This article is part of our CFB Barometer series.
No Bryce Petty? No problem for the Baylor Bears. With the Heisman hopeful Petty sidelined with two broken vertebrae in his back, sophomore Seth Russell stepped in and torched lowly Northwestern State. Russell completed 16-of-25 passes for a staggering 438 yards and five touchdowns. Russell also rushed for another score, capping off a 70-6 thrashing of the Demons. With the Bears facing a short week and traveling to Buffalo on Friday, Baylor could choose to rest Petty once again before a bye week. That would give their star quarterback almost a month to recover, and certainly make Russell an enticing fantasy option.
Let's see who else is on the rise in this week's College Football Barometer.
UPGRADE
Royce Freeman, RB, Oregon - Byron Marshall gets the pub in the high-flying Oregon offense due to his versatility as a rusher and wideout. Likewise, many expected sophomore Thomas Tyner to figure heavily into the mix after scoring nine rushing touchdowns last season. However, it's been fellow sophomore Freeman who has been the most productive back through the first two games for the Ducks. Freeman and Tyner have essentially split carries, but Freeman has done more with his opportunities. Freeman has scored two touchdowns in each game thus far in 2014, while averaging an impressive 7.1 yards per carry. Freeman's two touchdowns in the fourth quarter of Saturday's game against Michigan State sealed the victory for Oregon. At 6-foot-1, 230, Freeman has the size and strength to wear down defenses late. He has totaled 164 yards rushing, as well as three catches for 33 more yards, and should be able to churn up more yardage as early as this weekend against Wyoming.
Russell Hansbrough, RB, Missouri - Hansbrough bided his time behind Henry Josey at Mizzou, finally receiving the starting job when Josey left for the NFL after last season. Hansbrough has taken the job and run with it, racking up 210 yards and two scores in his first two games for the Tigers. Although dynamic Marcus Murphy will still battle Hansbrough for touches, Murphy is an all-purpose player who can be used in the passing game as well as in the kick return game. In other words, Murphy is much more valuable lining up all over the field, whereas Hansbrough's value comes from lining up as the featured tailback. As a result, Hansbrough has received 38 carries as compared to just 22 for Murphy. Even though he won't get many receptions, Hansbrough is still the back to own in this offense, and with an average of 5.5 yards per carry through Mizzou's first two games, he'll retain the starting running back job for the foreseeable future.
Travin Dural, WR, LSU - The Tigers lost Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry to the NFL, and many wondered how they could possibly replace those playmakers on the outside. Enter Travin Dural. Dural's game-breaking speed has been on display through LSU's first two games of the 2014 campaign. Dural scored on an 80-yard touchdown sprint in the season opener against Wisconsin, then took an Anthony Jennings pass 94 yards to the house on LSU's first play from scrimmage in Saturday's 56-0 rout over Sam Houston State. Dural found the end zone three times against the lowly Bearcats, as they had no answer for the 6-foot-2, 190, sophomore. It appears that many teams will have similar problems with the speedy wideout, who is averaging an absolutely insane 48.5 yards per catch. Of course, he only has six catches, but Dural has somehow accumulated 291 yards through the air already, placing him fourth in the nation in that category. Dural should get behind the secondary at least a couple more times against Louisiana-Monroe of the Sun Belt on Saturday.
Keith Ford, RB, Oklahoma - The Sooners came into the 2014 season with high expectations. They have a quarterback on the upswing in Trevor Knight, a superior wide receiver in Sterling Shepard and a standout defense, all of which gives them hope of being included in the new College Football Playoff once January rolls around. Still, perhaps the one area of concern was the running game, particularly following the dismissal of blue-chip freshman Joe Mixon from the squad. While freshman Samaje Perine and sophomore Alex Ross have done well with their carries thus far, Ford looks like he will eventually run away with the job. Ford has rushed 19 times for 138 yards and four touchdowns in two blowout wins for Oklahoma thus far in 2014. He has found the end zone two times in each game, while averaging 7.3 yards per tote. Ford also looks to be the best receiver of the trio, with four catches for 65 yards as well to lead the group. The battle is far from over, but Ford looks like he's ahead so far.
CHECK STATUS
Kenny Bell, WR, Nebraska - Bell suffered a groin injury in Saturday's close call with McNeese State and is day-to-day. As a result, Bell was limited to just one catch for six yards in the 31-24 triumph. Bell has been a consistent contributor for the Cornhuskers during his four years at Nebraska. He had a bit of a down season in 2013, but still caught 52 passes for 577 yards and four touchdowns. He will be looking for a repeat of his sophomore campaign once he gets back on the field; in that 2012 season, Bell notched 863 yards and eight touchdowns. The 6-1 wideout averaged 17.3 yards per catch. He flashed his prior form in the season opener against FAU with four grabs for 116 yards before the injury, so check back during the week on his status for the game at Fresno State. The Huskers are already depleted with Jamal Turner being lost for the season with a torn Achilles' tendon.
Von Pearson, WR, Tennessee - The Vols have had some success with junior-college wide receivers, most recently Cordarrelle Patterson. Pearson is 6-3, 180, and had been making acrobatic catches all spring since walking onto the UT campus. Pearson found the end zone in his Tennessee debut against Utah State, then led the Vols in receiving with 71 yards in Saturday's 34-19 win over Arkansas State. However, Pearson left the game with an ankle injury and was seen on crutches following the contest. Pearson's status is up in the air, and the Vols have an extremely difficult early season matchup at Oklahoma this week. The Vols would like to have their freakish wideout back against the Sooners, but it remains to be seen if Pearson will be available.
Trevor Siemian, QB, Northwestern - Siemian has looked rather pedestrian in his first two games of the season for the Wildcats. The senior gunslinger has passed for 497 yards and two touchdowns, but has also thrown three interceptions. Siemien struggled with interceptions in 2013, tossing nine picks while splitting reps with the now graduated Kain Colter. Likewise, Siemian injured his right knee in Saturday's loss to Northern Illinois and could not put any pressure on the leg following the game. The injury is not considered serious, but adds yet another layer to what has already been a questionable start to his senior campaign. The Wildcats are 0-2 and play host to Western Illinois in two weeks before getting into the meat of their Big Ten schedule.
Nick Harwell, WR, Kansas - Harwell is a sleeper wideout who caught two touchdown passes in his debut for the Jayhawks on Saturday. Harwell finished Saturday's 34-28 victory over Southeast Missouri State with four grabs for 48 yards and the two scores. A transfer from Miami (Ohio), Harwell sat out 2013 after dominating the competition in the MAC. Harwell had a superb 2011 season, hauling in 97 passes for 1,425 yards and nine touchdowns. He regressed a bit in 2012, but still had a stellar campaign with 68 grabs for 870 yards and eight more scores. Harwell is a capable route runner with extensive collegiate experience. He should be an excellent safety blanket for new KU QB Montell Cozart. The biggest question will be whether he will be able to succeed against stiffer competition when Big 12 play ensues, though.
DOWNGRADE
J.W. Walsh, QB, Oklahoma State - Walsh performed much better than expect in OSU's season opener against defending champion Florida State. Walsh completed 15-of-27 passes for 203 yards, one touchdown and one interception, while also rushing 11 times for 51 yards and two more scores. However, Walsh broke his foot in the subsequent game against Missouri State and will be sidelined for the foreseeable future. It is possible that Walsh even misses the remainder of the 2014 campaign. Junior Daxx Garman will take Walsh's spot. Garman has had an interesting journey to this spot, being ruled ineligible for his senior season of high school, redshirting at the University of Arizona and then transferring to OSU. Garman completed 16-of-26 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns in relief of Walsh, but will be getting his first collegiate start Saturday, albeit against inferior UTSA.
Jake McGee, TE, Florida - McGee was a post-graduate transfer from the University of Virginia and was expected to play a vital role in the Gator offense this season, particularly with the dink-and-dunk offense the Gators utilize with quarterback Jeff Driskel. McGee caught 43 passes for 395 yards and two touchdowns for the Cavaliers in 2013. Unfortunately, McGee's 2014 season has been cut abruptly short after the tight end broke his tibia and fibula in Saturday's thrashing of Eastern Michigan. McGee's expected production will be difficult to replace, and the Gators do not have one player that will be able to take his role.
Phillip Ely, QB, Toledo - An Alabama transfer, Ely left the program due to the assumption that he would not be able to start at quarterback for the Crimson Tide. He got his opportunity at Toledo this season, and threw for 337 yards and four touchdowns in the season opener against New Hampshire. Ely was having a much rougher task against the Missouri defense this past Saturday, and unfortunately suffered a right knee injury in a non-contact situation. No official word for Ely's status just yet, but the prognosis does not figure to be good for this season. Sophomore Logan Woodside looks to be the most likely replacement for Ely.
Andre Davis, WR, South Florida - Davis has put up some decent statistics during his time at South Florida. He posted career highs in receptions and receiving yards as a junior in 2013 with 49 grabs for 735 yards. Despite showing big-play ability, though, he scored just two touchdowns last season. Davis caught a 44-yard pass against Western Carolina in USF's opener, but hurt his chest and was forced out of the game early. He didn't suit up for this past Saturday's tilt with Maryland. The Bulls face another difficult task as they clash with the N.C. State Wolfpack this upcoming weekend, and Davis's status is still in question due to the bruised sternum. USF should continue to rely heavily on freshman running back Marlon Mack with Davis on the shelf.
