Spotlight #1: Utah State MLB Bobby Wagner
Spotlight #2: Fresno State DT Logan Harrell
1st quarter
14:47: Harrell pushed back and can’t disengage on a run play.
13:21: Harrell gets pressure up the middle.
13:14: Harrell run at, can’t disengage, pancaked.
12:20: Harrell overanxious on a screen, screener able to score on a big play against a blitz.
11:30: Wagner blitzes, nothing happening.
9:35: Wagner blitzing, shows good instincts to turn around quickly on a run and make a tackle, albeit after the first down is allowed.
7:42: Harrell creates a pile on a stop for a short gain.
6:42: Harrell gets into the backfield on a set up screen, good instincts to stay at home on a screen play.
6:11: Harrell pancaked.
5:52: Wagner with good sideline to sideline speed to get a tackle on the opposite side of the field.
4:08: Wagner gets pressure on a blitz.
3:58: Harrell gets in on a tackle.
0:57: Wagner fooled on a fake, tackles the running back instead.
0:12: Wagner takes a bad angle on a pretty big run allowed.
2nd quarter
14:43: Wagner in on a tackle on a pretty big gain on an outside run.
14:13: Wagner in on a tackle up the middle on a run.
13:34: A run out an opposite gap, good speed by Wagner to chase him down from behind.
8:49: Harrell gives chase on a roll out. Nice speed for a defensive tackle.
8:42: Harrell with a powerful spin to beat one guy, but another blocker picks him up.
8:32: Harrell in on a short tackle.
7:14: Wagner on a tackle on an outside run, could have been a little stronger, back is able to drag him a little.
4:48: Harrell is able to get pressure and a hit on the quarterback.
2:07: Harrell unblocked into the backfield, can’t do anything with it, has to chase the back from behind for a short gain.
1:26: Harrell pushed off the snap big time on a run.
0:12: Wagner on a solo tackle for a short gain up the middle.
3rd quarter
14:47: Wagner tripped up by a fallen guy in the backfield while trying to get pressure.
12:36: Robert Turbin with yet another huge run. He’s at 9 carries for 108 yards on the game. The junior running back does it all. He had 207 carries for 1296 yards and 13 touchdowns last year, along with 30 catches for 418 yards and 5 touchdowns. This year, coming into this game, he has 93 carries for 599 yards and 10 touchdowns with 5 catches for 43 yards and 2 touchdowns. He’s also reportedly a very good pass protector. He’s 5-10 215 with solid speed. Look for him to be playing on Sundays someday.
11:33: Harrell in on a tackle for little to no gain.
8:42: Wagner on a nice outside tackle.
7:53: Wagner throws off a running back block on a blitz and gets pressure,
6:16: Harrell disengages, but a broken tackle.
5:02: Harrell able to get a tackle in space after a gain of 6 yards.
3:20: Harrell into the backfield, but run is into the opposite gap.
2:48: Harrell creates a pile on the line, but it’s an outside run.
2:14: Harrell lets the quarterback run past him after he gets push on the line. Poor instincts.
4th quarter
14:00: Wagner able to get pressure, isn’t tripped up by the back.
11:55: Wagner juked out on a ball carrier reversing field, can’t catch it.
11:27: Harrell in on a pressure on a play where Fresno State gets a strip sack.
9:12: Wagner taken down on a cut block on 4th down, Fresno State converts.
7:54: Harrell run at, stopped for no gain.
6:32: Harrell with a tackle for little to no gain after shedding a block, stuffs back on a shovel pass, not fooled, 3rd down stop.
3:36: Logan Harrell with a pass deflection at the line.
3:28: Harrell gets into the backfield, pressure, quarterback escapes, good chase, forces bad throw.
3:22: Harrell showing the nice spin move again into the backfield.
1:27: Harrell muscles his way up the middle and brings the quarterback down for a sack. Powerful play.
0:00: Bobby Wagner had a solid game as a 3-4 middle linebacker for Utah State with 8 tackles. He has 89 tackles, 5 for a loss, 3 sacks, and a pick on the season in 7 games. At 6-1 230, he’s too small to stay inside in a 3-4 at the next level and he really showed his lack of size in this game at times. That size will cut it in the WAC, but he’ll have to be an outside linebacker in a 4-3 in the pros.
He’s got solid sideline to sideline ability and is a good blitzer when he has space, but he doesn’t fight off bigger blocks very well. He struggles when offensive linemen get into the 2nd level and block, but when he has space, he’s a good fundamental tackler with nice instincts and great technique. He looks like a mid to late round pick as a 4th or 5th linebacker in a 4-3 and a special teamer.
As for Logan Harrell, he had some nice flashy plays and he’s really shown himself to be a stat stuffer on the season. He has 49 tackles, 11.5 for loss, and 5 sacks in 8 games. However, at 6-2 275, it’s unclear what position he’ll play at the next level. He’s too small to be an every down defensive tackle or 3-4 defensive end, but he doesn’t have the height or the speed to be a left end. He might just be a nickel rusher at defensive tackle and a situational player.
He struggled against the run and didn’t get consistent pressure either in this game and overall he didn’t stand out as a dominant player against WAC competition. He needed to stand out to be anything more than a mid rounder and I think he’s in that mid to late round range as a situation 4-3 player. He really reminds me of Eric Foster, a 6-2 265 pound defensive tackle for Indianapolis.
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