The Devy 100 Countdown: 31-40

Rob Willette

marshall

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.

We’re finally venturing into territory traveled by those in shallow devy leagues. The next set of ten is bordering on the elite category.

#40 – Nick Chubb, RB Georgia Bulldogs (2017)

If you’re a defensive back squaring off against Nick Chubb, you’re slipping your front seven cold, hard cash as a reward for downing the Georgia recruit before he hits the open field. A runaway freight train capable of shattering protective equipment, Chubb has the upside to seamlessly fill the shoes of Todd Gurley as a physically imposing runner that bullies defenses into submission over four quarters. Were the freshman running back class not so flush with talent, Chubb would have a great chance of being the number one running back recruit thanks to a powerful frame and receiver speed. 

#39 – Mike Williams, WR Clemson Tigers (2016)

The Mike Williams Clan has begun to populate the NFL in much the same way the Lannister Clan inhabits King’s Landing. This particular Mike Williams is the early favorite to emerge as Clemson’s top target with both Sammy Watkins and Martavis Bryant moving on. With a condor’s wingspan and incredible ball skills, he will quickly emerge as one of the nation’s elite. 

#38 – Ameer Abdullah, RB Nebraska Cornhuskers (2015)

With feet rivaled only by Michael Flatley, Ameer Abdullah teams with the likes of Melvin Gordon and Devin Funchess to shake the stigma that surrounds Big 10 skill players. A creative open field runner who displays incredible balance, the only knock on Abdullah is an undersized frame. He will give defenses fits at the next level as an offensive weapon that can contribute as a runner and receiver.

#37 – Bo Scarbrough, RB Alabama Crimson Tide (2017)

Approximately half of the Alabama roster is made up of running backs, and the latest readymade stud set to walk the campus in Tuscaloosa is Bo Scarbrough. Versatile enough to pull a Myles Jack and dominate on both offense and defense, the Tide’s latest offensive toy is potentially Derrick Henry with better receiving ability. Scarbrough’s prowess in the passing game makes him an impact player from day one.

#36 – Byron Marshall, RB Oregon Ducks (2015)

Sophomore Thomas Tyner and incoming freshman Royce Freeman are the superior physical specimens but Byron Marshall may pace the Ducks in rushing once again thanks to a well-rounded game and determined running style. With a sturdy build and the ability to play in traffic, he is a far superior prospect to other recent Ducks such as LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner.

#35 – Keith Marshall, RB Georgia Bulldogs (2015)

[inlinead]A former five star recruit, Keith Marshall’s career has not played out as planned. He’s been second fiddle to Todd Gurley and had his sophomore season truncated by a serious knee injury that has put his 2014 season in jeopardy. With elite long speed and prototypical size, he is still a coveted devy prospect thanks to solid production as a true freshman and flashes of tantalizing upside.

#34 – Dwayne Washington, RB Washington Huskies (2015)

The Washington backfield was consumed by workhorse Bishop Sankey in 2013. In the rare instances in which he took a breather, we caught a glimpse of Dwayne Washington and his explosive running style. A former wide receiver, the redshirt sophomore was incredibly green yet still managed to dominate on a per touch basis. Even though both Jesse Callier and Deontae Cooper have been on campus since the late 1990’s, it should be Washington who emerges as the new lead back for Chris Petersen.

#33 – Kenyan Drake, RB Alabama Crimson Tide (2015):

The big knock on Kenyan Drake is that his frame is not proportioned in a manner that lends itself to taking abuse from defenders on each and every down. I’m a believer that true talent supersedes many preconceived notions, especially in a modern football world that has eschewed traditional archetypes in favor of good football players. Drake can change direction on a dime and do so without losing acceleration, making him one of the more electric runners in college football. Despite finding himself in Nick Saban’s doghouse more than he’d care to as of late, he will once again earn work in a loaded backfield and enter the NFL will limited wear on his tires.

#32 – Christian Hackenberg, QB Penn St. Nittany Lions (2016)

A statuesque quarterback equipped with a strong arm, Christian Hackenberg appears to have been built in a quarterback factory. The true freshman showed remarkable poise under former coach Bill O’Brien’s tutelage and flashed all the requisite traits you’d want to see in an elite quarterback prospect. With a year of solid production behind him and plenty of development ahead of him, the Nittany Lion signal caller deserves to be mentioned as one of the top quarterback prospects in all of college football, regardless of class.

#31 – Deontay Greenberry, WR Houston Cougars (2015)

The rare elite recruit to eschew lascivious advances from the nation’s top programs, Deontay Greenberry has become one of the nation’s premier receivers despite being a relative unknown amongst casual observers. A tall, sinewy receiver with a massive catch radius, his overall package of skills put him in the second tier of receivers available for the 2015 draft.

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rob willette