Devy 100: 90-86

Rob Willette

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.

90: Baylor Cupp, TE Texas A&M Aggies (2022 Draft Eligible)

Profile: Cupp was ordained for greatness. He was scheduled to be the rare early tight end breakout, the type of talent who eschewed precedent and laughed in the face of a development curve. Instead, a broken left ankle wiped away an entire season. We missed out on a unicorn athlete at the position, the proverbial talent who combines TE size with wide receiver athleticism.

A lost season of development is never a good thing but Cupp looks healthy heading into the summer and now has a chance to form a dynamic duo with classmate Jalen Wydermyer, who took advantage of Cupp’s absence to become a breakout star in his own right.

2020 Outlook: Cupp and the aforementioned Wydermyer should complement each other well given their particular set of skills. The Aggies figure to be TE-heavy under Jimbo Fisher as one of the seemingly few programs who run more “traditional” sets. Cupp’s traits as a mismatch weapon play well anywhere, and 2020 should be his coming-out party.

89: Noah Cain, RB Penn State Nittany Lions (2022 Draft Eligible)

Profile: Cain is a throwback runner, a thumper who is comfortable wearing down a defense over four quarters with a bruising style and an insatiable desire to fight for every yard available. Of course, throwback can be a pejorative term these days; Cain’s two-down skillset and limited burst are major hurdles in becoming an NFL prospect.

But Penn State’s strength and conditioning program is legendary, and there is reason to believe Cain will continue to ascend athletically, and he has already shown the ability to be a rugged runner in the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions have produced Saquon Barkley and Miles Sanders in recent years and have Journey Brown on the way. They know what they’re doing in the backfield, and Cain already flashed an intriguing toolkit as a true freshman.

2020 Outlook: Cain figures to play thunder to Brown’s lightning, with ample opportunity to earn red zone work after posting eight touchdowns as a freshman. Penn State has a deep backfield, though Cain figures to work best as a grinder working for tough yards. He should build off a quality freshman season for what figures to be another good Penn State team.

88: Brock Purdy, QB Iowa State Cyclones (2021 Draft Eligible)

Profile: A pivotal recruit in the Matt Campbell Era, Purdy was a late riser on the recruiting scene who turned away Alabama in order to head to Ames. What Purdy lacks in traditional athletic traits he makes up for in the ever-elusive “moxie”, a trait usually reserved for athletes who squeeze everything they have out of their physical ability. Think Joe Burrow or Shane Falco.

Purdy can push the ball downfield, yet he’s more efficient carving up defenses at the intermediate level and making plays out of structure. A late bloomer with ample starting experience already, Purdy is quickly becoming one of the nation’s better passers.

2020 Outlook: There is no debate: this is Purdy’s job. Iowa State has done an excellent job placing Purdy in a spot to succeed, and he has rewarded them with two strong campaigns. There is a chance Purdy enters the 2021 NFL Draft, though he may be best suited to grow at the collegiate level, especially with Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields looming in 2021.

87: Spencer Brown, RB UAB Blazers (2021 Draft Eligible)

Profile: Brown was a hot devy commodity after bursting on the scene as a true freshman. Despite being a Group of 5 player, Brown impressed with his combination of size, speed, and open-field creativity. A still strong yet less impressive sophomore campaign dimmed his stock and an injury-riddled junior year has all but put his stock on ice. Despite this, I still have hope for Brown; he’s a bruising runner with enough athleticism to create issues at the second level.

The big knocks against him remain his lack of usage in the passing game (15 receptions over three seasons) and lack of production against high-end opponents. They’re fair criticisms – and I view Brown as really a flier only at this point – but I think he can find a home as a two-down runner for one contract. As much as we detest those types in dynasty leagues, they can have value, as shown by fellow UAB Blazer Jordan Howard.

2020 Outlook: This is Brown’s backfield. He should push closer to the 272 carry total from his sophomore season as he closes his career strong. The big question will be if they attempt to utilize him more in the passing game. To date, we have seen no indication he is going to be a passing game asset.

86: Ainias Smith, RB Texas A&M Aggies

Profile: Is he a running back or wide receiver? After being recruited to College Station as a receiver and playing the entirety of the regular season at receiver, Smith ripped off 54 yards on seven carries in Texas A&M’s bowl win over Oklahoma State. Jimbo Fisher then intimated Smith would be staying at running back for the foreseeable future.

Regardless of where he lines up, Smith is a natural playmaker with elite burst and the soft hands required to be a versatile weapon. An advanced athlete for his age, Smith thrives in the physical game despite tipping the scales at just over 190 pounds. It is a unique package of skills, yet one I’d want to speculate on given the price tag.

2020 Outlook: Behind Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M has very little in their backfield following the transfer of Jashaun Corbin. Smith should run as a backup runner as well as time in the slot in his old receiving role. It’s a role which may provide little clarity with regards to his future position but one which will allow him to showcase his skills as a playmaker.

rob willette