Week 12: College football's breakout stars
Mark Pszonak contributed to this report
Week 12 of the college football season is in the books and with it came many standout performances. Here are three guys who had what could be breakout weeks for them as they take the next step in their development.
RELATED: Week 11's breakout stars | Week 10 | Week 9 | Week 8 | Week 7
The skinny: Kaindoh initially committed to Maryland, but reopened his process in late November. Having already taken an official visit to Florida State in October, Kaindoh then took visits to Penn State and Alabama before committing to the Seminoles in December. As an early enrollee, Kaindoh quickly showcased his athletic ability during the spring and summer in Tallahassee, but through the first eight games this season he had only totaled nine tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. On Saturday, while the game was never in doubt during a 77-6 victory over Delaware State, Kaindoh was able to show everyone the potential he possesses with six tackles and four sacks.
Farrell’s Take: Kaindoh is a freak athletically. His evaluations were up and down as he started off as a pure outside pass rusher who could pursue in the run game and ended up as a versatile inside or outside rusher who could hold the edge. His ranking was so high for a reason: He can be dominant if he wants. Playing for a loaded FSU defense with some excellent edge players, he hasn’t had a chance to shine much, but in this rout he might have had his coming-out party.
The skinny: Lemons’ recruiting process was a roller coaster ride that didn’t stop until National Signing Day. He initially committed to North Carolina, but then flipped to Florida after his experience at Friday Night Lights. He suddenly decommitted from the Gators in August, but then recommitted the following day after speaking to the coaching staff. Then, after he was dismissed form his high school, he again decommitted from the Gators until he once again decided to recommit to Florida on National Signing Day. Lemons only had six carries for 26 yards this season before picking up 89 yards on 11 carries during Florida’s 36-7 victory over UAB. With the Gators’ offense desperate for offensive firepower, the backfield duo of freshmen Lemons and Malik Davis may give Florida fans something to be excited about.
Farrell’s Take: A big, tall, upright back with speed, Lemons had great vision out of high school and the ability to make people miss in space. While his recruitment was a bit flaky, his talent was never in question as a four-star throughout our evaluation process. He also showed off some good hands and versatility in camp settings and wasn’t easy to tackle in games. A home run threat, he could team with Davis down the line to form a terrific duo.
The skinny: Okwuegbunam committed to Missouri in September during an unofficial visit for a game. While he continued to receive pressure from both Nebraska and Indiana to take an official visit, he remained firm with his commitment to the Tigers. The redshirt freshman has had a productive season this fall, but had his best all-around game of his collegiate career on Saturday during the Tigers’ 45-17 victory over Vanderbilt. Quarterback Drew Lock completed 10 passes, five of which went to Okwuegbunam for 116 yards and two touchdowns. With his production this season, Okwuegbunam may quickly become a name to remember during the rest of his time in Columbia.
Farrell’s Take: Okwuegbunam always had talent and just fell short of four-star status out of high school. A huge target with a great frame to fill out, he had big hands and was a reliable pass catcher for the most part. He played wide receiver in high school, but we could easily see the transition to tight end being smooth one although it was expected to take a year or two. This could be the game that sets him apart as a pass catching option at tight end.
