The Devy 100 Countdown: 41-50

Rob Willette Posted On May 19, 2014

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Editor’s Note: This article is a Dynasty Scouts exclusive. Remember, our new Dynasty Scouts section focuses on the stars of tomorrow, with a laser focus on High School recruits and College players who look to have the talent to be future assets in dynasty leagues and have value today in devy leagues.

One of the more intriguing aspects of devy leagues is the number of opinions they inspire. With over 100 Division I programs and regional broadcasting, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure, and vice versa. Outside of the elite prospects known to all, it is really a matter of personal preference. In the Devy 100 series, we’ll look at the top 100 developmental prospects in college football. This is catered to those in deep leagues in which a lot of players are already owned – a majority of devy leagues only allow a few players to be rostered at a time. A few important notes:

I’ll give the nod to a true freshman I view to have a high ceiling versus an upperclassmen who may top out as a complementary player at the next level. I’d rather swing for the fences in these cases. I feel many talents who are safe bets to reach the NFL yet never make a huge splash are easily replaceable via rookie drafts and savvy transactions. This strategy certainly has its flaws; it does, however, account for the lower ranking of a few players.
This list will surely omit several worthy talents. I don’t claim to have an omniscient grasp of the college football landscape. There are players I have never heard of who will emerge as top draft picks over the next few years.

*The year following each player denotes the first year they will be draft eligible, or, for seniors, their final draft opportunity.

#50 – Dorial Green-Beckham, WR Eastern Illinois Panthers (2015)

Dorial Green-Beckham has gone from devy darling to the bane of many owner’s existence due a rash of questionable off-field decisions that ultimately led to his dismissal from the Missouri football team. The former mega-recruit is now in the unenviable position of finding a new home during his draft year, with a drop to a lower level of college football a real possibility. On the field, he’s certainly a unique size/speed talent and has the wingspan of a condor, traits on a display during a breakout sophomore campaign. Unfortunately, he’s far from dynamic with the ball in his hands and he does a lot of his damage by towering over physically overmatched corners in the red zone. It is a reasonable time to toss out an offer should anyone be giving him away, though I am not particularly interested in what I perceive to be an overrated talent with major off-field red flags.

#49 – Elijah Hood, RB North Carolina Tar Heels (2017)

Every now and then, a prospect comes around and becomes one of “your guys.” The reasons for this can be numerous; however, you just cannot shake the notion that he will hit it big and you’re forever putty in his hands come draft time. While that thought process can be a deadly sin, I find myself in that situation with Elijah Hood. His compact build and no-nonsense running style turn defenders into debris; those fortunate enough to remain standing are incapable of chasing him down from behind thanks to Hood’s elite lateral quickness and long speed. In a deep class of freshman runners, he is one that fits the mold of success to a tee.

#48 – Tevin Coleman, RB Indiana Hoosiers (2015)

The task of making Hoosier football a must-see event is a nearly impossible one. Tevin Coleman – in tandem with Cody Latimer – achieved just that in 2013 and spearheaded an Indiana offense that was downright explosive. The rising junior has the type of less than ideal frame you’d expect from a former wide receiver but he runs with authority and has deadly speed when hitting a seam. A natural pass catcher thanks to a receiving background, versatility is a hallmark of Coleman’s game and he stands as an underrated devy commodity thanks to the bevy of gifted runners who figure to hit the NFL in 2015.

#47 – Bryce Petty, QB Baylor Bears (2015)

You cannot travel the streets of Waco these days without rubbing shoulders with several of Baylor’s supreme offensive talents. The triggerman for one of the nation’s preeminent stat machines, Bryce Petty bided his time under Art Briles and it paid off, as the redshirt junior posted an absurd touchdown/interception rate of almost eleven to one. Petty’s not in Robert Griffin III’s class when it comes to athleticism, but he displayed a plus arm and plenty of touch to go along with underrated mobility. His draft pedigree alone provides him a ton of value as another strong year under center may push him into the first round discussion, if he is not already there.

#46 – Josh Malone, WR Tennessee Volunteers (2017)

[inlinead]I am a sucker for tall, athletic receivers with elite ball skills and Josh Malone displays those attributes in spades. Despite being all elbows and knees at this point in his physical development, he runs with power after the catch and is more than just a vertical threat. He has the tools to follow in the footsteps of recent Volunteer receivers as big-time NFL prospects.

#45 – Nelson Agholor, WR USC Trojans (2015)

The shoes of Robert Woods were filled admirably by Nelson Agholor in 2013, with the sophomore becoming a 1B to Marqise Lee and even outshining Lee much of the year. A quick twitch athlete who excels in the open field, Agholor is a potentially elite collegiate receiver, though he is likely not dynamic enough to compensate for a sinewy build and average size. A safe bet to play on Sundays, he receives a relatively high ranking though the upside pales in comparison to many listed ahead of him.

#44 – O.J. Howard, TE Alabama Crimson Tide (2016)

Tight end is not traditionally a position that sees a true freshman shine, but largely thanks to his advanced blocking skills, O.J. Howard flashed potentially dominant skills in year one. With a prototypical build, strength at the point of attack and speed that can create mismatches, he checks all the boxes you’re looking for in an elite tight end. If his game grows at the level many expect, he will evolve into one of the better tight end prospects in recent memory.

#43 – Tyreek Hill, RB Oklahoma State Cowboys (2015)

Speed and versatility are two traits that will never go out of style and they’re the two areas in which Tyreek Hill shines brightest. Hill doubles as a track star and that speed translates to the football field, where he presses the defense at every level. As a gadget player with no Division I football under his belt, there is reason to be skeptical of Hill’s long-term value, but at his current price the risk is well worth it.

#42 – Ty Montgomery, WR Stanford Cardinal (2015)

More athlete than receiver at this point, Ty Montgomery was nonetheless able to pace a run-heavy Cardinal squad in receiving and as a bonus established himself as one of the best kick returners in the nation. His toolkit includes open field agility and long speed, yet is short on natural hands. Still a work in progress, there’s reason to expect continued progression and that is an enticing prospect for an impressive physical specimen who has already produced at a high level.

#41 – Rashad Greene, WR, Florida State Seminoles (2015)

If you transferred Rashad Greene’s natural feel for the nuances of the receiver position into Montgomery’s body, you’d have the perfect receiver prospect. As is, the Seminole is an elite college receiver whose pro upside is limited by his slight frame and complimentary receiver skill-set. Jameis Winston’s top target is a safe bet to have a long, effective NFL career and there’s plenty of value in that.

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