When you think of the NFL talent pool, you think of the SEC, The BIG10, blue blood schools with a rich history and track record of current success. While you’d be mostly right, it seems like there is a handful of high level NCAA talent coming out of group-of-five, and Independent football programs yearly.
Josh Allen, arguably the best young quarterback in football came from Wyoming.
Cooper Kupp, who just won the wide receiver triple crown and a Super Bowl MVP, came from FCS Eastern Washington.
Guys like Antonio Brown, Jason Taylor, Ben Roethlisberger, and Khalil Mack have all emerged from group-of-five programs and put together elite careers.
In the first edition of our conference watchlist, we will be covering the Independents. The misfit toys of college football without a home to call their own. The Independent teams are truly a case of have and have nots. BYU has had a competitive program for decades, Notre Dame is a traditional power house; but the rest of the schools are not what you would think of when you picture college football excellence.
Army
Andre Carter II DE/Edge
6’7 250 lbs
Everyone knows about Will Anderson of Alabama, everyone knows about number two overall pick Aidan Hutchinson. But ask the average person who was sandwiched between them in the sack leaderboard, odds are they won’t know it was Army’s Andre Carter. Carter tore it up last year on his way to 58 pressures, 17 TFLs, 4 forced fumbles and 15.5 sacks for the Black Knights.
He has an NFL ready body, NFL ready strength, and NFL ready discipline due to his education at West Point. He also has some experience dropping into coverage, which could make him an absolute nightmare playing the edge in a 3-4 defense on Sundays.
You rarely see guys built like him that are as positionally versatile. In my preseason big board I have him graded as a top 100 pick for this coming draft, but I’ve seen him projected to go as high as the 13th pick in the first round . If Carter were to be selected in the first 32 picks, he would be the first player from a service academy to go in the first round since 1947!
https://youtu.be/YiM-m4VdzeU
BYU
Clark Barrington IOL
6’6 302 lbs
BYU looks to have an absolutely stacked roster this year, so it’s hard to pick the top player to keep an eye on. QB Jaren Hall looks to continue his ascension to stardom. Edge rusher Tyler Batty could potentially be a top 100 pick this draft cycle. There are potentially three future NFL draft picks at offensive tackle with Blake Freeland, Campbell Barrington and 5-star frosh Kingsley Suamataia. But seeing as though the big uglies in the middle of the trenches don’t get nearly enough love, let’s highlight Clark Barrington.
He’s going into his fourth year as a starter and has been steady as a rock in his time for the Cougars. He is a modern day interior lineman, who can maul the man across from his as well as he can get out in space to take on linebackers and safeties at the second level. He has a great first step and is rarely disengaged when he gets his hands on you. Where he really shines is in pass protection giving up only one sack and three QB hits in nearly 1,800 snaps of action across 31 games. He is undoubtedly one of the top 5 interior lineman in the nation.
Liberty
Durrell Johnson DE/Edge
6’3 245 lbs
Sturdy, steady and strong. Three words to describe Durrell Johnson. While he registered a zero in the sack column last year he was playing banged up (missed four games). While he took a step back as a pass rusher, he looked exceptional against the run; which is an oft overlooked trait in the front seven.
In 2020 he grabbed 8.5 sacks and 16 hurries, so the pass rushing potential is there. He has a number of ways to get to the ball with inside and outside moves, and will look to put up numbers closer to his 2020 campaign as a rusher. If he is able to return to form getting after the QB, while continuing to shine as a run defender; he could be a value pickup as a late rounder pick or UDFA next spring.
New Mexico State
Chris Ojoh LB
6’1 220 lbs
It’s hard to shine on a defense that gave up over 40 PPG, but Ojoh has shown flashes of talent and the athleticism to be a modern day linebacker. He’s got to put some weight on to do a better job disengaging, but he’s got a natural ability to make impact plays with 6 sacks and 3 forced fumbles last year. Unfortunately his size will limit what he can be beyond college, but guys with his tenacity and athletic profile are scattered all over the NFL on special teams units.
Notre Dame
Michael Mayer TE
6’4 251 lbs
Trying to pick one Notre Dame prospect to watch is like asking a parent to pick their favorite child. The amount of talent The Fighting Irish have on their roster this year is absurd. It wouldn’t be outrageous to say that ND could send 7 or more players to the NFL after this season. The choice really came down to Isaiah Foskey and Michael Mayer, two first round locks. Foskey is very good, but Mayer might be the most talented tight end in college football.
There is a reason Mayer is my top tight end and 16th overall player for this years NFL draft Mayer made an impact immediately his freshman year snagging 42 balls for 450 yards and two scores as the second tight end in Notre Dames offense. Last year he had an explosion as the top dog, upping his totals to 71 catches, 840 yards and 7 TDs. If he continues this trajectory, he could hit the lucrative 1000 yard mark.
Mayer has everything you want in a tight end. He’s got great size and long arms, able to box out nearly any defender you put on him. Try to stick a linebacker on him, he will blow by him with reported sub-4.6 speed. He runs crisp, concise routes; creating great separation and getting to his spot. He’s a matchup nightmare for just about any defense he will line up against. Oh, and to top it all off he’s a decent and willing blocker. Barring injury or steep decline, Mayer will be in the running for the John Mackey award and likely be the first right end taken in the 2023 NFL Draft.
UConn
Jackson Mitchell LB
6’2 227 lbs
Jackson Mitchell racked up tackles last year for a bad UConn defense, finishing just outside of the top 20 nationally, to go with 1.5 sacks, an interception and 6 TFLs. He cleaned up everything behind standout DT Travis Jones, but it’s easy to do so with the way Jones ate space. How he performs after losing Jones will ultimately impact his standing on NFL draft boards next spring. He’s got for the physique to be a classic off-ball linebacker, and is a decent athlete. But questions reaming if he is just the best player on a very bad team.
UMass
Ellis Merriweather RB
6’2 225 lbs
Merriweather was the entire UMass offense last year. That isn’t hyperbole, as a team they only generated 3,600 yards of offense in 2021; Merriweather accounted for 1,300 of those yards. For those of you keeping score at home that’s over 1/3rd of the entire offensive production. He isn’t a burner but has elite size and runs between the tackles with a mean streak. He is a true bell-cow back averaging just under 20 touches per game in 2021. Ball security in a running back is paramount and he hasn’t fumbled in his career. You do have to be a bit worried about how last years workload will effect his health this year. He should be on NFL Scout radars this season.
https://youtu.be/cXgJwkNNfz8
[…] Player to Watch: Michael Mayer […]