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Stat Line: 6-9, 63 yards, 86.8 QBR Debut Grade: B- Football Scout 365 2021 NFL Draft Ranking : 5th overall, #3 overall QB Click here to learn more about how we grade Zach Wilson Debut a Success The Jets finally witnessed their new QB, Zach Wilson, on Saturday night in real NFL action. Wilson, drafted number two overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, completed 6 of his 9 pass attempts for 63 yards in his NFL preseason debut. Wilson wowed the Jets faithful on a few throws, including one to Cory Davis on a comeback route that displayed his high-level arm talent. It was a small sample size, but Wilson didn't do anything to disprove his credibility as the 2nd overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Offense Needs To be Catered Around His Abilities Like the other QB's in Wilson's draft class, he will benefit by having an offense catered to his strengths early. Less thinking about where to go with the football, more designed rollouts, and play action with single side reads will help him get into a rhythm early in his NFL career. Wilson Has Undeniable Talent, But Jets Fans Must Be Patient During the NFL draft evaluation process, I was conflicted about Wilson. I did not think the competition level he had faced at BYU adequately prepared him for the NFL, or at least as a day one level starter, but the Jets will roll him out in week one regardless. Now, I am in no way discounting his true talent level, but Wilson will need his coaches to be patient, and based on the Jets game plan on Saturday night; it appears they are willing to build around his skill set. I wouldn't expect an incredible rookie season if you are a Jets fan, so patience is the key, something Jets fans lack. Wilson has a lot of talent, his arm is live, he can make any throw, so if he can build on his pocket awareness, patience, and poise, he will excel in the NFL.

Stat Line: 5-14, 128 yards, 93.7 QBR Debut Grade: B+ Football Scout 365 2021 NFL Draft Ranking : 20th overall, #5 overall QB Click here to learn more about how we grade You Can See Why Shanahan Chose Lance You can also see why Shanahan chose Lance; for starters, Trey Lance's arm is live; he showed it on the 80 yard TD pass; another reason is his poise and presence in the pocket. Lance did a good job not taking off; he trusted his pocket and made some solid throws while tossing a few in harm's way. Lance completed 5 of his 14 throws for 128 yards and a TD. Trey Lance Is The Future Of The 49ers The question remains, how long before Lance takes the reigns from Jimmy G? It remains more a matter of not if and more a matter of when. Lance is still a somewhat raw player who will need to have the offense catered around his skillset. Moving pockets and designed rollouts with half-field reads, some zone read, and RPO can make Lance's life easier as a rookie. The truth is, Shanahan doesn't have to unleash Lance at all if he chooses with Jimmy G a more than capable starter, but it may prove too challenging to hold the young, strong-armed rookie back for long if he continues to improve the rest of camp and early in the NFL season. Trey Lance Oozes Upside When compared to the other rookie performances, Lance was not perfect, and you cannot argue against the fact he had the best play of the rookies with that 80-yard bomb. The turnover-worthy throws into traffic when there is a clear check down available stood out on Saturday night, but that is something they can easily coach up. Lance is an exceptional talent with a cannon for an arm, and it is only a matter of time before Shanahan decides he is the only true starter for the 49er's offense.

Stat Line: 13-19, 87 yards, 78.2 QBR Debut Grade: B- Football Scout 365 2021 NFL Draft Ranking : 15th overall, #4 overall QB Quick and Decisive Debut Mac Jones Patriots preseason debut vs. Washington Football Team began near the end of the first QTR. The starting offensive line remained on the field for the Patriots, which would allow the Patriots the best opportunity to evaluate their young signal-caller. Jones completed 13 of 19 attempts for 87 yards, 0 TD's, and 0 INT's. The plan was evident for Mac Jones, giving him quick, easy reads to get into a rhythm. Mac Jones was decisive and on target, providing NFL-level evidence of what we already knew about him coming out of Alabama. Good Decisions, No Real Wow Moments Jones didn't wow on the stat line, but he did take care of the football, and he did a great job of taking what the defense gave him, taking a check down when available. Jones did a great job navigating the pocket on a few of his longer-developing pass attempts stepping away from pressure and delivering on-target throws. His best throw, one of which could have been his first NFL TD, happened early in the 2nd QTR (13:20), where Jones throws a beauty down the sideline into the endzone to Kristian Wilkerson, who could not hold on to make the catch. Mac Jones Did Enough To Be In Consideration To Start Week One Jones played like a guy who wants to be the starter as a rookie. He already shows a good pocket presence; he proved he could take care of the football and not force throws. His quick release and decisive nature are tailor-made for this offense. Jones will get more opportunities in the next few weeks to show he does have what it takes to be the guy in New England.

Stat Line: 7-9, 71 yards, 90.5 QBR Debut Grade: B- Football Scout 365 2021 NFL Draft Ranking : 1st overall, #1 overall QB Click here to learn more about how we grade An Up and Down Performace Still Proves Lawrence Is the Top Talent The number one overall player drafted in the 2021 NFL draft proved why he is so coveted in a small sample size in his NFL preseason debut on Saturday night. Though his debut was less than stellar, he threw nine passes, completed 7 for 71 yards, fumbled once, and was sacked two times. He posted a 90.5 QBR. Lawrence was indecisive a few times, holding on to the football too long, including one where he took a sack. Lawrence showed off his arm talent on a deep throw to Marvin Jones, which reminded the world why he is considered the best QB in this past draft class. On this single play, he displayed poise, pocket presence, arm strength, and ball placement. Improvement Is Needed, Lawrence is Not Without Flaw Like the other QB's I have reviewed thus far, Lawrence will need time to develop his skills at the NFL level. Based on the small sample size, he will likely have some incredible moments where he shows his talent and wows, followed by some head-scratching moments that will have us wondering what the heck just happened. The Situation Will Factor Into Lawrences Early Development The reality for Trevor Lawrence is that he is also playing as a rookie in the NFL with a rookie head coach. So the ups and downs might be exacerbated by circumstances early on in his career. Lawrence is still the top talent in the 2021 NFL Draft class, and as long as he continues to improve each week without a lot of wild ups and downs, you can expect he will eventually pull away from the pack.

Stat Line: 14-20, 142 yards, 1 Pass TD, 1 Rush TD, 106.7 QBR Debut Grade: A- Football Scout 365 2021 NFL Draft Ranking : 3rd overall, #2 overall QB Click here to learn more about how we grade Slow Start, Fast Finish Justin Fields debut started less than ideal; he fumbled the football a few times, he threw a few passes into harm's way, but then something finally clicked for Fields. After an ominous start, Fields caught fire finishing his Bears preseason debut, completing 14-20 passes for 142 yards, 1 TD pass, and a TD run. Fields had success when the Bears started moving the pocket by design, and as the game went on, Fields began to use his legs to extend plays making a few nice plays on the move with his arm and four scrambles picking up 33 yards rushing and a TD. Resiliency Proves To Be A Justin Fields Strength Fields showed great poise and resiliency after a slow start to the game. He proved he has the chops to compete in the NFL; he certainly proved he is 100% the athlete we knew him to be coming into the league. If the Bears continue to build on his strengths by incorporating more zone-read, RPO, and designed rollouts, Fields can excel as a rookie. Fields Proved He Can Be Chicago's QB1 as Rookie It is important to note, Fields as of today is the best option for the Bears at QB, so the decision for Matt Nagy to continue to say Andy Dalton is the starter might not last for long unless he does not want to be an NFL coach for much longer. Justin Fields will hit the field again on August 21st vs. the Bills, giving Matt Nagy another opportunity to change his tune as Fields can provide more data points.

About the Analysis Our power five-win projections and analysis will provide our total projected team win totals, team strength of schedule, conference champs, and playoff contenders. Strength of Schedule The strength of schedule rankings uses returning team production, three-year win totals, and 247 sports total team talent average from the last three years. College Football Returning Starter, Total Talent Analysis Returning starters will be considered in the projections but will not carry similar weight to a team with higher value in the 247 Sports total team talent rating. Returning starters will serve as a tie-breaker in situations where two teams are equally as talented. Go to CFB Projections Dashboard Click Here The Football Scout 365 Top Ten Teams, Conference Champions, and Playoff Contenders (#1) Alabama Crimson Tide (Wins SEC, Makes Playoff, Wins Title) Head Coach: Nick Saban 2021 W/L Projection: 12-0 2021 Projected Strength of Schedule: 7th Three-Year Win %: 92.7% (1st) Three-Year 247 Sports Total Talent Composite Rank: 1st 2021 Class Rankings Updated (7/15) 247 Sports : 1st Three-Year Total Players Drafted: 29 (#2) Clemson Tigers (Wins ACC, Makes Playoff, Loses National Title) Head Coach: Dabo Swinney 2021 W/L Projection: 11-1 2021 Projected Strength of Schedule: 50th Three-Year Win %: 92.2% (2nd) Three-Year 247 Sports Total Talent Composite Rank: 6th 2021 Class Rankings Updated (7/15) 247 Sports : 5th Three-Year Total Players Drafted: 18 (#3) Oklahoma Sooners (Wins Big 12, Makes Playoff) Head Coach: Lincoln Riley 2021 W/L Projection: 11-1 2021 Projected Strength of Schedule: 30th Three-Year Win %: 84.4% Three-Year 247 Sports Total Talent Composite Rank: 11th 2021 Class Rankings Updated (7/15) 247 Sports : 10th Three-Year Total Players Drafted: 17 (#4) Ohio State Buckeyes (Wins Big Ten, Makes Playoff) Head Coach: Ryan Day 2021 W/L Projection: 11-1 2021 Projected Strength of Schedule: 56th Three-Year Win %: 91.0% (3rd) Three-Year 247 Sports Total Talent Composite Rank: 2nd 2021 Class Rankings Updated (7/15) 247 Sports : 2nd Three-Year Total Players Drafted: 28 (#5) Georgia Bulldogs (Plays Alabama in SEC Title Loses) Head Coach: Kirby Smart 2021 W/L Projection: 10-2 2021 Projected Strength of Schedule: 11th Three-Year Win %: 81.4% Three-Year 247 Sports Total Talent Composite Rank: 3rd 2021 Class Rankings Updated (7/15) 247 Sports : 4th Three-Year Total Players Drafted: 23 (#6) North Carolina Tarheels (Plays Clemson in ACC Title Loses) Head Coach: Mack Brown 2021 W/L Projection: 10-2 2021 Projected Strength of Schedule: 40th Three-Year Win %: 46.23% (44th) (Brown Has Been on Campus Two Years). Three-Year 247 Sports Total Talent Composite Rank: 25th 2021 Class Rankings Updated (7/15) 247 Sports : 14th Three-Year Total Players Drafted: 8 (#7) Oregon Ducks (Wins Pac 12) Head Coach: Mario Cristobal 2021 W/L Projection: 10-2 2021 Projected Strength of Schedule: 35th Three-Year Win %: 70.7% Three-Year 247 Sports Total Talent Composite Rank: 17th 2021 Class Rankings Updated (7/15) 247 Sports : 6th Three-Year Total Players Drafted: 13 (#8) Texas A&M Aggies Head Coach: Jimbo Fisher 2021 W/L Projection: 9-3 2021 Projected Strength of Schedule: 29th Three-Year Win %: 73.6% (10th) Three-Year 247 Sports Total Talent Composite Rank: 13th 2021 Class Rankings Updated (7/15) 247 Sports : 8th Three-Year Total Players Drafted: 13 (#9) Wisconsin Badgers (Plays Ohio State In Big Ten Title Loses) Head Coach: Paul Chryst 2021 W/L Projection: 9-3 2021 Projected Strength of Schedule: 51st Three-Year Win %: 63.4% Three-Year 247 Sports Total Talent Composite Rank: 34th 2021 Class Rankings Updated (7/15) 247 Sports : 16th Three-Year Total Players Drafted: 11 (#10) Iowa State Cyclones Head Coach: Matt Campbell 2021 Regular Season Win Projection: 9-3 2021 Projected Strength of Schedule: 14th Three-Year Win %: 63.5% Three-Year 247 Sports Total Talent Composite Rank: 54th 2021 Class Rankings Updated (7/15) 247 Sports : 60th Three-Year Total Players Drafted: 3

The Analysis Football Scout 365 Analyst Brandon Lundberg and 5 Tool Sports Podcast Analyst CJ Mclaughlin are back with preseason NFL fantasy football player rankings. CJ Mclaughlin breaks down his player ranking process, and we dive into his rankings by position covering the top 12 QB's, RB's, WR's and top 10 TE's. CJ's Fantasy Player Preseason Ranking Dashboard Powered By Football Scout 365 The dashboard includes a comparison of Football Scout 365's preseason player rankings with CJ's top player rankings by position. We include the Football Scout 365 projected fantasy point totals and projected total volume (total opportunities, combined targets, and rush attempts). Click Here 2021 Football Scout 365 Fantasy Football Guide: All Fantasy Football Preseason Analysis In One Place Click Here

How a Transfer Used To Work I remember the days where if you transferred, you had to sit out a year unless the NCAA granted you a waiver. I can attest as someone who follows the sport of college football closely; it would be easier to fit a camel through the eye of a needle than to get the NCAA to approve a transfer. Your circumstances would have to be extreme and generally involved a sick parent, and even then, the NCAA had a rule that you had to transfer within a certain distance of that parent to get the waiver. The New Transfer Rules And The Transfer Portal (AKA, CFB Free Agency) In the fall of 2018, the NCAA introduced the transfer portal. The Student-athlete can now enter their name into the portal indicating their desire to transfer from their current school. The significant difference is that student-athletes can bypass seeking approval from their school and hop into the portal without question. The kicker, you get one free transfer year where you do not lose year eligibility or have to sit out a year. After you use that free year, you can still transfer as often as you want with the consideration of your remaining eligibility. Still, once you burn that free transfer year, you might need an NCAA waiver to avoid losing a year of eligibility while also sitting out a year. When is The Deadline To Transfer? You can transfer anytime during a calendar year, but if you want to use your free year, you have until May 1st (subject to change) to take advantage of not losing your free year and having to sit out for an entire year. What About Those Pesky Transfer Destination Limitations The Old Ball Coach Used To Prevent A Student-Athlete From Leaving? The rule that allowed your coach to place transfer restrictions on where you can go is no more. You are free to transfer anywhere you want, to any division, conference, etc., unless it is the University of Michigan where your credit hours cannot transfer because of the supreme academic overlords who believe Michigan is Harvard (sarcasm). The Recent History of The Transfer Portal and Some Success Stories When I think of the transfer portal, I think of Oklahoma who has had tremendous success landing QB's from other schools and turning them into Heisman contending players who also ascend to championship level QBs. It began with Baker Mayfield as walkon at Texas Tech, who left for Oklahoma back in 2013, followed by Kyler Murray, who left Texas A&M after Kyle Allen was named the starter. Then Jalen Hurts, the ultimate team player, a great leader who stayed the course at Alabama before transferring to Oklahoma in 2019. All three are going to be NFL starters in 2021. You also had Shea Patterson, who transferred from Ole Miss to Michigan back in 2018; he had to get waiver approval. Patterson had a successful two seasons in Ann Arbor. The other high-profile transfer player that comes to mind is Justin Fields, who transferred from Georgia to Ohio State and ascended into a Big Ten MVP, Heisman Trophy Finalist, and a National Championship contending QB. Not all transfer players have success, but we will try to pinpoint who we think will provide the most significant impact in 2021. LB Henry To'o To'o, Alabama Crimson Tide HS Star Rating (247 Sports Comp): 4 Star Measurables: 6-2, 225lbs Yr: SO Old School: Tennessee Volunteers Best Season: 2020, 76 tac, 10 TFL's, 1 Sack, 1 INT Analysis: The 2019 freshman All-American racked up 76 tackles, ten tackles for loss, a sack, and an INT. The former 4-star recruit is considered one of the most talented LB recruits ever to don a Tennessee uniform and left the Alabama program. The Crimson Tide, who is never hard up for talent, added depth at LB, and they were able to procure a very good one via the transfer portal. To'o To'o should not need to learn much as he played in a similar system defensively under Jeremy Pruitt, a former Saban DC. His sideline to side speed, ability to cover backs, and his stout run stop ability will be a major asset in Tuscaloosa. QB McKenzie Milton, Florida State HS Star Rating (247 Sports Comp): 3 Star Measurables: 5-11, 190lbs Yr: RSSR Old School: UCF Golden Knights Best Season: 2017, 4037 passing yards, 37/9 TD/INT Ratio Analysis: Milton won 26 games as a starter at UCF, including two conference championships; he led the Golden Knights to an undefeated season in 2017. Milton has not played football in two years after dislocating his right knee and suffering ligament, nerve, and artery damage during a game in November 2018. RB Eric Gray, Oklahoma Sooners HS Star Rating (247 Sports Comp): 4 Star Measurables: 5-10, 205lbs Yr: JR Old School: Tennessee New School: Oklahoma Best Season: 2019, 772 rush yds, 4 Rush TD's, 30 rec, 254 yds receiving, 2 TD's Analysis: The Sooners are getting a very good player via the portal. Gray entered the college football scene as the nation's 3rd rated all-purpose back according to 247 sports. His playstyle will fit well in the Big 12 conference, and in the Lincoln Riley offense, a player like Gray can flourish as a receiver out of the backfield. He possesses good speed and athleticism. Kennedy Brooks and Eric Gray's one-two combo will give Big 12 defenses a lot to think about in 2021. As if they wouldn't already have a lot to deal with when facing the Sooners. OT Wanya Morris, Oklahoma Sooners HS Star Rating (247 Sports Comp): 5 Star Measurables: 6-5, 320lbs Yr: JR Old School: Tennessee Best Season: 2020, played in 9 of 10 games for the Volunteers, allowed two sacks, and surrendered three penalties. Analysis: A long-limbed athlete from the 2019 recruiting cycle, Morris was a 5-star recruit. If morris reaches his potential at Oklahoma as a left tackle, he could place himself in 1st round 2022 NFL Draft discussions. QB Charlie Brewer, Utah Utes HS Star Rating (247 Sports Comp): 3 Star Measurables: 6-1, 210lbs Yr: SR Old School: Baylor Bears Best Season : 2019, 3161 yards passing, 21/7 TD/INT ratio, 344 yds rushing, 11 TD's Analysis: Charlie Brewer was a four-year starter at Baylor who amassed over 10K total yards and 65 passing TD's. He brings experience, leadership, and good athletic ability to the QB position for the Utes. CB Derion Kendrick, Georgia Bulldogs HS Star Rating (247 Sports Comp): 5 Star Measurables: 6-0, 190lbs Yr: SR Old School: Clemson Best Season: 2019, 43 Tac, 2 INT's Analysis: Derion Kendrick arrived at Clemson as a WR; he transitioned over to the defensive side and took off in his first season as a DB. He progressed more in 2020, improving all facets, man, press, and zone coverage. With room to grow, he will be on NFL team radars in 2021. TE/WR Arik Gilbert, Georgia Bulldogs HS Star Rating (247 Sports Comp): 5 Star Measurables: 6-5, 248lbs Yr: SO Old School: LSU Best Season: 2020, 35 rec, 368, 2TD's Analysis: Gilbert is a physical player who will play WR in Athens but could transition to an off-ball H-Back style TE at the NFL level. Gilbert should provide instant versatility to the Georgia offense in 2021. WR Wan'Dale Robinson, Kentucky Wildcats HS Star Rating (247 Sports Comp): 4 Star Measurables: 5-10, 185lbs Yr: JR Old School: Nebraska Best Season: 2019, 793 Yds From Scrimmage, 5 Total TD's Analysis: The versatile Robinson was hard to defend while at Nebraska. He can play WR and return punts and kicks if needed. He brings a unique versatility to the Wildcats offense and will have a great opportunity to show NFL scouts that he can play at a high level in the SEC. DL Antonio Shelton Florida Gators HS Star Rating (247 Sports Comp): 3 Star Measurables: 6-2, 325lbs Yr: SR Old School: Penn State Best Season: 2020, 13 tac, 4 sacks, 1 FF Analysis: Florida needed a solid interior defender, and they landed one with Penn State transfer Antonio Shelton. He provides a big body in the middle for the Gators and is a capable pass rusher who can get after opposing QB's. LB Mike Jones JR., LSU Tigers HS Star Rating (247 Sports Comp): 4 Star Measurables: 6-0, 220lbs Yr: SO Old School: Clemson Best Season: 2020, 26 tac, 1 sack, 1 FF Analysis: Jones played in 29 games with the Clemson Tigers and started 7. The former 4-star recruit from the 2018 class brings experience to the LSU LB core. He reportedly transferred to LSU for a shot to play inside linebacker, reportedly what LSU brought him in to do. He possesses good athletic ability, which LSU fans have grown accustomed to seeing in recent years at the LB position.

Football Scout 365 Founder/Analyst Brandon Lundberg Interviews Mary Hardin Baylor Basketball Player McKenzie Cano. They discuss her background as an athlete, her views and experiences with NIL so far, and more. Follow: McKenzie Cano on Instagram This show series will be a part of the Football Scout 365 Athlete Brand Development initiative. You can learn more about our Athlete Brand Development initiative and how you can get involved by visiting the Athlete Brand Development Home Page . Todays Show Focus Today we have a special guest interview with McKenzie Cano; she is a freshman College Basketball Player at Mary Hardin Baylor in Texas. McKenzie played high school basketball at Mason Highschool , a 2A program in West Texas; she is considered a dynamic post player who could be impactful early on as a freshman at Mary Hardin Baylor. She was a four-year varsity player in high school who earned a two-time Texas Association of Basketball Coaches honorable mention while achieving first-team All-District honors twice. Subscribe and Follow Don't forget to subscribe to our podcast ( Football Scout 365 ) and the 5 Tool Sports Podcast . Follow Football Scout 365 on our socials-> Here . Stay tuned for more great content!

Today, Host and Football Scout 365 Founder/Analyst Brandon Lundberg is joined by his podcast partners Nate Parker and C.J. McLaughlin from the 5 Tool Sports Podcast to discuss the newest phenomenon sweeping college sports, name, image, and likeness . Below is an outline of events that we discuss in this first episode of Athlete Brand Development. Supreme Court Rules Against The NCAA On June, 21st 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the NCAA (NCAA v. Alston) in favor of student-athletes in a rare yet unanimous 9-0 decision. NCAA Announces Interim Name Image and Likeness Policy The biggest day in the history of collegiate athletics occurred on July 1st, 2021, when the NCAA released a statement announcing an interim policy allowing student-athletes to monetize using their name, image, and likeness. Mark Emmert's Recent Statements Post NIL Decision In a 30-minute interview with a small group of reporters, Emmert stressed he was not putting forth a mandate or even a recommendation. But he laid out a vision for the future of college sports that puts fewer limitations on athletes and de-emphasizes the role of a national governing body like the NCAA, founded 115 years ago and oversees more than 450,000 students who play sports. Todays Show Focus Brandon provides his theory on the future of major college football, leading into the panel discussion with 5 Tool Sports Podcast Analysts C.J. McLaughlin and Nate Parker. Subscribe and Follow Don't forget to subscribe to our podcast ( Football Scout 365 ) and the 5 Tool Sports Podcast . Follow Football Scout 365 on our socials-> Here . Stay tuned for more great content!

The analysis covers only power five programs. The data we are going to use will come from our Returning Starter and Total Talent Dashboard . The dashboard includes: 247 Sports Total Talent ratings for the last three years. The total number of players sent to the NFL the last three years. The last three years' win percentages. The data will provide a solid baseline for the analysis as all three are vital elements to the success of a major college football coach. The Value Of Recruiting Recruiting, as everyone who is an avid follower of college football knows, is the lifeblood of the sport. If you are not recruiting at a high level in today's college football, you are not competing for national titles. The days of recruiting several developmental three-star players and coaching them up for several years are gone. However, there are a few exceptions at schools with lower expectations, for example, Tom Allen at Indiana. Aside from the two or three exceptions, the coaches who recruit at a high level and win at a high level will be rated higher, while coaches who recruit at a high level yet fail to succeed at a high level will be listed lower. Sending Players to The NFL One trend you will likely see in the rankings will be that teams who recruit at the highest level are sending the most players to the NFL. Some teams send many players to the league yet fail to win at a high level, which presents a red flag. Michigan Football is an excellent example of a team in recent years that has had success sending players to the NFL, yet they are not performing at the highest level. Alabama and Ohio State are on the other end of that spectrum; they both recruit well, send players to the NFL at a high rate and win at a high level. The obvious rule of thumb, teams who can develop their players at a high level, especially teams who recruit at a high level, have the highest success rate. Winning The bottom line in college football is that you have to win. Winning matters, and we decided to add a three-year trend percentage to the dashboard so we can quickly evaluate the teams who are on the rise, stagnant, or consistently winning at a high level. The other day, I had a conversation with one of the 5 Tool Sports Podcast analysts about the difference in expectations between Ohio State and Michigan. My short answer; it is acceptable to consistently go 9-3 or 10-2 at Michigan, while 9-3 or 10-2 can get you fired at Ohio State. That is the difference. The expectations of the top-flight programs are higher, and for a good reason. If teams are consistently winning, the alumni and big-time donors are happy, which keeps the AD, school President, or the Regents comfortable. Once the higher brass starts to feel the heat, it rolls downhill fast in major college football. Coach Salaries Another critical data point to consider is coaching salary. According to USA Today Sports, the average Power Five head coach makes $2.7M per year. The top coaches in the country make $5M or more per year, and the elite coaches (we will use Nick Saban as an example) bring home $8-10M per year. LSU's Ed Orgeron, whose LSU Tigers completed an undefeated 15-0 season in 2019, followed up their incredible 2019 season in 2020 by going 5-5. Ed Orgeron earned $9M in 2020. That is an excellent $1.8M per win, or if you are a glass half empty kind of human, $1.8M per loss. The reality for a coach like Ed Oregon heading into the 2021 season is that the heat will turn up if they have another bad year, even after the historic 2019 season. Winning matters, LSU is in the toughest conference in college football, and for every coach, the leash is short. How many .500 seasons has Nick Saban had? The Football Scout 365 Top Ten Power Five Head Coaches #1 Nick Saban, Alabama Crimson Tide Strength: Recruiting, Development, Defense Three-Year Win %: 92.7% (1st) Three-Year 247 Sports Total Talent Composite Rank: 1st 2021 Class Rankings Updated (7/15) 247 Sports : 1st Three-Year Total Players Drafted: 29 (1st) Nick Saban wins games at the highest level winning six national titles with Alabama, including this past year and one with the LSU Tigers. Alabama's recruiting under Saban has been superb; they rank first in average total team talent, a measure we compiled using the previous three years' data from 247 sports total team talent composite rankings. As far as sending players to the NFL, no coach does it better. Under Saban, the Crimson Tide has been an NFL feeder school. Saban has sent 39 players to the NFL through the first round alone since he arrived in Tuscaloosa, and in the last three years, the Tide continues to roll, sending 29 total players to the NFL according to the data pulled from Pro Football Reference. Nick Saban is also 91-8 since the College Football Playoff era began. #2 Dabo Swinney, Clemson Tigers Strength: Recruiting & Development Three-Year Win %: 92.2% (2nd) Three-Year 247 Sports Total Talent Composite Rank: 6th 2021 Class Rankings Updated (7/15) 247 Sports : 5th Three-Year Total Players Drafted: 18 (8th) The numbers scream more with less when compared to Nick Saban above, and some of that is true, but the reality is that Dabo is still building Clemson into the level that Alabama has been at for years. There were several seasons where Clemson was outside of the top ten in recruiting and still winning at a high level, but they are now bringing in consistent top ten classes. The key component for Dabo has been getting it right when recruiting QB's. Under Swinney, the Tigers had three back-to-back-to-back program-changing signal callers, Tajh Boyd, Deshaun Watson, and Trevor Lawrence. Swinney has two national titles under his belt, and arguably another program-changing QB (DJ Uiagalelei) heads into the 2021 season. #3 Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma Sooners Strength: Scheme, Development, Offense Three-Year Win %: 84.4% Three-Year 247 Sports Total Talent Composite Rank: 11th 2021 Class Rankings Updated (7/15) 247 Sports : 10th Three-Year Total Players Drafted: 17 *(9th) Lincoln Riley is an offensive genius and a consistent go-to for offensive coaches around the country who are looking for new ideas. Since his days as an OC under Bob Stoops, he has been the constant force behind the Sooners Offensive resurgence since 2015. Since taking the reigns as the Sooner head coach, Riley has won 4 Big 12 titles and made appearances in three College Football Playoffs. The Sooners have the 4th highest win percentage in FBS since Riley arrived as the OC in Norman back in 2015. Riley has produced two Heisman Trophy-winning QB's (Kyler Murray and Baker Mayfield) and one Heisman runner-up in Jalen Hurts. In 2020, Riley started his first QB (Spencer Rattler) as head coach recruited and developed by his staff rather than a transfer from another program. Rattler is now a projected top-five NFL Draft prospect ahead of the 2021 college football season. There is a reason NFL teams covet Riley as a potential candidate for open NFL jobs. That trend will continue moving forward due to his ability as an offensive guru. Riley needs to procure a national title to further cement his status as one of the top three coaches. #4 Mack Brown, North Carolina Tarheels Strength: CEO, Recruiting Three-Year Win %: 46.23% (44th) (Brown Has Been on Campus Two Years). Three-Year 247 Sports Total Talent Composite Rank: 25th 2021 Class Rankings Updated (7/15) 247 Sports : 14th Three-Year Total Players Drafted: 8 *(27th) (5 drafted in 2021 NFL draft) Number will continue to increase under Brown. Mack Brown has turned the Tarheels football program around in two short seasons, similar to his first stint in Chapel Hill, where he coached from 1988 to 1997. Brown bookended his first stint in Chapel hill by going 1-10 in 1988 to 10-1 and a top-five finish in 1997. Brown boasts a career 65% win percentage; from 1998 to 2013, Brown won 76% of his games at Texas, won a national title, produced a few Heisman winners (Ricky Williams and Vince Young). He has coached for 32 years and won 253 games. So why is Mack Brown rated 4th on our list? Brown is known for his recruiting prowess and has been dynamite the last two years. The total talent rating using the 247 Sports combined three-year total from 2017-2020; the Tarheels have risen to 25th with an 86.62 average rating. Their 2021 recruiting class rating of 90.88 ranks 15th, which shows they will continue their talent ascension. Again, recruiting matters, and Brown has been dynamite as a recruiter and a team CEO in his first few years in Chapel Hill. The Tarheels are a legitimate ACC title contender and a darkhorse CFB playoff contender in 2021. #5 Ryan Day, Ohio State Strength: Recruiting, Offense, QB Guru Three-Year Win %: 91.0% (3rd) Three-Year 247 Sports Total Talent Composite Rank: 2nd 2021 Class Rankings Updated (7/15) 247 Sports : 2nd Three-Year Total Players Drafted: 28 (2nd) The last few years before 2020, we have watched Alabama take on Clemson for the king of college football. Ohio State is now in the driver seat at number two in key categories such as 247 Sports total talent ranking and sending players to the NFL. Ohio State is and always has been a football factory. They have gone from Jim Tressel to Urban Meyer, and now they have Ryan Day. Tressel set the tone in the early 2000s for a program that should have won several titles in the '90s had John Cooper found the secret recipe to beating arch-rival Michigan. Jim Tressel discovered that recipe (closing the Ohio Border to recruiting), Urban Meyer took that approach and expanded it nationally. Now Ryan Day is expanding the horizons of Ohio State with a coach dedicated to offense and high-level QB play. Ryan Day has one feat he must conquer to continue his ascension, win a national title. The two coaches prior did it in a few short years on campus. At Ohio State winning 11, or 12 games a year is the norm; making the college football playoff and winning a national title is expected. Ryan Day is positioning himself to reach that goal of a national title. #6 Tom Allen, Indiana Hoosiers Strength: CEO, Development, Defense Three-Year Win %: 59.4% (24th) Three-Year 247 Sports Total Talent Composite Rank: 53rd 2021 Class Rankings Updated (7/15) 247 Sports : 53rd Three-Year Total Players Drafted: 3 Tom Allen is the outlier on our list for many reasons, but the key reason is that he is at Indiana, where football is secondary to basketball. Allen inherited a cusp under current Ohio State OC Kevin Wilson, an offensive-focused coach fired for player mistreatment claims. Allen, unlike Wilson, is a defensive-minded coach. And the Hoosiers have never been better in the modern era on the defensive side of the ball. The Hoosiers ranked 43rd in yards allowed a season ago, but do not be fooled; they ranked 1st in the country in the red-zone scoring rate (64%). In addition, the Hoosier's offense was equally good in unique ways. They took care of the football ranking 9th in turnover margin nationally, and they ranked 31st in time of possession offense, two stats that benefit a team who wants to protect their defense. Compared to the previous five coaches, Allen does not have the resources, facilities, prestige that the others possess at name-brand universities known for football. Indiana is rated 53rd in total talent, according to 247 Sports Total Talent Rating in 2021. With 77% of their starters returning, the Hoosiers can make a play to compete in the Big Ten East and a potential shot at a trip to Indy for the Big Ten Title. It is a long shot, but certainly not out of the question. #7 Matt Campbell, Iowa State Strength: Motivator, Development, Offense Three-Year Win %: 63.5 (16th) Three-Year 247 Sports Total Talent Composite Rank: 54th 2021 Class Rankings Updated (7/15) 247 Sports : 59th Three-Year Total Players Drafted: 3 *(56th) Matt Campbell is a highly coveted (does more with less) coach whose name popped up in NFL coaching discussion(s) this offseason. He reportedly turned down the Texas Longhorns to stay in Aimes, Iowa. Campbel is a player(s) coach, similar to Tom Allen; according to sources, his players love and respect him so much they would go into a literal war, not just on the football field with him if needed. In football, this is a highly valuable trait that some coaches try to develop but fail. Some of the best coaches in the game do not possess this leadership trait. Campbell, who owns the best winning percentage in Iowa State history, initiated his rebuilding plan and laid the foundation by instilling in his team to “Trust The Process.” His team(s) responded, delivering Iowa State into the most prosperous period in its history. Campbel is a three-time Big 12 Coach of The Year (2017, 2018, 2020) and could be in a position to win it again and even more in 2021. #8 Brian Kelly, Notre Dame Strength: CEO, Recruiting, Offense Three-Year Win %: 86.8% (4th) Three-Year 247 Sports Total Talent Composite Rank: 8th 2021 Class Rankings Updated (7/15) 247 Sports : (9th) Three-Year Total Players Drafted: 21 (6th) Think about Notre Dame before Brian Kelly. Charlie Weis won 56% of his games, and before Weis, Bob Davie and Tyrone Willingham combined to win 58% of their games. Brian Kelly has returned Notre Dame to a notch below Lou Holtz Era success, winning 72% of his games; Holtz won 76% of his games in the 80s and early 90s. In 2016, Brian Kelly's Notre Dame squad went 4-8, an unacceptable mark. With Kelly at a crossroads, he let go of several coaches on his staff and retooled to keep Notre Brass from letting him go. The changes were a huge success. Since that 4-8 season, the Irish have went 43-7, appeared in the College Football Playoff two times, and played for an ACC title in 2020. Kelly has 252 victories in his career with stints at Grand Valley State, where he won two FCS championships, Central Michigan, where he won the MAC Title, and the Cincinnati Bearcats, where he won two Big East Titles before he moved on to Notre Dame in 2010. Brian Kelly has reached great heights, but Irish fans, alumni, and big-money donors are hungry for more. There were rumors a year ago that if Urban Meyer wanted the Notre Dame job, it was his to have. What this says to me is 10-11 wins, and a CFP beatdown is not enough. Kelly must deliver more soon to ascend higher, but as of right now, he is our 8th highest-rated CFB coach. #9 Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern Strength: CEO, Development, Defense Three-Year Win %: 55.7% Three-Year 247 Sports Total Talent Composite Rank: 41st 2021 Class Rankings Updated (7/15) 247 Sports : 50th Three-Year Total Players Drafted: 4 (54th) Like Tom Allen Indiana, Pat Fitzgerald is a coach who achieves more with less. The Wildcats are consistent, and from time to time, they have a down year, but each time they have a bad season, they follow it with a strong year. Northwestern is not a five-star NFL factory; they are known more for academics than sports. Pat Fitzgerald is the perfect coach because he played at Northwestern in the '90s and understands what it takes to be a student-athlete at a prestigious academic institution. His program consistently embodies toughness and resilience. Winning 55% of his games the last three seasons, the Wildcats finished 7-2 in 2020, won the Big Ten West, and represented the West Division in the Big Ten title game. The Wildcats lost talent to the NFL draft from its 2020 team, and they return only 31% of their starters from a season ago. Fitzgerald can solidify his top-ten status as a top ten head coach by putting together another Big Ten West contending season in 2021. #10 Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M Strength: CEO , Recruiting, Offense Three-Year Win %: 73.6% (10th) Three-Year 247 Sports Total Talent Composite Rank: 13th 2021 Class Rankings Updated (7/15) 247 Sports : 8th Three-Year Total Players Drafted: 13 (13th) There is Jim Harbaugh, and there is Jimbo Fisher. The two are not the same, considering Jim has not won a conference title or a national title, but the conversation of coaching salary and failed expectations is very comparable. According to USA Today , Jimbo received the 5th highest pay of $7.5M last season, while Jim Harbaugh made the 4th highest pay at $8M. Why is this relevant? Fisher has yet to defeat Alabama. Now, Fisher is still an excellent football coach; he is one of the nation's best recruiters; though his offense has become stagnant, his teams are efficient. The Aggies know that the road to a title travels through Alabama. If there will be a better year to take down Alabama, it's 2021 while they are "reloading." For Jimbo to live up to this top ten ranking or move up higher, he has to beat Saban, win the SEC and make the College Football Playoff. Coaches on The Hotseat Ed Orgeron, LSU Tigers Strength: Recruiting Improvement Area: Development and Staff Three-Year Win %: 75.6% (8th) Three-Year 247 Sports Total Talent Composite Rank: 4th 2021 Class Rankings Updated (7/15) 247 Sports : 3rd Three-Year Total Players Drafted: 24 (3rd) It feels like an eternity since the Tigers went 15-0 in a historic year where they had arguably the greatest offense of all time. That was in 2019, and in college football years, that's like ten years ago. After a 5-5 season in 2020 and a 4th place SEC west division finish, Orgeron is looking at a year where he has to prove he is not a one-hit-wonder. Being the head coach at LSU like Alabama, Ohio State, and Clemson, the expectation is to make the playoff and compete for national championships. According to our three-year total talent average, the Tigers boasted the 4th most talented roster, yet in 2020 the on-field product appeared to be far from what the expectations require in Baton Rouge. There is one guy they could go after if things go south, and that is Carolina Panthers OC and the OC when they won the National Title in 2019, Joe Brady. Jim Harbaugh, Michigan Strength: Recruiting Three-Year Win %: 59.8% Three-Year 247 Sports Total Talent Composite Rank: 14th 2021 Class Rankings Updated (7/15) 247 Sports : 13th Three-Year Total Players Drafted: 23 *(4th) After a 2-4 season in 2020, Jim Harbaugh is taking the 2017 Brian Kelly route. He has retooled the majority of his staff, including his recruiting coordinator, to turn things around. Recruiting and talent have not been the issue; developing talent when it arrives in Ann Arbor is the issue. Will the changes be enough to get Michigan to 9 or 10 wins in 2021 and at least a competitive game vs. Ohio State? Harbaugh is betting on himself to do so, even taking a pay cut in a new contract to prove he can get Michigan back on track. If not, Harbaugh could be out by the end of the 2021 season. Clay Helton, USC Trojans Strength: Recruiting Improvement Area: Development Three-Year Win %: 62.2% Three-Year 247 Sports Total Talent Composite Rank: 5th 2021 Class Rankings Updated (7/15) 247 Sports : 7th Three-Year Total Players Drafted: 11 *(21st) Like Jim Harbaugh, talent is not the issue. Helton avoided the calls for Urban Meyer to replace him in 2021, but that still does not mean he is out of the woods. Helton won the Pac 12 and the Rose Bowl in 2017. Since then, he has posted a 5-7 record in 2017, 8-5 in 2018 but bounced back with a 5-1 record in 2020. He has an opportunity to bounce back even stronger in 2021. He has a promising QB Kedon Slovis who is getting 1st round NFL draft buzz, and the Trojans return 59% of their 2020 starters. The talent is there; they rank 5th in total talent average the last three seasons. Coaches On The Rise Mario Cristobal, Oregon Ducks Strength: Recruiting, Offensive Line Three-Year Win %: 70.7% Three-Year 247 Sports Total Talent Composite Rank: 17th 2021 Class Rankings Updated (7/15) 247 Sports : 6th Three-Year Total Players Drafted: 13 (13th) Cristobal is building Oregon into a potential OL U. Cristobal, a former Miami Hurricanes OL Under Jimmy Johnson in the '80s is building Oregon from inside out by focusing on the trenches. Ducks fans should be happy to see a coach who believes in the trenches in a conference not known for physicality. For Oregon to ascend into a realistic national title contender, they will have to be more physical when facing the Ohio State's and Alabama's of the world, and Cristobal appears to get that. Cristobal is a CFB playoff appearance away from ascending into the top ten. Lane Kiffen, Ole Miss Rebels Strength: Offense, QB's Three-Year Win %: 41.7% Three-Year 247 Sports Total Talent Composite Rank: 23rd 2021 Updated (7/15) 247 Sports Total Talent Ranking : 17th Three-Year Total Players Drafted: Lane Kiffen is on the rise once again, and this time we think it's for real. He is a brilliant offensive mind who can be a high-level head coach at a prestigious program if given the opportunity. Mark Stoops, Kentucky Wildcats Strength: Defense, Development Three-Year Win %: 61.3% (21st) Three-Year 247 Sports Total Talent Composite Rank: 39th 2021 Class Rankings Updated (7/15) 247 Sports : 34th Three-Year Total Players Drafted: 13 *(13th) How many Stoops are there? Stoops has built the Wildcats into a middle-tier SEC team after winning just 12 games in his first three seasons. Since that stretch, Stoops has won 37 games, and the Wildcats have made five straight bowl appearances. They are also developing and putting guys in the league.

Over the last five weeks, we have covered the top offenses and defenses using different categories. For offense, we graded and ranked passing offense, run offense, receivers, run blocking, and pass blocking. On the defensive side of the football, we graded and ranked the top pass-rush, run stop, and pass coverage defenses. The results of each, when combined, provide us with a preseason situational analysis grade for both the offense and defense of every NFL team that we use to determine NFL power rankings, the strength of schedule for all teams, and projected win totals. About The Analysis Today's analysis wraps up our total team grades combining pass offense, run offense, receiving, run blocking, and pass blocking team grades with the defensive grades, pass coverage, run stop, and pass rush. The average for each team determines how a team will be ranked heading into the 2021 NFL season. The Grade Scale The team grades use the individual player grades to get an average for each category. For offense, it's passing, run offense, run blocking, and pass blocking. As mentioned above, we use pass rush, run stop, and pass coverage for the defense. The scale is a 1 to 10 rating scale, with one being the lowest and ten being the highest. On average, based on preliminary analysis, a grade of 6 to 6.99 is a playoff-caliber position group, or if the entire offensive grade is in the area of 6 to 6.99, that will represent a playoff-caliber offense. A seven or higher average represents a Super Bowl Caliber offense, defense, or position group. You can find all of our preseason NFL team grades by visiting our beta version of the Team and Player Grade Dashboard. Click Here To View Player And Team Grade Dashboard Top Ten (w/14 Teams Because of Ties) Projected NFL Teams Heading Into 2021 Today's analysis covers the top ten NFL teams using the grades from all offensive and defensive categories that we use to grade every NFL team. Tampa Bay Buccaneers TOTAL TEAM RANK: 1st OFFENSE: 1st DEFENSE: 1st Cleveland Browns TOTAL TEAM RANK: 2nd OFFENSE: 2nd DEFENSE: 6th Los Angeles Rams TOTAL TEAM RANK: 3rd OFFENSE: 7th DEFENSE: 2nd Baltimore Ravens TOTAL TEAM RANK: 4th OFFENSE: 4th DEFENSE: *9th (Tied w/Jets) Kansas City Chiefs TOTAL TEAM RANK: * 5th (Tied w/49ers) OFFENSE: 5th DEFENSE: 17th San Francisco 49ers TOTAL TEAM RANK: * 5th (Tied w/Chiefs) OFFENSE: 11th DEFENSE: 8th New Orleans Saints TOTAL TEAM RANK: * 6th (Tied w/Packers, Steelers) OFFENSE: 16th DEFENSE: 5th Green Bay Packers TOTAL TEAM RANK: * 6th (Tied w/Saints, Steelers) OFFENSE: 8th DEFENSE: *13th (Tied w/Colts) Pittsburgh Steelers TOTAL TEAM RANK: * 6th (Tied w/Packers, Saints) OFFENSE: 26th DEFENSE: 3rd Dallas Cowboys TOTAL TEAM RANK: 7th OFFENSE: 3rd DEFENSE: 23rd Denver Broncos TOTAL TEAM RANK: 8th OFFENSE: 21st DEFENSE: 7th Buffalo Bills TOTAL TEAM RANK: 9th (Tied w/Colts) OFFENSE: 9th DEFENSE: 16th Indianapolis Colts TOTAL TEAM RANK: 9th (Tied w/Bills) OFFENSE: 12th DEFENSE: *13th (Tied w/Packers) Washington Football Team TOTAL TEAM RANK: 10th OFFENSE: 25th DEFENSE: 4th