Tearz49ers Presents: Our City. Our State (CFB Revamped)

[Tearz49ers]

***********

College football's 2021 season is slated to start in late August, but it's never too early to project where all 130 teams will finish at the end of the year. Athlon Sports released its top 25 in May and now it's time to take a quick look into what we think about our Top 5 ranked teams. Alabama takes the top spot at No. 1, with Clemson, Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Texas A&M closing out the top 5.

There are plenty of questions to be asked in 2021, and a lot of our "so-called" top teams in the nation are going into this season with heavy turnovers in terms of players. It will be fun to see who ends this season on top, will it be the same old faces or will there be a surprise face making into into the playoffs come December.








Despite losing a whole host of talent to the NFL Draft, it's hard to argue with a Nick Saban-led Alabama team coming in ranked No.1 this preseason.

On offense the Tide have one of the best offensive tackles in the nation in Evan Neal and a linebacking core led by Christian Harris and Will Anderson and this group got even richer with the transfer of Henry To'o To'o from Tennessee.

Quarterback Bryce Young looked sharp in the Tides spring game throwing for 333-yards and a touchdown and that will have both Saban and new offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien rubbing their hands together as both will undoubtedly preach ball security as always this off-season. Freshman receiver Agiye Hall was impressive this spring and that will help as the Tide look to replaced Heisman winner DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle as pass catchers.









Even with the depature of star quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the Clemson Tigers should continue to be on of the best teams in college football. D.J. Uiagalelei demonstrated the ability to lead this Clemson offense in his relief of Lawrence last season.

As crucial as Lawrence has been to the Tigers, one of the critical components of Clemson’s most recent national championship success was a devastating defense. With the likes of Bryan Bresee, Myles Murphy, and Tyler Davis, they have the foundation of a similarly disruptive unit going into this season. Add in the return of linebacker James Skalski and the emergence of CB Andrew Booth Jr., and Clemson should once again be at the top of the college football rankings in 2021.









Ohio State still find themselves with not much clarity as to who will replaced Justin Fields under center. Jack Miller III took the first snaps in the spring game, but it figures an ongoing competition will continue with C.J. Stroud and true freshman Kyle McCord. One thing that is clear is that freshman Treveyon Henderson, the No.1 running back in the class of 2021 is just as good as advertised and he will help this offense right out of the gate. Wide receivers Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson are both pre-season All-Americans and they will add the fire power to this offense.

Ohio State's defense, which was shredded for 621 yards in a 52-24 loss to Alabama in the CFP National Championship, has plenty of starters to replace, especially at linebacker and secondary. That wasn't easy this spring with projected starting cornerbacks Sevyn Banks and Cameron Brown sidelined with injuries. Safety Marcus Hooker was suspended after he pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle while impaired in April.








The key selling point to this Fighting Irish team in 2021 is safety Kyle Hamilton, an ultra-dynamic and versatile defensive back who has all the makings of a first round pick. However, beyond Hamilton and a few returning offensive players there is plenty of uncertainty going into this new college football season for Notre Dame, and I for one am surprised they are ranked so highly.

On offense, Notre Dame will be moving on from long-term quarterback Ian Book was was drafted in the fourth round of the NFL Draft by New Orleans. Jack Coan, a senior transfer from Wisconsin is slated as Books replacement but to some this will be seen as a downgrade for now. Running backs Kyren Williams and Chris Tyree return for the Irish this season and if you throw in tight end Michael Mayer, second year offensive coordinator Tommy Rees has a few tools to play with. Rees, has stated that he wants to open up the offense this season after the Irish ranked 58th in the country last season in passing offense.









On paper, Texas A&M might have the best roster in college football. In Jalen Wydermyer they have the best tight end in the nation. Isaiash Spiller has all the tools to be a dominant running back and Kenyon Green is the best guard in college football.

DeMarvin Leal is a dominant defensive force who could easily be a top-10 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. In Leon O’Neal and Demani Richardson, the Aggies have a safety duo that challenges Georgia for the best in the nation. Myles and Jaylon Jones have flashed playmaking potential at cornerback.

As you can see, the roster is stacked. Yet, the uncertainty at the quarterback position could limit the potential of this talented group. Whether it’s Haynes King or Zach Calzada, it remains to be seen who wins the starting job. Interestingly enough, King is a four-star dual-threat that drew comparisons to Ryan Tannehill out of high school.

[Tearz49ers]

Offensive Stats Comparison 00 Points Per Game 00 00 Total Offense 00 00 Rush Offense 00 00 Pass Offense 00 Defensive Stats Comparison 00 Total Defense 00 00 Rush Defense 00 00 Passing Defense 00 00 Turnover Difference 00 Injury Report QB Jeremy Moussa (Torn MCL) Eight Weeks

[Tearz49ers]

*************

2021 SEASON PREVIEW.....2021 ROSTER.....2021 RECRUITING BOARD.....


WEEK ONE

---

FORT COLLINS, Colorado -- The Clark Lea era of Vanderbilt football got off to the best possible start this Saturday afternoon as the Commodores beat the Rams by a single point, 25-24. Sophomore quarterback Ken Seals found tight end Ben Bresnahan wide open in the endzone with 2:57 left on the clock and this proved the game-winning touchdown after Colorado State kicker Jonathan Terry's late 41-yard field goal attempt hit the right upright and bounced out handing Vanderbilt its first win in ten attempts.

The Commodores were far from perfect. Seals threw an interception, and Re'Mahn Davis also fumbled the ball on the ground, whilst Cam Johnson dropped an untested easy touchdown in the third quarter with the Commodores trailing. However, after a slow start, the Commodore's defense held the Rams to just three second-half points. What also changed after half-time was their ability to stop Rams junior runningback A'Jon Vivens who absolutely torched the Commodore's defense in the first half. Vivens rushed for just 15-yards in the whole of the last two quarters after rushing for 93 in the first two.

"Credit to the boys on defense," Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea said after the game. "We got them in at half-time and we told them if we allow Vivens to keep finding holes and getting into the backfield then this will be a long day. Our defensive front tightened up in the second half, made those gaps smaller and it allowed us to contain what we noticed had become a very run-heavy gameplan."

Ken Seals became used to throwing the ball many times last season and it was no different today. The sophomore threw 36 passes completing 22 of those for 376-yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. Lea chose to start Temple transfer Re'Mahn Davis over junior Ja'Veon Marlow and whilst we expect that to be the same decision going into the Commodores SEC opener next weekend against Mississippi State, the junior must improve rapidly on his 2.9-yards per carrying average.

As for Colorado State, they will be walking away from this game feeling hard done by in what was a game of missed opportunities for the Rams and none more so than that Jonathan Terry miss. Todd Centeio like Davis for Vanderbilt is a Temple transfer and the fifth-year senior proved he will be able to run Jon Budmayr's offense. Centeio finished the game with 239 total yards and a rushing touchdown, he was also sacked just once by Commodores defensive end Daevion Davis.

On defense, Vanderbilt was led by senior linebacker Alston Orji who finished the game with 10 tackles, one of those was for a loss. The 188 total passing yards that the Commodore's defense gave up was the lowest amount the defense has given up since their 38-35 loss to Kentucky last season.

Next week, Vanderbilt returns to Nashville and Vanderbilt Stadium when they play host to Mississippi State (0-0, 0-0) in their SEC opener. Last season's 24-17 loss to the Bulldogs was only one of two games that the Commodores managed to keep within a touchdowns difference of winning.

---

---

Photo Gallery


A'Jon Vivens stiff arms Christian James for this Rams touchdown.


Cam'Ron Carter picks of Ken Seals in the second quarter.


Re'Mahn Davis sneaks through a hole to score this 4-yard touchdown.


Ben Bresnahan catches what proves to be the game-winning touchdown.


Jonathan Terry's game-winning attempt hits the upright.

*************

[R1zzo23]

Congrats on the win to start the dynasty! Lucky bounce on the missed FG, but to March down and answer with a TD is big time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Knickerbocker91]

Solid passing attack to start the season, never hurts to get a missed FG go your way (what was the wind like on that kick?). Hopefully the run game can get over 3 yards per carry and help out.

[slicknick3822]

Love the presentation! Way to get a win in your debut!

[Tearz49ers]

Quote: Originally Posted by R1zzo23

Congrats on the win to start the dynasty! Lucky bounce on the missed FG, but to March down and answer with a TD is big time. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Thank you, the FG actually came after our touchdown. It would have literally won them the game.

Quote: Originally Posted by Knickerbocker91

Solid passing attack to start the season, never hurts to get a missed FG go your way (what was the wind like on that kick?). Hopefully the run game can get over 3 yards per carry and help out.

I was really impressed with Seals, even though it was against Colorado State he felt really good to use in the pocket and can hit people deep on the run. Our running game must improve next week, because if it carries on like this then we will struggle to stay in games with solely really on the passing game. In reference to the wind, it wasn't all that bad, we nailed two from two pretty much straight down the middle, I just think it was one of those freak things that happens in real life.

Quote: Originally Posted by slicknick3822

Love the presentation! Way to get a win in your debut!

Thank you

[Tearz49ers]