Week five of the college football season is already here the season is absolutely flying by. At this point, we at least have an idea of who is for real and who isn’t. Honestly not a lot of great games this week but I think there are three worth talking about before Saturday. Here are Thursday and Friday College football preview week 5.
Navy at Memphis
This is the only game on Thursday so by default it’s the best game of the day. The good thing is the last two years have been pretty good. Memphis is normally entertaining and I’m personally addicted to the triple option so I know I’ll be watching every second. Brady White is a pretty solid quarterback for Memphis and he’s dominated nonpower five teams as a starter. This year White is completing 72 percent of his passes and has 5 touchdowns to 2 interceptions.
The last two seasons he has been one the best nonpower five QB’s. The real stars of this Memphis offense are Kenny Gainwell and Damonte Coxie. Gainwell is a redshirt freshman running back with good vision and the ability to bust a big run at any time. He’s averaging over six yards per rush and already has three touchdowns on the ground and one through the air. Gainwell is the player to watch in this game and I believe he is going to be playing on Sunday’s in the future.
Damonte Coxie is the other impact player on the Tigers offense he’s a big and physical junior receiver who has the ability to make plays down the field. Coxie hasn’t found the end zone yet this year expect that to change Thursday night.
Navy is a pretty typical Navy team this year they’re going to run it a million times and then look to hit five deep passes, the crazy thing is the offense will probably work, especially with Memphis having a short week to prepare. Two of the main things Memphis has going for them is an athletic linebacker who loves to tackle in JJ Russell Jr. and Sanchez Blake Jr a six-foot-tall corner who tackles like a safety. Corners who can hit really help contain an option team. Navy quarterback Malcolm Perry is a senior who feels like he’s been starting there since 2010.
Having a veteran QB is who knows how to run the option is huge for option teams. Nelson Smith is the starting ‘fullback’ for Navy expect him to see the ball a ton. The kid loves contact and runs hard him and Perry already have 8 rushing touchdowns this year. Navy does have an explosive player on the outside CJ Williams the wideout is averaging 8.5 yards per rush and an insane 39 per catch this year, granted he has only caught three balls but two have been for touchdowns.
Overall I think Memphis is building a really good program one that can hang around in the back end of the top 25 for years. They have a lot of good athletes all over the field and it’ll be a little too much for Navy to handle I think a spread of 10.5 is about right in this one.
Penn State at Maryland
This is a weird one because I don’t know if I would have ever thought Penn State would be traveling to Maryland with the less athletic team but that might be true here. I think both of these teams are pretty good. But I know one thing for sure Penn State is not the 12th best team in the country. I think both quarterbacks are both pretty similar Sean Clifford and Josh Jackson can both be crazy inaccurate at times. But can also make some throws that make you think they could be pros, they’re not. Penn State schedule so far has been so easy I don’t really know what to make of their skill position players. KJ Hamler is the most interesting player to me he’s only 5’8.
But he’s got two touchdowns and is averaging 24.5 yards per catch. He can be a real weapon out of the slot. Penn State also has Pat Freiermuth a 6’5 255 pound match up a problem at tight end but the main player to watch is at the left guard spot Steven Gonzalez. He probably would have been drafted last year and he may be the best player on the field Friday. I do believe Penn State has a pretty talented defense. I think there are three players worth highlighting the first is Cam Brown.
Cam has been starting since his freshman year. The kid is an athletic freak he gets after the quarterback and loves to tackle keep your eyes on him. Rob Windsor starts at defensive tackle and is a truly disruptive player. He can stop the run but he is also an elite pass rusher up the middle. Then in the defensive backfield. John Reid is a true playmaker he’s already got two pass breakups, two interceptions, and a touchdown this year look for him to make a play on one of Jackson’s errant throws.
The superstars of Maryland’s offense are the running backs. They’ve used like 30 already this year. But expect that to cut down some now that we’re getting into conference play. Javon Leaks is the number two and all he did was average 15 a rush and score two touchdowns in the rout of Syracuse. Anthony Mcfarland Jr. is the man in this offense though he already has found the end zone six times this year. Both running backs are going to be on NFL rosters.
On the outside, Darryl Jones and Dontay Demus are both big wideouts that are going to be tough covers. The Maryland defense has two real pro prospects in the defensive backfield. Antonie Brooks Jr can play in the slot and safety he is super versatile and loves to hit. Brooks currently leads the team in tackles if your watching this game expect to hear his name a lot. Toni Ellis is Maryland’s best corner he’s 6’1 and athletic he has the talent to really be a shutdown guy on the outside.
As I said earlier I think Maryland may be more athletic and I think they do have an edge a the skill positions. But Penn State does have an edge inside with pro prospects on both sides of the line. The crowd at College Park is going to be absolutely nuts. I really think this is what is going to change the game. I think this is going to be the loudest crowd in the history of the program. The fans are doing a blackout and everyone knows coordinated crowd colors are worth a few points. I think Maryland hits a couple of big plays and pulls this one out at home.
Arizona State at California
Last but not least we get a little Friday Pac 12 after dark. But don’t expect this to be an Oregon and Washington State shootout on Friday night both of these teams have very good defenses. I’m only going to point out one player and that’s Evan Weaver watch this game because of him. He reminds me off Illini legend Jeremy Leman. They’re both white dudes who aren’t super fast. Will only get a cup of tea at the next level but all they do is tackle. Weaver is going to be all over the field he already has an outrageous 62 tackles this year and has 155 last year. Just turning on a game and watching him be involved in every play is a great thing to see.
Overall ASU should be more talented they’ve recruited at a pretty good level recently Daniels should be a playmaker at QB. But Garbers is no scrub for Cal. I really like Arizona State this year. But Cal has two huge wins already on the road and has shown theirs for real. ASU is missing Cam Phillips a freshman playmaking safety and I think that will hurt them. This game is huge for the Pac 12 and Cal could really put themselves in the driver seat in the conference after this game. This is a super close game. But give me Jayden Daniels making a couple of big plays to win a close one. Thursday and Friday college football preview week 5.
