Week 4 of the 2021 college football season is in the books and there were plenty of great games on offer. Here is my team of the week, with the best performers at every position.
QB – Emory Jones, Florida
Jones had the best game of his collegiate career this weekend against Tennessee. As a passer he finished 21 of 27 for 209 yards and two touchdowns. Where he made a real difference was as a runner. Jones led the team with 146 rushing yards on just 14 attempts. He had five carries of 10+ yards and forced four missed tackles.
RB – Breece Hall, Iowa State
The Cyclones will be hurting from their loss to Baylor but Hall showed why many consider him to be the RB1 in the 2022 Draft. He had 171 yards on 27 carries and chipped in with two touchdowns. He averaged three yards after contact and forced 10 missed tackles for the third consecutive game.
RB – Bijan Robinson, Texas
Robinson will be firmly in the RB1 conversation in 2023 and it is easy to see why. He had 191 scrimmage yards this weekend against Texas Tech, including 137 rushing yards. Robinson averaged 7.6 yards per carry, with 5.4 of those coming after contact. He had ten forced missed tackles on just 18 attempts and saw five of his runs go for 10+ yards.
WR – Jordan Addison, Pitt
Addison’s performance was incredibly impressive, even with it coming against New Hampshire. He had six catches for 179 yards, averaging 29.8 yards per reception. He also scored three touchdowns for the second straight week. Addison showed his ability to create after the catch, with 51.4% of his yardage coming with the ball in his hands.
WR – Treylon Burks, Arkansas
Burks appears to be back to full fitness after a quiet start to the 2021 season. This weekend he helped the Razorbacks upset No. 7 ranked Texas A&M, with 163 yards on five receptions. He demonstrated his ability to win as a deep threat, logging an average depth of target of 19.1 yards.
TE – Sean Dykes, Memphis
Dykes makes this list for the second time this season. Against UTSA he posted a career-high 167 receiving yards, doing so on just six receptions. 99 of these yards came after the catch, with Dykes forcing an impressive three missed tackles from the Roadrunners’ defense.
OT – Spencer Anderson, Maryland
Anderson had his best game of the season this weekend against Kent State. He was almost perfect in pass protection and allowed just a single pressure all game. His dominance as a run blocker was instrumental in the Terrapins putting up 145 yards at an average of 5.2 yards per carry too. He was one of only two tackles to achieve 80+ PFF grades as both a run blocker and a pass protector.
OT – Mason Brooks, Western Kentucky
Brooks was the other tackle to achieve 80+ PFF grades in both pass protection and run blocking this weekend. He held his own against Indiana’s defensive front and didn’t concede a single pressure all game. His 82.3 PFF run blocking grade ranked fifth amongst all tackles this weekend.
IOL – Justin Shaffer, Georgia
Shaffer is in his fifth year with the Bulldogs and his second as a starter. Georgia were dominant against Vanderbilt this weekend and Shaffer made everything look easy. He was effective as a run blocker and didn’t allow a pressure on his 28 pass blocking snaps.
IOL – Christian Mahogany, Boston College
Mahogany is fast becoming a regular member of this list. He has looked exceptional at right guard for the Eagles this season and is yet to allow a pressure through four games. This weekend he was a standout performer against Missouri, with resolute pass protection and the ability to create running lanes in the ground game.
IOL – Michael Ford Jr., Kansas
Ford took some time to adjust after his transfer from Buffalo, but he looked very comfortable against Duke this weekend. He had his best game as a run blocker, finishing with a very respectable 80.9 PFF grade. He also looked accomplished as a pass protector and didn’t allow a pressure on 43 pass blocking snaps.
IDL – Simeon Barrow, Michigan State
The Spartans’ defensive front had their way with Nebraska and Barrow looked excellent. He finished the game with five pressures and a sack on just 33 pass rushing snaps. He also showed his ability as a run stuffer, with two defensive stops against the Cornhuskers.
IDL – Djimon Brooks, Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech made light work of North Carolina this weekend and Brooks played a key role in shutting down the Tar Heels’ rushing attack. His 92.1 PFF run defense grade was the highest of any interior defensive lineman in college football this weekend. He also contributed two defensive stops and a forced fumble on his 39 snaps.
EDGE – Jacub Panasiuk, Michigan State
Panasiuk put in the best performance of his five-year college career this weekend. He finished the game against Nebraska with an astonishing 14 pressures and three sacks. For context, no other defensive linemen logged double digit pressures this weekend. Panasiuk won 33.3% of his pass rushing snaps and also contributed a forced fumble.
EDGE – Tre Williams, Arkansas
Williams played a key role in delivering the Razorbacks’ upset of Texas A&M this weekend. The former Missouri edge defender had a career-high eight pressures on just 35 pass rushing snaps. He was solid against the run too and finished the game with three defensive stops.
LB – Devin Lloyd, Utah
Lloyd is a player to keep a close eye on as the draft approaches and he was everywhere for the Utes this weekend. In coverage he allowed just one completion for 12 yards, whilst contributing his second interception of the season. He also showed he can be very effective as a blitzer, leading the team with seven pressures and a sack.
LB – Jack Campbell, Iowa
Campbell is another well-rounded linebacker prospect to watch this season. He was exceptional against Colorado State and didn’t miss a single tackle on 15 attempts. He also managed nine defensive stops, the most of any Power Five defender this weekend. In coverage he didn’t allow a single reception on four targets, whilst also nabbing two pass breakups.
CB – Ja’Quan McMillian, East Carolina
Cornerback performances don’t get much better than McMillian this weekend. He allowed just 26 yards on his 12 targets against Charleston Southern for an average of 5.2 yards per catch. He also managed to contribute four pass breakups and an interception, allowing a QBR of just 14.6 all game.
CB – Bennett Williams, Oregon
Williams looked faultless against Arizona this weekend. The Ducks’ slot cornerback didn’t miss any of his eight tackle attemtps and managed four defensive stops. He was also exceptional in coverage, where he contributed two interceptions on his two targets.
CB – Davon Ferguson, Bowling Green
Ferguson has looked excellent since his transfer from Kansas in the offseason. This weekend saw his best game against a tough opponent in Minnesota. Ferguson didn’t miss a single tackle against the Golden Gophers and also managed four defensive stops. In coverage he allowed just two yards, whilst contributing a pass breakup.
S – Jordan Anderson, Bowling Green
Anderson was another player who impressed in Bowling Green’s secondary. He contributed five tackles and didn’t miss a single attempt. In coverage he allowed a single completion for just nine yards on three targets. He then managed to snag the game-winning interception in the dying seconds of the fourth quarter.
S – Delarrin Turner-Yell, Oklahoma
The Sooners were run close by West Virginia this weekend and they needed help from their defense to secure the win. Turner-Yell did just that. He allowed just two yards on his three targets, whilst also grabbing an interception and a pass breakup. He finished the game with a QBR allowed of just 30.6.