Skip to main content
Advertising

Winners and losers from Championship Weekend in CFB

Championship Weekend of the college football season came with plenty of heroes and a few goats as well. College Football 24/7 takes a look some draft prospects who made some noise, for better or worse.

Winners

*Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama *

The Crimson Tide's leader was all over the field in the SEC Championship game, making 11 tackles, including two sacks, in a 54-16 win over Florida. He showed speed to the sideline from his middle linebacker position on several perimeter plays, and was a big reason the Gators finished with zero rushing yards. He solidified his status as a potential top-15 pick.

*Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson *

Some weeks, when Clemson wins handily, it doesn't even need all the production Watson provides. On this night, with the ACC title on the line against Virginia Tech, the Tigers needed all five of the touchdowns Watson accounted for in a 42-35 win over the Hokies. Watson threw for three scores and ran for two more to help secure Clemson's place in the College Football Playoff, and tighten the Heisman Trophy race at the same time.

*Samaje Perine, RB, Oklahoma *

The junior ran wild in a 38-20 win over rival Oklahoma State in the Bedlam series, taking a season-high 37 carries for a season-high 239 yards. After a pulled muscle sidelined him for three games, he rebounded with three fantastic performances to close the regular season, rushing 91 times for 499 yards and five touchdowns down the stretch against Baylor, West Virginia and OSU.

*Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan *

The star senior posted an 8-144-1 receiving day,  including a 70-yard score, to help WMU win the Mid-American Conference title over Ohio. For Davis, it was the 51st touchdown catch of his career, and his 50th from senior QB Zach Terrell. If Terrell and Davis hook up for one more touchdown in the Broncos' bowl game, they'll tie the NCAA tandem record. With the performance, Davis crossed the 1,400-yard receiving mark for the third consecutive season.

*Taylor Rapp, DB, Washington *

In a secondary full of draft prospects, it was a guy who's still years away from draft consideration who stole the show for the Huskies in a 41-10 win over Colorado in the Pac-12 title game. Enter Taylor Rapp, who was named the Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year earlier this week. Rapp intercepted two passes and returned one of them for a touchdown. NFL scouts in attendance would've had more immediate interest in the likes of Sidney Jones and Budda Baker, but Rapp picked a big stage to leave them something to remember for the future.

Losers

*James Washington, WR, Oklahoma State *

The OSU star caught just two passes for 50 yards in a 38-20 loss to rival Oklahoma. He did make a 44-yard catch that helped set up a first-half touchdown, but the Pokes needed their best offensive weapon far more involved in order to have a chance in this game. With five NFL clubs in attendance, including the WR-needy 49ers, an off day for QB Mason Rudolph and rainy weather were exactly what Washington didn't need.

*Sefo Liufau, QB, Colorado *

Liufau completed just 3 of 13 passes and was intercepted three times in the Pac-12 title game Friday night, a 41-10 loss to Washington. Credit his toughness in leaving with a foot injury only to return later in the game, but on this night, Liufau wasn't going to beat the Huskies either way.

*Taven Bryan, DE, Florida *

Call it a dirty play, call it frustration, call is a misguided wrestling move. However you want to label Bryan's decision to pick up Alabama RB Joshua Jacobs and slam him to the turf, the outcome was a flagrant personal foul and an ejection for the third-year sophomore. Alabama led 40-16 in the fourth quarter at the time, so the game was all but over -- but that's exactly when this kind of stuff typically happens. Bryan also got flagged for a facemask on the play, and Alabama scored two plays later.

*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.

This article has been reproduced in a new format and may be missing content or contain faulty links. Please use the Contact Us link in our site footer to report an issue.

Related Content