NFL
By Bill Carroll
Week One has produced some truly singular performances. The Nutties are given to the types of players who stand at the very summit of athletic performance and production, at all levels of college football. Some of the Spectacular Week One Nutties awardees set school, personal or week one records.
Nutties FBS Defense
There are players who just decide to crush the spirits of their opposition. JaQues Evans is clearly of that ilk; he not only produced seven tackles, six solo, and an assist, tying him for the game-high, but had a ‘dagger’ play. As the South Florida Bulls attempted a late comeback, down 34-24, Evans sacked and jacked Byrum Brown for the ball, returning it 27 yards for a touchdown. He also tallied a key pass breakup, that helped stunt a South Florida drive.
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Fresno State’s Levelle Bailey, a senior linebacker, was another player who took the game by the throat. The rangy native of Sacramento, California, was a dervish of destruction, with five tackles, including four solo stops and half tackles for loss.
He also forced a fumble and recorded two pass breakups. Additionally, he a spearheaded fourth-and-goal stop in the fourth quarter, his solo tackle stonewalled the ball-carrier at the 1-yard line; one of his pass breakups was the play that curtailed Purdue’s final offensive play.
Clayton Isbell, an outstanding safety and Utah transfer to Coastal Carolina, was simply more than human, with nine total tackles, five of which were solo. He halted Bruin’s drives, three times, via intercepting three passes. Twice he intercepted UCLA in the end-zone!
Nutties FBS Offense
Michael Pratt seems to have looked at the incredible quarterbacking displays shown by Sam Hartman and others Week 0 and said, figuratively, I assume, “Hold My Beer!” In a truly, Week One Nutties, worthy performance, Pratt was nearly perfect on 14 of 15 passes for 294 yards and four touchdowns. If you did that in a padded practice you would be receiving dap from every direction.
As if he had not been enough of a scourge to South Alabama, he also scampered 11 times for 39 yards, with one lope of 12 yards. I have considered him a ‘dark-horse’ Heisman Trophy candidate. If he keeps paying close to perfect football, the Green Wave may drown their foes and he may end up a Heisman Trophy finalist.
Fresno State quarterback, UCF transfer, Mikey Keene exploded for 366 yards in his Fresno State debut, the most passing yards by a Fresno State quarterback, in their debut, in program history. Keene completed 31-of-44 pass attempts and threw for four touchdowns.
The Bulldogs of the Central Valley just lost a terrific quarterback, in current Saint’s player, Jake Haener. Keene is not quite as nuanced as a passer, but he is much more athletic. All of his skills were on display in the 39-35 upset of Purdue.
After leaving, quite literally no impression upon me in week 0 versus Louisiana, a game wherein he tallied only a single target, resulting a two-yard catch, Kris Mitchell made an indelible impression versus Maine.
The nine receptions, 201 receiving yards, and pair of touchdowns were all career highs. His day included a 62-yard scoring catch. His single-game total of 201 receiving yards topped Week One FBS receivers.
Nutties FCS Defense
Nick Chimienti the safety from Stony Brook had quite a day. He posted four solo tackles, an assist, and two interceptions. His grandfather Nick Chimienti Sr. boxed professionally and you can see that he possesses unusual toughness.
Nutties FCS Offense
Holy Cross wide receiver, Jalen Coker had 136 yards on just four catches with a receiving touchdown. The quick Sterling, Virginia native, tormented Merrimack in incredibly efficient fashion. He has size, good hands and is exceptional at contested catches.
Nutties Division II Defense
Brett Karhu, Oklahoma Baptist, defensive end imposed his will on his seven tackles in their 23-21 home win against Arkansas Tech. Four of his stops were behind the line, three of those were sacks. The sophomore from Frisco, Texas clearly bears watching, This was only the third time an OBU player has recorded that many sacks in a game since 2015.
Ka’Darrion Jones of Lane College hopes to have the career like the carreer of Andrew Barber and perhaps join the ranks of the Lane alumni who were in the NFL. The most recent was Jacoby Rashi’d Jones, who was the Houston Texans third round selection, with the 73rd pick in 2007.
Facing his former teammates, as Miles took on and defeated Lane, Ka’Darrion Jones was the best defender on either team. Despite the defeat, Jones was special. He totaled eight solo tackles, two assists, four tackles for loss, a pair of them were sacks.
Nutties Division II Offense
Minnesota State running back Shen Butler-Lawson, was the most impressive running back that I saw in week one, at any level! The Waynesville, Missouri native’s career started at Missouri Western State University. He only had nine carries versus Sioux Falls. That was all he needed. In 2022 he posted 996 yards and 12 touchdowns rushing. If he stays healthy, he is likely to surpass those numbers before November.
Nutties Division III Defense
Dalton Tjong, a safety for Ohio Northern and native of Cumming, Georgia, posted 22 tackles (12 solo) and recorded a tackle for loss with two forced fumbles. That would have been a good three games for most! He completely deserves to win one of the Week One Nutties.
Nutties Division III Offense
Running back Hunter Clasen of Wartburg was a record-setter. In addition to rushing for 247 yards, Clasen’s six touchdowns broke a 26-year-old school record, for most rushing touchdowns in a game. In addition, Clasen caught two passes for a total of five yards in the victory.
Last year, Clasen broke a 28-year-old school record in rushing yards with 1,561, topping the 1,559 set by Bobby Beatty in 1994. He may break his own record in 2023.
Jack Turner, OG/OT, the Sewickley, Pennsylvania native was Second Team All-NCAC in 2021, I would wager he will be first team in 2023. He had committed to Division III Westminster College, but, wisely joined one of the top offensive line groups in Division III .
Allegheny totaled 493 yards of total offense, including 193 on the ground, in a 39-26 overtime win against Waynesburg. The offensive line allowed just one sack. He was my highest-graded member of D3football.com’s weekly honor roll.
Nutties FCS Special Teams
WR/RS Florida A&M’s Marcus Riley knew just how to get things started, when he secured his bid for one of the Week One Nutties. He took the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. Riley finished with 120 return yards, resulting from two returns with a touchdown. Riley’s return acumen changed the way that Jackson State executed kickoffs. Riley was named the week one Southwestern Athletic Conference Newcomer and Special Teams Player of the Week
Division II Special Teams
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Julian Jackson the Northwestern Oklahoma State return specialist, was a quicksilver 6 returns for 206 yards, including an 89-yard return that was nearly a touchdown. Jackson is listed at 5’3″ 160 and maybe be the smallest player in college football. But he plays big on special teams.
Division III Special Teams
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Anna Maria College RE/RS Eric Pino had himself a 77-yard kickoff return, 120 yards on his three returns. He also added 3 punt returns for 73 yards.
