Week 10 of the college season saw two undefeated teams go down in flames while providing an offensive explosion.. Some players have their stock up after their performance while others have their stock down after struggles. Many names are still going under the radar and we learned a lot about them this week.
Stock Up
Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan
Raimann is vaulting up draft boards and has begun to spring up in the first round conversation. Watching him play against a tough Western Michigan defense cemented this status. He went up against WMU EDGE rusher Ali Fayad who has NFL potential and other than one play where the ball was held super long, Raimann stonewalled him. Add in more pancakes than I can count, and it was a superb performance.
The former TE has great strength and pop combined with athletic feet make Raimann a potential blindside blocker at the next level even with only two years of experience. He moves up to my OT6 in the 2022 class.
Rachaad White, RB, Arizona State
Southern Cal had no answer for White in this game who touted the rock and showed what type of role he will have at the NFL level. The slashing big bodied RB was incredible at outside zone runs where he could explosively make one cut and hit top speed. Arm tackles were useless against White’s vision and angle choices while showing contact balance.
With 202 yards rushing and 3 TDs, White showed lead back potential. He also had two good catches in the game for 36 yards with good hands and an all around skillset. Look for White to be a potential Day 2 pick and a Top 10 RB in the 2022 class.
Jalen Pitre, S, Baylor
After appearing on my Stock Down list last week, Pitre came right back with a strong performance. He played much closer to the line in this game and focused on the run against TCU, getting into the backfield often. The athletic ability is definitely there, and my harsh analysis last week may have went too far.
His instincts against the run are good, but it is a precise role for the NFL. He had 3 TFL, forced a fumble, and had 3 passes defended in the game covering the middle of the field.
Stock Down
Drake Jackson, EDGE, Southern Cal
We likely overrated Jackson going into the season, but he has quietly had a good season with 5 sacks and 7 TFL. Unfortunately, against Arizona State he looked lost and often was the one being moved off the line to create holes in the run game.
He has been playing upright in the run game allowing easy manipulation of his pads by blockers. Jackson still has pass rush ability when he is pinning his ears back, but he appears more one dimensional than was hoped.
Phil Jurkovec, QB, Boston College
Jurkovec amazingly came back from wrist surgery to play this past week against Virginia Tech. Unfortunately, he clearly is not back to 100% yet. Jurkovec was having trouble throwing the ball accurately and turned to rushing more often than not.
Jurkovec has NFL talent, but it wasn’t showcased against Virginia Tech in this one. The arm strength just was lacking compared to before the injury and it led to the ball not going exactly where Jurkovec wanted it to go. Coming back like this may indicate a declaration for the draft, and if that happens, he will have to show improvement for that to happen.
Names To Know
Pierre Strong Jr, RB, South Dakota State
I wrote an article at length praising Strong a few weeks ago, and he continued to impress. The Jackrabbits had one of their hardest tests of the season in North Dakota State, and they ran wild. Strong ran for 156 yards and 2 TDs on 23 attempts, averaging over 6.7 yards per carry. He also threw his 3rd touchdown pass this year, showing some intriguing versatility.
Strong is up to RB5 in my rankings and has the making of an NFL starting RB right now. The vision, power, and explosiveness are there to make an immediate impact and he was running through tackles of some great defenders in this game. Get onboard the Strong train!
Noah Gindorff, TE, North Dakota State
Gindorff is a name to put on your NFL radar. He showcased some great blocking ability throughout the game and was like another offensive lineman out there. At 6’6, 266 pounds he is a towering presence and had a catch with some soft hands.
NFL teams always are looking for a solid #2 or #3 TE who can add blocking ability with some red zone receiving. Gindorff should give this as a late round pick or UDFA who can make an NFL roster.
O’Cyrus Torrence, G, Louisiana
Torrence has been a mentioned numerous times on our Draftcountdown Podcast, but getting to focus in on him shows his NFL talent. Against Georgia Southern, Torrence was bullying the other side in the run game and Louisiana clearly knows his talent. He pulls often and becomes a lead blocker into the second level.
Torrence’s pad level is exceptional for a big man. He gets low and pops off, even in pass protection. As only a 3rd year player, perhaps a declaration is unlikely, but he could be a top interior lineman in 2022 or 2023.
Kalil Pimpleton, WR, Central Michigan
Pimpleton’s 5’9 175 pound frame doesn’t look like an NFL player, but he is electric with the ball in his hands and showed that against Western Michigan. With 3 touchdowns in the first half, Pimpleton was putting on a show. He returned two punts to the house in the first half and caught another TD.
An elite return man with speed, Pimpleton has to be a name on the radar as a unique weapon. NFL teams have seemingly fallen for these types the past few years taking players like Tutu Atwell and Andy Isabella on the 2nd day in recent years. Perhaps Pimpleton can find himself in draftable position.
Follow Shane for more @ShanePHallam and see his work here including past Stock Up, Stock Down, and Names To Know articles.