2023 NCAA Football Player Watchlist: Conference-USA

When you think of the NFL talent pool, you think of the SEC, The BIG10, blue blood schools with a rich history and track record of current success. While you’d be mostly right, it seems like there is a handful of high level NCAA talent coming out of group-of-five, and Independent football programs yearly.
Josh Allen, arguably the best young quarterback in football came from Wyoming.
Cooper Kupp, who just won the wide receiver triple crown and a Super Bowl MVP, came from FCS Eastern Washington.
Guys like Antonio Brown, Jason Taylor, Ben Roethlisberger, and Khalil Mack have all emerged from group-of-five programs and put together elite careers.

In part three of our eleven part series we are taking a look at Conference-USA. The conference had six players move from the NCAA level to the NFL in 2022 and will be looking to build on that number in 2023. The teams we are covering don’t have the luster of some of the other group of five or power five programs but that doesn’t mean they haven’t churned out some talent over the years. T.Y Hilton starred for FIU and Roddy White was breaking records at UAB before they were making Pro Bowls. Trey Hendrickson was getting after the QB at FAU before helping the Bengals to a Super Bowl birth.

“MIP Scoutings Watchlist” will be dropping twice weekly covering every conference in the NCAA. To check out what you might’ve missed as well as all of our other NCAA football content click here.

Charlotte

Chris Reynolds QB

5’11 195 lbs

Far from the prototypical size you want in a QB, Reynolds makes it work for him. Reynolds the super senior is taking advantage of the extra year granted to NCAA athletes due to the Covid-19 impacted 2020 season. After a strong start to 2021, beating a power five opponent (albeit Duke) and going 4-2 in the first half of the year; The Bobcats lost 5 of 6 games.

Football is a team game, but Reynolds and the Charlotte offense did their job. Averaging over 400 yards and nearly 29 points per game should win you more games than you lose, but the defense was quite frankly putrid.

Reynolds is coming off a career best season throwing 26 TDs to only 9 interceptions, while completing 64% of his pass attempts. He also added in four touchdowns on the ground bringing his total to 30 total touchdowns on the year.

He’s got plus arm strength for a smaller guy. He lacks the raw power to throw it 50+ yards down field but he has enough zip to make all the throws to the sidelines, across the middle and underneath. He was completing about 60% of his passes for his career until this year when he really improved his timing and accuracy. He’s mobile enough to escape the pocket and pick up yards when needed, but he’s not going to win any 40 yard dash contests.

FIU

Tyrese Chambers WR

6’1 185 lbs

After setting freshman records at Sacred Heart, Tyrese Chambers was heavily courted in the FBS. He decided on FIU and immediately became one of the best big play threats in college football. In 12 games he caught 45 balls. That might not sound too prolific but he took those 45 catches for nearly 1,100 yards and 9 trips to the end zone. His big play ability (23.9 YPR) put him on the National radar. He and was honored with being on the Biletnikoff Award watchlist.

He’s got one of the quickest first steps in football. Bursting off the line and blowing by just about any corner in the game. He has solid hands but will occasionally have a concentration drop. His route running ability won’t get him confused with Larry Fitzgerald, but he gets into his breaks with purpose. The right coaching can put polish on his game, but you can’t teach 6’1 with track star speed.

FAU

Teja Young S

5’11 195 lbs

Teja Young is going into his third year as a contributor for FAU. He’s got solid coverage skills, is a sound tackler and has a nose for the football; creating 7 turnovers the last two seasons. He might not be the biggest guy, but he plays nasty and will generate some highlight plays for the Owls.

He’s quicker than he is fast but has a burst to close on the ball in zone coverage and plays a physical brand of football. He’s got really good instincts, flowing to the play and he’s rarely caught out of position. His instincts and closing speed have made a few QBs pay to the tune of 3 interceptions last season.

Unfortunately his size inhibits him from getting off of blocks when lineman get ahold of him at the second level. He just doesn’t have the strength to disengage and sometimes is blocked out of the path of the ball carrier. He isn’t the type of safety you put out on a receiver or tight end in man coverage either. He’s got stiff hips and choppy backpedal, often losing his man when they go into their break.

Louisiana Tech

Tyler Grubbs LB

6’1 225 lbs

Tyler Grubbs is an intriguing athlete for the Bulldogs with plenty of experience. He has contributed from his very first year for Louisiana Tech registering 96 tackles 1.5 sacks and 10 TFLs as a freshman. He came back with nearly identical stats his sophomore year in 2021 while adding on another sack and a few pass breakups.

He fits all of the athletic benchmarks you want to see in a linebacker. He’s already close to 230 lbs with room to fill out. He has elite agility and burst for the position, scraping sideline to sideline and closing in on the ball. He’s got a nose for the football and a high motor always flying to the play and making second and third effort to do so. He also isn’t too shabby in coverage, he gave up a respectable 82.4 QB rating last year when in man coverage.

His hair on fire style of play has gotten him his fair share of penalties. You love his aggression but it’s hurt his team a few times when it could’ve been avoided. His aggression also causes him to go for the big hit as opposed to wrapping up the ball carrier. A few big plays have been generated by him whiffing or bouncing off of a running back while going for the tackle.

His athleticism, coverage skills and size make him a valuable weapon for a defense. While he could stand to improve in quite a few areas; he can be coached into a damn good ball player.

Middle Tennessee

Jordan Ferguson DL

6’3 260 lbs

Jordan Ferguson busted on to the scene last year notching 57 total tackles, 9 sacks, 16.5 TFLs and creating four turnovers. His sack and TFL totals in 2021 were not only career highs, but they were more than he totaled in his first three years combined.

Ferguson spent the first two years of his NCAA career on the inside as a defensive tackle. He His versatility and ability to generate pressure across the line is extremely valuable. The more places you can lineup and be effective, the better chance you have of seeing the field.

He isn’t the fastest off of the edge, where a quick first step can be all the difference in winning on a play. What he lacks in speed he makes up for with great bend, getting low and using his strength and long arms to go underneath or right through the line. Some refinement to his technique would do him wonders. He doesn’t have a go-to move right now and his hand fighting skills are subpar.

It’s high praise to compare any collegiate athlete to a pro-bowl level player, but he’s got some Brandon Graham in his game and frame. If he reaches even half of those heights, he will have a long and successful career at the next level.

North Texas

Grant Gunnell QB

6’6 228 lbs

The once highly sought after high school recruit has found it hard to find his footing in the college world. After being courted by Tennessee, Ohio State, Wisconsin, committing to Texas A&M and ultimately backing out… he started his college football journey at Arizona. After starting 12 games for Arizona and posting modest but solid numbers (1,865 yards, 15 TDs, 66.5% completion) he transferred to Memphis.

An unfortunate leg injury in spring practice put him on the sidelines. Most times an established and highly touted player like Gunnell wouldn’t lose his job to injury, but most times a super freshman like Seth Henigan isn’t taking the reins. Now Gunnell finds himself in North Texas, and the keys to offense are his. He looks the part of a franchise QB with his size (6’6 228 lbs), accurate arm, compact throwing motion, and functional mobility.

He has a tendency to see ghosts sometimes and vacate the pocket early. He isn’t good enough throwing on the move to be out of the pocket as much as he is. While he has surprising mobility for a big quarterback, he won’t be doing many Steve Young impressions. He seems reluctant to push the ball down field at times, I’m unsure if it’s having a lack of faith in his arm strength or being overly conservative. You need to take chances to make the big play.

Depending on how Gunnell performs this year, he could declare for the NFL Draft. He’s got enough natural talent for someone in the NFL to take a chance on him as a UDFA.

Rice

Gabe Taylor S

5’10 190 lbs

There’s only been 11 players drafted from Rice since the turn of the century, Gabe Taylor has an outside chance at being the 12th. He’s a solid tackler with good ball skills, and has an NFL pedigree with his older brother being the late, great Sean Taylor.

While he may share the Taylor last name, he is far from the physical specimen his older brother was. He’s got a lean frame more akin to a basketball player than a safety. While he doesn’t miss many tackles he won’t produce highlight reel worthy hits in the open field.

He does have a knack for making impact plays though. Last season he created four turnovers, had a fumble recovery and broke up five passes. Arguably his greatest strength is his change of direction ability and closing speed on the ball. You can play him as a “center fielder” and let him cover sideline to sideline.

UAB

Dewayne McBride RB

5’11 217 lbs

Dewayne McBride had himself one heck of a season playing for the Dragons as their lead back. After touching the ball less than 50 times as a freshman he carried the rock 204 times in 2021 for nearly 1,400 yards and 13 touchdowns.

In an age where running backs are becoming evermore like receivers, he is a throw back volume rusher with the ability to break one off at anytime (6.7 YPC). He is one of those rare backs that will run right through you but can also take one 50 yards to the house on any given play. The first defender to the ball rarely brings him down when he’s got a proper head of steam. Despite his quick feet and above average agility, McBride doesn’t do much dancing in the backfield, he finds the hole and gets upfield.

He doesn’t present much in the way of the passing game, catching only 3 balls in two years and not being much of a pass blocker. But when you tote the rock the way McBride does, you’ll get plenty of touches. As of now he is projecting to be a top ten running back in the 2023 draft class, but he does have a bit of a fumbling problem (4 in 2021).

UTEP

Praise Amaewhule Edge

6’3 245 lbs

The easy answer here would’ve been Jacob Cowing had he not transferred to Arizona. But we aren’t in the business of living in the past, so Praise Amaewhule gets the nod here. He’s a well balanced pass rusher with nice burst off the edge (5.5 sacks) paired with great timing and vertical ability (8 PBUs).

He’s got an NFL ready frame with long arms and a thick build. He is freakishly strong, even for a rather large man. One unfortunate side effect of those long armed strong edge rushers is the reliance on a bullrush. He relies on exclusively the bullrush a bit too often and hasn’t really developed a counter move when stymied. If he is able to master an inside spin or swim move he could be a very dangerous and draft-able edge rusher in 2023.

UTSA

Zakhari Franklin WR

6’1 185 lbs

Franklin is a well rounded and highly productive receiver. He doesn’t really have a huge deficiency in his game. He has soft hands, is a savvy route runner, gets consistent separation and never seems to be brought down from behind in the open field.

He has a natural smoothness to his game, looking like he is gliding around the field. Don’t let the lanky frame and sharp route running fool you, he will go and attack the ball across the middle or in 50/50 situations. He always looks to catch with his hands and is pretty good at tucking it away once the ball is in his possession.

After a very productive 2021 (81/1,027/12) he probably would’ve been a day three pick with former teammate Tariq Woolen. After opting to return to school, Franklin is looking to build his value and get into that top 100 draft pick range. He has the necessary skill set to be a productive player on Sundays

Western Kentucky

Quantavious Leslie IOL

6’3 310 lbs

Leslie helped block for the most prolific season by a quarterback (Bailey Zappe) in NCAA history on his way to All-Conference honors. By all means he is the best pro prospect on a Hilltoppers team that looks to repeat last years success.

In the Western Kentucky pass heavy offense he was a dominating pass blocker; only giving up one sack in 2021. He anchors in and stonewalls whoever is lining up across from him. He is agile and savvy enough to pick up a late blitz and keep his QB clean.

For all of his success pass blocking is no slouch run blocking. Leslie has ideal size, agility and mean disposition to dominate anyone who lines up across from him while run blocking. He gets caught reaching occasionally and could do a better job working up to the second level; but the tools are there. I’m sure he will get a chance to show his skills as a run blocker after the departure of the aforementioned Zappe and his top target Jerreth Sterns He’s on the Outland Award watchlist for a reason.