Here are the top takeaways and highest-graded players from the Akron’s 23-21 win over Utah State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
Akron
– QB Thomas Woodson (-1.4) was more productive running the ball than passing in this game. He earned a team-best +1.4 rushing grade, and also led the team in rushing yards and attempts. Woodson also forced five misses tackles, and 52 of his 56 rushing yards came after contact. He was less effective as a passer though, finishing just 4-of-14 for 100 yards and an interception on passes thrown 10+ yards.
– Akron’s offensive line had a tough time opening running lanes against a talented Utah State front seven. As a team, the Zips averaged just 2.7 yards per carry, and 92 of their 109 total rushing yards came after contact. Five players earned red (-1.0 or lower) grades for run blocking, and the team’s run blocking grade was a dismal -17.6. Center Andrew Bohan finished with a -8.1 overall grade (-6.5 run blocking grade), his lowest-graded game of the 2015 season.
– Linebacker Jatavis Brown finished his college career on a high note, earning a team-best +3.9 overall grade. Brown added two more sacks to his season total; he currently leads NCAA linebackers with 15 sacks and a +23.4 pass rushing grade. Among NCAA linebackers, only Boston College star Steven Daniels has a better overall 2015 grade than Brown’s +38.7.
Top Performers:
LB Jatavis Brown (+3.9)
DT Rodney Coe (+3.8)
DE Jamal Marcus (+2.7)
FS Bryce Cheek (+2.6)
LWR Andrew Pratt (+1.5)
Utah State
– Utah State’s defense was dominant against the run in this game. NT David Moala’s +11.1 overall grade was nearly double his cumulative season grade of +6.2, and his pass rushing grade of +5.4 and run defense grade of +5.6 were both game-bests. LB LT Filiaga (+4.8) led the team with 10 tackles and seven run stops in his best game of the season.
– Chuckie Keeton (+0.2, 38 snaps) and Kent Myers (-1.8, 40 snaps) split snaps at quarterback. Myers was the more productive passer (four-of-six for 64 yards and two touchdowns on passes thrown 10+ yards), but fumbled on a QB scramble. Keeton was just one-of-six for 22 yards and an interception on passes thrown 10+ yards.
– OLB Kyler Fackrell (+3.1) has been mentioned as a potential NFL Draft pick this spring, and we have him ranked as one of the most productive edge players in the country this season. Fackrell’s +37.8 overall season grade ranks 12th among edge defenders in 2015. While he finished the season with just three sacks, Fackrell graded out as a productive pass rusher on a snap by snap basis, and also made a consistent impact in run defense.
Top Performers:
NT David Moala (+11.1)
LB LT Filiaga (+4.8)
LB Kyler Fackrell (+3.1)
TE Wyatt Houston (+2.6)
LB Torrey Green (+2.3)
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