We are now a few days removed from the draft but it is still a hot topic to discuss. Today, Tre'Darius J'Vathon, will go over his draft thoughts on some of the picks that took place just a few days ago. Before this happens, you must be cautioned, that J'Vathon does not follow the draft prospects so all of what he says is uneducated ramble. Anyways with that said let's see what he has to say about some of these brand new ISFL prospects.
Q: Thanks for joining us Tre'Darius. Let's just run down this list and start with the Berlin Fire Salamanders and their first overall pick of linebacker BamBam McMullet out of Tijuana. What did you think of this pick?
TJ: Well I certainly hope this is not a miss because the first overall pick should be a banger every time. Looking at BamBam McMullet I see a very beefy yet surprisingly athletic linebacker that should be a staple in the Berlin defense for several years to come. Due to Berlin being a team coming off their expansion year they will have a spot for McMullet right away and he should be strong right off the bat. Looking at his college season he was ranked high in many areas statistically as he racked up 97 tackles, 4 sacks, and 2 interceptions. I think his all-around play will suit the Fire Salamanders well as simply put they need play makers. He is instantly the second most talented linebacker on the roster and that is impressive as a rookie. He should definitely be an early contender for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Q: Next on the clock we had the New York Silverbacks select Dogwood Maple, safety, out of Norfolk. Thoughts on this one?
TJ: Well much like Berlin, New York is coming off their inaugural season and they need all the talent they can get. It is clear that this league builds around defense first and bringing in a safety like Dogwood Maple is a good way to start a very important draft. Currently the Silverbacks don't have an open spot for him at safety if you look at the roster but I would project them playing a sort of three safety defense with one of them playing in the box and the other two playing a two high safety defense. That could end up as Maple playing the linebacker-safety hybrid position as he had 86 tackles in his last DSFL season but did little else as far as coverage statistics go. This pick is a little lower on the TPE side of things but I have to imagine he really impressed in interviews and had his DSFL team saying great things about him. He will also be a contender for Defensive Rookie of the Year as he should get plenty of opportunity to showcase his growing talent.
Q: Next up we got a defensive end out of London, Ernest Lover. He was selected by the Baltimore Hawks. How do you think he fits in here?
TJ: Well this kid comes out of my alma matter in the London Royals so he must have immense talent. My time in London wasn't the best of times but the one thing I will say is that they know how to produce elite level talent. Taking a look at Ernest Lover I see a very advanced defensive end for his age as he is coming off an 8 sack and 11 tackles for loss season in the DSFL. He is a big strong end that can both rush with power and finesse. Right now he is more of a speed rusher with size and potential to become a strong power rusher. He will slot into the Baltimore defensive line right away and Baltimore is really cooking up something fierce in the youth department of that team. They had two rookie receivers go for over 1,000 yards last season and now they are clearly looking to compliment that young, budding, offense with some serious defensive potential. I really like this pick here and I think Baltimore is going to be a force in no time with picks like this one.
Q: The first offensive player goes next to the Yellowknife Wraith in wide receiver Arthur Naught. Naught is coming out of Kansas City and is a fellow receiver. What do you see in this pick for the future?
TJ: When I watched Arthur Naught play in Kansas City I saw a very savvy route runner that beat his man by out smarting him or out battling him for the football in the air. Naught is not going to blow by anyone and will rely heavily on his ability to beat his man with a wide array of route running abilities. He very much reminds me of Keenan Allen from the NFL and I think he is a great slot receiver for Yellowknife until he eventually moves his way to being the number two weapon next to Kai Sakura in Yellowknife. The one knock on Naught was that he only scored one touchdown last season in the DSFL as a starting receiver. I know the numbers in DSFL can be very unpredictable but only one touchdown tells me that he lacks big play ability. I think eventually he will get there with his work ethic but I would say he is not a sure-fire plug and play receiver in the future. He needs a lot of work in his other areas outside of his route running ability to become something more than just a possession receiver. I will definitely be watching this kid to see how he progresses.
Q: The run on offense stopped at one as the New Orleans Second Line jumped back in with a linebacker in Vincent Jones out of Tijuana. This was BamBam McMullet's teammate in Tijuana, how do you think this Luchadore stacks up in the ISFL?
TJ: First off that Tijuana linebacking core was something special having two guys get picked in the top five of the ISFL draft. That is rare to see. It doesn't appear that Vincent Jones will be on the NOLA roster this season and he will get another year of seasoning in the DSFL which could be a good thing for him. Now he will get his time to shine as the top dog on that team's defense and get some fantastic experience as a leader before he gets called up to the big leagues. When he does he should fit right in next to my former teammate, Busch Light, as they form a great looking young linebacker duo. Interesting enough, Vincent was actually the more productive linebacker in Tijuana, as he led the team with 110 tackles and 9 sacks. The difference here is he is more of a play at the line type of linebacker where as McMullet can go out in coverage and be more successful. I think with more time to round out his game he will come up to NOLA and fit right in as a strong play maker next to Busch Light in that defense.
Q: Maybe the first surprise of the draft was this next pick in Ryan Negs, quarterback out of Minnesota. The Philadelphia Liberty made this pick and it is surprising to me not because the player but the position. What are your thoughts on this one?
TJ: Well picking a guy you think can be the next franchise quarterback is never a bad thing. I will agree with you that it is a surprise only because quarterbacks usually last a little longer in these drafts due to the lack of availability teams have for a quarterback. The Liberty must think very highly of Ryan Negs as they have completely hitched their wagon and their future on the arm of this kid. He was solid last season for Minnesota with 2,477 yards and 13 touchdowns and he showed leadership in leading his team to an 8-6 season and a playoff appearance. The Liberty do have Brock Phoenix at the helm but he is starting to get a bit long in the tooth as he approaches his 7th season in the league. By the time he starts to diminish they should have Negs ready to go. The career trajectory paths of these two quarterbacks seem to line up well so I can't knock the Liberty for wanting to get their guy early and not risk not getting him based on past trends. Hopefully Negs keeps it up and the Liberty can get back to relevancy one day.
Q: Now we have an offensive run as we officially have a second straight offensive player get picked here in running back Cobra Kai. Kai comes out of Dallas and he goes to your former team the Honolulu Hahalua. What do you think of this pick?
TJ: I am not sure I really like this pick as the Honolulu Hahalua have second running backs that are still somewhat young. They have their starter in Keʻokeʻo Kāne-Maikaʻi who is coming off a good season and is only going into his 4th season and they back him up with Nicholas Ayers who is headed into just his third season. I am very curious to see if they change the position of Cobra Kai, or perhaps, Kāne-Maikaʻi as he is more an all-purpose back that could slot in as a wide receiver. Without knowing what role they have envisioned for this stable of running backs I can't comment on if I think he is a good fit. I will say though that Kai is a very talented prospect that has homerun potential every time he touches the ball. He racked up an impressive 1,482 yards and 8 touchdowns for Dallas last season. Overall he was third in yardage but first in yards per carry which shows the explosiveness he possesses and how much of a threat to break off a long run he is each time he gets the ball. From a talent level I think this was a great pick and I am curious to see how they sort out these three running backs in the future.
Q: Next up we saw the rare first round offensive lineman get picked by the Chicago Butchers with them selecting Alexander Franklin from Minnesota. Thoughts on an offensive lineman going eighth overall?
TJ: I was a bit surprised here as simply put, Alexander Franklin is a bit low on the TPE side. Now I will say you don't need a lot to be a good offensive lineman in the ISFL but I hope he cashes in on the potential the Butchers see in him or this was a poor timed pick. Every offense needs a good offensive line or it makes thing very difficult to move the ball and take over games. So with that said I see why Chicago made this pick here and they have historically been a run oriented team. The Butchers are a favorite of a lot of people to make a championship run this season so this pick looks to be a stash them away and have them join in a season or two. There isn't a lot to look at here for me but hopefully for the Butchers this is a pick that gets better and better.
Q: The offensive run ends at three with the Arizona Outlaws going with safety Moe Skeeter from Portland. I know you had liked this kid a lot so what do you think here?
TJ: I really do like this pick of Moe Skeeter. He is a very talented safety that is arguably one of the most talented overall players in this draft class. I could of seen him easily gotten picked over Dogwood Maple but he didn't and he lands on a great Arizona team. I have to wonder what the plan for Skeeter is in Arizona as he is currently blocked by two talented safeties and will remain in the DSFL for another season. I would imagine they move one of the current safeties to make room for Skeeter by Season 27 but we will have to wait and see. From a talent perspective, Skeeter is a box safety that can defend tight ends and slot receivers. He had a very productive season with 67 tackles, 4 interceptions, 4 sacks, and 4 pass deflections showing the versatility he possesses. I think he has a great future ahead of him in that strong safety position and he could put up monster numbers in his career depending on how aggressive of a defense he ends up on.
Q: Next up is your current team in the Sarasota Sailfish as they selected a defensive end in Demon Jaxson also out of Portland. Have you had a chance to meet or speak with Jaxson very much?
TJ: I have not gotten much opportunity to meet and speak with Demon Jaxson but I have high hopes for this youngster. He was one of the lower TPE guys with 264 but he hasn't been here as long as others in this class. I believe he will spend another season in Portland to work on his craft and get better but I hope to see him work hard and become a beast for our defensive line. I truly believe we are close to being a championship team and if guys like Jaxson can improve at a rapid pace we will get to that level much sooner than later. He is a very imposing figure standing at 6 feet, 6 inches but he has deceptive speed for his size. He could use another year or hitting the weight room and getting stronger but he has a natural ability as a speed rusher despite his stature suggesting he would be a power rusher. I am excited to see this kid improve and I hope to see him in Sarasota very soon.
Q: This next pick we saw our first trade as Berlin jumped back into the first round to grab safety Derek Wildstar out of Kansas City. What do you think of the move to trade up and get Wildstar?
TJ: Well Berlin has a long ways to go as a franchise being only their season year so I like the move to get aggressive and get a first round talent they clearly see being a building block to their defense. What I like about Wildstar is that he has incredible vision pre-snap and he recognizes plays at a very high level for his age. He is not going to showcase blazing speed or quickness but he positions himself well and he is extremely smart. He is very similar to Harrison Smith in the NFL and I could see him becoming a Harrison Smith-esque player in the ISFL. His DSFL production last season lacked a bit with 62 tackles and only 1 interception and 1 pass deflection but that doesn't mean he doesn't have major potential. Mentally he is far advanced for his age and soon enough the physical traits he will need will eventually catch up and he will make for one of the better safeties in the league. I think we will see him roaming the Berlin defense like a menacing center fielder playing mind games with the opposing offense.
Q: Next up we have Yellowknife on the clock again as they turn to the defense this time with linebacker Leonard Taylor from Myrtle Beach. Thoughts here?
TJ: Well my first thought is we have our first Myrtle Beach player selected. After that I see a very promising linebacker with a name that just screams linebacker. Leonard Taylor has that classic, old school, tough and rugged linebacker name and he plays very much the same way. He racked up 108 tackles last season for Myrtle Beach as a classic 2-down run stopper. Of course the Yellowknife Wraith hope he develops into more than just a 2-down run stopping linebacker but that's what he is currently and there isn't anything wrong with that in a league that still runs the ball a ton. He will stay down for another season it appears so he will get the chance to continue developing his game in preparation to fill a future linebacker spot for the Wraith. The big question here is does he fit in more as an inside linebacker or an outside linebacker. My hunch would say inside as a run stopper but the Wraith could have different ideas for Taylor. Picking up a good looking linebacker is never a bad thing in the first round of a draft.
Q: With the lucky 13th pick we saw the first defensive tackle go off the board in Redbeard McFredBeard from Kansas City. How will he help out the regular season champions?
TJ: I like how you said the regular season champions as we all thought they would be the eventual Ultimus winners only to get upset by a scorching hot San Jose team. The Yeti are an extremely talented team and will continue to be with pickups like Redbeard McFredBeard. Before I go more into McFredBeard I have to say that this year it seems Kansas City is providing all the talent as they have dominated this first round. Back to the player, I see a very strong, pinball type of an interior rusher as he will not overwhelm teams with strength or quickness, but with effort and will take on all blockers. He will get his chance to play with the Yeti right away as they have them on their opening day roster and we will see what kind of impact he can make. I see him being more a run stopper with the potential to grow into an effective interior rusher. He is on the younger side among his peers in this draft so he has that on his side as he may have a bit more developing to do than the other that were picked in this first round. With that said he has some nice tools right now and obviously potential to reach a high ceiling playing for a well coached team like the Colorado Yeti.
Q: The final pick of the first round we have a wide receiver in Tugg Speedman going to the defending champions San Jose Sabercats. This is only the second receiver in the first round, how do you see him developing?
TJ: This is interesting as the San Jose Sabercats also selected a first round wide receiver in the season 24 draft. The difference here is that this was a luxury pick as they are going to stash away Tugg Speedman and keep him in London for at least one more season. I see Speedman eventually making his way to the Sabercats roster and maybe becoming the secondary weapon behind top dog Tychondrius Hood. They also have Deondre Thomas Fox who is getting old and will be regressing soon so this was a pick that they hope to have one receiver on the upswing while another is on the downswing in their careers. Speedman is another receiver in this first round that is more of a route runner than an athletic specimen. He was able to haul in 73 passes for 841 yards and 4 touchdowns for London last year which shows that he can make a strong impact in the future as a crafty slot receiver. I think he will ultimately end up just as that, a niche slot receiver, that will force defensive into playing nickel defense which will help open up the run game for the Sabercats. Speedman is one of the highest TPE guys in this draft which is fantastic to get with the last pick of the first round, he is just going to really need to develop into a superior route runner to make a major impact in the ISFL in his future. He will never really possess the speed to blow by defenders so if he can get stronger while keeping his quick and shiftiness then he should have a very fine career.
Q: Thanks for joining us Tre'Darius. Let's just run down this list and start with the Berlin Fire Salamanders and their first overall pick of linebacker BamBam McMullet out of Tijuana. What did you think of this pick?
TJ: Well I certainly hope this is not a miss because the first overall pick should be a banger every time. Looking at BamBam McMullet I see a very beefy yet surprisingly athletic linebacker that should be a staple in the Berlin defense for several years to come. Due to Berlin being a team coming off their expansion year they will have a spot for McMullet right away and he should be strong right off the bat. Looking at his college season he was ranked high in many areas statistically as he racked up 97 tackles, 4 sacks, and 2 interceptions. I think his all-around play will suit the Fire Salamanders well as simply put they need play makers. He is instantly the second most talented linebacker on the roster and that is impressive as a rookie. He should definitely be an early contender for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Q: Next on the clock we had the New York Silverbacks select Dogwood Maple, safety, out of Norfolk. Thoughts on this one?
TJ: Well much like Berlin, New York is coming off their inaugural season and they need all the talent they can get. It is clear that this league builds around defense first and bringing in a safety like Dogwood Maple is a good way to start a very important draft. Currently the Silverbacks don't have an open spot for him at safety if you look at the roster but I would project them playing a sort of three safety defense with one of them playing in the box and the other two playing a two high safety defense. That could end up as Maple playing the linebacker-safety hybrid position as he had 86 tackles in his last DSFL season but did little else as far as coverage statistics go. This pick is a little lower on the TPE side of things but I have to imagine he really impressed in interviews and had his DSFL team saying great things about him. He will also be a contender for Defensive Rookie of the Year as he should get plenty of opportunity to showcase his growing talent.
Q: Next up we got a defensive end out of London, Ernest Lover. He was selected by the Baltimore Hawks. How do you think he fits in here?
TJ: Well this kid comes out of my alma matter in the London Royals so he must have immense talent. My time in London wasn't the best of times but the one thing I will say is that they know how to produce elite level talent. Taking a look at Ernest Lover I see a very advanced defensive end for his age as he is coming off an 8 sack and 11 tackles for loss season in the DSFL. He is a big strong end that can both rush with power and finesse. Right now he is more of a speed rusher with size and potential to become a strong power rusher. He will slot into the Baltimore defensive line right away and Baltimore is really cooking up something fierce in the youth department of that team. They had two rookie receivers go for over 1,000 yards last season and now they are clearly looking to compliment that young, budding, offense with some serious defensive potential. I really like this pick here and I think Baltimore is going to be a force in no time with picks like this one.
Q: The first offensive player goes next to the Yellowknife Wraith in wide receiver Arthur Naught. Naught is coming out of Kansas City and is a fellow receiver. What do you see in this pick for the future?
TJ: When I watched Arthur Naught play in Kansas City I saw a very savvy route runner that beat his man by out smarting him or out battling him for the football in the air. Naught is not going to blow by anyone and will rely heavily on his ability to beat his man with a wide array of route running abilities. He very much reminds me of Keenan Allen from the NFL and I think he is a great slot receiver for Yellowknife until he eventually moves his way to being the number two weapon next to Kai Sakura in Yellowknife. The one knock on Naught was that he only scored one touchdown last season in the DSFL as a starting receiver. I know the numbers in DSFL can be very unpredictable but only one touchdown tells me that he lacks big play ability. I think eventually he will get there with his work ethic but I would say he is not a sure-fire plug and play receiver in the future. He needs a lot of work in his other areas outside of his route running ability to become something more than just a possession receiver. I will definitely be watching this kid to see how he progresses.
Q: The run on offense stopped at one as the New Orleans Second Line jumped back in with a linebacker in Vincent Jones out of Tijuana. This was BamBam McMullet's teammate in Tijuana, how do you think this Luchadore stacks up in the ISFL?
TJ: First off that Tijuana linebacking core was something special having two guys get picked in the top five of the ISFL draft. That is rare to see. It doesn't appear that Vincent Jones will be on the NOLA roster this season and he will get another year of seasoning in the DSFL which could be a good thing for him. Now he will get his time to shine as the top dog on that team's defense and get some fantastic experience as a leader before he gets called up to the big leagues. When he does he should fit right in next to my former teammate, Busch Light, as they form a great looking young linebacker duo. Interesting enough, Vincent was actually the more productive linebacker in Tijuana, as he led the team with 110 tackles and 9 sacks. The difference here is he is more of a play at the line type of linebacker where as McMullet can go out in coverage and be more successful. I think with more time to round out his game he will come up to NOLA and fit right in as a strong play maker next to Busch Light in that defense.
Q: Maybe the first surprise of the draft was this next pick in Ryan Negs, quarterback out of Minnesota. The Philadelphia Liberty made this pick and it is surprising to me not because the player but the position. What are your thoughts on this one?
TJ: Well picking a guy you think can be the next franchise quarterback is never a bad thing. I will agree with you that it is a surprise only because quarterbacks usually last a little longer in these drafts due to the lack of availability teams have for a quarterback. The Liberty must think very highly of Ryan Negs as they have completely hitched their wagon and their future on the arm of this kid. He was solid last season for Minnesota with 2,477 yards and 13 touchdowns and he showed leadership in leading his team to an 8-6 season and a playoff appearance. The Liberty do have Brock Phoenix at the helm but he is starting to get a bit long in the tooth as he approaches his 7th season in the league. By the time he starts to diminish they should have Negs ready to go. The career trajectory paths of these two quarterbacks seem to line up well so I can't knock the Liberty for wanting to get their guy early and not risk not getting him based on past trends. Hopefully Negs keeps it up and the Liberty can get back to relevancy one day.
Q: Now we have an offensive run as we officially have a second straight offensive player get picked here in running back Cobra Kai. Kai comes out of Dallas and he goes to your former team the Honolulu Hahalua. What do you think of this pick?
TJ: I am not sure I really like this pick as the Honolulu Hahalua have second running backs that are still somewhat young. They have their starter in Keʻokeʻo Kāne-Maikaʻi who is coming off a good season and is only going into his 4th season and they back him up with Nicholas Ayers who is headed into just his third season. I am very curious to see if they change the position of Cobra Kai, or perhaps, Kāne-Maikaʻi as he is more an all-purpose back that could slot in as a wide receiver. Without knowing what role they have envisioned for this stable of running backs I can't comment on if I think he is a good fit. I will say though that Kai is a very talented prospect that has homerun potential every time he touches the ball. He racked up an impressive 1,482 yards and 8 touchdowns for Dallas last season. Overall he was third in yardage but first in yards per carry which shows the explosiveness he possesses and how much of a threat to break off a long run he is each time he gets the ball. From a talent level I think this was a great pick and I am curious to see how they sort out these three running backs in the future.
Q: Next up we saw the rare first round offensive lineman get picked by the Chicago Butchers with them selecting Alexander Franklin from Minnesota. Thoughts on an offensive lineman going eighth overall?
TJ: I was a bit surprised here as simply put, Alexander Franklin is a bit low on the TPE side. Now I will say you don't need a lot to be a good offensive lineman in the ISFL but I hope he cashes in on the potential the Butchers see in him or this was a poor timed pick. Every offense needs a good offensive line or it makes thing very difficult to move the ball and take over games. So with that said I see why Chicago made this pick here and they have historically been a run oriented team. The Butchers are a favorite of a lot of people to make a championship run this season so this pick looks to be a stash them away and have them join in a season or two. There isn't a lot to look at here for me but hopefully for the Butchers this is a pick that gets better and better.
Q: The offensive run ends at three with the Arizona Outlaws going with safety Moe Skeeter from Portland. I know you had liked this kid a lot so what do you think here?
TJ: I really do like this pick of Moe Skeeter. He is a very talented safety that is arguably one of the most talented overall players in this draft class. I could of seen him easily gotten picked over Dogwood Maple but he didn't and he lands on a great Arizona team. I have to wonder what the plan for Skeeter is in Arizona as he is currently blocked by two talented safeties and will remain in the DSFL for another season. I would imagine they move one of the current safeties to make room for Skeeter by Season 27 but we will have to wait and see. From a talent perspective, Skeeter is a box safety that can defend tight ends and slot receivers. He had a very productive season with 67 tackles, 4 interceptions, 4 sacks, and 4 pass deflections showing the versatility he possesses. I think he has a great future ahead of him in that strong safety position and he could put up monster numbers in his career depending on how aggressive of a defense he ends up on.
Q: Next up is your current team in the Sarasota Sailfish as they selected a defensive end in Demon Jaxson also out of Portland. Have you had a chance to meet or speak with Jaxson very much?
TJ: I have not gotten much opportunity to meet and speak with Demon Jaxson but I have high hopes for this youngster. He was one of the lower TPE guys with 264 but he hasn't been here as long as others in this class. I believe he will spend another season in Portland to work on his craft and get better but I hope to see him work hard and become a beast for our defensive line. I truly believe we are close to being a championship team and if guys like Jaxson can improve at a rapid pace we will get to that level much sooner than later. He is a very imposing figure standing at 6 feet, 6 inches but he has deceptive speed for his size. He could use another year or hitting the weight room and getting stronger but he has a natural ability as a speed rusher despite his stature suggesting he would be a power rusher. I am excited to see this kid improve and I hope to see him in Sarasota very soon.
Q: This next pick we saw our first trade as Berlin jumped back into the first round to grab safety Derek Wildstar out of Kansas City. What do you think of the move to trade up and get Wildstar?
TJ: Well Berlin has a long ways to go as a franchise being only their season year so I like the move to get aggressive and get a first round talent they clearly see being a building block to their defense. What I like about Wildstar is that he has incredible vision pre-snap and he recognizes plays at a very high level for his age. He is not going to showcase blazing speed or quickness but he positions himself well and he is extremely smart. He is very similar to Harrison Smith in the NFL and I could see him becoming a Harrison Smith-esque player in the ISFL. His DSFL production last season lacked a bit with 62 tackles and only 1 interception and 1 pass deflection but that doesn't mean he doesn't have major potential. Mentally he is far advanced for his age and soon enough the physical traits he will need will eventually catch up and he will make for one of the better safeties in the league. I think we will see him roaming the Berlin defense like a menacing center fielder playing mind games with the opposing offense.
Q: Next up we have Yellowknife on the clock again as they turn to the defense this time with linebacker Leonard Taylor from Myrtle Beach. Thoughts here?
TJ: Well my first thought is we have our first Myrtle Beach player selected. After that I see a very promising linebacker with a name that just screams linebacker. Leonard Taylor has that classic, old school, tough and rugged linebacker name and he plays very much the same way. He racked up 108 tackles last season for Myrtle Beach as a classic 2-down run stopper. Of course the Yellowknife Wraith hope he develops into more than just a 2-down run stopping linebacker but that's what he is currently and there isn't anything wrong with that in a league that still runs the ball a ton. He will stay down for another season it appears so he will get the chance to continue developing his game in preparation to fill a future linebacker spot for the Wraith. The big question here is does he fit in more as an inside linebacker or an outside linebacker. My hunch would say inside as a run stopper but the Wraith could have different ideas for Taylor. Picking up a good looking linebacker is never a bad thing in the first round of a draft.
Q: With the lucky 13th pick we saw the first defensive tackle go off the board in Redbeard McFredBeard from Kansas City. How will he help out the regular season champions?
TJ: I like how you said the regular season champions as we all thought they would be the eventual Ultimus winners only to get upset by a scorching hot San Jose team. The Yeti are an extremely talented team and will continue to be with pickups like Redbeard McFredBeard. Before I go more into McFredBeard I have to say that this year it seems Kansas City is providing all the talent as they have dominated this first round. Back to the player, I see a very strong, pinball type of an interior rusher as he will not overwhelm teams with strength or quickness, but with effort and will take on all blockers. He will get his chance to play with the Yeti right away as they have them on their opening day roster and we will see what kind of impact he can make. I see him being more a run stopper with the potential to grow into an effective interior rusher. He is on the younger side among his peers in this draft so he has that on his side as he may have a bit more developing to do than the other that were picked in this first round. With that said he has some nice tools right now and obviously potential to reach a high ceiling playing for a well coached team like the Colorado Yeti.
Q: The final pick of the first round we have a wide receiver in Tugg Speedman going to the defending champions San Jose Sabercats. This is only the second receiver in the first round, how do you see him developing?
TJ: This is interesting as the San Jose Sabercats also selected a first round wide receiver in the season 24 draft. The difference here is that this was a luxury pick as they are going to stash away Tugg Speedman and keep him in London for at least one more season. I see Speedman eventually making his way to the Sabercats roster and maybe becoming the secondary weapon behind top dog Tychondrius Hood. They also have Deondre Thomas Fox who is getting old and will be regressing soon so this was a pick that they hope to have one receiver on the upswing while another is on the downswing in their careers. Speedman is another receiver in this first round that is more of a route runner than an athletic specimen. He was able to haul in 73 passes for 841 yards and 4 touchdowns for London last year which shows that he can make a strong impact in the future as a crafty slot receiver. I think he will ultimately end up just as that, a niche slot receiver, that will force defensive into playing nickel defense which will help open up the run game for the Sabercats. Speedman is one of the highest TPE guys in this draft which is fantastic to get with the last pick of the first round, he is just going to really need to develop into a superior route runner to make a major impact in the ISFL in his future. He will never really possess the speed to blow by defenders so if he can get stronger while keeping his quick and shiftiness then he should have a very fine career.
S25 Sarasota: 26 rec, 437 yds, 16.8 ypc, 4 TD
S26 Sarasota: 45 rec, 724 yds, 16.1 ypc, 7 TD
S27 Sarasota: 81 rec, 1,122 yds, 13.9 ypc, 8 TD **Ultimus Champs**
S27 Sarasota: 81 rec, 1,122 yds, 13.9 ypc, 8 TD **Ultimus Champs**
S28 Sarasota: 84 rec, 1,182 yds, 14.1 ypc, 3 TD
S29 Sarasota: 105 rec, 1,470 yds, 14.0 ypc, 14 TD **PRO BOWL**
S30 Sarasota: 80 rec, 1,174 yds, 14.7 ypc, 9 TD **Ultimus Champs**
S30 Sarasota: 80 rec, 1,174 yds, 14.7 ypc, 9 TD **Ultimus Champs**
![[Image: tretre.png]](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/691044925265150075/802400207178432572/tretre.png)
![[Image: qMERCURY.png?width=278&height=418]](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/652640309615919137/1137127686800683110/qMERCURY.png?width=278&height=418)
