SFL Draft 2019 Player Spotlight
by LBzrule57 | 6 years ago | 5 Comments
Welcome to the 2019 SFL Draft. Draft night in the SFL is a big night. Some teams will get much better on paper tonight. Some will find players that fit exactly what they do. Others will select players that do not fit and will go strictly off talent, perhaps stifling that players' growth and setting their franchise back in the process.
Before getting into the mock we want to spotlight (courtesy of Steps) five players to keep an eye on. We are not saying anything particular about these players, it's just their journey here to this moment contains the ingredients that make great NFL/SFL Stories. With that in mind let's look at those five players.
MLB Khris Wells from UCLA.
He once had dreams of becoming an Olympic weightlifter since he was a kid. Through many trials and tribulations, Khris was nearing the pinnacle of the weightlifter mountain having attained medal after medal all through out High School and early college days. All of this was until the game of football captivated his heart. Redirecting his focus, Khris Wells became a man once concentrating his efforts towards becoming an Olympian to now concentrating his efforts towards becoming a legend. His rigorous training and solid foundation of discipline with continually training and seeking to get better for the US Olympics greatly prepared him to become a leader of men as the QB of the UCLA defense. That very same defense led the FBS in total defense for three years straight (the only three years he has started) as the stellar play of the defense got the team affectionately named “Bruiser Bruins” by hometown supporters. He has self-driven himself all the way to the top of the draft class as a “can’t miss, once in a generation” talent. He plays the QB of the defense and plays that role with as much heart as he has strength. That, ladies and gents, sound like a legend in the making. Whatever team lands him will land a potential HOF player and boost their defense tremendously.
- Jetty “Steps” McFly
QB Bryant Droege from Pittsburgh
Bryant “Blessed” Droege is just that: blesses. At the young age of 21 years old, he’s 6’7” and 229lbs. Not to mention that he was able to grow up around the game of football with legendary coach Droege who won 3 NCAA football titles and 2 NFL championships. Bryant Droege had his own success but in his own light and in a crazy fashion. He supplanted an equally talented QB Brock Rubin who is also going to be drafted and quite possibly in the first round AND he broke the NCAA passing yards record as a redshirt Sophomore this past season. So not only did he take a future 1st round pick’s job but then made it so that there was ZERO chance for him to lose his job again. Not only does he have the physical measurements and the pedigree, he has the football IQ that you want to see in a young signal called due to him being around the game from such a young age and learning from the very best players his father was privileged to coach. All of this and we haven’t touched on his arm which is by FAR the best in this year’s draft. 1) he has the biggest arm and 2) he may very well have the most accurate arm in the short and intermediate ranges. Think QB Josh Allen but with QB Chad Pennington’s accuracy. Or better yet, Brett Favre and Tom Brady mixed. The kid is that good. It’s only right though since his father was a legend in both leagues that this kid have the potential to be a legend as well. Guaranteed that he goes top 3 and completely changes the face of a Franchise and “Blesses” it.
- Jetty “Steps” McFly
RG Howard McMichael from Alabama
Alabama just knows how to churn out future all-pros along the offensive line. RG Howard McMichael is a man amongst boys at the G position. 36 reps on bench press and a 7.53 3 cone prove that this freakish athlete should not have that size, move that quickly and be that strong. He is built to destroy the opposition in the run game as he has faced and destroyed top draft projected DT Daniel Weatherington multiple times in the game they played one another. The true knock on McMichael that keeps him from being a top 5 pick? His speed when he gets to the second level. Although he can destroy a player once he gets his hands on him, he has trouble getting hands on more agile players that play away from him. So although he is quick and able to pull successfully with zero issues, he is not much of a run defender on the second level. Also, his pass blocking could use some fine tuning although he is more than capable at doing so and should excel at it in the SFL. Overall, he is one of the more guards you’ll fine in this draft and bar none the best run blocking guard you’ll find in this draft. I am projecting him to go top 15 in this upcoming draft.
- Jetty “Steps” McFly
LE Shawn Rudolph from Auburn
The curious case of LE Shawn Rudolph. No player in this draft has seen their stock rise, fall and then rise again as much as him. Once touted as a top 5, can’t miss prospect, Shawn Rudolph began to get figured out by opposing offensive linemen and coaches as he demonstrated time and again to be a one trick pony. What kept him afloat was that his one trick was a REALLY good trick. His speed rush and bend are some of the best I’ve ever seen an defensive lineman possess coming straight out of college. The issue is is that he’s too reliant upon it and tackles are now allowing him to do his rush but are guiding him away from the QB as he is doing so. His draft stock dropped all the way to a 5th round projected grade. That is, until the combine happened and he reminded folks of why he was a top pick to begin with as he ran a 4.77 sec 40 yard dash (3rd) a head turning 7.12 sec 3 Cone and an astonishing 4.33 sec 20 yard shuttle. This saw his stock jump all the way up a middle of the 3rd round pick but the question is, is he worth it? Can he develop more moves? Is he a player that can be coached? That is what a lot of teams will be hoping when they go to pick him. I am predicting that the Senior from Auburn goes in the 3rd round and may very well turn some heads once he makes it to the league.
- Jetty “Steps” McFly
WR P.J. Blackshear from Texas A&M
You want to talk about a future Superstar? Look no further than the “Roadrunner”. P.J. Blackshear may be the most talented position player on the offensive side of the football in this draft. A 4.32 sec 40 yard dash with a 6.55 sec 3 Cone and a 3.85 sec (!!!) proves that the fatesr and most agile man in this draft class is also the smallest man in the building as he is only 5’8” and 176 pounds. The 22 year old WR can run any route, release off the line with the best of them and has the hands to make all of the catches. Although he has the hands to make all of the catches, he is more-so in the mold of a deep threat and slot WR. Think T.Y. Hilton and Tyreek Hill when you think of P.J. Blackshear. That is no knock on him as both Hilton and Hill have proven to be consistent game breakers in the SFL this Madden. Oh and a reminder, he just won the All-Star Game MVP as he has unreal catch after unreal catch. Whomever is fortunate enough to draft the Roadrunner is going to enjoy watching defensive coverages back off in order to keep this speedster in front of them. I’m projecting WR P.J. Blackshear to be a top 5 pick in this upcoming draft and a future superstar in the making.
- Jetty “Steps” McFly
There you have it. Five players to watch out for in tonight's draft. Will they all go in round 1? Let's find out. LBz's SFL 2019 Mock coming up.
