05-01-2019, 12:04 AM
(This post was last modified: 05-04-2019, 09:56 AM by Fordhammer.)
Finding Diamonds In The Rough: Prospect Analysis
With the draft just around the corner, I wanted to introduce everyone to some of the lesser-known prospects who will have their name called on Friday. There has been endless analysis of the prospects who are expected to go within the first 2 rounds. But as we have seen, value can be added in the middle to late rounds. Teams find success through depth and depth is mostly found through the later draft picks. Finding a few diamonds in the rough can propel a team to the next level. With this article, I hope to represent the players with a chip on their shoulder.
Nacho Varga - Palm Beach Solar Bears (WR)
52 catches, 552 yards, 2 touchdowns
197 TPE
Nacho Varga might be the most high profile prospect on this list. He has generated some buzz within the prospect pool but overall it feels he is not getting the credit he deserves. Nacho is one of the hardest working receivers in the league but was hindered by his team's heavy use of the run game. It also didn’t help that his quarterback led the league in interceptions. Nacho played second fiddle to star tight end Chase Jensen and somewhat got lost in his shadow. The team that selects him is getting a great receiver.
Dorfus Jimbo - Norfolk SeaWolves (RB)
199 att, 1134 yards, 8 touchdowns
177 TPE
Dorfus Jimbo is coming off a productive season with the SeaWolves which saw him lead the league in rushing average with 5.7 yards per carry (min. 100 attempts). He would share carries with Apollo Reed (another promising player) and help lead the SeaWolves to a playoff berth. He may have lacked the flash at times but was a very consistent piece in the Norfolk offense. Jimbo has definitely put in some work, but if he can find time to put in a little extra effort, he could be a big-time running back for any NSFL organization.
Marquees Acho - Norfolk SeaWolves (LB)
121 tackles, 5 TFL, 4 sacks, 1 INT, 5 PD, 1 TD
181 TPE
Marquees Acho had one of the most impressive defensive stat lines in the DSFL last season. He was 4th in tackles, tied for 11th in sacks and 4th in passes defended among linebackers. He also tallied a pick six which shows his versatility as a run protector and a coverage linebacker. This versatility along with his hard work off the field turns him into an interesting prospect. I believe the team that drafts him will be very happy with his value.
Dan Wright - Palm Beach Solar Bears (TE)
158 yards, 1 touchdown, 19 pancakes
200 TPE
This is a great year if your team needs to draft a tight end. Dan Wright seems to be considered the 4th or 5th best tight end prospect but still has tremendous upside. He has a similar Nacho Varga effect in which he struggled to escape the shadow left by teammate Chase Jensen. With only one touchdown and so few yards, it’s hard to see the talent Dan Wright carries. But once again, he had very limited touches playing alongside Jensen. Dan has shown he is a hard worker and he will be a steal whenever he is picked.
Timothy Hoss - San Antonio Marshals (TE)
312 yards, 3 touchdowns, 21 pancakes
186 TPE
Timothy Hoss rounds out the deep group of talented tight end prospects. He might not be considered a top tier prospect, but he has promise to become a solid player at the next level. He has great versatility as a blocker and a vertical threat. With the right development and the right offense, Timothy Hoss could be the piece an emerging offense needs to succeed.
Deon Taylor - Palm Beach Solar Bears (CB)
75 tackles, 3 interceptions, 9 passes defended, 1 blocked field goal
188 TPE
Deon Taylor may have surprised a lot of people with his recent selection to play in the DSFL Pro Bowl. Coming into the league as a 12th round selection, Taylor wasn’t expected to develop as well as he did. But even with his play this season, he still isn’t grouped among the elite prospects. Taylor took pride in how hard he worked as he played with a chip on his shoulder all season. Maybe getting selected outside the first round will help motivate him as he navigates through his NSFL career. He aspires to be an elite lockdown corner on the next level and he may become just that.
Apollo Reed - Norfolk SeaWolves (RB)
199 att, 1014 yards, 12 touchdowns
153 TPE
Apollo Reed is another of many promising running back prospects within this draft. He had the exact same number of touches as teammate Dorfus Jimbo but had less yardage. This was countered however as Apollo Reed had 4 more touchdowns to finish 3rd in the league rushing touchdown race. His teammate Dorfus Jimbo seems to be the better prospect but not by much. Reed has the chance to be an elite speed back in this league. It will be fun to see which Norfolk running back has a better career.
Quentin Sinclair - Palm Beach Solar Bears (S)
62 tackles, 1 interception, 6 passes defended, 1 forced fumble
154 TPE
Quentin Sinclair was among a strong Solar Bear secondary which included fellow prospects Faith Terim, Lamont McKinnie and Deon Taylor. Being considered the 3rd or 4th best player in a secondary that went 3-11 doesn’t sound great. But he found success that could definitely transfer to the next level. Quentin also returned kicks for the Solar Bears proving he is a versatile player. Quentin Sinclair seems like a great addition to round out a secondary.
Jack Rambo - Norfolk SeaWolves (S)
71 tackles, 4 sacks
161 TPE
The draft is looking to be very deep at the Safety position. This has caused Jack Rambo to get lost within the crowd. He was the 3rd option at safety for the SeaWolves but performed like a starting player. It’s hard to shine when playing alongside talents like Logan Uchiha, Giannis Kroustis and Lucas Knight. But he should be valued highly as the draft gets past the first couple rounds. I liked what I saw from Jack this season and I think an organization will too.
Ben Bortboy - Palm Beach Solar Bears (RB)
256 att, 1208 yards, 6 touchdowns
159 TPE
Ben Bortboy was the power back behind the one-two punch in the Solar Bear backfield. Ben Bortboy and Ludicolo Bigby shared carries as their team relied on the running game to get the offense moving. With the second most rushing attempts in the league as a team with 552, they both got a chance to show their potential. Bortboy would end up with more carries than his Solar Bear counterpart. But he did fall behind his teammates in total yards as well as touchdowns. Bortboy may not be the flashiest running back, but he pounds defenses relentlessly down the field. Ben might be valued at the next level playing in another one-two punch type backfield.
JoJo Burr-Kirven - Tijuana Luchadores (LB)
113 tackles, 1 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 INT, 4 PD, 1 FR
136 TPE
Being the lowest rated player on this list with 136 TPE, JoJo has a lot to prove before being considered a valued prospect in this draft. But his season with the Luchadores speaks volumes to the potential of this young man. He finished the season ranked 9th in the league for tackles. Along with this, he produced sacks, an interception, and a fumble recovery. JoJo did a lot of the dirty work which could be valued by an emerging defense on the next level. If he can develop at a high level, expect to see JoJo Burr-Kirven filling up the stat sheet.
Ludicolo Bigby - Palm Beach Solar Bears (RB)
223 att, 1225 yards, 9 touchdowns
143 TPE
The last prospect on the list is Palm Beach running back Ludicolo Bigby. He was the speedy back that complimented the power of teammate Ben Bortboy. Bigby ended the year with fewer rushing attempts than his teammate but was more efficient in his carries. He averaged 5.5 yards per carry which ranked 3rd in the league (min. 100 attempts). He also scored 3 more touchdowns than his teammate Ben Bortboy which ranked him 5th in the league for rushing touchdowns. Ludicolo Bigby has shown he is an explosive runner who can carry an offense on his back. He seems to have the tools that would interest a NSFL team.
All TPE reportings are based on information from TPE Tracker website - tpetracker.herokuapp.com
The TPE listed may not accurately represent current TPE levels
With the draft just around the corner, I wanted to introduce everyone to some of the lesser-known prospects who will have their name called on Friday. There has been endless analysis of the prospects who are expected to go within the first 2 rounds. But as we have seen, value can be added in the middle to late rounds. Teams find success through depth and depth is mostly found through the later draft picks. Finding a few diamonds in the rough can propel a team to the next level. With this article, I hope to represent the players with a chip on their shoulder.
Nacho Varga - Palm Beach Solar Bears (WR)
52 catches, 552 yards, 2 touchdowns
197 TPE
Nacho Varga might be the most high profile prospect on this list. He has generated some buzz within the prospect pool but overall it feels he is not getting the credit he deserves. Nacho is one of the hardest working receivers in the league but was hindered by his team's heavy use of the run game. It also didn’t help that his quarterback led the league in interceptions. Nacho played second fiddle to star tight end Chase Jensen and somewhat got lost in his shadow. The team that selects him is getting a great receiver.
Dorfus Jimbo - Norfolk SeaWolves (RB)
199 att, 1134 yards, 8 touchdowns
177 TPE
Dorfus Jimbo is coming off a productive season with the SeaWolves which saw him lead the league in rushing average with 5.7 yards per carry (min. 100 attempts). He would share carries with Apollo Reed (another promising player) and help lead the SeaWolves to a playoff berth. He may have lacked the flash at times but was a very consistent piece in the Norfolk offense. Jimbo has definitely put in some work, but if he can find time to put in a little extra effort, he could be a big-time running back for any NSFL organization.
Marquees Acho - Norfolk SeaWolves (LB)
121 tackles, 5 TFL, 4 sacks, 1 INT, 5 PD, 1 TD
181 TPE
Marquees Acho had one of the most impressive defensive stat lines in the DSFL last season. He was 4th in tackles, tied for 11th in sacks and 4th in passes defended among linebackers. He also tallied a pick six which shows his versatility as a run protector and a coverage linebacker. This versatility along with his hard work off the field turns him into an interesting prospect. I believe the team that drafts him will be very happy with his value.
Dan Wright - Palm Beach Solar Bears (TE)
158 yards, 1 touchdown, 19 pancakes
200 TPE
This is a great year if your team needs to draft a tight end. Dan Wright seems to be considered the 4th or 5th best tight end prospect but still has tremendous upside. He has a similar Nacho Varga effect in which he struggled to escape the shadow left by teammate Chase Jensen. With only one touchdown and so few yards, it’s hard to see the talent Dan Wright carries. But once again, he had very limited touches playing alongside Jensen. Dan has shown he is a hard worker and he will be a steal whenever he is picked.
Timothy Hoss - San Antonio Marshals (TE)
312 yards, 3 touchdowns, 21 pancakes
186 TPE
Timothy Hoss rounds out the deep group of talented tight end prospects. He might not be considered a top tier prospect, but he has promise to become a solid player at the next level. He has great versatility as a blocker and a vertical threat. With the right development and the right offense, Timothy Hoss could be the piece an emerging offense needs to succeed.
Deon Taylor - Palm Beach Solar Bears (CB)
75 tackles, 3 interceptions, 9 passes defended, 1 blocked field goal
188 TPE
Deon Taylor may have surprised a lot of people with his recent selection to play in the DSFL Pro Bowl. Coming into the league as a 12th round selection, Taylor wasn’t expected to develop as well as he did. But even with his play this season, he still isn’t grouped among the elite prospects. Taylor took pride in how hard he worked as he played with a chip on his shoulder all season. Maybe getting selected outside the first round will help motivate him as he navigates through his NSFL career. He aspires to be an elite lockdown corner on the next level and he may become just that.
Apollo Reed - Norfolk SeaWolves (RB)
199 att, 1014 yards, 12 touchdowns
153 TPE
Apollo Reed is another of many promising running back prospects within this draft. He had the exact same number of touches as teammate Dorfus Jimbo but had less yardage. This was countered however as Apollo Reed had 4 more touchdowns to finish 3rd in the league rushing touchdown race. His teammate Dorfus Jimbo seems to be the better prospect but not by much. Reed has the chance to be an elite speed back in this league. It will be fun to see which Norfolk running back has a better career.
Quentin Sinclair - Palm Beach Solar Bears (S)
62 tackles, 1 interception, 6 passes defended, 1 forced fumble
154 TPE
Quentin Sinclair was among a strong Solar Bear secondary which included fellow prospects Faith Terim, Lamont McKinnie and Deon Taylor. Being considered the 3rd or 4th best player in a secondary that went 3-11 doesn’t sound great. But he found success that could definitely transfer to the next level. Quentin also returned kicks for the Solar Bears proving he is a versatile player. Quentin Sinclair seems like a great addition to round out a secondary.
Jack Rambo - Norfolk SeaWolves (S)
71 tackles, 4 sacks
161 TPE
The draft is looking to be very deep at the Safety position. This has caused Jack Rambo to get lost within the crowd. He was the 3rd option at safety for the SeaWolves but performed like a starting player. It’s hard to shine when playing alongside talents like Logan Uchiha, Giannis Kroustis and Lucas Knight. But he should be valued highly as the draft gets past the first couple rounds. I liked what I saw from Jack this season and I think an organization will too.
Ben Bortboy - Palm Beach Solar Bears (RB)
256 att, 1208 yards, 6 touchdowns
159 TPE
Ben Bortboy was the power back behind the one-two punch in the Solar Bear backfield. Ben Bortboy and Ludicolo Bigby shared carries as their team relied on the running game to get the offense moving. With the second most rushing attempts in the league as a team with 552, they both got a chance to show their potential. Bortboy would end up with more carries than his Solar Bear counterpart. But he did fall behind his teammates in total yards as well as touchdowns. Bortboy may not be the flashiest running back, but he pounds defenses relentlessly down the field. Ben might be valued at the next level playing in another one-two punch type backfield.
JoJo Burr-Kirven - Tijuana Luchadores (LB)
113 tackles, 1 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 INT, 4 PD, 1 FR
136 TPE
Being the lowest rated player on this list with 136 TPE, JoJo has a lot to prove before being considered a valued prospect in this draft. But his season with the Luchadores speaks volumes to the potential of this young man. He finished the season ranked 9th in the league for tackles. Along with this, he produced sacks, an interception, and a fumble recovery. JoJo did a lot of the dirty work which could be valued by an emerging defense on the next level. If he can develop at a high level, expect to see JoJo Burr-Kirven filling up the stat sheet.
Ludicolo Bigby - Palm Beach Solar Bears (RB)
223 att, 1225 yards, 9 touchdowns
143 TPE
The last prospect on the list is Palm Beach running back Ludicolo Bigby. He was the speedy back that complimented the power of teammate Ben Bortboy. Bigby ended the year with fewer rushing attempts than his teammate but was more efficient in his carries. He averaged 5.5 yards per carry which ranked 3rd in the league (min. 100 attempts). He also scored 3 more touchdowns than his teammate Ben Bortboy which ranked him 5th in the league for rushing touchdowns. Ludicolo Bigby has shown he is an explosive runner who can carry an offense on his back. He seems to have the tools that would interest a NSFL team.
All TPE reportings are based on information from TPE Tracker website - tpetracker.herokuapp.com
The TPE listed may not accurately represent current TPE levels
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Jurisprudence Jones, OL ![[Image: cYhSwFY.png]](https://i.imgur.com/cYhSwFY.png)
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![[Image: heFnCwQ.png]](https://i.imgur.com/heFnCwQ.png)
