Tag: Zach Charbonnet

7 takeaways from the top RB, OL performances at NFL Combine

We’re looking at takeaways and observations from the running back and offensive line workouts at the 2023 NFL scouting combine

The Eagles and 31 other teams were in Indianapolis for the 2023 NFL scouting combine, and all eyes Sunday were on the running backs and offensive linemen portion of the workouts.

Pro Bowl running back Miles Sanders and Boston Scott are both slated for free agency along with 9 key contributors on defense.

It won’t be possible for the Eagles to bring them all back, especially once Jalen Hurts signs his new deal.

With Philadelphia potentially targeting a running back in April’s draft, names like Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Zach Charbonnet were on display.

Here are seven takeaways from the final day of the scouting combine.

Bengals met with UCLA RB Zach Charbonnet

The Bengals met with a possible 1st-round RB.

The Cincinnati Bengals figure to attack tight end and running back this offseason and that has been reflected in the team’s approach to the scouting combine.

Cincinnati has met with a ton of tight ends and now news about meetings with running backs continues to emerge.

Speaking at the combine, UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet confined he met formally with the Bengals, per Luke Sawhook.

Considered a second-round prospect, if not higher, Charbonnet scored 11 touchdowns with Michigan in 2019 before making his way to UCLA, where he put up stunning numbers. In 2021, he ran for 1,137 yards and 13 scores (5.6 average) and in 2020 he ran for 1,359 with 14 (7.0).

While we can file this under the due diligence column, it’s still notable to see the Bengals brush shoulders with the draft’s top backs and a possible zone-read prospect capable of playing all three downs.

The future with Joe Mixon is an unknown and it’s not a secret the team needs improved play from the backfield. Nabbing a true three-down back like Charbonnet, even if it costs a first-rounder, might be something the team elects to do.

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Updated New Orleans Saints 7-round mock draft after Sean Payton trade

We’ve updated our New Orleans Saints 7-round mock draft after the Sean Payton trade. The Saints have a first-round pick now, but what can they do with it?

Good news, everyone: the New Orleans Saints finally have a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft after agreeing on a trade that sent Sean Payton to the Denver Broncos. But what can they do with it? To figure that out, we’ve updated our seven-round Saints mock draft reflecting the picks the team actually has to work with now.

I’m going into this mock draft with the expectation that the Saints will find a starting quarterback ahead of the event, likely in free agency (or they could trade for one, but that’s its own can of worms) while addressing some other big priorities. So don’t panic when you don’t see that first rounder spent on your favorite quarterback prospect. Remember, free agency happens before the draft, and that’s where the Saints are likeliest to solve their problems.

So look at this as an opportunity to introduce yourself to some new 2023 draft prospects more than anything else. If we know anything about Mickey Loomis, it’s that the Saints general manager isn’t finished making moves. This projection is going to change wildly in the weeks ahead:

2023 NFL draft film room: UCLA RB Zach Charbonnet

See for yourself what makes UCLA’s Zach Charbonnet one of the top running back prospects in the 2023 NFL draft class

It’s officially NFL draft season, so it’s time to get to know the best players at every positions in the 2023 class.

What makes UCLA’s Zach Charbonnet one of this year’s top running back prospects?

Watch the tape and see for yourself:

Six points with David Dorey (2023 Rookie Edition)

Taking an early look at the top rookies for 2023, where they rank and the schedule for 2022-2023 NCAA Bowl Games with mentions of which future fantasy players to watch.

We’re turning the corner into fantasy playoffs and most teams in every league are on the outside looking in. There will still be developments and happenings left to see that will play into next year, but everyone should start to think about the annual turning of the NFL soil known as the draft.

Below are the current consensus best players getting ready to hear their names called from the big stage. This is a good time to turn your attention to the college ranks, because Bowl Season is here and you can watch those players in their biggest game perform. Consider it research with beer and nachos,

The players ranking below will no doubt change by April 27, 2023 in Kansas City, but here’s where they currently rank by consensus from several sources.

Quarterbacks

1. Bryce Young (5-11, 194 pounds, 4.8/40) Alabama
2. C.J. Stroud (6-3, 215 pounds, 4.7/40) Ohio State
3. Will Levis (6-3, 232 pounds, 4.7/40) Kentucky
4. Tanner McKee (6-6, 230 pounds, 4.8/40) Stanford
5. Anthony Richardson (6-4, 236 pounds, 4.5/40) Florida

Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud are expected to be Top-10 picks and maybe Top-5.  Will Levis is a first-round pick but likely later in the round. All three should end up with teams looking to start a rookie quarterback at least at some point during the season, if not Week 1.  McKee and Richardson are expected to be taken in the first two rounds and potentially the first round. Their performances in bowl games and the NFL Combine will impact their draft slot.

Running Backs

1. Bijan Robinson (6-0, 214 pounds, 4.48/40) Texas
2. Jahmyr Gibbs (5-11, 200 pounds, 4.5/40) Alabama
3. Zach Charbonnet (6-1, 220 pounds, 4.5/40) UCLA
4. Kenny McIntosh (6-1, 220 pounds, 4.5/40) Georgia
5. Zach Evans (5-11, 195 pounds, 4.49/40) Ole Miss
6. Blake Corum (5-8, 210 pounds, 4.5/40) Michigan
7. Devon Achene (5-9, 185 pounds, 4.55/40) Texas A&M
8. Chris Rodriguez Jr. (5-11, 209 pounds, 4.55/40) Kentucky
9. Chase Brown (5-11, 209, 4.55/40) Illinois
10. Kendre Miller (6-0, 220 pounds, 4.5/40) TCU

Bijan Robinson is the running back that will go in the first half of the NFL draft and probably end up a second or third-round fantasy pick depending on where he ends up. He is “the guy” by every analyst out there. Jahmyr Gibbs could go in the first or second round, depending on how badly a team wants a new starting running back.

Zach Charbonnet, Kenny McIntosh, and Zach Evans currently project as a second or third round pick. But remember, last year there was no first round running back and yet plenty of great picks in the first three rounds – Breece Hall, Kenneth Walker, Rachaad White and Brian Robinson. Dameon Pierce was the 4.02 pick.

Those backs from No. 6 to No. 10 can impact their draft slot with bowl game performances, the NFL Combine and Player Days at their schools.

Wide Receivers

1. Quentin Johnston, (6-4, 201 pounds, 4.5/40) TCU
2. Jaxon Smith-Njigba (6-0, 197 pounds, 4.45/40) Ohio State
3. Kayshon Boutte (announced return to LSU)
4. Jordan Addison (6-2, 175 pounds, 4.5/40) USC
5. Cedric Tillman (6-3, 215 pounds, 4.5/40) Tennessee
6. Zay Flowers (5-10, 180 pounds, 4.45/40) Boston College
7. Andrei Iosivas (6-3, 200 pounds, 4.5/40) Princeton
8. Xavier Hutchinson (6-3, 210 pounds, 4.6/40-time) Iowa State
9. A.T. Perry (6-5, 206 pounds, 4.55/40) Wake Forest
10. Jalin Hyatt (6-0, 180 pounds, 4.45/40) Tennessee

There is less consensus about where wideouts fall than any other fantasy position. This class is not considered as deep as 2022, but the top receivers are expected to be contributors as rookies.

Quentin Johnston, Jaxon Smith-Njigba,  and Jordan Addison are strongly considered as the Top-3 and a level above the rest of the class. Each may end up as a first-round pick. The 40-times shown are estimates and the NFL Combine will hopefully clear up how fast they really are regardless of what their University P.R. machine says.

All of the other receivers listed above are currently expected to be second or third-round picks, but again – beyond the Top-3 there is little consensus and each could experience dramatic swings in outlook by the time the NFL draft takes place in April.

Tight Ends

1. Michael Mayer (6-4, 251 pounds, 4.7/40) Notre Dame
2. Luke Musgrave (6-6, 250 pounds, 4.7/40) Oregon State
3. Darnell Washington (6-7, 265 pounds) 4.75/40) Georgia
4. Sam LaPorta (6-3, 250 pounds, 4.69/40) Iowa
5. Dalton Kincaid (6-3, 241 pounds, 4.7/40) Utah

The position does little as rookies and Michael Mayer is the only tight end that may be taken in the late first or early second round. He’s the next Cole Kmet coming out of Notre Dame. None of the rest is expected to go prior to the third round.

2022-2023 College Bowl Schedule with 2023 fantasy rookies to watch

Friday, Dec. 16
Bahamas Bowl: UAB vs. Miami (OH), 11:30 a.m., ESPN
Cure Bowl: Troy vs. UTSA, 3 p.m., ESPN

Saturday, Dec. 17
Fenway Bowl: Louisville vs. Cincinnati 11 a.m., ESPN
New Mexico Bowl: BYU vs. SMU, 2:15 p.m., ESPN
Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl: Wash. State vs. Fresno State, 3:30 p.m., ABC
LendingTree Bowl: Southern Miss vs. Rice, 5:45 p.m., ESPN
Las Vegas Bowl: Florida vs. Oregon State, 7:30 p.m., ABC
Oregon State: TE Luke Musgrave
Florida: QB Anthony Richardson
Frisco Bowl: North Texas vs. Boise State, 9:15 p.m., ESPN

Monday, Dec. 19
Myrtle Beach Bowl: Marshall vs. UConn, 2:30 p.m., ESPN

Tuesday, Dec. 20
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: San Jose State vs. Eastern Michigan, 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Boca Raton Bowl: Toledo vs. Liberty, 7:30 p.m., ESPN

Wednesday, Dec. 21
New Orleans Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. South Alabama, 9 p.m., ESPN

Thursday, Dec. 22
Armed Forces Bowl: Baylor vs. Air Force, 7:30 p.m., ESPN

Friday, Dec. 23
Independence Bowl: Houston vs. Louisiana, 3 p.m., ESPN
Gasparilla Bowl: Missouri vs. Wake Forest, 6:30 p.m., ESPN
Wake Forest: WR A.T. Perry

Saturday, Dec. 24
Hawaii Bowl: San Diego State vs. Middle Tennessee, 8 p.m., ESPN

Monday, Dec. 26
Quick Lane Bowl: Bowling Green vs. New Mexico State, 2:30 p.m., ESPN

Tuesday, Dec. 27
Camellia Bowl: Buffalo vs. Georgia Southern, 12 p.m., ESPN
First Responder Bowl: Utah State vs. Memphis, 3:15 p.m., ESPN
Birmingham Bowl: East Carolina vs. Coastal Carolina, 6:45 p.m., ESPN
Guaranteed Rate Bowl: Wisconsin vs. Oklahoma State, 10:15 p.m., ESPN

Wednesday, Dec. 28
Military Bowl: Duke vs. UCF, 2 p.m., ESPN
Liberty Bowl: Arkansas vs. Kansas, 5:30 p.m., ESPN
Texas Bowl: Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss, 9 p.m., ESPN
Ole Miss: RB Zach Evans

Thursday, Dec. 29
Pinstripe Bowl: Syracuse vs. Minnesota, 2 p.m., ESPN
Cheez-It Bowl: Florida State vs. Oklahoma, 5:30 p.m., ESPN
Alamo Bowl: Texas vs. Washington, 9 p.m., ESPN
Texas: Bijan Robinson

Friday, Dec. 30
Duke’s Mayo Bowl: Maryland vs. NC State, 12 p.m., ESPN
Sun Bowl: Pittsburgh vs. UCLA, 2 p.m., CBS
UCLA: RB Zach Charbonnet
Gator Bowl: South Carolina vs. Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Notre Dame: Michael Mayer
Arizona Bowl: Ohio vs. Wyoming, 4:30 p.m., Barstool
Orange Bowl: Clemson vs. Tennessee 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Tennessee: WR Jalin Hyatt, WR Cedric Tillman 

Saturday, Dec. 31
Music City Bowl: Iowa vs. Kentucky, 12 p.m., ABC
Iowa: TE Sam LaPorta
Kentucky: QB Will Levis, RB Chris Rodriguez Jr.
Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs. Kansas State, 12 p.m., ESPN
Alabama: QB Bryce Young, RB Jahmyr Gibbs
Fiesta Bowl CFP: Michigan vs. TCU, 4 p.m., ESPN
Michigan: RB Blake Corum 
TCU: WR Quentin Johnson, RB Kendre Miller
Peach Bowl CFP semifinal: Georgia vs. Ohio State, 8:30 p.m., ESPN
Georgia: RB Kenny McIntosh, TE Darnell Washington
Ohio State: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, QB C.J. Stroud

Monday, Jan. 2
ReliaQuest Bowl: Mississippi State vs. Illinois, 12 p.m., ESPN2
Illinois: RB Chase Brown
Cotton Bowl: USC vs. Tulane, 1 p.m., ESPN
USC: WR Jordan Addison
Citrus Bowl: LSU vs. Purdue, 1 p.m., ABC
LSU: WR Kayshon Boutee
Rose Bowl: Utah vs. Penn State, 5 p.m., ESPN
Utah: TE Dalton Kincaid

2023 NFL draft: Updated 7-round Saints mock draft

2023 NFL draft: Updated 7-round New Orleans Saints mock draft, via @john_siglerr and @DillySanders:

That first round pick the New Orleans Saints traded to the Philadelphia Eagles next year is looking like a worse gamble each week, with the black and gold continuing to lose football games and boosting that pick’s projected draft slot higher and higher. So we’re just not going to talk it much further today. The New Orleans Saints have multiple picks to work with in the 2023 NFL draft, and we’re at a good spot to look ahead, ignore the team’s bleak present, and consider how they could improve with a strong rookie crop in 2023. Here’s a quick seven-round mock draft reflecting our take on the Saints’ top team needs:

Midseason Pac-12 football report: Offensive MVP

The midseason Pac-12 offensive MVP resides at UCLA … which is why this weekend’s Oregon test is so huge in the conference on many different levels.

Who is the 2022 Pac-12 Offensive MVP through seven weeks? We talked to Ducks Wire about our midseason Pac-12 awards.

This is what we wrote:

Right now it’s either Dorian Thompson-Robinson or Zach Charbonnet. The answer will depend on — most likely — the USC-UCLA game on Nov. 19.

Oregon’s offense is putting up huge numbers. Emphatic victories over UCLA and Utah could elevate Bo Nix in this conversation. USC obviously has Caleb Williams and Travis Dye in the discussion.

Troy Franklin of Oregon also has to be considered.

Those six players are all in the hunt, and they will all have the big showcase games needed to catapult them up the board.

I don’t think anyone outside these six players has a chance, but I also don’t think any of these six players should be written off.

If Franklin, for instance, has a 200-yard receiving game against a suspect UCLA secondary, he could supplant DTR as the Pac-12 Offensive MVP. It’s a fluid race. Right now, the two best UCLA skill players lead the chase, but Caleb Williams will get a say in the argument one month from now.

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Tank Bigsby is among the best backs in the Power Five with this stat

Auburn Tigers junior running back Tank Bigsby isn’t having the season many thought, but still among the best in one key stat.

This hasn’t been the season that many expected from Tank Bigsby. He has shown moments of being a top back, but the play of the offensive line has prevented him from being the best in the SEC.

So far this season he has forced 33 missed tackles and rushed for 319 yards after contact according to Pro Football Focus. That breaks down to 4.04 yards after contact per rush attempt. Not a bad number for the junior running back. Bigsby is No. 5 in the Power Five among backs with at least 75 rush attempts.

Of Bigsby’s remaining rushing yards this season, it breaks down to 0.36 yards per rush before contact. Essentially he is getting met at the line of scrimmage or just behind it. The ability of the Georgia native to fight through contact is why his numbers are as good as they are.

Auburn Wire compares Bigsby with the other top running backs in the Power Five in terms of yards after contact:

NFL Draft preview: A couple of UCLA Bruins offensive prospects

NFL Draft preview: A couple of UCLA Bruins offensive prospects that @joshkeatley16 is interested in #Browns #UCLA #NFLDraft

Recently we highlighted three prospects to watch from the Indiana Hoosiers with Tiawan Mullen not disappointing. Matthew Bedford had a strong showing before he left with an injury and now we highlight a bit of an odd choice.

Everyone and their mother will be watching the big games, but I will be taking a deep dive into the talent for the UCLA Bruins. Now full disclosure, I will have money on this game, but nonetheless, there is talent to watch, and sometimes watching elite talent against lowly MAC opponents is a blast.

The Bruins have a fantastic offense and I think some of the players I highlight will surprise you.

Who are the 10 best running backs in the Pac-12 going into the 2022 season?

Based on production, where does the hierarchy of running backs stand in the Pac-12 going into 2022?

When we look at individual positions in the game of football, it is always the quarterbacks that come up first. After that, though, it’s hard to look past the players who line up next to them toting the rock.

While we’ve looked at where the QBs in the Pac-12 rank going into the season based on career production, we wanted to do so with the next position group in line, running back.

This is where a disclaimer needs to be made, though. In this ranking, we use career production — what the players have done in the past. For fans of the Oregon Ducks, it may be a humbling list. While Byron Cardwell, Sean Dollars and Noah Whittington may be a tantalizing backfield and could finish as one of the best in the conference, it’s hard to rank any of them among the top 10 players based on past production.

So with a small eye on the future but a strong emphasis on the past, here are our rankings of the 10 best running backs in the Pac-12 for the 2022 season: