2018 NFL Draft watch: Running backs shine, top QBs struggle in season openers

Ron Clements

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2018 NFL Draft watch: Running backs shine, top QBs struggle in season openers image

Josh Allen and Sam Darnold are expected to be two of the top quarterbacks in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Neither was very impressive on the first Saturday of the 2017 college football season. 

Allen, a 6-5, 233-pound Wyoming junior, entered the 2017 season with a lot of hype as a possible first-round draft pick. He showed flashes of first-round ability in Saturday's 24-3 loss to Iowa. Allen was able to shake pressure and did make some excellent throws, but he was victimized by drops and made some poor decisions that resulted in two interceptions and an intentional grounding call. Allen finished the game 23 of 40 for 174 yards and no touchdowns, though one potential score was dropped. 

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Darnold's fourth-ranked USC Trojans actually got a hard-fought win over Western Michigan, but Darnold tossed a pair of interceptions without a touchdown while going 23 of 33 for 289 yards. The 6-4, 220-pound redshirt sophomore is expected to have a big year, but he definitely had an off day despite a 49-31 victory. 

Unlike Allen and Darnold, Georgia running backs Sony Michel and Nick Chubb were outstanding and led the Bulldogs to a 31-10 win over Appalachian State. Chubb ran for 96 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries while Michel added 87 yards and a score on 16 carries. 

Here are other NFL draft-eligible players who stood out on Saturday. 

Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State: Barkley was over 100 yards after just six carries and finished the 52-0 rout of Akron with 172 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just 14 carries. Barkley, who could be the first running back taken in next year's draft, added three catches for 54 yards. Even when the hole wasn't there, Barkley was able to make something happen against the Zips.

Jermaine Carter Jr., OLB, Maryland: Carter had seven tackles, two for loss, with a pair of sacks and a deflected pass while squaring off against Texas All-American tackle Connor Williams for most of the game. Carter was a big reason the Terrapins were able to hold Texas to just two offensive touchdowns before a garbage score against backups with a minute remaining of Maryland's 51-41 win. 

Derrius Guice, RB, LSU: The LSU running game was dominant in a 27-0 win over BYU and Guice did most of the damage. The 5-11, 212-pound junior ran for 122 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries thanks to a veteran offensive line of senior KJ Malone and juniors Will Clapp, Toby Weathersby and Garrett Brumfield.

Ty Isaac, RB, Michigan: Isaac is a load to bring down at 6-3, 228. He ran for 114 yards on 11 carries against Florida, thanks to huge holes provided by senior offensive linemen like Patrick Kugler (57) and Mason Cole (52). 

Josey Jewell, LB, Iowa: One of the reasons the Wyoming offense couldn't get on track was the play of Jewell. The 6-2, 236-pound linebacker was all over the field with a game-high 14 tackles, including 2 1/2 for loss and a pair of sacks. 

Ronald Jones, RB, USC: While Darnold was not sharp, the Trojans avoided the upset thanks to Jones. The 6-foot, 200-pound junior, who ran for 1,082 yards and 12 scores last season, racked up 159 yards and three on 18 carries Saturday against the Broncos. His second touchdown with 6:57 remaining broke a 28-28 tie. 

Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville: The reigning Heisman Trophy winner shook off an early fumble to explode for 378 passing yards and 107 rushing yards in a 35-28 win over Purdue in Indianapolis. Jackson made some superb throws, fitting the ball into some tight windows, while going 30 for 46 with two touchdowns.

Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma: Mayfield was another quarterback who did not struggle Saturday. He had his way with the UTEP defense. The 6-1, 220-pound senior had just one incompletion in 20 pass attempts, throwing for 329 yards and three scores in the 56-7 win. Mayfield surpassed 10,000 passing yards and 90 touchdowns over his career.

Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama: The 6-1, 190-pound junior is a fluid route runner with great speed and showed off both skills while catching seven passes for 82 yards in No. 1 Alabama's 24-7 win over No. 3 Florida State. Ridley's 53-yard touchdown in the second quarter gave Alabam the lead for good. 

Deebo Samuel, WR, South Carolina: North Carolina State had no answer for the 6-foot, 215-pound Samuel, who caught five passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns in South Carolina's 35-28 victory. 

Akrum Wadley, RB, Iowa: Wadley showed toughness and some nice shiftiness while rushing for 116 yards on 24 carries. The 5-11, 195-pound senior is coming off a season in which he ran for 1,081 yards and 10 touchdowns. 

Ron Clements