If you haven't seen @Lance Roffers's detailed class breakdown, check it out here, here and here.
For the rest of us, I figured we'd resurrect the annual tradition of ranking the class. Post yours below. I broke mine down into tiers and then ranked them within the tier. In honor of spring training, I used baseball analogies.
Home Runs
Elite prospects with high ceilings and high floors. The true blue chippers.
1. Leonard Taylor- Prototypical 3-technique in Manny’s upfield defense. Still looks like a baby and is only scratching the surface physically.
2. James Williams- His physical tools stand out, but this is a high IQ player with a passion for football. Smart enough to play all over the defense.
3. Elijah Arroyo- Long, athletic, tough, natural pass catcher and route runner. Similar to Kellen Winslow II on the field.
Doubles
These are talented players who are easy to project to the next level. They aren’t as physically gifted as the first group, but they're very good.
4. Kamren Kinchens- Special intangibles and a complete skillset at safety. Bigger and more talented version of Jaquan Johnson.
5. Laurence Seymore- Five-star player in a two-star body. Quick, balanced athlete with a strong lower body and dynamite in his hands.
6. Chase Smith- An easy fit at striker. 6’4 with outstanding movement skills. Huge potential if he bulks up.
7. Thaddius Franklin- Smooth 225-pound athlete who played basketball and dabbled at QB. Ultra-productive and natural as a runner.
8. Romello Brinson- I have the receivers grouped close together, but Brinson is the most complete of the group. Dee Wiggins-type length and movement skills with much more toughness and better hands.
9. Brashard Smith- Big-play specialist with a RB build in the slot. Deceptive tackle-breaking ability similar to Kedarius Toney.
10. Jacolby George- Productive South Florida WR who makes it look easy. Plays faster than his speed by changing pace, and plays bigger than his size with strong hands.
11. Ryan Rodriguez- This guy screams “starter on a championship team.” Technician with impeccable hand placement. Bigger and more athletic than you’d expect in person.
Big Swings
Boom or bust. These kids have the NFL potential to land in the first group (often even more than the second group), but there is some significant projection involved.
12. Jake Garcia- Nearly every QB falls in this category. If they hit, they’re stars, if they bust, they transfer. Garcia has everything you want except quick-twitch athleticism. His ability to elude the first rusher will make him or break him.
13. Tyler Johnson- The strength of a wrestler and the movement skills of a safety. Ragdolled Julian Armella at times last year. Can he keep his temper in check and make the transition from EDGE to LB?
14. Thomas Davis- Big-time quickness and upfield explosion. The question is position- at 6’0, does he stay at DE or move to LB?
15. Jabari Ishmael- Long (6’6) projection player who was athletic enough to play as an off-ball LB. He needs to turn the tools into pass-rush production.
16. Michael McClaughlin- Has a lot of the uncoachables- size, IQ, intensity and movement. Used poor technique to dominate bad competition. Can he get more bend and roll his hips at 6'7?
17. Malik Curtis- Every week he made a highlight-reel play. Travis Benjamin-type speed with more size. He needs to prove he is tough enough to be a full-time defender.
Singles
Low-ceiling, high-floor guys who have the skills to be effective college players.
18. Deshawn Troutman- Fast, instinctual linebacker with tremendous production. Size and strength is the question with him.
19. Allan Haye- Limited by size, but an emerging converted BBall player who finds a way to hit the QB.
20. Kahlil Brantley- All-around football player who has played QB, WR, TE and LB. Outstanding hands but average physical traits. Similar to Larry Hodges.
The Kicker
21. Andres Borregales- Won’t claim to be able to evaluate Ks, but he seems to have a **** of a leg.
For the rest of us, I figured we'd resurrect the annual tradition of ranking the class. Post yours below. I broke mine down into tiers and then ranked them within the tier. In honor of spring training, I used baseball analogies.
Home Runs
Elite prospects with high ceilings and high floors. The true blue chippers.
1. Leonard Taylor- Prototypical 3-technique in Manny’s upfield defense. Still looks like a baby and is only scratching the surface physically.
2. James Williams- His physical tools stand out, but this is a high IQ player with a passion for football. Smart enough to play all over the defense.
3. Elijah Arroyo- Long, athletic, tough, natural pass catcher and route runner. Similar to Kellen Winslow II on the field.
Doubles
These are talented players who are easy to project to the next level. They aren’t as physically gifted as the first group, but they're very good.
4. Kamren Kinchens- Special intangibles and a complete skillset at safety. Bigger and more talented version of Jaquan Johnson.
5. Laurence Seymore- Five-star player in a two-star body. Quick, balanced athlete with a strong lower body and dynamite in his hands.
6. Chase Smith- An easy fit at striker. 6’4 with outstanding movement skills. Huge potential if he bulks up.
7. Thaddius Franklin- Smooth 225-pound athlete who played basketball and dabbled at QB. Ultra-productive and natural as a runner.
8. Romello Brinson- I have the receivers grouped close together, but Brinson is the most complete of the group. Dee Wiggins-type length and movement skills with much more toughness and better hands.
9. Brashard Smith- Big-play specialist with a RB build in the slot. Deceptive tackle-breaking ability similar to Kedarius Toney.
10. Jacolby George- Productive South Florida WR who makes it look easy. Plays faster than his speed by changing pace, and plays bigger than his size with strong hands.
11. Ryan Rodriguez- This guy screams “starter on a championship team.” Technician with impeccable hand placement. Bigger and more athletic than you’d expect in person.
Big Swings
Boom or bust. These kids have the NFL potential to land in the first group (often even more than the second group), but there is some significant projection involved.
12. Jake Garcia- Nearly every QB falls in this category. If they hit, they’re stars, if they bust, they transfer. Garcia has everything you want except quick-twitch athleticism. His ability to elude the first rusher will make him or break him.
13. Tyler Johnson- The strength of a wrestler and the movement skills of a safety. Ragdolled Julian Armella at times last year. Can he keep his temper in check and make the transition from EDGE to LB?
14. Thomas Davis- Big-time quickness and upfield explosion. The question is position- at 6’0, does he stay at DE or move to LB?
15. Jabari Ishmael- Long (6’6) projection player who was athletic enough to play as an off-ball LB. He needs to turn the tools into pass-rush production.
16. Michael McClaughlin- Has a lot of the uncoachables- size, IQ, intensity and movement. Used poor technique to dominate bad competition. Can he get more bend and roll his hips at 6'7?
17. Malik Curtis- Every week he made a highlight-reel play. Travis Benjamin-type speed with more size. He needs to prove he is tough enough to be a full-time defender.
Singles
Low-ceiling, high-floor guys who have the skills to be effective college players.
18. Deshawn Troutman- Fast, instinctual linebacker with tremendous production. Size and strength is the question with him.
19. Allan Haye- Limited by size, but an emerging converted BBall player who finds a way to hit the QB.
20. Kahlil Brantley- All-around football player who has played QB, WR, TE and LB. Outstanding hands but average physical traits. Similar to Larry Hodges.
The Kicker
21. Andres Borregales- Won’t claim to be able to evaluate Ks, but he seems to have a **** of a leg.
