Devy 100: 100-96

Rob Willette Posted On February 26, 2020

The tagline here at DLF is telling: There is no off-season. The edict goes double for devy leagues. From the initial Signing Day in December through fall camps in August, there is an overwhelming amount of information to digest in order to make an informed decision. It is what makes it such a challenge yet so rewarding when a prospect you have invested in for years pays off.

The Devy 100 is intended to be a preliminary deep dive into the best dynasty assets college football has to offer. Even with a list this large, there will surely be omissions and plenty of movement throughout the year as players develop a more robust profile. This is not to hedge my bets (well – maybe a tad) but to illustrate the purpose of such a list. Alas, we get to the 100. Feel free to @RobWillette24 with your hate mail, which I will assuredly ignore.

100. Johnny Wilson, WR Arizona State Sun Devils (2023 Draft Eligible)

Profile: We’ve long ditched the archaic height minimums attached to receiver prospects, yet when there is a tall receiver who can move as effortlessly as incoming Arizona State freshman Johnny Wilson, it can still be viewed as a major plus within the profile. At 6’6’ Wilson’s size is his first notable asset, yet his game offers so much more depth than simple jump ball ability.

Wilson posted a 4.59 forty yard dash – not a number that stands out, but an impressive one for a high school athlete with his size. Wilson is not poised to go the way of other big receivers who’ve lacked the explosiveness to make an impact. On the contrary, his burst shows off the line. He uses it – in tandem with his size – to humiliate defensive backs down the field.

The former Duck commit flipped his pledge in December and will join Herm Edwards’ group this summer.

There’s a learning curve here, but Wilson’s upside is higher than most in this class.

2020 Outlook: The number one receiver gig for Arizona State has been a lucrative gig. After N’Keal Harry excelled for three seasons, Brandon Aiyuk ascended from obscurity to become the clear alpha in the passing game.

There’s opportunity here with Aiyuk moving on, though Frank Darby looks like the favorite to lead the Arizona State passing game in 2020. If Wilson was an early enrollee, there’d be more optimism he could thrive in 2020. As is, he’s likely to flash here and there without posting a true breakout campaign.

99. Eric Gray, RB Tennessee Volunteers (2022 Draft Eligible)

Profile: If you’re crippled by decidophobia, it may behoove you watch this up-and-comer. The Tennessee true freshman gradually improved in his inaugural season and thrives by seeing a lane, hitting it, and wasting little time or effort in the process. Like a Sonic The Hedgehog Spinball, Gray explodes downhill and tiptoes through space with plus athleticism and plenty of gusto.

He played his best football late in the year, eradicating Vanderbilt’s dignity with 246 rushing yards prior to earning Gator Bowl MVP with his performance against Indiana.

It’s possible this ranking is far too low for Gray, as he has a fairly complete toolkit in conjunction with a strong freshman resume.

2020 Outlook: Despite his late-season production, Gray figures to find himself in a timeshare with Seniors Ty Chandler and Tim Jordan. Both Chandler and Jordan have earned the right to be involved, though the hope is Gray separates himself throughout the year.

A big sophomore campaign would go a long way to cementing himself as a player in what is shaping up as a weak 2022 running back class.

98. Chris Autman-Bell, WR Minnesota Golden Gophers (2021 Eligible)

Profile: The forgotten man in the Golden Gopher receiver rotation, Autman-Bell has still managed to make an impact the past two seasons with 28 receptions in each campaign. With a thick build more often seen on running backs, CAB is a steamroller after the catch with the agility and power to be a YAC machine. More than just a gimmick player, he’s got the skills to make plays downfield, as seen on his game-tying touchdown against Fresno State early in 2019.

While not the talent of teammates Tyler Johnson or Rashod Bateman, Autman-Bell is a good player in his own right with a potential NFL future as a complementary player.

2020 Outlook: With Tyler Johnson moving on, it is the perfect opportunity for Autman-Bell to thrive. Johnson leaves behind 1,318 receiving yards and the team returns veteran quarterback Tanner Morgan. An ideal stylistic complement to Bateman, there’s little standing in the way of Autman-Bell and a 2020 breakout campaign.

97. Bru McCoy, WR USC Trojans (2022 Eligible)

Profile: It was a strange recruitment process for McCoy, who originally committed to USC before getting cold feet and heading to Texas before eventually having an additional change of heart and heading back to USC. The back and forth cost McCoy eligibility in year one, though it was unlikely he was going to put a dent in the Trojans’ receiving production given the incredible depth ahead of him.

He was a physically dominating high school receiver, with a frame that had some projecting him as an edge rusher at the next level. It’s his brutish strength that stands out at first, as McCoy toys with defenders in the open field and towers over hopeless defenders at the catch point. As you’d expect, we have not seen a lot of nuance to his game thus far as he simply overwhelmed defenders at the high school level. But the physical tools alone keep him on the devy radar despite a lost season.

2020 Outlook: The Trojans return veteran Tyler Vaughns, the insanely gifted Amon-Ra St. Brown, and promising freshman Drake London. Fortunately, Graham Harrell’s Air Raid provides opportunity for plenty of receivers to get in the mix, and despite their struggles the Trojans have one of the more gifted quarterback rooms in the country. McCoy seems to battle fellow highly-touted redshirt freshman Kyle Ford and newcomer Gary Bryant Jr. for quality reps within the offense.

96. Rakim Jarrett, WR Maryland Terrapins (2023 Eligible)

Profile: Surprisingly spurning LSU after being a long-time commit, Jarrett is staying close to home and attending Maryland, a huge recruiting win for Mike Locksley.

Few receivers in the 2020 class are as smooth; he stops and starts with ease and is already an advanced route runner despite his youth. The comparisons to Stefon Diggs are natural. There are some similarities in the ways they win on the football field. He has every opportunity to become a star in College Park.

2020 Outlook: While the Terrapins have some notable talent at receiver, they’re no LSU. It is an excellent chance for Jarrett to establish himself as a legitimate prospect early. He could be one of the more productive freshman receivers in the nation.