 for 378 yards and 3 TDs.

Checkout timestamps: 3:56, 8:48, 9:02, 11:34, 17:23

D.J. Knox, RB
School: Purdue | Conference: BIG 10
College Experience: Senior | Age: 22?
Height / Weight: 5-7 / 210 lbs

Knox has been putting together a solid season and he too was a big part in the upset win over Ohio State this past weekend. Knox is a short stocky running back but he is quick and has real break away speed. He has NFL skills and put them on display against certain future NFL players on the other side of the ball. Knox grinded out tough yards against OSU’s stout defensive front but it was when he got to the second level where he did his damage. Knox pulled of a few crucial long runs for touchdowns and helped cement Purdue’s decisive victory over the Buckeyes. He finished the evening with 16 carries for 128 yards 3 touchdowns and a reception for 26 yards.

Kyler Murray, QB
School: Oklahoma | Conference: BIG 12
College Experience: Junior | Age: 21?
Height / Weight: 5-10 / 195 lbs

Kyler Murray has been putting up crazy numbers in the BIG 12 and could have been featured in this series several times already. He’s featured today because he put up more crazy numbers against probably the best defensive team in the BIG 12. Murray and the Sooners embarrassed TCU who have a whole host of problems with their QB position among other issues. Murray is probably a bit of a polarizing player. He was drafted in the 1st round of the MLB draft by the Oakland A’s and his agent has hinted that Murray may go to the MLB after this season and not pursue football. With how well Murray is playing it would be difficult to believe that Murray and his agent would not be interested in leveraging his college football success against his prospects in the NFL as opposed to the MLB. Murray wouldn’t be the first player to chose the MLB over the NFL anyone remember what a good receiver Jeff Samardzija was for Notre Dame? But I think it would be strange if he just left the game of football and didn’t explore the best option. His journey will be interesting to follow as I am a fan of football and baseball. If he keeps putting up numbers like he did at TCU he may just be spoiled for choice in his options for future employment. Murray finished this game going 19/24 for 213 yards and 4 TDs along with 9 rushing attempts for 51 yards.

Dezmon Patmon, WR
School: Washington State | Conference: PAC 12
College Experience: Junior | Age: 21?
Height / Weight: 6-4 / 220 lbs

Gardner Minshew was featured in this series a couple of weeks ago for his ability to operate so prolifically out of Washington State’s Air Raid offense. Dezmon Patmon gets his feature now as he is one of Minshew’s top targets and he had an amazing 4th quarter catch for a TD’s to seal the game for Washington State against Oregon and he is putting together a nice season. Patmon is a height, weight, and speed guy and really fits the prototype physically when it comes to big bodied deep threats. Patmon runs ton of go routes and deep posts in Washington State’s offense and he has good enough athleticism that he can usually get a step on the coverage man as well as use his length and body to block out defenders to make the catch. The Redskins seems to like these types of players (see Josh Doctson, Robert Davis, Maurice Harris) and guys like this have been associated with pre draft buzz (see Josh Reynolds, Tajae Sharpe etc). Patmon will definitely be a player to keep an eye on the rest of the season and even more so if he decided to declare. He finished this game against Oregon with 6 catched for 81 yards and a touchdown.

Defense

Antonio Blackmon, CB
School: Purdue | Conference: BIG 10
College Experience: Senior | Age: 22?
Height / Weight: 6-0 / 195 lbs

Blackmon was a key piece on the defensive side of the ball that helped Purdue in their upset. Blackmon much like his teammate Blough has virtually no household name recognition among those who watch college football unless you are a Purdue fan. Blackmon brought his A game in this one and for the better part of the evening stuck in coverage to Ohio State’s receivers. Blackmon’s most impressive feat though was breaking up not one, not two, but the potential touchdowns for Ohio State in the end zone. Simply put he never gave up on any play and even when he got beat off the LOS he worked his way back into position and fought for the incompletion. I love corners like this. To put a cherry on things Blackmon did this against who some consider the second best QB in college football and against one of the best teams in college football. He will definitely be one to watch and luckily for him he has the attitude along with the physical measurements to play at the next level. What’s left to determine is if he can do this consistently the rest of the season. Blackmon finished this game with 8 tackles and 2 passes defended.

Checkout timestamps: 4:50, 7:55, and 13:00

Josh Allen, EDGE
School: Kentucky | Conference: SEC
College Experience: Senior | Age: 22?
Height / Weight: 6-5 / 260 lbs

You guys have no idea how many times I searched ‘Josh Allen’ last year for clips, stats, and other information on Josh Allen the former Wyoming QB and got results for Josh Allen the EDGE out of Kentucky. Even though Josh Allen (QB) is in the NFL now I still expect the reverse to happen to me now during profile time. Its nice to be able to focus on this Josh Allen (EDGE) now as I think he is one of the best prospects at his position in college football. Allen was wise to return for his senior season instead of come out early because he is putting some of the best football he’s played on tape. Allen is a game changer on the defensive side of the ball and he showed up in force against Vanderbilt and helped Kentucky get a win in a close game. Allen has the length and flexibility NFL scouts covet at the position but he also has good speed off the EDGE and can make OTs look silly. He still needs to work on his counter moves but he has all the physical tools that give him dominant potential. Allen finished this game with 8 tackles (2 TFLs), 2 sacks, 1 FF, and 1 pass defended.

Check out these timestamps: 0:20, 5:35, 12:28

Parker Hesse, EDGE/LB
School: Iowa | Conference: BIG 10
College Experience: Senior | Age: 22?
Height / Weight: 6-3 / 261 lbs

Hesse will get his feature this week because just like Josey Jewell last year Hesse is the typical Iowa Hawkeye. He is hard-working, relentless, tough, reliable, and consistent. Hesse is not going to blow people away with his 40 time but he may be in a bit of a better position as a prospect than Jewell was because of the position he plays. Hesse has played defensive tackle, defensive end, and linebacker at Iowa. He is likely too slow and big to play LB and he is likely too small to play defensive tackle in the NFL. Hesse could have an NFL future as an EDGE/DE prospect though and is likely a great fit for a 4-3 defense with the right scheme. He played a big role in blanking Maryland by putting constant pressure on the QB but he also plays the run well. Hesse finished this game with 5 tackles (2 TFLs) and a sack.

Devin Bush, LB
School: Michigan | Conference: BIG 10
College Experience: Junior | Age: 21?
Height / Weight: 5-11 / 233 lbs

Bush has been a star linebacker for Michigan the past couple years. While this year’s EDGE class is potentially very solid when considering potential underclassmen who may declare the prototypical 4-3 OLB position is not well represented at the top of the draft outside of Bush. He definitely has the demeanor and attitude you want out of your outside linebacker and is a hailed as one of the leaders of the Michigan defense. Bush is fearless on the field and frequently takes on offensive lineman one on one and fights through blocks. I don’t think he’ll be as good of a pass rusher as he is in college but I think he still has some skills that will translate when getting to the QB at the next level. Bush finished this game with 4 tackles (1 TFL) and a sack.