[Dynasty] 2014 Draft Prospects (2 Viewers)

[Xue]

Logan Thomas is closer to MarQueis Gray.

 

[coolnerd]

Guys who are better prospects than any comparable offensive skill position player in this year's draft:

- QB: Teddy Bridgewater

- WR: Marqise Lee

- WR: Sammy Watkins

- TE: Austin Seferian-Jenkins (on same level as Tyler Eifert)

- RB: Lache Seastrunk

- RB: Ka'Deem Carey

I put the RB's last because those are the biggest question marks at this time and suppose some could argue that Gio Bernard or Eddie Lacy were better prospects. I tend to disagree.

It's not as deep as this year's crop, but better elite type talent at the top.

I think the top three are the clearly better at their positions. Not sold on the RBs any more than 2013 and just need to see more of S-Jenkins. As always lots of time for players to emerge

 

[coolnerd]

If my memory is working some of the draftniks were trying to pump up Logan Thomas last year at this time. Outside of having similar size to Newton and EJ Manuel, I am literally missing everything else. I don't like Va Tech's offense in terms of its passing game design either. He would have to have a huge season and draft season both for me to consider talking him a fantasy prospect in any format.

 

[ZWK]

It is somewhat premature to evaluate the 2014+ draft class based on their college stats, but I'll do it anyways. Using the method in this post, 3-6 WRs have already put up elite level college receiving stats (the cutoff for that is around 8 or 9 on the scale that I use):

18.7 Marqise Lee
12.9 Nick Harwell
11.2 Jalen Saunders
8.7 Austin Franklin
8.5 Robert Herron
8.2 Austin Hill

A score of 4.0 is basically the minimum level of college performance for WRs who end up being successful in the NFL; another 15 WRs have already crossed that threshold (a few of these will not be draft eligible):

7.5 Tevin Reese
7.5 Davante Adams
7.3 Jordan Matthews
7.1 Sammy Watkins
7.0 Amari Cooper
6.7 Alex Neutz
5.2 Donte Moncrief
5.2 Jordan Leslie
5.1 Jared Abbrederis
4.9 Stefon Diggs
4.9 A.J. Barker
4.7 Brandin Cooks
4.4 Mike Davis
4.4 Allen Robinson
4.3 Cody Hoffman

For RBs, following the approach here I can divide their statistical performance so far into 5 categories (listed best-to-worst within each category):

Ridiculous: De'Anthony Thomas, Dri Archer

Good: Ka'Deem Carey, Melvin Gordon, Antonio Andrews, Zurlon Tipton, Kenneth Dixon, James White

Above average: Todd Gurley, Brendan Bigelow, Duke Johnson, Lache Seastrunk, George Atkinson, Adam Muema, Alfred Blue

Below average: Roy Finch, Carlos Hyde, David Fluellen, Bishop Sankey, LaDarius Perkins, Branden Oliver, Ameer Abdullah, John Hubert, Ben Malena, James Wilder, Jahwan Edwards, Byron Marshall
Bad: James Sims, Damien Williams, Romar Morris, Jay Ajayi, Jeremy Hill, Silas Redd, Michael Dyer

Build and athleticism matter a lot for RBs. If we accept nfldraftscout.com's projected 40 times and height/weight, then the guys with the best profiles are actually Seastrunk, Hyde, and Carey. And maybe Thomas and Archer, but they're crazy outliers who will probably need to take on more of a Harvin/Sproles role.

 

[Faust]

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/rob-rang/22328242/2014-nfl-draft-qb-david-fales-scouting-report

2014 NFL Draft: QB David Fales scouting report

By Dane Brugler | NFLDraftScout.com Senior Analyst

DAVID FALES SCOUTING REPORT

2012 GAME TAPES VIEWED
at Navy, vs. Utah State, vs. BYU, vs. Louisiana Tech, vs. Bowling Green

STRENGTHS
Quick-footed in his drops with an excellent feel in the pocket to step up and maneuver while keeping his eyes downfield…smart pre-snap reads and understands exactly where he wants to go with the ball, using his above average peripheral vision…good footwork and his bottom half always appears in sync with what's going on above the waist…quick eyes and sees the field well to work through his progressions and always know where his targets are supposed to be…balanced passer with a quick set-up and a snap delivery…good (not great) arm strength who understands touch, knowing when to add juice to his throws and when to take some off…poised in the pocket with a fearless attitude and accurate sense of what's going on around him…hangs tough and never gives up on plays…adequate build with very good toughness, bouncing up after hits…enough mobility to scramble and won't avoid contact as a runner…gutsy and not afraid to take chances…terrific accuracy (72.5% completions in 2012) and gives his target a chance to make a play…always appears calm, collected and in control of the offense…selfless personality with the preparation habits needed for the next level…ambitious and coachable with a strong work ethic…confident and persistent…versatile experience under center and in pistol and shotgun formations.

WEAKNESSES
Athletic, but only average speed and can be caught from behind by defenders…lacks elite arm strength and struggles to drive the ball on throws of 15+ yards…too many rainbows and not enough lasers, causing underthrown deep balls and allowing defenders to react and make a play on the ball…bad habit of throwing off-balance, causing his ball placement to waver…overconfident and too willing to throw into coverage and take chances, especially under duress…only average height and lacks elite size for the position…will predetermine passes at times and lock onto targets, even when covered…room to improve his ball security when scrambling…plays rushed at times…will have only two years of experience at the FBS-level against very average competition in the WAC.

BACKGROUND
Fales began his career at Nevada but decided to transfer because he felt he didn't fit the dual-threat role that Nevada asked of their quarterbacks. He spent two seasons at the JUCO level (Monterey Peninsula College) and had a cup of coffee at Wyoming, but eventually transferred to San Jose State for the 2012 season, starting every game for the Spartans as a junior in their zone-read pistol offense.

BOTTOM LINE
Fales throws a pretty ball with his touch and anticipation, but lack of arm strength shows often, especially on throws of 15+ yards. He does an excellent job surveying the field to find an open target, seeing the field well with anticipation to make snap decisions. Fales will take chances downfield, leading to mistakes with his average arm strength. He is a quick release, rhythm passer with a high completion percentage in every outing. Fales won't be a fit for everyone, but projects as a NFL starter and possible top-30 pick, ideally suited for a NFL west coast offense that emphasizes multiple options and quick decisions in the short-to-intermediate passing game.

 

[EBF]

For RBs, following the approach here I can divide their statistical performance so far into 5 categories (listed best-to-worst within each category):

Ridiculous: De'Anthony Thomas, Dri Archer

Good: Ka'Deem Carey, Melvin Gordon, Antonio Andrews, Zurlon Tipton, Kenneth Dixon, James White

Above average: Todd Gurley, Brendan Bigelow, Duke Johnson, Lache Seastrunk, George Atkinson, Adam Muema, Alfred Blue

Below average: Roy Finch, Carlos Hyde, David Fluellen, Bishop Sankey, LaDarius Perkins, Branden Oliver, Ameer Abdullah, John Hubert, Ben Malena, James Wilder, Jahwan Edwards, Byron Marshall

Bad: James Sims, Damien Williams, Romar Morris, Jay Ajayi, Jeremy Hill, Silas Redd, Michael Dyer

Build and athleticism matter a lot for RBs. If we accept nfldraftscout.com's projected 40 times and height/weight, then the guys with the best profiles are actually Seastrunk, Hyde, and Carey. And maybe Thomas and Archer, but they're crazy outliers who will probably need to take on more of a Harvin/Sproles role.

Tough crowd when rushing for 2300+ yards in two seasons at 5.5 YPC in the SEC is considered bad performance.

Seems like your system is slanted towards scat back types. The top two guys are diminutive gadget players. The bottom rung has quite a few high BMI grinder types.

I'd rather take a punt on Ajayi, Hill, Dyer, or even Redd for NFL upside than a smurf like Archer or Thomas.

 

[ZWK]

For RBs, following the approach here I can divide their statistical performance so far into 5 categories (listed best-to-worst within each category):

Ridiculous: De'Anthony Thomas, Dri Archer

Good: Ka'Deem Carey, Melvin Gordon, Antonio Andrews, Zurlon Tipton, Kenneth Dixon, James White

Above average: Todd Gurley, Brendan Bigelow, Duke Johnson, Lache Seastrunk, George Atkinson, Adam Muema, Alfred Blue

Below average: Roy Finch, Carlos Hyde, David Fluellen, Bishop Sankey, LaDarius Perkins, Branden Oliver, Ameer Abdullah, John Hubert, Ben Malena, James Wilder, Jahwan Edwards, Byron Marshall

Bad: James Sims, Damien Williams, Romar Morris, Jay Ajayi, Jeremy Hill, Silas Redd, Michael Dyer

Build and athleticism matter a lot for RBs. If we accept nfldraftscout.com's projected 40 times and height/weight, then the guys with the best profiles are actually Seastrunk, Hyde, and Carey. And maybe Thomas and Archer, but they're crazy outliers who will probably need to take on more of a Harvin/Sproles role.

Tough crowd when rushing for 2300+ yards in two seasons at 5.5 YPC in the SEC is considered bad performance.

Seems like your system is slanted towards scat back types. The top two guys are diminutive gadget players. The bottom rung has quite a few high BMI grinder types.

I'd rather take a punt on Ajayi, Hill, Dyer, or even Redd for NFL upside than a smurf like Archer or Thomas.

Dyer moves up to the middle of the pack once I account for size & (projected) speed. Looking at the college stats, Dyer gets docked for having only 16 career receiving yards and only 9 red zone rushing TDs (on 67 attempts). He was average at breaking off long runs and at converting short yardage plays away from the goal line. This is just a rough first pass going straight by the formula; it's possible that I'm putting too much weight on his lack of receiving performance (I don't know how much of that is just scheme), and I don't have any opponent adjustments in there.

This year, Lacy and Christine Michael ended up at the top of my numerical ratings, so it's not just for scat backs. For the part based on college stats it was Lacy & Kerwynn Williams, but Williams slid down the rankings once I accounted for size & athleticism, and then he slid even farther down once I watched him on video and judged that he got his big numbers by running through a lot of wide open spaces. I think that plenty of players with great college numbers will end up not panning out in the pros (because they relied on a great system or weak competition, or they don't have the size or athleticism for their skills to transfer), but it's relatively rare for guys without good college numbers to succeed in the NFL.

That said, De'Anthony Thomas's stats are ridiculous across the board. He had more red zone rushing TDs than Dyer (11) on a third the attempts (22), and he broke off a 20+ yard run on one out of every 8 non-red-zone carries (more than twice as often as Dyer). But he has played in a very friendly scheme, and he's the same size as Tavon Austin (who is small for a slot receiver), so there is plenty of reason to doubt how much it'll transfer.

 

[EBF]

For RBs, following the approach here I can divide their statistical performance so far into 5 categories (listed best-to-worst within each category):

Ridiculous: De'Anthony Thomas, Dri Archer

Good: Ka'Deem Carey, Melvin Gordon, Antonio Andrews, Zurlon Tipton, Kenneth Dixon, James White

Above average: Todd Gurley, Brendan Bigelow, Duke Johnson, Lache Seastrunk, George Atkinson, Adam Muema, Alfred Blue

Below average: Roy Finch, Carlos Hyde, David Fluellen, Bishop Sankey, LaDarius Perkins, Branden Oliver, Ameer Abdullah, John Hubert, Ben Malena, James Wilder, Jahwan Edwards, Byron Marshall

Bad: James Sims, Damien Williams, Romar Morris, Jay Ajayi, Jeremy Hill, Silas Redd, Michael Dyer

Build and athleticism matter a lot for RBs. If we accept nfldraftscout.com's projected 40 times and height/weight, then the guys with the best profiles are actually Seastrunk, Hyde, and Carey. And maybe Thomas and Archer, but they're crazy outliers who will probably need to take on more of a Harvin/Sproles role.

Tough crowd when rushing for 2300+ yards in two seasons at 5.5 YPC in the SEC is considered bad performance.

Seems like your system is slanted towards scat back types. The top two guys are diminutive gadget players. The bottom rung has quite a few high BMI grinder types.

I'd rather take a punt on Ajayi, Hill, Dyer, or even Redd for NFL upside than a smurf like Archer or Thomas.

Dyer moves up to the middle of the pack once I account for size & (projected) speed. Looking at the college stats, Dyer gets docked for having only 16 career receiving yards and only 9 red zone rushing TDs (on 67 attempts). He was average at breaking off long runs and at converting short yardage plays away from the goal line. This is just a rough first pass going straight by the formula; it's possible that I'm putting too much weight on his lack of receiving performance (I don't know how much of that is just scheme), and I don't have any opponent adjustments in there.

This year, Lacy and Christine Michael ended up at the top of my numerical ratings, so it's not just for scat backs. For the part based on college stats it was Lacy & Kerwynn Williams, but Williams slid down the rankings once I accounted for size & athleticism, and then he slid even farther down once I watched him on video and judged that he got his big numbers by running through a lot of wide open spaces. I think that plenty of players with great college numbers will end up not panning out in the pros (because they relied on a great system or weak competition, or they don't have the size or athleticism for their skills to transfer), but it's relatively rare for guys without good college numbers to succeed in the NFL.

That said, De'Anthony Thomas's stats are ridiculous across the board. He had more red zone rushing TDs than Dyer (11) on a third the attempts (22), and he broke off a 20+ yard run on one out of every 8 non-red-zone carries (more than twice as often as Dyer). But he has played in a very friendly scheme, and he's the same size as Tavon Austin (who is small for a slot receiver), so there is plenty of reason to doubt how much it'll transfer.

I like Michael and I've got him on multiple teams now, but I can't totally overlook the fact that he couldn't stay healthy and productive long enough to top 1000 rushing yards in a season despite playing all four years.

Thomas just looks too small to me. Oregon's offense inflates RB stats and hides their weaknesses. Small and fast will dominate in that system. Look at James and Barner.

Thomas might be the best talent of that lot, but his frame is a killer.

 

[tdmills]

For RBs, following the approach here I can divide their statistical performance so far into 5 categories (listed best-to-worst within each category):

Ridiculous: De'Anthony Thomas, Dri Archer

Good: Ka'Deem Carey, Melvin Gordon, Antonio Andrews, Zurlon Tipton, Kenneth Dixon, James White

Above average: Todd Gurley, Brendan Bigelow, Duke Johnson, Lache Seastrunk, George Atkinson, Adam Muema, Alfred Blue

Below average: Roy Finch, Carlos Hyde, David Fluellen, Bishop Sankey, LaDarius Perkins, Branden Oliver, Ameer Abdullah, John Hubert, Ben Malena, James Wilder, Jahwan Edwards, Byron Marshall

Bad: James Sims, Damien Williams, Romar Morris, Jay Ajayi, Jeremy Hill, Silas Redd, Michael Dyer

Build and athleticism matter a lot for RBs. If we accept nfldraftscout.com's projected 40 times and height/weight, then the guys with the best profiles are actually Seastrunk, Hyde, and Carey. And maybe Thomas and Archer, but they're crazy outliers who will probably need to take on more of a Harvin/Sproles role.

Tough crowd when rushing for 2300+ yards in two seasons at 5.5 YPC in the SEC is considered bad performance.

Seems like your system is slanted towards scat back types. The top two guys are diminutive gadget players. The bottom rung has quite a few high BMI grinder types.

I'd rather take a punt on Ajayi, Hill, Dyer, or even Redd for NFL upside than a smurf like Archer or Thomas.

We all know your love for Dyer, but your above stats aren't accurate.

2010 in SEC: 119 carries 688 yards 5.78 2 TD

2011 in SEC: 168 carries 809 yards 4.81 5 TD

Losing almost a full YPC is concerning, makes you wonder how much of that was Cam Newton. For reference, in 2010 two other Auburn RBs averaged more YPC than Dyer with over 60 carries each.

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Scouts Inc.'s Todd McShay compares Texas A&M redshirt sophomore WR Mike Evans to a young Marques Colston.
McShay admits that Evans "isn't a burner" and most of his catches are contested, but the young receiver has "good hands" and is a "strong competitor." Evans and quarterback Johnny Manziel will not have as many pieces to work with this year, but the tall receiver will be relied on to come up with big grabs at the catch point.


Source: Todd McShay on Twitter

NFL network's Daniel Jeremiah believes evaluators should put Fresno State redshirt sophomore WR Davante Adams on their radar screens.
Jeremiah says it is "tough to ignore" Adams when watching the Bulldogs, and the receiver is a "gifted dude." The redshirt sophomore is eligible for the 2014 NFL Draft, but we aren't sure he will declare. This is Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr's final collegiate season, however.


Source: Daniel Jeremiah on Twitter

 

[Xue]

Davante Adams windmill dunk:

 

[Xue]

Jordan Matthews is another WR that looks better after the catch than before.

His teammate Chris Boyd intrigues me more, though:

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

NFL.com's Gil Brandt ranks Oklahoma's Damien Williams as the top senior RB heading into the 2013 season.
USC's Silas Redd, Ohio State's Carlos Hyde, Western Kentucky's Antonio Andrews, and former Houston Cougar Charles Sims round out the top five. Williams will likely earn the most carries, but he has plenty of competition for touches in the Sooner's backfield.

Source: Gil Brandt on Twitter

While watching Vanderbilt senior WR Jordan Matthews, Scouts Inc.'s Todd McShay left impressed by redshirt junior Chris Boyd.
McShay was in the process of writing an evaluation on Matthews but felt he needed to do the same for Boyd, despite the redshirt junior not being on the initial list. The Commodore has a "big frame" and is "fluid." He's a name to watch.

Source: Todd McShay on Twitter

Scouts Inc.'s Kevin Weidl believes USC junior WR Marqise Lee is "big time."
Weidl calls Lee a "fluid and flexible route runner with easy acceleration." However, Lee does not come without flaws, and Weidl points out that the receiver needs to get stronger when getting off press and with contested throws. He and Clemson's Sammy Watkins will compete to be the top receiver selected, if both declare.

Source: Kevin Weidl on Twitter

 

[Faust]

I think this was posted previously, but just in case:

http://cfn.scout.com/2/1258141.html

2014 NFL Draft Top Offensive Prospects

 

[Faust]

2014 NFL Draft: Boston College Preview

By Dane Brugler | NFLDraftScout.com Senior Analyst

In preparation for the 2014 NFL Draft, NFLDraftScout.com will profile the top draft-eligible prospects from FBS-level programs. This summer series will run until the start of the college football season.

BOSTON COLLEGE EAGLES

NFL Draft picks the last five years: 5

2013 NFL Draft picks: 0

Last season was another forgettable year for the Boston College football program as the Eagles stumbled to a 2-10 finished and didn't produce any draft selections in the 2013 NFL Draft. Their only FBS victory last year? A three-point win over Maryland. But the upcoming season will begin a new regime in Chestnut Hill as Steve Addazio takes over as head coach and will implement a run-heavy offense.

While this year's group of Boston College NFL prospects doesn't have any lock draft picks for next April, they do have a few intriguing players, most notably at the skill positions.

Top Boston College prospects for the 2013 NFL Draft

*Indicates underclassman

1. WR Alex Amidon (5-11, 186, 4.49)

With the record-breaking season of Clemson's DeAndre Hopkins, Amidon's junior season went somewhat overlooked, but he finished second to Hopkins in the ACC in both receiving yards (1,210) and receiving yards per game (100.8), both school records. He has only adequate height and build, but he plays bigger with a fearless demeanor over the middle, showing the toughness needed to finish contested grabs. Amidon attacks the ball in the air and has shown the ability to make plays on the outside and inside and at all levels of the field. He plays a tad tight and doesn't have the fluidity to make defenders consistently miss after the catch but is always looking to pick up whatever he can. Amidon might struggle to match his production from a year ago, especially with the Boston College offense favoring a run-heavy attack in 2013, but he and quarterback Chase Rettig have developed an obvious veteran chemistry.

2. QB Chase Rettig (6-3, 213, 4.87)

Rettig was forced into the starting role in the fourth game of his true freshman season and has started 33 games at quarterback since 2010. He has adequate height and body build for the position and has all the arm strength needed for the next level, displaying sharp velocity as the ball appears to shoot off his arm. Rettig has improved his footwork in the pocket to step up and avoid pressure, but he is a limited athlete and his lower half is too inconsistent in his throwing motion. He has a bad habit of staring down his targets and not effectively using his eyes to hold defenders with questionable field vision, struggling to see all 11 defenders. Rettig needs to develop better pocket awareness to protect against blindside pressure and improve his internal clock. He has a quick delivery but forces too many passes, and his accuracy is average at best (53.4 percent career completions at BC).

3. DT Kaleb Ramsey (6-3, 288, 5.24)

If it feels like Ramsey has been at Boston College for six seasons now, you're exactly right. After a 2010 season in which he introduced himself to pro scouts as a legitimate NFL prospect, he missed most of 2011 and 2012 due to injuries, including plantar fasciitis. Ramsey, who earned his degree last year, was granted a sixth year of eligibility and will attempt to rebuild his draft stock and stay healthy in 2013 while also pursuing his master's degree. When he was on the field, he wasn't used as a full-time player as he was often subbed in and out as more of a rotational lineman. Ramsey has good natural burst off the snap to attack gaps and use his quickness to slip into the backfield. He shows nice awareness against the run with the hand strength to shed and work through traffic to the ball. Ramsey needs to improve his leverage and keep his pad level low, but obviously the biggest obstacle standing between him and the NFL is durability.

Other Boston College prospects worth watching:

LB Kevin Pierre-Louis (6-1, 218, 4.64)

Though undersized, Pierre-Louis plays light on his feet, aggressively takes on blocks, but he does have his flaws.

OT Matt Patchan (6-5, 305, 5.12)

A Florida transfer, he didn't appear on the Boston College spring roster but is expected to suit up this fall.

OG Bobby Vardaro (6-4, 312, 5.32)*

After starting the final eight games in 2011, Vardaro started all 12 contests at left guard as a sophomore in 2012.

OLB Sean Duggan (6-3, 228, 4.67)*

The last time that BC produced a linebacker from Cincinnati's St. Xavier High School? Some guy named Luke Kuechly.

ILB Steele Divitto (6-2, 238, 4.80)

Though his lack of athleticism shows, Divitto finished second on the team in tackles last season with 92 total stops.

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Scouts Inc.'s Kevin Weidl tweeted Washington junior RB Bishop Sankey caught his attention while watching the Huskies.
Sankey has "quick feet" and shows "lateral agility (when) getting in/out (of) traffic and runs hard," according to Weidl. The Husky is only a junior so there is no guarantee he enters the 2014 NFL Draft, but along with Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Keith Price, the school has talented offensive pieces.

Source: Kevin Weidl on Twitter

After watching four tapes of Washington junior Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Scouts Inc.'s Kevin Weidl questions the TEs toughness.
Weidl calls Seferian-Jenkins "super talented" but believes the tight end is on the opposite end of the spectrum than Rob Gronkowski in the toughness department. We consider Seferian-Jenkins an excellent receiving tight end prospect, but the toughness does come into play both as a blocker and in contested situations.

Source: Kevin Weidl on Twitter

 

[Faust]

Notes On QB Tajh Boyd

 

[Faust]

2014 NFL Draft: Clemson Preview

In preparation for the 2014 NFL Draft, NFLDraftScout.com will profile the top draft-eligible prospects from FBS-level programs. This summer series will run until the start of the college football season.

CLEMSON TIGERS

NFL Draft picks the last five years: 23

2013 NFL Draft picks: 4 -- WR DeAndre Hopkins (1st round, Houston Texans), DE Malliciah Goodman (4th round, Atlanta Falcons), DB Jonathan Meeks (5th round, Buffalo Bills), RB Andre Ellington (6th round, Arizona Cardinals)

With 21 combined wins in 2011 and 2012, Clemson is tied with Florida State for the most total victories among ACC teams the past two seasons. And despite losing several impact starters on offense like wideout DeAndre Hopkins and running back Andre Ellington, the Clemson offense should be among the best in the nation with quarterback Tajh Boyd returning to campus for his senior season. Boyd and Sammy Watkins are the big names for the Tigers, but Clemson has a number of intriguing future pros on a mostly young roster.

Best-case scenario for Clemson in 2013? An ACC title and Heisman worthy campaign from their dynamic quarterback and wide receiver duo. In fact, Boyd and Watkins have a chance to make history as the first QB-WR teammate tandem to both be selected in the top 15 of the same NFL draft. Is that possible? Definitely, but Boyd, Watkins and the rest of the Clemson squad will need a strong 2013 season to make it a reality.

Top Clemson prospects for the 2013 NFL Draft

*Indicates underclassman

1. QB Tajh Boyd (6-1, 225, 4.68)

The reigning ACC Offensive Player of the Year, Boyd has been one of the most improved quarterbacks in the nation over the last few seasons, setting ACC records in 2012 for touchdowns scored in a single game (8) and season (41). He is a terrific athlete with the legs to elude defenders and extend plays, showing the ability to reset and deliver outside of the pocket. Boyd looks like a running back at times with his power and quickness, but he is clearly a pass-first quarterback. He has a bad habit of locking onto targets and telegraphing passes but still has room to clean up the mental errors. Boyd is shorter than ideal with a low release point, but he has more than enough arm strength needed for the NFL and is a confident downfield passer, snapping his hips through his throws. His accuracy and ball placement need to continue to develop, but he is a confident competitor and has steadily improved his leadership tools and on-field command of the offense. For many, Boyd is the top senior prospect at his position and has the tools to be a first-round pick if he continues to grow and has another productive season for the Tigers, but he'll have to do it without his top target (Hopkins) and running back (Ellington) from a year ago.

2. WR Sammy Watkins (6-1, 205, 4.49)*

Though his sophomore season failed to match the production from his breakout freshman campaign, Watkins has flashed the exciting potential to be drafted in the top half of round one next year. He lacks elite track speed but has special acceleration to burst to his top speed quickly with galloping strides. Watkins uses sharp footwork off the line of scrimmage to beat pressure and get vertical with proper depth in his routes and an understanding of how to work the soft spots in coverage. He has a leaner-than-ideal build and needs to be more aggressive in jump-ball situations to secure contested catches. Watkins is usually sure-handed and does a nice job extending to pluck the ball away from his frame, but he will have some focus drops when he takes his eye off the ball. He has good vision as a ballcarrier and wastes little time making the catch and bursting downfield. He is often used on a lot of motion plays and screens to allow him to catch and create. Watkins won't have the benefit of Hopkins on the other side of the field attracting attention in 2013, but he'll still have Boyd throwing him the ball and the sky is the limit in terms of his NFL potential if he can develop into a more consistent pass catcher.

3. Vic Beasley (6-3, 225, 4.68)*

A prospect poised for a breakout season in 2013, Beasley was only a back-up last season, but led the team in sacks (8.0) despite being on the field for only 288 snaps. He arrived at Clemson as an athlete without a position, starting his career on offense at tight end before moving to linebacker in 2011 and defensive end in 2012. Beasley was a rotational player last season in the “Bandit” pass rusher role in his first season at defense end, but is entrenched as the starter for the upcoming 2013 season. With only one year of seasoning under his belt at the position, he obviously has room to grow, but the raw ability is intriguing. Beasley lacks an ideal frame for the defensive line and needs to spend more time in the weight room to add 15-25 pounds, but is already one of the strongest players on the roster. He is a fluid athlete with good get-off quickness and rangy speed to make plays all over the field. A poor man's Barkevious Mingo, Beasley had an impressive spring and his coaches think he has the potential to be the next big pass rusher out of Clemson.

4. OL Brandon Thomas (6-3, 305, 5.18)

Entering his third season as the Tigers starting left tackle, Thomas earned Second Team All-ACC honors last season as a junior, but is a little bit a of tackle-guard tweener prospect for the next level. He utilizes angles well and shows good awareness, keeping his head on a swivel and staying alert through the whistle, which is especially important with a mobile quarterback like Boyd. But Thomas often looks uncomfortable on the outside in space, lunging when asked to cover a large area and struggling with speed rushers. He has choppy footwork and needs to develop better knee bend as he often ends up hunched over at the waist. Thomas' hand placement is hit or miss, which puts him in unfavorable positions to try and block rushers in space, lacking the overpowering strength to redirect his target when he does make contact. While he'll enter the NFL with an intriguing resume as a three-year starter at left tackle for a powerful offense, Thomas still has a lot of room to develop before he's ready for the next level.

Other Clemson prospects worth watching:

RB Roderick McDowell (5-9, 195, 4.47)

With Ellington off to the NFL, McDowell finally gets his chance to be Clemson's feature running back.

WR Charone Peake (6-2, 202, 4.42)*

Peake is expected to start opposite Watkins and has the size/speed combination to try and fill the shoes of Hopkins.

DT Grady Jarrett (6-1, 290, 5.30)*

A quick-footed interior player, Jarrett finished third on the team last season with 8.5 tackles for loss.

DE Corey Crawford (6-4, 270, 4.86)*

Crawford had only one sack last season, his first as a starter, but has strong hands and is productive against the run.

LB Stephone Anthony (6-2, 235, 4.59)*

A former five-star high school recruit, Anthony is penciled-in as Clemson's starting middle linebacker in 2013.

CB Garry Peters (5-11, 195, 4.50)*

The lone returning starter in the Clemson secondary, Peters led the team last season with eight passes defended.

 

[Faust]

Twitter:

KevinW_ESPN Kevin Weidl

Baylor RB Lashe Seastrunk runs hard and has a low center of gravity. But must improve discipline, way too much E/W. http://t.co/i3DPjJsItR

 

[Patoons]

Davante Adams windmill dunk:

Big fan of this guy. Very underrated.

 

[Sinrman]

Aaron Murray of UGA will be one of the first QBs taken in the 2014 draft.

 

[MAC_32]

Aaron Murray of UGA will be one of the first QBs taken in the 2014 draft.

Hope not, at best he's mediocre, I think he's worse. Nothing noteworthy about his game.

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

UNC junior TE Eric Ebron has stood out to Scouts Inc.'s Steve Muench during offseason film work.
Muench "knew he was threat" as a receiver but was also left impressed by Ebron's blocking. The Tar Heel tight end "would benefit from adding size and strength but he makes up for it with toughness and tenacity," according to Muench. Ebron has some experience at defensive end, but expect him to produce at a high level this season at tight end.


Source: Steve Muench on Twitter

Oregon junior RB/WR De'Anthony Thomas earned a comparison to Tavon Austin from NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah.
Jeremiah calls the Oregon offensive threat "explosive, elusive (and) deceptively strong." Plenty was made about Austin's lack of size during the pre-draft process, but Thomas could measure in even smaller. Still, he thrives in the open field and can be used in a variety of ways.


Source: Daniel Jeremiah on Twitter

 

[werdnoynek]

Aaron Murray of UGA will be one of the first QBs taken in the 2014 draft in the 3rd round.

Fixed that for you.

 

[Faust]

Twitter:

KevinW_ESPN Kevin Weidl

Baylor RB Lashe Seastrunk runs hard and has a low center of gravity. But must improve discipline, way too much E/W. http://t.co/i3DPjJsItR

Scouts Inc.'s Kevin Weidl tweeted that he has "never had so many highs/lows studying a player" than with Baylor junior RB Lache Seastrunk.
"By far (one) of the toughest evals I've ever done," Weidl stated. "Ready (to) pull my hair out." Weidl added that the Baylor running back "runs hard and has a low center of gravity, but must improve discipline" in terms of lateral runs. This appears to be a case of consistency and learning to accept that not every play will be a homerun.


Source: Kevin Weidl on Twitter

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Oklahoma senior WR Jalen Saunders "is as smooth as it gets," according to Scouts Inc.'s Kevin Weidl.
Weidl does wish Saunders was bigger, as the slot receiver is listed at 5'9/160 pounds. He wasn't able to play a full season for the Sooners last year after transferring from Fresno State, but Saunders has great burst and vision to make oncoming tacklers miss after the catch.


Source: Kevin Weidl on Twitter

 

[Xue]

Fixed.

Aaron Murray of UGA will be one of the worst QBs taken in the 2014 draft.

 

[Faust]

Notes on QB David Fales

 

[werdnoynek]

Fixed.

Aaron Murray of UGA will be one of the worst QBs taken in the 2014 draft.

 

[Faust]

2014 NFL Draft: Duke Preview

 

[Xue]

Just finished a Startup where Devy players were part of the draft. 12 teams, 1QB 2RB 2WR 1TE 2FLEX (RB/WR/TE) 1DEF, no Kicker. 1-PPR.3.04 Marqise Lee4.12 Lache Seastrunk8.07 Sammy Watkins8.08 Melvin Gordon9.07 Austin Seferian-Jenkins9.12 Teddy Bridgewater12.03 Brandon Coleman13.01 Bishop Sankey13.05 Jay Ajayi13.10 Ka'Deem Carey13.11 Davante Adams14.01 Sean Price14.05 Damien Williams14.06 Tajh Boyd14.08 Marcus Mariota14.12 James Wilder, Jr.15.03 Antonio Andrews15.08 Donte Moncrief15.11 Ben Malena16.07 Cody Hoffman16.10 Chris Boyd17.06 Paul Richardson17.08 Trey Metoyer18.04 Kenny Bell19.01 Allen Robinson19.04 Silas Redd19.07 Colt Lyerla20.03 Malcolm Brown20.04 Malcolm Mitchell20.06 Austin Hill20.11 Brendan Bigelow21.02 Joe Bergeron21.04 Johnny Manziel

 

[Faust]

Daily Notes: Zach Mettenberger

 

[Faust]

2014 NFL Draft: Florida State Preview

 

[Faust]

2014 NFL Draft: Georgia Tech preview

 

[JohnnyU]

Just finished a Startup where Devy players were part of the draft. 12 teams, 1QB 2RB 2WR 1TE 2FLEX (RB/WR/TE) 1DEF, no Kicker. 1-PPR.3.04 Marqise Lee4.12 Lache Seastrunk8.07 Sammy Watkins8.08 Melvin Gordon9.07 Austin Seferian-Jenkins9.12 Teddy Bridgewater12.03 Brandon Coleman13.01 Bishop Sankey13.05 Jay Ajayi13.10 Ka'Deem Carey13.11 Davante Adams14.01 Sean Price14.05 Damien Williams14.06 Tajh Boyd14.08 Marcus Mariota14.12 James Wilder, Jr.15.03 Antonio Andrews15.08 Donte Moncrief15.11 Ben Malena16.07 Cody Hoffman16.10 Chris Boyd17.06 Paul Richardson17.08 Trey Metoyer18.04 Kenny Bell19.01 Allen Robinson19.04 Silas Redd19.07 Colt Lyerla20.03 Malcolm Brown20.04 Malcolm Mitchell20.06 Austin Hill20.11 Brendan Bigelow21.02 Joe Bergeron21.04 Johnny Manziel

Hard to believe some of those names and Duke Johnson isn't one of them.

 

[ctrlaltdefeat]

No TJ Yeldon?????

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Yeldon, Johnson, Gurley, Cooper -- guessing it's only players who are draft eligible next year.

 

[jurb26]

No TJ Yeldon?????

No Todd Gurly!?!?

 

[JohnnyU]

No TJ Yeldon?????

Oh crap, you're right. Where is Yeldon and, Gurley? Hell, both should be in the top 5 devys taken.

 

[jonboltz]

Yeldon, Johnson, Gurley, Cooper -- guessing it's only players who are draft eligible next year.

Very likely this.

 

[Xue]

Yeldon, Johnson, Gurley, Cooper -- guessing it's only players who are draft eligible next year.

Very likely this.

Yes.

 

[Faust]

2014 NFL Draft: Maryland Preview

 

[Faust]

Daily Notes: QB Stephen Morris

 

[Faust]

2014 NFL Draft: Miami (Fla.) Preview

 

[Faust]

Daily Notes: QB Aaron Murray

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

CBS Sports' Dane Brugler believes Miami QB Stephen Morris "could potentially jump up draft boards with a strong senior season."
"Morris has average-at-best height and build but is a quick athlete with elusive moves and excellent feel in the pocket to maneuver around the noise to keep plays alive," Brugler writes. "He has room to refine his footwork, but he sets up quickly and stays balanced through his delivery, showing precise downfield vision and touch." Our own Josh Norris was equally as impressed with Morris.


Source: CBS Sports

The National Football Post's Justin VanFulpen considers San Jose State's David Fales the top senior QB heading into the 2013 season.
"Fales was a junior college transfer and has all the tools you are looking for in a quarterback," VanFulpen writes. "He had a great junior season and could see himself get more national attention this year." Georgia's Aaron Murray, Virginia Tech's Logan Thomas, Alabama's A.J. McCarron, and Fresno State's Derek Carr round out the top five. We are extremely Miami's Stephen Morris nor Clesmon's Tajh Boyd weren't listed.


Source: National Football Post

Scouts Inc.'s Todd McShay calls Sam Houston State senior RB Tim Flanders a possible sleeper for the 2014 NFL Draft.
McShay seemed very impressed With Flanders' downfield receiving ability, recalling two long catches against Baylor. However, after tallying 56 receiving yards that game, Flanders only added 72 yards the rest of the season. He did rush for 5.7 yards per carry and crossed the end zone 17 times.


Source: Todd McShay on Twitter

 

[lyon812]

Recently completed startup dynasty draft. PPR 1/1/1.5, 36-man rosters, no taxi squad, 2 devy slots, high IDP scoring. I came away with Seastrunk and Gordon at the 2.13/3.02 turn.

1.01 Bernard, Giovani CIN RB1.02 Hopkins, DeAndre HOU WR1.03 Austin, Tavon STL WR1.04 Ball, Montee DEN RB1.05 Patterson, Cordarrelle MIN WR1.06 Eifert, Tyler CIN TE1.07 Lee, Marqise CLG WR1.08 Bell, Le'Veon PIT RB1.09 Lacy, Eddie GBP RB1.10 Hunter, Justin TEN WR1.11 Watkins, Sammy CLG WR1.12 Lattimore, Marcus SFO RB1.13 Clowney, Jadeveon CLG DE1.14 Franklin, Johnathan GBP RB2.01 Allen, Keenan SDC WR2.02 Bridgewater, Teddy CLG QB2.03 Kelce, Travis KCC TE2.04 Stacy, Zac STL RB2.05 Brown, Arthur BAL LB2.06 Wheaton, Markus PIT WR2.07 Michael, Christine SEA RB2.08 Woods, Robert BUF WR2.09 Manuel, E.J. BUF QB2.10 Thomas, De'Anthony CLG RB2.11 Dobson, Aaron NEP WR2.12 Gurley, Todd CLG RB2.13 Seastrunk, Lache CLG RB2.14 Yeldon. T.J. CLG RB3.01 Smith, Geno NYJ QB3.02 Gordon, Melvin CLG RB3.03 Johnson, Duke CLG RB3.04 Alonso, Kiko BUF LB3.05 Seferian-Jenkins, Austin CLG TE3.06 Murray, Latavius OAK RB3.07 Green-Beckham, Dorial CLG WR3.08 Ogletree, Alec STL LB3.09 Cooper, Amari CLG WR3.10 Mathieu, Tyrann ARI S3.11 Ertz, Zach PHI TE3.12 Diggs, Stefon CLG WR3.13 Jordan, Dion MIA DE3.14 Davis, Knile KCC RB4.01 Barkley, Matt PHI QB4.02 Randle, Joseph DAL RB4.03 Cyprien, Jonathan JAC S4.04 Vaccaro, Kenny NOS S4.05 Marshall, Keith CLG RB4.06 Gillislee, Mike MIA RB4.07 Lyerla, Colt CLG TE4.08 Coleman, Brandon CLG WR4.09 Rogers, Da'Rick BUF WR4.10 Patton, Quinton SFO WR4.11 Te'o, Manti SDC LB4.12 Ellington, Andre ARI RB4.13 Johnson, Charles GBP WR4.14 Williams, Terrence DAL WR5.01 Ansah, Ezekial DET DE5.02 Reed, Jordan WAS TE5.03 Wilson, Tyler OAK QB5.04 Matthews, Jordan CLG WR5.05 Bailey, Stedman STL WR5.06 Boyce, Josh NEP WR5.07 Taylor, Stepfan ARI RB5.08 Elam, Matt BAL S5.09 Hundley, Brett CLG QB5.10 Gray, Johnathan CLG RB5.11 Boyd, Tajh CLG QB5.12 Ajayi, Jay CLG RB5.13 Carey, Ka'Deem CLG RB5.14 Barner, Kenjon CAR RB6.01 Bostic, Jon CHI LB6.02 Jones, Jarvis PIT LB6.03 Fuller, Corey DET WR6.04 Evans, Mike CLG WR6.05 Lotulelei, Star CAR DT6.06 Wilson, Marquess CHI WR6.07 Willson, Luke SEA TE6.08 Escobar, Gavin DAL TE6.09 Hoffman, Cody CLG WR6.10 Stills, Kenny NOS WR6.11 Williams, Kerwynn IND RB6.12 Robinson, Denard JAC RB6.13 Smith, Quanterus DEN DE6.14 Barr, Anthony CLG LB

 

[Faust]

2014 NFL Draft: NC State Preview

 

[Faust]

Daily Notes: QB Derek Carr

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

The National Football Post's Justin VanFulpen believes Vanderbilt senior Jordan Matthews has the ability to be a No. 1 WR in the NFL.
VanFulpen lists Matthews as the top senior receiver and noted many were surprised he chose to stay in school for his final season. BYU's Cody Hoffman, Pittsburgh's Devin Street, Notre Dame's T.J. Jones, and Alabama's Kevin Norwood round out the top five.


Source: National Football Post

NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah believes Miami senior QB Stephen Morris is a "very interesting prospect."
Jeremiah added that Morris possesses a "live arm, excellent poise (and is an) accurate deep ball thrower." After watching a handful of Morris' games from 2012, our own Josh Norris agrees and believes the Hurricane has a legitimate argument for being the top rated senior passer. He could struggle a bit more in 2013, however, since offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch moved on to the NFL.


Source: Daniel Jeremiah on Twitter