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Future Hogs – Week 4: A look at college football players who could help the Washington Commanders

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 07 Texas at Michigan
Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The fourth weekend of college football saw some ranked-on-ranked matchups that lived up to the hype. Friday night, Illinois outlasted Nebraska to remain undefeated and get an in-conference win in overtime. On Saturday, USC saw their first Big Ten action against Michigan in a game that, from this point forward, will be known as the LASkin Bowl. USC came up a little short as they could not contain Michigan’s run game. In a late matchup, Tennessee overwhelmed an Oklahoma team that did not appear ready for their first SEC matchup.

The big showdown in Week Five of the college football season is Georgia visiting Alabama in a Top-5 matchup that will feature a host of NFL prospects. Illinois will look to stay undefeated against a Penn State team that has been inconsistent to start the season. Two more ranked matchups include Oklahoma State vs. Kansas State and Louisville vs. Notre Dame. One matchup I’m interested is seeing is the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers hosting the Maryland Terps.

Below are just a few players who had a good week and might be able to improve the Commanders’ roster. Let me know what you think of these prospects and feel free to post players that stood out to you.

Brayden Schager, QB, Senior, Hawaii

Jayden Daniels sure did look like a franchise quarterback against Cincinnati, so I’ll continue my search for developmental quarterbacks. Hawaii has a promising candidate in Brayden Schager. The big, tall signal caller for the Rainbow Warriors is 6’3”, 230 lbs. He shows some impressive touch on downfield throws and is proficient ar keeping his eyes downfield to throw on the move. At his size, I’d love to see more drive throws where he rifles the ball into tight windows. He also has to improve his decision making to limit his interceptions. Schager went 35 of 43 for 374 yards, four touchdowns, but two interceptions. He added 44 yards on the ground on four carries.

Micah Bernard, RB, Senior, Utah

Utah won a close matchup against Arizona State with Micah Bernard putting the team on his shoulders. The 6’, 206 lb senior showed an ability to break tackles and keep his legs churning to grind out extra yards. He showed good balance, staying upright while absorbing hits and showcased some speed in the open field. Bernard had 25 carries for 182 yards.

Nick Nash, WR, Redshirt Senior, San Jose State

For those who’d like Washington to acquire a bigger target at receiver, Nick Nash is someone to keep an eye on. He’s 6’3’, 195 lbs, and a former quarterback that converted to receiver a few years ago. Although he’s relatively new to the position, he is a reliable option because of his solid hands and large frame. There are athleticism and speed concerns, but he has proven productive for the Spartans. In a close overtime loss to Washington State, Nash caught 16 passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns.

Harold Fannin, Jr., TE, Junior, Bowling Green

Bowling Green came within a touchdown of upsetting Texas A&M. The passing game for the Falcons boiled down to getting the ball to Harold Fannin, Jr. He had over 100 more yards than their second-leading receiver. Fannin is more of a receiving threat at tight end with excellent speed with an ability to make defenders miss despite some stiffness in his movements. Even though he is only 6’4”, 230 lbs, Fannin, Jr. is a competitive blocker. He caught eight of his 14 targets for 145 yards and a touchdown.

Blake Miller, OT, Junior, Clemson

At 6’6”, 315 lbs, Blake Miller is a lean right tackle. That means that players try to attack him in pass protection with power rushes. While he will give up ground, he can find ways to re-anchor and hold his own against most rushers. That’s because Miller is a competitor who fights and has a bit of nasty to his game. His is quick and light on his feet, making him adept at pulling and mirroring. If he can get bigger and stronger, he’d be a great candidate to replace Andrew Wiley. Below is a good thread showcasing Miller’s strengths and weaknesses:

Mike Green, DE, Redshirt Sophomore, Marshall

Only a redshirt sophomore, I suspect that Mike Green will return to school or transfer to a school that could increase his draft prospects. In a draft class where I don’t think many edge rushers have separated themselves, Green looks so promising. My favorite thing about him is he has a plan on each play to win the rep. He displays so many pass rush moves at a young age and is productive against Power Four competition. Against Ohio State, he had two tackles and a sack.

Eric Gentry, LB, Senior, USC

This is cheating a little bit because USC lists Eric Gentry as a linebacker, but they line him up from the line of scrimmage back to deep safety. At 6’6” and 215 lbs, he’s tall and underweight for the linebacker position. He’s just a playmaker, doing whatever the Trojans ask him to, and doing it well. USC came up a little short against Michigan in their first Big Ten game. Gentry had 12 tackles, a sack, two more tackles for a loss, and a forced fumble that he recovered. Is he a player that can replace Jeremy Chinn, a true linebacker prospect, or a position-less player that will struggle to find a home at the next level?

Will Johnson, CB, Junior, Michigan

Football is in Will Johnson’s blood. His father played at Michigan in a secondary that won three Big Ten championships. The Detroit native has everything you are looking for in a corner: size and length at 6’2”, 202 lbs, speed, fluidity, and physicality. One of the most impressive attributes of Johnson is how quickly he can break on the ball if he sees it in the air. He did this in a win over USC, picking off their quarterback Miller Moss and taking it to the house. It was Johnson’s second pick-six this season and the third of his career, a school record. There is a good chance Johnson will be the first cornerback drafted in 2025.

Trey Rucker, S, Redshirt Senior, Oklahoma State

It’s pretty impressive for a safety to have the second most tackles in college football and we all know the Commanders need better tacklers. The 6’, 209 lb Waldorf native Trey Rucker does a little bit of everything for the Cowboys. He’s at his best when he can come downhill and get a ball carrier on the ground. However, Rucker displayed his range as a deep safety in a loss to Utah by covering a ton of ground to grab an interception. He finished the game with two picks and 14 tackles.