Week 8 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
Joe Williams, RB, Utah
About five weeks after deciding he was finished with football, the Utes junior ran all over the UCLA defense. Williams rushed for a school-record 332 yards on 29 carries with four touchdowns in a 52-45 win over the Bruins, including this 64-yard burst for a score. He left the team on Sept. 13, but after a change of heart to help an injury-depleted unit, he's rumbled for 511 yards in two games since returning. Amazing what a month off can do, huh? Scouts from the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots were on hand to witness Williams' explosive performance. Said Williams of his offensive line: "We've got five grown men out there that could be in the NFL tomorrow."
Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
What ankle injury? Ole Miss certainly didn't notice it. Fournette averaged 17.8 yards per carry against the Rebels in shattering LSU's single-game rushing record, finishing with 284 yards on 16 carries. He looked like he was shot out of a cannon on touchdown runs of 78, 76 and 59 yards, barely touched by the front seven and past a secondary that couldn't catch him from behind. When the Ole Miss defense did manage to get in his way, results like this one made it just as ugly for the Rebels.
Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
Another week, another fantastic performance from the electrifying sophomore. In a 54-13 trouncing of North Carolina State, Jackson threw for 355 yards and three touchdowns, and rushed for 76 and another score. In just seven games, he's already broken the Cardinals' single-season record for touchdowns with 34 (18 passing, 16 rushing). By halftime, he had already notched his third game of 300-plus yards this season, along with an insurmountable lead. And -- oh yeah -- he appropriately added an in-action Heisman pose, as well. He's the most fun player to watch in college football, and it's not close.
Jonathan Allen, DE, Alabama
Perhaps the Crimson Tide's best draft prospect, Allen played a major role in the nation's No. 1-ranked team staying that way against No. 6-ranked Texas A&M. Allen returned a second-half fumble 30 yards for a score that extended an Alabama streak of 10 consecutive games with a non-offensive touchdown. It was his second touchdown of the season. Allen also recorded his sixth sack of the year in the first half and recorded four QB hurries.
T.J. Watt, LB, Wisconsin
The younger brother of Houston Texans star J.J. Watt picked up another 1.5 sacks Saturday in a 17-6 win over Iowa, and has now averaged a sack per game for the season. Not bad for a guy who spent the first two years of his college career working at tight end.
Cam Robinson, LT, Alabama
The Crimson Tide's experienced junior has had some issues in pass protection this season and figured to have his share of problems against Texas A&M's Myles Garrett on Saturday. Robinson played well, however, as Garrett was held without a sack. Robinson's run blocking was impressive as well. With scouts from 11 NFL clubs on hand, it was a fine day for the third-year starter to deliver a strong showing.
Dede Westbrook, WR, Oklahoma
Westbrook's inclusion here is beginning to come with some regularity. On Saturday, he pulled in nine catches for 202 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 66-59 OU win. The caveat: it came against the cotton-soft defense of Texas Tech. But Westbrook hasn't been held under 150 yards in a game since Sept. 17, so he's become a headache all over the Big 12.
Losers
C.J. Beathard, QB, Iowa
In the Hawkeyes' conservative offense, Beathard isn't a stats machine even when he plays well. But Saturday was underwhelming even for Ferentz-Ball. Beathard threw for just 153 yards in a 17-9 loss to Wisconsin, completing 17 of 33 passes, as the Hawkeyes' offense never found the end zone. When a running back leads the team in receiving, and your most explosive completion to a wide receiver covers just 11 yards, it's been a long day as a quarterback.
Rawleigh Williams, RB, Arkansas
Williams is a real up-and-comer for the Razorbacks, but the sophomore's march to stardom was stopped cold by Auburn's defense in a 56-2 loss to the Tigers. Williams ran for a season-low 22 yards on 13 carries, just a week after blasting Ole Miss for career-high 180.
Defense, Oklahoma and Texas Tech
Let's just say the Sooners and Red Raiders didn't do the Big 12 Conference's tattered defensive reputation any favors in OU's 66-59 win. Texas Tech QB Pat Mahomes completed 52 of 88 passes (88!) for 734 yards and five touchdowns. Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield? A paltry 545 yards passing for seven touchdowns, and RB Joe Mixon ran for 263. Total offense in the game combined: 1,708 yards. Tackling drills on Monday, guys.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.
