Devy 100: Three Star Quarterbacks and Tight Ends

Rob Willette Posted On March 7, 2016

Fantasy football is an inexact science. Numerous factors can conspire to make even the surest of things an uber-bust (looking at you, Trent Richardson). Take this one level down to the college ranks, and you’re really engaging in a mostly futile exercise which involves interpreting how college talent translates to the NFL. This leads to an incredibly high bust rate and immortalizes individuals like Jamie Harper in the Hall of Disappointment.

This is the third annual installment of The Devy 100, an endeavor which embraces the Sisyphus-esque journey known as a devy league. Rather than a standard, mundane numbered list, this breaks 100 players into tiers. As an ode to recruiting rankings, they’ve been assigned a star ranking. A brief description of each star ranking and how I perceive them below:

Five Star: The elite. They look poised to become high NFL draft picks and have the skills to become annual fantasy contributors.

Four Star: These are potentially elite players. They just have one flaw – be it inexperience, modest physical tools, or limited production – which prevents them from joining the top tier.

Three Star: These are individuals I would not be actively pursuing in standard, smaller devy leagues. However, in larger leagues they merit a roster spot and at the least they’re someone worth monitoring.

There are, of course, players who don’t fit any of these criteria but we’re not talking about them in an article. We start with the three star players at the quarterback and tight end position.

[am4show have=’g1;’ guest_error=’sub_message’ user_error=’sub_message’ ]

Brad Kaaya, QB Miami Hurricanes

Brad Kaaya emerged as one of the top devy prospects at the position following a 2014 season in which he more than held his own – an impressive feat for a true freshman, especially one who did not have the benefit of being an early enrollee. His sophomore season led to a bit of stagnation, though it is tough to tell how much can be attributed to a shaky offensive line or the mindless tutelage of Al Golden. Kaaya can be a bit mechanical in his game and cannot create magic when it looks as though a play is not there. However, he is a tall quarterback who processes the game well and has adequate physical tools. Mark Richt’s presence (perhaps more the lack of Al Golden) should help him reach his peak as a player. The only question is if his peak is top prospect or above-average collegiate quarterback.

Jacob Eason, QB Georgia Bulldogs

I seldom put much stock in freshman quarterbacks. The difficulty of the position and fragility of egos lead many to washing out early. But this group of quarterbacks could be special, and Jacob Eason is one individual who has piqued my intrigue. He certainly looks the part, at 6’5” and checking in at over 200 pounds, he has elite size and a frame capable of handling much more weight, and his electric arm and smooth release are hallmarks of his game. He’s got functional mobility, even if he is not making plays with his legs. Physically, Eason is one of the more talented quarterbacks to enter the college ranks in the last few cycles. We’ve seen this is far from guarantee of collegiate success, but it’s at least enough to garner him plenty of attention, particularly in a Superflex format.

Jarrett Stidham, QB Baylor Bears

Baylor quarterbacks. They post video game numbers. They contend for Heisman trophies. They’re often derided as NFL prospects. System quarterbacks have been a thing in college football for as long as I can remember, but every now and then a quarterback-friendly system produces a legitimate NFL prospect and I feel it will be the case with Jarrett Stidham. We only got a taste of what Stidham could do during his freshman season, as he went down with lower leg issues shortly after Seth Russell was knocked out for the season. In his opportunity, he demonstrated he was an excellent athlete who could be a high level passer. He throws one of the prettiest balls you will see and his ability to extend plays with his legs and throw on the run is his best asset. The potential here is sky high, even if his playbook limits his exposure to pro-style offense.

Lamar Jackson, QB Louisville Cardinals

Lamar Jackson’s career started with an ugly interception against Auburn. It ended on a higher note as he individually torched Texas A&M to the tune of 453 total yards and four touchdowns in the Cardinals’ bowl game. Admittedly, there is a lot of work left to be done as a passer. A 54.7 completion rate illustrates this, and he can throw some downright heinous passes. But he is an elite athlete with enough promise as a passer to make you take notice. He will assume full control of the Louisville offense in 2016, and even if the flaws as a passer remain evident, his maturation will be a joy to watch.

Patrick Mahomes, QB Texas Tech Red Raiders

Quietly one of the nation’s best quarterbacks, Patrick Mahomes offers one of the more expansive toolkits of any signal caller, with good size (6’3”, 220) and plus arm strength to go along with El Chapo-esque escability. He will force coaches to step out of their comfort zone, as is his frenzied style of play is generally frowned upon in a rather vanilla and think inside the box NFL. However, stay patient with him, teach him to reign it in without curbing too much creativity, and you have an intriguing prospect on your hands. Texas Tech is must-see football largely thanks to Mahomes.

Shea Patterson, QB Ole Miss Runnin’ Rebels

Chad Kelly set fire to the Ole Miss passing records in 2015. But he may not be the most talented quarterback on the Rebels’ roster. Incoming freshman Shea Patterson is slight (6’1”, 192) but his style meshes well with the up-tempo offenses which have become so pervasive. Put Patterson in the shotgun and give him room for creativity, and good things will come. Despite a lack of ideal size and a good if not elite arm, I’m still bullish on Patterson long-term. He’s destined to become one of college football’s top playmakers and if all goes to script he and Eason will be the SEC’s elite quarterbacks by 2017.

Mark Andrews, TE Oklahoma Sooners

Tight ends are always an iffy proposition. They take a long time to develop, and they’re often such an overlooked part of a collegiate offense you forget they’re even on the field. Occasionally, one flashes enough to cement himself as a legitimate prospect, and despite only 19 career catches, Mark Andrews has done so. A massive man who entered college as a wide receiver, Andrews overpowers defenders and shows surprisingly nimble feet for a man of his size (6’6”, 247). As with many tight ends, the learning curve is long and steep, but if you’re taking a flier on a tight end with upside, Andrews is a good bet.

David Njoku, TE Miami Hurricanes

Pushing so many players to the league despite a long down stretch is a testament to how much talent the Hurricanes attract. One of their most underrated talents is David Njoku, who much like Andrews arrived on campus with his position being a question mark but emerged as a playmaking tight end after a redshirt season. Njoku is part of the new breed of supremely athletic, roam the formation tight ends who just cause defenders to throw in the towel because they’re fed up with formulating a defense. Devy is often about identifying yet to fully materialize talents and hoping they click. Njoku is a perfect example of this, and his raw tools entice the imagination.

[/am4show]