Devy 100: 25-21

Rob Willette Posted On September 5, 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.

25: Joseph Ngata, WR Clemson Tigers (2022 Draft Eligible)

Profile: Few programs could absorb the loss of Tee Higgins and Justyn Ross. Clemson is one of them. The Tigers have done a tremendous job of both recruiting the position and developing the players they identify as a good fit for their program. Like most, Joseph Ngata had to take a backseat as a true freshman, yet now finds himself primed to breakout in the ACC.

Ngata is in the Higgins/Ross mold as a big wideout who expertly utilizes his size to manhandle defenders. With a massive catch radius and high compete level, he is impossible for smaller defenders to contain. Ngata is unlikely to develop into an elite athlete but he is plenty smooth and shows an advanced understanding of how to get open. It is a safe bet at least one Clemson receiver develops into a star this year. Ngata is the odds-on favorite.

2020/2021 Outlook: WR1? It is looking like it for Ngata, as he looks more developed at this stage than peer Frank Ladson and better-equipped to handle large volume than Amari Rodgers. A year as Trevor Lawrence’s top option could have Ngata gracing the top ten of these rankings next year.

24: Keaontay Ingram, RB Texas Longhorns (2021 Draft Eligible)

Profile: Despite playing at a high-profile program and playing at a high level through two seasons, Ingram still struggles to gain respect as a premier prospect. The big appeal with Ingram is his ability in the passing game. He can line up all over the formation and make difficult catches, showcasing an ability to pluck the football out of the air and create yards after the catch.

He is certainly no slouch as a runner, however. Ingram excels at planting his foot in the ground and weaving his way through running lanes. He may never be a big-play threat, but he is a versatile weapon who can thrive as a three-down runner. Ingram’s game is ideal for the next level.

2020/2021 Outlook: Texas has a deep running back room after years of struggling with depth. Ingram is the lead man here, though the presence of super stud Bijan Robinson, former quarterback Roschon Johnson, and rising swiss-army knife Jordan Whittington should limit his touches. While it should be another good season, he is unlikely to dominate the touches out of this backfield.

23: Julian Fleming, WR Ohio State Buckeyes (2023 Draft Eligible)

Profile: When you watch a five-star recruit, you expect to flip on the tape and see said player absolutely torching the competition. Fleming does so and then some, making defenders look like mere mortals in the presence of a deity. Fleming is a tremendous athlete, possessing natural acceleration and elite long speed. He can mock defenders in the open field with his YAC ability and has the frame to bully them after the catch.

With his speed and tenacity, he thrives in the vertical game, routinely dusting defenders and going right over them if needed. Fleming brings all the physical tools required to be a dominant receiver. He is one of the better receiver prospects in recent memory.

2020/2021 Outlook: Playing time will have to be earned in Columbus. Veteran Chris Olave is atop the receiver depth chart the Buckeyes brought in by my count 27 high-end receivers this cycle. Of course, by the time the Big Ten resumes play football Fleming may be ready to retire, so perhaps it is all moot.

22: Zamir White, RB Georgia Bulldogs

Profile: The man they called Zeus can finally unleash his powers in 2020, following a string of injury misfortune followed by a year behind Georgia’s experienced runners. White is physically imposing, utilizing a powerful frame to pinball off defenders and force them to bring their best if they’re going to bring him down. White’s sheer mass is not a detriment to his fluidity, as he glides through the second level with grace and has home-run speed if he catches a seam.

We’ve yet to see White offer much in the passing game, though much of this is due to limited opportunity. White has an odd profile given all of his missed time, but there are few backs at the collegiate level who possess his raw talent.

2020/2021 Outlook: It is finally time. D’Andre Swift and Brian Herrien are gone, and while the Bulldogs still have depth at the position, it should be White who heads this backfield. With a new, modernized offense in place, White could really breakout as he eyes the 2021 Draft.

21: Chris Olave, WR Ohio State Buckeyes

Profile: If you’re looking for flash, you may want to give Olave a miss. His strengths are his ability to manipulate defenders at the line of scrimmage and separate naturally. He does an excellent job of finding the football in the air, gracefully contorting his frame to make the catch look effortless.

All this is not to say Olave is a zero as an athlete; far from it. It is just not his hallmark, and he is such a savvy receiver there’s little need for him to rely on simply being a better athlete than the man in front of him. Olave may not profile as an elite receiver at the next level but he is a high-level contributor for a long time.

2020/2021 Outlook: Olave leads the charge, though rising sophomore Garrett Wilson and a quartet of gifted freshmen will make him fight to keep his grip on the role. Of course, a late start (if they start at all) could lead to an opt-out as Olave prepares for the 2021 Draft.