Devy 100: 60-56

Rob Willette Posted On July 12, 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.

60: Ahmarean Brown, WR Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (2022 Draft Eligible)

Profile: There has been a massive changing of the guard at Georgia Tech, with the triple-option offense being replaced by a more modern outfit. Perhaps no player better personifies the shift than Brown, a slight yet explosive receiver who thrives at the line of scrimmage and with the ball in the air. Brown showed an affinity for the big play in his first year on campus, routinely dusting defenders as he visited the end zone seven times.

With a frame topping out at 160 pounds, there are going to be plenty of size concerns as he continues his career. But the early returns are promising and the upside is tantalizing as Geoff Collins remakes this program.

2020 Outlook: Brown was the team’s leading receiver in 2019 with a whopping 396 yards. Year two of the new era should yield more passing production, and Brown is the team’s preeminent playmaker. It could be the year he introduces himself to the nation.

59: Sage Surratt, WR Wake Forest Demon Deacons (2021 Draft Eligible)

Profile: Surratt incinerated secondaries in 2019, teaming with Jamie Newman to become one of the ACC’s best QB-WR duos. It was a banner season which rocketed Surratt up devy ranks, with many now viewing him as a day two receiver. I am a bit reticent of his draft stock, though there is no denying what Surratt does well: he uses his basketball background to box out defenders and clean the glass, if a football field happened to have backboards.

Surratt is unlikely to blow people away with testing athleticism but he is smooth on the field and knows how to maneuver his body with the ball in the air. He has plenty of appeal as a big, vertical threat.

2020 Outlook: The big question for Wake Forest is under center, where Jamie Newman has transferred to Georgia. Surratt is by far their best weapon, though he will have to build a new rapport with his quarterback.

58: Jermaine Burton, WR Georgia Bulldogs (2023 Draft Eligible)

Profile: Kirby Smart had clearly identified an issue with his wide receiver depth chart, as he hammered top-tier receiver recruits in this cycle as he looks to modernize his offense. Perhaps his best find is Burton, a tremendous athlete from California who has dynamic playmaker written all over him.

Burton combines his athleticism with elite ball skills and an insatiable desire to come down with the football in traffic. Burton has a star’s profile; we just have to hope Georgia’s new offense allows their playmakers to work.

2020 Outlook: They’re not going to make a jump like LSU – a breakout we may never see again – but Georgia has clearly made an attempt to add some juice to their outdated offense.

57: Demarkcus Bowman, RB Clemson Tigers (2023 Draft Eligible)

Profile: Between Travis Etienne and Lyn-J Dixon, the Tigers put an emphasis on one thing in their backfield: speed. Demarkcus Bowman obliterates pursuit angles and is the type of back who is not going to be caught once he gets past the second level. Bowman plays to his strengths, and gets north and south in a heartbeat as he eats up yards with his burst.

Bowman has an elite athletic profile and lands at a program that will play to his strengths. The big question marks are how he performs in the passing game and how well he handles grinding out yards between the tackles.

2020 Outlook: Etienne surprisingly returned to school for his senior season, and remains the clear lead runner. It will be a fascinating battle behind him. Dixon is a talented runner, though far from an immovable object as the backup. We’re unlikely to see Bowman put together a true breakout season but he should earn a fair share of work as Clemson blows out a majority of its opponents.

56: Dameon Pierce, RB Florida Gators (2021 Draft Eligible)

Profile: After two years of being mired in a committee, Pierce has a grand opportunity to show his wares as a runner in 2020. Pierce has the upside to be one of the nation’s preeminent power runners, a big body who runs with fearlessness and takes the fight to the defense. More than just a bruiser, Pierce shows excellent patience at the line of scrimmage as he lets his space marinate as blockers create lanes.

Despite lacking long speed, Pierce can scoot to the second-level and is an adequate athlete overall, athleticism made more impressive given his build. We haven’t seen Pierce get a real opportunity in the passing game, though his high school tape showed a back capable of doing work there. Pierce may never be a superstar but he is the type of workmanlike back who can exceed expectations.

2020 Outlook: Florida’s running game has been a multi-year rebuilding process. Lamical Perine did an admirable job as they pieced together an offensive line but 2020 should really bring things together. Pierce should share the backfield with transfer Lorenzo Lingard but his familiarity with the system gives him the inside track to a strong season as the Gators lead runner.