This is an attempt at a long-term fantasy ranking. I watch a lot of college football, but don’t consider myself among the amateur scouts. Many of these guys have talked about extensively, so I may or may not have anything unique on several of these guys. I am terrible typist so I will ask you to excuse the mistakes beforehand. Other note: I did not complete the blubs for QB & TE because of time as I have real work to finish before the NFL draft starts.
RB- I liked this class more before it got poked at during the draft process. Average to Okay.
1- Spiller- I am tempted to rank Matthews over him because Ryan projects more cleanly to an every down back. I am more negative on spiller because every game that I have watched Spiller over the last two years have been statistically his worst where he looks no better than a Joe McKnight type. I have great reservation about this.
2- Matthews- There are three plays which keep me from ranking him as the top player. Three carries from the one yard line against Wyoming in his bowl game. He is probably going to a team which expects him to be an every down guy and he was not powerful or creative enough to get the ball in the endzone. Since he is the guy most aligned with my favorite teams the Texans, I am hoping that bowl game episode was the fluke.
3- Best – If I weren't scared to death of his injuries, might be the number one. While on the small side really seems to project as a better every down runner than spiller.
4- Hardisty- played well as a senior , but another guy with an injury history. Good measurable and on the field toughness. Could be an every down or lead guy in the right situation.
5-Dwyer- Not a fan of soft body type RBs who can get big, but displays natural running skills at times. Remember zone reads and options read are really more similar than many people understand, so his transition to the pros is probably not as difficult as many are making.
6- Gerhart- Solid athlete with production. Not sure how well pure big back translate into the modern NFL, but has the potential to carry 12-15 times a game in the right system
7- Tate- his athletic profile from the combine does not totally translate to the field, but a productive enough Sec guy to care about.
8- Dixon- combine Gerhart and Tate profiles with a couple of off field issues and you have Dixon.
9- McKnight- Looking for a reason not to include him in the top 10, maybe the draft will provide it.
10- Joque Bell- did not see as a player, but like at Senior practices. Productive with enough athletic ability
Others I thought about
Deji Kahim- Southern Illinois, LaGarret Blount- Oregon
WR
Not a fan of this one overall. Too many solid guys who don’t appear to have great upside, high upside guys who have warts in production, etc. and smaller school guys who I just don’t know enough about.
1- Bryant- Only question is maturity, but that has gotten bigger during the draft process.
2- Thomas- Boom or bust. Not my 2nd ranked because I think he is some complete prospect, but because of crazy upside and the lack of other WRs w/o fleas.
3- Tate- Wanted him to be my number two , but while his production and athletic number s are good he is not fluid with his speed nor is a good route runner.
4- Mitchell- Really a lesser known Thomas.
5- Damian Williams- Think of him as a solid , but not spectacular prospect. NFL WR2
6- Benn- production not as good as hype. Potential there but another boom/bust guy.
7- LaFell- productive not special, imo.
8- Price- Good work out numbers and looked more polished than expected.
9- Roberts- Small school guy who looked like he belonged at the senior bowl practices.
10-Decker- liked him as a player, injury has kept off-season buzz away. Seems like the NFL likes him more than the fantasy world.
Didn’t what position to put him- Dexter McCluster RB/WR Miss
Thought about- Marcus Easley Uconn, Marty Gilyard Cinn, Mike Williams syracuce, Jordan Shipley Texas
QB-
1-Bradford
2- Clausen
3- McCoy
4- Skelton
5- Crompton
6- Tebow
7- LeFavour
8- Snead
9- Brown
10-Kafka
TE-
1-Hernandez
2- Gronkowsi
3-Greshanm
4- Pitta
5- Dickson
6- Moeaki
7- McCoy
8- Graham
9- Harbor
10-Overbay
