In the Week Thirteen edition of the Splendid Seven, we are looking at seven players that stood out to me over the course of the weekend.
SPLENDID SEVEN – WEEK THIRTEEN
1 – Logan Bonner, QB, Utah State
Utah State quarterback Logan Bonner had a day against New Mexico. Bonner, who followed head coach Blake Anderson from Arkansas State, showed off tremendous deep ball accuracy. Against the Lobos, he completed 16/23 for 306 yards and five touchdowns. Bonner has a quirky release but has been accurate for the most part in 2021. Bonner will likely be an undrafted passer who has a chance to make a 90-man roster.
2 – Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State
Breece Hall has been making the most recent case to be RB1. Hall ran amuck against TCU with 281 yards of total offense and four touchdowns. He is explosive and powerful and is showing more in the passing game this season. Will Hall, Isaiah Spiller, or Kenneth Walker end up at RB1? It is going to go down to the wire.
3 – Chase Allen, TE, Iowa State
Cyclones TE Charlie Kolar (Mackey Award finalist and Senior Bowl invitee) gets the attention but Chase Allen will be on an NFL roster next year. Allen can block his tail off and has improved as a wide receiver this season a great deal. Against TCU, he caught three balls for 55 yards and a score. The entirety of the package that Chase Allen offers will get him drafted late.
4 – Avery Young, CB, Rutgers
It took me until the end of the season to watch a couple of Rutgers games but I have finally accomplished it. One of the better prospects from the State University of New Jersey is junior corner Avery Young. While Young is a good cover man his light shined brightest with his tackling and blitzing against Maryland. He sacked QB Taulia Tagovailoa once and made 12 other tackles (11 solos). I will be interested to see if he declares.
5 – Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State
I doubted some people when they said Trey McBride could be TE1. Well, now I am listening. I knew McBride was good but didn’t realize how good of an athlete he was. McBride took a direct snap on a punt and outran most of the Nevada defense and then shook the ones he didn’t for a 69-yard TD run. He was also the focal point of the limited Rams offense. McBride caught all six of his targets for 113 yards. It wouldn’t shock me if he left Senior Bowl week firmly in the first-round conversation.
6 – DeAngelo Malone, EDGE, Western Kentucky
Fresh off of his Senior Bowl invite, Hilltoppers edge rusher DeAngelo Malone smoked the Marshall offensive tackles. He sacked the Thundering Herd QBs twice and forced a fumble on a strip-sack. I expect Malone will get most of his work in Mobile transitioning to a standup linebacker role. At 230-pounds, he is going to be too small to play with his hand on the ground in the NFL.
7 – Quentin Lake, S, UCLA
UCLA safety Quentin Lake has played sensationally the last few weeks. The son of former NFL star Carnell Lake is close to following in his father’s footsteps. Against Cal, Lake made six tackles and picked off a pass from Chase Garbers. I expect Lake will get the Senior Bowl call soon.