Devy 100: 40-36

Rob Willette Posted On August 12, 2019

As dynasty owners putter about the interwebs discussing short shuttle times and dissecting the nuances of the Dominator Rating, devy owners are intently watching Spring Practices and eyeing key positional battles. They say dynasty football never sleeps, but devy football never even rests. From Signing Day (both of them) to fall camp, devy calendars are chock-full of important dates.

The Devy 100 is a breakdown of some of the best collegiate talent around. Players will be missed; others will emerge. My rankings will be cursed from Juneau, Alaska to Key West, Florida. Yet hopefully it provides a modicum of assistance to those navigating the murky waters of deep leagues, struggling to identify their tenth-round selection as they decide between Auburn’s third-string running back and an incoming freshman receiver at Ohio State. Without any further inane ramblings, on to the list.

40. Salvon Ahmed, RB Washington Huskies

The Skinny: An elite athlete, Salvon Ahmed laughs at your pursuit angles and can turn even the most broken play into a highlight-reel touchdown. Despite playing apprentice to workhorse Myles Gaskin for two seasons, Ahmed is a well-known commodity. Any back who runs a 4.32 forty out of high school is going to perk up antennae, and Ahmed plays as fast as his timed speed would portend.

At under 200 pounds, Ahmed’s not a rugged back and expanded exposure to the Pac 12 should aid his running instincts, which at times take a backseat to simply attempting to outrun the defense. The athletic foundation is elite; if Ahmed can clean up other areas of his game, he has the perfect skill-set for the modern NFL.

2019 Outlook: Ahmed has bided his time and has a massive opportunity in Washington’s backfield. Gaskin was historically productive, and Ahmed possesses more natural talent than his predecessor. If he can develop Gaskin’s off-the-charts toughness and fearlessness, he’ll post a monster season out west.

39. Tua Tagovailoa, QB Alabama Crimson Tide

The Skinny: One of college football’s brightest stars, Tua Tagovailoa is also one of its elite prospects. Few can match the timing and anticipation of the Alabama signal-caller, and as a bonus, he’s a smooth athlete who can add value with his legs. There are negatives, mainly his history of lower-body injuries and the occasional questionable throw. But they’re really nitpicking. Tagovailoa is a highly-skilled passer with off-the-charts intangibles. He should be a very high pick in 2020 if not the favorite to go number one overall.

2019 Outlook: This is Tua’s team and the weapons are absurd. A Heisman favorite, he’s poised to post monster numbers for what may be the nation’s best team.

38. Keaontay Ingram, RB Texas Longhorns

The Skinny: Keaontay Ingram took advantage of an unsettled depth chart in Austin, sharing backfield duties and asserting himself in what was a rather lukewarm debut for the 2018 running back class. A smooth runner with effortless acceleration, Ingram is a natural back who blends decisiveness with elite contact balance. At six feet even and just a shade over 200 pounds, Ingram is on the lighter yet runs with authority, even if he leaves a few yards on the field due to his sinewy frame.

Also showing plus traits as a pass-catcher, Ingram has established himself as a potential star in the Big 12 with a complete skill-set. Hard work in the weight room – as it is for a majority of underclassmen – will be essential to his growth.

2019 Outlook: The drumbeat for incoming freshman Jordan Whittington grows louder by the day, clouding the outlook for Ingram in year two. However, Ingram is not going to be pushed aside. He’s a gifted back who can contribute on all three downs. Even with Whittington eating into a workload as an all-purpose playmaker, we should see Ingram build on his strong freshman campaign on what could be one of the nation’s elite offenses.

37. Dameon Pierce, RB Florida Gators

The Skinny: Were the Gators a touch less loaded in the backfield, Dameon Pierce may have been a breakout star as a true freshman. He was ready for the SEC and his flashes speak to a back who could be special once he gets a full allotment of carries. Pierce is physically advanced with a well-proportioned frame and Herculean lower-body strength.

While he is not going to run past many defenders, he’s adept at picking his spots to showcase his burst and beats defenders with intelligence and power as opposed to long speed. We don’t have a lot of receiving work to glean from at this juncture, but he showed some route-running chops in high school. I’m pretty high on Pierce, viewing him as one of the nation’s elite running back prospects for 2021.

2019 Outlook: Unfortunately for Pierce, Florida’s depth chart loses little in 2019. Lamical Perine has returned to school and Malik Davis looks to be healthy after suffering serious lower-body injuries during his first two years on campus. The absence of Jordan Scarlett opens up more looks for Pierce, but this is still a full timeshare which should prevent Pierce from achieving a true breakout.

36. Trevor Lawrence, QB Clemson Tigers

The Skinny: Seldom do players who are legends before ascending to the next level of football live up to the hype. Trevor Lawrence did, with room to spare. With a 30/4 TD/INT ratio, national championship, and elite shampoo and conditioning regimen, Lawrence is already a household name and possibly college football’s best pro prospect at any position.

Lawrence is incredibly advanced for a young quarterback, fitting the football into tight windows all over the field and possessing elite decision-making. His lean frame needs work, though it hardly can be considered a negative given he has yet to turn 20 years old. Few prospects at the quarterback position possess both a high floor and an unimaginable ceiling, and yet Lawrence has showcased both despite a small number of starts at the college level. The heavy favorite to be the number one overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Lawrence is a top devy option and arguably the top player overall in Superflex leagues.

2019 Outlook: After being eased in over the first month in 2018, the kid gloves are off. Clemson will be led by Lawrence, who is surrounded with arguably the best group of playmakers in football. A big season is on tap, and a Heisman-national title double-dip is certainly within reach.