The Devy 100 Countdown: 11-20

Rob Willette Posted On May 30, 2014

winston

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.

#20 – Leonard Fournette, RB LSU Tigers (2017)

The name Leonard Fournette has saturated the recruiting market for years now, with LSU catering their recruiting style at the running back position to take an all-in approach with the consensus top runner in this year’s class. A size/speed specimen, Fournette has an NFL ready frame, which is encouraging for early production yet also begs the question of whether or not he was simply a man amongst boys at the high school level. Turning 20 next January, he will need to dominate as a true freshman if he is to match the hype surrounding him. This is not to diminish him as a prospect, as he is a unique talent at a position starving for it. His current value, however, is enormous for a player yet to take a snap at the college level.

#19 – Stacy Coley, WR Miami Hurricanes (2016)

A proclivity for big plays made Stacy Coley an electric weapon for the Hurricanes, as the loose limbed true freshman circumnavigated the football field in search of the end zone both on offense and in the return game. An incredibly fluid mover, the Florida native is prone to concentration drops and needs to bulk up but he has the upside to become the ACC’s top all-around offensive weapon with Stefon Diggs and the Terrapins moving to the Big Ten.

#18 – Corey Clement, RB Wisconsin Badgers (2016)

The Wisconsin Badgers have been a rushing juggernaut since the Barry Alvarez days, but only recently have they started to produce NFL quality backs. Montee Ball was a second round pick in 2013; James White is a well-rounded an underrated back in this year’s draft; and Melvin Gordon arguably would have been the top back available in this year’s draft had he declared. The next back in line is Corey Clement, a New Jersey native who flashed big skills in limited duty. The rising sophomore is an economical runner that utilizes an efficient north-south running style and packs punch at the point of contact. With prototype size at a young age and running smarts, Clement will establish himself as one of the nation’s better backs as a sophomore and looks to have a NFL future.

#17 – Karlos Williams, RB Florida State Seminoles (2015)

Not long into the 2013 season, Karlos Williams was viewed as a recruiting bust after having a middling impact at the safety position. A switch to running back in week two revitalized Williams’ Seminole career and showed that despite his inadequacies in the secondary, he is a unique athlete who does some freaky things on the football field. A tall back with a sinewy build, he is unorthodox in many ways and received mostly mop-up duty in 2013, succeeding solely due to raw athleticism as opposed to an understanding of the running back position. That raw athleticism, however, caught the eye of many devy owners and if he can refine his game to compliment his tools, he will continue to ascend the devy ranks. At this point, pure potential alone makes him worthy of a relatively high selection.

#16 – Jaelen Strong, WR Arizona State Sun Devils (2015)

Despite posting impressive numbers during his first year in Tempe, Jaelen Strong does not have a skill-set that immediately jumps off the screen at you. He’s big with ample wheels and strong, reliable hands, though none individually elevate him into the elite category. What he does have is an innate ability to make plays in traffic and end up with the football in his hands seemingly every time it is thrown his way. Another year of making Taylor Kelly look good should cement him as one of the top five receivers in next year’s draft.

[inlinead]#15 – Jameis Winston, QB Florida State Seminoles (2015)

Jameis Winston was so dominant during his redshirt freshman season that we’re at the point of overanalyzing his every trait. His delivery is now too long; his feet too heavy; his mental makeup too shaky. Regardless of how you feel about the reigning Heisman winner, he is a first round lock with a knack for making big throws in key situations – that alone makes him an elite devy asset and the top quarterback on this list.

#14 – Devante Parker, WR Louisville Cardinals (2015)

That big receiver running undeterred over the middle of the field in Teddy Bridgewater highlights is Devante Parker, one of the nation’s more gifted receivers and one who often gets lost in the buzz that Bridgewater created. Tall and lean with deceptive speed and power, Parker has the feet of a running back and the savvy to slip past defenders down the field. Despite inconsistent hands, he’s an elite vertical threat who has a chance to create his own identity in 2014.

#13 – Jay Ajayi, RB Boise State Broncos (2015)

Though I try to keep an open mind when determining the goods of college talent, I do have a type for each position I find preferable. One such type at running back is Jay Ajayi, a relentless runner with an insatiable thirst for extra yards. With elite burst and a well-rounded game, he checks all the boxes athletically and would have been my top rated runner for 2014 had he declared. As is, he’s an elite devy asset and a possible top three runner for 2015.

#12 – Tyler Boyd, WR Pittsburgh Panthers (2016)

If the Tom Savage hype proves real, he should send a portion of his signing bonus to Tyler Boyd. Stacy Coley North was a dominating presence as a freshman, showcasing elite ball skills and after the catch wiggle seen most often in running backs. With two years of strength training between he and the NFL, his slight build is not a major concern. A weapon with a deep and versatile toolkit, Boyd is part of a promising group of receivers destined for the 2016 draft.

#11 – Alex Collins, RB Arkansas Razorbacks (2016)

Razorback tailback Alex Collins made headlines for all the wrong reasons on signing day before making that memory an afterthought, eclipsing the 1,000 yard mark despite being a true freshman and playing in the same backfield as another gifted runner. Once pegged as a change of pace runner, Collins proved in year one that he can pack a punch and power through arm tackles, illustrating a power element to go with elite vision and speed. He was born to tote the rock and with another year of growth he will be one of those devy prospects that nobody is willing to part with.

We’ll be back next time with a look at the truly elite – the top ten devy prospects.

[ad1]