Welcome back for Week 7 of the 2015 college football season. Through the first four weeks, we put together a good list of prospects to track, which you can look back on here. Since then, our game threads ahve included an early ranking of quarterbacks, and a ranking of running backs.
This week, Jake has his top five wide receivers. The 49ers signed Torrey Smith, and have DeAndre Smelter on the NFI list, but Anquan Boldin is a free agent after this season, Quinton Patton can't seem to get going, and Bruce Ellington keeps getting hurt. This will be somewhere on the priority list.
The big game today is No. 12 Michigan hosting No. 7 Michigan State. That game is at 12:30 PT on ESPN, and I decided we'll have a separate thread for that. This current thread will be for overall prospect chatter, including wide receivers, and this afternoon's Florida-LSU game.
Wide receiver rankings
1. Josh Doctson, TCU: Doctson has exploded this season, exceeding expectations of many, even after coming off of a spectacular sophomore season. He is the most dependable at the catch point in the business right now, and I don't see anybody being selected before him in the 2016 draft. Doctson has 50 receptions for 877 yards and an astonishing 10 touchdowns through just 6 games.
TCU over Iowa State: 45-14
2. Tyler Boyd, Pittsburgh: The junior who at stands at 6-foot-2, 230-pounds, is one of the most explosive weapons in the country. Boyd has 33 receptions for 328 yards, along with two touchdowns (did not play in two games). I feel Boyd's numbers are depleted on the account of the absence from All-American running back James Connor, who took much of the attention from opposing defenses. Nonetheless, Boyd is undoubtedly one of the best at his position right now. The 2016 receiver draft class is looking to be up to par as 2014 and 15.
Georgia Tech over Pitt: 27-23
3. Mike Thomas, Ohio State: Thomas has 27 catches for 399 yards, and four touchdowns to account for. He has the hands, speed and leverage to be a great target in the NFL, especially if you can surround him with other decent receivers. The junior from Los Angeles is looking to be a third to fourth round draft pick.
OSU to squeeze past Penn State: 24-23
4. Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss: There is no way I can leave him off of this list. Treadwell is having a nice season thus far with 35 receptions for 510 yards, and adding 3 touchdowns, despite coming off of a devastating season-ending broken leg last season. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound junior from Illinois is shaping up to be a 2-3 round draft choice.
Ole Miss upset by Memphis: 35-27
5. Will Fuller, Notre Dame: Will Fuller is another guy that you would want to take shots down the field to several instances throughout the game at the next level. Fuller has garnered 571 yards on 29 catches, and seven touchdowns. Fuller barley cracks my top five receivers due to his inconsistent hands. In my mind, the junior from Philadelphia is a 2-4 round draft selection as well. I'm not saying Indianapolis needs another receiver, but he would fit in nicely with Andrew Luck's aggressive style of play.
ND over USC: 24-21
No. 8 Florida @ No. 6 LSU
Game time: 4 p.m. PT
Channel: ESPN
Live stream: Watch ESPN
A top ten showdown will take place today in Baton Rouge, as no. 8 Florida travels to Louisiana to take on Leonard Fournette and the no. 6 ranked Tigers. The rushing attack of LSU has been in the headlines every week, as Fournette continues to churn out 200+ yard games almost every weekend. He is fastest player in LSU history to reach the 1,000 rushing yard mark (5 games), which broke the record of Charles Alexander in 1977, who did it in 7 games.
Although LSU is looking like the SEC's best playoff contender, their game through the air is going to have to improve, starting with below-average quarterback Brandon Harris. Harris did have his most productive weekend against South Carolina, when he threw for 229 yards on 17 of 29 passing, along with a career-high two touchdowns. This showed that there his some-what of a passing attack for the Tigers, but still tons of room for improvement. If LSU really wants to make some noise in the playoffs, they cannot just rely on the run-game of Fournette, who has been carving the way for this team, but more of a balanced attack with Harris throwing the ball. That is going to start with his decision making, which has been very poor through out the season. Teams having to respect the ground-game of LSU is dragging extra defenders in the box, which should make Harris's job much easier going forward.
Florida is once again relevant. Jim McElwain has this Florida team rolling to a 6-0 start. This game is going to be one of the most exciting of the year, as a stout Gator defense will match-up against a crazy-good rushing attack. Last weekend, the Gators held Missouri to just three points, in a 21-3 victory at Mizzou.
Quarterback Will Grier was recently suspended for the remainder of the season. This is a huge blow to the team, as Grier was seemingly upping his game every weekend. Backup Treon Harris is in the spotlight once again, as he will get the start today, and his ability to run is another checklist for a tough LSU defense. Harris replaced Grier in two of the games of the season, and pulled out wins in each, throwing for 269 yards and two touchdowns. He will have two reliable targets in Antonio Callaway and Brandon Powell, to give him some assistance. Running back Kelvin Taylor is clearing the path for the Florida offense right now. He has rushed for 438 yards on 113 carries, along with seven touchdowns to account for.
You are not going to want to miss a play of this game today. Two SEC teams clash in the battle to be called the best team in their divisions. Can Harris keep the Gators' playoff hopes alive?
LSU edges Florida: 31-24
USC @ No. 14 Notre Dame
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Channel: NBC
The recent victories over USC for the Irish are mostly on the account of a strong defense, and no doubt the defense this year is nothing less than another stellar Notre Dame history of them. The team is showcasing plenty of talent on the defensive side of the ball, starting with highly-regarded linebacker, Jaylon Smith. He and Joe Schmidt combine to make one of the most nastiest linebacking duos in the country.
These two linebackers taking on a strong running back tandem from Tre Madden and Ronald Jones II, who have both ran for 300+ yards thus far, and a combined seven touchdowns.
Juju Smith-Schuster has been one of the most productive receivers in the Pac-12 this season, and Cody Kessler is having a blast tossing the ball to him. Smith has 619 yards receiving and six scores on the season.
Adoree Jackson is the definition of versatile. Jackson plays corner, receiver, and returns both kicks and punts. He as 619 all-purpose yards this season. LB Su'a Cravens is one of the most prominent defensive players in the country, and is expected to be a 1st round draft choice. He has 31 tackles, 2.0 sacks, and one interception the year.
A great rivalry taking place today in South Bend, Indiana, as the unranked Trojans travel to take on no. 14 ranked Irish.
ND over USC: 24-21
ESPN3
Western Michigan
ESPNU
South Florida
Connecticut
ESPNN
BTN
Purdue
Wisconsin
FCS
FSN
FS1
Texas Tech
Kansas
Bucknell
FOX
West Virginia
(2) Baylor
ABC/ESPN2
(17) Iowa
(20) Northwestern
(13) Mississippi
SECN
Mississippi State
ESPN
Louisville
(11) Florida State
Pittsburgh
Georgia Tech
Buffalo
Air Force
Virginia Tech
Miami (FL)
CBS
(10) Alabama
(9) Texas A&M
Syracuse
Virginia
ABC
(19) Oklahoma
Kansas State
Rutgers
Indiana
(7) Michigan State
(12) Michigan
ESPN2
Nebraska
Minnesota
Vanderbilt
South Carolina
PAC12
Oregon State
Washington State
(8) Florida
(6) LSU
Wake Forest
North Carolina
Boston College
(5) Clemson
(3) TCU
Iowa State
NBC
USC
(14) Notre Dame
Missouri
Georgia
Penn State
(1) Ohio State
Arizona
Colorado
Arizona State
(4) Utah
Oregon
Washington