2018 FCS Bowl
Previewing Top Players
By: Alex Khvatov
TE Donald Parham Jr. (Stetson)
After posting good numbers during his junior year, Parham Jr. had a huge senior campaign. He had 85 catches for 1,319 yards and 13 TD’s in 2018. He has developed into an excellent red-zone target. He has a huge catching radius with long arms. He is a former basketball player who shows tremendous leaping ability on fade routes. He is a long strider who lines up as a WR. He needs to show his ability to block. He also has great length (6’8), but needs to add more strength to his frame. He is an intriguing guy with major potential.
CB Tyler Hasty (Central Washington)
Hasty was a Second Team D-II All-American as a junior when he recorded eight INT’s. It has been a bit of a rollercoaster ride for him. He spent a year at Oregon State before being dismissed from the program. Then he played at JUCO in CA for two years. The last two seasons, he has lined up at cornerback for Central Washington. He is a physical CB with a good build. He excels in press coverage. He is a good athlete with quick feet who mirrors the receivers well.
S Joshua Simmons (Limestone College)
He was a Second Team D-II All-American safety as a junior. He missed most of the 2017 season. Simmons came back and led the conference with 90 tackles in 2018. He is an instinctive player with great ball skills (15 INT’s during his career). He shows good size and takes terrific angles to the ball. He demonstrates the ability to cover slot WR’s on obvious passing downs.
QB Michael O’Connor (University of British Columbia)
He was one of the top QB’s in the 2014 class. Bill O’Brien brought him to Penn State. O’Connor spent a year with the Nittany Lions before he transferred to the University of British Columbia. He is a Canadian born QB with very good size and accuracy. He is a pocket passer with mobility. He displays good ball placement on short and intermediate throws. He is a leader. However, he lacks zip on downfield throws and needs to improve his accuracy on the deep balls. Level of competition is a huge concern and he needs to do a better job going through those progressions.
LB Clifford Clark (West Liberty)
Clark has been the leader of the defense for West Liberty. He has been the starter the last three seasons. He was named First Team All-MEC for two consecutive years. He recorded 120 total tackles, 11.5 TFL’s and five sacks as a senior. He excels against the run at 6’2, 235 pounds. He is an instinctive LB and is a good open field tackler.
WR Aaron Blockmon (Campbell University)
Blockmon was a First Team All-PFL in 2016. He had his best season with 54 catches for 1,038 yards and 10 TD’s as a sophomore. He was a Second Team All-PFL as a junior. He owns all of the receiving records in school history. He has a good build (6’0, 210 pounds), hands catcher who tracks the ball well on downfield throws. He displays good body control. He has shown the ability to stretch the field.
OT Noah Beh (Delaware)
He was a three-star prospect coming out of Scranton, PA. He signed with Penn State and spent three years with the Nittany Lions. He got suspended and decided to transfer to Delaware. Beh was named to the Third Team All-CAA as a senior. He was a starter for two years. He has the versatility to play tackle or guard at the next level. He is a tough OL with good size and athleticism. He displays light feet and is a good pass blocker.
C John Yarbrough (Richmond)
He was selected Second Team All-CAA as a senior. He has started at center since his sophomore season. Yarbrough is a versatile OL who played center, RG and RT this year. He was a captain in 2018. He has good size and shows good hand placement and proper knee bend. He excels in pass protection.
OG Shamdu Nalls (Virginia Union)
He has been named First Team All-CIAA for two consecutive seasons. Nalls is a nasty OG who excels as a run blocker. He is a mauler. He sustains his blocks well up to the whistle.
