The sixth week of college football is here, which means we are back with another edition of the Scouting Notebook.
The Scouting Notebook will feature prospects to keep an eye on throughout the day. While some may think it’s too early to start talking about the 2024 NFL draft, there’s never a bad time to talk about the future of the Chargers.
Buy Chargers TicketsWith that being said, here are a handful of prospects to watch for in Week 6.
TE Ja'Tavion Sanders, Texas
The Chargers will be in the market for a tight end or two this next offseason, with Gerald Everett set to be a free agent and Donald Parham struggling to stay on the field consistently due to injuries.
Sanders, the 6-foot-4 and 245-pounder, is in contention for the second-best tight end behind Georgia’s Brock Bowers. Where Sanders stands out is in the passing game, as he has gifted athleticism, which shows in his route running, after the catch and blocking along the perimeter.
The former wide receiver and defensive end has only been playing the position for three years, so he’s refining the little details. Nonetheless, Sanders is the complete package and would provide the Chargers with a weapon for Justin Herbert.
-Gavino
CB Fentrell Cypress II, Florida State
The cornerback position could very well be at the top of the Chargers’ priority list this upcoming offseason, with J.C. Jackson no longer on the team after being traded to the Patriots and Michael Davis’ contract expiring after this season.
Last season before transferring from Virginia, Cypress was lock down. On 358 coverage snaps, Cypress allowed zero touchdowns and a 58.2 passer rating. Now for the Seminoles, he is looking to further make his case as one of the top corners in the conference.
At 6-foot and 187 pounds, Cypress is long cover man with good twitch and ball skills.
-Gavino
S Javon Bullard, Georgia
The safety position will likely undergo some retooling. Alohi Gilman will be a free agent and the jury is still out for JT Woods. Bringing in a versatile piece like Bullard could go a long way to shoring up the positional group.
While he is lacking prototypical measurements at 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, Bullard makes up for it with a fierce play style on the field. He is a really good tackler and competitive at the catch point. In coverage, Bullard can run with receivers and read and react to throws in front of him.
-Gavino
RB Roman Hemby, Maryland
Hemby was one of the best freshmen in the country a season ago, finishing with 1,287 yards from scrimmage and earning All-Big Ten Honorable Mention as a redshirt freshman in 2022. With more of a spotlight on him as Maryland has jumped to a 5-0 start, Hemby has continued to be productive.
On Saturday, he faces a strong Ohio State defense on the road. Hemby has gotten off to a slow start in conference play, with just 12 yards against Michigan State and a respectable 54 against Indiana last weekend. The Buckeyes have NFL players littered across their defense, which could limit the redshirt sophomore’s impact.
Maryland will likely be behind for much of this game, which may also put a cap on Hemby’s touches as a runner. However, it also makes for the perfect circumstances to showcase his ability as a receiver. Last season against Ohio State, Hemby had four receptions, more than he’s had in any single game this season.
-Alex
RB Ray Davis, Kentucky
One of the best stories in college football this season and beyond, Davis has overcome homelessness as a youth to become the engine of Kentucky’s offense in his first season in Lexington. A San Francisco native, Davis began his college career at Temple before transferring to Vanderbilt then joining the Wildcats prior to this season.
At 5’10”, 216 lbs, Davis is more of a strong inside runner than an elusive outside zone back. He’s similar to the other players at the position Kentucky has produced in recent years, namely Benny Snell and Chris Rodriguez Jr. But Davis has also been on fire in recent weeks, including a 280 yard and 3 touchdown performance in a romp over Florida last weekend.
Kentucky travels to Georgia on Saturday in undoubtedly their toughest game of the season. But the Bulldogs have looked vulnerable this season, especially on the ground. Auburn ran for 219 yards last weekend in a 27-20 loss even with a pass game that only generated 88 yards. Kentucky has veteran quarterback Devin Leary, who has been a touch disappointing to start the year but should be more competent than 88 yards. The Wildcats are also built to pound the rock, which bodes well for Davis’ production. A big performance on Saturday, and we might need to start talking about Davis as a legitimate Day 2 prospect.
-Alex
CBs Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold, Alabama
JC Jackson was traded back to the Patriots on Wednesday, ending a rollercoaster era with the star cornerback that has left the Chargers in a position of flux going forward. Michael Davis will be a free agent after the season and has not played to the same level he did down the stretch in 2022. Asante Samuel Jr. will be entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2024. Ja’Sir Taylor is secure in the slot and Deane Leonard is good depth, but neither have shown they can be starting outside corners.
That leads us to the draft, where corner has become the likeliest selection in the first round. If that’s what the Chargers are after, there’s perhaps no better place to start than Tuscaloosa, where McKinstry and Arnold have led the charge for one of the best defenses in America. The Crimson Tide travels to Texas A&M this weekend for a marquee matchup with receivers Evan Stewart, Ainias Smith, and Jahdae Walker.
McKinstry, many analysts’ preseason CB1, has looked every bit the part so far this season and is firmly in the first-round conversation. But Arnold’s emergence has been a bit surprising on the other side, especially as more targets have come his way with McKinstry locking down his side of the field. Both are long-armed press corners, with McKinstry the better player in zone so far this season.
-Alex
EDGE John Pius, William & Mary
Any time a small school prospect pops up on both the Senior Bowl and Shrine Bowl watchlists, there’s a good chance it’s because the public is slow to recognize a talent the NFL has already had their eye on. Such is the case with Pius, who got late-round feedback from NFL scouts this spring but has garnered barely any attention as a draft prospect in the media.
Pius will travel with the Tribe to take on Virginia for their only FBS game of the season, meaning this is a major test for the redshirt junior. A 6’2”, 235 lb rusher who had 11.5 sacks last season on his way to finishing second in the FCS Defensive Player of the Year voting, Pius gets a Cavaliers offensive line that has allowed 18 sacks through 5 games thus far.
While undersized for life on the edge in the NFL, Pius’ production has been undeniable in his time in college. With a sack or two against ACC level competition, he can prove to a national audience that he’s a name buzzing around league circles for good reason. Pius has compared his own game to that of Panthers rusher Brian Burns, and if he’s that caliber of player, everyone – especially the Chargers, who will need depth at the position in 2024 – should be watching.
-Alex
