CJ Stroud didn’t have a perfect performance in Week 8. Let’s take a look at how the top quarterback prospects performed in the latest edition of “In the Market.”
Week 8 of the 2022 college football season is over. The Clemson Tigers hung on to beat the Syracuse Orange and the LSU Tigers picked up an upset victory over the then-undefeated Ole Miss Rebels.
When it comes to quarterback play, there have been strong performances from some of the big names in the NFL Draft Class of 2023. There was, however, one departure of CJ Stroud from Ohio State who did not have a, shall we say, perfect game. Not to mention a signal caller didn’t play for very long due to injury.
In Week 8, there were two exemption week quarterbacks, Will Levis of Kentucky and Anthony Richardson of Florida.
Let’s take a look at how the top quarterbacks performed last week in the latest edition of “In the Market.”
Previous editions of the “On the Market” section are available at the links below:
- Week 7
- Week 6
- Week 5
- Week 4
- Week 3
Update: How the top QBs in the 2023 NFL Draft fared in Week 8.
Bryce Young, Alabama
Bryce Young and Alabama may have lost to Tennessee, but the Heisman Trophy winner was impressive in his first game back from a shoulder injury. Immediately after suffering their first loss of the season, Young and the Crimson Tide faced the then-number 24 Mississippi State Bulldogs.
Young has shown the ability to extend play. Credit for that goes to his offensive line giving him almost 10 seconds Mississippi (pun intended) alone in the pocket, but Young has the agility to avoid defensive pressure, find space and wait for its receiver to open. Just think of his touchdown pass to JoJo Earle in the first quarter.
In the 30-6 victory, Young made 21 of 35 pass attempts for 249 yards and two touchdowns.
Alabama is in a position where they must win this season to keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive. They have an advantage as long as Young is healthy.
Next game: against LSU (18th) on Saturday, November 5 at 7 p.m.
C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
When it comes to who is the best college football quarterback in 2022, it’s definitely CJ Stroud. Ohio State’s offense thrived with him in charge. It was only a matter of time before he fell back to earth. It just happened to happen in week 8.
The Buckeyes faced the Iowa Hawkeyes, a team with a poor offense, but a spectacular defense. It turns out that the Iowa defense gave Stroud a hard time last Saturday.
Early in the first quarter, Stroud was manhandled by defenseman Joe Evans, causing the quarterback to lose the ball. Evans was able to get the ball back and run to the end zone to extend Iowa’s lead to 10-0.
On the very first play of the third quarter, Stroud intended to make a pass to receiver Julian Fleming in midfield. But Fleming was surrounded by defenders, and linebacker Jack Campbell leapt past the wideout to intercept him with one hand.
Even with these difficulties, Stroud was able to pull through and walk away from Iowa. He made some impressive throws, like his incredibly accurate pass to Marvin Harrison Jr. and his touchdown pass to Emeka Egbuka on the side of the end zone in the third quarter.
Stroud made 20 of 30 pass attempts for 286 yards, four touchdowns and one interception.
Next game: at Penn State (13th), Saturday, October 29 at 12 p.m. ET.
Tyler Van Dyke, Miami
After two impressive performances in a row, Tyler Van Dyke’s time on the football pitch against the Duke Blue Devils in Week 8 was short.
Van Dyke once again showed his connection to tight end Colbie Young, a week after they recorded nine receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown. The second-year quarterback managed to tag Young in the end zone for a touchdown.
Unfortunately, Van Dyke had to leave the game in the second quarter. He was tackled by two Duke defenders and landed hard on his shoulder. He was later forfeited with an upper body injury.
Van Dyke completed 11 of 16 for 81 yards and a touchdown.
It will be interesting to see if Van Dyke will be able to play in the Week 9 game against the Virginia Cavaliers.
Next game: at Virginia on Saturday, October 29 at 12:30 p.m. (ET)
Hendon Hooker, Tennessee
Hendon Hooker had his Heisman moment last week beating Alabama. He had the opportunity to continue this performance against UT Martin, an Ohio Valley Conference team (3-3). Let’s just say that Hooker had no trouble taking on the Skyhawks defense.
In that game, Hooker broke the program record set by Heath Shuler for most consecutive games with a touchdown pass, after connecting with Ramel Keyton on an eight-yard touchdown pass. He is now alone with 19 games.
Of Hooker’s 24 pass attempts, he completed 18 for 276 yards and three touchdowns in the 65-24 win. It’s important to note that Hooker didn’t play at all in the second half, partly because the end result of the game is set in stone.
Next game: against Kentucky (19th), Saturday, October 29 at 7 p.m. EST.
A QB sleeper in the 2023 NFL Draft who turned heads in Week 8.
Bo Nix, Oregon
There’s a new name to add to the list of dormant quarterbacks, and it’s Oregon’s Bo Nix. Early in his college career, Nix didn’t quite thrive with the Auburn Tigers. He was then transferred to Eugene to play in a program led by new head coach Dan Lanning, who has Kenny Dillingham as his offensive coordinator.
Oregon took on the No. 9 UCLA Bruins and quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and Nix put on a show. He completed 22 passes for 283 yards and five touchdowns on 28 attempts, while running for 51 yards on eight carries in the 45-30 victory.
Watch his 49-yard pass for Troy Franklin. A huge pitch that landed directly in the receiver’s hands.
If Nix keeps up the momentum, he could be a potential quarterback in the process for the next NFL Draft.
A 2023 NFL Draft quarterback who needs to show teams more after Week 8.
C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
It was one game less for Stroud, who has otherwise been phenomenal for the majority of the 2022 season. Stroud will be one of the first quarterbacks selected in the 2023 NFL Draft, but will he be the first to be selected? ? This is a question that teams will ask themselves throughout the pre-selection process. Let’s see how Stroud rebounds against the Penn State Nittany Lions.
Who buys in the NFL?
Here’s what the NFL Draft Top 10 would look like if the season ended today, per Tankathon.
- Detroit Lions (1-5)
- Houston Texans (1-4-1)
- Carolina Panthers (2-5)
- Philadelphia Eagles (via New Orleans Saints (2-5))
- Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns (2-5))
- Seattle Seahawks (via Denver Broncos (2-5))
- Pittsburgh Steelers (2-5)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5)
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-4)
- Falcons d’Atlanta (3-4)
If you needed further proof that the Lions need a new quarterback, look no further than Jared Goff’s performance against the Dallas Cowboys. Although he completed 21 of 26 passing attempts for 228 yards, he threw two interceptions and lost two fumbles in the 24-6 loss. The Lions must choose a quarterback next April. There is no excuse.
Meanwhile, the Texans continue to linger near the bottom of the league after getting run over by Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs.
As for the Panthers, they shocked the world by beating Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 21-3. That’s right, the Panthers beat the Buccaneers. Even with this victory, they would hold third place in the first round if the season were to end today.
The other Top 10 teams likely won’t pick a quarterback, other than maybe the Seattle Seahawks, if Geno Smith continues to exceed expectations for the rest of the season.
Next : Red flags: 5 CFB teams on alert for upheaval in week 9
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