Another one from yours truly, we're back again with another set of rankings, except this one is actually a two-for-one special! We're going to be taking a close look into options for this season's DSFL backfields; that means this article includes both running backs AND quarterbacks, all in one place. Of course, the two positions are distinctly different, so to rank them against each other this early in the game would be a logical fallacy, so we'll start with the heart and soul of the DSFL offense, the running game.
5. Daniel Woodenhead, RB, Chadron State University: Despite falling to last in these rankings, the 5'8", 204 lb Woodenhead is far from a lost cause. The former eagle has one of the better sets of hands in this group, and his agility ranks first of the class, so he's been known to make some spectacular catches out of the backfield; however, his speed is less than impressive for the halfback position, and he certainly doesn't have the strength to break many tackles, much less play fullback. I expect a team looking for a third-down running back may take a chance on the North Platte, NE native later in the draft, and he is far from the worst player available, so he should make a team set at RB1 very happy come draft day.
4. Ducky Donut, RB, University of Oregon: Like his brother, Ducky Donut, a 5'10", 200 lb former Duck, is somebody I feel bad leaving so low in the rankings at his position. The speed back from Indianoplis, IN is the fastest of the group, and he can run quite a bit more often than the others as well. The biggest concern for Donut is that he doesn't have particularly great strength or agility, so breaking tackles will likely be an issue for him. If you give Donut enough space, he can score just about any time he touches the ball, so I expect him to go earlier than this ranking suggests, but he's got work to do to be a true force in the NSFL.
3. Octavius Godspeed, RB, University of North Carolina: 6'0", 225 Godspeed is a brand new addition to the crop of running backs for season seventeen; the former Tar Heel declared for the draft after the original publication of this article, so I've updated it to include him. The native of Greensville, NC is just about exactly what you expect from a speed back, and given that he's a hair faster than Donut, I'm putting the newest prospect of the draft class just above the class's other speedster. Godspeed has some of the same question marks as Donut, with roughly equivalent ratings in strength and agility, so neither of these players should be expected to break loose if they're caught, but Godspeed, even more so than Donut, is a handful to catch, so interested GMs might be looking at a real home run hitter if they manage to snag him.
2. Ashley Owens, RB, University of Wisconsin: It gives me a little bit too much pleasure to see the Badgers struggle, which means there's a case to be made that I'm undervaluing Owens, a 5'10", 205 receiving back hailing from Sturgeon Bay, WI. But, I'll make the opposite argument, as I actually move Owens up in the rankings after further consideration of his numbers. There's no doubt the kid is fast, ranking second among running back prospects in speed, and his hands combined with his intelligence mean he'll be more than capable of catching the ball to move the chains just as well as he runs it to do so. He'll undoubtedly make a GM looking for an every down back very happy, given his ability to do it all out of the backfield. But, I have a soft spot for the top guy on the list, so I'm leaving Owens at two.
1. Joe Bobgarter, RB, Saint Mary's University: I'm going to say this once (okay, probably twice): FULLBACK LIVES MATTER. Joe Bobgarter projects to be exactly that, and I expect him to be good at it, too; the former Husky's strength and blocking ratings are exactly where they need to be for him to have success at the fullback position. Sure, spending a pick on Bobgarter means you sacrifice some of the flashy plays the others might make, but the Halifax, Nova Scotia native is the perfect running back for a backfield that needs extra protection, and he can get you a couple of crucial yards on the ground or through the air when you're in a bind. I have my doubts that Bobgarter will go before Owens, or honestly before Donut, but Bobgarter is going to succeed at his position. The fullback position. Alright, say it again with me: FULLBACK LIVES MATTER.
Now that the heart and soul of the offense is accounted for, on to the liver and kidneys of the unit: the quarterbacks.
2. Francis LaFleur, QB, University of Pittsburgh: Yes, the 6'4", 210 LaFleur has a slightly stronger arm than his opponent. Yes, the former Panther also is slightly more accurate than his newfound rival. Yes, the New Orleans, LA native known as "Franky" is even slightly more intelligent than his sole competitor. No, that is not enough to get the gunslinger the nod here. LaFleur, despite a slight edge throwing the football, has endurance struggles, and that keeps him in the passenger seat in this set of rankings. He'll make a QB-needy team happy, but I'd rather have the other guy.
1. Jim McMahon, QB, Brigham Young University: This is that other guy I was talking about. 6'3", 215 lb McMahon doesn't immediately seem like the better player of the two quarterbacks available, but the former Cougar is the man you want for your team for one reason: he holds up better. Aside from endurance, McMahon and LaFleur match up fairly evenly; however, the Jersey City, NJ native is less prone to injury, so you're far more likely to keep him on the field than LaFleur. If you have to place all your eggs in one of these baskets, take McMahon.
5. Daniel Woodenhead, RB, Chadron State University: Despite falling to last in these rankings, the 5'8", 204 lb Woodenhead is far from a lost cause. The former eagle has one of the better sets of hands in this group, and his agility ranks first of the class, so he's been known to make some spectacular catches out of the backfield; however, his speed is less than impressive for the halfback position, and he certainly doesn't have the strength to break many tackles, much less play fullback. I expect a team looking for a third-down running back may take a chance on the North Platte, NE native later in the draft, and he is far from the worst player available, so he should make a team set at RB1 very happy come draft day.
4. Ducky Donut, RB, University of Oregon: Like his brother, Ducky Donut, a 5'10", 200 lb former Duck, is somebody I feel bad leaving so low in the rankings at his position. The speed back from Indianoplis, IN is the fastest of the group, and he can run quite a bit more often than the others as well. The biggest concern for Donut is that he doesn't have particularly great strength or agility, so breaking tackles will likely be an issue for him. If you give Donut enough space, he can score just about any time he touches the ball, so I expect him to go earlier than this ranking suggests, but he's got work to do to be a true force in the NSFL.
3. Octavius Godspeed, RB, University of North Carolina: 6'0", 225 Godspeed is a brand new addition to the crop of running backs for season seventeen; the former Tar Heel declared for the draft after the original publication of this article, so I've updated it to include him. The native of Greensville, NC is just about exactly what you expect from a speed back, and given that he's a hair faster than Donut, I'm putting the newest prospect of the draft class just above the class's other speedster. Godspeed has some of the same question marks as Donut, with roughly equivalent ratings in strength and agility, so neither of these players should be expected to break loose if they're caught, but Godspeed, even more so than Donut, is a handful to catch, so interested GMs might be looking at a real home run hitter if they manage to snag him.
2. Ashley Owens, RB, University of Wisconsin: It gives me a little bit too much pleasure to see the Badgers struggle, which means there's a case to be made that I'm undervaluing Owens, a 5'10", 205 receiving back hailing from Sturgeon Bay, WI. But, I'll make the opposite argument, as I actually move Owens up in the rankings after further consideration of his numbers. There's no doubt the kid is fast, ranking second among running back prospects in speed, and his hands combined with his intelligence mean he'll be more than capable of catching the ball to move the chains just as well as he runs it to do so. He'll undoubtedly make a GM looking for an every down back very happy, given his ability to do it all out of the backfield. But, I have a soft spot for the top guy on the list, so I'm leaving Owens at two.
1. Joe Bobgarter, RB, Saint Mary's University: I'm going to say this once (okay, probably twice): FULLBACK LIVES MATTER. Joe Bobgarter projects to be exactly that, and I expect him to be good at it, too; the former Husky's strength and blocking ratings are exactly where they need to be for him to have success at the fullback position. Sure, spending a pick on Bobgarter means you sacrifice some of the flashy plays the others might make, but the Halifax, Nova Scotia native is the perfect running back for a backfield that needs extra protection, and he can get you a couple of crucial yards on the ground or through the air when you're in a bind. I have my doubts that Bobgarter will go before Owens, or honestly before Donut, but Bobgarter is going to succeed at his position. The fullback position. Alright, say it again with me: FULLBACK LIVES MATTER.
Now that the heart and soul of the offense is accounted for, on to the liver and kidneys of the unit: the quarterbacks.
2. Francis LaFleur, QB, University of Pittsburgh: Yes, the 6'4", 210 LaFleur has a slightly stronger arm than his opponent. Yes, the former Panther also is slightly more accurate than his newfound rival. Yes, the New Orleans, LA native known as "Franky" is even slightly more intelligent than his sole competitor. No, that is not enough to get the gunslinger the nod here. LaFleur, despite a slight edge throwing the football, has endurance struggles, and that keeps him in the passenger seat in this set of rankings. He'll make a QB-needy team happy, but I'd rather have the other guy.
1. Jim McMahon, QB, Brigham Young University: This is that other guy I was talking about. 6'3", 215 lb McMahon doesn't immediately seem like the better player of the two quarterbacks available, but the former Cougar is the man you want for your team for one reason: he holds up better. Aside from endurance, McMahon and LaFleur match up fairly evenly; however, the Jersey City, NJ native is less prone to injury, so you're far more likely to keep him on the field than LaFleur. If you have to place all your eggs in one of these baskets, take McMahon.