A final offering of news and notes you need to know as Week 5's multitude of ranked-vs-ranked contests kick off. On-field action may be a nice respite after a week of conference realignment quasi-news and Matthew Sluka and UNLV slinging mud.
Topics we cover in this week's college football insider notebook:
- A handful of NFL comps for Alabama's Jalen Milroe, who has improved on his pocket poise
- How Kentucky managed to slow Georgia down in Week 3
- Praise for Alabama 17-year-old sensation Ryan Williams
- Mack Brown has no immediate plans of retiring from North Carolina
- Optimism Georgia's front-seven nears full health vs. Bama
- Poaching concerns keep coaching carousel quiet
- How the AAC stiff-armed the resurgent Pac-12
- Eight stock-up players in the eyes of NFL personnel
Where opposing teams see growth in Alabama QB Jalen Milroe
Carson Beck isn't the only NFL prospect at quarterback in this upcoming top-five showdown between No. 5 Alabama and No. 4 Georgia.
Crimson Tide QB Jalen Milroe, who accounted for five touchdowns in the first 50 minutes of Alabama's 42-10 Week 3 win over Wisconsin, has grown to the point that one NFL scout mentioned him unprompted this week as an ascending NFL draft prospect. The scout believes Milroe is talented enough to ultimately go in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft (Milroe is draft-eligible after this season). In addition, staffers of opposing teams who either faced or studied Alabama compared Milroe to two dynamic current NFL quarterbacks, although there was some good and bad that came along with both comparisons.
"His player comp is Lamar Jackson," one opposing team staffer said. " … He struggles to run an on-time 'traditional offense.' Rhythmic, on-time passing is not his strong suit. That being said, the talent is undeniable. Elite deep ball thrower. Big and hard to bring down. Athletic as anyone on the field. He is at his best in chaos/crowds and creating and improvising on his own."
The other comparison was to former Florida star and current Indianapolis Colts QB Anthony Richardson, who went No. 4 in the 2023 NFL Draft.
"So obviously he's got the unbelievable, rare arm strength, the ability to push the ball accurately down the field," that other opposing team staffer said. "And obviously he's got freaky, unique, rare athletic ability. His ability to get to top speed is insane, absolutely absurd. Where he's taken the biggest leap in our eyes is his confidence, his poise and his ability to stay in the pocket and deliver the ball down the field without like [escaping the pocket too early.]
"He's still willing to stay in there, take a hit, throw it downfield and obviously create a ton of explosives that way. So that's been a big thing. I think there's still some part of me that believes it might be hard for him as far as a progression goes and some of the intermediate passing game at the next level and his ability to truly beat defenses. But his poise in the pocket is definitely better than it was (last year)."
Milroe has accounted for 14 total touchdowns through three games, which is tied for the most by an SEC player since 2000. He is the first FBS player with multiple passing and rushing touchdowns in each of his team's first three games since Nevada's Colin Kaepernick. No player has ever pulled off that feat -- multiples of each category -- against Georgia in the time Kirby Smart arrived in Athens. Check out a cool film study article on how 247Sports thinks Smart may try to stop Milroe.
Additionally, Mike Rodak of Bama247 surveyed more NFL scouts on what they're seeing from Milroe.
What makes Alabama freshman WR Ryan Williams so special
Despite still being five months away from even turning 18-years-old, Alabama five-star freshman wide receiver Ryan Williams has already become Milroe's top weapon in the Crimson Tide passing game and one of the top young playmakers in the nation.
Williams, who reclassified from the 2025 class to join Alabama's 2024 freshman class, not only leads Alabama with 285 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns and has continued to display talent that led to one opposing team staffer describing him as, simply put, "different."
"Good God is he talented," that opposing team staffer said. "He's special. He's the best one they have and he's probably one of the better receivers in the country."
The five-star out of Saraland is averaging 28.5 yards per catch and has scored at least one touchdown in each of the Tide's first three games.
"The juice, the speed and the ability to catch the ball down the field, to track the ball, to adjust his body, the body control for a young kid (is special)," the opposing team staffer said. "Obviously he can fly, but the separation he creates off the line of scrimmage in press-man, we didn't have much of a shot."
How Kentucky slowed down Georgia's offense
Before averaging 41 points per game in its final nine games of last season, Georgia had a Week 3 matchup against South Carolina that was similar to its Week 3 game against Kentucky this season.
In both games, the Bulldogs produced just three points in the first half and had offensive issues throughout the game that contributed to Georgia trailing in the second half before ultimately pulling out a win. Although the Bulldogs have enough offensive talent that they could very well bounce back as soon as this weekend versus Alabama, this most recent Week 3 offensive performance leads to questions about Georgia's offense against a Crimson Tide defense that's allowed just 16 total points through the first three games.
In the eventual 13-12 win over Kentucky, Georgia finished with just 262 yards, its fewest in a game since 2019. It was the result of a Wildcats defensive effort that could have given the Tide some ideas ahead of Saturday.
"We're big up front," a Kentucky source said. "That was the biggest thing. We've got big bodies up front. We wanted to be stout up front in the run game and make them guys go over our heads. That was kind of our thought process, be super aggressive in terms of play calls and stuff like that, wanting to be really aggressive like: Hey, man, they're the freaking number one team in the country. Let's go be as aggressive as possible and try to get one. It wasn't anything spectacular or crazy.
"We're usually not a super aggressive team but we were like, screw it. We're going to get super aggressive. We're going to load the box and stop the run game. And if they can go over our head, then that's how they're going to have to beat us."
Georgia was largely unable to do that and Bulldogs star QB Carson Beck finished with just 160 yards. However, the Wildcats still came away believing it's only a matter of time before Beck and the Georgia offense break out similar to what happened last year.
"We caught them at a good time," the Kentucky source said. "I think they're still trying to figure out who they want to be. I think the quarterback is an elite player. I don't know if he's truly got the keys in terms of just, 'hey, let me go kind of rip it and rip guys open.' But I think he's an elite player and their skill is elite.
"I think the quarterback's a lot better player than necessarily what we're seeing right now. If he's got the keys and they're going to say, 'hey, we're going to go over the top of you', I think they definitely can."
Georgia injury update
As things currently stand, Georgia is in position to get multiple key players back in the front seven whom the Bulldogs have been without in recent weeks due to injury.
In addition to defensive lineman Warren Brinson listed as probable to play vs. Alabama, there's continued optimism that defensive lineman Jordan Hall and star edge-rusher Mykel Williams will end up being available against the Crimson Tide in some capacity. Both were listed as questionable on Georgia's most recent availability report Thursday night.
Hall has yet to play this year due to a preseason injury. Williams has been out since sustaining an injury in the Bulldogs' season-opening win over Clemson. Williams is a projected first-round pick and is even going off the board first in a mock draft by CBS Sports this week.
After all that, Mack Brown may not be nearing retirement
North Carolina's Mack Brown is not resigning at this juncture of the season, which he made very clear at a Monday press conference days after he ignited speculation in the wake of UNC's 70-50 loss to James Madison that he'd be willing to step aside.
Based on what a source shared this week, it would apparently be off-base to think it's a foregone conclusion that this is his final year as the Tar Heels' head coach as well.
The 73-year old Brown told his players in the postgame locker room that he'd take the blame for the James Madison loss and would step away as the team's head coach if he couldn't get the issues that led to the loss resolved. He said the players were overwhelmingly against that idea. Brown readdressed the heat-of-the-moment comments with his team on Sunday and it's been made clear to recruits, players and others around the UNC program that Brown does not plan to retire. Not now. Not after the season, either.
While other schools told CBS Sports that teams will use the postgame remarks from Brown and questions about how long he'll actually remain at North Carolina to try and create an advantage against the Tar Heels from a recruiting standpoint, a UNC team source mentioned that it's not like that second part is anything new and that UNC has already dealt with that consistently these past few years. North Carolina, which was 3-0 before the loss to James Madison, returns to action Saturday against rival Duke.
Carousel quiet so far
A year ago on this date, Michigan State fired Mel Tucker.
Two years ago on this date, Georgia Tech fired Geoff Collins.
Don't expect a firing today – or even this weekend – as the coaching carousel has yet to fully crank up this season. Last season, there were two Power 5 openings by this point (Michigan State and Northwestern), though both were for off-field issues. Two years ago was when we really saw the start of an early firing trend when five Power Five schools – Arizona State, Colorado, Georgia Tech, Nebraska and Wisconsin – all fired a coach by Oct. 2. Nebraska even dumped Scott Frost on Sept. 12 despite significant financial reasons to wait.
It obviously hasn't happened this season, though. Why? We detailed last week the impact the new 12-team College Football Playoff was having on the coaching carousel, most notably at the most buzzed about possible opening at Florida. Industry sources also pointed to the four-game redshirt rule that had a major impact this week as UNLV quarterback Matthew Sluka made national headlines for quitting on the team and deciding to redshirt amidst a NIL compensation dispute. The concern, according to sources, is that an early firing makes it that much easier for competing programs to start poaching players and convince guys to redshirt rather than keep playing that season. Even when you know a change could be made, you still want to field as full a team as possible.
"Lot of people are going to be attacking that roster and trying to get players to leave," one industry source said.
We will still continue to closely monitor jobs that have already created industry rumblings, including a couple at the Group of Five level, but right now the coaching carousel is less active in late September than it has been in recent memory.
How AAC held on to four schools
Tim Pernetti had been through it before and knew what to expect.
The first-year American Athletic Conference commissioner pulled off a major coup earlier this week when his conference held on to Memphis, South Florida, Tulane and UTSA despite Pac-12 overtures that became very public.
It's obviously uncomfortable when another conference has eyes on your prized schools. The AAC has been on the receiving end of that dilemma multiple times. In just the last two years, the AAC lost Central Florida, Cincinnati, Houston and SMU to Power Fove conferences.
How'd Pernetti hold off the Pac-12?
It started with using his experience guiding Rutgers to the Big Ten as the school's athletic director to lay out to his conference exactly what would happen behind the scenes during the process. Pernetti, who probably deserves a statue for maneuvering Rutgers well above its weight class into the Big Ten, had the real-life experience to accurately presage what was to come once it became clear the Pac-12 would look eastward after grabbing Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State from the Mountain West.
Pernetti was candid, stressed the Pac-12's projected TV rights numbers weren't anywhere close to concrete and earned trust in the room for his direct approach, according to multiple sources. How a conference commissioner handles a high-stress situation – and whether the conference members still have faith in the leadership – can have a major impact on realignment decisions. Just look at what happened to the Pac-12 more than a year ago for proof.
In the end, Pernetti, who is aggressively trying to position the AAC moving forward, passed the test. Four in-demand schools decided they'd rather stick with what they knew than leave for promises of greener pastures out west.
"I'd never bet against Tim," said one industry source familiar with the situation. "He's a very talented, smart guy."
Ten players whose 2025 NFL Draft stock is rising
Miami QB Cam Ward has gone from a Day 3 draft prospect entering the year to a possible first-rounder, at least in the eyes of some NFL scouts, in 2025.
Ward, who began his college career at FCS Incarnate Ward before spending two seasons at Washington State and then transferred to Miami, has unquestionably been one of the top draft risers in the eyes of NFL scouts and personnel officials through the first month of the season. But he's also far from the only player whose draft outlook has significantly improved these past four weeks. After polling several NFL scouting sources, here are some other players who have improved their draft stock a good amount in the eyes of scouts (listed alphabetically):
After beginning the year viewed primarily as a late-round prospect, there are now a good amount of NFL scouts who see the former Alabama transfer as a legitimate possibility to go in the first two or three rounds.
Miami EDGE Tyler Baron
After an eventful offseason that saw Baron leave Tennessee, nearly transfer to Ole Miss, then transfer to Louisville before ultimately leaving the Cardinals and landing at Miami, Baron is now playing at such a high level for the Hurricanes that at some scouts believe he could go in the early rounds of the draft – maybe even the first round. That comes after he entered the season with grades primarily in the middle of Day 3.
Alabama LB Jihaad Campbell
Campbell, a five-star signee in 2022, has been one of Alabama's top defensive players thus far and is emerging as a possible top three round talent. "He's looked more instinctual this year," an NFL scouting source said. "He's flying around. You can do a lot of different things with him. He's grown too. He's taller and heavier and longer than he was when he got there, which is always kind of bizarre when that happens."
South Carolina S Nick Emmanwori
The 6-foot-3, 227-pound Emmanwori leads South Carolina with 24 tackles and has posted an interception in each of the Gamecocks' first two SEC games, including a pick-six against Kentucky. At least some scouts are starting to view him as a potential first-round pick.
"He's doing the things that people were curious if he could do in terms of just covering guys and playing different spots," an NFL scouting source said. "He's really opened a lot of peoples' eyes."
Scouts brought up EDGE Kyle Kennard and defensive lineman T.J. Sanders as other Gamecocks defensive players with ascending draft stock.
Despite playing opposite another potential Day 2 wide receiver in Kaden Prather, Felton has been Maryland's clear top option through four games. His average of 151 receiving yards per game ranks first in the Big Ten and third-best nationally. He's emerged as a clear Day 2 possibility.
"Can fly and separates well," an NFL scouting source said. "Has improved his route running and most importantly his play strength. Finishing more catches. I think the other receiver at Maryland is ultimately better, Prather, but Felton has overtaken him as the No. 1 option thus far. Impressive."
After ranking sixth nationally with 1,416 rushing yards last year, Harvey now ranks fourth nationally with 149 rushing yards per game this year and is averaging 7.6 yards per carry. He's part of a deep and talented group of running back prospects for next year's draft that also includes players like Boise State's Ashton Jeanty and North Carolina's Omarion Hampton, who entered the year as top-two round possibilities and have done nothing but improve their outlook. Harvey, however, is one of a number of other running backs whom scouts like as well.
"I think RJ Harvey's really coming on the scene," an NFL scouting source said. "I think he's just a complete back and he runs with purpose. He finishes runs. He's always going to get a yard or two more than he should just because of how he finishes, which is going to always be a thing that stands out on tape with scouts."
Wide receiver Kobe Hudson is another UCF offensive player who's been helping himself draft stock-wise, per NFL scouts.
Mullings has been one of the nation's top breakout stars through the early part of the year. The converted linebacker ranks third in the Big Ten with 429 rushing yards and ranks third nationally among running backs with at least 40 carries with an average of 8.1 yards per carry.
"I didn't know much about him before last week, but Donovan Edwards is apparently not the best running back on his own team," an NFL scouting source said. "But I think the biggest thing is (Mullings') contact balance and the energy that he runs with. He was really good (against USC)."
USC DB Kamari Ramsey
Ramsey followed defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn from UCLA to USC and has been a big part of the Trojans' defensive turnaround. "He's made a difference with USC this year," an NFL scouting source said. "Really good at key and diagnose. And then he's not afraid to put his face on guys. If you watch the LSU game, he is something that USC did not have, which is a safety that could secure tackles and eliminate explosive plays. But you can do a lot of different stuff with him. He's a physical player, run the alley. He's fun to watch. And when he hits people, they stop."
Georgia LB Jalon Walker
After posting five sacks as a backup at Georgia last year, Walker is now shining in his first year as a starter. One scout referred to Walker as a "top-50 prospect at worst" at this point.
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