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 the season, 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 Developmental, or “Devy”, and the 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!
Bryson Daily, QB, Army (Junior)
Okay fine, there may have been a handful of other quarterbacks who put up better overall numbers this week than the Black Knights QB did but let's have some fun highlighting a big game from an Army passer. Since the dawn of Army football, two things have held true: the annual Army-Navy game being a national sensation, and Army football running the ball. So why not build a bit of hype around the shock factor that is Bryson Daily, a man who captured the hearts and minds of many over the second week of the 2023 season.
In a battle with Delaware State that ended looking much more like a slaughter than a football game, Daily was astounding despite the low-volume aerial attack. With just eleven passing attempts, Daily managed to find his receivers eight times for a whopping 193 yards and three touchdowns. Tacked on top of the surprising passing numbers was the young quarterback’s rushing effort where he took a team-leading nine attempts for 65 yards and another pair of scores. Week One was not an overly pretty outing for Daily, but the shocking performance we witnessed this past weekend could force Army to give their starter even more chances to change the team’s rushing philosophies.
Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ole Miss (Sophomore)
While the Devy Dives series is largely focused on promoting star outings from star players across the collegiate landscape, the article is also an opportunity to look at players who are surprisingly struggling. Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins is one of those aforementioned player this season. The Sophomore entered the season as a consensus top-5 running back in the nation and with expectations of carrying the load for a high-quality Ole Miss team. Unfortunately, it seems as though the only reason Ole Miss has stayed relevant is via solid quarterback play from Jaxson Dart.
Looking at the numbers on the season, Judkins’ three scores and five receptions across two games show a potential future first-rounder. The efficiency is simply lacking from the star running back. Following a solid, albeit, unspectacular outing of 60 yards on thirteen attempts against Mercer, Judkins managed just 48 yards on 18 rushes while taking on Tulane in Week Two. That put his game average at just 2.7 yards per attempt and set his season average at 3.5 YPC, well below the 4.0 YPC cutoff mark that many NFL scouts desire. The Rebel runner has the talent to make a swift turnaround but it’s been a disappointing start for a player who made a handful of appearances in the 2022 Devy Dives series.
Omarion Hampton, RB, UNC (Sophomore)
Don’t get it twisted, superstar quarterback Drake Maye is still the face of UNC football. But once the season ends and Maye heads to the NFL, this will become Hampton’s team. Following a disappointing first week in which the Sophomore managed just 37 yards on 16 attempts (okay, and two touchdowns) against rival South Carolina, during which Hampton was overshadowed by teammate British Brooks’ own 100-yard game, Hampton came out with a vengeance in what ended up a 40-34 slugfest against Appalachian State.
Playing like a demon from the opening snap, Hampton was phenomenal in the victory, carrying the Tar Heels throughout the contest on his way to 234 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries, almost single-handedly willing UNC to a win in a game where Drake Maye threw for zero touchdowns. While this isn’t meant to detract from Maye’s abilities as a quarterback, the game was a clear indicator that Hampton has the “it” factor and can take over a game in any given week. He is a name to monitor in your Devy leagues following a breakout performance.
Gage Larvadain, WR, Miami (Ohio) (Junior)
While it’s not often that 5’10”, 165-pound receivers make waves at the pro level, that doesn’t stop them from trying. Larvadain is one of these players, an undersized slot receiver without a real shot at the NFL. Well, that is until this past Saturday when the Junior from Miami (OH) suddenly became unguardable in a 41-28 victory over the UMass Minutemen.
Larvaidain was hot from the start, starting the game with a 26-yard touchdown to open the scoring column for both teams. That wasn’t even the highlight of his first quarter, however, as later in the opening frame, the receiver hauled in a 99-yard touchdown pass in which he left defenders eating dirt behind him. Larvaidain caught another touchdown in the third to bring his game total to three scores, while securing equally impressive receiving stats with 273 yards on only eight receptions. The real kicker: Miami’s quarterback completed just twelve total passes for 302 yards, meaning the rest of the roster accounted for just four receptions and 29 yards. Talk about a one-man show.
Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State (Junior)
The prize of the 2024 NFL draft (among those not named Caleb Williams), Marvin Harrison Jr. is arguably the best receiving prospect since, well, I’m not sure, but it has been a while. The son of former Colts’ legend Marvin Harrison Sr., the younger Harrison is looking to build his resume and prove his mettle after 2022 quarterback CJ Stroud left for the NFL. Following a slow start in Week One, his performance over the past weekend showed that he’s more than capable of succeeding with average quarterbacking play.
After hauling in just two passes for 18 yards in his first outing of the season, Harrison flipped the script in just two-quarters of game action against an outmatched Youngstown State secondary. In that thirty-minute frame, the future star NFL receiver following in his father’s footsteps tallied seven catches for 160 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including a 71-yard score in the first quarter on which Harrison found himself wide-open against a weak coverage assignment. Maybe it’s the route running he gets from his father, or maybe it’s his hulking frame standing 6’4”, or perhaps it’s his near-4.3 speed; some combination of it all shows just why the Junior is on his way to being the highest-drafted receiver since Megatron.
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By Trenton Roberts
For a second straight season, I am betting against Mahomes.