I’m back! Big shout-out to Brad for filling in for me last week as I was off getting married… Week 9 of the College Football season is now behind us, and I have three new names to talk about. Let’s do it!
CARSON STRONG, QB, NEVADA, 2022 ELIGIBLE
Had I not already written about Caleb Williams weeks ago I would be writing about his six-touchdown performance against Texas Tech. However, another QB lit it up this week too.
This redshirt junior QB stands at 6’4” 215 lbs., and he is having a great season so far. Nationally Strong is fifth in passing yardage, with 2,883, and is sixth in passing touchdowns, with 24. Through eight games in 2021, Carson has already surpassed this passing total of 2,858 last year and is only three touchdowns behind his 27 from last season. After his impressive sophomore season, Strong had some hype going into this season, and he has lived up to it so far. As things stand now, I believe he is firmly in the discussion for top-five QB in the 2022 class.
Strong has a strong arm and is not afraid to fit the ball in tight windows. He makes throwing the ball look easy, as seen below he just casually tosses a dime with pressure in his face:
Despite his aggressive playstyle, Carson still does a good job taking care of the football, with only four interceptions in 2020 and five so far this year. Strong did throw an interception this past week against UNLV, but he also threw four touchdowns and 417 yards, while completing 75.5% of his passes.
Carson Strong easily passes the eye test, he has NFL size, great arm talent, and as I mentioned previously, does not turn the ball over often. I see an NFL Franchise falling in love with the Nevada QB in the coming months and selecting him in the first round. The hype on Strong is picking up, but it has not completely taken off. Although his value is creeping up, he is not at peak value, which makes him a “buy” in my book. Acquiring Carson Strong now is a bit of a gamble, but is it one that will likely pay off once Strong is selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.
TYLER BADIE, RB, MISSOURI, 2022 ELIGIBLE
Kenneth Walker III had an unreal game against Michigan, however, I already touched on him Week 1 and an RB out of the SEC deserves some recognition as well:
In Week 9, senior RB Tyler Badie almost single-handedly beat Vanderbilt:
With nearly 300 total yards and two touchdowns, Badie pushed the Tigers past the Commodores to a 37-28 victory. Badie has been on an absolute tear this year, leading the SEC in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, scrimmage yards, and total touchdowns. Despite his dominance, Badie is still sliding under the radar. As of this past Sunday Badie is currently unranked here at DFF and is a name not seen often on Twitter. As I have mentioned in previous weeks, after the top-two RBs in the 2022 class, the top-five are still wide open. If Badie can continue to perform at this level, he will surely catch the eye of both NFL staff and Devy analysts.
The senior ball-carrier is on the smaller side at 5’8” 194 lbs., but due to his compact size, I am not overly concerned with his weight. With a BMI of 29.5, he is comparable to Aaron Jones and Chase Edmonds when it comes to physical build. Another reason to not knock Badie for his weight is his pass-catching ability. The offense literally goes through Badie, in eight games, Tyler leads Missouri in receptions (40) and receiving touchdowns (4).
Like Carson Strong, I don’t believe Tyler Badie is near his peak value yet. Since his value should only rise from here, I would be looking to trade for him in leagues where is rostered. Due to the lack of buzz around Badie right now, I can imagine you can acquire him cheaply. I think an early 3rd is a fair offer and value for Badie at the moment.
JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA, WR, OHIO STATE, 2023 ELIGIBLE
In a victorious effort against Penn State, sophomore WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (JSN) lead the Buckeyes in receiving yards with 97. Smith-Njigba is part of the three-headed WR monster at Ohio State. Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba have been taking turns as the weekly WR1 for QB C.J. Stroud. Smith-Njigba was nearly non-existent as a freshman, but in year two Jaxon has 648 yards and three touchdowns through eight games, good for a Dominator rating of 17.7%. I am very hopeful he can improve his dominator rating up to 20% so he can register a sophomore year “breakout”. The 2023 season is looking to be a big one for the 6’0” 198 lbs Smith-Njigba. With both Olave and Wilson likely gone to the NFL, the now sophomore is poised to be the clear lead WR for Ohio State as a junior.
JSN is a good athlete, who runs sharp routes and has exceptional body control. Smith-Njigba is also capable after the catch, often taking short passes for a long gain, as seen below against Penn State:
The only thing holding JSN back from stardom is his current competition at Ohio State. If Jaxon can continue to out-produce Olave this season, and then become “the guy” in 2023, Smith-Njigba could see his value skyrocket. As things stand now I think Smith-Njigba is in a good place to be a top-three WR in the 2023 class. Fitting the trend of this article, I see JSN and a “buy” because I think his value will rise greatly during the 2023 College Football season. If Smith-Njigba becomes Stroud’s favorite target next season his value could skyrocket, and I believe his path to that role in the 2023 season is clear.
Thanks for tuning in again for another edition of “Devy Players of the Week”! If you enjoyed this content you can follow me @RookieWhisper. Come back next week for more delicious devy deets!
