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 dominators!
Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
The Bearcats breakout quarterback is getting first-round hype for the NFL draft, and rightfully so. He provides a tantalizing combination of passing accuracy, completing 61% of his passes for 6,905 yards and 57 touchdowns with elite rushing abilities. This elite rushing ability is highlighted by his 391 college rushes that yielded 1,825 yards and 22 touchdowns. His 6’4” and 215 lbs. frame provide the prototypical NFL quarterback size to go along with his long speed, which is validated by his 4.55-second 40-yard dash spring testing time. He also can make defenders miss in space, as evident by his 4.0-seconds flat short shuttle time. Ridder is a player similar to Jalen Hurts, who will be a fringe first-round to the second-round draft selection, whose stock will skyrocket if given extended NFL starts by the franchise that drafts him.
Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
The junior from Arkansas is the most physically intimidating offensive skill position player in college football. The 6’3” and 225 lbs. wideout has elite-level strength to go along with his raw speed. His 380 power bench press, 500 lbs. power squat, and 320 lbs. power clean all show how Burks can beat defenders at the top of all route trees. He has accounted for 80 receptions for 1,295 yards and seven touchdowns in just two years of college football. Burks also runs a 4.45-second projected 40-yard dash time which equates to a 114-speed score. Burks is likely to earn first-round draft capital in the upcoming draft, which will be fueled by an uber-productive junior season this year.
Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
Hugh Freeze found a real gem to lead his Liberty offensive attack in the former Auburn transfer. No other quarterback in the 2022 NFL Draft class possesses the combination of his rocket arm talent to go along with elite mobility. The slight but well-built quarterback stands at 6’1” and 230 lbs. and can flip the ball 60-yards downfield with ease. He has completed over 65% of his passes at the collegiate level, for 2,319 yards and 21 touchdowns in just one season with the starting gig. He also can run a 4.5-second 40-yard dash which led to 1,253 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground, accounting for an insane 40% of Liberty’s rushing production in 2020. Given his current cost, no quarterback has more upside in the 2022 NFL class than Willis.
Read Part 1 Here, Read Part 2 Here, Read Part 3 Here, Read Part 4 Here, Read Part 5 Here
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