By: Heath Moorman (@Heat1017)
The CFSL is full of superstars, as well as superstar performances by players flying under the radar. Today we’re going to take a look at each remaining team’s X-factor player and how we expect their performances to shape the playoffs.
Ohio State
Eden Ballard – Ohio State WR – X-Factor
Ballard is in his Junior season at Ohio State, he has spent all 3 seasons there playing alongside his QB Jaylen Tyree. And it shows. The chemistry they show on the field is unlike many in the CFSL. Just last week Ballard was good for 6 catches, 194 yards, and 2 TDs on only one drop. That marks the 4th time this season that Ballard has eclipsed 100 yards receiving, and also the 4th game in a row he has marked 2 touchdowns. Miami will have their hands full with him this week, expect Ballard to be the primary target for Tyree throughout the playoffs.
Jermaine Wise – Ohio State WR – Underrated Player
In his freshman season, Wise has not been a week-to-week best props choice, but he’s shown flashes of great potential throughout the season. Most notably his Week 4 performance against Penn State where he recorded 9 catches, 106 yards, and 1 TD. He’s willing to get in defensive backs’ faces and make them prove their stuff. Expect to see similar performances out of Wise in the playoffs, he may not stream every week, but he’ll show up when needed and give the Ohio State offense a boost.
Miami
Bo Yost – Miami RB – X-Factor
While Bo Yost may not be the lead leader in rushing yards like last season. He is leading the league in all-purpose yards and touchdowns at 2621 total yards and 16 TDs. He’s the kind of player that if you blink, can take a game from being close to unreachable in just a few touches. These often come late in games as his bell-cow workload wears down defenses. Despite his heavy load, Bo doesn’t seem to care. He’ll continue plowing down defenders like it’s the 80s until the clock reads zero. Ohio State has a tall glass of Bo waiting for them in their next matchup, expect him to show up and wear down opposing defenses as long as they keep going in the playoffs.
Jack Jones – Miami CB – Underrated Player
Jones is a player that doesn’t show up at the top of the stat line often, but he has put up dominant performances like in weeks 5 & 6 where he recorded a combined 7 tackles, 1 TFL, 3 INT, and a 91 INT return yards for a TD. This is a lockdown CB that seems to be running the route for the receiver the majority of the time. Expect his production on the stat line to stay about the same as he continues to not give receivers any space.
Texas
Brandon Chen – Texas OLB – X-Factor
Nothing pops out as an X-Factor player quite like leading the league in tackles. If offenses see a hole, Brandon Chen just seems to appear in it. He has only failed to reach 10 tackles in two games this season. He also recorded a season-high 4 TFLs last week against Virginia Tech. Chen has his Texas defense trending in the right direction after finishing the season allowing a combined 95 points against Texas A&M and Colorado, they only gave up 17 to Virginia Tech. Expect Chen to continue to perform at the mark of 10 tackles per game, as well as adding a TFL or two to help bolster Texas’ defense.
Dylan Powell – Texas WR – Underrated Player
This might come as a surprise that I’m listing Powell as an underrated player. What I mean is he’s underrated by his own QB. The man leads Texas’ offense in receiving yards, receiving TDs, and yards per catch. BUT HE ONLY HAS 35 CATCHES ON THE SEASON. Nearly half of Texas’ next highest yardage leader Charlie Jo with 62-667. Texas, if you want to go deep in the playoffs. Find a way to get this man the ball more often.
North Carolina
Chili Sierra – North Carolina CB – X-Factor
Chili is a player that has grown to be well-known across the CFSL and doesn’t require much introduction. He’s in his junior season at North Carolina and each season he’s seen an increase in tackles, TFLs, and passes defended. As well as matching his freshman total of 4 interceptions. Expect opposing QBs to avoid Chili’s side of the field from here forward after ripping off a 91-yard pick-six last week.
Landon Adams – North Carolina WR – Underrated
This pick may also surprise many as Landon Adams leads North Carolina in receiving yards (779), touchdowns (6), and yards per catch (23.6) but has only recorded 33 catches on the season! Find this man more! There are 5 players with more receptions than Adams on the Tarheel offense. His target share should increase in the playoffs should North Carolina like to see themselves making a run.
Florida State
Rashaud Williams – Florida State WR – X-Factor
Williams is having a career season with 90.1 receiving yards per game and 7 TDs. The junior is in his third season at Florida State, and this is his first time making it out of the first round of the playoffs. He’s been a terror to opposing defenses, and a weapon for Bear Michaels all season. It is now time to show up or go home, is Rashaud ready to step up and be the dominant presence Florida State needs him to be in the playoffs? I think so, in his 3 playoff games so far he’s recorded 21 catches, 387 yards, and 3 TDs. Expect him to continue being clutch in the playoffs.
Elijah Pence – Florida State CB – Underrated Player
Throughout his four seasons, Pence like Williams, hadn’t seen a playoff win until this season. He’s been a steady presence over those 4 seasons, however, recording 181 tackles, 11 INTs, and 27 passes defended. He’s yet to record an INT this season and this is why he makes my underrated player list. I expect that if Florida State wants to see their playoff run extend, they’ll need Pence to take a ball or two out of the air.
Texas A&M
Buck Stackhouse – Texas A&M WR – X-Factor
Buck is a senior at Texas A&M who started his career at Washington before transferring leading into his sophomore season. Buck had a historic season where he helped lead Texas A&M to the National Championship in season 21. Last season, through 12 games, he recorded 58 receptions – 1171 receiving yards – 14 TDs. While his overall numbers for season 22 are still below those of season 21, he still leads this season in yards per game (110.6) and receptions per game (6.2). If Buck wants to surpass his junior season then he needs his team to go all the way. For that to happen, A&M will need Buck to be at his best.
Marcus Padgett – Texas A&M CB – Underrated Player
Padgett surpassed his season record 7 passes defended in the season finale against Texas. He also recorded one pass defended last week against Michigan. He’s averaging a pass defended a game this season. Two INTs on the season tell opposing QBs to throw the other way, which they often must anyway due to his lockdown coverage. You won’t see the biggest impact on his stat sheet. His tight coverage downfield has contributed largely to Texas A&M recording 3 sacks per game this season. Expect Padgett to stay off of the stat sheet but help his D-line get to the QB with coverage sacks in the postseason.
Colorado
Taylor James – Colorado RB, Daniel Blackmon – Colorado WR, Speedy Hernandez – Colorado WR – X-Factors
As you can see, I couldn’t choose just one player from Colorado’s high-flying offense as the de facto X-Factor. Taylor James is the league leader in rushing yards at 1127, Daniel Blackmon is 8th in receiving yards at 891 and Speedy Hernandez is 19th in receiving yards at 751. The Colorado offense ranks 3rd in the CFSL in Offensive yards per game and it is largely due to these three superstars. Expect Colorado’s offensive weapons to keep them competitive and make a run for the Championship.
Jules Sanders – Colorado CB – Underrated Player
The junior from Denver helped Colorado over the Auburn Tigers in what some saw as an upset. This win recorded Sanders’ first playoff win in his career and he contributed by picking off Jay Duke and returning it 29 yards to the house in what ended as a 34-31 win for Colorado. Eclipsed by Colorado’s terrifying, high-flying offense Jules makes the defense just as terrifying at times recording 7 INTs on the season tied with none other than Roman Ware for league best. While others are watching the high-flying offenses this week, my eyes will be locked on this CB matchup between Sanders and Ware. Who will help their team to the win and possibly claim the top spot for INTs on the season?
Alabama
Roman Ware – Alabama CB – X-Factor
As if there was another option for Alabama’s X-Factor this season. I feel like anytime I turned on Alabama this season Ware was making a big play or was celebrating the last big play he’d just made. With 7 INT and 6 passes defended on the season, Ware is arguably the best CB in the league. Or is he? This week we’ll see one of the only CBs who could challenge him for that status on the other side of the field from him. As I stated before, my eyes will be on these two players the entire game. Expect whoever pulls out the better performance to establish their title as the best CB in the league.
Zander Freeman – Alabama CB – Underrated Player
Alabama’s storyline this season has largely circled their stifling defense. Allowing only 25.7 points (1st in CFSL) and 419.4 yards (2nd in CFSL) per game. Their DBs have a lot of responsibility for bringing that about. Zander Freeman on almost any other CFSL team would be the top CB on the roster, but being overshadowed by Ware’s stardom he makes my list of underrated players in the playoffs. The sophomore recorded 5 INT and 7 passes defended on the season, including 2 INT against Clemson last week. Expect Alabama’s secondary to give Colorado a tough go at their high-flying offensive schemes.
