Technically the first week of college football, last weekend featured several very one-sided affairs, including a 62-7 Stanford snorefest. That doesn’t mean that there weren’t standout performances by some intriguing 2018 NFL Draft prospects. Below is a list of several players who stood out, in spite of the lack of limelight.
Bryce Love, running back (Stanford)
Christian McCaffrey’s successor at Stanford, Love had himself a dominant game against Rice, running for 180 yards on only 13 carries. Tough and decisive with the ball in his hands, the junior may not be as physically gifted as McCaffrey but may be better suited to be a 3-down back at the next level.
Michael Gallup, wide receiver (Colorado State)
Gallup had an impressive day, pulling in 11 catches for 134 yards. He showcased his versatility, as his yardage came from both short and long throws out of the slot. His hands and speed were particularly impressive. If he can string together more games like this, he'll stamp himself a second-day pick.
Adam Breneman, tight end (UMass)
Breneman had a huge debut game for the UMass Minutemen, catching 9 passes for a clean 179 yards against Hawaii. Garnering the most attention from the defense and managing to put up those monster numbers is impressive. He may be the front-runner to win the Mackey Award and become the first tight end drafted in 2018.
Fred Warner, linebacker (BYU)
Used primarily as a coverage linebacker, Warner was tested in coverage often this game. He was always close, just missing a finger tip interception on one particular play, but a little too late in his initial reaction. He allowed several important completions. Warner found more success is sealing the edge against the run, forcing the running back out of bounds or to cut back up field.