Every year, The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman publishes his College Football Freaks List. This list garners data from college programs and highlights the players that are wowing the staff both on and off the gridiron. In year’s past, we saw names like Saquon Barkley, Jonathan Taylor, Noah Fant, and Todd Gurley, among a long list of defensive studs and offensive line standouts namely Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney. We can garner a lot of information from the list that Bruce puts out, especially in deeper devy and Campus to Canton leagues. Let’s dive into the 2020 College Football Freaks List.
In this series, we will identify a high-value devy player who will likely maintain their high value or rise further. A middling valued player who you can steal and reap the big returns once they test at the NFL Combine, or their pro-day. As well as a sleeper who with a good season of production could return a serious increase in value.
Top-Tier
Journey Brown, Penn State, Running Back
The program that has given us top-10 dynasty running backs in Saquon Barkley and Miles Sanders now gives us Journey Brown. Brown’s first season as the lead back he racked up 890-yards and 12 TDs. Despite only taking 25% of the team’s rushing attempts. In the offseason, Brown has bulked up to 216 lbs and is still running the 40-yard dash at a 4.29-second clip. Both running faster and weighing more than Miles Sanders. Just like Sanders, who was well known in the devy community, but the NFL was not fully aware of his abilities until after the NFL Combine. Expect Brown to be underappreciated by NFL scouts due to his listed weight of 206 lbs. Make an investment in him in devy and C2C with a nearly guaranteed return on investment.
Middle Tier
Austin Watkins Jr., UAB, Wide Receiver
The younger cousin of NFL Champion Sammy Watkins is not getting the hype that Sammy got in 2014, but he had a very impressive redshirt junior season for the UAB Blazers last season with 57 catches for 1,092-yards and six TDs. The sturdy receiver put up new personal records this offseason benching 365 lbs. and squatting 500 lbs. He also has the speed to play at the next level running a 4.47-second 40-yard dash. Watkins briefly spent time on the Biletnikoff Watch List
Sleeper
Jalen Virgil, Appalachian State, Wide Receiver
Virgil was included on the 2019 Freaks List as well, the Appalachian State receiver sure can fly. He ran a 10.29-second 100-meter dash for the track team. However, the senior receiver had produced only 61 catches for 985-yards and seven TDs in his three seasons. Though Virgil can fly, he doesn’t offer much upside either in devy leagues or Campus to Canton, however, keep an eye out for him as an older breakout. With that type of speed, he could contribute as a game-breaker in 2020.
Thank you for reading my article! If you enjoyed it, keep an eye out for my future articles. You can also follow me on Twitter @DynastyDiagnos1 and reach out with any questions, comments, or ideas you’d like me to explore for a new article.
Loved Part Two but missed Part-One of the 2020 College Football Freaks? Check it out here!
