2018 Devy Preview: Big Ten, Part Two

If you missed part one, make sure you go back as we covered Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, Purdue, and Wisconsin.

Welcome to the 2018 Devy Preview series! College football is just around the corner, dynasty leagues are gearing up for the NFL season, and it’s time to get excited for football again! If you haven’t ever tried a “Devy” league, that’s okay. The goal of this series is simply to help you find the NFL stars of the future. But! If you are a fellow Devy league fanatic like me, then I’m sure you’ll enjoy jotting down some names of current college football studs to watch for and target in future drafts!

We’ll be diving into all of the “Power Five” conferences and the best players in the “Group of Five” conferences over the next several weeks as the college football season approaches. If you’re unfamiliar with “Devy” formats the concept is simple. Developmental (Devy) leagues allow owners to roster current college football players before they ever declare for the NFL Draft. They’re a ton of fun! I highly recommend the format if you haven’t given it a try. Also, if you want to check out some of the top ranked devy players you can find those here!

The B1G conference has been a dominant presence in college football here recently. They continuously provide the NFL with some of the best running back talent in existence. Let’s dive in and see what future stars we should be excited to watch on Sundays here soon!

Nebraska

The name to know on Nebraska for early draft consideration is one of the best wide receivers in school history, Stanley Morgan Jr. He grabbed 61 receptions for nearly 1,000 yards in just 11 games in 2017. New head coach, Scott Frost, should definitely make him his 2018 version of Tre’Quan Smith. Morgan may look a little scrawny, but he can get physical at the point of catch and adjusts well. If he tests well athletically (the only real question with him) at the NFL Combine, he could sneak into day two of next spring’s NFL Draft.

The running back situation has the potential to be unpredictable in 2018. Tre Bryant is likely the most talented back returning from corrective knee surgery. Greg Bell transferred in as one of the best JUCO recruits, but he isn’t a lock to translate in Division I. Bryant should be the guy as he absolutely dominated in early 2017, but recurring knee issues may lessen his future NFL impact.

Other Notables: JD Spielman accounted for nearly 25% of Nebraska’s receiving yards as a true freshman. He’s a little small, but he can return kicks, play the slot, move outside, and even run the ball. Spielman will make an NFL roster one day. True freshman Maurice Washington may luck into a significant role if Bell disappoints and Bryant reinjures his knee(s). He is one of the top running backs in the country for the 2018 recruiting class.

Michigan State

When Brian Lewerke joined Michigan State the expectations weren’t set very high, but he’s shown flashes of NFL quarterback play. His ability to read and even manipulate defenses has improved, but true consistent ball-placement accuracy may stop him from being considered an early round selection.

LJ Scott has definitely slimmed down just a bit and added some speed over his tenure at Michigan State, but he still lacks pro running back type athleticism. He has the size to take a beating in the NFL, but unless solid his technique carries him through the evaluation process he’s also a late round pick, at best.

Felton Davis III probably has the best upside of any skill position player on Michigan State and physically imposing size. He just needs to add some variety to his route tree and clean up his hands this season. Cody White was incredibly productive for a freshman wide receiver. He also has some decent size, but he needs to learn to use it. Michigan State used him a lot on underneath routes, so they didn’t ask him to play big a ton. However, if White wants an NFL future, he’ll need work on his agility and play strength.

Iowa

Toren Young looks to be the lead running back for a team that likes to run the football. Should he prove productive he will most certainly land on an NFL roster even if he goes undrafted in the stacked 2020 running back class.

It’s no surprise, but the Hawkeyes have good tight ends. They’ve already given us Dallas Clark, George Kittle, C.J. Fiedorowicz, and more. Now they might have their best tight end yet in Noah Fant. It’s hard to watch Fant without thinking Rob Gronkowski (and not just because of the number 87). He carries himself through his routes and plays with similar extreme physicality. Fant is a touchdown machine in college and that should continue when he hits the NFL next year.

TJ Hockenson is just waiting his turn at tight end. The 6’5”, 250-pound walk-on was already one of the more productive tight ends in the country playing behind Fant in the target totem pole.

Northwestern

Clayton Thorson may actually end up having the best professional career of any current Big Ten quarterback. However, if you’re a production fanatic Thorson isn’t your guy. He is the “pro attributes” play at the quarterback position. His decision making and adjusted completion percentage numbers need some cleaning up in his final season to see round one consideration.

Jeremy Larkin is definitely a name to know in devy leagues mainly because Northwestern just loves to run the ball a ton. He was quietly one of the most efficient freshman running backs in the country in 2017 as a backup to now Los Angeles Charger, Justin Jackson. He’s a tad undersized now, but if he adds a few pounds and puts together even one season like his predecessor he’ll see his stock skyrocket.

Maryland

The Maryland offense has been absolutely putrid for the majority of the past few years with a few exceptions. D.J. Moore was a legit elite wide receiver and is already showing his stuff as a Carolina Panther now. However, Maryland’s only other stud has still somehow stayed under the radar.

Ty Johnson averaged 9.1 (yes, really, 9.1) yards per carry as a sophomore running backs on his way to a season of 1210 yards from scrimmage. If the Terapins can string together any amount of consistent quarterback play in 2018 expect Ty Johnson to be a name you hear in the mid rounds of next spring’s NFL Draft.

The only other name to watch for future NFL purposes is likely redshirt freshman Anthony McFarland, but he only projects to be a scat back in the NFL.

Indiana

Nick Westbrook is the perfect example of the “if he only stayed healthy” guy. He missed several games as a freshman, then ended up tearing his ACL before he even had time to record a catch last season. As a sophomore he showed real flashes of greatness with size-defying speed, quickness, and strength. However, he still needs a huge 2018 to earn significant draft stock. Given Indiana’s lack of receiving options, he may be in line to do just that.

Morgan Ellison is the other offensive bright spot for the Hoosiers at running back, but almost no one seems to be excited for him. There were just too many good running backs in last year’s freshman class. Any other season Ellison’s 764 yards would be at least noteworthy. At 6’1”, 225 pounds, Ellison could be a legit feature back for Indiana. If sophomore quarterback, Peyton Ramsey, takes the next step Ellison will produce huge numbers and start his hype train.

Minnesota

The fun, crazy productive favorite in Minnesota is wide receiver Tyler Johnson. The Gophers didn’t even average 20 passes per game last season, but Johnson still grabbed a ridiculous 35 receptions for 677 yards and 7 scores. That accounted for 32% of the team’s receptions, 45% of the receiving yards, and 78% of the touchdowns. No other wide receiver in the country began to scratch those numbers in terms of market share.

Rodney Smith is an interesting prospect just because he’ll receive ridiculous volume again in 2018. However, his talent is day three level, at best, unless he improves in a big way.

Illinois

The Big Ten provided us with a ton of hyper-productive (contextually speaking) wide receivers like Ricky Smalling. Illinois is another terrible offense that doesn’t (or can’t) pass the ball very much. Smalling still managed 31 receptions and 510 yards through the air as a true freshman. This former three-star recruit may make an even bigger splash this year and start to see some real devy draft stock.

Louis Dorsey, unlike many other tight ends, saw some solid production as a true freshman in 2017. If you aren’t familiar with college production at the tight end position it’s incredibly difficult to come by. 22 receptions for 395 yards may not seem like a lot, but it is by college standards. At 6’6”, if Dorsey continues to fill out his rather sleek frame he should be a lock for real draft capital by 2020.

Rutgers

Rutgers is just an embarrassment right now. There is no more polite way to say it. The only two remotely interesting offensive playmakers on the team are the tiny little scat back Raheem Blackshear and maybe tight end Jerome Washington. They should go undrafted in nearly every depth of devy draft, but could sneak onto an NFL roster.

As always, find me on Twitter @FF_TravisM. Look for videos from me using the hashtag #TouchdownTime. And yes, I love to chat about these players. I want to learn from you! Thanks for reading, and keeping living that Dynasty Life!

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