Hello, again Fantasy Devy Gamers! We are here again to analyze the latest updates, performances, and NFL buzz surrounding college players that should prove to be integral to their eventual NFL Draft Stock. We will utilize recent statistics, performance and film, and general “front office whispers” to compile the intel shared. The hope is to provide you with a leg up on your opponents. You will know which devy players to target in trades and/or in what range of draft picks (both NFL and fantasy drafts) you can expect these players to be selected.

It is the pre-combine hype season now and bold predictions about the upcoming NFL Draft abound. Each year more NFL prospects opt to skip their team’s bowl games to avoid injury and prepare for the NFL draft. The list this year was populated with many promising NFL prospects, including: 

Oregon DE Kayvon Thibodeaux

Arkansas WR Treylon Burks

SMU WR Reggie Roberson

SMU WR Danny Gray

Notre Dame S Kyle Hamilton

Notre Dame RB Kyren Williams

Michigan State RB Kenneth Walker III

West Virginia RB Leddie Brown

Arizona State RB Rachaad White

Purdue DE George Karlaftis

Nevada QB Carson Strong

Pitt QB Kenny Pickett

Mizzou RB Tyler Badie

Texas A&M RB Isaiah Spiller

Penn State LB Brandon Smith

Penn State WR Jahan Dotson

Ohio State WR Chris Olave

Ohio State WR Garrett Wilson

UTSA RB Sincere McCormick

Ohio State OT Nicholas Petit-Frere

Ohio State DT Haskell Garrett

Mississippi State OT Charles Cross

Iowa State RB Breece Hall

Consequently, ultra-talented underclassmen tend to take center stage this year. There were five FBS Division One bowl games canceled due to Covid-19 outbreaks. The uniqueness of the 2021 Bowl Season provided plenty of fireworks in terms of both high-scoring affairs and upsets. 

With your author’s pre-combine positional rookie rankings articles coming out soon, we will emphasize players who have not declared, and only cover a few lesser-known declarants. The NFL Scouting Combine is coming this month and pre-draft hype is growing for many players. Similarly, post-bowl hype and transfer portal breaking stories are intensifying the devy scene. We now embrace the draft stock updates that have resulted from the end of this year’s college football season and the offseason to come. 

TRENDING UP 

Grayson McCall – QB and Isaiah Likely – TE – Coastal Carolina

As is often the case with smaller programs, their superstars tend to fall under the proverbial “NFL draft radar.” Your author has been banging the drum for Grayson McCall for two full college seasons now. This year, Isaiah Likely entered the professional athlete window with his increased statistical output and position-specific skill set. 

To avoid sounding like a broken record, we will again just point out that McCall is an outstanding leader, tough competitor, hard-runner, and efficient passer. However, the Chanticleer that deserves more attention in this article is Isaiah Likely. Likely is an undersized athletic TE who excels as a receiver challenging LBs and Safeties. He finished the season with 912 yards and 12 TDs on 59 receptions. 

Likely has shown to be a willing and effective blocker, displaying effort and competitive toughness, though that will not be his calling card at the next level. What he has also shown is versatility, lining up out wide, on the line, in the slot, and even as an occasional H-back in the backfield. He should be drafted in the middle rounds. With his size and athletic ability, he compares to Josiah Deguara or Kylen Granson as they were coming out.

Jahmyr Gibbs – RB – Georgia Tech to Alabama

After two flashy but consistent seasons with Georgia Tech in which draft scouts took notice, the diminutive Jahmyr Gibbs broke the news recently that he is taking his talents to Alabama. Gibbs is a naturally smooth runner with exceptional quickness, agility, and burst. He is also an excellent receiving option out of the backfield and can be split out in the slot. 

Over his two seasons of college ball, he has managed to add about 10-12 lbs. of healthy weight. The move to Alabama allows Gibbs to showcase his abilities against SEC competition behind what many assume will again be one of the top offensive lines in the nation. He looks to join a formidable tandem with new teammate Trey Sanders, who will play the role of the interior runner. Jase McClellan figures to be in the mix as well when he returns from a knee injury. Make no mistake about it though, Gibbs should be the big-play highlight reel ball carrier for the Crimson Tide next season. 

Jermaine Burton – WR – Georgia to Alabama

Jermaine Burton is a player many devy analysts have regarded highly since his senior year in high school. Burton has played two consistent seasons at Georgia, displaying tactical route running and the competitive edge that everyone expected from him. He does have more speed and burst than most scouts gave him credit for a few years back. 

Burton looked to be ascending to the WR1 role for the Bulldogs for the rest of his collegiate career before he shocked the college football world and decided to transfer to rival Alabama. As everyone knows, Georgia just beat Alabama in the National Championship just two weeks ago. However, given Bryce Young expects to be under center for the Crimson Tide, who are having their two leader receivers depart for the NFL, it is easy to see why Burton feels he should head to Tuscaloosa to increase his draft stock. 

Donovan Edwards – RB – Michigan 

Even though he was seldom used in his first season at Michigan, Donovan Edwards will experience a stock rise. The do-it-all back from West Bloomfield, MI has shown hard running on the inside as well as the ability to beat defenders to the edge and run outside. Additionally, Edwards is a tough runner who invites contact but also moves well enough laterally to evade defenders. 

He benefits from Hassan Haskins’ declaration to enter the NFL Draft. Edwards showed flashes this season on just 55 total touches (20 of them receptions) of the type of playmaker many had hoped for. He should split backfield duties with teammate Blake Corum, who profiles as a smaller, change-of-pace option next season. Look for Edwards to vault up the RB ranks early in the 2022 college season. 

Will Shipley – RB – Clemson

Similar to Edwards, another freshman boasting big rankings and notoriety leaving high school was Will Shipley. The five-star recruit chose to follow in Travis Etienne’s footsteps as the lead back for Clemson. Shipley answered the critics’ biggest questions in his first collegiate season, showing he was more than capable of carrying the load as an interior runner. He also possesses excellent speed and the vision to find yards (as Clemson’s O-Line play was questionable at best). 

Shipley is an excellent receiver and will be one of the most complete RB prospects in his draft class come 2024. With Clemson coming off an underwhelming offensive season, if Shipley is available it is recommended that he be added to your devy rosters now before his value rises in the coming seasons. 

Tyler Buchner – QB – Notre Dame

The Freshman QB from southern California came to Notre Dame with big things expected of him. While he was unable to defeat the veteran transfer Jack Coan in training camp, he did look good in spot duty. It was evident this past season that Coan’s limitations as a passer are preventing Notre Dame from taking the next step as a perennial College Football Playoff representative. 

Look for Buchner to take the reins and lead the offense in 2022. Though he is undersized, he possesses both elite arm talent and mobility. Consequentially, he offers more variety to the offense. As Buchner continues to develop as a pocket passer in this offense, his draft stock will rise and the Fighting Irish will become a truly elite program. 

TRENDING DOWN

D.J. Uiagalelei – QB – Clemson

After excelling in spot duty in 2020 filling in for this year’s #1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence, many thought D.J. Uiagalelei was primed for superstardom in 2021. Instead, the loss of Travis Etienne, Amari Rodgers, Cornell Powell, and more importantly, some quality offensive lineman meant DJU was forced to carry more of the offensive burden than he was ready for. As a result, his first full season as a starter was a massive disappointment. DJU threw for just 2246 yards with 9 TDs and 10 INTs in 13 games. He never eclipsed 250 yards passing in a game. 

While Clemson boasts an impressive defensive front-seven, highlighted by their D-Line, there is much work to be done with this offense. DJU certainly needs to improve his processing time and learn how to make plays off script, as he looks almost robotic as if he were stuck looking for exactly what the play was drawn up to look like. True-Freshman Will Shipley, as aforementioned, was the lone bright spot on the offense. 

DJU will need to sharpen his game in the offseason, as he loses NFL prospect Justyn Ross this offseason. The good news is the rest of the offense should return and there is certainly room for them to improve. Your author likes DJU to bounce back next season. 

Camar Wheaton – RB – Alabama to Transfer Portal?

True-freshman and five-star recruit Camar Wheaton endured an uneventful 2021 season. Unfortunately, Wheaton never cracked the lineup even as a reserve option all season. He didn’t play a single down in a game this year. As a result, many fantasy devy gamers are left in the dark regarding his potential. Granted, he suffered from a mysterious meniscus injury that was poorly documented and seldom discussed. 

Now, reports have surfaced that Wheaton is no longer with the Crimson Tide. Whether he enters the transfer portal or not, there will be tons of questions surrounding his game. With the addition of Jahmyr Gibbs, as discussed earlier, as well as incumbent runner Trey Sanders, it is easy to see why Wheaton would rather look for a better opportunity for snaps. However, it’s been a week and he is still not yet listed in the transfer portal. There is serious cause for concern. 

Kevin Harris – RB – South Carolina

Kevin Harris was one of your author’s favorite players over in 2020. This is because he came out of nowhere to lead the backfield of a terrible Gamecock offense and put the team on his back. He chewed up 1138 yards and 15 TDs on a bad offense with no passing threat against SEC competition. Unfortunately, he needed back surgery in the offseason to correct an injury he sustained. 

His 2021 return left much to be desired, as he looked sluggish and rusty to begin the season. Justifiably, he ceded touches to MarShawn Lloyd and ZaQuandre White. Still, he managed to lead the team in rushing with a huge 180-yard performance against UNC in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. Harris declared for the NFL draft as an underclassman, knowing how talented the 2023 RB class looks to be. Unfortunately, he has little momentum and needs to have a strong combine and pro day to regain franchises’ interest. 

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