The NFL is made up of the most dynamic group of athletes in the world, whether it be blazing speed, unparalleled strength, or insane bounce. Heading into the 2021 season we want to highlight the most athletic NFL prospects, as well as include their value on devy rosters. A series that we rolled out last offseason gave us much more actionable insights when we review the results.
This year we will be counting down the most athletic players from the least likely to make an impact in the NFL to the most likely. In doing this we are going to combine the players’ athletic traits, production profiles, and competition levels to highlight undervalued devy assets as well as players to keep an eye on for late breakouts. In this article, we will start with the uber-athletic athletes that do not have the production that indicates NFL Draft capital. Let’s dive into the devy difference makers!
Jequez Ezzard, WR/KR, Sam Houston
The most electric-skill position player in the FCS is Sam Houston’s 5’9” and 192 lbs. wide receiver and kick returner Ezzard. He dominated Sam Houston’s competition over his career averaging 27 yards per reception and 18 yards per return. He wins with his dynamic burst, testing out of this world in spring ball with a 4.28-second 40-yard dash and a 45.5” vertical leap. Ezzard is a big play waiting to happen, and with his frame, he could transition into an NFL slot receiver and difference-maker on special teams. His addition in the special teams game may garner day-two draft capital, though the non-savvy dynasty players may take this to believe that draft capital is an indication of early offensive success.
Braxton Burmeister, QB, Virginia Tech
Burmeister is Virginia Tech’s super senior, and son of a UNC linebacker. As a starter, he went 3-1. He is the fastest player on Virginia Tech’s roster, having reached a maximum game speed over 22 MPH. Standing at 6’1” and 206 lbs. he does not have the prototypical build of a franchise quarterback, however, we could see a team spend a late draft pick on him to play in the Taysom Hill role.
Luke Doty, QB, South Carolina
Doty is a young player that possesses untapped potential. He started two games for the Gamecocks as a true freshman last season, in which he showed off his raw athleticism. In his two starts, he threw for 405 yards and two touchdowns and added 91 yards rushing. He completed 60% of his passes, which is an impressive number for a true freshman in limited action. He also tested very well, hitting 22 MPH in-game speed, and jumping 36” in the vertical leap. He also showed that he is a football player, not just a quarterback by putting up 18 reps of 225 lbs. on the bench press. The 6’1” and 210 lbs. sophomore quarterback is a must-add in deep devy leagues based on his untapped potential.
In the next segment of this article, we will take a look at some devy options that have proven athleticism to go along with collegiate-level production. These are players who we can project as potential day-one or day-two draft prospects. As we work through this article we will learn more about the dynamics between athleticism and production and what leads to NFL Draft capital as well as future success in the NFL.
Read Part 1 Here, Read Part 2 Here
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.
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