This article is part of our CFB Barometer series.
How about the consistency of the nation's leading wide receiver, Kevin White of West Virginia? The 6-foot-3 senior has amassed at least 100 yards receiving in every game this season. White has also snagged at least eight passes in six of the Mountaineers' seven contests. White has found the end zone seven times on the year, including on two occasions Saturday to lift West Virginia to a 41-27 triumph over previously undefeated Baylor. The spread offense of head coach Dana Holgorsen has yielded huge statistics for wide receivers over the last couple of seasons, most notably from Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey. White has only added to the wide receiving lore at West Virginia thus far in 2014.
Let's take a look at the rest of the college football landscape in this edition of the Barometer.
UPGRADE
Mike Davis, RB, South Carolina – After a sluggish start to the season, Davis has really come on strong lately. Slowed by an assortment of injuries to begin the 2014 campaign, Davis appears to have finally hit his stride. Davis has crossed the 100-yard rushing plateau in each of the Gamecocks' last three contests, en route to 398 yards on the ground over that span. Davis has also scored six times over that span, giving him eight rushing touchdowns on the season. Davis has steadily improved his yards-per-carry average as the season has worn on; Davis is managing a stout 5.4 yards per tote in 2014. He will face a stiff test against defending SEC Champion Auburn this weekend, but Davis at least looks the part of a workhorse back at this point in the year.
DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville – Parker made a triumphant return to the Cardinals on Saturday against NC State. After missing the first seven games of the season due to a foot/toe injury, Parker hauled in nine passes for 132 yards against the Wolfpack. Parker is the deep threat that the Louisville offense has been lacking this season. The playmaker caught 12 touchdowns in 2013, while averaging a robust 16.1 yards per catch. While two of Louisville's final four games come against highly ranked opponents in Florida State and Notre Dame, Parker is too talented to be ignored. If he is available on the waiver wire, he is certainly worth a flier, as his upside is that of a surefire No. 1 wideout.
Corey Robinson, WR, Notre Dame – Robinson had his coming out party Saturday on the big stage against defending champion Florida State. With his father, former NBA legend David Robinson watching from the sidelines, Robinson hauled in eight passes for 99 yards and a touchdown. Robinson would have also had a third score, if not for a questionable offensive pass interference call in the red zone with just 13 seconds left to play. The score would have given the Irish the victory. Still, the 6-foot-5 Robinson showed his leaping ability as well as his versatility in this game, including catching a 19-yard pass on 4th-and-18 to keep Notre Dame's final drive alive. He has 27 catches for 359 yards and four touchdowns during his sophomore campaign.
Marquise Williams, QB, North Carolina – While the UNC defense has been battered and bruised in 2014, Williams has managed to keep the Tar Heels in most games with stellar offensive play. Williams has thrown for more than 300 yards in three of the last four games for the Heels. Over that span, Williams has 13 total touchdowns and just two interceptions. Williams has thrown for four touchdowns in two of those four games, a loss at Clemson on Sept. 27 and win against Georgia Tech this past Saturday. Williams completed an absurd 80-percent of his passes for 390 yards and five total touchdowns in the 48-43 triumph over the Yellow Jackets. Williams has been forced to pass due to his woeful defense, but he has come up big in recent weeks. The Tar Heels do not have a ranked opponent left on their schedule in an unpredictable ACC Coastal. The junior has already tied his passing touchdown total from a season ago, with five games remaining.
CHECK STATUS
Jaxon Shipley, WR, Texas – Shipley has battled an assortment of injuries this season, which has limited his effectiveness. Shipley injured his hamstring early in fall practice, then suffered a mild head injury in the second game of the season against BYU. As a result, the banged-up Shipley has been unable to find a rhythm in 2014. However, he has been better over his last two games, arguably his two best outputs of the season. Shipley gained a season-high 115 yards on nine catches on Oct. 11 at Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry, then followed up that performance with six catches for 92 yards against Iowa State on Saturday. Shipley appears to be developing a nice rapport with sophomore QB Tyrone Swoopes, who was thrust into action after yet another injury to starter David Ash. Shipley is still looking for his first touchdown of the season, but his numbers appear to be trending in the right direction, as long as he can stay healthy. A difficult schedule is also something to watch for the production of Shipley and the rest of the Longhorns; Texas still has to play Kansas State, Oklahoma State and TCU, all ranked opponents. Even in the offensively charged Big 12, that could spell trouble for the struggling Longhorns.
Maty Mauk, QB, Missouri – Mauk has been simply atrocious his last few starts. Mauk's passing yardage has steadily declined since a 331-yard output against Indiana on Sept. 20. In three games since that loss, Mauk has not thrown for more than 132 yards. He has also failed to throw a single, solitary touchdown pass over that span. This stretch included a five-turnover stinker at Georgia on Oct. 11. Meanwhile, Mauk managed just 20 passing yards at Florida this last weekend. Yes, you read that correctly. Somehow, the Tigers blew out the Gators, 42-13, thanks to four return TDs. The only reason Mauk is not a downgrade is that the Tigers have a favorable schedule for the remainder of the season, facing SEC patsies Vanderbilt and Kentucky in successive weeks, followed by reeling Texas A&M in November. Still, even with the easy slate, it is clear Mauk has been struggling to find his game.
Brandon Allen, QB, Arkansas – Allen is not getting the job done for the Razorbacks. Although the Arkansas offense is predicated on running the football with Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams, Allen has not been able to capitalize on his passing opportunities when called upon. Although Allen did toss three touchdowns in Saturday's 45-32 defeat at the hands of the Georgia Bulldogs, two of those scores came when Georgia had a huge lead in the second half. Likewise, while he threw for a season-high 296 yards, the junior also tossed two interceptions, doubling his season total in the process. The Hogs have yet to win an SEC conference game under coach Bret Bielema, and Allen's lack of reliability is one of the main culprits. While Allen should have a decent output next weekend against lowly UAB, the Razorbacks still have dates with Ole Miss, Mississippi State and LSU left on their schedule. The last game of the season at Mizzou may be the only chance for Allen and the Hogs to grab an SEC victory.
Gary Nova, QB, Rutgers – Nova has been the definition of inconsistency during his collegiate career at Rutgers. Nova had a five-INT game against Penn State on Saturday, though had been better up until Saturday's game with Ohio State. In the two games prior to the contest with the Buckeyes, Nova passed for 695 yards, seven touchdowns and just one interception. However, those numbers came against Tulane and struggling Michigan. The bad Gary Nova returned Saturday against better competition, as the Rutgers gunslinger managed just 192 yards and an interception at OSU. The Scarlet Knights are 1-2 in their first season in the Big Ten and have dates remaining with Nebraska, Wisconsin and Michigan State. As such, rolling with Nova could be a risky proposition for the rest of 2014.
DOWNGRADE
Zach Laskey, RB, Georgia Tech – Laskey left Saturday's loss to North Carolina late, clutching his shoulder/collarbone as he walked off the field with three minutes remaining. While Laskey's status remains in the air, his loss would be a big blow to the triple-option attack of the Yellow Jackets. Laskey has received double-digit carries in every game this season, averaging five yards per carry. He has shown a nose for the end zone in recent weeks as well, scoring three touchdowns in the last two games before the injury. While Laskey has just one 100-yard game in 2014, he has rushed for at least 70 yards in every contest this season. Georgia Tech has lost two games in a row after starting the season 5-0, so Laskey's absence would be even more crucial on a squad that is in a tailspin.
Storm Woods, RB, Oregon State – Woods left Thursday's tilt with Utah in the first half due to a right knee injury. Woods is the second-leading rusher for the Beavers, notching 388 yards on the ground thus far in 2014. However, he has been averaging 5.7 yards per tote this season, and had three touchdowns in the three games prior to Thursday's Double OT loss to the Utes. Woods had rushed nine times for 46 yards before leaving the game due to the knee ailment. Meanwhile, Terron Ward rushed 23 times in his absence, though managed just 70 yards. However, Ward did catch six passes for 45 yards out of the backfield. Ward would stand to gain the most if Woods' injury is serious. The two have been sharing carries, though Ward has six touchdowns and slightly more rushing yardage to date. Even without the injury, Woods has failed to live up to expectations since a standout freshman campaign that saw him rush for 940 yards and 13 scores in 2012.
Chad Voytik, QB, Pittsburgh – If not for the presence of superstar wide receiver Tyler Boyd, Voytik would be having a really poor season, his first as a starter for the Panthers. The sophomore has thrown an interception in six straight games. Although he did rush for 118 yards in Saturday's win over Virginia Tech, Voytik threw for just 92 yards. It marked the third time in seven games that Voytik failed to reach 100 passing yards in a game. He has also completed 10 passes or fewer in four of seven contests in 2014. Voytik is completing less than 60 percent of his passes and has tossed just four touchdowns over the last four games. The numbers are not in his favor, despite being 4-3 overall and 2-1 in the wild ACC Coastal.
Matt Linehan, QB, Idaho – Linehan started off the season white hot, passing for 300 yards in three consecutive games to open the 2014 campaign. He threw eight touchdowns over that span. However, he has come crashing back down to earth since that time. In fact, Linehan has thrown just one touchdown through the next four games. He has also been a turnover machine, tossing 11 interceptions through seven games. In four contests, Linehan has thrown at least two picks. Add in that Linehan was forced out of Saturday's game with New Mexico State due to a possible concussion, and his fantasy utility may have already come and gone in 2014.
