The Devy 100 Countdown: 51-60

Rob Willette Posted On May 12, 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 guys.
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.

#60 – Josh Robinson, RB Mississippi State Bulldogs (2015)

As a Vikings fan, the name Josh Robinson conjures up bad memories of our slot corner being humiliated for another long gain over the middle. However, the Bulldogs’ Josh Robinson offers an opportunity for more positive thinking. A true bully with the ball in his hands, Robinson appears capable of following in the footsteps of former Bulldogs Vick Ballard and LaDarius Perkins as a tough-minded, complete runner with a NFL future.

#59 – Brett Hundley, QB UCLA Bruins (2015)

One of the more well-known names in the devy world, Hundley offers immense potential due to his running ability – he’d likely be in league with Colin Kaepernick and Robert Griffin III as a runner as soon as he steps on a NFL field. However, I am not sold on his ability to be a precision pocket passer and feel he will have erratic NFL production. His raw potential makes him worthy of a roster spot, but there are other less heralded players I’d rather own.

#58 – Khalfani Muhammad, RB California Golden Bears (2016)

Despite possessing Lilliputian size, Muhammad was arguably the most electric player on an abysmal Golden Bears squad as a true freshman. A true burner, Muhammad was a state track champion in both the 100 and 200 meters and loses little speed when he straps on the pads. He carries his weight well with a relatively low center of gravity, indicating he’s possibly more than just a productive college player without the frame to cut it at the next level. With running and receiving chops, Muhammad could emerge as an elite space threat in the right system.

#57 – Hunter Henry, TE Arkansas Razorbacks (2016)

O.J. Howard deservingly gets a lot of love at the tight end position, but Arkansas’ Hunter Henry is a premier talent as well. A sturdy 6’6″, 250, Henry has a prototypical frame to compliment strong hands and toughness. It is tough to separate yourself from the pack when you’re a tight end as most fail to emerge as one of the top targets in their team’s passing game. The top tight ends, however, are among the most valuable commodities in fantasy football and Henry has the ability to blossom to that point.

#56 – Devante (Speedy) Noil, WR Texas A&M Aggies (2017)

I normally have a difficult time investing in undersized receivers. Noil, however, is an exception. After eviscerating teammates during spring practice, Noil has the look of a true playmaker who can overcome any size deficiencies. He looks to be the next Brandin Cooks or T.Y. Hilton as an explosive, indefensible talent.

#55 – D.J. Foster, RB Arizona State Sun Devils (2015)

Foster has lined up all over the football field for the Sun Devils, taking snaps in the slot, outside, and in the backfield. When Marion Grice went down with injury late in the year, Foster proved he could handle a heavy workload as a back, handling 23 carries against Arizona and 20 in the bowl game against Texas Tech. A natural receiver, Foster’s passing game prowess gives him versatility few can match. I feel he is a bit underrated in the devy community – he’s an all-purpose weapon who may even wind up as a dynamic slot receiver.

#54 – Leonte Carroo, WR Rutgers Scarlet Knights (2015)
A physically mature receiver with uncanny skills in traffic, Carroo ran behind Brandon Coleman as a sophomore but may turn into the better pro prospect. While not overly explosive, Carroo uses his body well and is physical all over the gridiron. He may not profile as a true number one, but he has complementary receiver skills.

#53 – De’Runnya Wilson, WR Mississippi State Bulldogs (2016)
Massive human beings who move with grace cause you to stand up and take notice. A prep basketball star who has limited football experience, Wilson stood out as a freshman due to fluid, but unrefined movements. The early production was encouraging for a player with so little experience and he is a swing for the fences type of pick who could yield major results.

#52 – Ty Isaac, RB Southern California Trojans (2016)

USC quietly has one of the deepest backfields in the nation and the most uniquely gifted of the bunch may be Ty Isaac. He’s part of the new wave of linebacker sized running backs who have an unfair blend of size and speed. A smooth and efficient mover, Isaac has the most upside of any Trojan backs and may be the most overlooked sophomore back in the nation.

#51 – D’haquille Williams, WR Auburn Tigers (2015)

Seemingly trapped in the JUCO ranks since the late 90’s, Williams is finally ready to arrive on the major college football scene. He had the opportunity to become a rare JUCO player plucked in the draft, but opted for the collegiate experience in an attempt to boost his stock. A large, physical and tenacious receiver, Williams will be one of the more uniquely talented receivers in college football from day one, but he has plenty of questions to answer when it comes to football savvy, along with shaking the general stigma attached to junior college players. There’s reason to have trepidation in an attempt to pump the brakes on his hype train, but there’s also the chance he follows the Cordarrelle Patterson trajectory and is a one and done.

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