Standout Underclassmen: Week 3

Ladies and gentlemen, Brock Bowers.

In last week's article, I profiled Bowers as someone due for a breakout. Honestly, I thought we'd see him rack up a handful of catches and maybe find the end zone, but he delivered in a way that surpassed my expectation. On Georgia's opening drive, he was brought in motion for a pop pass that he took around the edge for a gain of 15. To cap off the drive, he was split out wide before taking a reverse handoff in for a 5-yard touchdown. To be clear, these are plays usually reserved for small, speedy wide receivers. He scored his second touchdown of the day on a corner fade where he skied over the defender and got a foot down inbounds on a catch that might have been good in the NFL. Again, that ball usually goes to a big-bodied wideout that can elevate over the defensive back. His last score of the day came on a tight end seam where he was able to show off his shiftiness by making a mess of two defensive backs and using his speed to break away. He's also a willing blocker that the Bulldogs are happy to run behind. His highlight tape from Week 3 is five minutes well spent. He's simply doing things that sophomore tight ends at this level do not do.

Top Week 3 Performances

RB Quinshon Judkins, Ole Miss, Freshman - 19 carries for 98 yards and 2 touchdowns

I mentioned Judkins last week as someone I was curious about since most of his playing time and production had come against Group of 5 opponents. This week, Ole Miss took on Georgia Tech, and once again, Judkins was a large part of the running back rotation beginning on their second drive. If there's a reason for nitpicking, it's that he only has one reception through three games, but the Rebels have yet to find themselves in a trailing game script where they're dialing up passes very often, so I'll withhold judgment on how he projects as a pass catcher. Lane Kiffin seems to have found a diamond in the rough in a running back that was not highly ranked coming out of high school.

RB Richard Reese, Baylor, Freshman - 19 carries for 156 yards and 3 touchdowns

Reese is new to my radar as he was ranked no higher than the 37th best running back by major recruiting services. Baylor's starter didn't dress due to injury, so Reese was given the full workload and made the most of it. While Reese is on the smaller side at 5-foot-9 and 175 pounds, he easily sliced up the Texas State defense with great vision and breakaway speed. He looks to be in line for the lead-back role until the starter returns.

WR Luther Burden, Missouri, Freshman - 6 receptions for 58 yards, 78-yard punt return touchdown

Frankly, Missouri needs to find more ways to get Luther Burden the ball. Ranked as the consensus number 1 wide receiver in the 2022 class, keeping him in-state and away from bigger football programs was a major win for the Tigers. Until Week 3, though, he's been under-utilized. He was able to get more involved in the passing game this weekend and even took one to the house on special teams. With his ability to make plays after the catch, his usage should continue to increase as the year progresses.

RB Raheim Sanders, Arkansas, Sophomore - 22 carries for 167 yards and 1 touchdown, 2 receptions for 75 yards and 1 touchdown

It's a little shameful that I've yet to spotlight Sanders here. After showing promise as a freshman, he's already closing in on equaling his 2021 production through only three games. Nicknamed "Rocket," the Razorbacks have made him the prominent weapon in their offense as he's averaging 22 carries and 3 receptions per game. He's already accumulated rushing yard totals of 117, 156, and 167 and added a 73-yard touchdown on a shovel pass that he took right through the heart of the defense on Saturday. Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 227 pounds, he has the size to transition easily to the next level. His draft profile will only keep growing throughout the rest of the season, so pay attention to Arkansas games when you get the chance.

Who to Watch in Week 4

RB Will Shipley, Clemson, Sophomore

Shipley has been a bright spot on a struggling Clemson offense since last season. He's a complete back that excels in the screen game and is a threat on traditional handoffs. He has a solid build at 5-foot-11 and 205 pounds, and the coaching staff has trusted him with at least 10 carries per game against the weaker part of their schedule, where games have gotten out of hand quickly. He's managed to score two touchdowns in every game thus far. I'm interested in how his stock starts to rise as someone that should be an early declare for the 2024 draft. They have a big ACC matchup with Wake Forest this weekend.

WR Mario Williams, USC, Sophomore

Williams followed Lincoln Riley and Caleb Williams this offseason from Oklahoma to USC. Predictably, he's been the second receiving option behind likely 2023 first-rounder Jordan Addison, but he's been steady during his time on the field. The Trojans will need to continue getting him involved from the slot as their schedule gets tougher. He's on the smaller side at 5-foot-9, but he's a jitterbug with the ball in his hands that's always a threat to make a big play. He has 12 receptions for 194 yards through the first three games, but I'm looking for that production to increase as USC begins to find itself in tighter game scripts during conference play.