It’s a football weekend in full swing on all fronts, with college football in full swing and several conference matchups already scheduled. The Canadian Football League is in Week 16 and hurtling towards the postseason, while the NFL is also gearing up to kick off Week 3 of its season.
Back on the college football front, it’s Week 4, but not all programs have begun their 2024 campaigns. This week, the Ivy League kicks off its football season and joins the party. The always-talented Ancient Eight is ready to begin another competitive season with the Ivy crown decided in the final week of the year.
The Ivy League offers superior coaching and development, which is why top prospects from the league tend to get drafted or picked by FBS programs. As I always say, the Ivy League is one of the most underrated football conferences in the sport.
This weekend also sees the Europa Football League championship game, which this year features a fantastic matchup between the two biggest teams in the ELF, the Rhein Fire and the Vienna Vikings. The interesting storyline in this match is that the Fire are coached by Jim Tomsula, who is looking to win back-to-back championships and comes into this match with a perfect 12-0 record last season and 11-1 record this season.
This year, the Vienna Vikings are an undefeated team with a record of 12-0 and are looking to win their second ELF title under the direction of one of the best coaches in football, Chris Kalaykai.
European Football League (Championship Game)
WR Harlan Kwofie
Team: Line Fire Height: 5’11” Weight: 200 lbs Age: 25
Kwofie has quietly been one of the underrated stars of the Fire offense this season. He is the team’s second-leading receiver behind Kelvin McKnight and could be a standout in the championship game. He is a fluid player who is not afraid to play in the middle of the field or in contested catch situations. The German-born receiver had an outstanding play in a playoff game against the Madrid Bravos, scoring four touchdowns.
WR Noah Toure
Team: Vienna Vikings Height: 6’1″ Weight: 190 lbs Age: 22
Toure had a great rookie season with ELF and made the most of the opportunities he was given. With star Jordan Buer sidelined with injury, Toure was a go-to guy for the Vikings offense behind star Reece Horn. Toure has great ability to track down the deep ball and put his body in the right position to make a play. I like his acceleration into the root stem and there is still a lot of room for growth in his game. Given his young age and the breakout rookie season he had in Vienna, it would not be surprising to see him get an opportunity in the US.
USports Canadian College Football (Week 5)
Height: 6’2″ Weight: 230 lbs. College: Windsor Next game: Ottawa (Sept. 21)
I watched Berescu at the East-West Bowl in May and he has definitely moved past the “just got off the bus” impression and has exactly the look you’d expect from a running back. What sets him apart on the field is the run game, where he has great feel, adapts well to the run and tackles extremely well with both good form and strength. Berescu’s game is reminiscent of Los Angeles Rams running back Troy Reeder, who is comfortable in space and gets good angles on the ball carrier.
Height: 6’2″ Weight: 185 lbs. College: Ottawa Next game: Windsor (Sept. 21)
Cumberbatch was also one of the standouts in the East-West Bowl in the spring. He plays the defensive halfback position, which is basically a safety/slot defender, and has incredible length for that position. His spatial awareness is what stands out the most about his game, and he has a really good grasp of passing concepts and zone coverage. What I really like is that he doesn’t miss an opportunity to turn the ball over. If it’s close, he can make a play. I think he has the crossover ability to play the same role in the NFL/UFL if the opportunity arises. Either way, he’ll be a good player in professional baseball.
Height: 6’2″ Weight: 205 lbs. University: British Columbia Next game: University of Saskatchewan (Sept. 20)
Rooker is an under-the-radar passer who is getting a lot of attention from US scouts. Rooker has consistently shown good pass accuracy and pass placement at every level of the field. He has shown himself to be an effective passer who values timing, especially in the quick game. I like how well he consistently gets the ball out. He is the type of QB who always has a plan and always has an answer, which makes him very efficient and difficult to defend.
College Football Week 4
Height: 6’2″ Weight: 205 lbs. College: Cornell Next game: Colgate (Sept. 21)
I have been a fan of Wang since his debut season. He has great athleticism for his position and is a true dual threat in that regard. His game is very similar to that of Jake “The Snake” Plummer. Wang has a great touch on the pass and can throw scoring passes with ease. In fact, he has been improving his passing every season. Looking ahead to the pro game, I think that in an offense that is primarily movement-based, his ability to throw on the move combined with his threat as a runner would certainly maximize his skill set.
Height: 5’10” Weight: 175 lbs. College: Brown University Next game: Georgetown University (September 21)
Reed is on the Reese’s Senior Bowl watch list as one of the top overall defenders in the FCS. His quickness on the ball stands out immediately on film. He’s a prototypical click-and-close corner with great ball awareness and ball skills. I like how he’s able to use his length to make plays for his size. You can always see him using his off arm to brush the ball away or disrupt catch attempts. Reed had five interceptions last season and is a bona fide ball hawk on the perimeter.
Height: 6’1″Weight: 216 lbsCollege: Langston (OK)Next game: Louisiana Christian (Sept. 21)
I listed Martin as a defensive back instead of a cornerback because he can essentially play both and looks like he could play either or be a pro prospect. Martin has great size for the position and knows how to make the “big play.” He’s not shy about applying pressure at the line of scrimmage and has shown a lot of patience when it comes to when to roll with the punches. He’s one of the better ball hunters at the NAIA level and has already recorded eight interceptions in his career. I really like how when he gets the ball, he looks to score. He’s solid against the run near the line of scrimmage and you can tell he’s a well-coached, well-rounded defensive player.
Height: 6-foot-4 Weight: 304 pounds College: Merrimack Next game: At Maine (Sept. 21)
I’m a big fan of Bardeau’s technique. He plays right wing for the Warriors and will likely kick down inside as a pro player. When he engages a defender, his hands stay inside and he’s able to bend his knees nicely to stop the rusher. Once he’s caught, the repetition is basically over. Bardeau also shows good initial agility and athleticism to get to the second level and make blocks in space. When given the task of blocking on the move, he’s able to connect with his target consistently. The game against UConn was a good indicator of his skill and potential as a pro.