2017 Week 11 college football players to watch

Abey got off to an outstanding start for the Naval Academy but has since hit a slide. After a 5-0 start, Navy has lost three straight, and Abey is banged up. After suffering a concussion against UCF two weeks ago, he left the game against Temple last week with an injury to his non-throwing arm. This season, Abey has rushed for 1,202 yards and 13 touchdowns (the QB has also thrown for six scores). He's had a fantastic season, but the injuries are mounting. The Midshipmen get SMU up next and need a win to not only keep their bowl hopes alive, but to try to make a move in the AAC West.

In what has been a disastrous season for Florida State, you just have to pick through and find the bright spots along the way. Last week, it was the play of Akers, who finally had the breakout game we've waited all season for. The freshman ran for 199 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Syracuse — just FSU's third on the season. The big-play ability Akers finally broke out against the Orange when he had TD runs of 54 and 63 yards in the second quarter. The 'Noles go up against Clemson this week, which was supposed to be the ACC Game of the Year. It's not that anymore, but it is a good opportunity for Akers to build upon his great game and maybe give the Tigers a tough time along the way. Akers will be a guy you'll hear about when Florida State turns it back around.

I love bringing up Bradshaw. A quarterback in position only, Bradshaw has thrown just 35 passes all season long and completed only 10 of them. He's thrown more interceptions (2) than touchdowns (1). But, oh how he runs that triple-option! Last week against Air Force, he rushed for 265 yards — second most by a quarterback this season. Oh, and Army didn't attempt a pass all game. Zero pass attempts. Here is another fun fact: Army shut out Air Force, 21-0, which ended AFA's streak of 306 straight games without being shut out. The last time the Falcons went scoreless was way back in 1992. Up next, Army hosts Duke.

All the talk around Oklahoma's 62-52 Bedlam win over Oklahoma State was around Baker Mayfield's 598-yard performance, but it was quite an afternoon for Brown as well. He caught nine passes from Mayfield for 265 yards and two touchdowns in the huge win. The sophomore has been more and more of a target Mayfield looks to of late and will be needed in another huge game against TCU this week. The winner of the TCU-Oklahoma game will have a good hold on one of the spots in the newly formed Big 12 Championship Game. Brown will need to be a huge part of that to continue the Sooners' run to the playoff.

We've featured Spartans quarterback Brian Lewerke a few times already, so let's look at one of his hot receivers. Davis III went off against Penn State last week, catching 12 balls for 181 yards and a touchdown. In the last two weeks, he's had 20 receptions for 276 yards and three total TDs. Those stats over the last two weeks have nearly doubled his season totals, and they've come in huge games for Michigan State. Another huge game awaits against a stung Ohio State Buckeyes team at the Horseshoe. Ohio State's defense has been battered of late, which is great news for a Spartans offense that is getting going at the right time. 

Falk had a big game in an important contest against Stanford last week. One week after being yanked in the middle of the game, Falk set the Pac-12's all-time passing yardage mark. He also drove the Cougars 94 yards for the winning touchdown to beat Stanford. The win keeps Washington State's hopes alive for the Pac-12 North title and gave the Cougars an undefeated record at home for the season. Washington State heads to Utah before the huge Apple Cup showdown against Washington. Falk seems to be back, which is good news for the people of Pullman. 

If the Bulldogs have any designs of upsetting Alabama, Fitzgerald needs to come up with a big game. Against UMass last week, he ran for 135 yards and two TDs, which put him fourth in SEC history in rushing for a QB. The three above him? Tim Tebow, Matt Jones and Dak Prescott. He'll have to play at the level of those three to hang with 'Bama. This season, he's thrown for 13 TDs and run in another 12 scores and will need to have a big game rushing and passing to pull off the upset.

Last week against Oregon, Gaskin climbed to third all time on the Huskies' career rushing list. He's been a beast the last two weeks, going for 169 yards against UCLA and 123 against Oregon with two total touchdowns. Washington was one of the schools that benefited the most from last week's upsets. Sitting atop the Pac-12 North, the Huskies go to Stanford this week before hosting Utah and Washington State to close out the season. Three tough games, but three that help their playoff hopes. 

One of the most emotional and excitable players you'll see, Harrison (pictured, No. 15) certainly had a game to yap about against LSU. He had a huge interception, was used to hold down the Tigers' tough rush attack, and held his own in coverage as well as rushing the passer at times. The emotional Harrison holds a grudge against LSU anyway and earlier in the day learned of the passing of a friend. 'Bama is heading into the final stretch of what it hopes to be a championship season. The Tide heads to Starkville for a big game against Mississippi State. Harrison will be ready.

Hill has been on a roll of late. Last week, he ran for 228 yards and two TDs in that wild loss to Oklahoma. Over his last six games, Hill has run over 100 yards five times and has totaled six TDs in that span. Up next is a huge game at Iowa State, who has done nothing this year but give Oklahoma and TCU their only losses this season. The Cowboys rely on Hill, who has carried the ball at 30+ times in three of the last five contests, and he will be leaned on again against the Cyclones.

TCU has a huge game this week at Oklahoma. The winner should have a great shot at nailing down one of the two Big 12 Championship Game slots and vault up into consideration for the College Football Playoff. To pull off the win, Hill is going to have to be good. Very good. He won't be able to duel with Baker Mayfield the way Oklahoma State's Mason Rudolph did last week, but he has to come up big. Hill has passed for 559 yards in the last three weeks ... total. Mayfield passed for 598 against Okie State last week. Still, Hill has shown the ability to have huge games this season, albeit not against this kind of competition. Against Iowa State two weeks ago, he threw for just 135 yards, two picks and no TDs. 

Jackson has become a YouTube legend with his amazing interception to seal Iowa's dominating upset of Ohio State. Jackson picked off Buckeyes QB J.T. Barrett three times, with the third coming OBJ-style. Remember, Barrett just had a huge game against Penn State a week ago that launched him near the top of the Heisman race. Jackson and the Hawkeyes knocked him down a peg. Now they head to Wisconsin, which is a huge game for both teams. Iowa would love to build on the Ohio State win, while dismissed-yet-undefeated Wisconsin would love to beat the team that popped Ohio State.

Jones has been outstanding over the last two weeks. Against Arizona State and Arizona, he's rushed for 410 yards and five touchdowns. Last week, he was even a factor in the passing game (three receptions, 39 yards). Four times this season he's rushed for at least 128 yards and, when effective, has brought much needed balance to the USC offensive attack. USC travels to Colorado this week where the altitude is high so it will be interesting to see if Jones can keep up the heavy workload.

How do you view Rosier's performance in the Hurricanes' win over Virginia Tech last week? Do you see the two touchdown passes and another TD run and love his versatility and leadership? Or do you see those three interceptions and his 47 percent completion percentage and get a bit nervous? Both are Rosier right now — someone who can make a mistake or a brilliant play on any down. His 84 yards rushing last week were the most a Miami QB has had in two decades, but he's completed just 26 of his last 59 passes and thrown four picks in the last two weeks. The 'Canes get Notre Dame this week in what should be a fantastic showdown of two teams that are looking toward a national championship. Rosier needs to cut down on the mistakes if the 'Canes plan to stay undefeated.

While Joshua Jackson was all the rage, we tend to overlook the kind of game Stanley had. Against Ohio State, Stanley threw for 226 yards and five touchdowns. You could not have seen this coming. Only twice all year has Stanley thrown for more than 226 yards, and he tossed a total of five touchdowns in the last four games combined. However, Stanley has played well in big games. In a win over Iowa State, he threw for 333 yards and five TDs and threw two scores in a 21-19 loss to Penn State. This week, Iowa heads to Wisconsin to face a Badgers team that is suddenly the Big Ten's best shot at getting a team in the College Football Playoff.

Can Auburn upset Georgia? If so can, it will be up to quarterback Jarrett Stidham. Last week against Texas A&M, he completed 20-of-27 passes for 268 yards and three TDs. When he plays badly, the Tigers feel it. In their two losses (Clemson, LSU), Stidham was 22-of-50 for 244 yards with one touchdown combined. Now comes one of the toughest stretches of games anyone could see: Georgia and Alabama with Louisiana-Monroe sandwiched in between. 

Wimbush was solid last week against Wake Forest. He threw for 280 yards and a TD and rushed for 110 yards and two more scores against the Demon Deacons. The junior quarterback has totaled 24 touchdowns this season — passing and rushing — and is a big reason the Irish are in a position to get a playoff spot. This week they go to Miami to face the Hurricanes, who are also looking for a playoff spot. It's a huge game that invokes the old "Catholics vs. Convicts" rivalry and should be a fun one in South Florida. Notre Dame needs Wimbush to be at his best.

Stop me if you've heard this before: This service academy's best rusher is its quarterback. Yes, just like Army and Navy, Air Force's best rusher is quarterback Arion Worthman. Unlike Army and Navy, Worthman is the most likely to throw the ball. He's tossed for 925 yards and nine TDs this season and has the Falcons looking at a possible bowl bid. He's the leading rusher for the Air Force, piling up 793 yards and 13 TDs. Air Force goes up against Wyoming this week in a must-win for the Falcons. After this one, they get Boise State and Utah State and need to win two of those to become bowl-eligible. Air Force has made a bowl in nine of the last 10 seasons.