3^rd quarter

14:51: Wolfe misses a tackle, but able to slow a big back down for a short gain.

14:13: Wolfe breaks into the backfield, able to come back when a run goes through an opposite hole and get a tackle on the back.

11:55: Wolfe gets into the backfield and is able to turn around and tackle the back from behind for a short gain.

8:45: Wolfe ties up blockers for a linebacker sack on a blitz. The linebacker is JK “just kidding” Schaffer. Coming into this game, the 6-1 228 pound senior linebacker has 35 tackles, 3 picks, and 1 sack in 5 games. He had 111 tackles, 1 pick, and 3 sacks last season. He’s had a nice game tonight as well, but might be too undersized to do anything other than special teams at the next level unless he can transition to safety.

8:24: Wolfe just misses a sack, but forces the quarterback to step up to where he does get sacked.

7:34: Pead finds a hole, but can’t do a lot with it.

2:40: Pead outside in space, can’t get a lot of yards and goes down fairly easily.

4^th quarter

14:55: Wolfe explodes in for a tackle for loss.

13:50: Wolfe again on a tackle for I think a loss, at worst a tackle for no gain.

12:27: Pead with another nice pass block. He’s had a few of those tonight and shown himself to be a good blocker for his size, which is important because he’s looking like a 3^rd down back at this point.

12:10: Pead one cut and go for 50 yards. Touchdown. Solid, but not elite breakaway speed. Good shiftiness to go in basically untouched, but equally bad defense as well.

11:07: Pead up the middle for a gain of 8.

9:39: Pead takes a dump off for a few yards, nice cut, almost breaks one, but doesn’t, shoestring tackle by the defender.

7:53: Pead can’t get a conversion on 3^rd and 2. Nice penetration by Louisville to get into the backfield for a tackle for a loss.

6:31: Wolfe run at, double teamed, able to disengage with a spin move, but too late. Back goes for a first.

4:14: Wolfe in on another sack. He’s had a bunch of big plays tonight.

2:58: Pead bounces off a tackle and finds space outside for a sizable gain.

2:29: Pead with a ton of space, goes for the first on 1^st and 10 after the cut. Goes down on 1^st contact.

1:45: Pead swarmed and tackled for a loss.

1:37: Pead with an inside carry, able to drag the pile for a few yards.

1:27: Pead goes down easily for a short gain on 3^rd and 4.

0:00: Pead rushed for 151 yards and a score on 20 carries, but aside from two long runs where he went almost untouched, he had a fairly pedestrian night. He’s 5-10 200 and backs that size either have to have elite breakaway speed or play bigger than their size. I don’t think Pead does either of those things. He’s got decent speed, but not elite and he doesn’t break a lot of tackles. He doesn’t have a ton of fight in him to extend plays.

He’s got nice hands and showed himself to be a good blocker. He has 15 catches on the season in 7 games after 45 in the last 2 seasons combined, so he might be a 3^rd down back at the next level. So far, on the season, he’s rushed for 703 yards and 8 scores on 115 carries, but he doesn’t appear to be anything special going forward into the next level.

As for Derek Wolfe, he caused a lot of trouble for Louisville with 11 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and a sack. They had a lot of trouble blocking Wolfe. The 6-5 300 pound senior has 32 tackles, 10 for loss, and 5 sacks on the season and is moving up boards. He fits best as a 3-4 defensive end, but he can play defensive tackle as well and he looks like a 2^nd rounder. He’s not an elite defensive tackle, though Louisville’s poor offensive line made him look like one, but he’s a solid player who should make an impact at the next level as starter. He’s not the most athletic kid, but he shows good hustle, good production, and is a high character kid who loves football.