By Mark Pszonak
With the high number of transfers making an immediate impact at the college football level on a weekly basis, it is easy for a few performances to slide under-the-radar. Below are five from Week 7 that deserve more attention:
RB Dillon Johnson – Washington (Mississippi State)
The skinny: Everyone knows about Michael Penix Jr. and the Huskies’ passing attack, but for this to potentially be a magical season for the program, a running game would need to be established. Over the last two weeks, Johnson has done that. During the huge victory over Oregon on Saturday, he provided a reliable threat on the ground, finishing with 100 yards and one touchdown on 20 carries. The challenges keep coming for Washington this season, with games against USC, Utah, Oregon State and Washington State approaching, so Johnson’s consistent play will be vital.
WR Dominic Lovett – Georgia (Missouri)
The skinny: Lovett was one of the top wide receiver additions through the transfer portal during the last cycle, however his contribution to this point has been somewhat disappointing. On Saturday against Vanderbilt, he showcased his potential though with a team-high nine receptions for 72 yards and one touchdown. And now with star tight end Brock Bowers out for a few weeks with an injury, his improved play will be more necessary than ever as the Bulldogs look to continue their run to another national championship.
TE Jaheim Bell – Florida State (South Carolina)
The skinny: Similar to Lovett, Bell’s impact to this point has been somewhat minimal despite Florida State’s undefeated start and #4 ranking. On Saturday he flashed his potential though with four receptions for a season-high 87 yards against Syracuse. Expectations are through the roof right now in Tallahassee, so having Bell establish himself as more of a consistent and reliable threat in the passing game would greatly enhance the likelihood of success.
RB Treshaun Ward – Kansas State (Florida State)
The skinny: Despite being overshadowed by the amazing performance of true freshman quarterback Avery Johnson, Ward quietly enjoyed his best game of the season. Having rushed for 118 yards on 15 carries during the 38-21 victory over Texas Tech while splitting carries with D.J. Giddens he was finally able to show everyone in Manhattan what the hype was about when he committed. Chances are high that the carries will continue to be split between the two backs, but having both perform at a high level together with what could be a new game-changing quarterback would make the Wildcats a dangerous team in the coming weeks.
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DL Antwaun Powell-Ryland – Virginia Tech (Florida)
The skinny: After a 3-8 finish during Brent Pry’s first season in Blacksburg, the start in 2023 had once again brought mostly disappointment. However, there may be a glimmer of hope after an impressive 30-13 victory over Wake Forest on Saturday. The victory moved the Hokies to 3-4 and brought bowl eligibility back into the picture. A huge part of this success on Saturday was due to Powell-Ryland, who finished with six tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss and four sacks. With winnable games ahead against Syracuse, Boston College, NC State and Virginia, defensive performances like the one on Saturday could have the Hokies back in a bowl.
