Huge football weekend across the board with college football getting into full swing, with some conference matchups already on the schedule. The Canadian Football League enters Week 16, as we’re barreling toward the postseason. And the NFL is getting ready to kick off Week 3 of its season as well.
Going back to the college football front for a second, although we are in Week 4, not all programs have kicked off their 2024 campaign. This week, the Ivy League joins the party as they begin their football season. The Ancient Eight, always loaded with talent, is ready to begin yet another competitive season that’ll see the Ivy crown come down to the final week of the year.
In the Ivy League you get some outstanding coaching and development, which is why you tend to see more prospects from the league either finding their way getting drafted or getting poached by FBS programs. As I’ve always said, the Ivy League is one of the more underrated football conferences in the sport.
Also happening this weekend is the European League of Football championship game. This year we get a great matchup between the Rhein Fire and Vienna Vikings, the two best teams in the ELF. Interesting storyline in this one is that the Fire are coached by Jim Tomsula, who is looking to win back-to-back titles, went a perfect 12-0 last season, and enters this game with an 11-1 mark on the season.
This year, the Vienna Vikings are the undefeated team at 12-0 who are looking to capture their second title in the ELF under coach Chris Calaycay, who is one of the best coaches in the game.
European League of Football (championship game)
WR Harlan Kwofie
- Team: Rhein Fire
- Height: 5-foot-11
- Weight: 200 pounds
- Age: 25 years old
Kwofie has quietly been one of the underrated stars of the Fire offense this season. He’s second on the team in receiving behind Kelvin McKnight and has a chance to have a really good championship game. A fluid athlete that doesn’t shy away from the middle of the field, nor in contested catch situations. The German-born receiver had a great playoff game vs. the Madrid Bravos, scoring four touchdowns.
WR Noah Toure
- Team: Vienna Vikings
- Height: 6-foot-1
- Weight: 190 pounds
- Age: 22
Toure is in his rookie season in the ELF and was able to take full advantage of the opportunities he’s received. When star Jordan Bouah was out with injury, it was Toure that became the go-to guy in the Vikings offense behind the stellar Reece Horn. Toure shows very good ability in tracking the deep ball, getting his body in position to make a play. I like his acceleration into his route stem, and he still has a ton of growth upside left within his game. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him get some opportunities state side because of his youth and the breakout rookie season he’s had with Vienna.
USports Canadian College Football (Week 5)
- Height: 6-foot-2
- Weight: 230 pounds
- College: Windsor
- Next game: Ottawa (Sept. 21)
Watching Veresuk at the East-West Bowl in May, he definitely passes the “off-the-bus” look, as he looks exactly how you’d expect a backer to look. Where he stands out on the field is within the run game. He’s got a great feel in that aspect, fits the run well and does a really good job of tackling with both proper form and authority. Veresuk’s game reminds me a lot of Los Angeles Rams backer Troy Reeder: comfortable in space and takes good pursuit angles to the ball-carrier.
- Height: 6-foot-2
- Weight: 185 pounds
- College: Ottawa
- Next game: Windsor (Sept. 21)
Cumberbatch was another player who stood out during the East-West Bowl in the spring. Playing the defensive halfback position, which is essentially a Safety/Slot Defender, he’s got tremendous length for the position. Spatial awareness is the area where his game stands out the most, as he’s got a really good grasp on passing concepts and zone coverage. What I really like is how he doesn’t miss an opportunity to turn the ball over. If it’s in his vicinity, he’ll be able to make the play. I believe he has the crossover ability to serve in the same capacity in the NFL/UFL if provided the opportunity. Regardless, he’s going to play professional ball and be a good one.
- Height: 6-foot-2
- Weight: 205 pounds
- College: British Columbia
- Next game: Univ. of Saskatchewan (Sept. 20)
Rooker is an Uunder-the-radar passer who is garnering a lot of attention from scouts here in the states. Rooker displays consistently good accuracy and placement on his passes at every level of the field. He shows he can be an effective timing-based passer, especially within the quick game. I like that he does a consistently good job of getting the ball out. He’s the type of QB that always has a plan and always has an answer, which is why he’s such a high-efficiency player and tough to defend.
College Football Week 4
- Height: 6-foot-2
- Weight: 205 pounds
- College: Cornell
- Next game: Colgate (Sept. 21)
I’ve been a fan of Wang’s game since his debut freshman season. He’s got really good athleticism for the position, and is a true dual-threat in that regard. His game is very similar to that of Jake “The Snake” Plummer. Wang is able to throw with tremendous touch on his passes, making bucket throws with ease. He’s actually gotten better as a passer each season. Projecting forward to the pro game, I feel that in a primarily movement-based offense, his ability to throw on the move combined with his threat as a runner could definitely maximize his skill set.
- Height: 5-foot-10
- Weight: 175 pounds
- College: Brown
- Next game: Georgetown (Sept. 21)
Reed is on the Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List as one of the top overall defenders in the FCS. His quickness to close on the football is what instantly stands out on film. He’s your classic click-and-close corner with terrific ball awareness and ball skills. For a guy his size, I like how he’s able to play with length. You are able to see him consistently use his off-arm to swat the ball away or disrupt the catch attempt. Reed picked off five passes last season and is a legitimate ball hawk out on the perimeter.
- Height: 6-foot-1
- Weight: 216 pounds
- College: Langston (OK)
- Next game: Louisiana Christian (Sept. 21)
I have Martin listed as a defensive Bback as opposed to a corner because he can essentially play both, and will be seen as either or as a pro prospect. Martin has excellent size for the position and knows how to “play big” as well. He is not shy about pressing at the line of scrimmage, showing a good deal of patience with regard to when to deploy his punch. He is one of the better ballhawks at the NAIA level, already with eight interceptions in his career. I really like how when he takes the ball away, he’s looking to score. He’s sound near the line of scrimmage vs. the run, and you can tell he’s been well-coached and is a well-rounded defensive player.
- Height: 6-foot-4
- Weight: 304 pounds
- College: Merrimack
- Next game: Maine (Sept. 21)
Huge fan of Birdow’s technique. He’s playing right ac for the Warriors and will more than likely kick down inside as a pro player. Once he engages with the defender, his hands stay inside and he’s able to maintain good knee bend to stymie the rusher. Once he latches on, the rep is essentially over. Birdow also shows good initial quickness and athleticism to climb to the second level and make blocks in space. When he’s tasked with blocking on the move, he’s able to connect with the target consistently. His game vs UConn gave a good indicator on what his skills are and what his potential could be as a pro.
