Tag: college football stats

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For a while all 8 of the top passers returning from last season were planning to play this fall. This list doesn’t take into account QB rushing or dual-threat capabilities, rather it strictly focuses on passing. So consider this a quick reminder of the returning QBs you may be considering with your first QB selection.

List in Order of 2019 Passing Yards (Passing Yards – Yards per Game) – Players Playing this Fall Bolded

1. Brady White, Memphis – 4014 – 286.7
2. Brock Purdy, Iowa State – 3982 – 306.3
3. Shane Buechele, SMU – 3929 – 302.2
4. Chris Robison, FAU – 3701 – 264.4 (left team)
5. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson – 3665 – 244.3
6. Sam Ehlinger, Texas – 3663 – 281.8
7. Dillon Gabriel, UCF – 3653 – 281.0
8. Sam Howell, UNC – 3641 – 280.1
9. Kedon Slovis, USC – 3502 – 291.8
10. Jack Abraham, So. Miss – 3496 – 268.9
11. Holton Ahlers, ECU – 3387 – 282.3
12. Zach Smith, Tulsa – 3279 – 273.3
13. Justin Fields, Ohio State – 3273 – 233.8
14. Tanner Morgan, Minnesota – 3253 – 250.2
15. Charlie Brewer, Baylor – 3161 – 225.8
16. Kenny Pickett, Pitt – 3098 – 258.2
17. Levi Lewis – Louisiana – 3050 – 217.9
18. Ian Book, Notre Dame – 3034 – 233.4
19. Layne Hatcher, Arkansas St – 2946 – 294.6
20. Jayden Daniels, Arizona St – 2943 – 245.3

Some takeaways from the list:

• 7 of the top 8 return, and would be all 8 if not for Chris Robison’s departure from FAU
• 15 of the top 20 return
• Only two players on the list averaged 300+ yards per game – Brock Purdy & Shane Buechele
• For a frame of reference, #20 on the list, Jayden Daniels, was 39th in passing yards in 2019
• #19 Layne Hatcher, is in a QB battle with Logan Bonner who was injured last season
• Just missed by 2 yards – #21 would have been Kyle Trask, Florida who had 2941 yards

While there is usually a lot of turnover in college football rosters, a surprising number of the top rushers from last year return. If you are playing CFF you’ll likely want to grab at least one of these guys with your first RB selection.

List in Order of 2019 Yards Rushing (Attempts – Yards – Yards per Game) – Players Playing this Fall Bolded

1. Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma St – 328 – 2094 – 161.8
2. Jaret Patterson, Buffalo – 312 – 1799 – 143.07
3. Travis Etienne, Clemson – 207 – 1614 – 107.60
4. Javian Hawkins, Louisville – 264 – 1525 – 117.31
5. Kenneth Gainwell, Memphis – 231 – 1459 – 104.21
6. Brenden Knox, Marshall – 270 – 1387 – 106.69
7. Kylin Hill, Mississippi St – 242 – 1350 – 103.85
8. Josh Johnson, LA-Monroe – 201 – 1298 – 108.17
9. Caleb Huntley, Ball State – 248 – 1275 – 106.25
10. Xazavian Valladay, Wyoming – 247 – 1265 – 105.42
11. Charles Williams UNLV – 212 – 1257 – 104.75
12. Najee Harris, Alabama – 209 – 1224 – 94.15
13. CJ Verdell, Oregon – 197 – 1220 – 87.14
14. Gaej Walker, Western Kentucky – 241 – 1208 – 92.92
15. Bryant Koback, Toledo – 195 – 1187 – 98.92
16. Elijah Mitchell, Louisiana – 198 – 1147 – 81.93
17. Rakeem Boyd, Arkansas – 184 – 1133 – 94.42
18. CJ Marable, Coastal Carolina – 204 – 1085 – 90.42
19. Kobe Lewis, Central Michigan – 182 – 1074 – 76.71
20. Justin Henderson, Louisiana Tech – 188 – 1062 – 81.69

Some takeaways from the above list:

• 6 of the top 8 return (was 7 before the Gainwell opt out), with 12 of the top 20
• #1 on the list Chuba Hubbard, had 1032 more yards than #20, almost doubling #20’s output (1062)
• #20 Justin Henderson was #40 in rushing yards in 2019, so exactly half of the top 40 from last year returned in 2020
• No QBs on this list, although there were 3 in the top 40 last season – Malcolm Perry, Lynn Bowden, & Jalen Hurts

A number of elite receivers entered the NFL draft after last season, with Ja’Marr Chase of LSU being the clear top returner (until the Aug. 30 news he would opt out) . If you are playing CFF and like to balance your draft with a combination of proven talent and potential breakouts, you’ll likely want to grab at least one of these guys with your first WR selection.

List in Order of 2019 Yards Receiving (2019 Stats – Receptions – Yards – Yards per Game) – Players Playing this Fall Bolded

1. Ja’Marr Chase, LSU – 84 – 1780 – 127.1
2. Tutu Atwell, Louisville – 70 – 1276 – 98.2
3. Damontie Coxie, Memphis – 76 – 1276 – 91.1
4. DeVonta Smith, Alabama – 68 – 1256 – 96.6
5. Rashod Bateman, Minnesota – 60 – 1219 – 93.8
6. Tamorrion Terry, Florida St – 60 – 1188 – 91.4
7. Tre Walker, San Jose St – 79 – 1161 – 116.1
8. Jared Smart, Hawaii – 87 – 1129 – 75.3
9. Warren Jackson, Colorado St – 77 – 1119 – 111.9
10. Austin Watkins, UAB – 57 – 1092 – 78.0
11. Jaden Blue, Temple – 95 – 1067 – 82.1
12. Amon-Ra St. Brown, USC – 77 – 1042 – 80.2
13. Keylon Stokes, Tulsa – 62 – 1040 – 86.7
14. David Bell, Purdue – 86 – 1035 – 86.3
15. Dyami Brown, UNC – 51 – 1034 – 79.5
16. Dazz Newsome, UNC – 72 – 1018 – 84.8
17. Whop Philyor, Indiana – 70 – 1002 – 83.5
18. Sage Surratt – Wake Forest – 66 – 1001 – 111.2
19. Elijah Cooks, Nevada – 76 – 926 – 71.2
20. Tyler Vaughns, USC – 74 – 912 – 70.2

Some takeaways from the Top 20 list:

• #1 Ja’Marr Chase had more than 500 more yards more than #2 on the list, and almost doubled #20 on the list (1780 to 912)
• 4 of the top 6 are playing, and 9 of the top 16 are playing this season, was 10 before the Chase opt out
• Jaden Blue (Temple) had the most receptions of any returning player with 95, next is Jared Smart (Hawaii) with 87
• UNC & USC are the only schools with 2 players on the list
• Of the 9 who ARE playing here is the conference breakdown: ACC-4, AAC-3, SEC-1, CUSA-1
• For a reference point, Tyler Vaughns was #50 on the 2019 yard receiving list, so 30 of the top 50 from last year graduated or went to the NFL