[Dynasty] 2015 Draft Prospects (1 Viewer)

[tdmills]

So top5 in 2015 in no particular order (DYNO FF) is:

Gurley

yeldon

Gordon

Davis

A.Cooper

?

Does DBG even sniff a look now? He gonan go to JuCO? or Div2

Yeldon is out of the top 5.Top guys are probably.

Gurley

Gordon

Davis

Cooper

DGB

Diggs

Strong

K. Williams

really? why? you guys all soured on him huh

Soured a long time ago on him.

I'd be curious to get a breakdown as to why.

This is a post I made from the Yeldon thread:

Looks like Yeldon is slipping in devys and value. Perhaps we should look at what he's accomplished and stack that up against other really successful SEC RBs.

1st two years in the sec:
Yeldon
fresh 1108 yards 6.3 12 td, 11 recsoph 1235 yards 6.0 14 td, 20 rec
mcfaddenfresh 1113 yards 6.3 11 td, 14 recsoph 1647 yards 5.8 14 td, 11 rec
Mark ingramredshirt yearfresh 728 5.1 12 td, 7 rec

soph 1658 6.1 17 td, 32 rec


Moreno
redshirt year
1336 yards 5.4 14 td, 20 rec
1400 yards 5.6 16 td, 33 rec
Lattimore
fresh 1197 yards 4.8 17 td, 29 rec
soph 818 yards 5.0 10 td, 19 rec
Zac stacy
fresh 478 yards 4.5 3 td, 7 rec
soph 331 yards 5.0 3 td, 9 rec
Caddy Williamsfresh 614 yards 5.1 6 td, 13 rec
soph 745 yards 5.3 10 td, 6 rec
Garrison Hearst
fresh 717 yards 4.4 5 td, 7 recsoph 968 yards 6.3 9 td, 16 rec

Trent Richardson
fresh 751 yards 5.2 8 td, 16 rec

soph 700 yards 6.3 6 td, 23 rec

I'm not saying stats are everything, but he's performed great as an 18-20 year old kid.

Granted his OL was much much better in 2012 vs 2013, but he gets it done. Yeldon is fast enough, he's strong enough, he has good vision, good hands, and decent cutting ability. Looking at the last couple of drafts, how does Yeldon not go in the first 3 rounds in the 2015 NFL Draft? Sankey, Hill, Hyde, Sims, Mason, West, McKinnon, Archer, Bernard, Bell, Ball, Lacy, Michael, Knile Davis, Trich, Wilson, Dougie, Pead, LMJ, Hillman. Looking at them as pure prospects going into the NFL, he would have to be in the top handful of that list(Trich, Dougie, Wilson, Lacy...Yeldon?)

 

[Milkman]

They have a new video of RB Mike Davis vs Mississippi State up on Draft Breakdown. He passes the eye test. Tough inside runner. Looks like he gets good yards after contact. It also looks like he gets low through the hole but I need more videos to confirm it because there wasn't a lot of good angles. Looks like special change of direction skills. He cuts very hard. Top end speed isn't special though. Good hands. His pass pro looks a little shaky. In this video he dives at a lot of defenders legs. Still I love his build for the position.

 

[Bonka]

Is there any discussion on IDPs? All I've found so far is offense.

 

[jeter23]

I think with Treadwell moving outside we're going to see how special he can be this season... playing the slot was fine and dandy last year and he did a damn good job at it, but that's not the best place for him IMO. He's got everything to be an elite prospect and a top 10 pick in 2016 IMO. I'm all in wherever I can get him.

It took a long time to get his name in this thread but I think this guy is the next big thing.

He's my top ranked "devy" player.

 

[EBF]

They have a new video of RB Mike Davis vs Mississippi State up on Draft Breakdown. He passes the eye test. Tough inside runner. Looks like he gets good yards after contact. It also looks like he gets low through the hole but I need more videos to confirm it because there wasn't a lot of good angles. Looks like special change of direction skills. He cuts very hard. Top end speed isn't special though. Good hands. His pass pro looks a little shaky. In this video he dives at a lot of defenders legs. Still I love his build for the position.

I actually thought his cutting was a bit inconsistent in that game, as he seemed to lose balance and momentum sometimes when making really abrupt cuts. I would tentatively say he's a likely day two guy with day one upside. Ben Tate seems like a halfway decent comparison from a talent level standpoint.

 

[Milkman]

They have a new video of RB Mike Davis vs Mississippi State up on Draft Breakdown. He passes the eye test. Tough inside runner. Looks like he gets good yards after contact. It also looks like he gets low through the hole but I need more videos to confirm it because there wasn't a lot of good angles. Looks like special change of direction skills. He cuts very hard. Top end speed isn't special though. Good hands. His pass pro looks a little shaky. In this video he dives at a lot of defenders legs. Still I love his build for the position.

I actually thought his cutting was a bit inconsistent in that game, as he seemed to lose balance and momentum sometimes when making really abrupt cuts. I would tentatively say he's a likely day two guy with day one upside. Ben Tate seems like a halfway decent comparison from a talent level standpoint.

Yeah I wouldn't say he's a 1st rounder in todays NFL but he looks like he has potential to be a 3 down back. There is still going to be some backs taken in the 1st round but they are going to have to be even more of a special talent. I've only seen one tape of him so I need to watch a lot more but I would take him ahead of Gordon right now.

 

[EBF]

Mike Dyer spring game highlights. Low quality, but best available.

If something looks a little "off" during these clips, it might be because he switched teams in the middle of the game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNCcB-sAP3g

Michael Turner and MJD rolled into one.

 

[Faust]

Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota are top QBs to watch in 2014

 

[Faust]

College fantasy mock draft: Mariota, Winston are top picks

 

[Faust]

NFL Draft: Mariota leads the Pac (12) in early 2015 mock draft

 

[Faust]

Todd Gurley, Melvin Gordon are among top RBs to watch in 2014

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

NFL.com's Chase Goodbread sees Alabama senior WR DeAndrew White as the favorite to replace fourth-rounder Kevin Norwood in the starting lineup.
"A spectacular athlete who has been restricted by injuries and inconsistency in his career, White has one year left to turn NFL scouting heads," Goodbread wrote. He's going to have to hold off a bevy of ultra-talented young wideouts, including Chris Black. White very nearly joined teammates Adrian Hubbard, Jeoffrey Pagan, Cyrus Kouandjio, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Vinnie Sunseri in jumping to the NFL early. The 6-foot, 190-pound slot maestro had 32 catches for 534 yards and four touchdowns in 2013.

Source: NFL.com

Azfamily.com's Brad Denny thinks Arizona State senior Taylor Kelly has a shot to be ASU's best QB ever.
"Kelly's 2013 may have been the greatest single-season statistical performance ever seen by a Sun Devil quarterback. He threw for 3,635 yards and 28 touchdowns while running for 852 gross yards (608 after sack yardage factored in) with another nine touchdowns. His 4,243 yards of total offense set an ASU single-season record," writes Denny. Thanks to ASU's up-tempo attack, Kelly has benefited greatly with the number of offensive plays and the ability to take advantage of defenses, as a dual-threat QB. With playmakers like WR Jaelen Strong, RB D.J. Foster and TE De'Marieya Nelson returning, Kelly has an opportunity to add on to the 18 wins he's compiled over the last two years, as the Sun Devils starting quarterback.

Source: Azfamily.com

NFL.com's Bryan Fischer believes Baylor senior WR Antwan Goodley should be a solid replacement for former Bears All-Big 12 WR Tevin Reese.
"The Bears might have one of the deepest wide receiving corps in the country, and standout Antwan Goodley should be the leader of one of the best groups in the nation," wrote Fischer. The 5-foot-10, 220-pound Goodley had eight games of 100-plus yards and at least one touchdown. Goodley finished the 2013 season with 71 receptions for 1,339 yards and 13 TDs. Look for Goodley and QB Bryce Petty to pick up where they left off from last season.

Source: NFL.com

NFL.com's Bryan Fischer believes Kansas State senior WR Tyler Lockett is one of the top returning seniors in the Big 12.
"Easily one of the best receivers in the conference, if not the country, Lockett was one of the few bright spots on Kansas State's team as they took a step back from 2012's championship run. He's a great return man and is a threat to score every time he touches the ball," wrote Fischer. Lockett had a solid outing for the Wildcats in 2013 with 81 catches for 1,262 yards and 11 TDs.

Source: NFL.com

CBS Sports' Rob Rang believes Florida State redshirt sophomore QB Jameis Winston's off-field issues will "scare off some."
Rang had Winston dropping to St. Louis at No. 13 in his inaugural 2015 mock draft. The analyst notes Winston's "top five ability" but is also concerned by his "long delivery." Jimbo Fisher will attempt to clean up the mechanics on the field, but it'll be just as important for Winston to have no further problems off it.

Source: CBS Sports

NFL.com writers Mike Huguenin and Bryan Fischer believe Baylor redshirt senior QB Bryce Petty has the most to prove amongst Big 12 players this season.
"He is a potential first-rounder in the 2015 draft, but he has a relatively small body of work and needs to be even better this fall to make that potential turn into the reality of a first-round selection," Huguenin wrote. "If he doesn't live up to the billing, he risks falling in the draft." Petty put up 4,200 yards with a 32/3 TD-to-INT ratio last year. The signal-caller, perhaps the Big 12's lone "hope of making it to New York for the Heisman ceremony," according to Fischer, "has a chance to turn into a first-round pick with continued refinement of his mechanics and footwork."

Source: NFL.com

Oregon State senior QB Sean Mannion reportedly received a third-round grade from the NFL Draft Advisory Board over the winter.
We'd heard previously that NFL scouts told Mannion he'd be a third-round pick, but we hadn't heard reports about the advisory board's opinion. The Round 3 prediction strikes us as great news for Mannion. He has a first-round frame at 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds and first-round production (400-of-603 passing, Pac-12 record 4,662 yards, 37 TDs). Mannion must improve his ability to throw in a cluttered pocket and cut down on crippling interceptions (his mobility, another negative, probably won't improve much). If he can get more comfortable and more accurate, Mannion will shoot up draft boards. If not, he could slip to Day 3. At least he's starting from a good baseline.

Source: NFL.com

NFL.com's Bucky Brooks sees around college football "a number of blue-chip prospects with the capacity to carry the load as feature backs," headlined by Georgia's Todd Gurley.
"There's no doubt in my mind that there are several prospects with the talent and potential to earn consensus Round 1 draft grades down the road," Brooks wrote after discussing the devaluation of RBs in the NFL. As for Gurley, Brooks notes comparisons to a young Marshawn Lynch due to his "speed, quickness and power in a number of impressive performances (Clemson, South Carolina and Georgia Tech)." The 6-foot-1, 232-pound junior is college football's most talented back. Now, he just has to stay healthy.

Source: NFL.com

Florida State senior RB Karlos Williams could become "a top choice of NFL scouts searching for an Adrian Peterson-like runner on the collegiate level," according to NFL.com's Bucky Brooks.
Williams spent two-plus seasons on defense before converting to backfield duties. "The 6-1, 223-pounder is a natural runner with exceptional vision, balance and body control," wrote Brooks. "He is nimble in the open field, yet displays the strength and power to act as a sledgehammer on runs between the tackles." Williams received only 91 attempts last year in FSU's crowded backfield, but he tallied more than 700 yards with them. James Wilder Jr. and Devonta Freeman aren't around to steal his touches anymore, and Williams may very well prove to be the superior player of the three.

Source: NFL.com

USC sophomore WR Nelson Agholor must add strength to improve his draft stock, according to ESPN's Mel Kiper.
Kiper ranked Agholor, who led all Trojans, including Marqise Lee, in receiving last year with 918 receiving yards and six touchdowns, as the No. 24 prospect in the 2015 draft. "Agholor is a very good player, a glider with good top-end speed and the ability to create separation," he wrote. "He'll see a lot of attention in 2014, and the question for me is whether he can add some strength. He's smooth, but he'll need to hold up physically, too."

Source: ESPN Insider

 

[Xue]

I've seen Nelson Agholor as a top 32 prospect in recent draftnik rankings. Just don't understand it while Sammie Coates is nowhere to be found. Coates is heaver and just as fast (ran a legit 4.37) and has already broken out. Oh and just for good measure, Coates can do this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo1_l1XNg4I

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Dorial Green-Beckham - WR - Tigers

Eastern Illinois sources tell CBS Sports' Jeremy Fowler they have had no contact with former Missouri WR Dorial Green-Beckham and "have been led to believe" he will sit out the 2014 season and enter the 2015 draft.

Many had pegged EIU as DGB's next home, but that does not appear to be the case anymmore. This is a similar path to the one Tyrann Mathieu took just a few years ago. He was ultimately selected in the third-round. DGB could play immediately if he transferred to an FCS program, but staying out of trouble and working out for an entire season, even away from football, might not be the worst idea.

Source: CBS Sports
May 27 - 10:53 AM

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Ameer Abdullah - RB - Cornhuskers

CBS Sports' Dane Brugler listed five "undervalued" prospects in the class of 2015, including Nebraska senior-to-be RB Ameer Abdullah.

Arizona State WR Jaelen Strong, Michigan DE Frank Clark, Washington DE Hauoli Kikaha and Michigan State FS Kurtis Drummond are the other four prospects. Next year's class will be loaded with running backs, many from the southern conferences, but Abdullah is definitely a name to watch.

Source: Dane Brugler on Twitter
May 27 - 10:29 AM

 

[Bronx Bomber]

I've seen Nelson Agholor as a top 32 prospect in recent draftnik rankings. Just don't understand it while Sammie Coates is nowhere to be found. Coates is heaver and just as fast (ran a legit 4.37) and has already broken out. Oh and just for good measure, Coates can do this:

 

[Faust]

14 for '14: Most explosive athletes in college football

 

[Faust]

Amari Cooper, Nelson Agholor among top WRs to watch in 2014

 

[Faust]

Jeremiah: Brett Hundley, other young QBs have work to do

 

[Time Kibitzer]

A lot of the consensus top names at RB and WR are being super over-hyped right now. Guys like Cooper, Agholor, Melvin Gordon, etc. are far from being any better than a host of other names.

 

[Bronx Bomber]

A lot of the consensus top names at RB and WR are being super over-hyped right now. Guys like Cooper, Agholor, Melvin Gordon, etc. are far from being any better than a host of other names.

Good so that means it will be a deep crop again of stud talents.

 

[Xue]

A lot of the consensus top names at RB and WR are being super over-hyped right now. Guys like Cooper, Agholor, Melvin Gordon, etc. are far from being any better than a host of other names.

Gordon is legit.

 

[Xue]

Sammie Coates runs a 4.37: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSQZHfgdDcY

 

[Faust]

2015 NFL Draft: Baylor Preview

 

[Time Kibitzer]

A lot of the consensus top names at RB and WR are being super over-hyped right now. Guys like Cooper, Agholor, Melvin Gordon, etc. are far from being any better than a host of other names.

Gordon is legit.

Little wiggle, no displayed pass catching ability, light at ~200lbs, and he has a very very good RB to compete for carries with this year in Corey Clement. I think Melvin Gordon's draft stock is as high as it's ever going to be right now, it's all downhill from here imo.

 

[Xue]

A lot of the consensus top names at RB and WR are being super over-hyped right now. Guys like Cooper, Agholor, Melvin Gordon, etc. are far from being any better than a host of other names.

Gordon is legit.

Little wiggle, no displayed pass catching ability, light at ~200lbs, and he has a very very good RB to compete for carries with this year in Corey Clement. I think Melvin Gordon's draft stock is as high as it's ever going to be right now, it's all downhill from here imo.

He's got enough wiggle. Not going to destroy the 3-cone or shuttle, but his explosiveness more than makes up for it. He's quoted at being around 205-208 and plans to be at 215. I I don't think he's "light". He just has very little body fat: http://lifesyourcupfb.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/melvin-gordon-full-body.jpg

If you didn't know that he was listed at 205 or so, you probably couldn't tell from that picture if he was any less than 215. I mean, does he look any less bulky than Adrian Peterson and Matt Forte?

Clement is a different style of runner and build and definitely cuts better than Gordon, but that doesn't make him more or less better projected to the NFL.

Gordon doesn't have to "compete" with Clement. They both will probably split carries. That's a good thing for both, not a negative. And one of the incoming Freshman will probably see some action as well.

Ray Rice had 12 receptions before his Junior season. Too early to write Gordon off because of his passing game deficiency. There's no reason he can't or won't be part of it this season.

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

T.J. Yeldon - RB - Crimson Tide
New Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin said Alabama's running backs unit would rank amongst the three best in the NFL.
"There probably aren't three more talented tailbacks in the NFL on a roster than we're fortunate to be able to work with at Alabama," Kiffin said. It's an odd statement from the loose-lipped former Trojans' coach, but he does have an embarrassment of riches. The Crimson Tide's trio of T.J. Yeldon, Derrick Henry and Kenyan Drake is one of college football's best, but to call it one of the NFL's best is a little silly. Yeldon rushed for 1,235 rushing yards with 14 scores in 207 carries last year.

Source: AL.com

South Alabama senior WR Jereme Jones runs a 4.48 second forty.
Jones has collected 84 receptions and 10 TD catches over the past two years with the Jaguars. The 5-foot-8, 167 pounder is "pound-for-pound the strongest guy on South Alabama's team," according to NFL.com. Jones, whose body fat is just 7.5 percent, squats 545 pounds, bench presses 365 pounds, hang cleans 335 pounds, has a vertical of 37.5 inches and a broad jump of 10-foot-1. He could be a late-round candidate if he has a huge season in 2014.

Source: NFL.com

Louisville junior WR DeVante Parker runs a 4.39 second forty and has a wing span of 80 inches.
Parker is a freak athlete who has a vertical jump of 36.5 inches and a broad jump of 10-foot-10. The Cardinals' star can also squat 455 pounds, bench press 335 pounds, and do 17 reps in the bench press. The NFL will love Parker's catch radius, just as Teddy Bridgewater did and Will Gardner will. Coaches will love to see Parker leaping over DBs and dominating at the catch point this fall, while scouts will salivate over measurements that confirm what the naked eye can plainly see.

Source: NFL.com

Baylor redshirt senior QB Bryce Petty runs a 4.62 second forty.
Petty doesn't get many chances to show off his athletic tools on the field, as Baylor's high-flying offense asks him instead to spray lasers all over the field, but that's an aspect of his game that the NFL will appreciate. Petty has a vertical jump of 38 inches, a broad jump of 10-foot-5.5 inches, and he can squat 510 pounds. The signal caller was in the Heisman discussion with 4,200 yards and a 32/3 TD-to-INT ratio last year. Bears' coach Art Briles said in December that he believes Petty will be a top-five pick in the 2015 draft.

Source: NFL.com

Georgia junior RB Todd Gurley has been clocked at 4.43 seconds in the 40 and was formerly one of the best prep hurdlers in the country.
Perhaps most impressive? He's a 6-foot-1, 232-pound monster. Gurley joined Georgia's track team for the 2013 indoor season and slapped down a 8.12 second 60-meter hurdle, the seventh-fastest time in school history. Gurley, who has drawn comparisons to a young Marshawn Lynch, has as good a chance as anyone to become the next first-round running back. No defender in the SEC is looking forward to his matchup with Georgia in the fall.

Source: NFL.com

Northwestern senior RB Venric Mark has been clocked at 4.32 in the forty-yard dash.
Mark measures only 5-foot-8, 175 pounds, but he's a terror on the field capable of breaking defenses as a rusher, receiver or returner. Formerly a prep track stud in Houston, Mark is now a dynamic but injury-prone weapon out of the Wildcats' backfield. The NCAA granted Mark a fifth year of eligibility in January after he missed most of last season with a factored ankle. If he stays healthy this season -- no certainty -- Mark could top 2012's total of 1,366 rushing yards on 6.0 yards per carry

Source: NFL.com

NFL Media analyst Bucky Brooks says NFL scouts "salivate" over the potential of Stanford junior WR Ty Montgomery.
Scouts highly value dual-threat playmakers, Brooks writes, making Montgomery a hot property. "The senior standout is arguably the most explosive returner in college football, but is equally impressive as a pass-catcher," wrote the scribe. "Montgomery averaged 15.7 yards per catch in 2013 with 10 touchdown catches, while also ranking second in kickoff returns with a 30.3-yard average and two return scores. Those numbers are not only indicative of his overall explosiveness, but it speaks volumes about his playmaking ability in the open field. Thus, it is not surprising to hear scouts rave about his upside and potential as a future pro." The 6-foot-2, 215-pounder is in line for a monster season, and it's scary to think what he could do if Kevin Hogan takes an expected step forward in 2014.

Source: NFL.com

Baylor senior WR Antwan Goodley's 2013 game tape made scouts say, "Whoa!", according to NFL.com's Bucky Brooks.
The 5-foot-11, 225-pound junior has been clocked as fast as 4.39 seconds in the 40 and is one of the strongest players on Baylor's team. And that's not all: Goodley was one of college football's most productive receivers last year, collecting 71 receptions for 1,339 yards (18.9 avg.) and 13 touchdowns. Goodley offers "a rare combination of speed, strength and power on the perimeter," Brooks wrote. "Although Goodley is raw and unrefined as a route runner, his explosiveness and playmaking ability vault him to the top of the list in the minds of NFL evaluators." Goodley is set to follow Josh Gordon, Kendall Wright, Terrance Williams and Tevin Reese into the pros.

Source: NFL.com

On the Afternoon Sports Drive on WNSP-FM 105.5 in Mobile, Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher stated that he believes redshirt junior QB Jacob Coker "will be a very high draft pick" in the NFL.
"Jacob Coker is an outstanding young man, first and foremost, He's a tremendous human being. As an athlete, he is a tremendous player. I think he is going to be a very high draft pick in the NFL. He has that type of potential," Fisher told WNSP. The Crimson Tide prospect has spent most of his college career waiting for an opportunity to showcase his talents. Now that Coker has transferred, the strong-armed, mobile quarterback still must compete with the quarterbacks on the roster who went through spring practice, in Blake Sims and Cooper Bateman.

Source: WNSP.com

NFL.com's Bucky Brooks thinks USC sophomore WR Nelson Agholor has a chance to be one of the best wideouts out of USC "since Keyshawn Johnson."
"Agholor has a chance to be one of the best to come out of USC since Keyshawn Johnson. He is a natural route runner with outstanding ball skills and hands. Additionally, Agholor is a sneaky runner with a knack for turning short passes into big gains due to his underrated kick-return skills," wrote Brooks. With Agholor's style of play, he has the ability to be explosive from anywhere on the field. His skill set paired with his precision route running, make him a a good fit for a West Coast system in the NFL.

Source: NFL.com

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

NFL.com's Bucky Brooks believes that Alabama junior WR Amari Cooper is a "prototypical No. 1 receiver that NFL coaches and scouts could covet" at the next level.
"The junior standout is the prototypical No. 1 receiver that NFL coaches and scouts covet as the anchor of a passing game. Cooper is a big, athletic playmaker with exceptional ball skills and hands. Most important, he is a smooth, fluid route runner capable of running every route in the book, which makes him the ideal receiver to feature in a game plan," Brooks wrote. The injury-plagued Cooper had a sophomore slump type of season, with 43 catches, 736 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2013. Lucky for Cooper, Nick Saban has made it known that he plans to get his star wideout the ball as much as possible this upcoming season, which could really put his talents on showcase for NFL scouts this season.

Source: NFL.com

Duke lacrosse player Chris Hipps will attend graduate school and play WR for SMU next season, according to Gil Brandt.
Out of high school, Hipps was a top Texas receiver recruit, according to Brandt. He finished his career on a high note with Duke, as the lacrosse program just won the national championship, culminating a run that saw them win two of the last three titles, and four of the last five. Hipps stands at 6'4/211 lbs.

Source: Gil Brandt on Twitter

 

[ZWK]

Is anyone keeping track of all of these unofficial workout numbers in one consolidated place (like a google spreadsheet)? It would be interesting to compare them to the actual combine numbers a year from now to get some data on how much we can trust these sorts of reports.

 

[Whitney26]

Is anyone keeping track of all of these unofficial workout numbers in one consolidated place (like a google spreadsheet)? It would be interesting to compare them to the actual combine numbers a year from now to get some data on how much we can trust these sorts of reports.

I am in a Google spreadsheet. I'm still far from finished, but I'm using numbers provided by difference sources......like one's already mentioned, prospects that may have participated in a Nike SPARQ event, NFLDS etc etc. I still have a lot more to enter, but I'll get there.

 

[EBF]

He's got enough wiggle. Not going to destroy the 3-cone or shuttle, but his explosiveness more than makes up for it. He's quoted at being around 205-208 and plans to be at 215. I I don't think he's "light". He just has very little body fat: http://lifesyourcupfb.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/melvin-gordon-full-body.jpg

"Light" is a pretty objective concept. Draft Scout lists him at 6' 5/8" 207 pounds. That's good for a BMI of about 27.6. Right in Chris Johnson/McFadden/Spiller territory. There's no telling if those are accurate measurements yet, but if those numbers hold then that's a really thin frame for an NFL RB.

Whether it will have any bearing on his NFL success is another question. Jamaal Charles and Chris Johnson are really light. Hasn't mattered.

 

[EBF]

A lot of the consensus top names at RB and WR are being super over-hyped right now. Guys like Cooper, Agholor, Melvin Gordon, etc. are far from being any better than a host of other names.

There's a lot of parroting that goes on in the devy echo chamber where if 1-2 guys start hyping a prospect then all of a sudden everyone else will move him up. In that way strange conclusions calcify and become "consensus" until they're gradually broken apart by CFB performance, the combine, and the draft. Meanwhile really good prospects with obvious NFL caliber tools can fly way under the radar if for whatever reason they're not at the right program or they don't have the right stats to become trendy picks. I feel like a lot of people don't really watch much tape or do much homework on their own, and many who do don't necessarily know what they're looking at. So they rely more on word of mouth than anything. When you have people building lists using the same small collection of sources, of course that's going to result in even more homogeneity in devy drafts and devy rankings.

It's understandable to some extent because time is limited. I'm guessing that I do more work on this front than most, but even so I only have the time and energy to run the rule over a fraction of the guys who are out there with high potential. It's just not an effective use of my time to turn over every single stone. Then there's the problem of access. You typically don't see a lot of YouTube clips popping up for players unless they're a hot name at a big program or until they're draft-eligible. For example, I've got Toledo RB Kareem Hunt and Texas State RB Robert Lowe on my all-class watch list. Where am I going to get footage of them? There are no game compilations available. If you're lucky, you might be able to find some specific play highlights on the ESPN recaps. With Lowe, I was able to find some highlights buried within Texas State game highlights on YouTube. But not every school offers those and it's time-consuming to sit there and sift through all the junk. I think this enterprise would be a lot easier if there were DraftBreakdown-like game clips available for every halfway decent college player. As of right now that's not out there though. So sometimes you'll come across an intriguing prospect and literally be unable to find footage. Try to find footage of Wes Saxton or Kivon Cartwright. It basically doesn't exist on the Internet.

All that said, I think your basic point is correct. Devy rankings are far less concrete than even pre-draft rookie rankings. They rely more on hearsay, guesswork, and shoddy groupthink. So it would be wise to look at them with a somewhat skeptical mindset. For example, it would be regarded as sacrilege to pass on Derrick Henry for Ezekiel Elliott in a devy draft right now. Is the gap in their perceived value really justified by anything in the numbers, situation, athletic tool set, and NCAA performance? Ehhhh. I'm not sure. That's just one example, but I'd definitely recommend putting in the legwork to draw your own conclusions rather than deferring to the consensus with a devy pick. It's not like the NFL draft where you have 32 teams and their personnel departments creating a roadmap for you. Things are a lot more fluid and that's part of why I enjoy the challenge of dealing with these commodities more than just the relatively paint-by-numbers dynasty rookie drafts.

 

[Xue]

He's got enough wiggle. Not going to destroy the 3-cone or shuttle, but his explosiveness more than makes up for it. He's quoted at being around 205-208 and plans to be at 215. I I don't think he's "light". He just has very little body fat: http://lifesyourcupfb.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/melvin-gordon-full-body.jpg

"Light" is a pretty objective concept. Draft Scout lists him at 6' 5/8" 207 pounds. That's good for a BMI of about 27.6. Right in Chris Johnson/McFadden/Spiller territory. There's no telling if those are accurate measurements yet, but if those numbers hold then that's a really thin frame for an NFL RB.

Whether it will have any bearing on his NFL success is another question. Jamaal Charles and Chris Johnson are really light. Hasn't mattered.

It's objective in a vacuum and all things are equal. Two players with the same exact dimensions/build and measured times aren't automatically the same.

Evaluating a player's build goes far beyond a measured height and weight.

The question you have to ask yourself is, do you really want Melvin Gordon to put on weight to make you feel better about his BMI? What if he's slower or stiffer? Is that really going to protect him from injury? Where's he going to add the weight? His rib cage? His ankles? Knees?

He is what he is, and he will eventually get injured because he's a RB. There are numerous RBs with more "optimal" BMIs that get injured aplenty: Demarco Murray, Ryan Mathews, Jonathan Stewart, etc.

 

[Xue]

Is anyone keeping track of all of these unofficial workout numbers in one consolidated place (like a google spreadsheet)? It would be interesting to compare them to the actual combine numbers a year from now to get some data on how much we can trust these sorts of reports.

Bruce Feldman made a list last year: http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/22278381/freaks-list-the-20-craziest-athletes-in-college-football

A lot of the figures were pretty close.

Jadevon Clowney:

Reported: 38" vertical, 4.54 40 at 274lbs

Actual: 37.5" vertical, 4.53 Official 40 at 266lbs

Rashede Hageman:

Reported: 36" vertical at 312lbs

Actual: 35.5" vertical at 310lbs

Lache Seastrunk:

Reported: 42.5-44.5" vertical, 11-4 BJ, 4.36 40 at 210lbs

Actual: 41.5" vertical, 11-2 BJ, 4.40 (Pro Day) 40 at 201lbs

Tevin Reese:

Reported: 45" vertical, 4.32 40 at 170lbs

Actual: 41" vertical, 4.46 40 at 163lbs

Taylor Lewan:

Reported: 29" vertical, 4.8 40 at 309lbs

Actual: 30.5" vertical, 4.87 40 at 309lbs

Dri Archer:

Reported: 4.29 40 at 173lbs

Actual: 4.26 40 at 173lbs

Justin Jackson:

Reported: 10-8 BJ at 230 lbs

Actual: 39.5" vertical, 10-3 BJ at 233lbs

Donte Moncrief: (this one was so spot on)

Reported: 39" vertical, 11-1 BJ, 4.44 40 at 228lbs

Actual: 39.5" vertical, 11 BJ, 4.40 40 at 221lbs

Colt Lyerla:

Reported: 35" vertical at 250lbs

Actual: 39" vertical at 243lbs

Carl Bradford:

Reported: 35.5" vertical, 10-2 BJ at 241lbs

Actual: 37.5" vertical, 10-2 BJ at 250lbs

James Wilder:

Reported: 36" vertical at 233lbs

Actual: 35" vertical at 232lbs

James Gayle:

Reported: 39.5" vertical at 269lbs

Actual: 37" vertical at 270lbs

 

[EBF]

He's got enough wiggle. Not going to destroy the 3-cone or shuttle, but his explosiveness more than makes up for it. He's quoted at being around 205-208 and plans to be at 215. I I don't think he's "light". He just has very little body fat: http://lifesyourcupfb.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/melvin-gordon-full-body.jpg

"Light" is a pretty objective concept. Draft Scout lists him at 6' 5/8" 207 pounds. That's good for a BMI of about 27.6. Right in Chris Johnson/McFadden/Spiller territory. There's no telling if those are accurate measurements yet, but if those numbers hold then that's a really thin frame for an NFL RB.

Whether it will have any bearing on his NFL success is another question. Jamaal Charles and Chris Johnson are really light. Hasn't mattered.

It's objective in a vacuum and all things are equal. Two players with the same exact dimensions/build and measured times aren't automatically the same.

Evaluating a player's build goes far beyond a measured height and weight.

The question you have to ask yourself is, do you really want Melvin Gordon to put on weight to make you feel better about his BMI? What if he's slower or stiffer? Is that really going to protect him from injury? Where's he going to add the weight? His rib cage? His ankles? Knees?

He is what he is, and he will eventually get injured because he's a RB. There are numerous RBs with more "optimal" BMIs that get injured aplenty: Demarco Murray, Ryan Mathews, Jonathan Stewart, etc.

You are basically arguing against nobody here. Time Kibitzer made one comment that Gordon was light. I simply said, "Yes, he is."

I usually gravitate towards stockier backs, but it's also clear than thin ones can dominate if they have the right traits.

 

[Xue]

He's got enough wiggle. Not going to destroy the 3-cone or shuttle, but his explosiveness more than makes up for it. He's quoted at being around 205-208 and plans to be at 215. I I don't think he's "light". He just has very little body fat: http://lifesyourcupfb.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/melvin-gordon-full-body.jpg

"Light" is a pretty objective concept. Draft Scout lists him at 6' 5/8" 207 pounds. That's good for a BMI of about 27.6. Right in Chris Johnson/McFadden/Spiller territory. There's no telling if those are accurate measurements yet, but if those numbers hold then that's a really thin frame for an NFL RB.

Whether it will have any bearing on his NFL success is another question. Jamaal Charles and Chris Johnson are really light. Hasn't mattered.

It's objective in a vacuum and all things are equal. Two players with the same exact dimensions/build and measured times aren't automatically the same.

Evaluating a player's build goes far beyond a measured height and weight.

The question you have to ask yourself is, do you really want Melvin Gordon to put on weight to make you feel better about his BMI? What if he's slower or stiffer? Is that really going to protect him from injury? Where's he going to add the weight? His rib cage? His ankles? Knees?

He is what he is, and he will eventually get injured because he's a RB. There are numerous RBs with more "optimal" BMIs that get injured aplenty: Demarco Murray, Ryan Mathews, Jonathan Stewart, etc.

You are basically arguing against nobody here. Time Kibitzer made one comment that Gordon was light. I simply said, "Yes, he is."

I usually gravitate towards stockier backs, but it's also clear than thin ones can dominate if they have the right traits.

Time Kibitzer said Gordon is overrated and then gave reasons as to why he is. I'm not willing to miss out on a potential special talent at RB because he's "light" on paper. My reply was meant to be directed at him as well.

 

[Whitney26]

Is anyone keeping track of all of these unofficial workout numbers in one consolidated place (like a google spreadsheet)? It would be interesting to compare them to the actual combine numbers a year from now to get some data on how much we can trust these sorts of reports.

I am in a Google spreadsheet. I'm still far from finished, but I'm using numbers provided by difference sources......like one's already mentioned, prospects that may have participated in a Nike SPARQ event, NFLDS etc etc. I still have a lot more to enter, but I'll get there.

Stupid me forgot to share the link....

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1n5hI4kWH4G2GrFR-zKN7OEcNu41sn2H5fon-C1mDCQk/pubhtml

 

[LususV]

Is anyone keeping track of all of these unofficial workout numbers in one consolidated place (like a google spreadsheet)? It would be interesting to compare them to the actual combine numbers a year from now to get some data on how much we can trust these sorts of reports.

I am in a Google spreadsheet. I'm still far from finished, but I'm using numbers provided by difference sources......like one's already mentioned, prospects that may have participated in a Nike SPARQ event, NFLDS etc etc. I still have a lot more to enter, but I'll get there.

Stupid me forgot to share the link....

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1n5hI4kWH4G2GrFR-zKN7OEcNu41sn2H5fon-C1mDCQk/pubhtml

Someone passed me a link about a month back, and I thought your 2014 spreadsheet was awesome; thanks for this!

Were 2010 and 2011 taken off-line?

 

[EBF]

Rotoworld:

Baylor senior WR Antwan Goodley's 2013 game tape made scouts say, "Whoa!", according to NFL.com's Bucky Brooks.
The 5-foot-11, 225-pound junior has been clocked as fast as 4.39 seconds in the 40 and is one of the strongest players on Baylor's team. And that's not all: Goodley was one of college football's most productive receivers last year, collecting 71 receptions for 1,339 yards (18.9 avg.) and 13 touchdowns. Goodley offers "a rare combination of speed, strength and power on the perimeter," Brooks wrote. "Although Goodley is raw and unrefined as a route runner, his explosiveness and playmaking ability vault him to the top of the list in the minds of NFL evaluators." Goodley is set to follow Josh Gordon, Kendall Wright, Terrance Williams and Tevin Reese into the pros.

Source: NFL.com

He's a scary player on vertical routes. Still a bit of a question mark in possession situations.

Here's a detailed article about how Jason Verrett (Chargers first round CB) shut him down last season.

http://www.detroitlionsdraft.com/2013/12/draft-matchup-jason-verrett-vs-antwan-goodley/

 

[3 hour lunch]

Is there a consensus on the 2014 vs 2015 classes? Probably wandering too close to a WDIS question, but have to make a compensatory pick decision- I pick the year.

 

[Xue]

Rotoworld:

Baylor senior WR Antwan Goodley's 2013 game tape made scouts say, "Whoa!", according to NFL.com's Bucky Brooks.
The 5-foot-11, 225-pound junior has been clocked as fast as 4.39 seconds in the 40 and is one of the strongest players on Baylor's team. And that's not all: Goodley was one of college football's most productive receivers last year, collecting 71 receptions for 1,339 yards (18.9 avg.) and 13 touchdowns. Goodley offers "a rare combination of speed, strength and power on the perimeter," Brooks wrote. "Although Goodley is raw and unrefined as a route runner, his explosiveness and playmaking ability vault him to the top of the list in the minds of NFL evaluators." Goodley is set to follow Josh Gordon, Kendall Wright, Terrance Williams and Tevin Reese into the pros.

Source: NFL.com

He's a scary player on vertical routes. Still a bit of a question mark in possession situations.

Here's a detailed article about how Jason Verrett (Chargers first round CB) shut him down last season.

http://www.detroitlionsdraft.com/2013/12/draft-matchup-jason-verrett-vs-antwan-goodley/

Goodley isn't very polished or "natural" at WR yet. More of a guy that "just runs really fast when the ball is snapped".

 

[Xue]

https://twitter.com/BruceFeldmanCFB/status/474231933908430848

Have a new contender for #1 spot on the upcoming Freaks list: #Auburn WR Sammie Coates. Vertical jumped 44 inches. Benched 405 lbs.

Might not actually jump 44" at the Combine, but it should be right up there. Torrey Smith vertical jumped 41" and Coates has displayed better in-game leaping ability than Smith ever did, so the athleticism is legit.

 

[jurb26]

https://twitter.com/BruceFeldmanCFB/status/474231933908430848

Have a new contender for #1 spot on the upcoming Freaks list: #Auburn WR Sammie Coates. Vertical jumped 44 inches. Benched 405 lbs.

Might not actually jump 44" at the Combine, but it should be right up there. Torrey Smith vertical jumped 41" and Coates has displayed better in-game leaping ability than Smith ever did, so the athleticism is legit.

Coates is for real, but I kind of liked it better when there want all this news about his awesomeness.

 

[offdee]

Is there a consensus on the 2014 vs 2015 classes? Probably wandering too close to a WDIS question, but have to make a compensatory pick decision- I pick the year.

2014:

- much better at WR

- better at TE

2015:

- better at QB

- much better at RB

 

[Xue]

Is there a consensus on the 2014 vs 2015 classes? Probably wandering too close to a WDIS question, but have to make a compensatory pick decision- I pick the year.

2014:

- much better at WR

- better at TE

2015:

- better at QB

- much better at RB

2015 can be just as good at TE. Ultimately hinges on the underclassmen declaring.

 

[MAC_32]

A lot of the consensus top names at RB and WR are being super over-hyped right now. Guys like Cooper, Agholor, Melvin Gordon, etc. are far from being any better than a host of other names.

There's a lot of parroting that goes on in the devy echo chamber where if 1-2 guys start hyping a prospect then all of a sudden everyone else will move him up. In that way strange conclusions calcify and become "consensus" until they're gradually broken apart by CFB performance, the combine, and the draft. Meanwhile really good prospects with obvious NFL caliber tools can fly way under the radar if for whatever reason they're not at the right program or they don't have the right stats to become trendy picks. I feel like a lot of people don't really watch much tape or do much homework on their own, and many who do don't necessarily know what they're looking at. So they rely more on word of mouth than anything. When you have people building lists using the same small collection of sources, of course that's going to result in even more homogeneity in devy drafts and devy rankings.

It's understandable to some extent because time is limited. I'm guessing that I do more work on this front than most, but even so I only have the time and energy to run the rule over a fraction of the guys who are out there with high potential. It's just not an effective use of my time to turn over every single stone. Then there's the problem of access. You typically don't see a lot of YouTube clips popping up for players unless they're a hot name at a big program or until they're draft-eligible. For example, I've got Toledo RB Kareem Hunt and Texas State RB Robert Lowe on my all-class watch list. Where am I going to get footage of them? There are no game compilations available. If you're lucky, you might be able to find some specific play highlights on the ESPN recaps. With Lowe, I was able to find some highlights buried within Texas State game highlights on YouTube. But not every school offers those and it's time-consuming to sit there and sift through all the junk. I think this enterprise would be a lot easier if there were DraftBreakdown-like game clips available for every halfway decent college player. As of right now that's not out there though. So sometimes you'll come across an intriguing prospect and literally be unable to find footage. Try to find footage of Wes Saxton or Kivon Cartwright. It basically doesn't exist on the Internet.

All that said, I think your basic point is correct. Devy rankings are far less concrete than even pre-draft rookie rankings. They rely more on hearsay, guesswork, and shoddy groupthink. So it would be wise to look at them with a somewhat skeptical mindset. For example, it would be regarded as sacrilege to pass on Derrick Henry for Ezekiel Elliott in a devy draft right now. Is the gap in their perceived value really justified by anything in the numbers, situation, athletic tool set, and NCAA performance? Ehhhh. I'm not sure. That's just one example, but I'd definitely recommend putting in the legwork to draw your own conclusions rather than deferring to the consensus with a devy pick. It's not like the NFL draft where you have 32 teams and their personnel departments creating a roadmap for you. Things are a lot more fluid and that's part of why I enjoy the challenge of dealing with these commodities more than just the relatively paint-by-numbers dynasty rookie drafts.

make time for weekday games my man, it will cast a wider net. Won't cover everyone, but more than just the big ticket schools.

 

[EBF]

I go through the stats near the end of the season and take a quick look at almost anyone in FBS with compelling numbers. That's what turned me on to players like Eric Thomas, Wes Saxton, and Cody Latimer last year. Never going to find them all though. All of my devy leagues are one round only at the moment, so as long as I can find 2-3 guys I like a lot then I'm pretty well covered. As far as the rookies go, the combine, all star games, and draft usually catch anyone that I missed initially.

 

[cstu]

Is there a consensus on the 2014 vs 2015 classes? Probably wandering too close to a WDIS question, but have to make a compensatory pick decision- I pick the year.

2014:

- much better at WR

- better at TE

2015:

- better at QB

- much better at RB

2015 can be just as good at TE. Ultimately hinges on the underclassmen declaring.

Is there a Ebron level TE who is draft eligible next year?

 

[MAC_32]

Is there a consensus on the 2014 vs 2015 classes? Probably wandering too close to a WDIS question, but have to make a compensatory pick decision- I pick the year.

2014:

- much better at WR

- better at TE

2015:

- better at QB

- much better at RB

2015 can be just as good at TE. Ultimately hinges on the underclassmen declaring.

Is there a Ebron level TE who is draft eligible next year?

if funchess learns how to catch he will be better.

 

[EBF]

Is there a consensus on the 2014 vs 2015 classes? Probably wandering too close to a WDIS question, but have to make a compensatory pick decision- I pick the year.

2014:

- much better at WR

- better at TE

2015:

- better at QB

- much better at RB

2015 can be just as good at TE. Ultimately hinges on the underclassmen declaring.

Is there a Ebron level TE who is draft eligible next year?

He will probably say Maxx Williams, but that's a bit of a hipster pick and IMO there isn't.

Not often you see a TE picked in the top 10. Bit of a blue moon. I wouldn't expect it again so soon.

There might be some speculation that OJ Howard could go that high in 2016. Long way off though.