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2019 B2B Directional State Team: The Best Small-School and Undervalued Draft Prospects of the Year

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Time again for my annual list of undervalued draft sleepers and smaller school prospects who deserve more attention in the NFL draft.

For 15 years now, I have made the analysis of lesser-known, small school, and undervalued NFL draft prospects my sometimes (actually more than sometimes) obsessive avocation. Over the years, I’ve written about, championed, interviewed, chosen in mock drafts, defended in arguments, and generally shouted into the wilderness about “my” guys. Over the years, I’ve missed on a few I liked (Hello, Gantrell Johnson!) and didn’t like (um, How about last year’s DROY? Oops) but hit on a few very unexpected home runs, too. Like when I said, “Patrick Mahomes is what a future Hall Of Fame QB looks like.” Excuse me while I “Pat” myself on the back for that one… at least so far.

Here are a few past B2Bers, more or less the B2B Hall Of Fame:

Patrick Mahomes, 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. Tarik Cohen, Kevin Byard and Kenny Golladay have definitely joined the club, and Adrian Colbert, Cooper Rush, Chase Allen, Sharif Finch, and Jaylen Samuels are looking good so far.

In general, I tend to favor what a player shows they can do that has outlier potential– paired with the football personality to make the jump to the 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. I’d also like to add that this list isn’t intended to be comprehensive. I’ll bet you there will be a sleeper or two who makes it in the NFL who isn’t on this list… but it’s not because I didn’t try to find him.

For some background on how I got started with this and a list of previous years team, click the following links:

2015 B2B Directional State Team
2016 B2B Directional State Team and
2017 B2B Directional State Team
2018 B2B Directional State Team

Special shout out to: Nick Farabaugh, Bill Carroll, Josh Buchanan, Dom Kay, SteelPerch, Emory Hunt, everyone at Steelerfury.com, and especially Damond Talbot at DraftDiamonds.com for bringing names forward.

Without further ado, the best of the B2Best:

AWARDS
B2B Directional Player of the year:
Donald Parham, TE, Stetson


Parham only played one year of high school football–to say he’s just scratching the surface of his talent would be an understatement. But, what a scratch it was. Last year, he caught 85 receptions for 1,319 yards and 13 Touchdowns, which represented roughly 40% of his team’s total receiving statistics. He displays outlier traits and talents, with a mix of the former Eagles WR 6’8″ Harold Carmichael’s height, deceptively fast strides in the open field, and a spin move that must be what it looks like when a supertanker does a 180… but it all works, somehow, and his talents can either translate as a big slot WR or move TE on the next level.

(thanks to DraftDiamonds for the excellent cut-up video)

Off-the Map Power 5 POYs:

B2B “Hearts & Smarts” Award:
LB Tre Watson, Maryland

As a non-insider, I don’t get draft evaluation sometimes. It seems like judgments are made about who a prospect is two years or more before they become draft eligible, and those early takes tend to stick, particularly when the prospect plays for a bad or off-brand team. Tre Watson played in a power 5 conference for one of its worst teams in Illinois, then transferred for his final year to a largely unheralded University of Maryland. Not only does his grasp of the game’s subtleties stand out on tape, it also resulted in over 200 tackles the past two years to go along with INTs and FF/FR. He played “all-in” for his old team and his new team, and his knowledge of the game and communication skills are near the top of the pack.

The “If This Were 1975, I’d be a 1st Rd Pick” or “Borderline Too Violent For This Sport” Award:
S Marquise Blair, Utah

click image for highlight video

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. It’s not just the hits, either. He shows the capability to go from the far hash to the opposite sideline, which is a rare commodity in a physical safety.

Underappreciated Non-Power 5 FBS POY:
Nik Needham, CB, UTEP

Click picture for video
Nik Needham could also have been named Teammate of the Year. One of the aspects of prospects that doesn’t get enough attention, a player’s devotion to playing with and for his brothers on the field is severely underrated… as is the best CB in the draft that most people have never heard of. Needham shows off man coverage ability that is unrivaled in this class but, unlike some more highly touted cover guys, he’s also a tough tackler and supports the run violently. He’s a football player who happens to be a Cornerback (they also have the “Turnover PickAxe” at UTEP, so you don’t want to mess with him). He showed enough that he could have declared for the draft in 2018, but his UTEP team had gone winless that year, and he told his team he had to come back because he couldn’t go out that way without helping his teammates taste victory again. He returned, they beat Rice for their only win in two seasons. In that game, Needham recovered a muffed punt and knocked away two passes to set the school record for career pass breakups.

FCS Player Of The Year:
S  Nasir Adderley, Delaware

Click image for highlight video

When your cousin Herb is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and you play the same position, I’m guessing there is some pressure to succeed. Adderley lives up to that legacy, with fluid movement skills and a knack for getting to the football and taking it away. 265 tackles, 11 INTs, and, 22 passes defensed in his career.

D2 & Below Player Of The Year:
JT Hassell, S/LB, Florida Tech

Click image for Highlight video

Despite being a 5’11” inside LB, Hassell was a force of nature at D2 Florida Tech. He had 77 solo tackles in 2018, won the Cliff Harris Award as the nation’s best small-school defensive player, and was generally all over the field for the Panthers. He stood out the way you’d expect an elite athlete playing D2 football would, and it’s not a surprise, considering the kind of elite athlete he is. At his pro day, he ran a 4.38 40-yard dash, had a 42-inch vertical jump and posted 6.84 in the 3-cone. All of that got him to the Tropical Bowl all-star game and looks around the NFL.

B2B Adversity Award:
Isaiah Frandsen, WR, Winona State

Click Image For Highlight Video

Isaiah Frandsen is a medical miracle. While he was a freshman at North Dakota State, he was told he had a congenital and painful hip impingement in both hips. He tried to play through it, contributing on special teams and one key 3rd down conversion from Carson Wentz during the Bison’s (that’s pronounced biZons, people) championship run. After the season he had two hip surgeries in the span of 6 weeks and spent a year rehabbing. It was almost a year before he could run and he sat out two seasons rehabbing, one of them alongside the aforementioned Wentz, as he recovered from a broken wrist and went straight to the NFL. Frandsen stuck with it, transferred to Winonan State and, finally, got back on the field in 2018. And he didn’t just get back on the field, though, after only one catch since high school, he had 43 grabs for 740 yards and 9 TDs… then ran an official 4.33 40 at his pro day. At 6’2″ 200lbs. That’s incredible.

The B2B Honorary Karl Joseph People Had Me As A Third Rounder But I’m Going In The 1st Award:
WR Marquise “Hollywood” Brown

So-called draft experts used his size, his foot injury, his connection to cousin Antonio Brown’s Steelers meltdown– basically any excuse to say Marquise Brown wasn’t a top 5 receiver in this draft and he could fall into the second half of day 2. Look, maybe he’s too small and maybe his cousin lost his damn mind and maybe he has a Lisfranc injury… but “Hollywood” Brown just has “it”. He has see-ya speed, quick footwork… and he’s barely scratched the surface of what he can become. Say what you will about his famous cousin, AB… Marquise will have a great football teacher and will likely get better, which is a scary thought.

B2B Walk-On to NFL Award:
QB Drew Anderson, Murray State

Click on Image for Highlight Reel


Drew Anderson has had a path to the NFL more crooked than Teddy KGB’s poker game in Rounders. Unrecruited and somewhat inexperienced coming out of high school, he walked on at San Diego State but wasn’t going to get an opportunity to play, so he transferred to Diablo Junior College, where he played one season, threw for 3,459 yards and 33 TDs, got himself an offer to come to Buffalo and back up their prize recruit, Tyree Jackson. After almost two years of standing on the sideline and with even the team’s announcers basically knowing nothing about the guy– when Jackson suffered a knee injury, in comes Drew, finally getting his chance. When he started dropping dimes all over the field, the announcers were like a virtual movie meme… “Who IS this guy?. When he won his first start the next week, they were hooked and began wondering if Jackson would simply go back to being the starter when healthy or if there might be a decision to be made. In his second start, Anderson had a game for the ages. Like, literally, one of the greatest statistical games in college football history. Despite frequent drops by his receivers and a slow first half of the game, he erupted in the second half and led his team into OT. And then another OT and then another– he scored running the ball, throwing precision passes… he even scored as a receiver with a tough catch on a Philly Special. He put up 569 pass yards, 7 TD passes, a TD run, a TD catch, and did everything but lead the band at halftime… and everything but win, when a 2 point conversion was dropped. Despite all of that, and Anderson’s YPA comp % and TDs, the coaching staff–invested in their prized recruit–gave the job back to Jackson and Anderson left as a graduate transfer to FCS Murray State, a team with little surrounding talent. Anderson certainly has epic game credentials: in addition to the 7-OT classic at Buffalo, he played in Murray State’s epic win over #14 SE Missouri State, where Drew’s 3 tipped interceptions and one strip sack led to 2 Defensive scores and a 31-0 deficit. With under a minute left in the 1st half, Anderson led a TD drive and eventually threw for 462yds and 4 TDs in an incredible comeback win. Just like out of high school, and out of junior college, and at Buffalo… he gets shockingly little love in the draft process, despite analytics that favor his future success, and an off-platform accuracy, mobility, and toughness that remind of a young Terry Bradshaw. He’s a bit of a throwback, with good size and arm talent. Somebody is going to get this kid in camp and he will reward them with some buzzworthy play.

B2B For The Love Of The Game Award:
CB Jamalcolm Liggins, Dickinson State

Click Image for Highlight Reel


When you’re a CB playing in lowly NAIA and your highlight reel begins with a series of backhanded, one-handed acrobatic grabs that would make Hakeem Butler blush… it raises the obvious questions: why are you a DB? and why are you playing at a no-name school NAIA school in North Dakota? In high school, Liggins was determined to start a military career, despite being a successful multi-sport athlete who was heavily recruited. Some of the schools went as far as to hassle him for his decision not to play in college. When he changed his mind and decided he needed the game, he avoided all the schools whose contact he found obnoxious and, instead, went to a place that was quietly thrilled to have him. North Dakota NAIA is nowheresville when it comes to football but, as the saying goes, if you can play, they will find you… and find Liggins they did. As a 6’1″, 209lb CB with smooth athleticism and transcendent ball skills, he might even be drafted… which is a hell of a long way from Dickinson.

TOP 10 YOUTUBE STARS
For those of you, like me, who dig through hours of video to evaluate potential talent, know that there’s nothing like a clip that sticks in your mind. Every year, I have my favorite moments on tape; here are my 5 favorites from the 2018 draft season:

1. Drew Anderson vs Western Michigan. Doesn’t even get going until the 3rd quarter, throws for 500+

2. Vosean Joseph earholes QB Danny Etling, Etling takes it in stride

3. Donald Parham Spin CIty (Reminder: this is 6’8 249lbs!) and Catch Radius at Full Speed:

4. Mecole Hardman in space is a beautiful thing… beep beep!

6. What the Cliff Harris Award DPOY looked like in high school

7. A series of ridiculous INTs from CB Jamalcolm Liggins

8. Marquise Blair’s This & That: Very few Safeties can do both of these things:

9. N’Keal Harry spin-O-rama cutback runner & N’Keal Harry one-handed on his back vs USC


at the 4:51 mark


At the 5:27 mark

10. WR Davion Davis spectacular catch

BONUS: Punt block snag. I’ve watched this over and over, and I’m not even sure it’s possible.

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 Drew Anderson, Murray State (see above)
QB Zach Bednarczyk, Villanova

RB Wes Hills, Delaware
RB Khari Blasingame, Vanderbilt
Extremely underrated RB (playing in an awful offense that ran him into stacked looks behind a poor OL), with size, quick feet and jump cuts, advanced pass-protection and pass game skills.

RB Devin Singeltary, Florida Atlantic
RB/KR Kerrith Whyte, Jr., Florida Atlantic
Terrific Kick returner and straight ahead runner.

RB Xavier Turner, Tarleton State
RB Darnell Holland, Kennesaw State
In 4 years he averaged 9.9 YPC & 17.3 YPRec; 4.38 40, & a 37-inch vert
RB/WR/RS Tony Pollard, Memphis
I don’t know if he’s big enough or fast enough but he is sure fun to watch and has the proverbial nose for the endzone.

OL Max Scharping, Northern Illinois
https://www.nfldraftdiamonds.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Max-Scharping1-590×393.jpg
Doesn’t exactly have ‘wow’ size for LT, but his feet and hand fighting are so good, he can stick on the left side.

OL Nate Davis, Charlotte
Nice movement skills for a big guard prospect.
OL Olisaemeka Udoh, Elon
Gotta love an Offensive Lineman whose name starts with OL. Udoh is a bit raw but is a big, quick bear of a Tackle.
OT Tytus Howard, Alabama State
OT Trey Pipkins, OT, Sioux Falls

WR/PR Davion Davis, Sam Houston
Extremely under the radar for a guy who scored 31 TDs in his past 18 games at the Division 1 level. Incredible hands and body control, great return skills. What’s not to like?

WR Andy Isabella, UMass
Undersized and has some catch radius issues… but he has great speed and produced massive numbers for UMass, where he represented roughly 40% of their entire passing offense.

WR Anthony Johnson, Buffalo
WR Emmanuel Butler, Northern Arizona
WR Isaiah Frandsen, Winona State (see above)
WR Stanley Morgan, Jr., Nebraska
Excellent route-runner who screams NFL pro. A bit lost in a deep WR class.
WR Reggie White, Jr., Monmouth
WR Ashton Dulin, Malone
If you believe in production analytics, this is your guy. He played for a team won that total of four games and canceled its football program after last season. In 2018, he saw 109 targets, catching 56% of those passes. He accounted for 35% of his teams’ receptions and 41% of his teams’ receiving yards. In 2018, Dulin averaged 194.7 yards receiving per game, which led the entire NCAA.
WR Damion Jeanpiere, Jr., Nicholls State
Too much speed and agility. Reported 4.22 40 yard dash, with a 1.51 10 yd split. A 39″ VJ, and 6.41 3-cone.

TE Donald Parham, Stetson (see above)
TE Kahale Warring, San Diego State
The soft hands you might expect from a former stud water polo goalkeeper (incidentally, the absolute hardest sport I’ve ever played), combined with a knack for getting up the seam. He’s still developing as a football player, after a late start to the game, but he is a good enough athlete to play at a high level.

TE Keenen Brown, Texas State
Huge and a great blocker, shows some elusiveness in the open field for a 6’2″ 250lb man.

DL Ed Oliver, Houston Yes, I know Ed Oliver isn’t a sleeper, but I just wanted to say that he’s the best player in this draft class, that’s been obvious for three years, and he ought to be the 1st overall pick.
DL Armon Watts, Arkansas
1-year wonder, but that year was tremendous. Not many DL prospects can play virtually every spot along the line, are stout vs the run, and also a holy terror as a pass rusher.

Iseoluwapo Jegede, Valdosta State:
His journey from Africa to an FCS National title, to freakish pro day is an amazing one. His skills aren’t particularly refined, as he can pop upright at the snap– a mortal sin for DL play. But he seems incredibly coachable and, even with his flaws, hes a planet theory guy who dominated his LOC at times.

Trysten Hill, Central Florida
Came out a year early because of some issues with the new coaching staff last year but hopefully that decision makes him angry… because when appearing to play angry football, he unleashes Hulk Mode and you’d might as well just forfeit. He blew up an incredible number of plays in his relatively short tenure compares favorably in play style and results to Casey Hampton. High praise indeed.

John Cominsky, Richmond
Not sure if he’s an EDGE player or a 5-tech at the next level, but at this level, this former QB enjoyed success chasing Qbs instead of being one. Not many 6’5″ 286 lb guys are running in the 4.6s and posting better 3-cone and short shuttle times than CBs who will be playing on Sundays.

LB Ulysses Gilbert, Arkon
LB E.J. Ejiya, North Texas
LB/DIME Juwan Foggie, Charlotte
Foggie is a converted WR who was switched to safety and then bulked up into a Linebacker. He actually uses experience and trait from all three positions to be an ideal candidate for a DimeBacker. He was used at every level of the defense, blitzing and crashing in run support, covering in short and intermediate areas in zone or man, playing as the single high deep safety on most long-to-go downs. His ball-tracking and route recognition from his time on offense translated into X PDs and helped him nab X INTs in 2018.

LB Tre Watson, Maryland (see above)
LB Jahlani Tavai, Hawaii

EDGE/LB Kaden Elliss, Idaho

His father was an NFL All-Pro, he has the best two first steps of any pass rusher you’ll find in this draft, and he has coverage skills that might enable him to be a multi-tasking LB at any level. At 6033 239lbs, and a 4.68 40 yard dash,his 6.49 3-cone, and 4.14 short shuttle would have been at the top of the combine at his position.
EDGE Maxx Crosby, Eastern Michigan
EDGE Malik Reed, Nevada
EDGE Jamal Davis II, Akron
EDGE Oshane Ximines, Old Dominion
EDGE Malik Reed, Nevada
EDGE Ronheen Bingham, Arkansas State
EDGE Jaylon Ferguson, Louisiana Tech

I’m not sure Jaylon Ferguson is any kind of metrics or athletic testing outlier, but, c’mon… he had 17.5 sacks +26 TFL in 2018. Which is ridiculous.
EDGE/LB Sutton Smith, Northern Illinois

29 sacks the past two seasons. A little undersized to be strictly an EDGE player at the next level, but his getting-to-the-QB skills are definitely next-level.

S Marquise Blair, Utah (see above)
S/LB JT Hassel, Florida Tech (see above)
S Nasir Adderly, Delaware (see above)
S Kam’Ron Johnson, Northern Arizona

Talented deep safety, with a strong overall game. Going to be a UDFA and make someone’s roster.
S Cua Rose, Arkansas State Wonder Boys

CB Nik Needham, UTEP (see above)
CB Rock Ya-Sin, Temple
CB Jordan Wyatt, SMU

CB Jordan Brown, South Dakota State
CB Stephen Denmark, Valdosta State
Ridiculous size-weight-speed athlete for a DB. 6024 220lbs, with an absurd 1.48 10yd split, 4.46 40, 43.5 VJ, & 120″ BJ. That defines the term explosion. Could potentially play CB, S, or DimeBacker in the NFL, but at least there’s somebody who can keep up with that guy Damien Jeanpierre.

CB Jamalcolm Liggins, Dickinson State (see above)
CB Jimmy Moreland, James Madison

Ballhawk and guy who adds a ton of attitude to your secondary.
CB Kyron Brown, Akron
CB D’Angelo Ross, New Mexico
4.32 40 (!) and sticky coverage skills.

Honorable Mention
QB Taryn Christion, South Dakota
QB Jacob Dolegala, Central Connecticut
RB Dexter “Juice” Williams, Notre Dame
OL Drew Forbes, G, SE Missouri St
OL Iosua Opeta, Weber St
Marquis Wimberly, Texas A&M-Commerce
WR Thomas Ives, Colgate
WR Denzel Knight, Wagner
Wagner’s former starting RB made the move to full-time WR in 2018, and put up an impressive array of plays, deep catches, and the kind of YAC expected for a former RB.

TE Brandon Dillon, Marian
TE Jacob Chobanian, Chapman
LB B.J. Blunt, McNeese State
LB Ben Burr-Kirven, Washington
LB Josiah Tauaefa, UTSA
LB Ben Banogu, TCU
LB Blake Cashman, Minnesota
LB Troy Reeder, Delaware
EDGE Daryl Johnson, Jr., North Carolina A&T
EDGE Tim Ward, Old Dominion
EDGE/LB Nate Harvey, East Carolina 14.5+25.5
S/CB Jamal Peters, Mississippi State
S/DIME Jarell Addo, UMass
CB Dylan Maybin, Fordham
CB Donnie Lewis, Tulane
CB Ryan Pulley, Arkansas
CB Rodney Randle, Lamar (4.28 40)

NFL, NFL Draft, Sports

B2B DIRECTIONAL STATE: 2018 UNDERVALUED & OVERLOOKED NFL PROSPECTS Page 2

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TOP 10 YOUTUBE STARS
For those of you, like me, who dig through hours of video to evaluate potential talent, know that there’s nothing like a clip that sticks in your mind. Every year, I have my favorite moments on tape; here are my 5 favorites from the 2017 draft season:

1. S/LB Shaquem Griffin INT vs Temple  OLB Griffin lines up wide inthe slot to the top, facing Temple’s WR/KR speed receiver. He uses good leverage and position to redirect the route and stack the WR away from the throwing lane, turns, and adjusts to the football, making the INT 30 yards downfield.

2. Shaquem Griffin FG block to preserve undefeated season/AAC Championship  Memphis lined up for what might have been a game-winning FG in the closing minute of the AAC CHampionship game. If the kicker had made it, UCF would also have lost for the only time in 2017 and they would have been out of a New Year’s Day Bowl game. So, of course, Shaquem Griffin made a play to stop it. (Unfortunately, the play clock ran out before the kick, so the kicker got a second chance… and he missed. The game eventually went to OT and UCF won)

3. Chris Warren III TD vs entire Texas Tech team  It’s a cliché to say “beastmode” but the 250lb RB (and son of Seahawks great RB Chris Warren) basically runs around, by, and through the entire Texas Tech defense.

4. RB Ryan Nall shaolin YAC  The 235lb RB from Oregon State has a nice pass-receiving component to his game, has very good speed for his size, and can really make defenders miss in the open field. On this play, he appears to have supernatural ninja skills, as he tosses a player to the side with his life force.

5. OL Desmond Harrison pancaking two different classifications of football  Harrison was a Texas signee– the 34th ranked high school player in the country. Then he ran into problems… a failed drug test led to missing a game, then he failed a second test just after being reinstated from the first suspension. With a new, no-nonsense coach starting his tenure, Harrison got dismissed.  He then floated around trying to get a new team, finally went through Juco, and onto Division II West Georgia. Suffice to say that the level of competition in the Juco world and the D2 world wasn’t really up to facing a 6’7″ 290lb top recruit with a lot to be pissed about. If he doesn’t make it in the NFL, it’s clear from this tape that he could get a job at IHOP.

6. Dallas Goedert one hand catch of the year

7. All 14 of Skai Moore’s career Interceptions.  A thing of beauty.

8. Trenton Cannon ninja kick posterize TD  I’m not sure this is legal… I’m not even sure how he did it.

9. Spin City, with  EDGE Aaron Tiller, Southern  Probably the best spin move compilation you’ll see this year, and then a nice counter to the bewildered OL who begin to  overcommit to it.

10. Shaquem Griffin “Troy Polamalu” play vs Temple  I’ve seen this play in the NFL and a guy with long locks and the number 43 in black and gold doing it. I’m sure when the offensive guru is drawing up this play, they thought there was a zero percent chance that double-teamed, undersized OLB would get anywhere near the ballcarrier.

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B2B Undervalued And Small School Players: Return Specialists & Honorable Mentions

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RS Khalil Dawson, Portland State  Beep Beep. and a jump cut to make Santonio Holmes jealous.

RS/WR/CB Blaise Taylor, Arkansas State  Small package, plenty of punch.

 Honorable Mention:
QB Kevin Anderson, Fordham
RB Jarvion Franklin, Western Michigan
RB Detrez Newsome
RB Delance Turner, Alcorn State
RB Jeffrey Wilson, North Texas
RB Stacey Bedell, Stony Brook
WR Jaleel Scott, New Mexico State
WR Jake Weineke, North Dakota State
WR J’Mon Moore, Missouri
WR Brandon Shed, Hobart
WR Brandon Britton, Bowie State
TE Damon Gibson, Minnesota State University Moorhead
TE Andrew Caskin, William & Mary
TE Ben Johnson, Kansas
TE Cam Serigne , Wake Forest
TE Marcus Baugh, Ohio State
OL  Tony Adams, North Carolina State
OL Patrick Morris, TCU
OL Matt Pryor, TCU
OT Timon Parris, Stony Brook
LB Al-Rasheed Benton, West Virginia
LB Nick DeLuca, North Dakota State
LB Demarquis Gates, Mississippi
EDGE Trevon Young, Louisville
EDGE Kaniya Anderson, Towson
EDGE Myles Humphrey, Shepherd
EDGE Brian Womac, Rice
EDGE Justin Lawler, SMU
EDGE Kendall Donnerson, Southeast Missouri
EDGE Javon Rolland-Jones, Arkansas State
EDGE/LB/S Keelon Brookins, Northern Iowa (played nickel back– lots of edge rushing, cover TE, some deep 1/3
DL Kevon Perry, Louisiana
FS Joshua Cox, Central Michigan
S Kameron Kelly
S Taliuaki Suliafu, Azusa Pacific
S/CB Wayne Harris
S/CB Tavierre Thomas, Ferris State
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B2B Undervalued And Small School Players: CBs

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CB/S Quenton Meeks (see above)
CB Charvarius Ward, Middle Tennessee State  He came to MTSU as a skinny kid from nowhere, by the end of his tenure and after devoting himself to the weight room and film study, he was the team’s shutdown corner on a very good defense. Continuously matched up against the opponent’s best WR, he used great explosion and speed to garner 14 passes defensed, and held some very good receivers to  minimal results. Has NFL bloodlines with cousins Malcolm Butler and Glover Quin.

CB Brandon Facyson, Virginia Tech  With his height (6014) and arms, might be the longest CB in this draft. Is a sneakily effective cover corner who just doesn’t leave a lot of room for balls to be completed against him, especially when facing more of a height/speed opponent. At 4.53 in the 40, is fast enough to be a nice matchup CB.

CB Andre Chachere, San Jose State. Long arms, makes great plays on the ball without creating penalties. Recognizes and mirrors routs. Good tackler who uses wrap-up technique and never gives up on the play. Numerous examples of him running 60 yards plus from the other side of the field to prevent a TD. Great hustle.

CB Tremon Smith, Central Arkansas  Great high pointing ability and awareness. Made one of the best INTs of 2017, high pointing a would-be TD throw, and twisting his body in the air to land inbounds. Good return skills.

CB Parry Nickerson, Tulane  Has ‘my ball’ mentality, in the extreme. Probably could play some WR, with great body control and hands when playing the ball. lso, great guy to have as your widest risher on kick block team. 188 tackles from the CB spot, 16 INTs … oh, and he ran 4.32 in the 40!

CB/S Bradd Ellis, Ohio  Undersized, but had 18 passes defensed in 2017 and is always around the ball as a tackler.

CB Demetrius Monday, Kent State  Built like a LB and uses arm length to effectively bat away slants and outs from trail position. 10+ career INTs from having great awareness and coming off coverage to make plays.

CB Ronnie Scott, Alabama State   A little undersized at 5’11 175, but uses vertical ability and anticipation to make plays on the ball.

CB Arrion Springs, Oregon  My kind of corner. Unafraid to be physical and punish ball carriers, yet not grabby– plays the pocket of receivers and high points without undue contact. Makes the occasional highlight catch but if he just caught the easy ones, he’d be selected a couple of rounds earlier in the draft.

 NEXT PAGE––Return Specialists & Honorable Mentions––click here

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B2B Undervalued And Small School Players: Safeties

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SS/LB Shaquem Griffin (see above)

S Dane Cruikshank, Arizona  One of the things I love about draft prospect season: a player who is outstanding while playing in a power 5 conference, yet no one mentions him or even know who he is, largely because there are bigger names who were more highly recruted out of high school, and/or amateur scouts don’t watch bad teams for good players. Then, when that player lights up the combine

Height: 6012
Weight: 209
40 Yrd Dash: 4.41
20 Yrd Dash: 2.59
10 Yrd Dash: 1.55		 225 Lb. Bench Reps: 25
Vertical Jump: 38 1/2
Broad Jump: 10’01”
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.24
3-Cone Drill: 6.89

or shines at an all-star game, suddenly he jumps up draft boards. Isn’t it 90% film? You mean you couldn’t see him working as a physical CB or making play after play as a safety? Not as polished or as good as he’s going to get, but right now he’s a hitter and can run and cover.

SS/LB Foyesade Oluokun, Yale  A really intriguing player–one of the newfangled hybrid LB/S types that are thriving right now in the NFL. With 4.48 speed at 6′, 229 bs, he is equally adept in coverage or in stopping ballcarriers cold when he can come downhill.

SS/CB Siran Neal (see above)
S Tarvarius Moore, Southern Mississippi  Explosive and extremely fast (4.32) FS, with long arms and a physical style. Has not reached his peak as a player, but still had 87 tackles, three interceptions, and 10 passes defensed in 2017.

S Natrell Jamerson, Wisconsin A solid all around safety who has the instincts to play deep but who is still willing and able to come up and tackle/hit.

S Nate “Scooby”Gaines, Texas-San Antonio A scary enforcer and ball hawk Safety, straight out of 1975. (see above)
FS/CB Jeremy Reaves, South Alabama  Dropped on boards despite an excellent showing at Senior Bowl practices and game in his hometown of Mobile. Why? Only thing working against him is small hands. Amazing that that was enough to change the talk on him from a 4th or 5th rounder to undrafted. Tape shows him as a ferocious hitting, ball-hawking safety who played both deep and strong safety spots. His tape prior to 2017 showed him as a really effective outside CB with great mirroring skills and ability to take the ball away. Posted eye-popping stat line in 2017: 104 tackles, 7 TFL, 3 INTs, 2 fumble recoveries, 3 forced fumbles, 8 passes broken up. Safeties who have CB cover skills and a knack for making plays and forcing turnovers are supposed to be valuable.

S Trayvon Henderson, Hawaii  A versatile safety who showed well at Senior Bowl but was overlooked for a combine invite. He had his most productive year in 2016, with 90 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 3 INT, 7 passes defensed, and one pick 6, A great fit for a team that likes to use its safeties more interchangeably.

S Tracy Walker, Louisiana  Versatile safety with sideline to sideline range and tackling skills when aligned in the box. Made some of his best plays vs the best competition, with INTs vs Texas A&M and Ole Miss.

S Tray Matthews, Auburn  If the Steelers’ Sean Davis were a sure tackler, physical enough to be your designated accidentally on purpose late hit on the opponent’s star player, and fast enough to chase down Joe Mixon, Derrius Guice, and Sony Michel… he’d be Tray Matthews. Unfortunately for Matthews, injuries have really pushed him down the boards, even though he was once the #2 DB recruit in the nation, and played well when not hurt.

S Secdrick Cooper, Louisiana Tech  A spirited hitter and good tackler, has good burst to make plays on the ball from deep coverage.

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B2B Undervalued And Small School Players: EDGE

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EDGE Darius Jackson, Jacksonville State  Just a holy terror on FCS and FBS opponents alike. Didn’t have a great combine, but if disrupting plays and getting to the QB is what you desire, he does a great job of it. Buck Buchanan award winner as best defensive player in the FCS.

EDGE Mat Boesen, TCU  Started at Boise State and transferred in. Reminds a little of a Kevin Greene, natural bend and singular focus. Really effective edge rusher.

EDGE Hercules Mata’afa, Washington State  How could an undersized DL with a relentless motor and a name like Hercules escape his destiny? Of course he’s a 2018 B2B Directional Stater. Is he an EDGE at the next level? A special teams star? All I know is: he’s a football player who can play for my team any day.

EDGE Duke Ejiofor, Wake Forest  For the life of me, I can’t figure out why more people aren’t talking up Ejiofor as one of the very best EDGE players in this class. Guys who get injured and can’t work out in the draft season are forgotten sometimes. Ejiofor might be the most polished and scheme versatile player available. Not sure how he would have tested, but he plays like a top 50 pick.

EDGE Anthony Winbush, Ball State  So much to like. He’s got a plan for every rush; can beat you with surprising power (38″ VJ & 29 reps of 225lbs) but generally wins with a burst right as he turns the corner of a tight arc. The antithesis of a one speed rusher–it’s like he hits the turbo right at the bend point.  So many rushers slow down for an instant at that point or make it look like segmented action.

EDGE Marcel Frazier, Missouri  Wins with size (6045, 256), a quick get off (1.61 10yd split), and playing within a system that forces defensive players to be responsible, good tacklers. I think that results in players from this system performing better than expected once they get to the NFL. Frazier won’t wow anyone with bend, but he can be a solid contributor right away because he plays advanced football from a responsibility standpoint and he’s a sure tackler who is an asset vs the run game.

EDGE Joe Ostman, Central Michigan  You play for a team with a losing record, in a non-power 5 conference… you have short arms for an edge defender… yet all you do is make plays. Very good vs both run and rushing the passer, if he can continue to use technique and leverage to win without length, could make it at the next level.

EDGE Kylie Fitts, Utah  Fitts has great length (6036, 263lbs, 33″ arms) and can turn the corner at a 90° angle.In his sophomore season, it looked like he was going to be a superstar. Struggled some with injuries and was used as a rotational player simply because Utah has had 3 EDGE players go to the NFL during the time Fitts was there. He certainly has the athleticism and build for the job.

EDGE Sharif Finch, Temple  Another great edge prospect with prototypical size (6041, 251), great speed (4.65 40, 7.00 3-cone, and productivity. He also blocked 5 punts.

EDGE Andrew Ankrah, James Madison  Combines speed, good size (6031 249), and excellent bend (6.96 3-cone) to get under tackles and get the edge. Also features a well-developed counter move inside and a high motor. What a year for unheralded EDGE players!

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B2B Undervalued And Small School Players: LBs

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LB Skai Moore, South Carolina (see above)
LB Quentin Poling, Ohio  (See above)
LB Freddie Luvu, Washington State WSU’s defense is a unique scheme, with basically a whole bunch of wound-up, crazed, and versatile parts. Luvu played sort of an ILB in 2016, then switched to a rush LB, similar to an Elephant position for 2017. Tested like an elite athlete and his versatility will help him in the right scheme.

LB Garrett Dolan, Houston Baptist
Rangy with size, speed,  and wonderful instincts… what’s not to like? Can he translate his 2-time All-American play from FCS? I think he might be the best non-FBS LB I’ve seen this year.

LB Jermaine Carter, Jr., Maryland  Really like his game, whether chasing sideline to sideline, blitzing, or making plays on the ball in coverage. A little undersized for the NFL, but I guessing he can make a roster and contribute.

LB Eric Boggs, Appalachian State  Averaged 100 tackles, 7 TFL, 4 sacks, 3 INTs, and 2 passes defensed over the past 3 years as a starter. POY in SunBelt. One of the few all-around LBs in this class.

LB Brett Taylor, Western Illinois  Throwback MLB, appropriately playing for the Leathernecks. Sideline to sideline and does a good job of recognizing plays.

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B2B Undervalued And Small School Players: Defensive Line

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DL PJ Hall, Sam Houston State  (see above)
DL Nathan Shepherd, Fort Hays State  A man amongst boys is a little overaged, but dominated his league and then the Senior Bowl practices with powerful hands and strength.

DL Zack Sieler, Ferris State  Prototype 5-tech, with length and movement skills.

DL Dedrick Senat, South Florida  Nimble big man who is a relentless pursuer of the football. Quick enough to get penetration with his first step and is strong enough to break away when is is initially blocked.

DL Frank Herron, LSU  Not only the solid run stuffer required for the SEC, showed signs of more explosion and movement skills than he might have always displayed in the disciplined system the Tigers utilized.

DL Eddy Wilson, Purdue  Reminds me a little of former Iowa State and now Dallas standout David Irving. Had some issues with discipline and motivation, but so did Irving. On the football field, when he is engaged… can be a handful. Creates havoc and good interior pass rush. Not blockable at times.

DL Folorunso Fatukasi, Connecticut  Exremely explosive, athletic, versatile lineman with length. very big, and very strong. A fit right away as a backup who can play multiple spots in either a 4-3 or 3-4 defensive front.

DL Poona Ford, Texas  Not tall, but a disruptive force and a wide space-eater in the middle. Can get under bigger lineman with great effect.

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B2B Undervalued And Small School Players: TEs

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TE Dallas Goedert (see part 1)
TE/H-Back Ryan Yurachek, Marshall Not enough love for a slightly undersized, versatile receiver who was Chase Sutton’s go-to guy in the red zone. His 10 TDs in 2017 were the most by any TE in this class.

TE Deon Yelder, Louisville  Unheralded former walk-on who worked his way to a starting job this year. Shows rare ability to run routes and catch the ball like a wideout, work effectively as an inline TE, and pass protect as an H-Back

TE Tyler Conklin, Central Michigan  Old school vibe, but used mainly as a split WR to get matchups on smaller DBs. Not the biggest TE not the most athletic, but a nice all-around TE.

TE Garrett Hudson, Richmond  
More of a move TE or big WR, he wins with straight speed off the start line: a 1.57 10yd and a 4.6 40 at 6’4″, 244lbs.

TE Tanner Hudson, Southern Arkansas  Hard to get a read on just how athletic or fast this Mulerider TE is, but he seems better than his LOC in D2. At 6’5″ and 242lbs, he moves really well in the open field.

TE Ross Dwelley, San Diego  You want a move TE who can make acrobatic catches, with great hands, a wide catch radius, and some shake-n-bake after the catch? Dwelley is your man.

TE Dillon Beard, Southern  Bull in a china shop and a good blocker. The opposite of the athletic, lean modern types, but it sure is fun to see a big dude run over other dudes. Get out of my way!

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B2B Undervalued And Small School Players: WRs

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WR Thomas Owens, Florida International
An injury cut Owens incredible 2017 season short and cost him more postseason attention. He’s a 3-year, consistent performer, despite drawing top coverage and being the focus of the team’s offense. 21 TDs in 31 games  59/887 6 TD in 9 games during 2017.
WR Richie James  An excellent slot receiver with open-field skills of a returner. Has the occasional concentration drop but, when on, he’s all over the field and determined to get in the end zone. Has two 100+ catch seasons, 3803 scrimmage yards and 28 TDs in just 31 games.

WR Anthony Miller, Memphis  Probably the closest thing to Antonio Brown you could ever see, from the chip on the shoulder to the desire to be great and the willingness to work like mad to make that happen. He’s not just a WR playing football, he’s a football player playing WR. Voted most likely to spend every day of the offseason catching 1000 footballs from a Juggs machine and working with Ochocino on footwork drills.

WR Richie James, Middle Tennessee State Has traits of a great slot receiver, with potential to work on the outside, as well. He wins by exploding out of his breaks to create separation and by never being satisfied with catching the ball and going down. Very determined runner after the catch.

WR Jonah Trinnaman, Brigham Young  Call me crazy, but I see a speed freak with a history of success in Juco who was woefully underused by a BYU team whose QB personifies the “1st read and take off” school of QB play. When they did use him, showed incredible vertical speed (4.25 40 at pro day) and also ability to make a lot out of even telegraphed screens and short passes. All I know is: he was wide open (and occasionally waving his arms in the air) frequently on plays where his QB couldn’t get him the ball. Just seems like a Tyreek Hill type of weapon that will scare the pants off of a D Coordinator, because he can run right past your coverage.

WR Michael Gallup, Colorado State Does a good job of using his size and footwork to get body position and give the QB throwing windows. Has some issues with catching cleanly but he can get open and make plays.

WR Daurice Fountain, Northern Iowa  Not spectacular at anything, but he really grows on you. Wins by high pointing the ball and just has the flow of an easy runner. You don’t have to use too much imagination to see him playing on Sundays

WR Tre’Quan Smith, Central Florida  Prototypical NFL build and, although not the quickest out of breaks, finds room underneath and on in-breaking routes because of his ability to get behind the defense. Also great ability to adjust to deep throws and to win ball in the air. The occasional concentration drop and lack of elite quicks are the only thing keeping from from being a day 2 pick, but he’s relatively new to football and still has potential to get better.

WR Marquez Valddes-Scantling, South Florida  He’s a tall, lanky receiver who has 4.37 speed to burn. A very tough cover on the deep ball, and if you allow him to get in a footrace on a short run and catch, you don’t have anybody who can catch him.

WR Troy Pellitier, Lehigh really great hands on a bigger receiver with excellent body control.

WR Jaelon Acklin, Western Illinois  Acklin is a unique WR in this class. He’s very quick and runs routes that get him open, but he also makes a ton of contested catches with his ball adjustments and vertical game. The thing that really pops out on tape, though, is his toughness. He catches the ball over the middle and gets drilled… mind you, he’s a pretty slender 6012, 185lb. That kind of combined skill set gives him a great shot to succeed going forward.

WR Steven Dunbar, Houston  Played bigger and faster than he is, frequently outmuscling defenders for the football. Has a little ‘dog’ in him, a la Anquan Boldin.

WR Greg Linell, Houston  Great catch radius and sure hands with decent size make him an effective possession type wideout. Often was the go-to guy who had to make tough catches to move the chains and score in the red zone.

WR Malik Earl, Missouri State  Another big-bodied, athletic pass-catcher with speed and elusive YAC skills. Ho-hum. College football is just churning out guys like this right now, but he deserves more attention.

WR Vincynt Smith, Limestone  Special shout out to a player that went to the inaugural year of a college football program, helped build it into a very successful winner, and then had an elite pro day  workout (ran 4.36 at 6’3″, 195lbs.) and is going to get himself in an NFL camp next month.