Welcome to The BRoto “Devy Dives” series, where once a week we take a look at some of the biggest names and breakouts in College Football. Throughout this series, we will take an in-depth look at five players who either shone bright or failed to make an impact in the weekly slate of games. With the Devy and Dynasty Fantasy Football communities becoming more and more popular, this short read is your one-stop-shop for weekly updates on some players you need to keep your eye on!
Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas (Junior)
Texas Monthly
If you didn’t already know about Bijan Robinson, you should now. The undisputed leader of the 2023 NFL draft’s running back room, Robinson is the next big star at the position. After covering for a sub-par rushing performance in a Week 2 clash with Alabama by adding 73 yards on receptions, the Longhorns back showcased his dominance in a 41-20 victory over UTSA in Week 3, turning 20 carries into 183 yards and three scores.
Robinson is the ideal workhorse back for a league that is shifting more and more toward committee approaches. His size, power and athleticism all translate extremely well to the next level and his rushing skill set is also elite. Despite never having been used exclusively as a receiver, he has shown the ability to comfortably handle that role as well. Depending on his landing spot in the NFL, Robinson might already be the Dynasty and Devy RB1.
Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, Washington (RS Freshman/Junior)
While quarterback Michael Penix Jr. garnered most of the headlines in Washington’s emphatic 39-28 upset of Michigan State, it was Ja’Lynn Polk who was the benefactor of much of Penix’s production. Winning PAC-12 Freshman of the Week honors, Polk lit up the AP-Ranked 11th Spartans in amazing fashion, tallying 153 yards and three scores on just six receptions.
Polk has struggled throughout his career to reach his potential as a three-star recruit in 2020. He struggled as a Freshman with Texas Tech in 2020 before transferring to Washington in 2021. With this dominant display, however, we might finally be reaching the point where Polk meets his potential. While he is not exactly a top NFL-level prospect at this time, if he can continue to put up numbers and expand his game, he could certainly find his way onto a roster at some point, making him an interesting sleeper candidate to keep an eye on.
Charlie Jones, WR, Purdue (Senior)
The Athletic
I’ll admit, this one is somewhat cheating. Jones’ best performance so far was in Week 2 of the college football season, but his play in all three games thus far deserves mention. Prior to transferring to Purdue in the Spring, Jones totaled 323 yards on 21 catches and three touchdowns at Iowa in 14 games during his Junior season. The transfer has paid off majorly so far, as Jones has already surpassed those totals in just three games with the Boilermakers.
Jones opened the season with a bang in a loss to Penn State, hauling in 12 receptions for 153 yards and a score. A week later, Purdue picked up its first win of the season against Indiana State, during which the Senior pass catcher brought in nine more passes for 133 yards and three scores in a 56-0 shutout. In his most recent outing, Jones again dominated with 11 catches, a season-high 188 yards and another touchdown. In total, Jones sits at 474 yards on 32 receptions with five touchdowns to open his season and his draft stock is skyrocketing as scouts begin to take notice.
Cameron Ward, QB, Washington State (Junior)
After beginning his career with the Incarnate Word Cardinals in 2020, Ward put on show in the FCS and garnered the attention of Washington State after entering the transfer portal. Named the starting quarterback heading into the season, Ward was met with mixed reviews following the first two games of the season. In these two games he completed 42-of-68 passes for 423 yards and 4 touchdowns with 2 interceptions. He showed his better side against Colorado State in a Week 3 blowout, however.
In the exhibition facing the Rams, Ward threw three touchdown passes in the first quarter alone en-route to a 24-of-34 passing performance with 299 yards, four touchdowns, and just one interception. Ward has showcased several elite traits at the collegiate level that should translate to the NFL stage but it remains to be seen if he can fix his flaws to become a starting-caliber quarterback or if he will stick purely as a backup in the league.
Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia (Sophomore)
Dawg Nation
Brock Bowers was made in a lab. It’s not often you witness a 6’4”, 240lb tight end turn the corner on a defensive back on his way to the endzone but that’s exactly what happened early in the first quarter in Georgia’s 48-7 dismantling of South Carolina in Week 3. Taking a jet sweep with the defensive line collapsing on him, Bowers was forced to retreat a few yards before quickly turning up field and destroying the pursuit angle of the defensive back closing in on him.
That five-yard run wasn’t the only dominant display put on by the Sophomore tight end. Bowers also led the team in receiving on the day as Stetson Bennett’s favorite target, hauling in five receptions for 121 yards and another two touchdowns, bringing his grand total to three on the afternoon. Bowers is looking like the second-coming of Rob Gronkowski and will likely be a top-10 pick once he becomes eligible. For now, it’s just a waiting game.
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By Trenton Roberts
For a second straight season, I am betting against Mahomes.