College football Week 3: 15 players to watch

Can Jordan Addison go back-to-back as the Fred Biletnikoff Award winner? At different schools? Last year, we won the award at Pitt, and he's on his way to winning it again at USC. He caught two TD passes in each of the Trojans' first two wins and piled up 172 yards in the win over Stanford last week (including a 75-yard touchdown reception). With Lincoln Riley's offense and Oklahoma transfer quarterback Caleb Williams' familiarity with it, Addison could have a huge season getting USC back to the top of the Pac-12. USC hosts Fresno State on Saturday night for what should be a great shootout. 

Michigan State may be the most under-the-radar team in the top 15. Odd, since the Spartans were 11-2 a year ago with a win over Big Ten champ Michigan. Last year, running back Jalen Berger was at Wisconsin, where he was dismissed during the season. He'd transfer to Michigan State, where he's having a career year. He's already carried the ball 33 times (more than he did with the Badgers last year) for 227 yards and four TDs (one more than over his entire Wisconsin career). Kenneth Walker III broke out last season as a transfer into the Spartans system -- it seems Berger is doing much of the same. Michigan State travels to Washington for ABC's primetime game.

Corum has been consistent so far this season as he's easing into the season during two blowouts. He rushed for 76 yards and a touchdown in a win over Colorado State in the opener, then gobbled up 88 yards and a TD last week against Hawaii. This is awfully familiar to what he did a year ago as he opened the season with 407 rushing yards and 8 total touchdowns in the Wolverines' first three games before an ankle injury and the resurgence of Hassan Haskins relegated Corum to a backup role. He's the guy this season and is showing he can be counted on to carry the load for Michigan as they sort out their quarterback situation. He and the Wolverines should have another cakewalk as Michigan hosts UConn.

Gabriel was outstanding for UCF in 2019 and 2020 before suffering a shoulder injury one year ago this weekend that ended his season. He transferred to Oklahoma and joined offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby, who worked with Gabriel at UCF in 2019. Gabriel has stepped right in and been masterful -- completing 75% of his passes for 296 yards and 3 TDs against Kent State and 233 yards and 2 touchdowns against UTEP. This week he gets to be part of an interesting Oklahoma-Nebraska rivalry that has only recently reconnected but now sees the Cornhuskers firing their head coach. Look for Gabriel to put his stamp on the game early and have a huge game in Lincoln.

First off, let's give BYU a lot of credit. In their last season as an independent before heading to the Big 12 next year, the Cougars' program has gone out and made a fantastic schedule. After traveling all the way to USF in Week 1, they beat Baylor last week and go to Oregon this week (they also have games against Notre Dame, Arkansas and Boise State remaining). Quarterback Jaren Hall has been solid, throwing for exactly 261 yards in each of BYU's two wins. Last season he was so efficient, throwing 20 TDs to just 5 interceptions in his first season replacing Zach Wilson. If Hall and the Cougars can come out of a showdown with the Ducks with a win, this will be a team to watch in the College Football Playoff race.

Harrison has 12 receptions for 240 yards and 3 touchdowns this season, which either matches or surpasses his output from his freshmen season of 2021. Much of that came in last week's win over Arkansas State (7 receptions, 184 yards, 3 TDs) as he stepped up with several top Buckeye receivers out with injury. Obviously, Harrison has a pedigree -- his father is a Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver -- but he is waiting his turn to be the next great Ohio State receiver. With his performances this season, the wait may be over. Ohio State hosts Toledo on Saturday night.

A year ago, Jake Haener stepped on the national scene with an epic performance in a win at UCLA, 40-37. Haener is back in Los Angeles this week as Fresno State takes on the high-flying USC Trojans. In that UCLA game, Haener completed 39 of 53 passes for 455 yards and two touchdowns (including a game-winning TD pass as he limped around after getting hit all game). The Bulldogs are coming off a tough loss to Oregon State, where Haener threw for 360 yards but just one touchdown, and need a huge win to get their season back on track. Expect a shootout at the Coliseum. 

Evan Hull is one of the most valuable players in the Big Ten that you've likely never heard of. He came up with huge runs and totaled 174 yards and a touchdown in a win over Nebraska in Dublin. He rushed for 65 yards and a TD in a loss to Duke last week, but also caught 14 passes for 213 yards and another touchdown. He nearly became the hero as he leaped for a game-winning touchdown but fumbled the ball just as he got to the goal line. Hull's game is the kind you love to see. He can break loose for big plays yet can power for those tough yards. 

Last year at Ole Miss, Henry Parrish Jr. was the third or fourth option in the rushing game, though he would produce when he got the chance. Even though the top three rushers left after the season, so did Parrish. Now at Miami, he's showing what he can do as a featured back. In the opener against Bethune Cookman, Parrish piled up 108 yards and three touchdowns. Last week against Southern Miss, his carries jumped to 23 touches for 108 yards and another TD. The competition jumps up a peg as Miami travels to College Station to take on a very angry Texas A&M Aggies team on Saturday night. 

An already poor start to the Fighting Irish's season may have now hit the panic button. With starting quarterback Tyler Buchner out for the season with a shoulder injury, Drew Pyne takes over to try to pick up the pieces of what could be a lost year. Pyne came in for Buchner in last week's loss to Marshall, completing 3 of 6 passes for a touchdown and a pick. In an open competition for the starting gig during camp, Buchner quickly won over Pyne, which shows some concern from the coaching staff about Pyne's ability to run this team. It is his job now, and if Notre Dame is going to be relevant in 2022 (starting this week against Cal), Pyne needs to turn this 0-2 season around. 

Air Force has been one of the top rushing teams over the last several years, and last year Roberts put up the 3rd best rushing season in program history. The senior ran for 1,352 yards and 13 touchdowns for a Falcons team that went 10-3. And the beat goes on in Colorado Springs as Roberts and the Air Force Academy have started 2022 strong. After rushing for 114 yards and a touchdown in the opener against Northern Iowa, he bulldozed for 174 yards and 3 TDs in a 41-10 blowout of Colorado. The Falcons head to Wyoming for a Friday night to face a Cowboys team that gave up 258 yards rushing to Illinois in their season opener. In their last meeting, Roberts rolled for 140 yards and a TD in a 24-14 win. 

Has Nicholas Singleton ascended to claim the spot of not only featured back but become the next great Nittany Lion runner? Let's pump the brakes on that talk for the moment, but it does seem as if Singleton is making his case to be the starter in Happy Valley. The freshman from Shillington, Pennsylvania, rushed for 179 yards and two touchdowns on just ten carries against Ohio last week. One came off a 48-yard romp to start the second half; another came on a 70-yard touchdown run in the first half. Singleton ended Penn State's 17-game streak without a 100-yard rusher. The Nittany Lions head down to Auburn to take on the Tigers in an exciting Big Ten-SEC matchup. 

Tua's brother had a huge day against Charlotte last week. The junior quarterback completed 27 of his 31 passes, and threw for 391 yards and 2 touchdowns in the 56-21 win over the 49ers. Tagovailoa threw for over 3,800 yards and 26 TDs last season but had an issue throwing interceptions (11). He's thrown a pick in each game this year, which hasn't cost the Terps yet, but he'll need to limit his mistakes if he wants to win a shootout against a high-octane SMU offense this weekend. He struggled to win those kinds of games last season.

After a 2-0 start to the season, some are wondering if Florida State can actually contend in the ACC this season. The Seminoles have run the ball well over the first two weeks, and tailback Treshaun Ward has been at the forefront. Ward gained 127 yards and scored twice in the Noles' win over Duquesne last week. Ward, a redshirt sophomore, was a walk-on who just earned a scholarship this past offseason. He's a shifty back who makes would-be tacklers miss and has the ability to go make a play. The Seminoles head to Louisville for a Friday night showdown. 

Even though the Gamecocks lost to Arkansas last week, wide receiver Antwane Wells Jr. had himself a day. Wells caught 8 passes for 189 yards and a 62-yard touchdown grab. He's had quite a path to get to this Saturday's game against top-ranked Georgia. He was at Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia for a season before transferring to then-FCS power James Madison for two seasons, where he became third all-time in receiving touchdowns. This offseason, he transferred to South Carolina and has thus far made the most of his opportunity. He seems to have the trust of quarterback Spencer Rattler -- his 15 receptions this season are almost double anyone else on the roster.