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+---- Thread: *Biggest Busts and Steals in ISFL History (/showthread.php?tid=35113)
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*Biggest Busts and Steals in ISFL History - SouljaBoy2007 - 09-12-2021
The ISFL draft is a big occasion for everyone. For many people, being drafted is the best moment of their careers and for many teams it is a chance to nab a prospect who can turn your entire franchise around. Scouting in the ISFL is very important and for the most part teams consistently draft very well. This doesn’t mean that it’s perfect however, and today I’m going to search for some of the biggest draft mistakes in the history of this league.
THE PICK: At pick #3 in the 2018 ISFL draft the Yellowknife Wraiths trade up to select Brice Boggs, CB, Florida.
THE CAREER: Brice Boggs was a bust not only because of his weak career, but also for his limited contributions to the Wraiths. He never played a game for them, spending his entire career in Colorado. He never recorded an interception although he did defend 11 passes in the 2020 season. His best season statistically was definitely his rookie year, as he logged 6 sacks which tied for first among corners. By 2021, Brice Boggs was out of the league entirely. Boggs earned the dishonor of being the first ever player picked in the first round to never make the pro bowl.
WHO THEY COULD’VE GOTTEN: This pick is made worse by the fact that one pick later a hall of fame corner came off the board. Superstar corner Benson Bayley was selected by SJS immediately after Boggs came off the board. Bayley finished his career 9th in all time interceptions and is regarded as one of the best corners ever to play in the ISFL. I can only imagine that the Wraiths war room agonized over which of these corners to take, only to make the wrong decision and end up with a guy who never played a snap for them instead of a future hall of famer. Along with Benson Bayley, if the Wraiths wanted defense they could’ve looked just 3 picks later to future hall-of-famer Julian O’Sullivan. Every player in the first round of this draft made a pro bowl except for Boggs.
THE PICK: With the #3 pick in the 2020 ISFL draft the Baltimore Hawks select John Wachter, WR, Maryland
THE CAREER: John Wachter is an interesting player to call a bust because he was never bad, just disappointing. His rookie season was by far his best year, putting up 849 yards and 8 TDs, both of which ended up being career highs. Wachter put together 4 average seasons before falling off a cliff in his 5th year, failing to break 500 yards. He retired in 2028 after a bit of a resurgence for the Colorado Yeti in 2027. Wachter was never a bad player, being a reliable target in the slot for several years, but when you take a WR at #3 you’re looking for a guy who can make game changing plays and be the security blanket for your QB and Wachter failed to live up to those expectations.
WHO THEY COULD’VE GOTTEN: Wachter was picked directly before Cameron Taylor, who is a legend in Yellowknife. His jersey hangs in the Wraiths stadium and his head sits in their ring of honor. At pick #5, one of the greatest kickers in league history in Dean Jackson was drafted. Jackson remains one of the all-time leaders in points scored and made well over 90% of his kicks during his career. After Jackson, a slew of pro-bowlers were selected although a lot of them were on the defensive side of the ball. If the Hawks really needed an offensive skill player, they probably got the best one available but it came at the cost of some great talents.
THE PICK: With the 5th pick in the 2022 ISFL draft the Colorado Yeti select Ryan Lefevre, LB, TCU
THE CAREER: Lefevre was bad right from the start, recording just 41 tackles and 4 sacks in 14 games. As a LB in the ISFL you just can’t be putting up numbers that low, especially in that era. In 2023, Lefevre absolutely stuffed the stat sheet by recording 3 tackles and a pass defense. Lefevre appeared in just 16 games across his entire career. Lefevre easily had the worst career of any player we’ve talked about so far. His one saving grace is that he was selected in a relatively weak draft class.
WHO THEY COULD’VE GOTTEN: In the 2022 draft, the Colorado Yeti had 5 of the first 8 picks. They selected 3 pro-bowlers, Lefevre, and Desta Danger. Danger was a solid starting corner for a few years for the Yeti. Immediately after the Yeti drafted at pick #7, the Orange County Otters selected a linebacker. His name was Mason Brown. The Yeti passed up on one of the ISFLs all time tackle leaders and one of the greatest LBs ever. Brown won DPoY twice, which is more seasons than Lefevre ended up playing ever. Pro-bowler Zach Skinner was also drafted 10 picks after Lefevre. The Yeti did not do a great job rebuilding their defense coming off of an 0-14 season.
THE PICK: With the 2nd pick in the 2028 ISFL draft, the New Orleans Second Line select Benson Harris, DL, LSU
THE CAREER: Harris was a consistent weak point on the New Orleans Defensive Line. Never putting up more than 30 tackles or 5 sacks in a season, while failing to get high TFL numbers either. Harris was called up to the ISFL in the first season after being drafted and after he recorded just 19 tackles, 4 TFLs and a sack you had to wonder if he could have benefitted from another year in the DSFL. You have players putting up similar numbers in one game, albeit at different positions.
WHO THEY COULD’VE GOTTEN: Harris was picked directly before future pro-bowler Spencer Castle. Castle was also picked by the Second Line, so they fortunately didn’t miss out on him. They did miss out on future star LB David Ginsberg, who went to Orange County at 6. Defensively, it was a weaker class, with Harris being the worst defensive player of the first round. On the offensive side of the ball, NOLA missed out on HoF receiver Nate Swift and one of the greatest TEs in league history in Johnny Blaze.
THE PICK: With the 4th pick in the 2032 ISFL draft the Baltimore Hawks select Brayden Ennis, DL, Wyoming.
THE CAREER: Ennis bounced around league defensive lines for quite a few seasons. Unfortunately for the teams who signed him, they never saw the consistent improvement you would expect from a young rookie like Ennis was. He consistently put together 25-30 tackle seasons with single digit TFLs and putrid sack numbers. Ennis was a backup quality player forced into a starting role. He played for 3 teams in 4 years. The changes of scenery never seemed to help him improve as a player and he remained a roster slot filler until he eventually retired. A disappointing pick for 4OA, but understandable as Ennis dealt with some off-the-field issues.
WHO THEY COULD’VE GOTTEN: Ennis was the only one of the first 13 players to never make a pro bowl. If the Hawks really wanted a defensive player, they could’ve picked Tyron Brackenridge or Takeda Okura at safety. Maybe they wanted to stick with building the defensive line and select future pro-bowler Shane Masters. If they wanted to get the best player available they could’ve grabbed Saba Donut or Dexter Banks at wideout. The Hawks missed out on some great players just to end up with a guy who never played a snap for them.
Writing about busts can be upsetting. There’s no need to end this article on a sad note, so let’s talk about some of the biggest steals in the history of the ISFL draft.
THE PICK: Ryan Leaf Jr
THE PLAYER: After being selected under several inactive players who never did anything in their careers, Ryan Leaf Jr put together a great career as a fan favorite and versatile star. After converting from QB, Ryan Leaf Jr was picked late in the 6th round. From there, he put together some 8 sack seasons as an interior DL, while forcing some fumbles and making plays. He was named to several pro bowls at the DT position before going to Chicago in the expansion draft. He converted to RB and was a solid rotational player on offense until his retirement. Leaf was known as a great locker room presence and was one of my favorite players to be around. He was far and away the biggest steal of the massive 2030 ISFL draft.
THE PICK: Darren Smallwood
THE PLAYER: Selected in the 7th round, Darren Smallwood is the latest drafted hall of famer in ISFL history. He got into the league late, not even taking a snap until his 4th year as a pro, but when he got on the field he was incredible. He had an unparalleled nose for the end zone, as demonstrated by his 27 TD MVP season and 3rd all time ranking in rushing TDs. Darren Smallwood was one of the defining players of his era and he did it all while being selected after guys like Shawn Brady and Christian Adams. He must have taken this as a slight because he played harder on the field than anyone around him. Smallwood is an icon.
THE PICK: Raymond Vans
THE PLAYER: Raymond Vans is not a steal in the traditional sense. He was drafted in the 3rd round and ahead of players such as Aksel Daniellsen and Ja’Brill Tuck. But when you look at some of the players teams opted to choose over him, there’s nothing else to call him. Raymond Vans was nothing short of breathtaking when he was on the field for Arizona. While his prime was short, it saw him win a defensive player of the year award, record 16 sacks and 23 pass defenses in the same year and be the cornerstone of a defense that won an Ultimus. In the 2031 championship game, Vans did what he did all year and recorded a sack and a pass defense as the Outlaws squeaked out a win. Vans was one of the most impressive players of his era and it all came after being picked behind Jeff Erson IV.
THE PICK: Tyron Shields
THE PLAYER: Tyron Shields is not supposed to be here. A lot of drafts don’t even have 11th rounds and yet here he is, dominating his position as the 126th overall pick. Shields is far from a traditional corner, he plays the nickel spot and he plays it at the highest possible degree. From the time of his call-up to the time of him leaving Chicago, Shields never finished a season with less than 100 tackles. He plays the cornerback position like a starving dog and you can tell when you watch him play that his draft position is always in his mind. Even at the end of his career, that hunger and drive never left him. It was the kind of hunger that made a 200 pound corner hit like a 275 pound linebacker. Tyron Shields exemplifies what it means to be an underdog.
RE: Biggest Busts and Steals in ISFL History - mithrandir - 09-12-2021
Awesome article!
RE: Biggest Busts and Steals in ISFL History - BenDover - 09-12-2021
Tyron Shields bad
RE: Biggest Busts and Steals in ISFL History - TheCC - 09-12-2021
(09-12-2021, 09:29 PM)BenDover Wrote: Tyron Shields bad
Big if true. Thanks for the shoutout Soulja!
RE: Biggest Busts and Steals in ISFL History - Net - 09-12-2021
(09-12-2021, 09:29 PM)BenDover Wrote: Tyron Shields bad
RE: Biggest Busts and Steals in ISFL History - Bigred1580 - 09-13-2021
Nate Swift
RE: Biggest Busts and Steals in ISFL History - slate - 09-13-2021
James Gath
RE: Biggest Busts and Steals in ISFL History - Kotasa - 09-13-2021
James Gath
RE: Biggest Busts and Steals in ISFL History - ztarwarz - 09-13-2021
(09-13-2021, 08:29 AM)slate Wrote: James Gath
RE: Biggest Busts and Steals in ISFL History - zaynzk - 09-13-2021
did anyone mentioned James Gath?