We asked for questions for the Devy Watch Mailbag, and you guys came through with a wide variety.
@DevyLeague: Is Spencer Rattler or Mordecai going to win the OU job? Or is a transfer going to take the job again?
Lincoln Riley personally made the 1,000-mile journey from Oklahoma to Arizona three times in two months to show Rattler how highly he valued him. With respect to Mordecai, he’s not likely an NFL QB. Rattler is. I think Riley thinks highly enough of Rattler, and the 2-4 years that he will get with him as QB1, that taking a transfer doesn’t make much sense. There isn’t a transfer QB that I think presents a better option for them. (@FranchiseKF)
To piggyback off that, I also believe Rattler fits the mold of what Lincoln Riley wants at the position. A gifted passer with the added athleticism to make plays with his feet. I think Rattler is in line for a huge year. (@_codygarrett)
Spencer Rattler 2022 QB1 (@pacificscouting)
@fypmah: What’s your thoughts on Joey Gatewood to Kentucky?
I love this transfer. I was a huge fan of Gatewood going into his freshman season and was looking forward to him taking over. Unfortunately for him (and me lol) they recruited a highly-rated and extremely talented QB in Bo Nix. Losing out to him shouldn’t be indicative of Gatewood’s talent. He looked solid in the Spring and should add another level to Kentucky’s offense. (@_codygarrett)
@mastapj: can Brant Kuithe succeed at the next level at TE?
Kuithe leads all sophomore TEs in dominator rating right now and has had a great stretch to close out the regular season. He only accounted for 22 receiving yards in the Pac12 conference championship, but he looked very fluid and refined at the position. I have enjoyed my viewings of Kuithe so far and what stands out to me is his athleticism. He has very good speed after the catch or even when asked to run the ball for the Utes. His acceleration really pops off the screen and it’s a strong reason that I think he has a shot in the NFL. He is very smooth with natural hands and concentration to see the ball in. He had a tough play against Oregon that he couldn’t quite make where he fully extended for the ball and hit the ground not being able to complete the catch, but I was impressed with his body control, timing, and reaction quickness on that play. I think we are seeing someone in the league right now of similar style and stature succeed, that being Seahawks TE Jacob Hollister. Both guys are in the 6’2” to 6’3” range and hover around 235-240. Hollister wins with quickness and route running which is something I think Kuithe can continue to develop at a high level to earn a spot in the league when his time comes. (@pacificscouting)
@neil5young: Who is your favorite under the radar QB to target for those playing Superflex?
Wake Forest’s Jamie Newman. He’s got ideal size, arm strength, and has the extremely valuable ability to score as a runner. Front offices that want to create an offense like Cam Newton’s Panthers or Josh Allen’s Bills will likely have scouts at Wake Forest in the near future. He may declare this season or he could play college ball for another year. Either way, he won’t be an expensive option in rookie/Devy drafts, and I think he could grow into an NFL starter. (@FranchiseKF)
If you are looking for a younger guy, I really like true freshman Max Duggan out of TCU. His first few starts against FBS teams were a bit shaky, but he turned it on later in the season. Duggan has solid height but needs to bulk up and mature his body. He’s a dual-threat that rushed for over 500 yards in 2019, a nice added topper for fantasy production. He still has a lot of growth as a QB, barely completing 50% of his passes in 2019. Duggan still has a long way to go but has a skill set that will intrigue NFL teams with some added polish on his game. (@DevyWarehouse)
I’m a big fan of Graham Mertz from Wisconsin. Will be a sophomore next season and didn’t see much time this year so he could sneak under the radar. But I was VERY high on him coming out of HS and he has all the traits of an elite passer. I think he will rise up people’s boards very quickly so you may have to take a stab at him now before his stock goes up! (@_codygarrett)
@CraftCryptids: How good can Anthony McFarland JR be? He have a chance to play in the NFL ?
I have always liked McFarland personally. Unfortunately, he was trapped on a bad team which will significantly affect his draft stock. But I think he has the build and explosiveness to be a quality back at the next level. He will likely land in a timeshare so I am not sure how valuable he will be in fantasy but should be a quality real-life RB. (@_codygarrett)
McFarland has traits to be an NFL role player. I can’t see him being a team’s RB1, but he’s a home run threat with pass-catching ability, that will keep him around the league for a long time. He has the potential to have some value in a PPR league. His college numbers don’t show a back who can catch, but I think that’s more product of the Maryland system and horrible QB play. (@DevyWarehouse)
@shane_whited: Need to know who the top replacement RBs are going to be for next year?
A lot of assuming goes into this question. Assuming the top guys like D’Andre Swift, Travis Etienne, Cam Akers, JK Dobbins, and AJ Dillon all go pro.
Swift will be in the running for the top RB taken in this April’s NFL Draft but taking over for him in Athens in 2020 will most likely be Zamir White. Former number one rated RB coming out of high school but has since suffered an ACL tear in each knee. Also keep an eye on Dalvin Cook’s younger brother James Cook, outside chance that he could become the man for the Bulldogs.
Clemson will look to junior-to-be Lyn-J Dixon. He had the second-most carries behind Etienne in 2019. Incoming freshman RB DeMarkcus Bowman is currently committed to the Tigers and ranks as the second-best RB according to 247 and will most likely push Dixon for the starting gig.
If AJ Dillon decides to enter the NFL Draft, David Bailey will take over the reins as the top man. In 2019, Bailey ran for over 800 yards as the Eagles’ second back. Listed at 240 pounds, Bailey broke off a number of long runs and averaged nearly six yards per carry. Bailey is a downhill runner with some big-play ability. Depending on BC’s new coach and offensive scheme, Bailey could have a really big 2020.
Khalen Laborn looks to be the next man up at Florida State, he’s the only RB on the Seminoles roster that received more than 10 carries during the 2019 season not named Cam Akers.
Ohio State won’t be missing JK Dobbins for too long. They currently have Master Teague waiting to jump into the starting role. Teague has tremendous size and speed. Rushed for over 700 yards in 2019 on 6.1 yards per carry. Teague might have more big-play ability than Dobbins, his speed can add an extra threat to the already dangerous Buckeyes’ offense. His pass-catching ability appears to be a downgrade from Dobbins though. (@DevyWarehouse)
@AgentDMiller: Is my excitement about Xavier Jones warranted?
Probably not. For fantasy purposes, we typically want backs drafted in the top three rounds of the NFL Draft. In the last decade, eight is the maximum number of backs taken in that range in a single class. Jones isn’t near the conversation of the top eight. I’m not saying he isn’t a good back. However, I am saying that not many backs matter in each class for fantasy purposes. There will be running backs with massive brands that aren’t selected until day three this year. This is a really unfortunate class for Jones to be a part of. (@FranchiseKF)
@LuckBoxLarry: What’s with Tyler Johnson?
Some may look at the recent devalue of Tyler Johnson’s stock as a concern, but in all honesty, it’s an opportunity to check with his current owners for a possible buy-low trade. Johnson was never known for elite athleticism or separation vs. press, so his upside at the next level is in fact limited, for now. What he does have in his court is above-average route running, intelligence within his route navigation and incredible body control. He might not be the most physical receiver, but he plays with solid competitive toughness at the catch point. Opportunity at the next level will determine Johnson’s fantasy outcome. He will need to fit with the right scheme, with the opportunity available. Good news, there are a lot of receiver-needy teams at the next level looking for a receiver as polished a route runner as Johnson. In regards to what the East-West Shrine invite means for his draft stock, I have an in-depth answer in my recent article. (@allpurposescout)
@Itownsoccer11: Favorite under-the-radar upperclassmen that are returning to school for next year (or think will return if they haven’t decided yet)?
Sage Surratt out of Wake Forest is a redshirt sophomore that I could see returning for another year. Surratt might not fall exactly into the under-the-radar category, but I feel like he still doesn’t get the notoriety that he deserves. He played in just nine games in 2019, due to a shoulder injury but hauled in over a 1,000 yards and 11 TDs. Listed at 6’3” and 215lbs, Surratt still has the ability to get vertical and stretch out a defense.
If Surratt doesn’t qualify as under-the-radar, Jarrett Patterson RB out of Buffalo will. Patterson is listed as a true sophomore, but he took a grayshirt season before enrolling at Buffalo, which makes him three years removed from this high school graduating class, making him draft-eligible if he so chooses. Patterson rushed for over 2,600 in two seasons to go along with 31 rushing TDs. Small, shifty back that has the potential to earn an NFL spot. (@DevyWarehouse)
@CyberBytesCafe: I’m weary to draft RBs that are listed at only around 200lbs. How do you project out possible weight gain as they progress through college and into the NFL?
I think it’s important to look at what they weigh at the combine or at their pro day. We can see historical weight thresholds for players under or over certain weights. I agree with you that 200 pounds is the minimum that I want to see on a player at that pre-draft weigh-in. Chances are most players that size are going to be playing in a specific role and not on the field for tons of snaps every game. That’s not the rule, but CMC is the exception and needs to be considered an outlier. I don’t track a player’s weight once they are in the NFL. If they get fat, we can usually see that from their performance, or if they are too thin, they probably won’t last long. (@FranchiseKF)
