After sorting through the Group-of-Five and Independent teams, we are on to the big dogs of the college football landscape. The Power Five Conferences of the NCAA have the gold-standard teams. Alabama, Texas, USC, Clemson, Ohio State etc… all reside here; with the idea of super conferences looming large we may not have the Power Five much longer, so we should enjoy these classic rivalries and conferences while we still have them.
The PAC 12 seems to be crumbling in front of our eyes. USC and UCLA will be leaving for the BIG 10, if reports are to be believed Utah, Arizona, Arizona State, and Colorado could be heading to the Big 12 soon thereafter. The once proud conference, home to John Elway, Andrew Luck, Reggie Bush, Troy Aikman etc.. could see itself dissolved in the midst of conference realignment.
“MIP Scoutings Watchlist” will be dropping multiple times weekly covering every conference in the NCAA FBS. To check out what you might’ve missed as well as all of our other NCAA football content click here.
Arizona
Jacob Cowing WR
5’11 170 lbs
It was between standout defensive tackle Kyon Barrs and the UTEP transfer Jacob Cowing. I sided with Cowing due to his insane upside as a big play threat for Arizona and at the NFL level.
Cowing was a contributor immediately for the Miners, catching 72 balls for 1,241 yards and 6 TDs his first two seasons. His junior campaign he put it all together and went off for 69 catches, 1,354 yards (good for 19.6 YPC) and 7 touchdowns.
Following his big year at UTEP he decided to head back home to Arizona. Between growing up only 90 minutes from campus and being able to test his talents at a power five school , it’s easy to understand why he made the decision.
Cowing has legit 4.4 speed and honestly plays even faster in game. He reaches top speed as fast as anyone in the nation, using that lightning acceleration to blow by unlucky defenders. Though he is on the lighter side he has great feet and is rarely jammed at the line.
Cowing is far from a one trick pony. He’s got strong hands and isn’t afraid to use a top tier vertical to high point the ball. He’s a polished route runner, his dig route is one of the cleanest I’ve watched in his class.
Now I wouldn’t suggest sending a 170 lbs receiver across the middle with regularity, but knowing what type of dog mentality Cowing has; he would do it gladly. Despite his diminutive physique, he’s a serviceable and willing run blocker as well.
He will occasionally resort to catching with his body which has lead to a few drops. Also being a generous 170 pounds comes with certain limitations. When he is met by a long corner with similar speed and agility; he can be stymied.
Arizona State University
Merlin Robertson LB
6’3 240 lbs
Merlin Robertson was once thought of as an elite linebacker at the college level, destined to be a future top 50 draft pick. His well rounded play style and size profile was reminiscent of Philadelphia Eagles great Seth Joyner.
That’s not to compare him to a former All-Pro, but much like Seth he could do it all. Excellent off the edge, a technically sound tackler, and a solid cover man grabbing six interceptions throughout his career.
His draft stock took a major hit over the course of 2020 and 2021 though. His statistical production has dropped, he hasn’t gotten to the quarterback or into the backfield as frequently, and his lack of closing speed has been a hindrance to his once high profile. He has all the tools to regain it though.
While he doesn’t have elite speed, he has exceptional play recognition and a lightning fast first step. He reads the play and flows to the ball effortlessly. He’s strong enough to shed blockers and get to the ball carrier. What he lacks in conventional speed he makes up for in agility and change of direction ability, scraping sideline to sideline and taking sharp angles to make the tackle.
His play recognition and quick feet let him excel in coverage. Despite his statistical drop off, he has been one of the better coverage linebackers in football. He’s not going to run down the seam with Travis Kelce, but he’s got shockingly fluid hips and uses his great instincts to break on the ball. The days of Robertson being a top 50 pick may be gone, but he could still be a high value day three pick in April.
Colorado
Terrance Lang DE/Edge
6’7 285 lbs
A mountain of a man, Long comes with an imposing 6’8 285 lb frame, he looks more like an NBA power forward than a football player. He isn’t going to blow you away with his sack numbers (7.5 for his career), but there is more to playing the edge than sacks.
He is a very strong run defender, using his thick frame and long arms to turn runners back inside. He is strong enough to get off of blocks and clean up tackles himself as well. He uses his long arms and football smarts to stay in control of his gap and rarely lets a play get by him.
He did show flashes as a pass rusher in his sophomore campaign, netting five sacks that year. The potential is there, you just have to wonder what caused such a steep decline in that department.
He lacks the elite speed, burst and bend to be a high end pass rusher though. He wins using power, and when you’re going against NFL tackles; bull rushing without a secondary move doesn’t work.
Due to his sheer size, I could see him adding a few pounds and being a nice rotational 3T or 5T in an odd front defense.
UCLA
Zach Charbonnet RB
6’1 220 lbs
The big bruiser had himself a career best year for the UCLA Bruins after transferring from Michigan, his 2021 totals surpassing his totals from his previous two years combined. Charbonnet ran for 1,137 yards on 200 attempts, chipped in another 24 receptions for 197 yards and scored 13 total touchdowns on the year.
When you see a runner his size you don’t expect the straight line speed and acceleration he possesses. He is a north/south runner, finding the hole and bursting through it without indecision. He’s a strong and tenacious runner, inviting contact and fighting for every yard. He’s got the size to be a bell-cow back at the NCAA level and in the NFL.
Charbonnet is more fast than he is quick. He isn’t going to make you miss in the open field so he is reliant on either out muscling you or out running you for big yards. He’s got pretty solid hands for the running back position but he needs to improve his route running to really be a factor in the passing game.
He struggles in pass protection from a technique standpoint, but he’s good at knowing where the blitz is coming from and willing to get in the mix, so that can be improved upon.
Running backs are going to put up numbers in a Chip Kelly offense (unless you’re Demarco Murray). So Charbonnet should be in for another very productive season and see his stock rise even more.
USC
Jordan Addison WR
6’0 175 lbs
Jordan Addison lit the college football world on fire last year, securing the Biletnikoff Award and helping his former QB Kenny Pickett become a first round draft pick. After the departure of Pickett and a westward migration of Lincoln Riley, Addison hitched a ride on the transfer portal to Southern California.
After a season that saw him catch 100 balls for nearly 1,600 yards and 17TDs expectations are sky high for Addison, and rightfully so. He gets open in a variety of ways, using his blazing speed and acceleration to beat defenders over the top with ease. He is a savvy and sharp route runner, sinking his hips and getting into his breaks with urgency. He is a one man zone-beater, finding the soft spot in the defense and getting there in a hurry.
He’s soft handed and secured just about every ball thrown within his range. With his impressive vertical and long arms, there isn’t much out of his range. He uses his quickness and acceleration to make plays with the ball in his hands, making him a threat just about anywhere on the field.
Addison, for all of his strengths, may be exclusively used as a slot receiver at the next level. His slight frame might make it hard to translate to the NFL game on the outside, but Devonta Smith did a pretty good job in his first year with similar size concerns. There are questions about his ability to beat the press, seeing as that he didn’t face much press-man coverage last year at Pitt. Strong and skilled DBs may give him some trouble.
With strengths like his, the few deficiencies in his game can be overlooked and improved upon. If he comes close to last seasons production at USC, he will likely be drafted in the top half of the first round.
Utah
Clark Phillips III CB
5’10 183 lbs
The heartbeat of Utahs defense, former linebacker Devin Lloyd entered the 2022 NFL Draft and was selected at No.27 overall. The Utes may have another defender going in the first round this year, but this time in the secondary.
Clark Phillips III is as talented as any cornerback in the nation. He has some of the best eyes in the game, scanning what the offense is showing him and seemingly knowing where the ball will be thrown. He’s a smooth athlete with enough acceleration, speed and agility to stick with any receiver in the country. He gets deep into his backpedal and can flip his hips to run in the blink of an eye. In zone coverage he has the anticipation and hands to step in front of his assignment and break up the pass.
Philips has enough length to play on the inside or the outside but he needs to hit the weight room. He isn’t much help in run support at this stage in his career. He isn’t strong enough to disengage from blockers, and has trouble bringing down bigger backs. He could stand to get a bit more aggressive when play man coverage, sometimes he lets the action come to him as opposed to getting up in his man’s face and jamming them at the line.
Let’s finally address the elephant in the room. Last year in the Rose Bowl, the Utah defense was embarrassed. Jaxon Smith-Njigba had a game for the ages and some of that output was at the expense of Phillips. He, as well as the rest of the Utes defense are better than that game, and will be hungry to prove it this season.
Phillips has the tools to be a high end draft pick, if he makes another leap in progression from year two to year three, he will be highly coveted.