03-17-2019, 11:24 PM
(This post was last modified: 03-22-2019, 08:40 PM by JKortesi81.)
All S15 Running Backs, Ranked
It’s only one day longer before the monumental S14 DSFL Draft takes place, and teams are taking their final looks at prospects before they finalize their draft boards and make their decisions on Monday. I wrote an article on the deep running back class last week, but a lot of things have changed since then — new prospects have declared for the draft, current prospects have undergone even more training, and the Prospect Bowl has given us a first look into how these backs perform on the field in the professional level, albeit before any training was applied. I’ve also received inspiration for a number of improvements to my original rankings, including comparative rankings of strengths and weaknesses in each statistic, how the prospects have spent their training to improve themselves, and the media buzz surrounding each potential starter. Huge credit goes to @dropbear for the original inspiration for this series, as well as other members that have come out with their own positional rankings. Links to those can be found here:
- “Ranking S14 DSFL QB Prospects” by @dropbear
- “Ranking S14 DSFL Safety Prospects” by @Duilio05
- “Dizzy’s S15 (Current) Tight End Ranking” by @dizzyDC
Also I don’t think that I can stress enough that the Prospect Bowl games were played before any earned TPE was updated, meaning that results should not be the be all end all of scouting tools. But we won’t completely discount the bowl, and standout performances will be duly noted.
Without further ado, let’s jump right in.
The Rankings
#1 — 141 TPE — Morgan Marshall — @`EnfysNest`
ARCHETYPE: Receiving Back
LAST WEEK: 91 TPE (+50)
Morgan Marshall once again ranks at the top of the running back pack despite a lackluster Prospect Bowl showing. The Princeton graduate possesses a scary collection of elusiveness and ball catching to go with well-rounded stats across the board. As the most active of all running back rookies, Marshall has invested tons of training into shoring up his speed and strength and looks poised to continue improving well into the future.
Marshall saw snaps at fullback and wide receiver during the Prospect Bowl as a member of the East Cobras, relegated behind Tyler Janes for the starting running back job. Marshall’s performance was pretty mediocre, only really ever making an impact through the air. He garnered 173 receiving yards on 21 receptions but only 23 yards on the ground in 7 carries.
Prospect Bowl Statistics:
Week 1 @ Wolfpack - 1 rush for 8 yards, 5 catches for 57 yards
Week 2 vs. Owls - 1 rush for no gain, 2 catches for 20 yards
Week 3 vs. Blackbirds - 1 rush for 4 yards, 4 catches for 30 yards
Week 4 vs. Foxes - 1 rush for 5 yards, 3 catches for 19 yards
Week 5 @ Grizzlies - 5 catches for 42 yards
Week 6 @ Blackbirds - 3 rushes for 6 yards, 2 catches for 5 yards
Cumulative: 7 rushes for 23 yards, 21 catches for 173 yards
Where TPE Has Been Spent:
60 TPE towards Speed (65 -> 80)
10 TPE towards Agility (65 -> 70)
10 TPE towards Hands (65 -> 70)
10 TPE towards Strength (40 -> 50)
1 TPE Banked
Positional Rankings: 50 in Strength (Tied - 5th), 70 in Agility (Tied - 1st), 50 in Intelligence (1st), 80 in Speed (Tied - 4th), 70 in Hands (Tied - 1st), 30 in Pass Blocking (Tied - 1st), 20 in Run Blocking (Tied - 6th), 71 in Endurance (2nd)
Red Flags: None
Scouting:
“A few non safeties that I have noticed are Morgan Marshall, Lanzer Gervious and Jay Longshaw… Morgan Marshall should be another high pick because if a team can't get one of the top QBs, then they better have the best RB possible.” - @Duilio05, Walt Green S #89 prospect; Prospect Bowl, and Rumors
Community Engagement:
- Article, “RB Morgan Marshall Declares for the Draft”
- Article, “Forgotten Prospects of the S14 DSFL Draft”
- Article, “Ranking S14 DSFL RB Prospects”
- Article, “Ranking S14 DSFL RB Prospects; Vol. II: Electric Boogaloo”
- Presser, “RB Morgan Marshall - Pre-Draft Presser”
- Wiki Page: “Morgan Marshall”
#2 — 106 TPE — Terry Taffy — @KingCollins
ARCHETYPE: Receiving Back
LAST WEEK: 59 TPE (+47)
If any player saw their draft stock rise throughout the Prospect Bowl, it was Taffy, who earned himself the moniker of the “Candyman” while leading the Southwest Foxes’ rushing attack. One of three receiving backs in the class, Taffy has invested in training his elusiveness and is a reliable weapon in the passing game. More importantly, however, Taffy has proven that his relatively weaker speed is not a game-changing detriment in the rushing game and that he is consistent enough to handle primary running back duties for the big leagues.
Taffy piled up large stats while taking most of the Southwest Foxes’ rushing snaps during the Prospect Bowl. Through the first three weeks of the Prospect Bowl, as the Foxes went 3-0, Taffy appeared nigh unstoppable and piled up 5 touchdowns. His production tailed off during the Foxes’ ensuing 0-3 spiral, never eclipsing 100 yards in a game and only adding one more score. Despite this slump, Taffy’s cumulative stats are wildly impressive: he pushed for 629 yards and 6 touchdowns off of only 120 rushes, and added a bonus 12 catches for 78 yards in the air.
Prospect Bowl Statistics:
Week 1 vs. Owls - 30 rushes for 122 yards and 2 TD, 2 catches for 17 yards
Week 2 vs. Grizzlies - 21 rushes for 120 yards and 2 TD, 3 catches for 17 yards
Week 3 vs. Wolfpack - 25 rushes for 136 yards and a TD, 2 catches for 9 yards
Week 4 @ Cobras - 17 rushes for 94 yards and a TD, 2 catches for 16 yards
Week 5 @ Blackbirds - 18 rushes for 93 yards, 1 catch for 12 yards
Week 6 vs. Grizzlies - 9 rushes for 64 yards, 2 catches for 7 yards
Cumulative: 120 rushes for 629 yards and 6 TD, 12 catches for 78 yards
Where TPE Has Been Spent:
50 TPE towards Speed (70 -> 80)
6 TPE Banked
Positional Rankings: 50 in Strength (Tied - 5th), 70 in Agility (Tied - 1st), 40 in Intelligence (Tied - 3rd), 80 in Speed (Tied - 4th), 60 in Hands (3rd), 25 in Pass Blocking (Tied - 4th), 20 in Run Blocking (Tied - 6th), 70 in Endurance (Tied - 3rd)
Red Flags: None
Scouting:
“Terry Taffy has underrated mobility for a receiving back and, between his elusiveness in his routes and potential for target shares, makes an interesting potential multi-purpose tool in any offensive scheme. The big decisions will come during the season as either speed, elusiveness or receiving will need to be his focus point. Juggling all three is risky.” - @Roly, NFY S14 DSFL Draft Primer: Draftocalypse
“Another guy out there that I find to be interesting is Terry Taffy, he's a funny guy but certainly seems like someone that will excel at the next level.” - @flyeaglesfly29, Lightsout Lewis - LB - PreDraft Presser
“One of the absolute best performers of the Prospect Bowl so far, the Ohio State running back product is emerging as a bona fide 1st round prospect. Through 2 games, “The Candyman” has racked up 242 rushing yards and is the only player with multiple rushing touchdowns (he has 4!). In addition to that he’s shown he can catch the ball out of the backfield as he’s amassed 5 receptions for 34 yards through the first two games. He’s all business, and he’s proven himself to be a gamechanger. We’ll have to wait and see if DSFL GM’s have been as enamored by his production as this writer has been when the draft happens.” - @gucci, Everyone Eats; How the Foxes Became the Favorites
“It’s always a good sign if you develop your own nickname because of your on field performance. Such is the case of the Candyman, Terry Taffy. The elusive back has been dominant in the first 3 games of action and leads rushers (and all offensive players minus QBs) with 5 TDs… None stand out as much from the crowd as Taffy at this juncture.” - @Roly, NFY Prospect Bowl Coverage Megathread
“Best player or fan favorite were the options I had and I went with best player… it's hard to argue with what Taffy did this season. He had 95 less yards than Gump but his Yards Per Carry was .7 higher and he had 6 touchdowns to Gump's 1. He had twice as many touchdowns as the 2nd RB… Taffy was so far ahead of all other players save for a few and he was definitely the most VALUABLE.” - @SouljaBoy2007, *Unofficial* Prospect Bowl Awards
Community Engagement:
- Article, “RB Terry Taffy entering DSFL Draft”
- Article, “Southwest Foxes analysis”
- Article, “DSFL Mock Draft”
- Presser, “Terry Taffy RB Pre-Draft Presser”
- Graphics, “Terry Taffy RB Graphics”
#3 — 86 TPE — Kermit Stronglegs — @TheChroniclesOfFrog
ARCHETYPE: All-Purpose Back
LAST WEEK: 64 TPE (+22)
A lack of lateral quickness aside, the draft class’s only all-purpose back has stuck true to his archetype and displays quality skills in nearly all physical categories. Stronglegs shows blazing speed for a non-speed back, surprising physical strength for a non-power back, and decent pass-catching ability for a non-receiving back, a versatility unique to all-purpose backs that immediately distinguishes Stronglegs from the pack.
Kermit Stronglegs’ Prospect Bowl was largely spent being overshadowed by the Candyman, but the back carved out a small niche in the Foxes’ offense, both as an effective blocker and an occasional weapon. Stronglegs put together a 137 rushing yard performance on 23 total carries, as well as 11 catches for 77 receiving yards.
Prospect Bowl Statistics:
Week 1 vs. Owls - 3 rushes for 15 yards, 2 catches for 17 yards
Week 2 vs. Grizzlies - 6 rushes for 26 yards, 1 catch for 12 yards
Week 3 vs. Wolfpack - 6 rushes for 46 yards, 3 catches for 13 yards
Week 4 @ Cobras - 1 rush for 7 yards, 2 catches for 12 yards
Week 5 @ Blackbirds - 5 rushes for 27 yards
Week 6 vs. Grizzlies - 2 rushes for 16 yards, 3 catches for 23 yards
Cumulative: 23 rushes for 137 yards, 11 catches for 77 yards
Where TPE Has Been Spent:
30 TPE towards Speed (76 -> 81)
6 TPE Banked
Positional Rankings: 55 in Strength (4th), 55 in Agility (Tied - 13th), 35 in Intelligence (Tied - 7th), 81 in Speed (Tied - 1st), 50 in Hands (Tied - 5th), 25 in Pass Blocking (Tied - 4th), 25 in Run Blocking (Tied - 2nd), 70 in Endurance (Tied - 3rd)
Red Flags: None
Scouting:
“The somewhat rare backs who aren’t of the speed or receiving variety, these prospects offer different skillsets in the position than their S15 peers… Kermit Stronglegs has a more traditional ability to create seperation with his feet, albeit with the added benefits of a more rounded part of his game than the speed backs he’s up against.” - @Roly, NFY S14 DSFL Draft Primer: Draftocalypse
“Kermit came into the Prospect Bowl with big expectations but hasn’t really had enough time in his preferred position of tailback to make a major impact. Through the first two games, Stronglegs has had only 9 carries for a total of 41 rushing yards. He’s added 3 receptions for 28 yards. His yards per touch will have impressed DSFL GM’s, and he’s played a major part in paving the way for Taffy and his highlight reel runs. We’ll stay tuned to see if Kermit can play his way into a bigger role in the Foxes offense in the coming weeks.” - @gucci, Everyone Eats; How the Foxes Became the Favorites
Community Engagement:
- Article, “U of C Kermit Stronglegs declares for draft”
- Presser, “RB - Kermit Stronglegs - Predraft Presser”
#4 — 83 TPE — Forrest Gump — @TomHanks
ARCHETYPE: Speed Back
LAST WEEK: 50 TPE (+33)
After an illness that kept him sidelined for much of the offseason, Forrest Gump certainly made up for lost time as one of the biggest week to week improvers. Gump’s biggest advantage over the glut of rival speed backs is his endurance- as shown by his standout performance and high carry count of the Prospect Bowl, Gump can take a high level of punishment and keep grinding for more yards.
For most of the Prospect Bowl, it was a race to see whether the Grizzlies centerpiece or competitor Terry Taffy would prove the most impressive on the field- and while Taffy took the crown for the most scores, Gump would gain more rushing yards than all other running back prospects. Despite reduced usage during the playoffs in an increasingly crowded backfield, Gump ended the Bowl with almost 800 rushing and almost 100 receiving yards on 173 and 11 attempts and catches respectively. Gump also punctuated his statistical performance with 2 scores, both on the ground.
Prospect Bowl Statistics:
Week 1 @ Blackbirds - 29 rushes for 148 yards and a TD
Week 2 @ Foxes - 31 rushes for 123 yards
Week 3 @ Owls - 29 rushes for 147 yards, 4 catches for 31 yards
Week 4 vs. Wolfpack - 32 rushes for 127 yards
Week 5 vs. Cobras - 30 rushes for 115 yards, 3 catches for 16 yards
Week 6 @ Foxes - 10 rushes for 49 yards and a TD, 1 catch for 22 yards
Week 7 @ Owls - 12 rushes for 87 yards, 3 catches for 23 yards
Cumulative: 173 rushes for 796 yards and 2 TD, 11 catches for 92 yards
Where TPE Has Been Spent:
10 TPE towards Speed (80 -> 81)
23 TPE Banked
Positional Rankings: 40 in Strength (Tied - 11th), 60 in Agility (Tied - 8th), 30 in Intelligence (Tied - 9th), 81 in Speed (Tied - 1st), 40 in Hands (Tied - 10th), 20 in Pass Blocking (Tied - 8th), 20 in Run Blocking (Tied - 6th), 73 in Endurance (1st)
Red Flags: None
Scouting:
“Yet, quick and speedy is still the name of the RB game. Without it you’re going to be stuck on short gains and topping out around 3 YPC, if you’re lucky. So the leaders of the RB category are the glut of speed backs with great scouting on their footwork pre-draft… don’t sleep on this race, all of the speed back prospects have incredible potential to do some damage this season.” - @Roly, NFY S14 DSFL Draft Primer: Draftocalypse
“Gump surprised everyone by being the most productive running back in the first four games of the Prospect Bowl, averaging a very impressive 121 yards per game. Many people thought that Dorfus Jimbo was going to be the most prevalent back on the Grizzlies, but Gump has proven them wrong. His only fault is that he is lacking in touchdowns. Despite this, if he keeps it up, Forrest Gump could be considered the best speed back in the draft.” - @spinarnie, NFY Prospect Bowl Coverage Megathread
Community Engagement:
- Article, “‘Deep’ Running Back Class”
- Article, “Forrest Gump on the Grizzlies and the Draft”
- Presser, “Pre Prospect Bowl Forrest Gump Presser”
- Wiki Page: “Forrest Gump”
#5 — 77 TPE — Max Vaz — @Skyandbray
ARCHETYPE: Speed Back
LAST WEEK: 67 TPE (+10)
Max Vaz is a solid, consistently active prospect hailing from Texas Tech with a focus on speed above all else. Vaz can shoot down the field like lightning and has the best hands score of any non-receiving back. Like his speed back compatriots, turning into a true franchise star will require Vaz to branch out and train up other parts of his game.
Vaz was the center of the Blackbirds rushing offense, with Trey Moffat filling in as the backup. Vaz’s impressive speed was on display during the Bowl, especially during the week 6 consolation game versus the Cobras where Vaz exploded for 154 yards and 3 scores. Overall, Vaz finished with 125 carries and 589 rushing yards, 7 catches and 37 yards, and 5 scores to boot.
Prospect Bowl Statistics:
Week 1 vs. Grizzlies - 17 rushes for 75 yards
Week 2 @ Wolfpack - 21 rushes for 94 yards, 1 catch for 5 yards
Week 3 @ Cobras - 18 rushes for 89 yards, 3 catches for 19 yards
Week 4 vs. Owls - 15 rushes for 86 yards and 2 TD, 1 catch for 5 yards
Week 5 vs. Foxes - 24 rushes for 91 yards, 1 catch for 2 yards
Week 6 vs. Cobras - 30 rushes for 154 yards and 3 TD, 1 catch for 6 yards
Cumulative: 125 rushes for 589 yards and 5 TD, 7 catches for 37 yards
Where TPE Has Been Spent:
10 TPE towards Speed (80 -> 81)
7 TPE Banked
Positional Rankings: 40 in Strength (Tied - 11th), 60 in Agility (Tied - 8th), 30 in Intelligence (Tied - 9th), 81 in Speed (Tied - 1st), 52.5 in Hands (4th), 20 in Pass Blocking (Tied - 8th), 20 in Run Blocking (Tied - 6th), 70 in Endurance (Tied - 3rd)
Red Flags: None
Scouting:
“Yet, quick and speedy is still the name of the RB game. Without it you’re going to be stuck on short gains and topping out around 3 YPC, if you’re lucky. So the leaders of the RB category are the glut of speed backs with great scouting on their footwork pre-draft… don’t sleep on this race, all of the speed back prospects have incredible potential to do some damage this season.” - @Roly, NFY S14 DSFL Draft Primer: Draftocalypse
“And here we find Moffat's lightning compliment. Max Vaz has already turned heads at practice over the last week with his blazing speed which is already at 80. Mixed with solid Endurance (70) and Agility (60), Vaz has already shown the league that he possess plenty of home run ability in his 5'11' frame. Vaz is best known for his 69-yard touchdown run from the Wildcat formation against UCLA in his last year at Texas Tech. That highlight perfectly shows what a nice prospect Vaz is.” - @slothfacekilla, S15 Prospect Bowl Scouting - Atlantic Blackbirds
“Vaz is another example of a surprising speed back rising to the occasion during the Prospect Bowl. With 344 yards and 3 touchdowns, he has been greatly overachieving on what was expected of him. Vaz combined with Trey Moffat have given the Blackbirds a very potent run game so far this season.” - @spinarnie, NFY Prospect Bowl Coverage Megathread
Community Engagement:
- Presser, “RB Max Vaz Pre-Draft Presser”
- Wiki Page: “Max Vaz”
#6 — 75 TPE — Ben Bortboy — @spinarnie
ARCHETYPE: Power Back
LAST WEEK: 68 TPE (+7)
After perhaps the most lackluster collegiate career of any running back prospect ever, Ben Bortboy has steadily remained committed to improving his skills prior to the DSFL Draft. Bortboy’s largest asset, similar to other power back prospects, is his strength- yet the Illinois alumni possesses a solid base of other skills for any mentoring GM to build a franchise starter on. Bortboy has also been relatively active in the community thus far and has built a solid reputation among league scouts.
In the first half of the Prospect Bowl, Bortboy mostly filled a rotational role within the Owls’ offense as Ludicolo Bigby took the starter job. But from Week 5 onward, the Owls scheme change gave Bortboy the lion’s share of the carries as the team marched on towards their championship, and Bortboy finished the Bowl with a respectable 239 yards and 3 TD on 61 carries as well as 9 catches for 69 yards.
Prospect Bowl Statistics:
Week 1 @ Foxes - 2 rushes for 6 yards
Week 2 @ Cobras - 1 catch for 8 yards
Week 3 vs. Grizzlies - 2 rushes for 18 yards, 1 catch for 6 yards
Week 4 @ Blackbirds - 5 catches for 56 yards
Week 5 vs. Wolfpack - 22 rushes for 95 yards and a TD, 1 catch for no gain
Week 6 vs. Wolfpack - 12 rushes for 33 yards and a TD, 1 catch for -1 yards
Week 7 vs. Grizzlies - 23 rushes for 87 yards and a TD
Cumulative: 61 rushes for 239 yards and 3 TD, 9 catches for 69 yards
Where TPE Has Been Spent:
25 TPE towards Speed (70 -> 75)
Positional Rankings: 70 in Strength (Tied - 1st), 60 in Agility (Tied - 8th), 35 in Intelligence (Tied - 7th), 75 in Speed (Tied - 10th), 45 in Hands (Tied - 8th), 20 in Pass Blocking (Tied - 8th), 25 in Run Blocking (Tied - 2nd), 70 in Endurance (Tied - 3rd)
Red Flags: Knowing the Rules of Football
Scouting:
“The somewhat rare backs who aren’t of the speed or receiving variety, these prospects offer different skillsets in the position than their S15 peers. Ben and Trey, in particular, stand out with muscular and heavy frames, making them the strongest RBs in the draft. Trey is slightly quicker than Ben, who in turn is slightly more well rounded. Short, but consistent, gains will the name of their game, making them solid red zone contributors.” - @Roly, NFY S14 DSFL Draft Primer: Draftocalypse
Community Engagement:
- Article, “NFY Prospect Bowl Coverage Megathread” (contributor)
- Presser, “RB - Ben Bortboy - Predraft Presser”
- Graphics, “Ben Bortboy Sig”
- Wiki Page: “Ben Bortboy”
#7 (Tied) — 67 TPE — Dorfus Jimbo — @ScorpXCracker
ARCHETYPE: Speed Back
LAST WEEK: 54 TPE (+13)
Part running back, part banjo maestro, Dorfus Jimbo is slower than a typical speed back but can contribute in other aspects of a running back’s game. With the nimbleness of a musician, Jimbo’s agility and fluidity help him evade tackles at different levels of a defense and then speed right past his opponents. Jimbo has written a number of articles for the community and appears to be solidly improving his abilities through training.
Jimbo shared a rotational job on the Grizzlies with Forrest Gump and later Apollo Reed. Despite Gump’s star shining the brightest, Jimbo made sure to not get lost in the shuffle especially as playoffs neared- the back finished with 301 rushing yards, 159 receiving yards, and 4 combined scores from 53 rushes and 17 catches.
Prospect Bowl Statistics:
Week 1 @ Blackbirds - 2 rushes for 5 yards and a TD, 3 catches for 23 yards
Week 2 @ Foxes - 3 rushes for 13 yards, 2 catches for 32 yards and a TD
Week 3 @ Owls - 3 catches for 28 yards
Week 4 vs. Wolfpack - 3 catches for 29 yards and a TD
Week 5 vs. Cobras - 13 rushes for 90 yards, 1 catch for 8 yards
Week 6 @ Foxes - 18 rushes for 95 yards and a TD, 3 catches for 18 yards
Week 7 @ Owls - 17 rushes for 98 yards, 2 catches for 21 yards
Cumulative: 53 rushes for 301 yards and 2 TD, 17 catches for 159 yards and 2 TD
Where TPE Has Been Spent:
15 TPE towards Speed (75 -> 78)
2 TPE Banked
Positional Rankings: 40 in Strength (Tied - 11th), 70 in Agility (Tied - 1st), 30 in Intelligence (Tied - 9th), 78 in Speed (9th), 50 in Hands (Tied - 5th), 30 in Pass Blocking (Tied - 1st), 20 in Run Blocking (Tied - 6th), 70 in Endurance (Tied - 3rd), 100 in Banjo Playing (1st)
Red Flags: None
Scouting:
“Dorfus Jimbo is also an interesting prospect who lacks a bit behind the pure footspeed of his speed back brethren, but makes up for it with stronger lateral quickness… don’t sleep on this race, all of the speed back prospects have incredible potential to do some damage this season.” - @Roly, NFY S14 DSFL Draft Primer: Draftocalypse
“Dorfus Jimbo is a running back who is incredibly talented. He has the rare combination of speed, agility and hands that make him super talented. I see him being a bell cow for us [the Norfolk Seawolves].” - @YoungTB, A Sit Down With Norfolk Seawolves New GM iamslm22
“Dorfus will be looking to make a name for himself in the DSFL with his elusive footwork and smart maneuvering. Though classified as a speed back, he isn’t the fastest prospect, but don’t let that discourage you. Jimbo is more like a Le'veon Bell type: slow and steady wins the race. Look for consistent mid-range gains, and lots of carries in the red zone.” - @spinarnie, NFY Prospect Bowl Coverage Megathread
“Jimbo was supposed to be a very promising speed back for the DSFL draft, he has not been given enough attempts to show his worth. Forrest Gump has been the main runner for the Grizzlies, resulting in Dorfus getting less chances to run the ball. Though he has been getting some reps in the passing game, to be on the level as other speed backs in the draft, he’ll need to make more out of his attempts on the ground.” - @spinarnie, NFY Prospect Bowl Coverage Megathread
Community Engagement:
- Article, “Wyoming State RB Dorfus Jimbo declares for draft.”
- Article, “BREAKING: Norfolk SeaWolves announce Co-GM”
- Presser, “Dorfus Jimbo, RB from Wyoming, DSFL presser”
- Wiki Page: “Dorfus Jimbo”
#7 (Tied) — 67 TPE — Apollo Reed — @NylarthePhoenix
ARCHETYPE: Speed Back
LAST WEEK: N/A
Apollo Reed is a rather new back, one of three to join the DSFL Draft after the first edition of these rankings, but Reed has separated himself from the other newcomers because of his training improvement. As yet another speed back, Reed faces an uphill battle to make a name for himself and has so far done so through improvements to his intelligence and agility.
Reed declared too late to contribute as a starter on a team in the Prospect Bowl, but was added to the Central Grizzlies’ roster during the playoffs. Despite a crowded rotation, Reed was able to secure himself a place within the Grizzlies offense- the rookie saw action in both playoff games and earned 23 rushes for 142 yards as well as 3 receptions and 8 receiving yards.
Prospect Bowl Statistics:
Week 6 @ Foxes - 15 rushes for 99 yards, 2 catches for 5 yards
Week 7 @ Owls - 8 rushes for 43 yards, 1 catch for 3 yards
Cumulative: 23 rushes for 142 yards, 3 catches for 8 yards
Where TPE Has Been Spent:
10 TPE towards Speed (78 -> 80)
6 TPE towards Agility (65 -> 68)
1 TPE towards Intelligence (45 -> 46)
Positional Rankings: 40 in Strength (Tied - 11th), 68 in Agility (5th), 46 in Intelligence (2nd), 80 in Speed (Tied - 4th), 40 in Hands (Tied - 10th), 20 in Pass Blocking (Tied - 8th), 20 in Run Blocking (Tied - 6th), 70 in Endurance (Tied - 3rd)
Red Flags: None
Scouting: None
Community Engagement:
- Presser, “RB - Apollo Reed Pre-draft Presser!”
#9 — 63 TPE — Farley Hank — @Beebob
ARCHETYPE: Receiving Back
LAST WEEK: 59 TPE (+4)
Farley Hank’s receiving back skills can be overshadowed by the comparative success of Morgan Marshall and Terry Taffy, but Hank is a promising prospect in his own right. Hank has amazing quickness and looks to feature as a possession back that can reliably provide a quarterback with a safety blanket. Speed needs to be a priority for him to train up to give him the burst to blow past defenses.
Hank split starting duties for the Wolfpack with Ronald St. James III. He posted nearly 300 yards on almost 80 carries with 2 scores and also put up the highest receiving stats of any running back in the Bowl, going for 29 receptions, 206 receiving yards, and 3 touchdowns as the Wolfpack made the playoffs but lost in their first postseason game against the eventual champions the Owls.
Prospect Bowl Statistics:
Week 1 vs. Cobras - 18 rushes for 34 yards and a TD, 8 catches for 62 yards
Week 2 vs. Blackbirds - 14 rushes for 65 yards, 3 catches for 18 yards
Week 3 @ Foxes - 14 rushes for 57 yards, 2 catches for 10 yards and a TD
Week 4 @ Grizzlies - 11 rushes for 36 yards and a TD, 6 catches for 54 yards and a TD
Week 5 @ Owls - 14 rushes for 75 yards, 5 catches for 28 yards and a TD
Week 6 @ Owls - 7 rushes for 29 yards, 5 catches for 34 yards
Cumulative: 78 rushes for 296 yards and 2 TD, 29 catches for 206 yards and 3 TD
Where TPE Has Been Spent:
12 TPE towards Speed (60 -> 66)
1 TPE towards Strength (45 -> 46)
Positional Rankings: 46 in Strength (9th), 70 in Agility (Tied - 1st), 40 in Intelligence (Tied - 3rd), 66 in Speed (13th), 70 in Hands (Tied - 1st), 30 in Pass Blocking (Tied - 1st), 20 in Run Blocking (Tied - 6th), 70 in Endurance (Tied - 3rd)
Red Flags: None
Scouting: None
Community Engagement: None
#10 (Tied) — 50* TPE — Ludicolo Bigby — @TheWoZy
ARCHETYPE: Speed Back
LAST WEEK: 50 TPE (+0)
*Bigby has engaged in training but has yet to create an update page, so I wasn’t able to accurately calculate how many TPE points he has earned.
Ludicolo Bigby entered the draft pool and immediately became a frontrunner because of his recreate status and speed back archetype. Without an update page, however, Bigby’s TPE earnings have so far been unregistered, and he has yet to improve from last year. As it stands right now, Bigby’s strength lies in speed, and he does not have many other traits to set himself apart for scouting DSFL teams as a potential franchise star.
Bigby’s Prospect Bowl tenure on the Owls saw great success, and as the team’s starting back Bigby helped lead the Owls to a 5-2 record and a Bowl championship. Bigby racked up 510 yards on 122 attempts with an additional 33 receiving yards on 9 catches, adding four touchdowns on the ground. Bigby’s usage during the playoffs tailed off in favor of Ben Bortboy.
Prospect Bowl Statistics:
Week 1 @ Foxes - 20 rushes for 87 yards and a TD, 1 catch for no gain
Week 2 @ Cobras - 29 rushes for 104 yards, 3 catches for 7 yards
Week 3 vs. Grizzlies - 24 rushes for 109 yards, 2 catches for 9 yards
Week 4 @ Blackbirds - 31 rushes for 111 yards and 2 TD, 3 catches for 17 yards
Week 5 vs. Wolfpack - No Stats Recorded
Week 6 vs. Wolfpack - 10 rushes for 60 yards and a TD
Week 7 vs. Grizzlies - 8 rushes for 39 yards
Cumulative: 122 rushes for 510 yards and 4 TD, 9 catches for 33 yards
Where TPE Has Been Spent:
0 TPE Banked
Positional Rankings: 41 in Strength (10th), 67 in Agility (6th), 30 in Intelligence (Tied - 9th), 80 in Speed (Tied - 4th), 40 in Hands (Tied - 10th), 20 in Pass Blocking (Tied - 8th), 20 in Run Blocking (Tied - 6th), 70 in Endurance (Tied - 3rd)
Red Flags: No Update Page
Scouting:
“Yet, quick and speedy is still the name of the RB game. Without it you’re going to be stuck on short gains and topping out around 3 YPC, if you’re lucky. So the leaders of the RB category are the glut of speed backs with great scouting on their footwork pre-draft. The tie goes to the prospect most known by league scouts, Ludicolo Bigby.” - @Roly, NFY S14 DSFL Draft Primer: Draftocalypse
“Bigby is a classic speed back. What’s not to like about it? The game plan with him is plain and simple: run around everyone until you get to the endzone. Expect big gains, and big returns for the team who drafts him.” - @spinarnie, NFY Prospect Bowl Coverage Megathread
Community Engagement: None
#10 (Tied) — 50 TPE — Trey Moffat — @Inbob27
ARCHETYPE: Power Back
LAST WEEK: 50 TPE (+0)
Another power back, Trey Moffat has not yet engaged in training exercises with scouts or made a large presence in the community. Moffat’s key asset of strength comes at the cost of playmaking ability in elusiveness, ball-catching, and especially straightline speed. A major investment would need to be made by Moffat after the draft to improve his situation and be a viable offensive weapon.
Trey Moffat saw limited action during the Prospect Bowl, largely relegated to being the Blackbirds’ backup running back behind speed back Max Vaz. With only ten carries for 67 yards, Moffat primarily used the Bowl as an opportunity to demonstrate decent receiving skills, going for 125 yards and a score off of 15 catches and proving that the power back was more than a one dimensional tool.
Prospect Bowl Statistics:
Week 1 vs. Grizzlies - 3 catches for 51 yards
Week 2 @ Wolfpack - 2 rushes for 8 yards, 4 catches for 30 yards
Week 3 @ Cobras - 2 rushes for 22 yards, 3 catches for 22 yards and a TD
Week 4 vs. Owls - 1 rush for 10 yards, 1 catch for 5 yards
Week 5 vs. Foxes - 2 rushes for 5 yards, 4 catches for 17 yards
Week 6 vs. Cobras - 3 rushes for 22 yards
Cumulative: 10 rushes for 67 yards, 15 catches for 125 yards and a TD
Where TPE Has Been Spent:
0 TPE Banked
Positional Rankings: 70 in Strength (Tied - 1st), 60 in Agility (Tied - 8th), 30 in Intelligence (Tied - 9th), 72 in Speed (12th), 40 in Hands (Tied - 10th), 20 in Pass Blocking (Tied - 8th), 25 in Run Blocking (Tied - 2nd), 70 in Endurance (Tied - 3rd)
Red Flags: No Training
Scouting:
“The somewhat rare backs who aren’t of the speed or receiving variety, these prospects offer different skillsets in the position than their S15 peers. Ben and Trey, in particular, stand out with muscular and heavy frames, making them the strongest RBs in the draft. Trey is slightly quicker than Ben, who in turn is slightly more well rounded. Short, but consistent, gains will the name of their game, making them solid red zone contributors.” - @Roly, NFY S14 DSFL Draft Primer: Draftocalypse
“Meet our thunder from the great state of Kentucky. It's easy to see why DSFL front offices are interested in this power back out of Arizona State. The aptly named Trey brings the heavy trio of 72 speed, 70 Strength, and 70 Endurance. This trey-fecta of plus skills is enough to send scouts to Bob Kraft's favorite massage parlor just to get a little release. The Blackbird coaching staff is looking to work on Moffat's vision so that he can choose his running lanes better, but once he gets going downhill it is almost impossible for defenses to bring him down. We expect him to wear down opposing defenses this tournament.” - @slothfacekilla, S15 Prospect Bowl Scouting - Atlantic Blackbirds
Community Engagement: None
#10 (Tied) — 50 TPE — Tyler Janes — @Newbie
ARCHETYPE: Speed Back
LAST WEEK: N/A
The first new face from last week’s rankings, Tyler Janes delivered one of the best performances of the Prospect Bowl but did not apply the same effort towards training up his skillset. Janes possesses a promising combination of speed and strength, with other skills needing to be developed quite a bit to round out his profile. His activity in the community leaves something to be desired.
As the East Cobras’ feature back, Janes was one of the highest performing running backs of his class. He rushed 117 times for 597 yards on the ground and 5 touchdowns, with an additional 6 receptions for 40 yards. As Armstrong’s QB play improved later on in the season, Janes’ usage diminished, but he continued to make the most of his limited carries.
Prospect Bowl Statistics:
Week 1 @ Wolfpack - 24 rushes for 104 yards and a TD
Week 2 vs. Owls - 26 rushes for 164 yards
Week 3 vs. Blackbirds - 14 rushes for 74 yards and a TD, 1 catch for 11 yards
Week 4 vs. Foxes - 29 rushes for 139 yards, 1 catch for 6 yards
Week 5 @ Grizzlies - 17 rushes for 80 yards and a TD, 2 catches for 3 yards
Week 6 @ Blackbirds - 7 rushes for 36 yards and 2 TD, 2 catches for 20 yards
Cumulative: 117 rushes for 597 yards and 5 TD, 6 catches for 40 yards
Where TPE Has Been Spent:
0 TPE Banked
Positional Rankings: 50 in Strength (Tied - 5th), 60 in Agility (Tied - 8th), 30 in Intelligence (Tied - 9th), 80 in Speed (Tied - 4th), 45 in Hands (Tied - 8th), 20 in Pass Blocking (Tied - 8th), 20 in Run Blocking (Tied - 6th, 70 in Endurance (Tied- 3rd)
Red Flags: No Training
Scouting:
“As a late player to join the draft pool, Janes did not have high expectations set for him. He has been playing very well throughout the beginning of these games, however, with almost 500 rushing yards as well as over 5 yards a carry. The Cobras were not supposed to have this good of a run game, but Tyler Janes has really been showing up.” - @spinarnie, NFY Prospect Bowl Coverage Megathread
Community Engagement: None
#10 (Tied) — 50 TPE — Jay Quick — @Ramrod18
ARCHETYPE: Speed Back
LAST WEEK: N/A
Jay Quick is the newest running back to throw his hat into the ring, having only declared for the draft on March 14. Given his recency, not much scouting has been performed on Quick and he did not play a single snap in the Prospect Bowl. It remains to be seen how active and dedicated this new prospect will be, especially in such a deep running back class. As of right now, Quick is a speed back with decent scores across the board but no true standout skills differentiating him from his peers.
Where TPE Has Been Spent:
0 TPE Banked
Positional Rankings: 50 in Strength (Tied - 5th), 65 in Agility (7th), 40 in Intelligence (Tied - 3rd), 75 in Speed (Tied - 10th), 40 in Hands (Tied - 10th), 25 in Pass Blocking (Tied - 4th), 25 in Run Blocking (Tied - 2nd), 70 in Endurance (Tied - 3rd)
Red Flags: No Training
Scouting: None
Community Engagement: None
#10 (Tied) — 50 TPE — Ronald St. James III — @coffeebeard
ARCHETYPE: Power Back
LAST WEEK: 50 TPE (+0)
It might be safe to assume that Ronald St. James III is no longer with us. RSJ3 has a promising baseline across the board and could be molded into whatever a prospective GM desires. Without any TPE invested into training, James’ build allows him to bruise his way past defenses and make up for a clear lack of agility or speed. But don’t expect James to show up to training camps anytime soon; he has not been seen since March 5, a clear red flag for any GM and a risky proposition to draft with the intention of starting.
In the meantime, RSJ3 shared the Wolfpack’s running duties with receiving back Farley Hank, and posted decent numbers as the team’s #2 option. He carried the ball 67 times and gained 269 yards with a score, adding in 8 catches and 34 receiving yards to demonstrate a possible potential for receiving usage in the professional leagues.
Prospect Bowl Statistics:
Week 1 vs. Cobras - 11 rushes for 43 yards, 2 catches for 5 yards
Week 2 vs. Blackbirds - 13 rushes for 32 yards and a TD, 3 catches for 12 yards
Week 3 @ Foxes - 9 rushes for 30 yards, 1 catch for 4 yards
Week 4 @ Grizzlies - 16 rushes for 83 yards, 1 catch for 7 yards
Week 5 @ Owls - 10 rushes for 43 yards, 1 catch for 6 yards
Week 6 @ Owls - 8 rushes for 38 yards
Cumulative: 67 rushes for 269 yards and a TD, 8 catches for 34 yards
Where TPE Has Been Spent:
0 TPE Banked
Positional Rankings: 70 in Strength (Tied - 1st), 55 in Agility (Tied - 13th), 40 in Intelligence (Tied - 3rd), 65 in Speed (14th), 50 in Hands (Tied - 5th), 25 in Pass Blocking (Tied - 4th), 30 in Run Blocking (1st), 70 in Endurance (Tied - 3rd)
Red Flags: Inactivity
Scouting:
“The somewhat rare backs who aren’t of the speed or receiving variety, these prospects offer different skillsets in the position than their S15 peers… RSJ3 is well rounded and a clean palette for the brushstrokes of a mentoring DSFL GM.” - @Roly, NFY S14 DSFL Draft Primer: Draftocalypse
Community Engagement: None
It’s only one day longer before the monumental S14 DSFL Draft takes place, and teams are taking their final looks at prospects before they finalize their draft boards and make their decisions on Monday. I wrote an article on the deep running back class last week, but a lot of things have changed since then — new prospects have declared for the draft, current prospects have undergone even more training, and the Prospect Bowl has given us a first look into how these backs perform on the field in the professional level, albeit before any training was applied. I’ve also received inspiration for a number of improvements to my original rankings, including comparative rankings of strengths and weaknesses in each statistic, how the prospects have spent their training to improve themselves, and the media buzz surrounding each potential starter. Huge credit goes to @dropbear for the original inspiration for this series, as well as other members that have come out with their own positional rankings. Links to those can be found here:
- “Ranking S14 DSFL QB Prospects” by @dropbear
- “Ranking S14 DSFL Safety Prospects” by @Duilio05
- “Dizzy’s S15 (Current) Tight End Ranking” by @dizzyDC
Also I don’t think that I can stress enough that the Prospect Bowl games were played before any earned TPE was updated, meaning that results should not be the be all end all of scouting tools. But we won’t completely discount the bowl, and standout performances will be duly noted.
Without further ado, let’s jump right in.
The Rankings
#1 — 141 TPE — Morgan Marshall — @`EnfysNest`
ARCHETYPE: Receiving Back
LAST WEEK: 91 TPE (+50)
Morgan Marshall once again ranks at the top of the running back pack despite a lackluster Prospect Bowl showing. The Princeton graduate possesses a scary collection of elusiveness and ball catching to go with well-rounded stats across the board. As the most active of all running back rookies, Marshall has invested tons of training into shoring up his speed and strength and looks poised to continue improving well into the future.
Marshall saw snaps at fullback and wide receiver during the Prospect Bowl as a member of the East Cobras, relegated behind Tyler Janes for the starting running back job. Marshall’s performance was pretty mediocre, only really ever making an impact through the air. He garnered 173 receiving yards on 21 receptions but only 23 yards on the ground in 7 carries.
Prospect Bowl Statistics:
Week 1 @ Wolfpack - 1 rush for 8 yards, 5 catches for 57 yards
Week 2 vs. Owls - 1 rush for no gain, 2 catches for 20 yards
Week 3 vs. Blackbirds - 1 rush for 4 yards, 4 catches for 30 yards
Week 4 vs. Foxes - 1 rush for 5 yards, 3 catches for 19 yards
Week 5 @ Grizzlies - 5 catches for 42 yards
Week 6 @ Blackbirds - 3 rushes for 6 yards, 2 catches for 5 yards
Cumulative: 7 rushes for 23 yards, 21 catches for 173 yards
Where TPE Has Been Spent:
60 TPE towards Speed (65 -> 80)
10 TPE towards Agility (65 -> 70)
10 TPE towards Hands (65 -> 70)
10 TPE towards Strength (40 -> 50)
1 TPE Banked
Positional Rankings: 50 in Strength (Tied - 5th), 70 in Agility (Tied - 1st), 50 in Intelligence (1st), 80 in Speed (Tied - 4th), 70 in Hands (Tied - 1st), 30 in Pass Blocking (Tied - 1st), 20 in Run Blocking (Tied - 6th), 71 in Endurance (2nd)
Red Flags: None
Scouting:
“A few non safeties that I have noticed are Morgan Marshall, Lanzer Gervious and Jay Longshaw… Morgan Marshall should be another high pick because if a team can't get one of the top QBs, then they better have the best RB possible.” - @Duilio05, Walt Green S #89 prospect; Prospect Bowl, and Rumors
Community Engagement:
- Article, “RB Morgan Marshall Declares for the Draft”
- Article, “Forgotten Prospects of the S14 DSFL Draft”
- Article, “Ranking S14 DSFL RB Prospects”
- Article, “Ranking S14 DSFL RB Prospects; Vol. II: Electric Boogaloo”
- Presser, “RB Morgan Marshall - Pre-Draft Presser”
- Wiki Page: “Morgan Marshall”
#2 — 106 TPE — Terry Taffy — @KingCollins
ARCHETYPE: Receiving Back
LAST WEEK: 59 TPE (+47)
If any player saw their draft stock rise throughout the Prospect Bowl, it was Taffy, who earned himself the moniker of the “Candyman” while leading the Southwest Foxes’ rushing attack. One of three receiving backs in the class, Taffy has invested in training his elusiveness and is a reliable weapon in the passing game. More importantly, however, Taffy has proven that his relatively weaker speed is not a game-changing detriment in the rushing game and that he is consistent enough to handle primary running back duties for the big leagues.
Taffy piled up large stats while taking most of the Southwest Foxes’ rushing snaps during the Prospect Bowl. Through the first three weeks of the Prospect Bowl, as the Foxes went 3-0, Taffy appeared nigh unstoppable and piled up 5 touchdowns. His production tailed off during the Foxes’ ensuing 0-3 spiral, never eclipsing 100 yards in a game and only adding one more score. Despite this slump, Taffy’s cumulative stats are wildly impressive: he pushed for 629 yards and 6 touchdowns off of only 120 rushes, and added a bonus 12 catches for 78 yards in the air.
Prospect Bowl Statistics:
Week 1 vs. Owls - 30 rushes for 122 yards and 2 TD, 2 catches for 17 yards
Week 2 vs. Grizzlies - 21 rushes for 120 yards and 2 TD, 3 catches for 17 yards
Week 3 vs. Wolfpack - 25 rushes for 136 yards and a TD, 2 catches for 9 yards
Week 4 @ Cobras - 17 rushes for 94 yards and a TD, 2 catches for 16 yards
Week 5 @ Blackbirds - 18 rushes for 93 yards, 1 catch for 12 yards
Week 6 vs. Grizzlies - 9 rushes for 64 yards, 2 catches for 7 yards
Cumulative: 120 rushes for 629 yards and 6 TD, 12 catches for 78 yards
Where TPE Has Been Spent:
50 TPE towards Speed (70 -> 80)
6 TPE Banked
Positional Rankings: 50 in Strength (Tied - 5th), 70 in Agility (Tied - 1st), 40 in Intelligence (Tied - 3rd), 80 in Speed (Tied - 4th), 60 in Hands (3rd), 25 in Pass Blocking (Tied - 4th), 20 in Run Blocking (Tied - 6th), 70 in Endurance (Tied - 3rd)
Red Flags: None
Scouting:
“Terry Taffy has underrated mobility for a receiving back and, between his elusiveness in his routes and potential for target shares, makes an interesting potential multi-purpose tool in any offensive scheme. The big decisions will come during the season as either speed, elusiveness or receiving will need to be his focus point. Juggling all three is risky.” - @Roly, NFY S14 DSFL Draft Primer: Draftocalypse
“Another guy out there that I find to be interesting is Terry Taffy, he's a funny guy but certainly seems like someone that will excel at the next level.” - @flyeaglesfly29, Lightsout Lewis - LB - PreDraft Presser
“One of the absolute best performers of the Prospect Bowl so far, the Ohio State running back product is emerging as a bona fide 1st round prospect. Through 2 games, “The Candyman” has racked up 242 rushing yards and is the only player with multiple rushing touchdowns (he has 4!). In addition to that he’s shown he can catch the ball out of the backfield as he’s amassed 5 receptions for 34 yards through the first two games. He’s all business, and he’s proven himself to be a gamechanger. We’ll have to wait and see if DSFL GM’s have been as enamored by his production as this writer has been when the draft happens.” - @gucci, Everyone Eats; How the Foxes Became the Favorites
“It’s always a good sign if you develop your own nickname because of your on field performance. Such is the case of the Candyman, Terry Taffy. The elusive back has been dominant in the first 3 games of action and leads rushers (and all offensive players minus QBs) with 5 TDs… None stand out as much from the crowd as Taffy at this juncture.” - @Roly, NFY Prospect Bowl Coverage Megathread
“Best player or fan favorite were the options I had and I went with best player… it's hard to argue with what Taffy did this season. He had 95 less yards than Gump but his Yards Per Carry was .7 higher and he had 6 touchdowns to Gump's 1. He had twice as many touchdowns as the 2nd RB… Taffy was so far ahead of all other players save for a few and he was definitely the most VALUABLE.” - @SouljaBoy2007, *Unofficial* Prospect Bowl Awards
Community Engagement:
- Article, “RB Terry Taffy entering DSFL Draft”
- Article, “Southwest Foxes analysis”
- Article, “DSFL Mock Draft”
- Presser, “Terry Taffy RB Pre-Draft Presser”
- Graphics, “Terry Taffy RB Graphics”
#3 — 86 TPE — Kermit Stronglegs — @TheChroniclesOfFrog
ARCHETYPE: All-Purpose Back
LAST WEEK: 64 TPE (+22)
A lack of lateral quickness aside, the draft class’s only all-purpose back has stuck true to his archetype and displays quality skills in nearly all physical categories. Stronglegs shows blazing speed for a non-speed back, surprising physical strength for a non-power back, and decent pass-catching ability for a non-receiving back, a versatility unique to all-purpose backs that immediately distinguishes Stronglegs from the pack.
Kermit Stronglegs’ Prospect Bowl was largely spent being overshadowed by the Candyman, but the back carved out a small niche in the Foxes’ offense, both as an effective blocker and an occasional weapon. Stronglegs put together a 137 rushing yard performance on 23 total carries, as well as 11 catches for 77 receiving yards.
Prospect Bowl Statistics:
Week 1 vs. Owls - 3 rushes for 15 yards, 2 catches for 17 yards
Week 2 vs. Grizzlies - 6 rushes for 26 yards, 1 catch for 12 yards
Week 3 vs. Wolfpack - 6 rushes for 46 yards, 3 catches for 13 yards
Week 4 @ Cobras - 1 rush for 7 yards, 2 catches for 12 yards
Week 5 @ Blackbirds - 5 rushes for 27 yards
Week 6 vs. Grizzlies - 2 rushes for 16 yards, 3 catches for 23 yards
Cumulative: 23 rushes for 137 yards, 11 catches for 77 yards
Where TPE Has Been Spent:
30 TPE towards Speed (76 -> 81)
6 TPE Banked
Positional Rankings: 55 in Strength (4th), 55 in Agility (Tied - 13th), 35 in Intelligence (Tied - 7th), 81 in Speed (Tied - 1st), 50 in Hands (Tied - 5th), 25 in Pass Blocking (Tied - 4th), 25 in Run Blocking (Tied - 2nd), 70 in Endurance (Tied - 3rd)
Red Flags: None
Scouting:
“The somewhat rare backs who aren’t of the speed or receiving variety, these prospects offer different skillsets in the position than their S15 peers… Kermit Stronglegs has a more traditional ability to create seperation with his feet, albeit with the added benefits of a more rounded part of his game than the speed backs he’s up against.” - @Roly, NFY S14 DSFL Draft Primer: Draftocalypse
“Kermit came into the Prospect Bowl with big expectations but hasn’t really had enough time in his preferred position of tailback to make a major impact. Through the first two games, Stronglegs has had only 9 carries for a total of 41 rushing yards. He’s added 3 receptions for 28 yards. His yards per touch will have impressed DSFL GM’s, and he’s played a major part in paving the way for Taffy and his highlight reel runs. We’ll stay tuned to see if Kermit can play his way into a bigger role in the Foxes offense in the coming weeks.” - @gucci, Everyone Eats; How the Foxes Became the Favorites
Community Engagement:
- Article, “U of C Kermit Stronglegs declares for draft”
- Presser, “RB - Kermit Stronglegs - Predraft Presser”
#4 — 83 TPE — Forrest Gump — @TomHanks
ARCHETYPE: Speed Back
LAST WEEK: 50 TPE (+33)
After an illness that kept him sidelined for much of the offseason, Forrest Gump certainly made up for lost time as one of the biggest week to week improvers. Gump’s biggest advantage over the glut of rival speed backs is his endurance- as shown by his standout performance and high carry count of the Prospect Bowl, Gump can take a high level of punishment and keep grinding for more yards.
For most of the Prospect Bowl, it was a race to see whether the Grizzlies centerpiece or competitor Terry Taffy would prove the most impressive on the field- and while Taffy took the crown for the most scores, Gump would gain more rushing yards than all other running back prospects. Despite reduced usage during the playoffs in an increasingly crowded backfield, Gump ended the Bowl with almost 800 rushing and almost 100 receiving yards on 173 and 11 attempts and catches respectively. Gump also punctuated his statistical performance with 2 scores, both on the ground.
Prospect Bowl Statistics:
Week 1 @ Blackbirds - 29 rushes for 148 yards and a TD
Week 2 @ Foxes - 31 rushes for 123 yards
Week 3 @ Owls - 29 rushes for 147 yards, 4 catches for 31 yards
Week 4 vs. Wolfpack - 32 rushes for 127 yards
Week 5 vs. Cobras - 30 rushes for 115 yards, 3 catches for 16 yards
Week 6 @ Foxes - 10 rushes for 49 yards and a TD, 1 catch for 22 yards
Week 7 @ Owls - 12 rushes for 87 yards, 3 catches for 23 yards
Cumulative: 173 rushes for 796 yards and 2 TD, 11 catches for 92 yards
Where TPE Has Been Spent:
10 TPE towards Speed (80 -> 81)
23 TPE Banked
Positional Rankings: 40 in Strength (Tied - 11th), 60 in Agility (Tied - 8th), 30 in Intelligence (Tied - 9th), 81 in Speed (Tied - 1st), 40 in Hands (Tied - 10th), 20 in Pass Blocking (Tied - 8th), 20 in Run Blocking (Tied - 6th), 73 in Endurance (1st)
Red Flags: None
Scouting:
“Yet, quick and speedy is still the name of the RB game. Without it you’re going to be stuck on short gains and topping out around 3 YPC, if you’re lucky. So the leaders of the RB category are the glut of speed backs with great scouting on their footwork pre-draft… don’t sleep on this race, all of the speed back prospects have incredible potential to do some damage this season.” - @Roly, NFY S14 DSFL Draft Primer: Draftocalypse
“Gump surprised everyone by being the most productive running back in the first four games of the Prospect Bowl, averaging a very impressive 121 yards per game. Many people thought that Dorfus Jimbo was going to be the most prevalent back on the Grizzlies, but Gump has proven them wrong. His only fault is that he is lacking in touchdowns. Despite this, if he keeps it up, Forrest Gump could be considered the best speed back in the draft.” - @spinarnie, NFY Prospect Bowl Coverage Megathread
Community Engagement:
- Article, “‘Deep’ Running Back Class”
- Article, “Forrest Gump on the Grizzlies and the Draft”
- Presser, “Pre Prospect Bowl Forrest Gump Presser”
- Wiki Page: “Forrest Gump”
#5 — 77 TPE — Max Vaz — @Skyandbray
ARCHETYPE: Speed Back
LAST WEEK: 67 TPE (+10)
Max Vaz is a solid, consistently active prospect hailing from Texas Tech with a focus on speed above all else. Vaz can shoot down the field like lightning and has the best hands score of any non-receiving back. Like his speed back compatriots, turning into a true franchise star will require Vaz to branch out and train up other parts of his game.
Vaz was the center of the Blackbirds rushing offense, with Trey Moffat filling in as the backup. Vaz’s impressive speed was on display during the Bowl, especially during the week 6 consolation game versus the Cobras where Vaz exploded for 154 yards and 3 scores. Overall, Vaz finished with 125 carries and 589 rushing yards, 7 catches and 37 yards, and 5 scores to boot.
Prospect Bowl Statistics:
Week 1 vs. Grizzlies - 17 rushes for 75 yards
Week 2 @ Wolfpack - 21 rushes for 94 yards, 1 catch for 5 yards
Week 3 @ Cobras - 18 rushes for 89 yards, 3 catches for 19 yards
Week 4 vs. Owls - 15 rushes for 86 yards and 2 TD, 1 catch for 5 yards
Week 5 vs. Foxes - 24 rushes for 91 yards, 1 catch for 2 yards
Week 6 vs. Cobras - 30 rushes for 154 yards and 3 TD, 1 catch for 6 yards
Cumulative: 125 rushes for 589 yards and 5 TD, 7 catches for 37 yards
Where TPE Has Been Spent:
10 TPE towards Speed (80 -> 81)
7 TPE Banked
Positional Rankings: 40 in Strength (Tied - 11th), 60 in Agility (Tied - 8th), 30 in Intelligence (Tied - 9th), 81 in Speed (Tied - 1st), 52.5 in Hands (4th), 20 in Pass Blocking (Tied - 8th), 20 in Run Blocking (Tied - 6th), 70 in Endurance (Tied - 3rd)
Red Flags: None
Scouting:
“Yet, quick and speedy is still the name of the RB game. Without it you’re going to be stuck on short gains and topping out around 3 YPC, if you’re lucky. So the leaders of the RB category are the glut of speed backs with great scouting on their footwork pre-draft… don’t sleep on this race, all of the speed back prospects have incredible potential to do some damage this season.” - @Roly, NFY S14 DSFL Draft Primer: Draftocalypse
“And here we find Moffat's lightning compliment. Max Vaz has already turned heads at practice over the last week with his blazing speed which is already at 80. Mixed with solid Endurance (70) and Agility (60), Vaz has already shown the league that he possess plenty of home run ability in his 5'11' frame. Vaz is best known for his 69-yard touchdown run from the Wildcat formation against UCLA in his last year at Texas Tech. That highlight perfectly shows what a nice prospect Vaz is.” - @slothfacekilla, S15 Prospect Bowl Scouting - Atlantic Blackbirds
“Vaz is another example of a surprising speed back rising to the occasion during the Prospect Bowl. With 344 yards and 3 touchdowns, he has been greatly overachieving on what was expected of him. Vaz combined with Trey Moffat have given the Blackbirds a very potent run game so far this season.” - @spinarnie, NFY Prospect Bowl Coverage Megathread
Community Engagement:
- Presser, “RB Max Vaz Pre-Draft Presser”
- Wiki Page: “Max Vaz”
#6 — 75 TPE — Ben Bortboy — @spinarnie
ARCHETYPE: Power Back
LAST WEEK: 68 TPE (+7)
After perhaps the most lackluster collegiate career of any running back prospect ever, Ben Bortboy has steadily remained committed to improving his skills prior to the DSFL Draft. Bortboy’s largest asset, similar to other power back prospects, is his strength- yet the Illinois alumni possesses a solid base of other skills for any mentoring GM to build a franchise starter on. Bortboy has also been relatively active in the community thus far and has built a solid reputation among league scouts.
In the first half of the Prospect Bowl, Bortboy mostly filled a rotational role within the Owls’ offense as Ludicolo Bigby took the starter job. But from Week 5 onward, the Owls scheme change gave Bortboy the lion’s share of the carries as the team marched on towards their championship, and Bortboy finished the Bowl with a respectable 239 yards and 3 TD on 61 carries as well as 9 catches for 69 yards.
Prospect Bowl Statistics:
Week 1 @ Foxes - 2 rushes for 6 yards
Week 2 @ Cobras - 1 catch for 8 yards
Week 3 vs. Grizzlies - 2 rushes for 18 yards, 1 catch for 6 yards
Week 4 @ Blackbirds - 5 catches for 56 yards
Week 5 vs. Wolfpack - 22 rushes for 95 yards and a TD, 1 catch for no gain
Week 6 vs. Wolfpack - 12 rushes for 33 yards and a TD, 1 catch for -1 yards
Week 7 vs. Grizzlies - 23 rushes for 87 yards and a TD
Cumulative: 61 rushes for 239 yards and 3 TD, 9 catches for 69 yards
Where TPE Has Been Spent:
25 TPE towards Speed (70 -> 75)
Positional Rankings: 70 in Strength (Tied - 1st), 60 in Agility (Tied - 8th), 35 in Intelligence (Tied - 7th), 75 in Speed (Tied - 10th), 45 in Hands (Tied - 8th), 20 in Pass Blocking (Tied - 8th), 25 in Run Blocking (Tied - 2nd), 70 in Endurance (Tied - 3rd)
Red Flags: Knowing the Rules of Football
Scouting:
“The somewhat rare backs who aren’t of the speed or receiving variety, these prospects offer different skillsets in the position than their S15 peers. Ben and Trey, in particular, stand out with muscular and heavy frames, making them the strongest RBs in the draft. Trey is slightly quicker than Ben, who in turn is slightly more well rounded. Short, but consistent, gains will the name of their game, making them solid red zone contributors.” - @Roly, NFY S14 DSFL Draft Primer: Draftocalypse
Community Engagement:
- Article, “NFY Prospect Bowl Coverage Megathread” (contributor)
- Presser, “RB - Ben Bortboy - Predraft Presser”
- Graphics, “Ben Bortboy Sig”
- Wiki Page: “Ben Bortboy”
#7 (Tied) — 67 TPE — Dorfus Jimbo — @ScorpXCracker
ARCHETYPE: Speed Back
LAST WEEK: 54 TPE (+13)
Part running back, part banjo maestro, Dorfus Jimbo is slower than a typical speed back but can contribute in other aspects of a running back’s game. With the nimbleness of a musician, Jimbo’s agility and fluidity help him evade tackles at different levels of a defense and then speed right past his opponents. Jimbo has written a number of articles for the community and appears to be solidly improving his abilities through training.
Jimbo shared a rotational job on the Grizzlies with Forrest Gump and later Apollo Reed. Despite Gump’s star shining the brightest, Jimbo made sure to not get lost in the shuffle especially as playoffs neared- the back finished with 301 rushing yards, 159 receiving yards, and 4 combined scores from 53 rushes and 17 catches.
Prospect Bowl Statistics:
Week 1 @ Blackbirds - 2 rushes for 5 yards and a TD, 3 catches for 23 yards
Week 2 @ Foxes - 3 rushes for 13 yards, 2 catches for 32 yards and a TD
Week 3 @ Owls - 3 catches for 28 yards
Week 4 vs. Wolfpack - 3 catches for 29 yards and a TD
Week 5 vs. Cobras - 13 rushes for 90 yards, 1 catch for 8 yards
Week 6 @ Foxes - 18 rushes for 95 yards and a TD, 3 catches for 18 yards
Week 7 @ Owls - 17 rushes for 98 yards, 2 catches for 21 yards
Cumulative: 53 rushes for 301 yards and 2 TD, 17 catches for 159 yards and 2 TD
Where TPE Has Been Spent:
15 TPE towards Speed (75 -> 78)
2 TPE Banked
Positional Rankings: 40 in Strength (Tied - 11th), 70 in Agility (Tied - 1st), 30 in Intelligence (Tied - 9th), 78 in Speed (9th), 50 in Hands (Tied - 5th), 30 in Pass Blocking (Tied - 1st), 20 in Run Blocking (Tied - 6th), 70 in Endurance (Tied - 3rd), 100 in Banjo Playing (1st)
Red Flags: None
Scouting:
“Dorfus Jimbo is also an interesting prospect who lacks a bit behind the pure footspeed of his speed back brethren, but makes up for it with stronger lateral quickness… don’t sleep on this race, all of the speed back prospects have incredible potential to do some damage this season.” - @Roly, NFY S14 DSFL Draft Primer: Draftocalypse
“Dorfus Jimbo is a running back who is incredibly talented. He has the rare combination of speed, agility and hands that make him super talented. I see him being a bell cow for us [the Norfolk Seawolves].” - @YoungTB, A Sit Down With Norfolk Seawolves New GM iamslm22
“Dorfus will be looking to make a name for himself in the DSFL with his elusive footwork and smart maneuvering. Though classified as a speed back, he isn’t the fastest prospect, but don’t let that discourage you. Jimbo is more like a Le'veon Bell type: slow and steady wins the race. Look for consistent mid-range gains, and lots of carries in the red zone.” - @spinarnie, NFY Prospect Bowl Coverage Megathread
“Jimbo was supposed to be a very promising speed back for the DSFL draft, he has not been given enough attempts to show his worth. Forrest Gump has been the main runner for the Grizzlies, resulting in Dorfus getting less chances to run the ball. Though he has been getting some reps in the passing game, to be on the level as other speed backs in the draft, he’ll need to make more out of his attempts on the ground.” - @spinarnie, NFY Prospect Bowl Coverage Megathread
Community Engagement:
- Article, “Wyoming State RB Dorfus Jimbo declares for draft.”
- Article, “BREAKING: Norfolk SeaWolves announce Co-GM”
- Presser, “Dorfus Jimbo, RB from Wyoming, DSFL presser”
- Wiki Page: “Dorfus Jimbo”
#7 (Tied) — 67 TPE — Apollo Reed — @NylarthePhoenix
ARCHETYPE: Speed Back
LAST WEEK: N/A
Apollo Reed is a rather new back, one of three to join the DSFL Draft after the first edition of these rankings, but Reed has separated himself from the other newcomers because of his training improvement. As yet another speed back, Reed faces an uphill battle to make a name for himself and has so far done so through improvements to his intelligence and agility.
Reed declared too late to contribute as a starter on a team in the Prospect Bowl, but was added to the Central Grizzlies’ roster during the playoffs. Despite a crowded rotation, Reed was able to secure himself a place within the Grizzlies offense- the rookie saw action in both playoff games and earned 23 rushes for 142 yards as well as 3 receptions and 8 receiving yards.
Prospect Bowl Statistics:
Week 6 @ Foxes - 15 rushes for 99 yards, 2 catches for 5 yards
Week 7 @ Owls - 8 rushes for 43 yards, 1 catch for 3 yards
Cumulative: 23 rushes for 142 yards, 3 catches for 8 yards
Where TPE Has Been Spent:
10 TPE towards Speed (78 -> 80)
6 TPE towards Agility (65 -> 68)
1 TPE towards Intelligence (45 -> 46)
Positional Rankings: 40 in Strength (Tied - 11th), 68 in Agility (5th), 46 in Intelligence (2nd), 80 in Speed (Tied - 4th), 40 in Hands (Tied - 10th), 20 in Pass Blocking (Tied - 8th), 20 in Run Blocking (Tied - 6th), 70 in Endurance (Tied - 3rd)
Red Flags: None
Scouting: None
Community Engagement:
- Presser, “RB - Apollo Reed Pre-draft Presser!”
#9 — 63 TPE — Farley Hank — @Beebob
ARCHETYPE: Receiving Back
LAST WEEK: 59 TPE (+4)
Farley Hank’s receiving back skills can be overshadowed by the comparative success of Morgan Marshall and Terry Taffy, but Hank is a promising prospect in his own right. Hank has amazing quickness and looks to feature as a possession back that can reliably provide a quarterback with a safety blanket. Speed needs to be a priority for him to train up to give him the burst to blow past defenses.
Hank split starting duties for the Wolfpack with Ronald St. James III. He posted nearly 300 yards on almost 80 carries with 2 scores and also put up the highest receiving stats of any running back in the Bowl, going for 29 receptions, 206 receiving yards, and 3 touchdowns as the Wolfpack made the playoffs but lost in their first postseason game against the eventual champions the Owls.
Prospect Bowl Statistics:
Week 1 vs. Cobras - 18 rushes for 34 yards and a TD, 8 catches for 62 yards
Week 2 vs. Blackbirds - 14 rushes for 65 yards, 3 catches for 18 yards
Week 3 @ Foxes - 14 rushes for 57 yards, 2 catches for 10 yards and a TD
Week 4 @ Grizzlies - 11 rushes for 36 yards and a TD, 6 catches for 54 yards and a TD
Week 5 @ Owls - 14 rushes for 75 yards, 5 catches for 28 yards and a TD
Week 6 @ Owls - 7 rushes for 29 yards, 5 catches for 34 yards
Cumulative: 78 rushes for 296 yards and 2 TD, 29 catches for 206 yards and 3 TD
Where TPE Has Been Spent:
12 TPE towards Speed (60 -> 66)
1 TPE towards Strength (45 -> 46)
Positional Rankings: 46 in Strength (9th), 70 in Agility (Tied - 1st), 40 in Intelligence (Tied - 3rd), 66 in Speed (13th), 70 in Hands (Tied - 1st), 30 in Pass Blocking (Tied - 1st), 20 in Run Blocking (Tied - 6th), 70 in Endurance (Tied - 3rd)
Red Flags: None
Scouting: None
Community Engagement: None
#10 (Tied) — 50* TPE — Ludicolo Bigby — @TheWoZy
ARCHETYPE: Speed Back
LAST WEEK: 50 TPE (+0)
*Bigby has engaged in training but has yet to create an update page, so I wasn’t able to accurately calculate how many TPE points he has earned.
Ludicolo Bigby entered the draft pool and immediately became a frontrunner because of his recreate status and speed back archetype. Without an update page, however, Bigby’s TPE earnings have so far been unregistered, and he has yet to improve from last year. As it stands right now, Bigby’s strength lies in speed, and he does not have many other traits to set himself apart for scouting DSFL teams as a potential franchise star.
Bigby’s Prospect Bowl tenure on the Owls saw great success, and as the team’s starting back Bigby helped lead the Owls to a 5-2 record and a Bowl championship. Bigby racked up 510 yards on 122 attempts with an additional 33 receiving yards on 9 catches, adding four touchdowns on the ground. Bigby’s usage during the playoffs tailed off in favor of Ben Bortboy.
Prospect Bowl Statistics:
Week 1 @ Foxes - 20 rushes for 87 yards and a TD, 1 catch for no gain
Week 2 @ Cobras - 29 rushes for 104 yards, 3 catches for 7 yards
Week 3 vs. Grizzlies - 24 rushes for 109 yards, 2 catches for 9 yards
Week 4 @ Blackbirds - 31 rushes for 111 yards and 2 TD, 3 catches for 17 yards
Week 5 vs. Wolfpack - No Stats Recorded
Week 6 vs. Wolfpack - 10 rushes for 60 yards and a TD
Week 7 vs. Grizzlies - 8 rushes for 39 yards
Cumulative: 122 rushes for 510 yards and 4 TD, 9 catches for 33 yards
Where TPE Has Been Spent:
0 TPE Banked
Positional Rankings: 41 in Strength (10th), 67 in Agility (6th), 30 in Intelligence (Tied - 9th), 80 in Speed (Tied - 4th), 40 in Hands (Tied - 10th), 20 in Pass Blocking (Tied - 8th), 20 in Run Blocking (Tied - 6th), 70 in Endurance (Tied - 3rd)
Red Flags: No Update Page
Scouting:
“Yet, quick and speedy is still the name of the RB game. Without it you’re going to be stuck on short gains and topping out around 3 YPC, if you’re lucky. So the leaders of the RB category are the glut of speed backs with great scouting on their footwork pre-draft. The tie goes to the prospect most known by league scouts, Ludicolo Bigby.” - @Roly, NFY S14 DSFL Draft Primer: Draftocalypse
“Bigby is a classic speed back. What’s not to like about it? The game plan with him is plain and simple: run around everyone until you get to the endzone. Expect big gains, and big returns for the team who drafts him.” - @spinarnie, NFY Prospect Bowl Coverage Megathread
Community Engagement: None
#10 (Tied) — 50 TPE — Trey Moffat — @Inbob27
ARCHETYPE: Power Back
LAST WEEK: 50 TPE (+0)
Another power back, Trey Moffat has not yet engaged in training exercises with scouts or made a large presence in the community. Moffat’s key asset of strength comes at the cost of playmaking ability in elusiveness, ball-catching, and especially straightline speed. A major investment would need to be made by Moffat after the draft to improve his situation and be a viable offensive weapon.
Trey Moffat saw limited action during the Prospect Bowl, largely relegated to being the Blackbirds’ backup running back behind speed back Max Vaz. With only ten carries for 67 yards, Moffat primarily used the Bowl as an opportunity to demonstrate decent receiving skills, going for 125 yards and a score off of 15 catches and proving that the power back was more than a one dimensional tool.
Prospect Bowl Statistics:
Week 1 vs. Grizzlies - 3 catches for 51 yards
Week 2 @ Wolfpack - 2 rushes for 8 yards, 4 catches for 30 yards
Week 3 @ Cobras - 2 rushes for 22 yards, 3 catches for 22 yards and a TD
Week 4 vs. Owls - 1 rush for 10 yards, 1 catch for 5 yards
Week 5 vs. Foxes - 2 rushes for 5 yards, 4 catches for 17 yards
Week 6 vs. Cobras - 3 rushes for 22 yards
Cumulative: 10 rushes for 67 yards, 15 catches for 125 yards and a TD
Where TPE Has Been Spent:
0 TPE Banked
Positional Rankings: 70 in Strength (Tied - 1st), 60 in Agility (Tied - 8th), 30 in Intelligence (Tied - 9th), 72 in Speed (12th), 40 in Hands (Tied - 10th), 20 in Pass Blocking (Tied - 8th), 25 in Run Blocking (Tied - 2nd), 70 in Endurance (Tied - 3rd)
Red Flags: No Training
Scouting:
“The somewhat rare backs who aren’t of the speed or receiving variety, these prospects offer different skillsets in the position than their S15 peers. Ben and Trey, in particular, stand out with muscular and heavy frames, making them the strongest RBs in the draft. Trey is slightly quicker than Ben, who in turn is slightly more well rounded. Short, but consistent, gains will the name of their game, making them solid red zone contributors.” - @Roly, NFY S14 DSFL Draft Primer: Draftocalypse
“Meet our thunder from the great state of Kentucky. It's easy to see why DSFL front offices are interested in this power back out of Arizona State. The aptly named Trey brings the heavy trio of 72 speed, 70 Strength, and 70 Endurance. This trey-fecta of plus skills is enough to send scouts to Bob Kraft's favorite massage parlor just to get a little release. The Blackbird coaching staff is looking to work on Moffat's vision so that he can choose his running lanes better, but once he gets going downhill it is almost impossible for defenses to bring him down. We expect him to wear down opposing defenses this tournament.” - @slothfacekilla, S15 Prospect Bowl Scouting - Atlantic Blackbirds
Community Engagement: None
#10 (Tied) — 50 TPE — Tyler Janes — @Newbie
ARCHETYPE: Speed Back
LAST WEEK: N/A
The first new face from last week’s rankings, Tyler Janes delivered one of the best performances of the Prospect Bowl but did not apply the same effort towards training up his skillset. Janes possesses a promising combination of speed and strength, with other skills needing to be developed quite a bit to round out his profile. His activity in the community leaves something to be desired.
As the East Cobras’ feature back, Janes was one of the highest performing running backs of his class. He rushed 117 times for 597 yards on the ground and 5 touchdowns, with an additional 6 receptions for 40 yards. As Armstrong’s QB play improved later on in the season, Janes’ usage diminished, but he continued to make the most of his limited carries.
Prospect Bowl Statistics:
Week 1 @ Wolfpack - 24 rushes for 104 yards and a TD
Week 2 vs. Owls - 26 rushes for 164 yards
Week 3 vs. Blackbirds - 14 rushes for 74 yards and a TD, 1 catch for 11 yards
Week 4 vs. Foxes - 29 rushes for 139 yards, 1 catch for 6 yards
Week 5 @ Grizzlies - 17 rushes for 80 yards and a TD, 2 catches for 3 yards
Week 6 @ Blackbirds - 7 rushes for 36 yards and 2 TD, 2 catches for 20 yards
Cumulative: 117 rushes for 597 yards and 5 TD, 6 catches for 40 yards
Where TPE Has Been Spent:
0 TPE Banked
Positional Rankings: 50 in Strength (Tied - 5th), 60 in Agility (Tied - 8th), 30 in Intelligence (Tied - 9th), 80 in Speed (Tied - 4th), 45 in Hands (Tied - 8th), 20 in Pass Blocking (Tied - 8th), 20 in Run Blocking (Tied - 6th, 70 in Endurance (Tied- 3rd)
Red Flags: No Training
Scouting:
“As a late player to join the draft pool, Janes did not have high expectations set for him. He has been playing very well throughout the beginning of these games, however, with almost 500 rushing yards as well as over 5 yards a carry. The Cobras were not supposed to have this good of a run game, but Tyler Janes has really been showing up.” - @spinarnie, NFY Prospect Bowl Coverage Megathread
Community Engagement: None
#10 (Tied) — 50 TPE — Jay Quick — @Ramrod18
ARCHETYPE: Speed Back
LAST WEEK: N/A
Jay Quick is the newest running back to throw his hat into the ring, having only declared for the draft on March 14. Given his recency, not much scouting has been performed on Quick and he did not play a single snap in the Prospect Bowl. It remains to be seen how active and dedicated this new prospect will be, especially in such a deep running back class. As of right now, Quick is a speed back with decent scores across the board but no true standout skills differentiating him from his peers.
Where TPE Has Been Spent:
0 TPE Banked
Positional Rankings: 50 in Strength (Tied - 5th), 65 in Agility (7th), 40 in Intelligence (Tied - 3rd), 75 in Speed (Tied - 10th), 40 in Hands (Tied - 10th), 25 in Pass Blocking (Tied - 4th), 25 in Run Blocking (Tied - 2nd), 70 in Endurance (Tied - 3rd)
Red Flags: No Training
Scouting: None
Community Engagement: None
#10 (Tied) — 50 TPE — Ronald St. James III — @coffeebeard
ARCHETYPE: Power Back
LAST WEEK: 50 TPE (+0)
It might be safe to assume that Ronald St. James III is no longer with us. RSJ3 has a promising baseline across the board and could be molded into whatever a prospective GM desires. Without any TPE invested into training, James’ build allows him to bruise his way past defenses and make up for a clear lack of agility or speed. But don’t expect James to show up to training camps anytime soon; he has not been seen since March 5, a clear red flag for any GM and a risky proposition to draft with the intention of starting.
In the meantime, RSJ3 shared the Wolfpack’s running duties with receiving back Farley Hank, and posted decent numbers as the team’s #2 option. He carried the ball 67 times and gained 269 yards with a score, adding in 8 catches and 34 receiving yards to demonstrate a possible potential for receiving usage in the professional leagues.
Prospect Bowl Statistics:
Week 1 vs. Cobras - 11 rushes for 43 yards, 2 catches for 5 yards
Week 2 vs. Blackbirds - 13 rushes for 32 yards and a TD, 3 catches for 12 yards
Week 3 @ Foxes - 9 rushes for 30 yards, 1 catch for 4 yards
Week 4 @ Grizzlies - 16 rushes for 83 yards, 1 catch for 7 yards
Week 5 @ Owls - 10 rushes for 43 yards, 1 catch for 6 yards
Week 6 @ Owls - 8 rushes for 38 yards
Cumulative: 67 rushes for 269 yards and a TD, 8 catches for 34 yards
Where TPE Has Been Spent:
0 TPE Banked
Positional Rankings: 70 in Strength (Tied - 1st), 55 in Agility (Tied - 13th), 40 in Intelligence (Tied - 3rd), 65 in Speed (14th), 50 in Hands (Tied - 5th), 25 in Pass Blocking (Tied - 4th), 30 in Run Blocking (1st), 70 in Endurance (Tied - 3rd)
Red Flags: Inactivity
Scouting:
“The somewhat rare backs who aren’t of the speed or receiving variety, these prospects offer different skillsets in the position than their S15 peers… RSJ3 is well rounded and a clean palette for the brushstrokes of a mentoring DSFL GM.” - @Roly, NFY S14 DSFL Draft Primer: Draftocalypse
Community Engagement: None
Code:
Ready for Grading, 6536 Words
Transgender lesbian, S15 veteran, and media extraordinaire. Fascists and bigots are welcome to fuck off.
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For Your Reading Consideration:
Before the Butchers | The Jungle
The Giving Tree | Volume II | Volume III
A Winter of Discontent | Volume II
The Rockiest Road | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | Finale
Two Essays on Unfree Agency: On Agents | On Contracts
Eclipse of the Honey Moon | Volume II
Gemini Media Awards:
S39 | S40 | S41 | S42 | S43 | S44 | S45 | S46
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For Your Reading Consideration:
Before the Butchers | The Jungle
The Giving Tree | Volume II | Volume III
A Winter of Discontent | Volume II
The Rockiest Road | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | Finale
Two Essays on Unfree Agency: On Agents | On Contracts
Eclipse of the Honey Moon | Volume II
Gemini Media Awards:
S39 | S40 | S41 | S42 | S43 | S44 | S45 | S46
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