Devy 100: 45-41

Rob Willette Posted On August 8, 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 10th 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.

45. Collin Johnson, WR Texas Longhorns

The Skinny: Long a factor in the Longhorn offense, Johnson ascended to new heights in 2018 in tandem with quarterback Sam Ehlinger and the totality of the Texas offense. At what looks like a legit 6’6”, Johnson dwarfs defensive backs and uses his size astutely with excellent positioning and tenacity when attacking the football.

As can be expected from a receiver blessed with his size, he bullies defenders at the line of scrimmage yet can be a bit sluggish in gaining separation. We’ve seen receivers thrive with similar skill-sets, though it remains to be seen if tempo is an issue given the direction the NFL has gone with its passing game. As a bonus, Johnson is a hellacious blocker. His overall skill-set speaks to more of a complementary weapon, but there’s still untapped upside here.

2019 Outlook: Johnson is coming off easily his best season, yet matching those numbers may be difficult. The Longhorns look to have two stars in the backfield in ascending sophomore Keaontay Ingram and uber-stud freshman Jordan Whittington. The running game may be more of a focus, and a few younger receivers such as Joshua Moore and Brennan Eagles figure to get more targets. Johnson is still the man in this passing game, but from a raw production standpoint he could take a step back.

44. Kalija Lipscomb, WR Vanderbilt Commodores

The Skinny: Improving steadily each year since he hit campus, Lipscomb has few warts in his game. He thrives in the intermediate game due to advanced route-running and strong hands. He has an innate understanding of how to get open and routinely beats defenders with his savvy and precision.

His is the type of well-rounded game that portends a long NFL career, even if he may not possess the tools of your prototypical NFL WR1.

2019 Outlook: The Vanderbilt Commodores are shockingly loaded on offense. In addition to Lipscomb, they have day two draft candidates at both running back and receiver. The big issue is under center. Kyle Shurmur’s veteran presence is no longer in town, and there are ample question marks. Lipscomb is still a focal point of this offense; his penultimate season, however, may prove to be his best as Vanderbilt’s passing game takes a step back in 2019.

43. Stevie Scott, RB Indiana Hoosiers

The Skinny: Scott took advantage of Morgan Ellison ’s dismissal from the Indiana program to carry a heavy workload as a true freshman, touching the ball 244 times as the Hoosiers’ offense leaned on him. He embodies toughness as a runner, fighting for every inch of real estate as though it is the most pristine property around.

A bruiser by nature, Scott still shows light enough feet to scurry to the second-level, even if he is not outracing many defenders for the big play. A heavy back at 231 pounds, Scott may benefit from playing with a slimmer physique, yet he has ample time to reshape his body during his time in Bloomington. His game is a bit reminiscent of former Spartan LJ Scott, though hopefully his development does not go sideways in the same manner as Scott.

2019 Outlook: The Hoosiers welcome four-star, early-enrollee Sampson James to the fold, which may alleviate some pressure on Scott to be the bellcow. But Scott’s freshman production and rugged build make him a natural fit as Indiana’s lead runner. Indiana has a deep quarterback room which should allow their offense to fire on all cylinders, allowing Scott to emerge as one of the BIG’s more productive runners.

42. Frank Ladson, WR Clemson Tigers

The Skinny: It is hard to imagine dubbing any school other than Clemson “Wide Receiver U.” The Tigers have sent an assembly line of receivers to the NFL and have premier devy assets on their current roster. The roll does not figure to slow anytime soon, and this incoming freshman is another elite talent for Dabo Swinney’s program to mold.

Ladson is in the mold of current Tiger Tee Higgins as a recruit, possessing a long, lithe frame with incredible ability at the catch point yet plenty of room to grow physically. He may be a long-term project at the position, but you can’t coach traits and he has them in spades.

2019 Outlook: Clemson’s depth chart is elite at the top and loaded with depth. Ladson’s outlook for 2019 is murky, with a redshirt season possible. He could conceivably be a redzone contributor early, but ample playing time will be hard to come by until Higgins is in the NFL.

41. Justin Shorter, WR Penn State Nittany Lions

The Skinny: A big receiver from a small high school with a limited offense, it is no surprise Shorter had a slow start to his Nittany Lion career. But it does not spell doom for his long-term prospects. In fact, it was widely expected Shorter may take a longer route to prominence.

Shorter has the size and physicality to dominate, even in the rough and tumble BIG. He carries his weight well and time in Penn State’s vaunted training program could turn him into a physical marvel. I am perhaps blinded by how high I was on Shorter at this time last year, but I am still investing heavily in him long-term.

2019 Outlook: Juwan Johnson has transferred to Oregon and leading receiver KJ Hamler is a completely different player than Shorter. There is ample opportunity to excel and it would be a major disappointment if Shorter did not become a main cog in this offense in 2019.