Tier 1, Topic 2
S25 LB draft class heading from DSFL into the ISF
The S25 class was pretty large due to it being a reddit draft class – indeed that is how I found out about the game. As a result there were a number of top prospects at each position. With L’Gazzy Burfict being a LB I thought I’d take a look at how the LB class fared after being drafted into the ISFL. So here is my look at the first 10 LBs taken from the S25 class.
First LB from the class to be snapped up was coverage LB Guy Fields who headed to Honolulu. An outstanding debut season in Dallas where he registered 120 tackles as a rookie led Fields to be immediately called up to the Hahalua. After stepping up Fields still managed 68 tackles, four sacks and two interceptions in his first ISFL season. Despite the Hahalua being pretty terrible this season where they finished bottom of the ASFC, Fields stood strong with 125 tackles, two sacks and three interceptions. Currently lying 2nd overall for TPE in the class in the latest update with 605 TPE I look forward to seeing what the future holds. A class act all round.
Second LB taken was speed rusher Hank Winchester, drafted 13 overall by the new expansion team in New York, the Silverbacks. Winchester was a little behind Fields in his debut DSFL season at what was then Myrtle Beach – 111 tackles – but this was still enough for an immediate call up. And what a good call it was. In his debut ISFL season Winchester recorded a league leading 154 tackles – New York didn’t see much of the ball that season so he was kept busy. This season has seen the Silverbacks jump from bottom to top of the ASFL and this has been helped again with 126 tackles from Winchester. TPE wise he’s leading the pack – 624 TPE gives almost 20 TPE daylight at the top. Can he help take silverware back to New York this season? We’ll have to wait and see. Even so, very bright future ahead.
The third LB taken was speed rusher Richard Leaking, taken at 20 overall by the Orange County Otters. Unlike Fields and Winchester, Leaking spent two seasons in the DSFL with Dallas despite recording 102 tackles and nine sacks in his debut season. In the second season he ran Burfict pretty close come awards night, registering a league leading 152 tackles before being called up for the current season. He’s struggled a little for game time with only 27 tackles to his name and TPE wise he’s fallen a little back with 565 TPE. Hopefully things kick into gear next season and we start to see the tackle-happy Leaking of old doing the business in Orange County.
After taking Fields off the board in round one, Honolulu made balanced LB Rusty Rucker the fourth to be taken as they took him with pick 23. A debut season in Norfolk (where he would get to the Ultimini) saw Rucker record 91 tackles and seven sacks and just like Fields this led to Honolulu calling him straight up to the big leagues. His debut season saw 51 tackles but this is where the journey as a true LB paused. Rucker has been filling in as a DE and with 544 TPE will need to keep earning and learning to ensure Honolulu don’t repeat their ASFL showing next season.
The fifth LB to be taken was coverage LB Jimi DeSoto, with the Liberty taking him at 31 overall. Another player who had a really solid debut season in the DSFL (78 tackles) leading to an immediate call up by Philadelphia. And what an impact – 120 tackles and a couple of sacks to boot. This season has been similar stats wise although it hasn’t helped much with the team finishing bottom of the NSFC. But I have no concerns here, DeSoto is a solid earning player with 595 TPE to his name – I expect big things from this player in the coming years.
Moving onto he sixth LB taken (and first Power Rusher) – Donald McBobby was snapped up by the Wraiths at 33 overall. A solid first season for the Pythons with 85 tackles and six sacks and an improvement on this in the second with 97 tackles and 10 sacks. But that’s where the positives look to stop, or at least pause for McBobby. Dwindling on 367 TPE it looks like the pressure of the ISFL got too much and McBobby had to take some time away from the sport. This is never what anyone wants to see – hopefully we’ll see him back sometime soon as I see no record of an official retirement. From a selfish perspective the Wraiths must be kicking themselves now, this is the first true bust pick of the LB class it seems.
Wasrabi Gleel was the seventh LB and second power rusher of the class to go, taken 35 overall by Chicago. Gleel had an impressive debut season in the DSFL – 105 tackles and five sacks for Minnesota. Numbers dropped off a little the following season (S24 pick Chainbreaker picking up a little more here) but nothing to be worried about. Staying down in the DSFL for a third season has allowed Gleel to develop well and was 3rd in the league fort tackles (140), leapfrogging Chainbreaker in the process. He’s amassed 546 TPE which is a solid amount for a mid 3rd round pick. I’m looking forward to seeing how he can make the adjustment in Chicago soon.
Finally (for me anyway) we get to the eight LB of the class to be taken – speed rusher L’Gazzy Burfict was taken by the Arizona Outlaws with pick 36 of the draft. Sitting behind London LBs Light and Domine is his debut year Burfict managed to put up 72 tackles and five sacks. Not quite up there with the best, but not bad for a LB3. Burfict remained with the London Royals for a second DSFL season where stats of 139 tackles (2nd in league) and 11 sacks (=1st in league) led him to being named DSFL LBotY and DSFL DPotY. Burfict was soon called up to Arizona where he again became LB3 – less play time meaning fewer numbers to shout about this time (53 tackles and not a single sack!). That said, Burfict was 3OA for LBs with 604 TPE at the last update so even when I try not be biased I can’t help but highlight that.
The ninth LB to be taken was speed rusher Gary Goodman, 46 overall by the Baltimore Hawks. A strong DSFL debut season in Kansas City saw Goodman record 99 tackles saw Goodman called up to the ISFL – although moving across to play at DE. That new position didn’t sit right, and now Goodman is back at what he does best as a true LB, although now in Philadelphia. With 101 tackles and four sacks this season he’s doing his best to give the Liberty fans something to shout about alongside Jimi DeSoto. Player wise he’s built up an impressive 575 TPE, more than four players taken before him. The future is bright for Philadelphia with their S25 LBs – at least at LB anyway.
Tenth LB to be taken was speed rusher Dexter Jackson. In his debut DSFL season Jackson hit 63 tackles and an impressive six sacks for the Bucs. After moving to a DE he was called up immediately by the Sailfish and now plys his trade in Baltimore. 329 TPE isn’t going to make waves in the ISFL so hopefully a little more earning can see Jackson enjoy a steady career.
To conclude, firstly, what a great LB class S25 had. So many players who will do great things here. Personally I’d highlight Goodman, Burfict and DeSoto as “steals”, and in that order. Finding a LB of Goodman’s quality in the 4th round, crazy. Picking up Burfict and his trophy cabinet in the middle of the 3rd, amazing. And DeSoto at 31 is just pure talent, no doubt. Also worth pointing out that three of the LB class currently have more TPE than the top two picks of the ISFL draft overall – these players are hungry to do well. Hall of Fame wise, there are a few big names who have made immediate impacts in the ISFL – I wouldn’t be surprised to see their names added at some point down the line. Will one of those be Burfict? Nah. But he'll enjoy the ride, add to his trophy cabinet and hopefully get that first sack next season...
Can’t wait to see how all of the S25 LB class develops, pleasure to be a part of it.
S25 LB draft class heading from DSFL into the ISF
The S25 class was pretty large due to it being a reddit draft class – indeed that is how I found out about the game. As a result there were a number of top prospects at each position. With L’Gazzy Burfict being a LB I thought I’d take a look at how the LB class fared after being drafted into the ISFL. So here is my look at the first 10 LBs taken from the S25 class.
First LB from the class to be snapped up was coverage LB Guy Fields who headed to Honolulu. An outstanding debut season in Dallas where he registered 120 tackles as a rookie led Fields to be immediately called up to the Hahalua. After stepping up Fields still managed 68 tackles, four sacks and two interceptions in his first ISFL season. Despite the Hahalua being pretty terrible this season where they finished bottom of the ASFC, Fields stood strong with 125 tackles, two sacks and three interceptions. Currently lying 2nd overall for TPE in the class in the latest update with 605 TPE I look forward to seeing what the future holds. A class act all round.
Second LB taken was speed rusher Hank Winchester, drafted 13 overall by the new expansion team in New York, the Silverbacks. Winchester was a little behind Fields in his debut DSFL season at what was then Myrtle Beach – 111 tackles – but this was still enough for an immediate call up. And what a good call it was. In his debut ISFL season Winchester recorded a league leading 154 tackles – New York didn’t see much of the ball that season so he was kept busy. This season has seen the Silverbacks jump from bottom to top of the ASFL and this has been helped again with 126 tackles from Winchester. TPE wise he’s leading the pack – 624 TPE gives almost 20 TPE daylight at the top. Can he help take silverware back to New York this season? We’ll have to wait and see. Even so, very bright future ahead.
The third LB taken was speed rusher Richard Leaking, taken at 20 overall by the Orange County Otters. Unlike Fields and Winchester, Leaking spent two seasons in the DSFL with Dallas despite recording 102 tackles and nine sacks in his debut season. In the second season he ran Burfict pretty close come awards night, registering a league leading 152 tackles before being called up for the current season. He’s struggled a little for game time with only 27 tackles to his name and TPE wise he’s fallen a little back with 565 TPE. Hopefully things kick into gear next season and we start to see the tackle-happy Leaking of old doing the business in Orange County.
After taking Fields off the board in round one, Honolulu made balanced LB Rusty Rucker the fourth to be taken as they took him with pick 23. A debut season in Norfolk (where he would get to the Ultimini) saw Rucker record 91 tackles and seven sacks and just like Fields this led to Honolulu calling him straight up to the big leagues. His debut season saw 51 tackles but this is where the journey as a true LB paused. Rucker has been filling in as a DE and with 544 TPE will need to keep earning and learning to ensure Honolulu don’t repeat their ASFL showing next season.
The fifth LB to be taken was coverage LB Jimi DeSoto, with the Liberty taking him at 31 overall. Another player who had a really solid debut season in the DSFL (78 tackles) leading to an immediate call up by Philadelphia. And what an impact – 120 tackles and a couple of sacks to boot. This season has been similar stats wise although it hasn’t helped much with the team finishing bottom of the NSFC. But I have no concerns here, DeSoto is a solid earning player with 595 TPE to his name – I expect big things from this player in the coming years.
Moving onto he sixth LB taken (and first Power Rusher) – Donald McBobby was snapped up by the Wraiths at 33 overall. A solid first season for the Pythons with 85 tackles and six sacks and an improvement on this in the second with 97 tackles and 10 sacks. But that’s where the positives look to stop, or at least pause for McBobby. Dwindling on 367 TPE it looks like the pressure of the ISFL got too much and McBobby had to take some time away from the sport. This is never what anyone wants to see – hopefully we’ll see him back sometime soon as I see no record of an official retirement. From a selfish perspective the Wraiths must be kicking themselves now, this is the first true bust pick of the LB class it seems.
Wasrabi Gleel was the seventh LB and second power rusher of the class to go, taken 35 overall by Chicago. Gleel had an impressive debut season in the DSFL – 105 tackles and five sacks for Minnesota. Numbers dropped off a little the following season (S24 pick Chainbreaker picking up a little more here) but nothing to be worried about. Staying down in the DSFL for a third season has allowed Gleel to develop well and was 3rd in the league fort tackles (140), leapfrogging Chainbreaker in the process. He’s amassed 546 TPE which is a solid amount for a mid 3rd round pick. I’m looking forward to seeing how he can make the adjustment in Chicago soon.
Finally (for me anyway) we get to the eight LB of the class to be taken – speed rusher L’Gazzy Burfict was taken by the Arizona Outlaws with pick 36 of the draft. Sitting behind London LBs Light and Domine is his debut year Burfict managed to put up 72 tackles and five sacks. Not quite up there with the best, but not bad for a LB3. Burfict remained with the London Royals for a second DSFL season where stats of 139 tackles (2nd in league) and 11 sacks (=1st in league) led him to being named DSFL LBotY and DSFL DPotY. Burfict was soon called up to Arizona where he again became LB3 – less play time meaning fewer numbers to shout about this time (53 tackles and not a single sack!). That said, Burfict was 3OA for LBs with 604 TPE at the last update so even when I try not be biased I can’t help but highlight that.
The ninth LB to be taken was speed rusher Gary Goodman, 46 overall by the Baltimore Hawks. A strong DSFL debut season in Kansas City saw Goodman record 99 tackles saw Goodman called up to the ISFL – although moving across to play at DE. That new position didn’t sit right, and now Goodman is back at what he does best as a true LB, although now in Philadelphia. With 101 tackles and four sacks this season he’s doing his best to give the Liberty fans something to shout about alongside Jimi DeSoto. Player wise he’s built up an impressive 575 TPE, more than four players taken before him. The future is bright for Philadelphia with their S25 LBs – at least at LB anyway.
Tenth LB to be taken was speed rusher Dexter Jackson. In his debut DSFL season Jackson hit 63 tackles and an impressive six sacks for the Bucs. After moving to a DE he was called up immediately by the Sailfish and now plys his trade in Baltimore. 329 TPE isn’t going to make waves in the ISFL so hopefully a little more earning can see Jackson enjoy a steady career.
To conclude, firstly, what a great LB class S25 had. So many players who will do great things here. Personally I’d highlight Goodman, Burfict and DeSoto as “steals”, and in that order. Finding a LB of Goodman’s quality in the 4th round, crazy. Picking up Burfict and his trophy cabinet in the middle of the 3rd, amazing. And DeSoto at 31 is just pure talent, no doubt. Also worth pointing out that three of the LB class currently have more TPE than the top two picks of the ISFL draft overall – these players are hungry to do well. Hall of Fame wise, there are a few big names who have made immediate impacts in the ISFL – I wouldn’t be surprised to see their names added at some point down the line. Will one of those be Burfict? Nah. But he'll enjoy the ride, add to his trophy cabinet and hopefully get that first sack next season...
Can’t wait to see how all of the S25 LB class develops, pleasure to be a part of it.