Is there any better feeling than the start of college football?
With Week 0 of the 2022 season in the books, one thing that can be said is that talent in this game is not just relegated to schools in the Power Five conferences. With tremendous performances by numerous players this week, here are the ones we believe stood out above them all.
UNLV Quarterback Doug Brumfield
Stats vs. Idaho State: 21 completions, 356 passing yards, 4 touchdowns, 256.4 passer rating
Simply put, Brumfield played a near-flawless game from the opening snap of this game. After a dominant first half, he did not play a snap in the second half, nor did he have to as he made his point. Last season, Brumsfield played only three games due to injuries. In just one half, he accumulated more passing yards than he did in those three games combined. The duo of Brumfield and Ricky White may be one for college football teams to take seriously this season.
Illinois Running Back Chase Brown
Stats vs. Wyoming: 19 carries, 151 rushing yards, 2 touchdowns, 7.9 yards/carry
41 seconds into the contest, Brown took a handoff 38 yards into Wyoming territory. On the next series, he hauled in a 14-yard touchdown from quarterback Tommy Devito. This sequence is everything you need to know about the type of game Brown had on this day. Picking up where he left off from last season, Brown is poised to have a huge year and perhaps one that could give him consideration for this year's Heisman Trophy.
North Carolina Quarterback Drake Maye
Stats vs. Florida A&M: 29 completions, 294 passing yards, 5 touchdowns, 78.4 completion%
Filling the shoes of former Tar Heels quarterback Sam Howell is not going to be an easy task, but Maye showed why he is certainly the right player to lead his team in a new era. He had four passing touchdowns in the first half, but what stood out the most was his poise in the pocket and his ability to move through his progressions quickly, both of which are uncommon in young quarterbacks. From what we saw in this game, the future of the Tar Heels' offense is a bright one.
UNLV Receiver Ricky White
Stats vs. Idaho State: 8 receptions, 182 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns, 22.8 yards/reception
The transfer from Michigan State made a huge impression in his debut as a Running Rebel. He was a consummate threat on the outside and a mismatch for the Bengals' defensive backs on the inside. Both he and quarterback Doug Brumfield have established themselves as a tandem to watch this season.
Western Kentucky Linebacker JaQues Evans
Stats vs. Austin Peay: 13 tackles (9 solo tackles), 2.5 sacks, 2 tackles for loss
Ubiquitous, is the best way to describe Evans' performance in this game. Everything you would expect from a defensive player, he did that and then some. Evans is an underrated talent that deserves much more attention.
Other Notable Performers:
QB Mike Wright - Vanderbilt
RB Larry Mccammon - Florida Atlantic
QB Ryan Hilinski - Northwestern
QB Casey Thompson - Nebraska
RB Nate Carter - UConn
LB Jackson Mitchell - UConn
RB Calvin Tyler Jr. - Utah St.
QB Jeremy Moussa - Florida A&M
QB Austin Reed - Western Kentucky
WR Daewood Davis - Western Kentucky
WR Tyrin Smith - UTEP