06-09-2023, 02:05 PM
(This post was last modified: 06-14-2023, 04:32 PM by Ajax. Edited 1 time in total.)
This article recaps the first round of the DSFL draft. I'll be taking a look at the team's situation before making the pick and the player's profile, including any stats they have accrued over the course of late-season waivers and the Prospect Bowl.
1. Dallas Birddogs - Crasher Wake - DT
The Birddogs struggled mightily on defense last season, allowing far and away the most points out of any DSFL team. The defensive line already features a strong edge in LeHarm James, but had a temporary option in the middle. Wake will fill that slot with the largest frame for a DT in this draft class following a statline of 46 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles with the Zimbabwe Zebras in the Prospect Bowl.
2. Norfolk Seawolves - Tunkha Danstrol - OL
The Seawolves weren't the weakest offensive line in the DSFL with Brock Lesnar leading the unit, but the pieces around him combined to allow the most sacks in the league. Their reinforcement comes in the form of Danstrol, who entered the league on waivers last season. With the Grey Ducks Danstrol pancaked 2 while allowing zero sacks, and he showed up in the Prospect Bowl with 32 pancakes and still zero sacks allowed. He brings a mix of size and athleticism, one of two such OL prospects in this draft.
3. Portland Pythons - Wing Gundam - DE
In a class of power rushing ends, Wing Gundam set himself apart to be selected 3 OA by the Pythons. Portland lacked a true DE on the line last season, relying mostly on a group of linebackers to set the edge. The Pythons would still lead the league in sacks, but lagged in TFLs. Gundam recorded 8 tackles and 2 sacks with the Zebras in the Prospect Bowl and aims to be the Pythons' premier edge for the next few seasons.
4. Minnesota Grey Ducks - Thomas Sutha - CB
With the 4th pick, Minnesota went after a piece for their already strong secondary. The team was one of the top defenses in terms of passes defended with leading CB Chaos Vert. A coverage specialist like Vert, Thomas Sutha joins the Grey Ducks in a prime position to continue their lockdown secondary. Sutha ended the Prospect Bowl with 54 tackles, 9 defended passes, and 2 interceptions-- a strong showing for the Llamas that shows he could become an island in the coming seasons.
5. Bondi Beach Buccaneers - Dylan Duma - TE
Bondi Beach goes after the first offense over halfway through the first round. With the WR room becoming smaller after Max Lavote Jr's move to Norfolk, the Buccaneers looked to a sure-handed TE to begin recovering some of the lost options for their star quarterback RE #38. Duma fills the role perfectly, hauling in 12 catches on 15 targets for a total of 189 yards despite only appearing in 3 Prospect Bowl games.
6. London Royals - Sack Sparrow - DT
With DE Lenny Lyons Jr. leaving for the Silverbacks, the Royals were in need of a new leader on the defensive line if they wanted to keep up the level of TFL and sacks they had last season. At #6, they found Sack Sparrow on the board. His smaller frame lends itself to a higher level of finesse compared to defensive linemen that went earlier in the round. With 15 tackles and a sack in the Prospect Bowl, Sparrow will be a problem for backfields with plenty of agility to get past interior linemen.
7. Kansas City Coyotes - Josh Gibson - S
The regular season leaders and best defense of S41 lost two key pieces of their DB room to callups over the offseason in CB Heiiajs D. Owidhuse and S Matthew Fryars. With so much of their coverage unit lost, the Coyotes took ball hawking safety Josh Gibson with the penultimate pick of the first round. His time on waivers with the Royals last season saw him primarily play up as a SS, collecting 17 tackles and a sack. His showing in the prospect bowl produced similar results, with 34 tackles, 2 sacks, and a forced fumble. While he has yet to show his chops in coverage, the Coyotes likely have somebody who can do both in the coming seasons.
8. Tijuana Luchadores - Ignatious Cleetington - TE
With the final pick in the 1st round, the Ultimini champions went for the second TE of the draft in Ignatious Cleetington. With the loss of Benji Aguilera in the WR room, the Luchadores sought after a fast, deep threat player. Cleetington is one of the best TE's in the class who fits the bill of vertical threat, catching 32 passes for 281 yards and 3 touchdowns with the Lesotho Llamas. Cleetington is likely to become a favored target in Tijuana as they look to maintain an aerial threat alongside their fearsome run game.
Good luck to everyone this season and in the ISFL draft next season!
1. Dallas Birddogs - Crasher Wake - DT
The Birddogs struggled mightily on defense last season, allowing far and away the most points out of any DSFL team. The defensive line already features a strong edge in LeHarm James, but had a temporary option in the middle. Wake will fill that slot with the largest frame for a DT in this draft class following a statline of 46 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles with the Zimbabwe Zebras in the Prospect Bowl.
2. Norfolk Seawolves - Tunkha Danstrol - OL
The Seawolves weren't the weakest offensive line in the DSFL with Brock Lesnar leading the unit, but the pieces around him combined to allow the most sacks in the league. Their reinforcement comes in the form of Danstrol, who entered the league on waivers last season. With the Grey Ducks Danstrol pancaked 2 while allowing zero sacks, and he showed up in the Prospect Bowl with 32 pancakes and still zero sacks allowed. He brings a mix of size and athleticism, one of two such OL prospects in this draft.
3. Portland Pythons - Wing Gundam - DE
In a class of power rushing ends, Wing Gundam set himself apart to be selected 3 OA by the Pythons. Portland lacked a true DE on the line last season, relying mostly on a group of linebackers to set the edge. The Pythons would still lead the league in sacks, but lagged in TFLs. Gundam recorded 8 tackles and 2 sacks with the Zebras in the Prospect Bowl and aims to be the Pythons' premier edge for the next few seasons.
4. Minnesota Grey Ducks - Thomas Sutha - CB
With the 4th pick, Minnesota went after a piece for their already strong secondary. The team was one of the top defenses in terms of passes defended with leading CB Chaos Vert. A coverage specialist like Vert, Thomas Sutha joins the Grey Ducks in a prime position to continue their lockdown secondary. Sutha ended the Prospect Bowl with 54 tackles, 9 defended passes, and 2 interceptions-- a strong showing for the Llamas that shows he could become an island in the coming seasons.
5. Bondi Beach Buccaneers - Dylan Duma - TE
Bondi Beach goes after the first offense over halfway through the first round. With the WR room becoming smaller after Max Lavote Jr's move to Norfolk, the Buccaneers looked to a sure-handed TE to begin recovering some of the lost options for their star quarterback RE #38. Duma fills the role perfectly, hauling in 12 catches on 15 targets for a total of 189 yards despite only appearing in 3 Prospect Bowl games.
6. London Royals - Sack Sparrow - DT
With DE Lenny Lyons Jr. leaving for the Silverbacks, the Royals were in need of a new leader on the defensive line if they wanted to keep up the level of TFL and sacks they had last season. At #6, they found Sack Sparrow on the board. His smaller frame lends itself to a higher level of finesse compared to defensive linemen that went earlier in the round. With 15 tackles and a sack in the Prospect Bowl, Sparrow will be a problem for backfields with plenty of agility to get past interior linemen.
7. Kansas City Coyotes - Josh Gibson - S
The regular season leaders and best defense of S41 lost two key pieces of their DB room to callups over the offseason in CB Heiiajs D. Owidhuse and S Matthew Fryars. With so much of their coverage unit lost, the Coyotes took ball hawking safety Josh Gibson with the penultimate pick of the first round. His time on waivers with the Royals last season saw him primarily play up as a SS, collecting 17 tackles and a sack. His showing in the prospect bowl produced similar results, with 34 tackles, 2 sacks, and a forced fumble. While he has yet to show his chops in coverage, the Coyotes likely have somebody who can do both in the coming seasons.
8. Tijuana Luchadores - Ignatious Cleetington - TE
With the final pick in the 1st round, the Ultimini champions went for the second TE of the draft in Ignatious Cleetington. With the loss of Benji Aguilera in the WR room, the Luchadores sought after a fast, deep threat player. Cleetington is one of the best TE's in the class who fits the bill of vertical threat, catching 32 passes for 281 yards and 3 touchdowns with the Lesotho Llamas. Cleetington is likely to become a favored target in Tijuana as they look to maintain an aerial threat alongside their fearsome run game.
Good luck to everyone this season and in the ISFL draft next season!