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+---- Thread: The Biggest Season 2 Sleeper (/showthread.php?tid=2203)
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The Biggest Season 2 Sleeper - Darnellthebeast - 07-15-2017
The Biggest Season 2 Sleeper Pick
Note: 600k bonus for requested article, Please give @kckolbe 10% of earnings
After thorough research by our analysts, we sorted through all the prospects heading into the season two draft in order to find the biggest sleeper.
Sleeper-"Someone or something unpromising or unnoticed that suddenly attains prominence or value."-Merriam-Webster. Using Merriam-Webster's definition, a sleeper pick in the NSFL is a player who explodes onto the scene very quickly and unexpectedly. A good example for season one would be Isaiah Rashad. The interception leader of the league wasn't picked until after the tenth round in the draft, but quickly exploded and dominated opposing quarterbacks. This year, there is one player who stands out as having potential to have an equally surprising explosion into the league: Kevin Cushing. In the past week, his constant presence has dramatically increased his draft stock. In his words "Four days ago, I was a nobody, just another unknown prospect looking to get drafted. Now I am a consensus 2nd round pick...". Cushing's persistent activity in the league has led some to believe that he'll end up as a future star in the league. However, due to his only recent arrival, he still has a bit of risk to him. He's barely been in the league a week, so whether he can keep his current level of activity up throughout the entirety of the season is a big question mark. His physical attributes have been lacking in some areas too, with GM's worried about his inability to tackle due to his lack of strength. All of these are potential reasons for him to bust in the NSFL, however the evidence thus far shows that if he keeps up his current activity, he'll be able to build himself into one of the top players in the league. Ever since he declared for the draft on eight days ago, he's been growing his stock. In these few days, he's already spent 44 hours in the weight room. This dedication to bettering himself is why he's viewed by some as having the potential to turn into a monster.
We were lucky enough to be able to sit down with the season two prospect and ask about his thoughts on the upcoming draft.
Interviewer: Was there a reason for waiting until eight days ago to make yourself an eligible prospect?
Kevin Cushing: Having only played two years in college, most of it at a position where I was still very raw, I initially didn't think I'd even get drafted. It wasn't until I saw an article on how few pro-ready linebackers there were in the draft that I realized I'd have a chance at being picked up.
Interviewer: Have you been in contact with any teams prior to the draft?
Kevin Cushing: Actually, yes. The Otters, Outlaws, Wraiths, Hawks, and Liberty have reached out in various ways, and several of those allowed me to come by for work outs and white board talks. I've been really happy with the process.
Interviewer: Do you have any preferences about where you're playing, or will you sign wherever you get drafted?
Kevin Cushing: Oh man. You probably saw that article a couple of days ago, which did not look good. There was some truth to it. I'm not sure I have a favorite spot to go, as all the teams I've spoken with have a lot to be excited about. Some would put me in a more prominent role, while others give me some great players and coaches to learn from. As for the other part of that question, I'll just say that one of the things I like about this league is that contract length has to be negotiated as well as pay. So yes, I will play anywhere, but there are a couple of teams where I would be a one year rental.
Interviewer: Your recent level of activity has been tremendous, do you plan to continue it into the regular season?
Kevin Cushing: Like I said earlier, I knew that getting noticed this late in the offseason would be very difficult, so I did everything I could to make people notice. Once the draft is over, I know I will be traveling less, and will be working more on becoming part of my new home town, to include getting some sponsorship deals. ((OOC translation, less active in chat, more work on articles and PT))
Interviewer: Where do you see yourself in three seasons?
Kevin Cushing: ~chuckles~ For 75% of the teams in the league, I see myself where I was drafted. I think I'll easily be a top ten player at my position, hopefully top five. I don't know if I'll be a leader on an up and coming defense or just a role player on an established one, but whichever it is, I'm ready for it.
Interviewer: Is there anything you want to tell gm's?
Kevin Cushing: Mainly, just thank you. I started off really self-conscious about my half-developed hybrid strengths, but several GMs were able to recognize the possibilities with that and really give me shot, some letting me work out with the defensive backs coaches as well as the ones for the linebackers. Several have even told me "this is where we'll take you if you're still there," or at least a "this is the range we see you in," which I really appreciated. There is just so much uncertainty out there that having even a rough idea where I am going makes this all a lot less stressful.
Interviewer: Based on those conversations, where do you think you'll be drafted?
Kevin Cushing: ~smiles knowingly~ I'd say there's no way I'm on the board after the 11th pick.
Overall, some may say that due to some gm's saying they plan to take him early in the draft, he isn't a sleeper. However, I disagree. He fit the role of a sleeper both when he joined the league and exploded onto the scene, and he also has potential to explode in terms of skill and physical attributes in the next few seasons with his current activity level. He'll be a great second-third round pick for any team in the draft, with the potential to rise above the first rounders.
Words: 1034
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The Biggest Season 2 Sleeper - kckolbe - 07-15-2017
Thanks for hyping me up. Can't wait until Wednesday.
The Biggest Season 2 Sleeper - Silver Fox - 07-15-2017
How come some of the names are Brian Cushing instead of Kevin? IS THE SLEEPER ACTUALLY KEVIN'S TWIN? THIS IS BREAKING NEWS!
Edit: He changed them, aww man, this is either a bigger secret than we know or a simple typo, I know what I believe....
The Biggest Season 2 Sleeper - kckolbe - 07-15-2017
(07-15-2017, 07:19 PM)Silver Fox Wrote:How come some of the names are Brian Cushing instead of Kevin? IS THE SLEEPER ACTUALLY KEVIN'S TWIN? THIS IS BREAKING NEWS!
Did Kevin Cushing have his brother perform some of the work outs to raise his stock?
The Biggest Season 2 Sleeper - Darnellthebeast - 07-15-2017
(07-15-2017, 09:19 PM)Silver Fox Wrote:How come some of the names are Brian Cushing instead of Kevin? IS THE SLEEPER ACTUALLY KEVIN'S TWIN? THIS IS BREAKING NEWS!
Oh shucks that was supposed to be a secret
The Biggest Season 2 Sleeper - Noble - 07-16-2017
Wait I just realized how much TPE you have, holy hell did I write that on my spreadsheet?
The Biggest Season 2 Sleeper - Ltsmashie - 07-16-2017
Biggest S2 sleeper isn't going to be a rookie, but he will be a linebacker...
The Biggest Season 2 Sleeper - Player1 - 07-16-2017
Anyone who can make a big impact on defense is going to go far in this league. S1 set that trend so now I expect the arms race to really take off.
The Biggest Season 2 Sleeper - youngcricket - 07-16-2017
How can the most vocal person in the drat class be a sleeper :lol:
The Biggest Season 2 Sleeper - kckolbe - 07-16-2017
(07-16-2017, 10:39 AM)youngcricket Wrote:How can the most vocal person in the drat class be a sleeper :lol:
I asked almost the same thing. He did make a point about how sudden it was, though.