College Football Weekly Risers 2021: Week 2

Week two of the 2021 NCAA Football season was pure insanity. Two ranked teams were upset, with two others nearly knocked off themselves. There were a load of great performances over the weekend and here are your week two weekly risers.

Aidan Hutchinson, Edge Rusher Michigan

Michigan looks like a completely different team from last year. To say last year’s 2-4 finish was disappointing would be completely underselling it. The Wolverines looked lost for most of last year, a team outworked by their opponents. The Wolverines look like a team revitalized at 2-0, and edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson is the star of the show.

Facing a Huskies line featuring top lineman Jaxson Kirkland, Hutchinson had quite a day in the Wolverines 31-10 victory. The senior lineman led Michigan with 2.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, but his effectiveness was felt off the statsheet. It seemed after the first quarter Hutchinson was in the Washington backfield making life hectic for the opposition. It appears Michigan has another top pass rusher in the NFL draft.

Calvin Austin, Wide Receiver Memphis

Calvin Austin was arguably the most underrated wide receiver entering the 2021 college football season. 11 receivers last year eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark, Austin one of them. He was featured in our player to watch from every FBS team series earlier in the month.

It seems Austin has picked up right where he started last season. The small speedster torched the Arkansas State secondary to the tune of 239 yards and three touchdowns. He has special speed and hits a second gear in a hurry. With smaller speedsters going earlier and earlier in the draft despite their size, such as Tutu Atwell this year, look for Austin to potentially rise up boards with another strong season.

C.J. Verdell, Running Back Oregon

Yes, that C.J. Verdell. It seems as though C.J. Verdell has been in college forever at this point, the Oregon running back entering his fourth season as the starter in Eugene. Verdell had a bit of a down year last year but has looked to bounce back early in 2021. C.J. played an instrumental role in the Ducks upset over Ohio State, dismantling the Buckeyes defense with 161 yards and two touchdowns. Don’t forget about C.J. Verdell come draft time.

Jerome Ford, Running Back Cincinnati

Here we have our second player featured earlier in the month in our player to watch series. Jerome Ford was a highly effective backup for the Bearcats last year, rushing for eight touchdowns in relief of starter Gerrid Doaks. The former Alabama running back finally got his chance to start this year for Cincinnati and has taken full advantage of it. Against Murray State Ford rushed for 113 yards and three touchdowns. The week prior he rushed 121 yards on fewer attempts. Ford already has nearly half of his total yards and touchdowns from last year through two weeks and is doing it at a highly efficient 7.8 yards per carry.

Hunter Duplessis, Kicker UTSA

YES FOLKS IT HAS HAPPENED! THE FIRST KICKER IN WEEKLY RISERS HISTORY! The kicker position is possibly the most overlooked position in all of football. Sure when you have a good kicker it can be a bit of an afterthought, but ask any fanbase with a bad kicker how it feels to never be sure about three points.
Hunter Duplessis has been incredible to start the season and deserves recognition. Through two weeks Duplessis has not missed a kick yet. He is 10-10 with extra points and has made all six of his field-goal attempts. Against Lamar this past weekend the senior nailed two 46 yard field goals. Don’t be surprised if you see Duplessis splitting the uprights at the NFL level.