RB Chris Warren III, Texas His father is a Seahawks legend RB, but Chris III has the sweet feet that made Jerome Bettis famous, making quick cuts in the hole that belie his 250lb frame. Warren III also ran an official 4.53 at his pro day, and I’m not sure Jerome Bettis ever ran 4.53, at any age or weight. Warren is an excellent pass protector (often asked to block edge rushers 1 on 1 with success) and a plus power running back who sheds would-be tacklers like flies.
RB/FB/WR Jalen Samuels, North Carolina State Do it all multi-tool who passed it, ran it, caught it with a lot of success. His ability to be a one-cut runner shocked me… he might be top 5 in the class at that see-hole, plant foot, go upfield skill. Oh, and he’s easily the best receiver among running back types in this year’s class.
RB Martez Carter, Grambling State Quick first step and good vision.
RB Boston Scott, Louisiana Tech He’s like the mini-me powerlifting cousin (5061 203) to Tarik Cohen’s mini me Barry Sanders (5062 179). Just imagine a faster, more explosive Devonta Freeman, squished into a package that is 2 or 3 inches shorter, and you’ll pretty much have it.
RB Larry Rose III, New Mexico State Some guys just have a natural feel for playing RB that you can’t teach. When to cut, when to lower your shoulder and power on–how to set up defenders and make them miss. Larry Rose III isn’t the biggest at 5’11” 185, but he runs with power and vision as good as anyone. Add in his pass-catching skills, and he may get a shot at an NFL roster. Those cats who play in New Mexico don’t get the attention the east coast players do, they don’t get the attention Big12 or Pac12 guys do… they don’t even get the attention Colorado, Utah, & Wyoming guys do. If they did, the smooth, good all-round game of Rose would be a lot more noticed.
RB Trenton Cannon, Virginia State Like watching a young Shady McCoy playing at the D2 level. A little shake & bake, a little burst, and enough long speed to think he has a shot at the higher level that plays on Sundays. Nose for the end zone, with 51 TDs in 3 years.
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THE MAIN EVENT If you’re looking for last-minute, below market draft prospects— here’s your menu. The underrated, undervalued, & overlooked 2018 B2B Directional State Battling Basilisks:
QB Alex McGough, Florida International Great mobility, but he doesn’t lean on it. Has plus arm strength on intermediate throws, but also put a ton of balls in perfect location for his #1 WR, Thomas Owens. Can run as well as any QB in the class, but looks to make plays downfield outside of structure. Top highlight includes a scramble left and an unreal throw 40 yards down field that threw the WR open for a huge gain.
QB Kyle Lauletta, Richmond Saw him play in high school, and thought: this kid has a polish and calmness to him that will take him far. Great anticipation on throws and a deadly short game.
QB Logan Woodside, Toledo
Chad Kanoff, QB, Princeton
Kanoff had a full scholarship commitment to Vanderbilt, but decided he’d rather pay to play in the Ivy League. He finished his career with a 2017 that featured an Ivy League completion percentage record of 73.2%, 3474 yds, 9 YPA, 29 TD and only 9 INT. He has SEC arm talent, with good touch on intermediate and deep throws.
QB Luis Perez Texas A&M-Commerce (see above) QB Bryan Schor, James Madison
Has a lot of moxie and enough touch to make plays.
It’s that time again: I release my annual list of undervalued draft sleepers and smaller school prospects who deserve more attention in the NFL draft.
For more than a decade now, I have made the analysis of lesser-known, small school, and undervalued NFL draft prospects my sometimes (well, more than sometimes) obsessive avocation. Over the years, I’ve written about, championed, interviewed, chosen in mock draft, defended in arguments, and generally shouted into the wilderness about “my” guys. Over the years, I’ve missed on a few (Hello, Gantrell Johnson!) but hit on a few very unexpected home runs, too.
Here’s a few past B2Bers, more or less the B2B Hall Of Fame:
Jared Veldheer, Richard Sherman, Carlos Dunlap, Emmanuel Sanders, Jimmy Graham, Josh Norman, Alterraun Verner, Junior Galette, Jordan Cameron, Julius Thomas, Buster Skrine, Doug Martin, Bruce Irvin, Robert Turbin, J.R.Sweezy, Jamie Collins, Brandon Williams, Paul Worrilow, Jarvis Landry, Javon Hargrave, George Fant, Malcolm Mitchell, Karl Joseph, and Jatavis Brown. Kevin Byard has definitely joined the club, and Patrick Mahomes, Tarik Cohen, Adrian Colbert, Cooper Rush, Chase Allen, and Kenny Golladay are looking good so far.
In general, I tend to favor potential in players who seem to have the football personality to make the jump to actualization of that talent. Give me a guy with heart, football smarts, and athletic ability and shame on you if you can’t figure out how to make him a player.
Shaq Griffin has has so many people tell him he can’t. From his pee wee coaches to even the college coaches who recruited him– everyone took one look at the kid with one hand and said, ‘no’. The fact that he’s made it this far, has become a really inspirational person, and is on the verge of being drafted into the NFL… great story. But set all of that aside for second… this prospect is a hell of a football player.
He might be known for running 4.38 at the combine (which in itself is pretty damn impressive) but Griffin might have more outstanding plays on tape than just about anyone in this draft. In two years with UCF’s new coaching staff–who watched Griffin practice and said, ‘why are we not playing this kid?’–he accumulated 166 tackles, 33.5 TFL, 18.5 sacks, 2 INT, 10 PD, 4 FR (1 for TD), 4 FF, playing arguably out of position as an EDGE rusher. He blew up plays in the backfield, chased down QBs, covered WRs on deep routes, blocked FGs… generally created havoc for the other team, culminating in two of the best games of his career in the last two he played vs Memphis and Auburn.
Against Auburn… a quality SEC team… Griffin was easily the best player on the field. So why did he nearly not get an invite to the NFL Combine? My guess? Fear and ignorance. Because it sure wasn’t based on tape. His tape says Troy Polamalu. Now we’ll just have to see if he gets the chance to prove them wrong again.
Underappreciated Non Power 5 FBS POYs:
Austin Corbett, OL, Nevada Great awareness and agility matched with very good technique. Played guard and tackle as a starter, and some of his best was against top competition. As solid a prospect as you’ll find in this draft.
Quentin Poling, LB, Ohio
Listen to this statline: 373 tackles, 43.5 TFL, 18 sacks, 7 INT, 2 pick 6s, 15 PD, 2 FR, 5 FF. No one in college football filled up the stat sheet more than this somewhat undersized, 2-star recruit.
FCS Players Of The Year:
Siran Neal, S/CB, Jacksonville State
Siran Neal is the prototype nickel safety/CB type who can blow up plays in the backfield or play physical coverage.
Dallas Goedert, TE, South Dakota State Supernatural ball skills for a former basketball guy but is willing and strong enough to work inline. Sensational hands and a little swagger helps.
D2 & Below Players Of The Year:
CB Michael Joseph, Dubuque (D3)(see below)
QB Luis Perez, Texas A&M-Commerce (D2) Is the most interesting man in the world. Or at least the most interesting in D2, as the winner of the Harlon Hill POY award in that subdivision. Okay, I stole that line from his profile. He threw for 3,326 yards and 32 TDs, leading his team to the National Championship this year. He has a great deep touch, and above-average arm ability to throw across the field.
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B2B Hustle + Talent award: PJ Hall, DL, Sam Houston State The biggest athletic freak in this class. A person that large should not be able to run and move like he does. Simply demolished the FCS for 4 years, to the tune of 280 tackles, 33 Passes defensed, 36.5 sacks, 86.5 TFL, 9 FF, 4 INTs, and 14 blocked kicks. His pro day workout shall become legend: 6010, 310 lbs, 36 reps, 4.67 40, 38 VJ
B2B Adversity Award: Skai Moore, LB, South Carolina
Skai Moore had a horrible neck injury that required fusion surgery. Before that, he was viewed as a top prospect, with a knack for interceptions. He missed a year, but came back to lead the Gamecocks in tackles– something he did all four years. Even though he’s known for coverage, he holds up very well vs the run, with surprising ability to fend off blockers and make plays.
The B2B Honorary Karl Joseph Everyone Had Me As A Third Rounder But I’m Going In The 1st Award: Jessie Bates, S, Vanderbilt
Free safety types are few and far between in this draft–especially ones who are interested in hitting/tackling, and who are very good punt returners. Bates is all of that AND he’s underaged, with a lot of room to grow.
B2B Walk-On to NFL Award: Deon Yelder, TE, Louisville
Yelder was a walk on who played mostly special teams for three years, but when called upon this year to start, he had a terrific season, both as a blocker and pass protector for Lamar Jackson, but also became a trusted target in the pass game, with 52 catches for 688 yds & 7 TDs, plus a couple of carries and a TD rushing from the wildcat formation.
B2B For The Love Of The Game Award: Michael Joseph, CB, Dubuque
Whenever you hear one of those stories about a top athlete who squandered his opportunities and sandbagged his way through a handful of second chances because he might, might someday unlock his unrealized potential, just remember the guys like Michael Joseph.
He played 6 snaps in high school. He weighed less than 130lbs. He sent tapes of his 6 snaps to 20 or 30 schools and no one responded. Finally, he sent that pathetic cut up to a school with no scholarships, in Division III… and the coach was feeling a little generous and maybe spied something in the easy speed of the young man. He wasn’t even allowed to practice with the team, and there was no separate weightlifting program or fancy football facilities. He tried to keep eating, so that he could put on weight and get a chance to play, but he could barely make ends meet– he even took a job that required him to walk an hour each way, since he didn’t have a car.
But after all of that, a funny thing happened: he got bigger, he got stronger, and he became a really good player. He is an aggressive and fearless tackler/hitter, just dominated in coverage… he did everything you’d hope an NFL prospect would do down in D3. After a nearly unprecedented invite to the Senior Bowl and a good showing there, he’s going to have his name called in the NFL draft. The real one, not the one in his crazy dream version he had while sitting on the bench in High School.
A coach’s son, who was described as the most football smart player in the draft. He uses knowledge of route trees and tendencies to always be in great position. If he wanted to, he could also be a great fit at safety, with his excellent tackling skills and fearlessness about contact.
The Inaugural “If This Were 1975, I’d be a 1st Rd Pick/Borderline Too Violent For This Sport Award: Nate ‘Scooby’ Gaines, FS, Texas-San Antonio
Yeah, well, maybe he’s a targeting foul waiting to happen in this era of football, but you can’t deny he is about as good a hitter as you’ll find at FS. Despite his obvious inclination to trying to annihilate defenseless receivers and runners alike, he still managed to play the ball enough to get 8 INTs to go with all those knockouts.
Those listed in Green represent the top tier at each position… about 44 prospects this year. Yellow indicates 2nd tier, down to top 100 picks… actual number is 108. One player is very highly rated at two positions (Shaquem Griffin), so there are 107 prospects here I think worthy of a top 100 pick in this year’s draft.
I try to make it through as many prospects as I can, but there are some lesser regarded prospects whose film I;m still trying to get through… they are marked with grey. If a prospect is not included but draftable, it’s 90% likely to be an oversight.
