Devy Conference Preview: Mountain West

Rob Willette

ajayi

Editor’s Note: This article is a Dynasty Scouts exclusive. Remember, our 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.

The Mountain West gets a makeover in 2014. Gone are David Carr and David Fales and their video game numbers. Left behind is enough talent to keep the late night college football crowd interested. Much like the MAC, the Mountain West is far from a juggernaut, yet its teams’ wide open styles and theatrics allow devy owners to watch with a discerning eye.

Known Commodities

Jay Ajayi, RB Boise State Broncos

By far the most well-known and highly valued prospect in the Mountain West, Jay Ajayi is an accomplished runner who could have been a day two pick had he entered the 2014 NFL Draft. An entertaining back who runs with recklessness, his 2013 was marred by bouts of fumbleitis, but he still established him as one of the nation’s best runners.

Devante Davis, WR UNLV Runnin’ Rebels

A nuts and bolts receiver who wins battles at the line of scrimmage, Devante Davis returns for his senior season as arguably the league’s most talented receiver. A functional athlete with inconsistent hands, he’s likely relegated to a backup role at the next level and is only a flier at this point.

Tyler Winston, WR San Jose State Spartans

Slightly built, true freshman wide receivers are not expected to make contributions, regardless of the competition. Winston was not one to adhere to that credo, flirting with 1,000 yards in his inaugural campaign. He will need to adjust to life without David Fales, but he is one of the more unheralded prospects in the nation.

Josh Harper, WR Fresno State Bulldogs

It is hard to believe that a 1,011 yard, 13 touchdown campaign can be treated as an afterthought, but that was the world Josh Harper lived in as he watched Isaiah Burse and Davante Adams corral 100+ balls. A rangy, smooth athlete with an extra gear, his numbers may dip without Derek Carr, but he’s quite possibly a more dynamic talent and appealing devy asset than the aforementioned Devante Davis.

Kivon Cartwright, TE Colorado State Rams

A classic hybrid weapon, Kivon Cartwright has only dabbled in a small portion of the Rams’ receiving pie, but he should gain more notoriety as 2014 unfolds. He’s one of the few tight ends worth investing in.

Matt Miller, WR Boise State Broncos

A classic collegiate possession receiver, Matt Miller lacks the dynamic to get many looks past the college level.

Chuckie Keeton, QB Utah State

A talent near and dear to the hearts of many college football fans, Chuckie Keeton returns to the field in 2014 following a junior campaign truncated by a serious knee injury. A true dual-threat quarterback who has a knack for making plays, Keeton will likely become a trendy option as a developmental signal-caller on day two or three of next year’s draft.

Ready To Emerge

Joey Iosefa, RB Hawaii Warriors

A wrecking ball in cleats, Iosefa has bullied defenders for three years yet has failed to truly breakout. With surprisingly soft hands and nimble feet, he is an all-purpose weapon who could find a niche as a Mike Tolbert-esque weapon at the next level. He’s not worth a devy pick at this point, but is entertaining on each and every touch.

Rashard Higgins, WR Colorado State Rams

It may be more apt to place Higgins in the Known Commodities section after an extremely impressive year as a true freshman. A lightly recruited athlete from Texas, his may be another case in which a talented player is lost in a state inundated with talent. A smooth, rangy athlete with effortless acceleration, Higgins is quite possibly the league’s most naturally gifted receiver and quite possibly its top long-term prospect at the position.

Most Overrated

While still not a household name, Devante Davis has built momentum in the devy community, with some coining him the Devante to own over DeVante Parker. While he can dominate collegiate defenders, his overall package of skills speaks to someone that will need a supreme situation to stick as a long-term difference maker at the NFL level. I’d rather use a late pick on Tyler Winston or Rashard Higgins and gamble on their superior tools.

Most Underrated

It is hard to call the most highly valued player on this list underrated, but I feel Ajayi is still being overlooked when it comes to assets at the running back position. When you get past Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon, there’s an argument to be made Ajayi is next in the pecking order. A well-rounded prospect with untapped upside, he is a first round pick in all developmental formats.

Mountain West Top 10

  1. Jay Ajayi, RB Boise State
  2. Tyler Winston, WR San Jose State
  3. Rashard Higgins, WR Colorado State
  4. Chuckie Keeton, QB Utah State
  5. Kivon Cartwright, TE Colorado State
  6. Josh Harper, WR Fresno State
  7. Devante Davis, WR UNLV
  8. Joey Iosefa, RB Hawaii
  9. Josh Quezada, RB Fresno State
  10. Matt Miller, WR Boise State
rob willette