Developing Assets: Week Nine
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Wake Up and Watch: Rutgers at Nebraska (ESPN2, 12:00)
This new look Big Ten battle may not appear to be a big game as it pits two of the conference’s newest teams, but both teams have played well this season and enter the game hoping to improve their bowl chances at the conclusion of the season. The Scarlet Knights actually need one more win to gain bowl eligibility and despite their 5-2 record are near the bottom of the West division, while Nebraska is holding down the second spot behind surprising Minnesota.
The star of this game, as it’s been for most of the Cornhuskers’ contests this season, will likely be senior running back Ameer Abdullah, who is third in the country in rushing and has already topped 1,000 yards in just seven games. Abdullah has never been considered an elite prospect and doesn’t possess top end speed, or the bruising power of other backs, but he has been able to post some amazing numbers this season. At only 5’9”, Abdullah runs low and is therefore, tough to bring down. He’s also shown the ability to find holes that don’t seem to be there, allowing him to gain extra yardage. As Abdullah prepares to enter the NFL at the end of the season, he will not be viewed as a top running back, considering the expected depth of the class, but he will be viewed as one of the safest backs in the draft.
While Abdullah is great, Rutgers has a pair of prospects to keep an eye on as well. The Scarlet Knights’ leading receiver is junior Leontee Carroo, who has 34 receptions and 648 yards on the season. Carroo also leads all Rutgers’ receivers with five touchdowns. Throughout his three years with the team, Carroo has battled inconsistency and has his share of frustrating drops, but really seems to have matured this year and is now on the watch list for the Biletnikoff Award, which goes to the nation’s top receiver. Like many college tight ends, the numbers for Rutgers’ starter Tyler Kroft may not be impressive as he’s only caught ten passes on the season. Most offenses don’t feature the tight end at all, but Kroft could be one of the best in a weak 2015 tight end class, should he choose to leave school a year early.
Primetime Play: Channel surfing
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I tried, but I just couldn’t choose one game you should be focusing on for the evening slate. Luckily, watching just one game is not realistic anyway with so many top teams and pre-NFL players in action. Beginning at 7:00 pm eastern, there are no less than seven games involving ranked teams and future first round rookie picks. Here’s a quick preview of each game.
- Syracuse at Clemson (ESPNU, 7:00)
The Clemson Tigers top devy prospects are all youngsters, but unfortunately, we won’t get the chance to see them all in this game. Both freshmen quarterback Deshaun Watson and running back Adam Choice suffered injuries and will miss extended time. If you haven’t seen Watson yet, look for him when he returns from a broken hand, which should be sometime in mid-November. Some have already labeled Watson as the best quarterback prospect in college. The Tigers will have some top players still on the field though, including sophomore wide receiver Mike Williams, who has taken over for Sammy Watkins as the team’s top receiver. Also, freshman running back Tyshon Dye is returning from a torn Achilles just in time to get some touches in place of Choice.
- Ole Miss at LSU (ESPN, 7:15)
This is another game loaded with young prospects who will just tease you as you’re forced to wait at least another year before they are available in rookie drafts. Luckily, that’s why we play in devy leagues and the freshmen and sophomores in this game are some of the best in college football. My top devy prospect remains Ole Miss wide receiver Laquon Treadwell, while the Tigers of LSU are stacked with freshmen Leonard Fournette, Malachi Dupre and Trey Quinn, along with sophomore receiver Travin Dural, who has separated himself as the Tigers’ top receiving option.
- Alabama at Tennessee (ESPN2, 7:30)
It seems that the Crimson Tide of Alabama are mentioned here on a routine basis, so you know by now who should be watching, including running backs TJ Yeldon and Derrick Henry, tight end OJ Howard and wide receiver Amari Cooper. We should see Cooper and Yeldon as part of the 2015 NFL Draft, with Cooper a near lock to be selected in the first round of both the draft, as well as dynasty rookie drafts. Yeldon, too, could sneak into dynasty’s first rounds, depending on his landing spot and post-season showing.
The Volunteers of Tennessee actually have a large number of top prospects, which is not well represented by their losing record this season. The school that gave us Justin Hunter, Cordarrelle Patterson and Da’Rick Rogers is again loaded at wide receiver. Sophomore Marquez North leads the team in receptions, yards and touchdowns, but has a great supporting group including freshman Josh Malone and junior Von Pearson. The youth doesn’t end there as one of the top freshmen running backs in the country, Jalen Hurd, resides on Rocky Top and leads the team in rushing. That class of 2017 already looks great with players like Malone and Hurd, and don’t expect the Volunteers to keep losing for long.
- South Carolina at Auburn (SEC, 7:30)
Each of these teams also have some pro prospects, but we won’t have to wait nearly as long to see them hit the league. The Gamecocks are led by junior running back Mike Davis, who is expected to fall in right behind the Todd Gurley/Melvin Gordon tier of backs in dynasty rookie drafts. They also have junior receiver Shaq Roland, who gets much of the attention. While the junior could make the jump following this season, I’ve been more impressed by playmaker Pharoh Cooper, who is just a junior.
When the Auburn Tigers are on offense, be sure you are honing in on their pair of wide receivers, who could both be entering the NFL after this season. Junior Sammie Coates is finally healthy and starting to show why many pegged him to be a first round draft pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. Meanwhile, while Coates was out, junior college transfer D’haquille Williams has taken over. He’s my fastest rising devy player and I can’t find many pre-NFL players I’d take over Williams. At 6’2” and just under 220 pounds, Williams has the ideal size to step right in as some team’s top receiving threat.
- Ohio State at Penn State (ABC, 8:00)
Let’s not forget the Big Ten and their premiere matchup. While Penn State has disappointed this season, this battle with rival Ohio State is never a dull game. As is often the case, the Buckeyes again lack top end long-term talent at the offensive skill positions. I do like their running back Ezekiel Elliott, but he’s a mid round pick at best. Penn State, on the other hand, has a couple of potentially elite future pros. They are quarterbacked by Christian Hackenberg, who drew comparisons to naturals like Andrew Luck entering the season, but has really struggled and his dynasty and devy value is down as a result. Luckily, he has at least one more year of school and time to recoup his NFL stock. The Nittany Lions also have a solid collection of backs and receivers, but my favorite is probably tight end Jesse James. Assuming that Michigan’s Devin Funchess does in fact fully move to the wide receiver position, the tight end class of 2015 is very weak, so players like James (or Minnesota’s Maxx Williams) could easily rise to the top tight end in the class and a second round NFL Draft pick.
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