Next Gen
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Soon enough, the 2015 NFL Draft will be upon us and people will be searching for rookies that will hit it big. Here at DLF, we’re looking to take you deeper than the ordinary fantasy websites and this article’s purpose is to broaden your horizons on the next generation of prospects. Some of them are very well known and the national public just hasn’t recognized others yet. I will strictly keep this list to non-NFL Draft eligible because I’m going to assume that every junior declares for the draft to make this process easier.
1) Laquon Treadwell, WR Ole Miss (SO)
Treadwell has good size (6’3” and 216 pounds) and athletic ability. He’s very smooth with good body control and has low-end WR1 potential. He broke his leg and dislocated his ankle in the last game, but I expect a full recovery.
2) Nick Chubb, RB Georgia (FR)
Short, but compact build at 5’10” and 228 pounds combined with great power and speed makes Chubb a freak. He reminds me of Jonathan Stewart (or if you added steroids to Ray Rice) because of his ability to keep moving forward after contact. He has almost made Georgia fans forget about Todd Gurley (if only that were possible) by averaging six yards per carry this season.
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3) Royce Freeman, RB Oregon (FR)
He entered a crowded backfield at Oregon and has emerged as the workhorse by averaging almost 22 carries per game over the last six contests. Freeman has a big frame at 6’1” and 229 pounds and possesses quick feet and good speed. He’s much different than past Oregon runners and I think he’s flying under the radar due to being on the West Coast.
4) Tyler Boyd, WR Pittsburgh (SO)
Boyd broke almost every Larry Fitzgerald freshman record at Pitt last year, but his sophomore season hasn’t quite lived up to the billing. He has good size at 6’2” and 190 pounds, but isn’t an outstanding athlete. However, Boyd is a great football player that just always does the right things and is sure handed.
5) Corey Clement, RB Wisconsin (SO)
Another Wisconsin running back? Yes, believe it or not, some thought Clement would be the better option at Wisconsin this season. So he has hype, but he also has the game to back it up. Clement is 5’11” and 210 pounds, runs with power, has good vision, and has breakaway speed. He’s averaged almost 7.2 yards per carry over his career at Wisconsin.
6) De’Runnya Wilson, WR Mississippi State (SO)
The NFL (and I) love big receivers with huge catch radius and Wilson fits that bill at 6’5” and 210 pounds. He’s played well in the SEC through two years and is helping lead his team towards a national title. He’s more athletic than most 6’5” players, but don’t think Calvin Johnson here.
7) Derrick Henry, RB Alabama (SO)
Henry is a huge running back at 6’3” and 241 pounds and has great athletic ability for that size. However, because he’s so big, his change of direction ability and center of gravity isn’t where they should be for a back. He still has great potential, but I would be more cautious.
8) Leonard Fournette, RB LSU (FR)
The big time recruit started off slowly and has since gained momentum. I think LSU’s offense holds him back a bit because they don’t utilize the width of the field well, but he’s flashing his great athletic ability. Fournette has the size (6’1” and 230 pounds), quick feet, and speed (4.4 player). I want to see him continue to build on his game before I anoint him, though.
9) Marquez North, WR Tennessee (SO)
North has a great build at 6’4” and 221 pounds and is very athletic. He probably runs near a 4.5, but possesses everything else you would need in a big time wide receiver. North is a former running back that has good YAC ability but hasn’t had near enough opportunities this season.
10) Malachi Dupre, WR LSU (FR)
Now if you’re looking for a great athlete, keep on moving. However, if you’re looking for a great receiver, Dupre has the potential to do just that. He has good size at 6’4” and great ball skills.
Now, let me reveal a few under the radar prospects because they deserve some love as well.
1) Corey Davis, WR Western Michigan (SO)
He has good size at 6’2” and 202 pounds and very good athletic ability. Davis has great YAC ability and can score from anywhere on the field. His brother, Titus Davis, is a wide receiver at Central Michigan and a productive senior as well. Corey was in my initial top 25 devy wideouts to start the year and he improved quite a bit from last season. Don’t be too late to this party.
2) James Conner, RB Pittsburgh (SO)
Wow, is this kid fun to watch! If you like big running backs, Conner is your guy standing at 6’2” and 250 pounds. He’s having a great season with 1,342 yards at 6.1 YPC with 17 touchdowns and he still has at least three more games to play. He has great change of direction ability for a big back and breaks tons of tackles. He initiates contact and defenders don’t want any part of him. Think of a quicker/faster version of the college Le’Veon Bell, but his hands aren’t quite as good as Bell’s yet.
3) Rashard Higgins, WR Colorado St (SO)
He’s skinny, but still stands at 6’2” and 188 pounds and is currently leading the entire FBS in receiving yardage with 1,280 yards on 67 receptions with 13 touchdowns. He has explosive ability to get up the field and good hands. They also rely on him for many screens, which allow him to show off his athletic ability and vision.
4) Matt Breida, RB Georgia Southern (SO)
I normally don’t recognize smaller backs, it’s just not my preference. But if they’re small, they better have the speed and Breida brings plenty of that to his game. He has a run of 25 yards or more in every game but one this season. He is 5’10” and 185 pounds and I’d like to see him add more weight to make him a legit NFL prospect. He also isn’t afraid to run inside, another one of my criteria for smaller running backs.
Those are just some of the prospects you need to have on your radar.
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Nick can be found on Twitter at @_NickWhalen
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