The picks just keep on coming. Keep on checking here until we’re out of memory for all these third round 2023 draft selections pictures!
After the first three rounds, we can say that seeing many of The Top 25 in action last season that we saw many talented performers in action taken as 2023 draft selections in the first three rounds. Trouble is though that we saw a few teams among the best play, like Ohio State, camera problems prevented us from getting any good action photos. On the other hand, we captured some draft choices in action over the past few years playing outside the Top 25 like North Dakota State and Western Kentucky who the pros thought just as highly about. You never know. Check out the collection of photos below showing who we saw and some of our humble thoughts for what they are worth.
Round Two of 2023 draft selections
Round Three of 2023 selections
For more of the third round and beyond, link here!
Pro selections draw nearer as we approach the 2023 NFL draft from April 27-29. One note: I haven’t focused in this topic as much as I usually do. I am totally immersed this spring working on a new book I hope to publish in June well before the 2023 college season kicks off.
The working title is called, Fifty years . It will be based on my original book published in 2011, Tales from the Tailgate: From the Fan who’s seen ’em all! The new book starts with the adventures taken from the first book telling of the first time I attended a game played by every FBS team. Then, I “fast-forward” from there to basically the best of games I attended played by each FBS since. You will find I attended many great exciting and significant games played by every FBS team, all 131 and counting. So much great down to the last-minute action! Stories revel in players’ and coaches’ names you still recognize today, and others whose moments were fleeting, but still a significant part of their school’s gridiron history.
Bringing history up to date
In Fast Forwards, I take liberty to analyze and give my opinions on the current status of changes currently impacting the great sport of college football. You may agree or disagree with what I say, but the main thing I’d like to do is create awareness of what is happening and the possible ramifications and possible alternative solutions for this great game in the future. These topics in some cases can be considered as what I determined to be the rising “ugly” side of college football.
In the end, I also present my “bucket list” – more from the fun side. Entering my sixth decade attending college football games every weekend (655 since 1979) when I started doing this religiously, I plan to continue doing this as long as I can. Games to attend, venues to visit, game action to enjoy, and great fans to meet! Watch for updates regarding Fifty Years very soon. Back to the 2023 NFL draft.
Today, we introduce Collegefootballfan.com’s Top Defenders seen in action eligible for selection! Over the last three seasons, we’ve done our scouting having attended 44 NCAA football games. Would’ve been over 20 more if not for Covid-19 restrictions in 2020. Only got to attend three that season, but witnessed pro talent among six squads in action.
We note many of the players we’ve seen rank right up at the top of the mock drafts announced. Based on what we saw for ourselves, we don’t always agree with all the soothsayers have to say. They watch highlight films. We watch entire games in person. Already, we envision some of their top picks as flops. Hopefully, our photo files contain some more glimpses of a few gems we picked out on our own. Take a look for your enjoyment and fantasy league selections.
Agility, quickness, and toughness sought first at next level
We captured some of the best here. Surely some of these guys will be key pro performers for years to come. Four months and one day until our 44th season kicks off on August 26.
Here come some of the best defenders for the 2023 NFL draft:
Pro selections draw nearer as we approach the 2023 draft from April 27-29. One note: I haven’t focused in this topic as much as I usually do. I am totally immersed this spring working on a new book I hope to publish in June well before the 2023 college season kicks off.
The working title is called, Fifty years . It will be based on my original book published in 2011, Tales from the Tailgate: From the Fan who’s seen ’em all! The new book starts with the adventures taken from the first book telling of the first time I attended a game played by every FBS team. Then, I “fast-forward” from there to basically the best of games I attended played by each FBS since. You will find I attended many great exciting and significant games played by every FBS team, all 131 and counting. So much great down to the last-minute action! Stories revel in players’ and coaches’ names you still recognize today, and others whose moments were fleeting, but still a significant part of their school’s gridiron history.
Bringing history up to date
In Fast Forwards, I take liberty to analyze and give my opinions on the current status of changes currently impacting the great sport of college football. You may agree or disagree with what I say, but the main thing I’d like to do is create awareness of what is happening and the possible ramifications and possible alternative solutions for this great game in the future. These topics in some cases can be considered as what I determined to be the rising “ugly” side of college football.
In the end, I also present my “bucket list” – more from the fun side. Entering my sixth decade attending college football games every weekend (655 since 1979) when I started doing this religiously, I plan to continue doing this as long as I can. Games to attend, venues to visit, game action to enjoy, and great fans to meet! Watch for updates regarding Fifty Years very soon. Back to the 2023 draft.
Today, we introduce Collegefootballfan.com’s Top Receivers seen in action eligible for selection! Over the last three seasons, we’ve done our scouting having attended 44 NCAA football games. Would’ve been over 20 more if not for Covid-19 restrictions in 2020. Only got to attend three that season, but witnessed pro talent among six squads in action.
We note many of the players we’ve seen rank right up at the top of the mock drafts announced. Based on what we saw for ourselves, we don’t always agree with all the soothsayers have to say. They watch highlight films. We watch entire games in person. Already, we envision some of their top picks as flops. Hopefully, our photo files contain some more glimpses of a few gems we picked out on our own. Take a look for your enjoyment and fantasy league selections.
Durability and toughness sought first at next level
Regarding the receiving corps scouted, we’ve seen a few that sit atop many a pro teams’ 2023 draft wish lists. In this list, we include swift wide-receivers and big sure-handed tight ends who can also block. With the advancement of the professional passing games, NFL rosters can’t have enough of both available find the openings quickly and to step in to take over when a teammate goes down to injury
Here are some of the best, we’ve been able to capture at games we attended. Of all the positions played, this is where we think it’s the easiest to find good talent because there are so many good receivers among the college ranks. Again, we always find it fun to say, “we remember when…” before everybody else sees them play for the first time.
Check for updates until the 2023 draft for both our top offensive players and defensive prospects entering the draft on our respective pages. Among all our file photos, we may come across more after our initial reviews. Four months and seven days until our 44th season kicks off on August 26.
Here come our Tight Ends for the 2023 NFL draft:
Top Wide Receivers in action moving up
Up next: OL plow horses
It’s that time of year again as we draw near to the pro draft coming up on April 27-29. Today we introduce Collegefootballfan.com’s Top running backs seen in action eligible for selection! Over the last three seasons, we’ve done our scouting having attended 44 NCAA football games. Would’ve been over 20 more if not for Covid-19 restrictions in 2020. Only got to attend three that season, but witnessed pro talent among six squads in action.
We note many of the players we’ve seen rank right up at the top of the mock drafts announced. Based on what we saw for ourselves, we don’t always agree with all the soothsayers have to say. They watch highlight films. We watch entire games in person. Already, we envision some of their top picks as flops. Hopefully, our photo files contain some more glimpses of a few gems we picked out on our own. Take a look for your enjoyment and fantasy league selections.
Durability and toughness sought first at next level
Regarding our stable of running backs scouted, we’ve seen a few that sit atop many a pro teams’ wish lists. In recent years though, it seems RBs have lost the luster they used to have. Other positions such as offensive tackles, EDGE rushers, shutdown DBs, and long WRs take precedence in value over runners. At the collegiate level, we don’t see many who dominate an offense as in the past, especially with read/pass option schemes. However, at the pro level, that offense leaves such QBs more prone to injury.
Pro-style offensive strategies rely more now than ever on those running backs who can pick up the short, tough yards in situations to keep drives alive. There’s still that sudden burst needed when the receivers spread that secondary apart to open up more running room. Don’t want to say that RBs are a dime a dozen, but there are a select few coming into the draft that will be sought to fill those needs make a difference at the next level. Always fun to say, “we remember when…”
Check for updates until 2023 draft for both our top offensive players and defensive prospects entering the draft on our respective pages. Among all our file photos, we may come across more after out initial reviews. Four months and 26 days until our 44th season kicks off on August 26.
Here come our Top Running Backs for the 2023 NFL draft:
Next up: Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
It’s that time of year again to show Collegefootballfan.com’s Top offensive players seen in action! We’ve done our scouting having attended 44 NCAA football games over the last three seasons. Would’ve been over 20 more if not for Covid-19 restrictions in 2020. Only got to attend three, but witnessed pro talent among six squads in action. We note many of the players we’ve seen rank right up at the top of the upcoming draft. Based on what we saw for ourselves, we don’t agree with all the soothsayers have to say. They watch highlight films. We watch entire games in person. Already, we envision some of their top picks as flops. Hopefully, our photo files contain some more glimpses of a few gems we picked out on our own. Take a look for your enjoyment.
We take great pride in seeing so many teams with great talent. During 2022 in particular, just among Georgia, Ohio State, Alabama, and Clemson on our schedule, we saw a lot of pro prospects. We enjoy watching not only what players will be selected and when on April 27-29, but we also look forward to which one’s go forward to have fantastic pro careers. Always fun to say, “we remember when…”
Check for updates until 2023 draft for both our top offensive players and defensive prospects entering the draft on our respective pages. Among all our file photos, we may come across more after out initial reviews. Six months and four days until our 44th season kicks off on August 26.
Quarterback prospects
Next: Running backs
Book bait
Working title: Fifty years of Tales from the Tailgate: The Good, the Fun, and the Ugly of College Football, 1972-2022 (and beyond)
“College football—what better way to spend an autumn afternoon?” That catch-phrase of ABC’s Chris Schenkel during the 1960’s always stirs memories of growing up watching NCAA football on television every fall Saturday afternoon. As a kid, I would tune into the games to not only witness the exciting action on the field, but to experience emotions from the sights and sounds surrounding the games – fight songs, drumbeats, school colors, cheerleaders, card sections, chants, feisty mascots, and passionate crowds – and I wanted to experience all of that in person someday.
After graduation from college in 1979, I’d eventually see half of the big-time teams play before the 2000 college football season began. As usual, I perused team schedules to check out what games I wanted to attend during the upcoming season. I realized that I could possibly see nine new teams I hadn’t seen before. After that, 50 more Division 1A teams remained to be seen in person.
Could such an unimagined goal be possible “to see ‘em all”? Could I actually get to see every 1A team play in person at least once in my lifetime? This was something that I’d love to do. It wouldn’t be easy based on time, some extra travel, growing responsibilities, and of course, money.
Granted, I would be focused on only one, sometimes two games on a Saturday or over a weekend, causing me to miss many televised games. For my passion, however, I’d be living and breathing the excitement, traditions, and atmosphere of at least one game being played somewhere. I’d read about avid baseball fans making trips to see as many Major and Minor League teams play in as many venues as possible on a tour across the country during the summer. Of course, limited to games played generally on Saturdays over four months, I couldn’t complete this objective in one season. Who could?
By no means did I have access to a private or corporate jet. Not in my wildest dreams would anyone want to hire me to cover college football for major some media outlet. Who would hire a business major whose college football experience comprised of the following: one season of 150-lb football where I never made weight; a season of transfer ineligibility spent running on a scout-team offense for a D-3 program (my frosh cohorts and I called ourselves, “Scout-team All-Americans” to offset the three days a week against the first-team defense); a year recovering from an ACL and menial meniscus injury self-inflicted during a spring, club lacrosse game ( I was elected team captain because I probably clobbered everybody in practice at last once); coming back from that injury in the best shape of my life two football seasons later; and eventually walking into the coaching staff meeting to say “screw this” after a scrimmage against Millersville State my senior year (my parting words were, “This ain’t Notre Dame!). I could not say I was a college football player, but I was definitely a college football “practicer”.
Though this vision to see ‘em all might take years, I knew doing this out of sheer desire would be an experience to savor. Also in 2000, with a wife and two young kids, I’d have to figure out how I could get them to buy into my plan cutting into quality, family time, and the household budget.
Also, realize my endeavor wasn’t to make it to every stadium across the country from my native New Jersey. That would be divorce no matter how saintly my wife may be. I had to pick and choose my games with a time-constrained plan in place. In addition to that, I was obligated to earn a living Monday-Friday.
Now in 2023 settling into retirement, looking back I wouldn’t have done this any other way. This turned out to be challenging enough, and I wanted to do this for my own personal enjoyment. Employment doing this would remove the fun and add pressure. To paraphrase that Navy ad campaign from years ago, “I didn’t need another job, I wanted an adventure.”
I developed plans looking at future schedules. Where and when could I drive to a particular game? There would be costs. How much? Could I afford to fly in some cases? Could I visit with friends, or find low-cost hotels? Could I get friends to travel with me, or go by myself? I desired to get this done, but I also wanted to have fun while doing it. Some close to me had doubts. Of course, I couldn’t have continued my “goal”, or maybe I should say “habit”, over the years without the blessings my wife. St. Laurie, as some refer to her, became the patron saint of college football widows.
For more than fifty years, attending college football games in person has provided me with memorable, fun-filled, rewarding experiences. Being able to share these “adventures” with other college football fans makes it all even more fun. This book starts fifty years ago on this surreal trip. It starts as a junior in high school and continues after retirement in a 42-year career as a Purchasing professional. Update: my ultimate college tailgate travel tour to see ‘em all continues into 2023 and beyond! Up to 676 games attended in all. It’s not over. The journey continues.
Regarding this adventure, some readers may find it dismal that I saw the majority of teams play for the first time against the likes primarily of Penn State, Army, Navy, or Rutgers. Others may think that I “cheated” by attending games at a close, neutral site like The Meadowlands. In those earliest years reported, travel was bound based on my starting salary. Earning $12,000 in 1979, my entertainment budget determined where I could afford to go and how much I could spend.
Of course, my football-focused budget called for tickets, beer, gas, parking, food, beer, and my just-developing game program library. Of course, that salary also financed a non-football budget. It paid for necessities like apartment rent, beer, utilities, a car payment, softball travels, groceries, and beer. Sometimes, I could actually afford to go out on a date. However, I’ve attended another 250+ games since writing the first book published in 2011. As the salary grew along with frequent flier points for business travel, my horizons for football travel expanded. I’ve now attended games at 78 FBS stadiums; 170 in all including neutral sites and lower division venues.
Later games played by many teams seen play the first time offered more significance than the original games attended. Rather than write another full story about another game attended, instead I include a “Fast Forward” epilogue to original chapters where I highlight that particular team’s sightings to closer, present-day experiences (Example: LSU’s first-game chapter reports a loss in 1981 to Notre Dame. In 2018, I watched QB Joe Burrow and LSU riddle Oklahoma, 63-28, at the CFP Peach Bowl on their way to the National Championship). I report that in the LSU chapter’s “Fast Forward.”
On the other hand, things are changing in college football. For better or for worse? I address that in these chapters. Back in the 80’s, SMU football got shut down for two years with the “Death Penalty” for illegal payments to student-athletes. Now, the NCAA instituted a policy titled “Name, Image, and Likeness” (NIL) supposedly for the benefits of athletes to make money in what is now basically becoming a major industry, literally of football factories. Many deemed policies to compensate athletes were necessary to cover living expenses.
Instead, this is becoming a “monster”. Schools now solicit contributions from supporters to be matched by corporate sponsors to raise NIL funds to entice the best talent. Was this the intent of the NIL policy? How is this different than what SMU did in the 80s to shut its program down? The NCAA, an “academic” institution, seems to have put little thought into any of this. I address issues like this as the “Ugly” in college football.
Back to the “Good” and the “Fun” of my book. In some cases, your favorite teams may have ended up on the “short-end” of the initial chapter. I have to say though that in most of those cases, I came up with a silver lining to shed a more positive light on your team’s personal history with me. But, consider this book follows a historical adventure on one fan’s passion to “see ‘em all.” It’s an adventure over time and distance.
I have two favorite teams (Penn State and Navy), but I didn’t commit to see them play every weekend. I wanted to visit different places, see different teams, enjoy unique game atmospheres, witness specific traditions, meet fans of different schools, travel different routes. Maybe you would’ve liked doing this yourself someday, but since you couldn’t, take this long, fun, unique journey along with me.
With my relocation from NJ to Tennessee for retirement, there comes a “bucket list”. It assures I will see games at venues still yet to be attended. Hopefully, this will not only draw people to my blog, collegefootballfan.com, but also provide me experiences for another book idea.
I have one outside the realm of seeing every team play, but it’s still based on my life-long experiences following college football. This updated edition of my original book offers a perspective of 50 years and many different places to enjoy a college football game on a fall, Saturday afternoon, or now even on a weekday night. Come along for a fun, interesting, unique ride.
But also, I have concerns about the future of this great American institution going forward. Will it change for the worse? Will it adapt for the better? I inquire for the benefit of us fans, not for players, schools, coaches, or media networks (too many TV timeouts we have to sit through). After recording fifty years as an avid fan of college football, I will summarize and address my hopes, concerns, and ideas as to where it all goes in the future. And please continue track all of my progress to “see ‘em all” on my website, www.collegefootballfan.com. In addition to my history, game reviews, and season previews, I write editorials in posts titled “Steveo’s Salvos”. Enjoy and ponder.
Philadelphia Eagles players in this year’s game:
Kansas City Chiefs players in this year’s game:
‘
Despite the 2022 season ending in an overwhelming lop-sided, CFP blow-out, Collegefootballfan.com enjoyed its 43rd year attending 21 games in person. Congratulations to the Georgia Bulldogs (15-0) proving that they deserved the national championship this season. A great balance of talent and coaching on offense and defense under HC Kirby Scott put the Dawgs up where they belonged. Collegefootballfan.com got to see them play in one of their few struggles this season as they bested the Kentucky Wildcats on November 19, 16-6.
In the annals of our history, they are the 13th FBS champ we witnessed during their title run. We always seek the best games in competition. We did not attend the CFP finale in Las Angeles, but TCU disappointed many us in not challenging the Bulldogs as we hoped they could. A great season, 2022 finished with a “whimper” and not a “bang” for most college fans.
Our season overall provided us the opportunity to attend games played by eight FBS teams that finished in the Top 25. In addition, four other squads landed in the category of “Others receiving votes”. We did not see one team play in ESPN’s Bottom Ten! Probably a first for us. Among the final rankings, we watched these seven programs play during the 2022 season: No. 4 Ohio State, 44-31 win at Penn State; No. 5 Alabama a 55-0 win over Utah State; No. 7 Penn State wins at Purdue, 35-31, and at Auburn, 41-12; No. 13 Clemson win over Louisville, 31-16; No. 19 Troy at Western Kentucky, 34-27; No. 23 South Carolina win at Kentucky, 24-14; and No. 25 Texas win over Baylor, 38-27.
Close, but no final rankings in 2022
Among others receiving votes, these teams held their own: UTSA fell out of the Top 25 losing their Cure Bowl Game to Troy, but we saw them defeat Middle Tennessee, 35-17; Iowa shut out Kentucky in the Music City Bowl, 21-0; Louisville defeated a 9-3 James Madison squad in its first FBS season, 34-10; and as mentioned, Purdue fell at home to PSU in their home opener in a close one.
Oh those end of season Overtimes!
As for two FCS games we attended, all four schools finished with solid seasons. After we saw Samford beat SE Louisiana in a playoff game in OT, the Bulldogs finished at No. 7 and the Lions came in at No. 19. We saw Austin Peay knock of Eastern Kentucky, 31-20 in an early ASUN contest. Both received votes but fell outside the FCS Top 25.
In two other games ending in very competitive OTs we attended, we witnessed two extremes. As expected in their 123rd meeting, Army and Navy played in a familiar, defensive onslaught. The contest spilled into overtime for the first time in history. Army forced a Navy fumble at the one before kicking a field goal on their next possession to win, 20-17. At the Liberty Bowl in a comeback shoot-out between Arkansas and Kansas, in the third OT, the Razorbacks converted on their two-point conversion. A halfback option pass misfired for the Jayhawks and Arkansas took home the Trophy with a 55-53 win. “Wow!” was the best way to summarize that game.
Top Performances of 2022
Seeing many games (21) among many different teams (33) this season makes it difficult to put together our own All-American team. What we’ve decided to do instead this season is to just recognize Top Performances of each game. We don’t even call this a Most Valuable Player list. For each game, we recognize at least one player, players from either team, players from offense, defense, or special teams.
Top Performers from each game:
Game 635: Western Kentucky – WR Malachi Corley, 5 catches, 61 yards, 3 TDs; Austin Peay – WR Daewood Davis, 6 catches, 124 yards, 1 TD
Game 636: Penn State – DB Joey Porter, JR, 8 tackles, 3 break-ups, tight coverage – TE Brenton Strange, 2 catches, 77 yards, 1 TD; Purdue – WR Charlie Jones, 12 catches, 153 yards, 1 TD
Game 637: Alabama – QB Bryce Young, 18 for 28 passing, 195 yards, 5 TDs, 100 yards rushing, 1 TD – LB Will Anderson – 5 tackles, 1 TFL; Utah State
Game 638: Wake Forest – QB Sam Hartman, 18 for 27, 300 yards, 4 TDs; Vanderbilt – QB AJ Swann 8 for 11, 124 yards, 2 TDs, late in game
Game 639: Penn State – RB Nick Singleton, 10 for 124 yards, 2 TDs, long 54-yard TD – S Ji’Yar Brown, 5 tackles, 1 sack, 1 Int return for 27 yards; Auburn
Game 640: Austin Peay – QB Mike Diliello, 17 for 33, 172 yards passing, 1 TD, 2 INTs, 15 carries for 181 yards, 3 TDs; Eastern Kentucky – QB Parker McKinney, 21 for 36, 213 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 116 yards rushing
Game 641: UTSA – QB Frank Harris, 27 for 36, 4141 yards, 2 TDs passing, 2 TDS rushing. 3 INTs; Middle Tennessee – QB Chase Cunningham, 35 for 56, 368 yards, 1 TD
Game 642: Troy – WR Tez Johnson, 6 catches, 105 yards, 1 TD, 1 TD option pass for 10-yard TD; Western Kentucky – QB Austin Reed, 39 for 56, 406 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
Game 643: South Carolina – RB Marshall Lloyd, 22 for 110 yards, 1 TD, 22 for 110 yards, 1 TD – PK Mitch Jeter, 32 -yard FG, 5 kickoffs for touchbacks – DT Tonka Hemingway, 4 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1.5 TFLs, Fumble recovery to set up first TD; Kentucky
Game 644: Western Kentucky – QB Austin Reed, 32 for 49, 278 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT: Middle Tennessee
Game 645: Houston – QB Clayton Tune, 21 for 30, 261 yards, 5 TDs – WR Nate Dell, 8 catches, 93 yards, 2 TDs; Navy – LB Donovan Muti, 13 tackles
Game 646: Ohio State – WR Marvin Harrison, JR, 10 catches for 185 yards, long 37 – LB JT Tuimoloau, 6 tackles, 2 sacks, INT for TD; LB Tommy Eichenberg, 15 tackles; Penn State – WR Parker Washington, 11 catches, 179 yards, 1 TD
Game 647: Louisville – RB Tiyvon Evans, 10 catches, 126 yards, 1 TD, 71-yard TD- WR Tyler Hudson, 10 catches, 126 yards, 1 TD; James Madison- LB James Carpenter, 7 tackles, 3 TFLs
Game 648: Clemson – RB Will Shipley, 19 for 97, 1 TD run, hurdle for score – RB Phil Mafah, 10 for 106 yards, 1 TD: Louisville
Game 649: Georgia – RB Kenny McIntosh, 19 for 143 yards, 1 TD; Kentucky
Game 650: Texas – BiJuan Robinson, 29 for 198, 2 TDs – RB Roschon Johnson, 13 for 77 yards, 2 TDs: Baylor
Game 651: Louisiana – QB Chandler Fields, 16 for 26, 187 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT; Texas State – RB Lincoln Pare, 28 for 221 yards 1 TD, 56-yd run and 67-yd TD run
Game 652: Stamford – QB Quincy Crittendom, 26 for 40, 314 yards, 4 TDs, 20 carries for 94 yards, winning TD run in OT; SE Louisiana – QB Cephus Johnson III – 19 for 30, 173 yards, 1 INT, 15 carries for 123 yards, 3 TDs
Game 653: Army DL Austin Hill, forced fumble at goal line in OT; Isaiah Morris blocked punt and DB Jabril Williams returned for 31-yard TD before halftime; Navy
Game 654: Arkansas – QB KJ Jefferson, 19 for 29, 287 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs, 14 carries for 130 yards, 2 TDs; Kansas – QB Jalon Daniels, 37 for 55, 544 yards, 5 TD passes, 2 INT, 14 for 21 rushing, 1 TD, 4 Liberty Bowl records
Game 655: Iowa – DB Xavier Nwampka, 7 tackles, 52-yard TD return – DB Dejean Cooper, 8 tackles, 14-yard TD return; Kentucky
Offseason “booked”
With over 200 more games and eleven new FBS teams added since we published Tales from the Tailgate: From the Fan who’s seen ‘em all, we’ve decided it’s time to update our adventures. We’ll update the old with the newest. The new edition will have new titles and be marketed differently than the original. We’ve got some publishing experience to help us so we hope top to expand our exposure and reach more fans beyond many of the faithful followers we have already. We hope to be getting it out by the middle of 2023 well before the upcoming season starts. Look for updates here for this and other offseason news. We’re already starting to piece together next season’s slate.
TCU championship couldn’t be better for college football
If TCU, unranked in the preseason polls, bests Georgia this Monday night, it could not be a better scenario for college football. It sends out a message that a champion does not necessarily come from among the elite, FBS “blue-bloods”. With transfer portals as uncontrolled as they are now, look what is happening already. Three players from heralded Alabama head through the portal to play at Fort Worth for TCU next season.
Despite TCU HC Sonny Dykes comments implying if they are not good enough to play at Alabama, how can they play for us? His comment needs to be considered. On the other hand, players opting through the portal and maybe even players coming right out of high school realize they don’t want to sit on the bench on a stacked roster. Maybe opportunities in college football exist beyond Georgia, Ohio’s State, Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma, USC, etc. We believe both the portal and the NIL policies need adjusting, but this realization could possibly spread the talent as opposed to continuing the monopolization of a few. Wishful thinking perhaps on our part, but we think it defeats the alternative. Go Horned Frogs!
History lesson for us
We like to leave a late date each season open for a chance to see competitive TBA, playoff game at the levels below FBS play. This policy paid off well this season when we watched Samford defeat SE Louisiana in Round Two of the FCS in OT, 48-42. The mastermind of the victory, Samford HC Chris Hatcher, effectively replaced his injured starting QB of the year with his back-up, Quincey Crittendom. Crittendom led his team to the thrilling victory. For Coach Hatcher, he recorded his 172nd career victory as HC among four schools. His record now stands at 51-38 with his Stamford Bulldogs.
It turns out, however, that Coach Hatcher influenced the careers of the two college football coaches leading their teams into Sofi Stadium Monday night. He lived with TCU’s Sonny Dykes for three years, and later, Kirby Smart coached for him as an assistant. Hatcher and Dykes coached together at Kentucky on Hal Mumme’s staff. After that, Hatcher returned to his alma mater, D2 Valdosta State where he had won the Harlon Hill award as QB, as Head Coach. The Harlon Hill Award equals the Heisman at the D2 level. Hatcher hired Kirby Smart after graduation from Georgia as his secondary coach. During their two seasons together, the Blazers finished 22-3. They won the Gulf Southern Conference both seasons and went into the D2 playoffs. A year after Smart’s exit, Valdosta won the D2 championship.
We’ve seen our history repeat itself
Read the story here about Hatcher’s history with Dykes and Smart. Over 40 years of history here at collegefootballfan.com, this is the type of story we cherish. We’ve seen instances like this where we remember seeing a particular player, and years later, we find out more about their success as life goes on. This one definitely intrigues us!
All’s fair in college football and war
In 2019, President Trump pushed for a bill allowing players of the three major military academies to become eligible to play professional sports if given the opportunity. All Cadets and Midshipman are obligated to a minimum of five years of service in the military right after graduation. In this case, a bill was to be passed allowing graduates to defer their military service if they pursued professional sports careers. The benefits intended to allow qualified athletes to pursue professional sports careers and to allow the academies athletic programs to compete for top athletes. Especially, to enhance their football programs. A bill recently revoked this 2019 ruling stating that only athletes enrolled after June 30, 2021 could pursue this option.
Highest and only pick ever from West Point
The issue came into focus only a few weeks ago. Already, players at Army, Navy, and Air Force had already sought to play with that opportunity in mind a couple years ago. In one particular case, Army LB Andre Carter II, stands out as a potential first-round draft pick in 2023. His family protested to Congress and the issue came to the forefront of a recent debate. The overall omnibus bill needed to be signed by the President. New language cleared the way for exceptions in the graduating classes of the three academies. The bill was signed.
Carter seems to be a lock for this year’s draft, but don’t be surprised if a player for two from Air Force finds their way in later. If not drafted, it sounds like opportunities can still come to military academy athletes through free agent signings. The academies’ priorities remain to develop military leaders first and foremost. Cadets and Mids are obligated to graduate after two years at these schools or face a $400k payout. In this day and age though, what agent couldn’t envision paying that off to free up a college football player for his commission on today’s NFL salaries? Not sure if this will ever happen again to a player at one of these military institutions, but the door seems to be open.
Coach leads lesson in lacking loyalty
We used to respect Luke Fickell, HC of the Cincinnati Bearkats until right before bowl season. It seemed that the players’ arguments for pay-to-play, NIL compensation, and portal policies stemmed from issues with coaches capabilities to leave a program at any time. We could argue that many of these coaches came out of school and made minimal salaries to start. Read the article linked in our story about Hatcher, Smart, and Dykes and how these guys all struggled before successful college football coaching careers. Then realize, many others like them never even get beyond that point. They seek employment outside of football. College players today are now making significantly more than what coaches ever made to start with.
What bothers us about Fickell? He led Cincinnati to a 9-3 season, and they received an invitation to play in the Fenway Wasabi Bowl in Boston against Louisville. Fickell signs a contract to go to Wisconsin. Good for him. However, he decides he’s going to coach the Badgers in their bowl game instead of sticking with the team he recruited and developed. They lost humbly to the Cardinals, 21-7. This isn’t right in any respect.
Action speaks louder than his words
These Cincy players had more rights to play under the leadership of the guy who brought them together bringing success to the program as well as to him. He leaves Cincy players to play with a skeleton coaching crew instead of leading them to the height of their final season together, especially players who made it to the College Football Playoff a year ago. That looked pretty darn good on Fickell’s resume. They showed loyalty to him, and they mutually shared success. He should not have abandoned those players who brought him that success to go see what lie ahead of him in Wisconsin. That shows that the only loyalty he had lied with himself. Poor example whenever he needs his future players to stay. He can’t ever teach “loyalty”. He absolutely defied it, sorry to say.
OC Carousel at Western Kentucky reloads
HC Ty Helton of Western Kentucky seems to have problem hanging on to good offensive coordinators, but he may have a good handle on the carousel that seems to have started there. In 2021 finishing 9-5 with a Boca Raton Bowl win over Appy State, QB Bailey Zappe under OC Zach Kittley threw for 62 TDs and 5,967 yards. He set a season record and led the FBS in both categories. Zappe got drafted by the New England Patriots. Kittley joined first-year HC Joey McGuire as his OC at Texas Tech.
In 2022, QB Austin Reed under new WKU OC Ben Arbuckle led the nation in passing again for the Hilltoppers with 4,744 yards and 40 TD passes. Again, the Toppers finished 9-5, and they walloped South Alabama in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.
A coach with vision
Reed returns next season, but Arbuckle took an offer at Washington State. Have no fear for the Toppers. Helton’s staff consisted of three OCs this season including Josh Crawford and Zach Lankford. Seems he’s got a successful system and knows how to develop a pipeline. We look forward to seeing what the Toppers will do next season. More on Conference USA later.
Tale of two QBs
In April of 2018, collegefootballfan.com attended the Penn State blue and white game. A major competition unfolded at QB between Sean Clifford and Will Levis. Clifford eventually won the starting position. James Franklin called on Levis for several games, but also played him at various position to catch and carry the ball. In 2019, we saw him used effectively in their win at Maryland in PSU’s 59-0 win. Clifford started at QB, of course.
Levis eventually transferred to Kentucky where he achieved a successful season in 2021. Mel Kiper, Jr. put him on a pedestal in early 2022. Clifford had his share of ups and downs including a leg injury that set him back in 2021. In 2022, we watched both perform. Clifford had a great comeback win against Purdue. The Nittany Lions also dominated Auburn with him at QB in their 41-12 win. However, he struggled against Ohio State with three INTs and a fumble. The Lions even led with 9:46 left to play. Clifford’s turnovers though outweighed his 371 yards passing and three TDs in the 44-31 loss.
We see what Kiper doesn’t
As for Levis, an injury kept him out when we saw his Wildcats fall to South Carolina, 24-14. However, he played in U of K’s 16-6 loss against No. 1 Georgia. His performance was a letdown (20 for 31 passing, 206 yards, one TD, one INT). In the first half, he missed a wide open WR Barrion Brown on a second and one for a long gain into Georgia territory, Levis also lofted a pass far short of his receiver in the end zone. DB Kelee Ringo who was beaten picked it off. On another first period drive, it ended as a three-and -out. Levis threw and Ill-advised pass to the flat completed for no gain on third down. In a showcase game that the Wildcats could have pulled off for a win with their staunch defense this day, Levis played poorly.
Should they play or should they go?
Both Penn State (11-2) and Kentucky (7-6) went on to bowl games. Clifford, in his sixth and final year, played. In the Lions 35-21 Rose Bowl Victory over No. 8 Utah, he completed 16 of 21 for 279 yards and two TDs. Levis opted out as the Wildcats fell to Iowa in the Music City, 21-0. Had he played, Levis could have displayed his talents against a tough Iowa offense instead. Levis can rest on Mel Kiper’s laurels all he wants, but in our draft, we’d take Sean Clifford over Will Levis any day.
We couldn’t see what Kiper saw in either Jake Lockler nor Malik Willis when we watched them play in person for Washington and Liberty respectively during their college football careers. Based on Levis’s performance at UK, we ask the same.
Power Five vs Group of Five
We followed bowls featuring these two FBS categories against one another. We clamor for more of these to be played. Our proposal calls for a selection committee for bowl games to address this in our previous Salvo. In the end, the Group took three of the five meetings. The Group took the biggest prize of all when Tulane (12-2) of the American Athletic rocked No USC of the PAC 12 in the final four minutes of the Cotton Bowl, 46-45.
We want more bowls pitting the Group against Power, a possible misnomer. Tulane should end up in the Top Ten in the final poll. Teams No. 7-10 and No. 12 all lost. Florida State and Oregon State beat unranked 6-6 squads Oklahoma and Florida respectively. Fresno dropped Washington State and Air Force beat Baylor in the Texas cold. Louisville dumped Cincy without Fickell on the sideline as reported earlier. We have to admit that Duke surprised us with their win over UCF.
An old saying to remember
The Florida State and Oregon State bowls would have been much more interesting if these two could have squared off with No. 24 Troy and No. 25 UTSA who played in the Cure Bowl with identical 11-2 records. “Experts” could say the loss by either Power in such games could be chalked up to apathy. However, maybe the “Powers” need to learn they don’t deserve such “elitism” to begin with. As my old high school coach liked to quote (and yours too probably), “They put their pads on one leg at a time, just like everybody else.”
Awakening to the rising SunBelt
We’re glad to hear that QB Grayson McCall of Coastal Carolina pulled back out of the transfer portal and returns to play for the Chanticleers in 2023. The Chants had a good thing going with him under center. An injury against Southern Miss knocked him out for the rest of the season. At 9-1 when he went down, CC got hammered by JMU, 12-2 Troy, and East Carolina in the TicketSmart Bowl. They ended up 9-4. HC Jamey Chadwell announced he’s left for Liberty joining C-USA. CCU hired Tim Beck, OC at NC State, to take over the CCU football program after Chadwell’s departure. Having successfully coached Wolfpack QB Devin Leary, surely, he pitched his experience to McCall to get him to reconsider transferring.
The SunBelt improves as an up-and-coming competitive conference. Troy, South Alabama, Marshall, and newcomer James Madison all displayed improved prowess this season. Apply State and Louisiana took steps back, but they still showed toughness and talent this past year. We look for Texas State under new HC GJ Kinne from FCS Incarnate Word to make an impression with revitalized offense in coming years. The former Tulsa and Philadelphia Eagle QB with ties at Houston Baptist where Western Kentucky coaches and QBs such as Bailey Zappe came from will develop a passing attack to even rival McCall and Coastal. Look for fun and excitement throughout this conference in the very near future.
Conference USA makes our day playing more night games
In 2023, Conference USA loses several members to the American Athletic. UTSA, North Texas, UAB, and Charlotte fill AAC voids left behind as Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF join the Big XII. From the Group to the Power Five, these moves strengthen our position regarding the two FBS “subdivisions”. Stepping into Conference USA come Independents Liberty with new HC Chadwell and improving New Mexico State under HC Jerry Kill. From the FCS come Sam Houston State, FCS champs during the 2020 Spring season and perennial power Jacksonville State (AL). Current SHS HC KC Keeler also won a national championship at Delaware. Jax State comes off a 9-2 season under HC Rich Rodriguez. He’s known for his 172 victories including stints at WVU, Michigan and Arizona. FCS Kennesaw State joins in 2024.
What has collegefootballfan.com excited for the 2023 season comes with the new TV contract for CUSA midweek games similar to MACtion games. Among the remaining five CUSA teams are favorite locals Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky. Florida International, Louisiana Tech, and UTEP also stay. All teams will host games for four weeks in October to be played Tuesday-Thursday nights. With MTSU and WKU within an hour drive from our Tennessee HQs, we can bolster our schedule with some good Conference USA games! We can’t wait to start piecing together out 2023 slate with mid-week night games and possibly some new FBS newcomers. The conference changes work to our advantage to keep up by adding new teams to total all 134 in the next few years.
Please check out our book!
Ed. by Steve Koreivo, Author of Tales from the Tailgate: From the Fan who’s seen ‘em all! If you like our stories, read all our tales when we saw all 120 FBS teams (at the time of publication) play for the first time. We now offer at two for one deal.
For the purchase of one copy of my book online and a submittal of your review of it to Amazon.com, I will send you a personally autographed soft-covered copy for free, postage included (for US residents only).
Please go to my book’s Amazon page linked here: https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Tailgate-whos…/dp/1463416865 This will be limited to 40 new submittals that can be monitored on my Amazon page. Currently, there are 24 reviews in total. When you submit a review, please email your shipping address to sjk_cff@hotmail.com. Also let me know who you want any message addressed to and who your or their favorite college football team might be so a message can be presented it to your particular liking (ex: “Go Navy!”).
I appreciate your support. A few sentences are all that are needed. Please be honest with your reviews. I will learn from all comments as I am considering writing another college football anthology in the future. Hopefully, you’ll enjoy this one. Thanks.
