One of the most challenging aspects of assessing the college landscape is projecting draft capital for players that will someday find themselves on our draft boards. It’s no secret that the higher up in the NFL draft a player goes, the better the chances that they become a valuable dynasty asset in the fantasy space.
We can dive deep into the analytics or film as much as we want, but whether we like it or not, front offices seem to favor players with an NFL heritage. In the spirit of Father’s Day, it’s the perfect time to evaluate current college players with famous fathers who could push them up the league’s draft boards, along with my thoughts on whether this is a good or bad thing.
Shedeur Sanders
Father: Deion Sanders
Shedeur Sanders might be the hottest name on the market at this point, largely buoyed by his dad’s propensity to draw headlines in the national media. He recently made the jump into the Power 5 by transferring to the University of Colorado and has invigorated the fan base of the Buffaloes. During his time with Jackson State, which lasted for two seasons, he managed to throw for nearly 7,000 yards and a TD:INT ratio of 5:1 Though he boasts such gaudy stats through his first two seasons, I believe there are a number of red flags present that should keep fantasy players fading him at the current cost.
The most obvious concern for Shedeur is the jump in competition from Jackson State into the Pac-12. The SWAC is populated with players who are unlikely to find themselves on NFL defensive rosters, so Sanders will need to prove himself against the likes of Oregon, Utah, and USC if he wants to continue on his current trajectory. He will also need to do so without any real reputable skill position players on the Colorado roster, as much of the team is now composed of players from the transfer portal.
Diving deeper, Sanders shows good arm strength and decision-making on film but needs to improve his touch and accuracy on downfield throws. He does offer decent mobility, but once on the move, he tends to get a bit sloppy mechanically. Analytically, I worry about Sanders 7.7 yard ADOT, which is extremely low and suggests that he is a bit conservative. He will be forced to increase this number if he wants to put pressure on some of the defenses previously mentioned.
At this point, Sanders offers some tools that intrigue me for a potential NFL future, but with the national recognition that he is getting, I fear that the cost is getting a bit too high. If he can fix some of these red flags while entering the Power 5, he could easily find himself in a first-round draft capital discussion.
Frank Gore Jr.
Father: Frank Gore
A 3-star running back coming out of high school, Frank Gore Jr. has largely exceeded expectations and should continue to do so for the Southern Miss Golden Eagles in 2023. Gore is a smaller back by NFL standards, sitting at 5’ 8”, 185 lbs., but definitely plays larger than his frame on paper.
His 2022 season was impressive, where he amassed 1,601 total yards and just a hair over 6 yards per carry. He finished off the season with one of the best performances of any college football player all year, showing out for 329 yards and two touchdowns against Rice.
Gore Jr. possesses good decision-making, lateral agility, contact balance, and a knack for finishing runs with authority despite his lack of typical size. In the game against Rice alone, he was able to show off nearly all of these traits on a consistent basis. Some of the holes created for him are rather large due to his lower-level competition, but I do like what he does in the open field.
Gore Jr. is no home run hitter and doesn’t have the breakaway speed that we like to see in most draft prospects. Then again, neither was his dad, and that didn’t stop him from becoming one of the greatest NFL running backs of all time. The biggest question for Gore Jr. will likely be his size. He weighs in a good 30 pounds less than his father at this point and doesn’t have the same goal-line power that could provide him with touchdown upside. Nonetheless, I believe his bloodline will help bump him into the 5th round of the NFL draft.
Marvin Harrison Jr.
Father: Marvin Harrison
This one is some relatively low-hanging fruit. Marvin Harrison Jr. already finds himself on the national stage playing for one of the most storied college football programs at The Ohio State University. He probably doesn’t need any help from his dad to get into the NFL. At this point, I am projecting him to be a top-10 pick in the 2024 NFL draft and have no issue with putting him in my top 5 dynasty wide receivers even before his final season at OSU plays out. Perhaps the only thing we should pay close attention to is the change at quarterback that Harrison Jr. will have to deal with in the upcoming season. Neither McCord nor Brown possesses the overall talent that Stroud displayed in his time at Ohio State, and it will be important for Harrison Jr. to continue his dominance with whomever the starting QB is for the team in order to maintain his projected high draft capital.
Jimmy Horn Jr.
Father: Joe Horn
New Colorado receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. is an electric and speedy player that has the ability to blow the lid off of man opposing defense at any moment. He showcased these abilities at South Florida en route to becoming First-Team All-AAC as a kick returner, averaging 29.9 yards per return in 2022. Unfortunately, we did not get to see many games where he showed it as a true receiver, however. In fact, only once all season did he eclipse the 100-yard mark, which is a little disappointing for a player of his skill set.
The offense and quarterback play didn’t do Jimmy any favors at USF, but following Shedeur Sanders to Colorado should put him in a position to follow in his father’s footsteps on to the NFL. Sitting at 5’9 and 175 lbs., Horn Jr. does not have the best size to project him to the NFL and relies a ton on his pure speed to get himself open downfield. I currently project Horn Jr. as a special teams player in the NFL, but a strong season for the Buffaloes could push him into early Day 3 draft capital and on the outskirts of the fantasy radar.
Antonio Gates Jr.
Father: Antonio Gates
Son of one of the most legendary tight ends in NFL history, Antonio Gates Jr. elected to pursue a different position on the football field than his father. He was the highest-rated wide receiver in Michigan in the 2022 recruiting class and currently plays for the Michigan State Spartans.
Gates Jr. is a physically gifted wideout with a bigger body and strong hands at the catch point. He does not have the basketball background his father did at this stage, but he still has a knack for using his size to win 50-50 balls over defenders. He isn’t much of a technician at the position and lacks true separation ability, so he projects more as an outside receiver should he continue to refine his skills and make it to the next level.
With Keon Coleman recently leaving via the transfer portal, the Michigan State depth chart at wide receiver is ripe for the taking. I will be very interested to see if Gates can break into the rotation and showcase his talents, especially once newcomer Sam Leavitt takes the reins at QB. With his dad’s history in the league, I could see Gates Jr. getting into the 4th round should he step on the field soon for the Spartans.
Honorable Mentions
- Eden James (Howard) – Son of Edgerrin James
- Owen McCown (UTSA) – Son of Josh McCown
- Mason Taylor (LSU) – Son of Jason Taylor
- E.J. Smith (Stanford) – Son of Emmitt Smith
- Brendan Rice (USC) – Son of Jerry Rice
- Cole Pennington (Marshall) – Son of Chad Pennington
Thank you for reading, and to all of the fathers out there – I hope you get to enjoy a day of relaxation and celebration however you like to participate in this holiday. If you have any thoughts or questions and would like to discuss them, you can reach out to me on Twitter @Evan_Kerr_. #DFFArmy #AlwaysBeBuilding
