Devy Players of the Week

MALIK WILLIS, QB LIBERTY, 2022 ELIGIBLE

Junior 6’1 215lb QB Malik Willis broke onto the scene last year, passing for 2,250 yards 20 touchdowns, and adding 944 yards and another 14 touchdowns on the ground. Willis is now off to a hot start in 2021, with 613 yards and seven touchdowns through the air, and 225 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Willis is a true dual-threat QB, and he showed off his rushing ability against Old Dominion in Week 3. The Auburn transfer used his legs to find the endzone twice, rushing for 77 yards, and also throwing for 242 yards and four touchdowns, accounting for six touchdowns total. Willis has the attention of the Devy community thanks to his athleticism and rushing upside. The Liberty Flames QB has a knack for finding the endzone, as seen in the clip below:

Currently ranked as the Devy QB6, Willis has the respect of our rankers. Our savvy Devy analysts value the upside of a rushing QB, and I foresee Willis cracking the top 5 Devy QBs in the coming weeks. I would call Malik Willis Lamar Jackson lite. He is not as explosive as Jackson, but his efficiency as a passer is better than Lamar’s in college. As of this Saturday, Willis holds a career QBR of 179.1, compared to Lamar’s 142.9. The real determining factor for Willis’ value moving forward is his draft capital. I personally find draft capital to be a hard thing to predict for a player like Willis. He could go in Round 1 but he could also go in Round 3. Owning or buying Malik as a Devy prospect is a gamble, but it is one that could reap massive benefits.

WILL SHIPLEY, RB CLEMSON, 2024 ELIGIBLE

As an alumnus and fan of NC State, it pains me a bit to write Clemson next to Will Shipley’s name. All reports had the North Carolina native’s final three schools as NCSU, UNC, and Clemson, and I cannot blame the 5-star running back for choosing Clemson instead of staying in North Carolina and playing in Raleigh. The freshman had a limited role in Week 1 against Georgia but has since earned a large workload. In Week 2 Shipley rushed for 80 yards and two touchdowns, and in Week 3 against Georgia Tech, Will Shipley dominated the touches, getting 23 total for 94 yards and two touchdowns.

Shipley has an all-around skill set but has yet to show his true ability as a pass-catcher. Instead, he shows the power and toughness he has in his 5’11 190lb frame:

The Devy rankers here at DFF, have Shipley currently as the RB12. However, if he continues to earn a large workload his ranking and Devy value is sure to rise. If the freshman can put together a big game on a national stage against a respectable opponent, his value could skyrocket. The problem is, as of now, Clemson has no ranked opponents left on its remaining schedule. This upcoming weekend against my NC State Wolfpack may be his biggest challenge.

JOSH DOWNS, WR UNC, 2023 ELIGIBLE

The 5’10 180lb sophomore has been on fire those far. Through three games, Downs has 399 yards and four touchdowns. He was the lone bright spot for the Tar Heels against Virginia Tech in Week 1 and then led the team in receptions, yards, and touchdowns in Week 3 against Virginia. He has been a prolific producer through three weeks, sporting an impressive 41.8% dominator rating. 

Downs typically does his damage with speed and quickness, creating lots of separation. However, he pairs his athleticism with strong body control and hands, as showcased below:

The only real knock on him currently is his size. He is listed a 5’10 180lbs but I would not be surprised if he weighs a good bit less than that. Lack of size could potentially cause a drop in draft capital but the NFL seems to be fading size in recent years. 

Downs is currently DFF’s WR17, and I could see that rising as he continues to dominate in 2021. He is Sam Howell’s favorite target, but Howell is likely to leave after the season for the NFL. Josh Downs is likely to see his draft capital decided by his success with UNC’s heir apparent 2022 QB1 Drake Maye. The outlook on Josh Down’s is trending up though.

Thanks for tuning in for my third installment of “Devy Players of the Week”. Make sure to check back in next week to see who makes their mark in Week 4! You can follow me on Twitter @RookieWhisper for more content