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Ohio State Explosive Plays Allow Them To Take Over The Game Ohio State entered this game as double-digit favorites on the road (13.5) with an 18 game Big Ten win streak on the line; the Golden Gophers had Ohio State on the ropes a few times, but they could not keep pace with Ohio States Explosive offense. The Buckeye's first explosive play occurred in the first QTR when RB Myran Williams housed a run 71 yards putting his Buckeyes ahead 7-0. Ohio State would have a tough time sustaining drives in the first half, but sustaining drives would not be needed as Ohio State hit on explosive passing plays in the 2nd half of 38, 61, and 70 yards, all for TD's. The Story of Two Halves Minnesota was able to control the clock on offense throughout the game; the Gophers possessed the football for 18 minutes in the first half and 20 mins in the second half. The Gophers sustained long drives and bested Ohio State on third down, going 7-14, vs. Ohio State, who went 3-6 on the game. The Gopher game plan to sustain long drives and keep the talented Ohio State offense off the field worked until it didn't because Ohio State's talent would eventually take over. The Gophers ran 72 offensive plays to Ohio State's 42 total plays. The Call Of The Game: Minnesota 4th and 1 From Their Own 29 In The 2nd QTR Minnesota needed to find a way to flip momentum around the 10-minute mark of the 2nd QTR down ten points, P.J. Fleck made a bold decision that is the furthest from his Tresell ball background, going for it on 4th and one from his teams own 29-yard line. The gophers would convert with a run of 56 yards from their bowling ball RB Mohamed Ibrahim. Two plays later in the RedZone, Tanner Morgan would throw a beautiful fade to WR Dylan Wright to the left side of the endzone for a TD. Minnesota would seize momentum from here, eventually taking a 14-10 lead over Ohio State at halftime. The Story Of The Night Was All About C.J. Stroud and How He Would Look The main narrative leading into the game for Ohio State was how C.J. Stroud looks in his first game as a starting QB. He did okay, but he struggled at times with accuracy in the intermediate areas. He missed a few deep throws with guys open, but the athletes took over when he connected on the deep throws. The Tandem of Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson would not disappoint as both combined for 9 catches, 197 yards, and 3 TD's. Add in star RB Treveon Henderson who added a 70 yard TD reception on a throw behind the line of scrimmage, and that is three players accounting for 91% of CJ strouds 294 total yards of offense. Offensive Player of The Game Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud 13-22 (59%), 294 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT, 3 rush att, 13 rush yds Even with his struggles, he overcame the adversity throwing for 4 TD's and leading Ohio State to a win on the road in a challenging environment. Defensive Player Of The Game Ohio State Edge Zach Harrison 3 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 forced fumble (strip-sack) Harrison made a massive play in the third QTR that shifted the momentum back into Ohio State's favor when he came free off the edge to strip-sack, Tanner Morgan, leading to a Haskel Garrett scoop and score. Other Notable Performance RB Mohamed Ibrahim 30 rush att, 164 rush yds, 5.4 yds per att, 2 rush TD's Ibrahim was the game's unsung hero, leading Minnesota's rush attack between the tackles before being injured in the third QTR. His injury is still unconfirmed at this point. But a tweet from Pro Football Doc last night indicated it might be an achilles injury which could be a season-ender. In summary Ohio State has some things to work on, and as they say, you make the most significant jump in terms of improvement from week one to week 2. Ohio State does not have much time to waste with the Oregon Ducks coming to Columbus next week. The talent can help Ohio State take over in games where they struggle against lesser opponents, and they might not be as fortunate down the line when they face teams with equal or close to equal talent. Oregon is not as talented, but they might be the most talented opponent they will face the rest of the year.

I want to preface my writing by saying there are more than five, but I decided to narrow it down to five players, primarily due to time constraints and other obligations. You can get a more in-depth analysis of players to look out for by listening to the 5 Tool Sports podcast below this; we discuss several preseason NFL standouts in the show's last segment. Corey Davis WR New York Jets The rapport between Corey Davis and Zach Wilson in the preseason is evidence that Davis might be on the cusp of his best season yet. According to Sports Info Solutions, the former top-five NFL draft pick hit hi s stride in 2020, snagging 65 catches on 92 targets (70%) for 984 yards and 5 TD's. Davis recorded career highs in yards (984), TD's (5), yards per reception (15.1) In 2020 with the Titans. His role with the Jets is to be "the guy." Davis is in a favorable position to surpass all of his career highs in 2021 with the Jets. Rhamondre Stevenson RB New England Patriots (Rookie) So the Patriots traded Sony Michel to the Rams. The Rookie RB from Oklahoma made that decision easier for the Patriots after putting together a highlight reel of a preseason. Stevenson ranked 7th on our 2021 NFL Draft Big Board among all RB's. Stevenson displayed a lot of what is on film from his time at Oklahoma; he is powerful with good feet, he is patient behind the line allowing blocks to take shape. His speed allowed doubt to creep in when he ran a 4.6 in the forty at his pro day. He has erased those doubts in the preseason, where he rushed 30 times, for 216 yds, and 5 TD's with a 7.16 yards per rush attempt average. The Patriots are still loaded with a three-headed backfield but do not be surprised if Stevenson takes on a more significant role than expected in 2021. Byron Pringle WR Kansas City Chiefs Byron Pringle and Mecole Hardman are battling the number two WR role in the Chiefs offense in training camp. Pringle is the least notable of the players on my list, but he resides in the high power Chiefs offense, and if he were to take control of the number two WR spot at any point in the season, he is a legitimate player; keep an eye on. Pringle snagged 6 out of 7 catches for 73 yards and a score in his first two preseason games. His rapport with Mahomes is apparent on tape. According to Sports Info Solutions, Pringle boasts a 90% career catch rate on catchable targets. It is a small sample size, and Pringle has appeared in 29 games since 2019; he has only been targeted 33 times in that same span. Pat Freiermuth TE Pittsburgh Steelers (Rookie) Pat Freiermuth is a RedZone machine, a player who never dropped a catchable throw in the RedZone while at Penn State proved just that a few weeks ago in a preseason game vs. the Lions, where he scored two TD's. Freiermuth displayed why many had him as their top-ranked TE before the 2020 CFB season until Kyle Pitts emerged. We ranked Freiermuth below Pitts and Former Miami Hurricane TE Brevin Jordan leading up to the 2021 NFL Draft. I must note, Freiermuth is in a better situation than Brevin Jordan, drafted by the Texans, but Freiermuth reminded everyone why he was considered the top TE prospect in college at one point. His body control and ability to box out defenders in the RedZone were on full display in the preseason, and he can play inline, in the slot, or out wide. He is pushing Eric Ebron for TE1 in Pittsburgh. Terry McLaurin WR Washington Football Team Terry Mclaurin is not a sleeper, and it is obvious he is the number one WR in the Washington offense, but he is still underrated. For starters, Mclaurin is a technician, and he is a strong route runner; he is a willing run blocker. He does everything well. He is also very fast; he has a 4.3 forty-yard dash. Why is this relevant? He is now with a QB (Ryan Fitzpatrick) who wants to push the football vertical. According to Sports Info Solutions, in 2019 (rookie year), Mclaurin posted a 13.8-yard average depth per target; in 2020, that number fell to 9.3. In 2020 with the Dolphins, Ryan Fitzpatrick averaged 7.4 air yards per attempt; he ranked at the bottom of the middle third among all QB's with at least 200 pass attempts according to SIS, which does not help my argument. Still, in 2019, Fitzpatrick ranked 6th in average throw depth among all QB's with at least 200 pass attempts. So the evidence is valid, and Fitzpatrick has not had a WR the caliber of Terry Mclaurin at his disposal in Miami.

The 2021 preseason brought a lot of hype, especially regarding the top rookie QB's from the 2021 NFL Draft class. The intrigue of how each of the top rookie QB's would perform in each of the last three weeks has been at the top of NFL headlines. So today, I will deliver my final review of the top 2021 NFL Draft QB's after three weeks of preseason football. A 2021 Pre-Draft Summary Review and How Each Of the QB's Performed In their Week One Preseason Debut's I highlighted the debuts of each of the top NFL rookie QB's all of which are vying for a starting position. Many may or may not know that I had Trevor Lawrence listed as the top QB in the 2021 NFL Draft, followed by Justin Fields, Zach Wilson, Mac Jones, and Trey Lance. My 2021 NFL Draft argument in summary for each player is as follows. Trevor Lawrence (has all the tools) Go To NFL Draft Big Board Player Profile Justin Fields (tough, intelligent, athletic, conflict player, with great accuracy) Go To NFL Draft Big Board Player Profile Zach Wilson (Arm talent, precision passer, extends plays with legs, did not play against the best competition at BYU, needs time to develop) Go To NFL Draft Big Board Player Profile Mac Jones (Anticipatory thrower, intelligent, a statue with good pocket movement) Go To NFL Draft Big Board Player Profile Trey Lance (Athlete, strong arm, needs work on short, intermediate game, great deep accuracy, needs to develop, competition level in college a factor) Go To NFL Draft Big Board Player Profile How the Rookie QB's Rank Post Preseason No change in the rankings. Jacksonville Jaguars Trevor Lawrence in a Bad Spot As A Rookie 3 GP, 3 GS, 31-44, 70.5% comp rte, 323 pass yds, 3 pass TD's, 0 INT's, 9 rush yds, 0 rush TD's, 3 Sacks, 106.5 QBR One thing is prominent; Trevor Lawrence is in a bad spot in Jacksonville, and he has the potential to struggle mightily. Lawrence made some great throws throughout and finished week three strong vs. the Cowboys completing 11-12 passes for 139 yards and two TD's. Even though it was against the Cowboy's backups, Lawrence showed us his potential completing two-deep balls, one for a TD. Chicago Bears Justin Fields In a Bad Spot As A Rookie, But Athleticism Covers Up Bears Deficiencies 3 GP, 1 GS, 30-49, 61.2% Comp Rte, 276 Pass Yds, 2 pass TD's, 0 INT's, 92 rush yds, 1 rush TD, 3 sacks, 90.2 QBR Andy Dalton might start week one, but Justin Fields will take the reigns before you know it. Fields can do a lot with his legs; he can extend plays when pass pro breaks down and move the chains in crucial third-down situations. When Fields has time, he does a good job making decisions from the pocket. He is in no way a perfect player, but the Bears got a good one who has the potential to be the best QB in the class down the road. New York Jets QB Zach Wilson Proved He Might Be More NFL Ready Than Expected 2 GP, 2 GS, 15-20, 75% comp rte, 191 pass yds, 2 TD's, 0 INT's, 0 rush yds, 0 rush TD's, 0 sacks, 137.7 QBR The Jets will be the worst team in their division, but Wilson provides great optimism in the same way that Justin Fields does for the Bears. His accuracy, ability to extend plays and decisiveness as a thrower in the preseason have stood out. He has a great rapport with free agent WR Corey Davis which is a big deal. And he has already made some big-time tight-window throws in the preseason. Wilson, like, Lawrence is in a bad spot on a somewhat unpredictably bad team. New England Patriots QB Mac Jones Is as Efficient As Advertised Coming Into The NFL 3 GP, 0 GS, 36-52, 69.2% comp rte, 389 pass yds, 1 pass TD, 0 INT's, 3 rush yds, 0 rush TD's, 5 sacks, 97.4 QBR I believed that Mac Jones would be the most NFL-ready rookie entering the NFL. For starters, he is a distributor by nature. He does not possess any of the jaw-dropping physical tools that the other top QB's in the 2021 NFL Draft have. Still, his anticipatory throwing and pocket awareness is precisely why the Patriots drafted him. He also takes care of the football, and that is important to a defensive-minded team. The reality is, can he consistently move the football in a real NFL game? And when needed, can he drive the football vertically when presented with the opportunity? He proved he could do all these things in the preseason. Assuming he has done enough to surpass veteran QB Cam Newton, will it translate to the regular season? San Francisco 49er QB Trey Lance Is As Advertised, Will Be a Co-Starter (Lance Gets Three Paragraphs) 3 GP, 0 GS, 19-41, 46.3% comp rte, 276 pass yds, 3 pass TD's, 1 INT, 16 rush yds, 1 rush TD, 6 sacks, 83.0 QBR After watching the 49ers vs. the Raiders yesterday, I see the vision and how alternating QB's in Shanahan's system can work. I also witnessed a few things that might not be so beneficial in the regular season. You can do some creative stuff regarding breaking tendencies and keeping defenses on their heels with an alternating QB system. But as I witnessed vs. the Raiders, a false start penalty on a drive that could have been the result of two QB's alternating and the difference in their cadence could be an issue down the road in a critical moment. In addition, I watched the 49ers alternate to Trey Lance when Jimmy G had a nice rhythm going, and that can be an issue as well. Outside of that, I think there is something to what Shanahan is doing, and because Lance needs time to develop, alternating the two can be beneficial to his growth. I believe that Shanahan has something great brewing with his idea of rotating the two QB's. Lance is by far the one guy I have been keeping an eye on. I thought Shanahan should have taken Fields if he wanted to go the athlete at QB route, I believe Fields is far more NFL ready, but he chose Lance, who possesses a big arm and a tough running style ahead of the more NFL ready guys. In Summary Justin Fields and Zach Wilson proved they have what it takes to be starting NFL QB's. They show NFL-ready traits and other developmental qualities. Mac Jones proved he is what he is, an efficient player who distributes the football and protects the football. Trevor Lawrence had ups and downs, but his talent is undeniable. Lawrence is in a bad spot; he will get a reprieve more than the other guys due to his situation unless he completely flops in the regular season. Trey Lance needs more development on short, intermediate throws but did improve every week. Trey Lance has a big arm and great deep accuracy, something we knew entering the 2021 NFL preseason. QB Whose Stock Improved The Most In Preseason Zach Wilson improved his stock the most in the preseason, he and Lawrence will both be rookie starters out of the gate, and it was important for both to show they could handle that responsibility as rookies, and both proved they have the ability. Wilson completed 75% of his throws, and posted a 137.7 QBR on 20 pass attempts in two preseason starts. Every One Of the Top Rookie QB's Might Start At Some Point In 2021 Every one of these guys might be the starter for their respective teams in 2021 at some point. With Justin Fields pushing to be the starter and pressure mounting on Matt Nagy from the media and Bears faithful, it might come to fruition in week one and the rumors of Mac Jones taking the reigns as early as week one for the Patriots. We already know Zach Wilson and Trevor Lawrence are the starters for the Jets and Jaguars, it is Trey Lance who is on the bubble even though he will get a lot of snaps in 2021 if the alternating QB approach is indeed the route Kyle Shanahan plans to go. 2021 NFL Draft QB Rankings Remain The Same Following Preseason My rookie QB rankings haven't changed based on the data in the preseason. I am confident, based on the situation, that Lawrence will struggle. Zach Wilson has some pieces to be successful, but the Jets overall roster will provide some inconsistent moments, and Justin Fields is in a similar situation to Zach Wilson in that I believe he has some nice parts around him, but the OL is a question mark and the coaching staff decision making does not provide a lot of confidence. Mac Jones and Trey Lance are in the best positions to be successful as rookies.

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!