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2022 DRAFT
Mel Kiper Jr. offers his current top 25 draft prospects:
1. Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon
HT: 6-5 | WT: 250 | Previously: 1
After missing a few games because of an ankle injury he suffered in the season opener, Thibodeaux has been a menace the past two games. In Saturday’s win at UCLA, he had a strip-sack, another sack and nine total tackles. Against Cal the week before, he had a sack and 10 total pressures. Thibodeaux, the No. 1-ranked high school recruit in 2019, is an elite pass-rushing talent with the quickness and bend to get double-digit sacks annually at the next level. He had nine sacks as a true freshman in 2019, and he had three more and 9.5 total tackles for loss in seven games last season.
2. Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
HT: 6-4 | WT: 219 | Previously: 2
Hamilton left in in the first quarter of Saturday’s win over USC, and coach Brian Kelly said afterward that the star safety has a right knee injury that will now cause him to miss the upcoming game against North Carolina. Notre Dame needs Hamilton, one of the most versatile defenders in the country. He had two interceptions against Florida State and added another in the win over Purdue. He now has eight in his career since 2019. Hamilton has the size to move up to the line of scrimmage and help in the run game — he ranks second on the team with 34 total tackles — and the speed and range to cover pass-catchers out of the slot. He’s exactly what NFL teams want in their first-round safeties.
3. Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU
HT: 6-1 | WT: 195 | Previously: 3
I wrote a little about Stingley and his ceiling last month, and he’s the top corner in this class even though he hasn’t been consistently great since 2019 (and now is dealing with a foot injury that has kept him out for more than a month). This ranking is all about his upside. His freshman film, when he was one of the best players on LSU’s national title team, is tremendous. He didn’t play as well last season, but that can mostly be attributed to the entire LSU defense being dreadful. He has shown that he can lock down SEC receivers. There are going to be questions about his up-and-down play, but NFL teams will see more good tape than bad and draft him based on his ceiling.
4. Drake London, WR, USC
HT: 6-5 | WT: 210 | Previously: 10
USC’s season has gone sideways on the way to a 3-4 start, but no one can blame London. He has been targeted an FBS-high 110 times, catching 79 passes (second in FBS) for 1,003 yards (second) and five touchdowns (39th). He’s averaging 11 catches and 144 yards per game. London, who played on the USC basketball team in 2019-20, towers over Pac-12 defenders, and he can outleap just about any corner. He had 72 catches for 1,069 yards and eight touchdowns from 2019 to 2020. I’ve noticed a few drops this season — ESPN Stats & Information has tracked him for five after just one the previous two seasons — but he does have soft hands and a huge catch radius. London is fun to watch.
5. Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
HT: 6-7 | WT: 360 | Previously: 4
Neal is another prospect I mentioned in my mailbag in September. He’s an elite left tackle prospect with a massive frame and stellar physical traits. Check out this clip of him showing off those skills. Neal started at right tackle last season and was Bama’s starting left guard as a freshman in 2019. He moved over to the left side this season, taking over for first-round pick Alex Leatherwood. He is the complete package, excelling as a run-blocker and also in moving his feet as a pass-protector.
6. Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan
HT: 6-6 | WT: 265 | Previously: 5
In the preseason, I led off my write-up on the Michigan edge rusher with “I think Hutchinson could have a big year.” Well, that’s what he’s doing. He has six sacks and a forced fumble, showing powerful moves and relentless pursuit of quarterbacks. His 18.6% pressure percentage ranks third in the country. He looks outstanding. Hutchinson played only 144 defensive snaps last season before he injured his leg against Indiana and had to have surgery; the Michigan defense cratered after he was hurt. He was outstanding as a sophomore in 2019, putting up 4.5 sacks and creating havoc in the backfield (10.5 total tackles for loss).
7. Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
HT: 6-5 | WT: 310 | Previously: 6
Cross has taken the next step. He has allowed just one sack and three pressures this season, according to tracking from ESPN Stats & Information. He was dominant against a good LSU front last month and more than held his own against the mega-talented Alabama defense. He stalemates edge rushers. Cross has long arms and good feet, and his coaches rave about his work ethic and attention to detail. He showed potential last season, his first as a starter, but he’s also asked to do a lot in Mike Leach’s offense, and so he had some poor pass-blocking reps. He allowed five sacks and 13 pressures on 556 pass blocks in 2020. Based on his 2021 tape so far, I see a top-10 pick, but he needs to finish the season strong.
8. Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
HT: 6-3 | WT: 235 | Previously: 11
Lloyd has been incredibly impressive for the Utes, filling the stat sheet each week. He has 69 total tackles and has added four sacks, 10 tackles for loss, two interceptions and a forced fumble. He penetrates past linemen at the snap, but Utah also uses him often in coverage, showing off his range as an off-ball linebacker. Lloyd was used more as a pass-rusher in 2019, racking up 6.5 sacks. He has 12.5 for his career. The versatility stands out as a major plus. I’ve been really impressed by his 2021 tape, and he has a chance to be a first-round linebacker next spring.
9. Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
HT: 6-7 | WT: 321 | Previously: 14
Penning destroys edge rushers at the FCS level. He’s consistently dominant in both the run and pass game. “Rugged” is the word I’d use to describe his game. And though he’s not playing against NFL-caliber players every week, I think he has a chance to be an elite guy. He has played mostly at left tackle for the Panthers, who had 2021 third-rounder Spencer Brown on the right side from 2017 to 2019. Penning has flashed more than Brown did.
10. DeMarvin Leal, DL, Texas A&M
HT: 6-4 | WT: 290 | Previously: 7
Leal is one of my favorite prospects in this class, a versatile defensive lineman who could play in any defense at the next level. I like his potential as an interior penetrator a little more than I do as an edge rusher, and he has the frame to put on a few more pounds. But he plays incredibly hard and is always in the right spot. Leal has 5.5 sacks this season after getting 2.5 last season, when he also had a forced fumble and an interception off Alabama’s Mac Jones. He ranks fourth on the team with 35 total tackles.
11. Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
HT: 6-2 | WT: 185 | Previously: NR
Williams made my list of potential first-round sleepers a week ago, and he just keeps getting better. He’s averaging 20.3 yards per reception and ranks ninth in the country with 353 yards after the catch. He can take the top off the defense with his speed, and he has shown that he can track the ball and adjust while it’s in the air. Watch him on this 76-yard score against Mississippi State. Williams has been Alabama’s best receiver this season, and I didn’t expect the Ohio State transfer to have such an immediate impact. Plus, he has two kickoff return touchdowns.
12. Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
HT: 6-3 | WT: 290 | Previously: 16
Linderbaum is one of the best center prospects in recent memory. He can do everything, and he excels as a puller to either side. He’s a fantastic run blocker. He doesn’t have many weaknesses. ESPN Stats & Information tracks sacks allowed, and it has him down for just one total in the 2019 and 2020 seasons. He has allowed two this season, but I’m still huge fan of his game and upside regardless.
13. Nakobe Dean, ILB, Georgia
HT: 6-0 | WT: 225 | Previously: NR
I picked Dean earlier this month as a rising prospect to watch, after he was tremendous in the Bulldogs’ 37-0 shutout of Arkansas. He’s the leader of one of the best defenses in recent college football history. Georgia is allowing an FBS-best 3.6 yards per play and has allowed only a single rushing score all season. It is also allowing only 145 passing yards per game, which ranks second behind Washington. Dean runs sideline to sideline to blow up plays and is a sure tackler once he finds the ball carrier. He has 30 tackles, 3.5 sacks — he’s a great blitzer — and an interception this season.
14. Kingsley ‘JJ’ Enagbare, OLB, South Carolina
HT: 6-4 | WT: 265 | Previously: NR
Enagbare made my way-too-early Big Board back in May, but I wanted to see more from him the past few weeks. He has put on a show recently, racking up 18 QB pressures in his past three games, including 10 against Troy. He now has 4.5 sacks on the season and 15 for his college career. Enagbare is likely to be an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense at the next level, where he can showcase his ability to bend the edge and glide by offensive tackles. NFL teams always crave edge rushers, so Enagbare could keep rising.
15. Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt
HT: 6-3 | WT: 220 | Previously: NR
Pickett is making a leap not unlike Joe Burrow’s from two seasons ago. After his impressive performance against Clemson, I’m ready to put him on my Big Board. The fifth-year senior has been tremendous this season, completing 68.9% of his passes with 23 touchdowns and just one interception. He ranks third in the country in QBR (88.1). He has 18 career rushing touchdowns. Pickett was up and down the past two seasons, throwing 18 picks and averaging 6.9 yards per attempt. He’s up to 9.2 this season. He is accurate to all three levels of the field, has shown patience in taking the checkdown throws when necessary and has good zip on his throws. Offensive coordinator Mark Whipple has done a great job with Pickett’s development.
Now, he has started 43 games in his Pitt career, so NFL teams will like that he has experience. (The last first-rounder with that many starts was Baker Mayfield with 46.) But Pickett does have some bad tape on his résumé, so scouts and execs are going to have to be comfortable with his improvement and believe that he’s a different quarterback. The signs are there, and his ability to use his legs to maneuver the pocket and scramble when he has to is underrated. I really like Pickett’s 2021 tape. In a quarterback class that is far from settled, he’s my new No. 1 guy.
16. Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
HT: 5-11 | WT: 184 | Previously: 8
Dotson is an explosive wideout having a great season. He had an incredible leaping catch against Illinois over the weekend, and look how open he is on this 49-yard touchdown against Wisconsin. Plus, check out Penn State’s first offensive play against Villanova, a 52-yard strike to Dotson in which he showed acceleration at the catch. While he had a few drops in 2019 and 2020, he hasn’t dropped any of his 78 targets this season. He has 49 catches for 563 yards and six scores, though he hasn’t scored in the Nittany Lions’ back-to-back losses.
17. Nicholas Petit-Frere, OT, Ohio State
HT: 6-5 | WT: 315 | Previously: 17
ESPN Stats & Information has tracked all of Petit-Frere’s snaps at Ohio State, and it hasn’t found a single sack that can be attributed to him. I couldn’t find any, either, when I went back to his tape. He has allowed only two total pressures this season. After starting on the right side last season, he has proved to be just as steady and consistent at left tackle this season. A former five-star recruit, Petit-Frere just keeps improving.
18. Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
HT: 6-0 | WT: 193 | Previously: 9
Wilson played mostly out of the slot last season, catching 43 passes and averaging almost 17 yards per reception, but he has done most of his damage outside in 2021. He’s dynamic with the ball in his hands and can run away from defenders after the catch. Here he is doing that against a Minnesota defensive back for a 56-yard score. Ohio State’s offense has taken off over the past few games — the Buckeyes have scored 50-plus points in four straight — and Wilson has 36 total catches for 605 yards and six touchdowns this season. His versatility will help at the next level, too. He and Chris Olave form one of the best wideout tandems in the country.
19. Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn
HT: 6-0 | WT: 190 | Previously: 19
As I wrote in my preseason Big Board, I really liked McCreary’s tape after watching more of Auburn this past summer. He is fundamentally sound, instinctive and has nice size. He can cover and help against the run. He got beat a few times last season, but he has been more consistent so far this season. He has added two more interceptions — including this pick-six — after having three in 2020. McCreary is as “safe” a pick as it gets this far out from the draft.
20. Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss
HT: 6-0 | WT: 200 | Previously: 20
I went deeper on Corral’s upside last month and wrote about what I liked about his game earlier this month. He has been incredibly impressive this season, throwing 15 touchdown passes and one interception. He has also ran for nine scores, and he had 195 yards on a whopping 30 carries in the win over Tennessee. Corral ranks fourth in the FBS in QBR (89.3). He’s not the biggest quarterback, but he has touch and accuracy and a good-enough arm. He doesn’t crater under pressure. If he can avoid the disaster games that he had last season — 11 combined interceptions in two games against LSU and Arkansas — he’s going to be in the first-round mix.
21. Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
HT: 6-1 | WT: 188 | Previously: 12
Ohio State’s pass-catching group is one of the best in the country, which means Olave and Wilson don’t have huge counting stats. I’m not worried; just turn on the tape and watch Olave get open. I wrote in May that he could have been a Day 2 pick had he entered the 2021 draft, and now he has a chance to be the No. 1 wideout in 2022. He’s one of the best deep threats in this class — he averaged 15.0 air yards per target from 2018 to 2020 — and is an improved route runner with stellar hands. Those air yards per target have dropped a little bit (14.2), but he has 204 yards after the catch, already surpassing his 2020 total (181). He can make defenders look silly in coverage and with the ball in his hands. Olave has eight receiving touchdowns this season, giving him 30 for his career.
22. Daniel Faalele, OT, Minnesota
HT: 6-9 | WT: 380 | Previously: 22
Yes, you read his height and weight correctly. Faalele is massive; Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy pointed out his rare measurables over the summer. He is extremely agile for his size, which is particularly noteworthy because he started playing football in only 2017, when he moved from Australia and joined the IMG Academy. Faalele started 19 games at right tackle for the Golden Gophers in 2018 and 2019 before opting out of the 2020 season. He’s back now and is playing extremely well. I’ve been impressed with his ability to move his feet in pass protection, and he’s a better pass-blocker than he is run-blocker at this point. The comp I’ve made for him is to Alejandro Villanueva, another 6-foot-9 tackle who has carved out a nice career, but Faalele has more than 80 pounds on Villanueva. There’s a lot to like about his ceiling.
23. Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
HT: 6-3 | WT: 232 | Previously: 18
I wrote about Burks recently, as he tore up Texas A&M and gave the Aggies’ defensive backs fits. Check out his speed on this 85-yard touchdown catch. He has a big catch radius and can play inside or outside, though he’s doing most of his damage out of the slot. He has 42 catches for 717 yards with seven touchdowns. He also had seven scores a year ago. Concentration drops are definitely an issue, but he’s going to battle for the top wideout spot in a deep class. I want to see how he tests at the NFL combine next March.
24. Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
HT: 6-2 | WT: 195 | Previously: NR
Elam sprained his knee earlier this season and missed a few games, but he has been good when he has played. His 2020 tape is inconsistent — he got beat for a couple long touchdowns — but in five games in 2021 he has allowed just 42 receiving yards as the closest defender in coverage. That’s an average of 3.5 yards per attempt in his direction. Elam has long arms and good instincts; he has six career picks. He can play press coverage and lock up wideouts.
25. Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
HT: 6-4 | WT: 215 | Previously: NR
I wrote about Ridder after the Bearkats’ big win over Notre Dame, and he still makes a few head-scratching throws every game. Check out this interception against Navy. What was he thinking there? Overall, though, Ridder has improved this season, throwing 15 touchdown passes and three picks while completing 63.6% of his throws. His counting stats won’t wow you, but he has the arm talent and mobility that put him in the first-round conversation. Like Pickett, Ridder has started more than 40 college games, and so I’d like to see him have better ball placement on tight-window throws at this point. He’s not the perfect prospect, but he does have upside.
DB Aside: Cincinnati is the Bearcats. Sam Houston State is the Bearkats.
As you note, Kiper’s top QB is only on the board at #15. That’s a far cry from recent years. Here are Kiper’s top 10 QBs by position:
Quarterbacks
1. Kenny Pickett, Pitt
2. Matt Corral, Ole Miss
3. Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati
4. Malik Willis, Liberty
5. Sam Howell, North Carolina
6. Phil Jurkovec, Boston College
7. Carson Strong, Nevada
8. Hendon Hooker, Tennessee
9. Tanner McKee, Stanford
10. Jayden Daniels, Arizona State
You’ll notice that Oklahoma’s Spencer Rattler has been removed. It’s tough to keep him in the top 10 when he’s not playing. I think he’s likely to transfer, play elsewhere in 2022 and enter the 2023 draft.
Erik Edholm of YahooSports.com also ranks the top 10 QBs, with comments:
Each week during the college football season, we’ll stack the quarterbacks with 2022 NFL draft eligibility based on their pro potential — and nothing else.
Some of the players we list below may not enter next year’s draft, but we’ll list anyone who has a remote shot to declare early.
Here’s how we see the NFL QB prospect hierarchy stacking up after the first eight weeks of college football.
1. Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh
(Last week: 2nd)
In his first outing versus Clemson, way back in the 2018 ACC championship game, Pickett and the Panthers were completely overwhelmed. The Tigers sacked Pickett three times, forcing one fumble, and he finished the game with four completions in 18 attempts for a net 8 passing yards and an interception.
Pickett faced coordinator Brent Venables’ defense again last season, and once more it was a trial by fire. At the end of what would be a 52-17 blowout in Death Valley, Clemson led 31-0 at the end of the first quarter. Pickett started the game a horrific 3 for 11 passing for 15 yards, four picks and a sack, and it really never got much better after that.
That’s why Saturday’s dominant performance against the Tigers — even if this isn’t a vintage Clemson team — is so notable. This is a program that had owned him and his team, and yet after a slow start Pickett completed 25 of 39 passes (with four drops and three throwaways) for 302 yards, two TDs and zero turnovers.
Before the game, Venables even made a comparison that some others are latching onto, saying that Pickett reminded him of Joe Burrow when Clemson faced him two years ago in the national title game. Pickett might not be quite the playmaker Burrow was, but then again, Pitt’s offensive teammates aren’t in the same stratosphere as what Burrow had at LSU.
But you can get the sense that Pickett is winning over NFL evaluators with each passing game. We believe he’s headed toward landing in the first round the way he’s going, even if some teams won’t be quite as enamored with his upside.
2. Matt Corral, Ole Miss
(Last week: 1st)
This was perhaps the least impressive performance of Corral’s 2021 season in Saturday’s win over LSU. There was nothing egregiously bad about his play, mind you, but Corral didn’t make a lot of high-leverage throws in the game, will lock in on his first read too much and still faces questions about facing pressure.
We’re Corral fans, and he had been in the top spot for several weeks now. But there’s a sense that his Day 1 readiness isn’t terribly certain. When he’s working out of structure, it’s a dice roll on how it’s going to end up. Corral has delivered some big plays but also thrown some breath-holding passes that give us the occasional willies.
3. Malik Willis, Liberty
(Last week: 3rd)
Willis is going to be the ultimate wild card in this year’s class. His body type and skill set are an unusual combination. His unique playmaking ability as a runner and deep-ball thrower could rocket him up the pecking order. No other QB in the 2022 NFL draft class can make (or attempt) plays such as this:
Also to his credit, Willis has thrived this year as a passer without the benefit of a lot of cheap screen yards and with two very young receivers as his go-to targets.
But Willis’ middle-field accuracy and occasionally boneheaded decisions also could scare some evaluators off. Like with Lamar Jackson, the team that drafts Willis must have a firm plan in mind in terms of how it will design its system.
Willis is an easy Senior Bowl projection, and it could be a massive week for him. If he thrives in Mobile, the first round is not at all out of the question.
4. Sam Howell, North Carolina
(Last week: 4th)
We have had Howell ahead of Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder all season long, and that’s drawn the attention of some readers who have asked: but why?
So we checked around a bit late Saturday and early Sunday, and two of the three evaluators with whom we connected agreed with us. Howell has maintained a pretty healthy respect in NFL circles, despite his statistical drop this season. One undeniable reason is how much UNC lost to the draft this spring and how poor the offensive line is.
Most weeks, Howell is running for his life. And actually, it’s a facet of his game he’s been able to showcase more than expected.
Howell and the Tar Heels were on bye this week. They face three ranked teams — at No. 11 Notre Dame, versus No. 13 Wake Forest and at No. 17 Pitt — in the next 17 days. Expect a slew of NFL evaluators at the Howell-Pickett matchup in three weeks.
5. Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati
(Last week: 5th)
Ridder turned in yet another solid performance in the unbeaten Bearcats’ 27-20 win at Navy. Although his accuracy has dipped a smidgen in recent games, and Ridder lost a fumble in the win, he’s taken better care of the ball this season than he ever has.
With 42 starts and counting, it’s been easy to chart his steady ascent, displaying tangible (albeit incremental) growth. If Ridder can hone his throwing mechanics and fine-tune his accuracy a bit more, he can be in the top-40 mix in next spring’s draft.
We could see Ridder pairing well with a team that has talented receivers who can separate but a need at quarterback, such as the Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Football Team and Denver Broncos.
6. Carson Strong, Nevada
(Last week: 6th)
There are times when Strong looks like the most interesting passer in the 2022 class. He’s an easy-armed slinger, and Saturday’s loss to Fresno State was actually the showcase game we’ve been semi-waiting for this season.
Strong played well in the comeback win at Cal and diced up Hawaii two weeks ago. But even in the loss, Strong’s performance (49 of 61 passing, 476 yards, four TDs, one INT) made us sit up and take notice.
The health of his knee — which he’s slowly appearing to trust more as the season goes on — is a wild-card factor in his draft placement, and it’s no guarantee he even opts to come out this year (with one year of eligibility remaining).
Truth be told, there’s very little separating Nos. 1 through 6 in our mind. This order could be shuffled up quite a bit in the coming months. But this top six pales in comparison to the 2021 QB class’ top six — and by and large, that group has struggled as rookies so far in the NFL.
7. Jayden Daniels, Arizona State
(Last week: 7th)
Daniels and the Sun Devils were on bye last week.
8. Tanner McKee, Stanford
(Last week: 8th)
McKee and the Cardinals were on bye last week.
9. Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina
(Last week: 9th)
McCall and the Chanticleers fell on the road Thursday to Appalachian State, although it really wasn’t his fault. The pass protection really broke down in the second half, and yet McCall still was able to complete 15 of 23 passes (with four drops) for 291 yards and a touchdown.
We’d like to see him use his legs a bit more than he has, but McCall — more likely a 2023 draft QB, if we’re being frank here — has been on point most of the season.
10. Bailey Zappe, Western Kentucky
(Last week: n/a)
The small-framed Zappe has been on a tear in recent games, hitting the 3,000-yard passing mark on the nose through seven games. Yep, do the math, and you’ll see that comes out to 428.6 yards per game. He also boasts a 29-4 TD-INT ratio, which is pretty impressive considering it’s his first-year call-up from FCS-level Houston Baptist.
Western Kentucky quarterback Bailey Zappe throws a pass against Michigan State during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
Western Kentucky quarterback Bailey Zappe throws a pass against Michigan State during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
Now there’s a ripple of buzz around him in his first year with the Hilltoppers, especially following his 488-yard, three-TD performance at Michigan State a few weeks back. According to a source within the program, “every team has been asking about him.” At the least, Zappe is a shoe-in for the East-West Shrine Bowl, and he could work his way into the Senior Bowl picture.
How high can a 6-foot, 215-pound quarterback with average arm strength be drafted? That’s the million-dollar question. But there’s a high-floor backup in Zappe, we suspect, especially for a team that operates with a short and intermediate rhythm passing game.
We have another name for you, QB BRENNAN ARMSTRONG of Virginia.
He was on Edholm’s “Missed The Cut” list – and we don’t see how he is not in the Top 10. And he is not on two other top 10 lists we looked at.
The Cavaliers are 6-2 as Armstrong, a red-shirt junior, has blossomed in his 2nd season as starter (he was behind Bryce Perkins who is now with the Rams prior to that). So far in 2021, he is passing for more than 400 yards per game. A left-hander from Shelby, Ohio, he has already been the ACC QB of the Week three times (in eight games) in 2021. He has decent listed size (6-2, 215), a strong, accurate arm, leadership skills and mobility (which has been somewhat limited since a knee injury a few weeks ago):
Matt Newton of SI.com sings his praises:
Brennan Armstrong has been having a historic season.
For the third week in a row, Armstrong continues to be the leading passer in the NCAA with 3,220 passing yards. In Saturday night’s 48-40 win against Georgia Tech, he became the just third quarterback in UVA history to eclipse the 3,000-yard passing mark in a single season, joining Kurt Benkert and Bryce Perkins, and he did so in only eight games played. With four games to go in the regular season, Armstrong trails only Bryce Perkins, who had 3,538 passing yards in the 2019 season.
He has attained these historic achievements despite not being able to utilize a very important aspect of skillset: his legs.
Armstrong suffered a minor knee injury in the third quarter of Virginia’s week two victory over Illinois. Since then, the Cavaliers have seldom used Armstrong in the rushing game, which has been a weakness of the Virginia offense as a result.
Last season, Armstrong carried the ball 126 times for 552 yards and five touchdowns. Before last week’s game against Duke, Armstrong had 50 rushing attempts for only 44 yards and two touchdowns on the season.
Despite not running the ball very much, Armstrong is also the nation’s leader in total yards at 3,397 yards.
Beginning in the Duke game and continuing against Georgia Tech on Saturday, offensive coordinator Robert Anae and the UVA offense began to work some designed runs for Armstrong back into their offensive game plan.
In just a couple of designed running plays against Duke, Armstrong had 34 rushing yards and a touchdown. Against Georgia Tech, Armstrong finally appeared to be the explosive dual-threat quarterback the Hoos hoped he would be this season.
Armstrong carried the ball 12 times for 99 yards, including a 45-yard run in the second quarter, and scored a pair of rushing touchdowns. On top of his production in the ground game, he was brilliant as usual in the passing game. Armstrong completed 29 of 43 passing attempts for 396 passing yards and four touchdowns.
Armstrong’s six total touchdowns set a career-high and his 495 total yards was the second-most in a single game in UVA history, behind his own mark of 538 total yards against North Carolina earlier this season. Virginia improved to 7-0 in games when Armstrong has a rushing touchdown.
“When the knee got tweaked, we were just playing it safe,” Armstrong said following the game. “I’m pretty much one hundred percent back now. It’s just protection since it’s my lead leg and a lot of things can happen in front of the O-line, so I just protect it now. I’m ready to run now, so we just got to utilize that today.”
With Armstrong developing into a threat in the ground game once again, the Cavaliers add yet another option to a Virginia offensive arsenal that is already stacked with weapons. The Hoos amassed 636 yards of total offense against the Yellow Jackets, the sixth-most in a single game in UVA program history and most since 2010.
Armstrong has been getting almost no consideration as a Heisman contender, despite being the nation’s leading passer. After leading the Cavaliers to four consecutive victories and a 6-2 record on the season, Armstrong deserves to at least be in the conversation.
“If he’s not, I don’t know why not and I don’t know what else you have to do or what other numbers you have to put up, or how else you have to lead a team,” Mendenhall said of Armstrong’s place in the Heisman race.
Armstrong will have plenty of big games to make his case in the final third of the season, as Virginia has games against BYU, ranked opponents Notre Dame and Pittsburgh, and Virginia Tech to end the regular season.
It is time to put some respect on his name.
Brennan Armstrong is now firmly on our radar. |
