2019 Tropical Bowl

 

Top Players to Keep an Eye On

 

By: Alex Khvatov

 

QB Devlin Hodges (Samford)

 

–       Four-year starter

–       FCS career record holder in passing yards (14,584)

–       Nickname “Duck”

–       Accurate QB

–       Displays nice touch

–       Quick release

–       Good arm strength

–       Throws very well on the run

–       Impressive improvisational skills

–       Played well against top competition

–       Undersized, light signal caller

–       Sidearm delivery

–       Needs to make better decisions, will take unnecessary chances

 

S Aaron Williams (Nebraska)

 

–       4-year starter

–       Versatile DB

–       Good open field tackler

–       Displays very good quickness

–       Has battled injuries throughout his career

–       Smart player who has played in different defensive systems

–       Needs to get stronger

–       Was the QB of the defense

 

CB Jerome Smith (ex-Georgia State)

 

–       3-year starter

–       Left the program in the beginning of the 2018 season

–       Was one of the top corners in the Sun Belt

–       Undersized, projects as a nickel CB at the next level

–       Instinctive player

–       Great closing speed

–       Active in run support

–       Can get outmuscled by bigger WR’s

 

DB Mook Reynolds (Texas A&M Commerce/ex-Virginia Tech)

 

–       Dismissed from Virginia Tech prior to his senior season

–       Projects as a nickel corner or SS at the next level

–       Versatile DB (most effective playing near the LOS and used on blitzes)

–       Good wrap up tackler

–       Likes to get physical with slot WR’s and TE’s at the line of scrimmage

–       Non-stop motor

–       He bites on play fakes, needs to be more disciplined in coverage

 

WR Jamarius Way (South Alabama)

 

–       JUCO transfer

–       Big, physical WR

–       Strong hands

–       Displays very good leaping ability

–       Long arms

–       Makes contested catches look easy

–       Threat in the red-zone

 

RB Ryan Fulse (Wagner)

 

–       Transfer from Monroe College

–       Big play threat

–       Tremendous speed

–       Can bounce it outside with ease

–       Explosive back

–       Struggled against better competition

 

LB Chase Hancock (Marshall)

 

–       Recorded over 100+ tackles the last two seasons

–       Has a nose for the ball

–       Instinctive OLB

–       Terrific tackler

–       Good speed

 

WR Kwadarrius Smith (Akron)

 

–       Track guy

–       Elite speed (somewhere in the 4.3’s)

–       Missouri transfer

–       Dangerous in the open field

–       Excellent deep threat

–       Locates the ball well on downfield throws

–       Undersized, skinny WR

–       Has never put up big numbers

 

OT Aaron Monteiro (Boston College)

 

–       Has been the starter at LT since his freshman season

–       Great size

–       Long arms

–       Excels as a run blocker

–       Gets very good movement in the run game

–       Can get out to the second level and block on the move

–       Susceptible to inside moves

–       Average lateral quickness

–       Needs to sustain his blocks better in pass protection

–       Projects as a RT at the next level

 

DE/OLB Ahmad Gooden (Samford)

 

–       FCS All-American in 2017 and 2018

–       Disruptive pass rusher

–       Undersized DE, projects as an OLB at the next level

–       Athletic player

–       Good motor