Each week of the College Football season, I will be highlighting “Devy” players that excelled that particular week. I will touch on a QB, RB, and Pass Catcher (WR or TE) that performed well and deserve your attention. Sometimes these players will be established devy prospects, and other times they will be more under the radar. With Week 1 of the College Football season behind us, let’s dive right into it!
Bryce Young, QB Alabama, 2023 Eligible
The 6’0 194 lbs. Sophomore QB1 for Alabama Crimson Tide was lights out in Week 1. Young carved up the Miami Hurricanes, completing 71.1% of his 38 passes for 344 yards and four touchdowns. After sitting behind Mac Jones in 2020, the former five-star prospect and #1 Dual Threat QB of the 2020 class, showed off his potential as an efficient passer but did not use his legs, netting -0.5 rushing yards. In his spectacular effort on the field, Bryce Young broke a record, becoming the first QB in Alabama history to throw four touchdowns in his debut. The young QB had several throws on Saturday, but the one below might be best of them:
Prior to Week 1, Bryce Young was the Devy QB3 for our rankers here at DFF. However, after his impressive Week 1 and D.J. Uiagalelei’s disappointing Week 1, Young could see his ranking rise in the coming weeks. He looks to continue the trend of Alabama’s success at QB, and is well on his way in following the footsteps of Tua Tagovailoa, Jalen Hurts, and Mac Jones, becoming another starting QB in the NFL in the coming years. Young’s value is on the rise, but I foresee it continuing to rise throughout the season and he compiles more and more wins and more and more highlights.
Kenneth Walker III, RB Michigan State, 2022 Eligible
The transfer RB from Wake Forest exploded onto the scene in his debut for the Michigan State Spartans. As a Sophomore at Wake Forest, Walker III was a touchdown machine with 13 in just seven games. He also rushed for 82 yards a game at 4.9 YPC. However in his first game in green and white, Walker III rushed for a mind-blowing 264 yards and 4 touchdowns. His 23 carries were tied for second-most in his career, 4 less than his 27 against North Carolina State last season. Despite being 5’10 210lb Kenneth shows the ability to be a “bell cow” and handle a large workload. In addition to the substantial amount of carries, the Junior RB showed off big-play potential and tough running ability.
Before Week 1 the DFF Devy rankers had Walker III as the Devy RB52. Kenneth Walker now has the attention of the devy community, but don’t look to buy in yet. He still needs to piece together several good games. In addition to showing he can run wild again, I need to see Walker III show the ability to be a pass-catcher. In his two seasons at Wake Forest, he only had 6 receptions, and he had zero in his first game as a Spartan. Without true workhorse RB size, and no track record of receiving capability, it is hard to give Walker a good outlook as a pro. He needs to show that he can be a solid pass catcher before I will be ready to take him seriously.
Kayshon Boutte, WR LSU, 2023 Eligible
The Five-Star prospect and #2 WR in the 2020 class broke out as a true freshman last season. Now a Sophomore, the 6’0 190 pass catcher made his presence known in Week 1, catching nine passes for 148 yards and three touchdowns against the UCLA Bruins. He was the definition of dominate, accounting for 35% of the receptions, 45% of the receiving yards, and 100% of the touchdowns. He looked very explosive in his performance, showing off his reported 4.37 40 yard speed:
Boutte is already a very well-respected player in the Devy community. Our rankers like him a lot, the Devy WR1 at DFF. On film, it is easy to see Boutte’s athleticism. He often turns a short/medium catch into a long gain. His speed allows him to stretch the field and be a deep threat. He also shows solid hands and body control. The only thing I can complain about is his route running. He is not a technician, but he doesn’t need to be, and as young as he is, he has plenty of time to improve upon it. Kayshon is a certified stud and rightfully holds the title of Devy WR1.
Thanks for tuning in for my first installment of “Devy Players of the Week”. Make sure to check back in next week to see who makes their mark in Week 2! You can follow me on Twitter @RookieWhisper for more content.
