Future Hogs – Week 4: A look at college football players who could help the Washington Football Team

It was a tough week to be a Washington Football Team fan, but it could be worse. A lot of college teams that were expected to have great seasons are pretty much playing for pride at this point. Iowa State and Clemson were upset and are hoping to be bowl eligible by season’s end. At least WFT has fourteen more games to turn it around.

I want to focus on a few players from the past week who stood out to me, especially those who should be draft eligible at the end of the season.

Bailey Zappe, QB – Western Kentucky

Hilltopper football might not be the first place you look for a quarterback prospect, let alone one who transferred from Houston Baptist. Zappe led the FCS in passing in 2020 and is continuing his strong play in 2021. He put up an impressive 365 yards and 3 touchdowns on 31 of 44 passing against Indiana. A graduate transfer, Zappe plays in an Air Raid offense that uses quick throws as running plays, but he can push the ball downfield. He has a strong arm, makes quick decisions, and throws accurately.

Jalen Cropper, WR – Fresno State

It was impossible to watch anything on college football without hearing about Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener. After leading the Bulldogs to an improbable win against USC, he threw five TDs in a comeback victory against UNLV. Four of those touchdowns went to Jalen Cropper, who leads the nation in touchdown receptions. Cropper is a junior and is slight at 172 lbs, so he might return for his senior season. He is, however, a talented receiver that can play from the slot or on the outside. He makes tough catches and has enough speed to make explosive plays.

Jacub Panasiuk, DE – Michigan State

This should be a fairly deep draft class for edge rushers. I’m not sure where Jacub Panasiuk might be drafted, but if his performance this past weekend is any indication, he’ll have a chance to go on Day 2. The redshirt senior had seven tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble in an overtime win against Nebraska. He may not be the most athletic player of the edge, but he is a strong rusher who can walk his blocker into the quarterback’s lap.

Devin Lloyd, LB – Utah

I’m not saying WFT will draft Devin Lloyd, but he’s an athletic linebacker that comes from a military family. He uses that athleticism to perform well in coverage and make plays all over the field. Sound familiar? Lloyd has been on a tear out west, putting up some terrific numbers. Against Washington State, Lloyd recorded eight tackles (his lowest total this season), three tackles for a loss, a sack and an interception. If Lloyd continues this level of play, he will be in the conversation to be a first-round pick.

Alonzo Addae, S – West Virginia

It’s in Alonzo Addae’s blood to play safety. He is coached by a cousin, Jahmile, who played safety at West Virginia. Another cousin, Jahleel, played safety for the San Diego Chargers. Alonzo does it all for WVU, playing in the box and having deep coverage responsibilities. In a close loss to Oklahoma, Addae recorded nine tackles. He’s a hard-hitter with good range and closing speed in coverage. One thing of note is Addae is listed as a sixth-year senior, so I’m curious how old he is.

Feel free to add players in the comments that stood out to you that you think can help the team.