Introducing a new series here at Devy Watch where one of our team members throws out a statement and someone else gives their opinion on whether the statement is fact or fiction. This series will definitely be college football/recruiting/Devy/CFF related, but we aren’t afraid to pull from Twitter, so be careful tweeting those hot taeks.
- Grant Wells’ performance through two games is enough for you to add him to your top 100 Devy rankings.
Franchise here: FICTION – I’ve begun writing this response on Friday, September 18th at 7:08 PM EST. We are nearly a full day away from App State and Marshall squaring off. How confident am I about Wells’ potential? So much so that I’m publishing this, no matter the result against App State! With the understanding that Jarret Doege and WVU just shredded the same EKU defense that Wells and the Herd did, I’m in on Wells. I’ve watched all of his throws against EKU twice. He was tremendous. A former middle infielder, he’s got that skillset that translates to QB that allows him to throw for various arm angles, throwing on the move, and tremendous athleticism. He ripped the deep ball like Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence. He showed escapability and wheels like Kyler Murray. Am I saying he’s those guys? No. After one game against an FCS foe and a prophetic declaration of what’s coming against a great defense in App State’s, it’s too soon. That being said, in terms of tools and applying what I believe to be the proper context, I’m in on Wells as a legitimate NFL prospect.
I’ve returned. It’s nearly 4PM on September, 22. I’ve had a chance to watch and digest Wells’ 11-25-163-0-1 passing and 6-43-1 rushing day in an upset win. He looked a lot more like a freshman against App State. His decision making was inconsistent, as were his pass catchers for the second straight game (I have not parsed through what was flagged and no play and what actually counted as an attempt, but I counted approximately eight balls that hit his WRs hands and ended up on the ground through two games, including what should have been an incredible TD in the back of the end zone last week), but he showed me the same flashes of potential that sucked me in against EKU. Wells has a lot to prove and a lot of areas to improve upon, so I believe it’s still too early to add him to a Top 100, but I actually feel equally as confident about what he can become after a disappointing statistical performance.
- Kyren Williams will start over 9.5 games in his NFL career.
@DevyWarehouse: FACT – I’ve very much liked what Kyren Williams has done through two games. I’ve followed him since his SR year of HS. I thought he’d have a bit more of an impact as a tFR but his rFR season hasn’t disappointed yet. I knew he could catch the ball (106/1,499/22 over this final two years of HS). What I didn’t know was if he’d be able to run with power. Through two games he’s shown the ability to run with power and great contact balance. PFF has already graded him with 11 missed tackles over basically 1.5 games. During the Duke game, he was stuffed at the goal line and was almost completely horizontal in the air. He regained his balance, landed, and fought his way into the end zone. He’s displayed great contact balance to this point. Williams has above-average speed and can be caught from behind on long runs. With this being said, I don’t know why Williams couldn’t start over 9.5 games in his career. Plenty of lesser talents have started more games. His pass-catching ability will give him a niche to stick around the NFL for a while. Williams may never be a team’s go-to RB1 but he can be a fantasy-relevant role-player for an NFL franchise.
- Things are finally about to turn around for Mike Norvell and Florida State.
@DW_BMack says: FICTION – Let’s go back to June when Mike Norvell was caught up in a lie about talking to each player individually about social injustice. Then in August, some FSU wide receivers made it known that they didn’t trust FSU’s COVID protocols and accused the coaches of lying about the well-being of other members of the school’s athletic department. Then the Seminoles finally get on the field and promptly blow a 10-point halftime lead to a Georgia Tech team led by Jeff Sims, a QB that Norvell apparently didn’t want. Now, Mike Norvell has tested positive for COVID-19 and has to virtually get his team prepared for a game against 12th-ranked Miami. Then they should finally get a breather against Jacksonville State before having to navigate this gauntlet: travel to Notre Dame and face a team that will have had 3 weeks to prepare for them, host North Carolina, visit Louisville, then host Pittsburgh.
