Spotlight on running back Chuba Hubbard, of Sherwood Park, Alta., is now shared by more and more talented Canadians who are making their mark in the US university ranks
« I haven’t played in front of 80,000 fans yet, » said Ajou Ajou of Alberta, a first-year wide receiver with ties to Brooks, Calgary and Edmonton, now opening his eyes with the No 1 Tigers by Clemson « But just playing in front of 19,000 fans (amid COVID-19 restrictions), it’s even, ‘Wow, that’s crazy' »
What’s really crazy is how the Great White North Skill is being embraced on the state side by high profile programs like Clemson
The programs don’t just attract prospects from north of the border, they make them key cogs in their teams and shape them for eventual Sunday football
« It’s amazing that we can finally showcase our talents at such a high level and show that the Canadiens have them too, » said Ajou. « I see Josh Palmer (a main receiver from Brampton, Ont., Tennessee), John Metchie (a second-year wide receiver, also from Brampton, Alabama), Jared Wayne (a second-year wide receiver from Peterborough, Ont.) to Pitt, (rookie) tight end Theo Johnson (of Windsor, Ont) at Penn State… ”
There’s also Deane Leonard of Calgary, senior defensive back with Ole Miss, and Terrell Jana of Vancouver, senior receiver with Virginia
« Chase Claypool (Notre Dame graduate of Abbotsford, BC, now receiver for the NFL Pittsburgh Steelers) is leading the way right now, » said true rookie Ajou, with a touchdown to his name – with beauty recalled – in limited action this fall « It’s amazing It just motivates me to say, » OK, we’ve got this – let’s do it ‘”
While Hubbard, a junior, still does his thing with the Oklahoma State Cowboys – 478 rushing yards in four games so far in 2020 – his teammate and fellow Albertan Amen Ogbongbemiga of Calgary has become a leader and a key cog on the Cowpokes as a senior linebacker
Metchie, meanwhile, made a name for himself, becoming a vital target in the vaunted Alabama Crimson Tide passing game
« We always thought Jonathan was a threat, » Alabama head coach Nick Saban told reporters earlier this month after the second-year catcher had five catches for 181 yards « Very capable guy He worked very hard »
Last week, in a win over Tennessee, Metchie caught seven balls for 151 yards, and he’s likely to gain more attention with Bama’s main receiver Jaylen Waddle, likely lost to the season due to ankle injury
And Tennessee have their own rising Canuck in senior receiver Palmer, who has had a few top catches in his four TD catches this year
« I just took a few routes, saw the ball and played, » Palmer told reporters after a 71-yard outing at the top of the team earlier this month « My main goal is to try and play every game »
Does the drama end in the Big Ten as it begins? Sure seems to be unless you’re No 3 Ohio State (1-0) or No 13 Michigan (1-0), and we all know – ugh – what’s going to happen when the main rivals meet on the last Saturday. of the calendar of the conference Michigan (1-0) better beware, anyway, of the rival of the State of Michigan (0-1) this Saturday (noon ET, Fox)… 9 Wisconsin (1-0 ) is now out of the race after a rash of COVID results called off – not postponed – this week’s game against Nebraska (0-1) Among those testing positive is head coach Paul Chryst and quarterback Graham Mertz, who was sensational in a record breaking start (20 of 21 for 248 yards and five touchdowns) to beat Illinois last week One game less on the schedule hurts Wiscy in any conference bid and college football playoff success So there’s no 18 Penn State (0-1), who was fired last Saturday in an OT loss to Indiana (1-0) and is set to lose to Ohio State this Saturday. (7h30m ET, ABC) The Happy Valley program is without defensive star Micah Parsons (opt-out) and top running backs Journey Brown (medical condition) and Noah Cain (ankle)… So that leaves who? Purdue (1-0)? It’s not a game for Ohio State, even with mega-talented wide receiver Rondale Moore on the line, but he’s mysteriously out of action after retiring and then back in the offseason Purdue visits Illinois (0-1) on Saturday (noon ET, BTN) without him… Scratch, too, Minnesota (0-1) – who visits Maryland (0-1) Friday (7:30 pm ET) – and Iowa (0-1) – which hosts Northwestern (1-0) on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET) – after hard-to-swallow losses in Week 8 FYI: Big Ten COVID rules say anyone who tests positive must self-isolate for 21 days It’s hard!
Perhaps, then, the only drama in the Big Ten will be if Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields can push Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence into the Heisman Trophy race. Otherwise, it’s probably over… BTW: No 1 Clemson (6-0) gets Boston College (4-2) at home in what will likely be another easy game against Lawrence & Co on Saturday (noon ET, ABC / TSN) … With a suddenly open date, Nebraska was hoping to face a non-conference team, FCS Chattanooga, on Saturday, but the Big Ten rejected that proposal because of its agenda that member teams would only play a conference schedule. So this fall Nebraska and Chattanooga are paying for the COVID outbreak in Wisconsin I’m not sure it’s fair
No 10 Florida (2-1) is back after a long hiatus caused by COVID, hosting Missouri (2-2) on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET)… Another big test is underway for Hubbard, Ogbongbemiga and No 6 Oklahoma State (4-0), as they host the enigmatic Texas (3-2) on Saturday (4 pm ET, Fox)… Is it a bad thing that QB Myles Brennan (lower body) is again banned for LSU (2-2) when he faces host Auburn (3-2) on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS)? Not when rookie TJ Finley was a formidable Tiger to reignite the offense amid a thud from South Carolina in Week 8 It’s funny that the Pac-12 and the MAC haven’t even started and an invitation to the bowl has already been distributed – and accepted The Independent Army (6-1) is heading – rightly – towards the ‘Independence Bowl Comfortable now
Nothing is going well for Penn State, and now it faces a powerful rival
BYU blew teams away on an undefeated mission, and WKU is a mess
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News from around the world – CA – College Football Frenzy: CanCon is all the rage in the NCAA
