CFB Monthly Round-Up: March 2024
A summary of the notable events in CFB in the month of March
The difference between involvement and commitment is like ham and eggs. The chicken is involved; the pig is committed.
Gather in to the tavern, my friends. In today’s ‘Monthly Round-Up’, I will cover at a high level the notable headlines, rumblings, and quotable quotes in College Football and their relevancy to CFF. These will include camp rumblings, notable transfer portal news (when applicable), and injury/suspension events. I will also provide an overview of the content I have published on other platforms.
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Spring Camp Rumblings
This month’s section covers updates from NC State, Fresno State, Florida State, Boston College, Iowa, South Alabama, UAB, Kentucky, Alabama, Minnesota, Louisville, Arkansas, Cincinnati, Clemson, Texas, Nebraska, Colorado, Oregon State, Iowa State, Michigan State, Arizona, Washington, BYU, Cal, Hawaii, Marshall, North Texas, Texas Tech, Notre Dame, LSU, TCU, Texas A&M, Oregon, Washington State, USC, Utah State, Utah, SJSU, Vanderbilt, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, and Oklahoma State.
While NC State transfer QB Grayson McCall is slotted in at starter, early enrollee Cedrick Bailey continues to blow people away with his raw talent. One of the Wolfpack beat writers provided his observations from early practices, and what he expects from the offence in 2024:
QB Cedrick Bailey — In terms of size, athleticism and arm, I'm not sure State's had a signal-caller with as much natural ability. I still think State brings in an experienced portal quarterback, but if it doesn’t happen, I wouldn't be surprised if we see a rapid ascension, and Bailey ultimately wins the backup job.
TE Justin Joly — I liked when State landed him in the portal, but after seeing UConn transfer Justin Joly in person, I was even higher on the addition. Thus far, it sounds like Joly has lived up to the billing that led to him being a top-50 transfer prospect.
WR/TE Javonte Vereen — At past stops, the FLEXY spot has been a major weapon in Robert Anae's offense, and I get the sense Joly could really emerge in the spot this fall. Beyond him, Javonte Vereen is super-talented, but consistency plagued him last fall, and it's an area where he still must improve.
WR Noah Rogers — Not surprisingly, Noah Rogers has displayed his freakish athleticism on multiple occasions. I'm as bullish on him as anyone long-term, but still believe he's raw and will need some time to refine his game.
A Fresno State beat writer previewed the RB position headed into 2024:
As Malik Sherrod enters his final year of eligibility, there is little doubt that Fresno State plans to utilize him as much as possible . . . the Fresno State staff, they were chomping at the bit to make him their new featured weapon out of the backfield in 2023.
[In 2023] He was the most-trusted pass blocker for an O-Line that needed the extra help, and he also reeled in 44 catches - the most by any running back in the Mountain West. Other backs showed flashes with the ball in their hands, but no one could replicate the blocking or receiving of Sherrod.
Florida State transfer WR Malik Benson has impressed early on in spring camp, and looks to potentially be the leader to replace Keon Coleman in 2024. From a beat report:
Newcomers caught a lot of the spotlight as media observed the Tour of Duty workout, but Alabama WR transfer Malik Benson might have been the most impressive overall player in this setting. Formerly a top performer on the track, he handled the workout as well as anyone and was an outlier among the team as he looked to have plenty left in the tank.
A Boston College beat reporter weighed in on the expected WR rotation in early March:
Jerand Bradley replaces Joseph Griffin at “X” and is seemingly the upgraded version. O'Brien has been very willing to lean on his X receiver at previous stops, namely Allen Robinson at Penn State and Deandre Hopkins in Houston.
Jayden McGowan, like Ryan O'Keefe, is the diminutive speed option that will likely operate mostly from the slot. McGowan played in the slot more than [Lewis] Bond, but he might not be ready to take on that role just yet.
Iowa’s new OC Tim Lester commented on what the Hawkeyes’ offensive philosophy will be in 2024, but did not get into specifics:
The one thing I know everybody wants to know is what we're going to be about, and I can tell you right now that we're going to be a physical football team. We're going to be disciplined, and we're going to be aggressive in everything we do, from run game to pass game to keepers to RPOs to tempos.
One of the Iowa beat report staff provided some additional colour about the skill positions:
WR — The wide receiver group has been 'fired up' about the way the offense is looking. It's safe to say that Kaleb Brown is going to be a focal point in this offense— at least among the wide receivers.
QB — It's going to be difficult to get a true grasp of what the offense will look like in spring. There are numerous things being implemented and [QB] Cade McNamara will not be 100 percent. The good news is that he is throwing, which is a step in the right direction. It's still a bit of a mystery about what this offense is going to look like, but I wouldn't be surprised to see different pre-snap motions, different cadences and a few new look plays. It will still fundamentally be a Kirk Ferentz offense, but it's going to have a distinct look compared to the previous three offensive coordinators.
TE — Luke Lachey has a great working relationship with Lester in the early going. There's a lot of excitement from the tight ends because they are still going to be a big point of the Iowa offense. Lester is ecstatic about his size, athleticism and all-around skill set. He feels that Lachey and Ostrenga have the talent to do exactly what he's always wanted to do with tight ends.
An update from a South Alabama beat report suggested that Braylon McReynolds figures to be the RB1, with Kentrell Bullock involved behind him. WR Devin Voisin is still recovering from injury, further cementing Jamaal Pritchett as the likely WR1 entering 2024 for the Jaguars.
An update from a UAB beat report on the RB room:
Isaiah Jacobs is still sidelined after suffering a season-ending injury last year and Lee Beebe is expected to take the lion’s share of the load in the backfield. LSU transfer Armoni Goodwin and Lee Witherspoon will also have plenty of reps this spring, along with redshirt freshman Dylan Peterson.
Kentucky HC Mark Stoops spoke about the new-look offence under new OC Bush Hamden: