The re-appearance of the PAC-12 on the college football landscape made for a newsworthy week, although perhaps more so had Arizona State come through in the clutch to upset No. 20 USC. The big story of the week though was No. 4 Notre Dame toppling No. 1 Clemson in an exciting, double-overtime contest. Trevor Lawrence can’t come back soon enough. Then in the SEC, Florida’s offense beat up on Georgia to ostensibly claim the right to take on No. 2 Alabama for dominance of the conference. Below are the prospects who stood out during Week 10 of college football.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah LB (Notre Dame)
The athletic middle linebacker was hard to miss on the field against Clemson, as he was flying around making tackles, including 2.5 tackles-for-loss, and just being a general nuisance against the Tigers. He also might have had the defensive play of the game early in the second quarter. Coming in on a blitz, the linebacker had the presence of mind to adjust and attempt to tackle the running back on a pitch play, but ended up picking up a dropped ball by Travis Etienne and taking it all the way to the house.
Kyle Trask QB (Florida)
It was a record-setting performance for the junior quarterback, and it came against one of the better defenses in the country. Trask went 30-of-43 passes for 474 yards with four touchdowns and one interception, which makes him the first quarterback in SEC history to throw for more than four scores in five consecutive games. One thing that made him so successful was his ability to navigate dirty pockets, and then trust his playmakers to make plays even though they may have been covered. Sure, it helps when you have Kyle Pitts, but Trask doesn’t just rely on his all-world tight end when looking to get rid of the ball.
Eric Stokes CB (Georgia)
Really, Trask’s only blemish on the day was a pick-six he threw early in the second quarter, and it was courtesy of cornerback Stokes. It was a veteran play, in which he was covering a slant but watching the eyes of the quarterback while running to where the ball was going to make the interception in front of the receiver. That play made three interceptions on the year for the aggressive corner, with two returned for a touchdown. His ability to be aggressive with receivers, especially on the shorter routes, forced Trask to target his running back and tight ends more.
Chauncey Golston EDGE (Iowa)
The Hawkeyes embarrassed Michigan State thanks to a suffocating defense that frustrated and flummoxed Spartans quarterback Rocky Lombardi at every turn. Golston is naturally a power rusher who excels at dominating tackles at the point of attack, and he was able to tee off for most of the day to the tune of 1.5 sacks, two tackles-for-loss, and a forced fumble that was returned for a touchdown. Although he doesn’t have the burst you’d want on the edge, he has the look of a late-round pick with some upside.
Rashod Bateman WR (Minnesota)
Ostensibly a top-five wide receiver in the country, Bateman was nonetheless coming off a disappointing game against Maryland this week. Luckily for him, the junior was able to get right back on track against Illinois. The Gophers got him the ball in many different ways, which shows you not only versatility but also just how much the coaches trust him as the offense’s best weapon. His longest catch of the day came on an inside slant when lined up in the slot. Then on another play, he took an end-around for a 14-yard gain on a drive that eventually ended in a touchdown. Although he’s not the biggest receiver, his physicality and ability in the open field make him very dangerous.