The Devy 100: Star Potential

Rob Willette Posted On April 23, 2015

fournette

Editor’s Note: This is a Dynasty Scouts exclusive article. 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. Dynasty Scouts articles are found in our Premium Content.

Compiling even a modest list of devy talent can prove to be a fool’s errand. Ranking 100 is sheer lunacy. However, many members of Dynasty Scouts have never been known for their sound decision-making, and when devy is your game, failures are sure to pile up.

This grouping will undoubtedly look misguided in five years. However, that is the charm of the devy game. It is even more of an inexact science than traditional fantasy football. At the very least, it is fodder for anyone that cares to nerd out at the office water cooler.

Instead of a traditional ranking set, this is going to be broken down into tiers, with each tier representing players of similar value. This penultimate set looks at players knocking on the door of the top tier. For more extensive rankings, check out DLF’s rankings page within the Dynasty Scouts section.

Leonard Fournette, RB LSU Tigers

Leonard Fournette is really the victim of his own hype. Years prior to even setting foot on campus, he was ballyhooed as the next megastar at the running back position, a track star that could put the massacre of the Red Wedding to shame when lowering his pads. He was born to be a NFL star. He taught himself how to walk and talk. All of his proceeds go to charity. While there’s no doubting Fournette is a unique size/speed specimen, we saw some flaws in his game that led to a slow start for the Tigers and have capped his perceived ceiling a bit. Despite excellent straight-line speed, he can be a bit sluggish laterally; he may even benefit from shedding a few pounds from his frame to add quickness. While powerful, he has yet to routinely take over games with his physicality, which is not unusual for a freshman yet is something you wanted to see from a mega-recruit that was pushing 20 years old during the course of the season. Fournette is still a big-time devy asset. He’s just not the start-up number one overall pick that many touted him to be before he even collected a collegiate carry.

Cardale Jones, QB Ohio State Buckeyes

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The Cardale Jones story is well-known. An unknown, lightly used third stringer as recently as this past November, Jones is now one of college football’s biggest stars. A catalyst throughout the Buckeyes’ postseason run, he is a massive quarterback with an incredible arm, unique power running, and underrated touch. There’s still a lot of work to do here, but even if J.T. Barrett earns the starting job in Columbus, Jones could be a day two pick based on tools alone.

Dalvin Cook, RB Florida State Seminoles

It did not take long for Dalvin Cook to emphatically state to Jimbo Fisher that he was the best back on the roster. After watching Karlos Williams attack the backs of his linemen as though they had cheeseburgers attached to them for six weeks, Fisher slowly turned to Cook and the entire Seminole running game – aided by the shift of Cameron Erving to center – took off. A more quick than fast athlete, Cook glides through seems and finishes his runs with more punch than you’d expect from someone his size. Locked and loaded as the Seminoles’ lead back for at least two more years, he’s a candidate to breach the top five in next year’s rankings.

Corey Davis, WR Western Michigan Broncos

The routes of Corey Davis can make grown men like Nick Whalen weep. Though he lacks standout size or athleticism, Davis is above average on both scores and makes up for any deficiencies with a heady game long on savvy. He’s one of the best prospects in a non-Power 5 conference and can go head-to-head with any of the major receiver prospects.

Evan Engram, TE Ole Miss Runnin’ Rebels

It is a crazy world we live in. Receivers are built like tight ends and tight ends are built like receivers. A classic tweener, Evan Engram is nonetheless an elite pass catcher that moves incredibly well for his size and is just now coming into his own.

Malachi Dupre, WR LSU Tigers

Malachi Dupre is a human pogo stick, combining a wiry frame with elite leaping ability. He high points with the best of them, and steadier play under center in Baton Rouge will make him a star.

Elijah McGuire, RB Louisiana Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns

You’re not going to see Elijah McGuire play often. If you do get the opportunity, cherish it. He is quietly one of the nation’s most electric players; he is patient to the hole and then explodes through it. Give him a seam and he is gone. As a true home run hitter with some three down appeal, McGuire should climb boards as he gains more notoriety.

Jordan Villamin, WR Oregon State Beavers

Oregon State seems to always find a dominant receiver, and after a relatively slow start to the year, Jordan Villamin became that guy for the Beavers. A jumbo receiver, he uses his body well to shield defenders yet also has the juice to take a slant to the house. He’s just beginning to scratch the surface, and his upside is scary.

Corey Clement, RB Wisconsin Badgers

While he lacks the flash of Melvin Gordon, Corey Clement plays a simple, north-south game that should translate into massive numbers this year in Madison. He’s somewhere between Gordon and Montee Ball as a prospect; he lacks the former’s explosiveness yet puts the latter’s pedestrian game to shame.

Pharoh Cooper, WR South Carolina Gamecocks

Pharoh Cooper dabbled in a little bit of everything in 2014, showing Randall Cobb-esque versatility while establishing himself as one of the SEC’s top playmakers. His atypical build and modest athleticism temper the enthusiasm around him; however, he has the innate ability to find space on the football field, and a surfeit of positive traits that should push him into the day two range whenever he declares.

Derrius Guice, RB LSU Tigers

Many top high school recruits are simply elite athletes physically dominating their competition. Derrius Guice is the rare talent that plays his position at a high level, demonstrating patience, vision, and a knack for finishing runs with authority. He has an extremely high compete level and can challenge the defense at all three levels. Even with an established runner ahead of him on the depth chart for the next two years, Guice should contribute early and often for the Tigers.

Corey Coleman, WR Baylor Bears

The only trait that Corey Coleman does not have in spades is size. A former running back, he has the stocky build you’d expect yet is a premier athlete with wheels and incredible leaping ability. His hallmark trait is toughness; he is fearless over the middle and is an aggressive blocker. There’s room for a guy like Coleman on every NFL roster. He could terrorize defenses from the slot and has more than enough ability to play outside as well.

James Conner, RB Pittsburgh Panthers

If you’re looking for the nation’s top power back, James Conner may be your guy. He treats oncoming defenders as nothing more than a mere nuisance. He has the size you’d expect from a former defensive end, though it may behoove him to drop a few pounds and add some juice; he still has plenty of burst through the hole, however. A physical runner that takes the punishment to the defender, Conner is fun to watch and is capable of big things at the next level.

Tajae Sharpe, WR Massachusetts Minutemen

It is tough to get noticed when you’re on a bad, non-Power Five team. Fortunately for devy owners, that depresses the cost of Tajae Sharpe, a lanky receiver whose long strides seem to chew up ten yards at a time. He could use a bit more girth, but he’s a flexible athlete that can scoot after the catch despite his frame.

Bucky Hodges, TE Virginia Tech Hokies

Bucky Hodges has taken the route many hoped Logan Thomas would, sliding over from quarterback to tight end and flashing dominant traits early in his career. He checks all the boxes athletically and looks the part. He just needs to add a bit of grit to his game if he wants to emerge as one of the top prospects at the position.

JuJu Smith, WR USC Trojans

A favorite of the ageist crowd, JuJu Smith compiled a productive freshman season despite not turning 18 until the end of the season. He’s poised to take off in his second season with the uber-productive Cody Kessler back under center.

Mike Williams, WR Clemson Tigers

The name Mike Williams carries a stigma with it these days. Fortunately, the Clemson Tiger version has no weight issues and has stayed clean off the field. With the frame of a thin tight end and a super smooth game, Williams’ ceiling is as high as he wants it to be.

D’haquille Williams, WR Auburn Tigers

We finally saw the unveiling of D’haquille Williams in 2014, and he did not disappoint. He’s physical at the line and the catch point; there are few things he cannot do with his frame, and he is dangerous after the catch, showing both wiggle and power. He’s probably more of a number two receiver in the NFL, and his age (24 by next year’s draft) is not ideal. But he is a rock solid prospect with few holes in his game.

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