Danny Kanell has an interesting name atop his weekly quarterback rankings ahead of Week 8’s college football action.
Oregon State is 5-2 overall and 3-0 in the Pac-12 after a 48-30 win over Washington State in Week 7. Braden Atkinson threw for 23-of-38 for 347 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Through seven games, the FCS transfer has totaled an FBS-best 2,604 yards and 24 TDs vs. just two interceptions.
The Beavers are in the hunt for the Group of Six’s guaranteed College Football Playoff berth, and that’s thanks in part to the work of Atkinson. That’s why he’s at the top of Kanell’s list of “Top Guns.”
Right below Atkinson is Miami‘s Darian Mensah. Mensah threw for 326 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception during the Hurricanes’ wild win over Florida State. Underneath Mensah at No. 3 is Ole Miss‘s Trinidad Chambliss, who totaled 241 yards and three touchdowns while running for a fourth in a blowout win over Mizzou. Houston’s Connor Weigman and USC’s Jayden Maiava round out Kanell’s top five.
Mensah could have a shot at taking the No. 1 spot from Atkinson when Miami faces Pitt on Saturday. Meanwhile, Chambliss has an opportunity of his own when the Rebels take on Texas.
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Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
