OhioColts early college watchlist and potential FA targets breakdown

[OhioColt]

FS Kamren Kinchens (Miami) - As a true FS led the country with a 90.0 grade and 90.7 coverage grade with 6 INTs. As a sophomore he led all safeties with a 90.0 overall grade and a 90.7 coverage grade.  Could you imagine what our defense would look like if we added SS Kamren Curl (Washington)?  Curl posted top-10 grades as a run defender (80.5) and in coverage (80.8) in 2022.  Often manned the box and helped take away running backs and tight ends as mismatch options. He posted a 4.7% missed tackle rate (sixth) while acting as a second linebacker.

 

LCB Cooper DeJean (Iowa) Junior – Probably the most versatile/high-IQ defender in the country.  Jack of all trades can line up outside cornerback, slot corner, linebacker and even edge.  In 2022 he earned 85.0-plus grades both in coverage and as a run defender.  His 15 run-defense stops tied for the most among FBS cornerbacks and tied for fourth among Power 5 cornerbacks with five interceptions.  The Colts are hoping that JuJu Brents or Darrell Baker Jr can succeed at RCB this year.  Depend on how well Dallis Flower performs at LCB.  After Week 1 Flowers only had a 53.6 PFF grade.  Baker on the other hand only 44.9 PFF grade for Week 1.

 

 

LT Joe Alt (ND) – 91.0 run-blocking grade led all FBS tackles while his 99.0 pass-blocking efficiency score was 5th.  Raimann currently graded 13th out of 65 OT per PFF.  Alt possibly could be an upgrade, but would Raimann do well as at RG?  Not out of the realm of possibility come draft day but am not convinced he would be a viable option come draft day.

 

OL Cooper Beebe (Kansas State) – Jack of all trades OL No matter where Cooper Beebe lines up, he produces elite play. At right tackle in 2020, he was a PFF honorable mention All-Big 12 honoree. As a left tackle in 2021, he was named first-team All-Big 12. In 2022 at left guard, Beebe was a second-team All-American.  Beebe's 94.0 pass-blocking grade over the past two seasons led all offensive linemen in college football. During that span, he didn’t allow a sack on 770 pass-blocking snaps.

 

LT/OG Graham Barton (Duke) –Only Power 5 tackle last season with a 95.0 plus grades in both pass protection and run-blocking.  Finished with 17 blocks, 5 more than any other tackles in the country.  Projected to move inside as he is below the 30th percentile in both height and weight. Move to RG?

 

MLB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (Clemson) – 2022 PFF TOW 13 honors. Legacy prospect. The son of an All-Pro linebacker of the same name, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. aims to carry the family torch in 2024. Trotter’s a bit light, but he’s an instinctive defender who’s hyperactive behind the line of scrimmage and can play in coverage.  Trotter is slightly better than Jack Campbell whom I was very high on last year’s drafted by the Lions.  Trotter only LB with 80+ grades in both coverage and pass-rusher.  Only allowed a passer rating of 42.9 and open-target rate of 47.6%.  If Zaire Franklin doesn’t perform well this season than could see the Colts look to add a standout MLB.  Note Franklin Week 1 performance earned a NFL league drug test after leading the team with 18 tackles (10 solo).  Franklin is a former 7th round pick where he broke the franchise record for tackles in a single season. 

 

RB Blake Corum (Michigan) - Corum made history last season.  His 96.2 graded lead all players in the country.  Also, the highest by a Power 5 player since 2014 recordings.  Jonathan Taylor should be a Colt long-term but the future is cloudy and we could use a young-talented back like Corum if things continue to head south with Taylor.

 

Edge Bralen Trice (Washington) Junior more a one-year wonder, can he repeat in 2023? – Trice set the pace with 70 pressures and was the most productive pass-rusher in college football in 2022 edging out Alabama’s Will Anderson.  Trice led all FBS edge defenders in pass-rush win rate (29.5%) and second in pressure rate 22.4%.  Very powerful and can barrel through opposing tackles with straight-line speed.  High motor that doesn’t wear down even late in games.  Seems we never can have enough talented defensive ends and Ebukam might just been a three-year rental.  Trice could get a year or two to learn before earning full-time job.

 

RB Trey Benson (Florida State) – In 2022 he was a dominate tackle-breaker.  His 51% forced missed tackle rate led the country but also set the PFF College record.  He forced 79 missed tackles on the year.

 

WR Rome Odunze (Washington) - His 605 yards against single coverage last year trailed only Marvin Harrison Jr. among returning Power Five wide receivers. He’s also the third-most valuable returning Power Five receiver, according to PFF’s wins above average metric.

 

OC/RG Beaux Limmer (Arkansas) is an all-around stud at RG and only one of 3 Power 5 guards with 80-plus grades in both pass-run blocking in 2022. Moving to center for 2023 re-evaluate.  Could potentially fix our RG situation and offer an upside once we move on from Ryan Kelly.

 

TE Brevyn Spann-Ford (Minnesota) best run-blocking TE in the class.  His 82.5 run-blocking grade last year led all Power Five tight ends.  Also, one of the best receivers at the position, recording 2.22 yards per route run in 2022 — the fifth-best mark among FBS tight ends.  TE Kylen Granson off to a strong start for the Colts but the health of our TEs has been an issue.

 

WLB Danny Stutsman (Oklahoma) – Stutsman had a breakout campaign in 2022 racking up 125 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, three sacks, two picks, and five PBUs.  At around 6’3″, 230 pounds, Stutsman brings eye-popping closing speed, and his motor never cools.  Round 2-4 initial grade if he declares as a Junior.  Luxury pick depending on the health and longevity of Shaquille Leonard.  Would be tempted to add Stutsman in Round 3 as insurance for Leonard and an upgrade over Grant Stuard.

 

WR-SL Jalen McMIllan (Washington) Junior 2022 PFF TOW 11 and 12 honors.  PFF grade 77.5 in 2022.  Who is Josh Downs backup?  McMillan could be added depth or wouldn’t mind targeting Donovan Peoples-Jones (Browns) in free agency.

 

NCB Tykee Smith (Georgia) – In 2020 didn’t allow a single catch of 15+ yards in coverage – graded as top (1) safeties returned to school in 2021.  In 2022 Smith was ranked #2 returning to college safety.  Smith missed most of 2021 with an ankle injury, torn ACL.  Solid man coverage skills and fast enough to run with slot receivers and strong enough to cover tight ends.

 

DL Keenan Stewart (UTEP) –Dominated JUCO.  Can play 1T and 3T in the 3-3-5 and 4-2-5 nickel defense.  In the last six games in 2020, Stewart produced a 92.7 PFF grade, ranking first in college football, and was anchored by a 94.4 run-defense grade. The sheer amount of plays he disrupted was astounding. His positively graded play rate against the run was the highest at the position over those last six games by a healthy margin.  Stewart’s future replacement with another Stewart I can see this happening.  Bryan has never lived up to his first-round selection but does offer the better upside over Johnson.

 

FS Isheem Young (Iowa St x’fer Ole Miss), Senior –In 2021, after 4 weeks had an 83.5 PFF grade.  Projected UDFA – listed as a backup for 2023.  Disappeared from scouting radar after initial 2021 hot start. Fluke?

 

Early Free Agency Targets 

 

SS Kamren Curl (Washington) - Curl posted top-10 grades as a run defender (80.5) and in coverage (80.8) in 2022.

 

RG Robert Hunt (Dolphins) - Career highs in 2022 with both a 74.6 PFF pass-block grade and a 74.5 PFF run-blocking grade.  For 2023 PFF ranked him 17th best overall guard.

 

WR2 Tee Higgins (Bengals) - Higgins ranked 19th per PFF as a receiver in 2022

 

WR1 Marquise Brown (Cardinals) - 19th per PFF as a receiver in 2022

 

WR3 Donovan Peoples-Jones (Browns) - ranked 36th per PFF as a receiver in 2022

 

WR2 K.J. Osborn (Vikings) - ranked 43rd per PFF as a receiver in 2022 - 65 PFF grades

 

 

Who else could potentially become a future Colt that you are watching and keeping tabs on?

[Defjamz26]

You have a lot of the guys I have on my Watchlist. There’s a couple I would suggest adding to yours though:

 

-Keon Coleman, WR Florida State: 6’4” 215 lb. receiver who exploded against LSU in the season opener for 122 yards and 3 TDs. Also had 86 yds and 2 TDs against Clemson. Averaging 15.1 YPC this season. Explosive vertical receiver with decent RAC ability.

 

-TJ Tampa, CB Iowa State: 6’2” 200 lb receiver built like Brents. Definitely a Covet-2/3 zone corner. Can tackle and hit as well. 

[OhioColt]

2 hours ago, Defjamz26 said:

You have a lot of the guys I have on my Watchlist. There’s a couple I would suggest adding to yours though:

 

-Keon Coleman, WR Florida State: 6’4” 215 lb. receiver who exploded against LSU in the season opener for 122 yards and 3 TDs. Also had 86 yds and 2 TDs against Clemson. Averaging 15.1 YPC this season. Explosive vertical receiver with decent RAC ability.

 

-TJ Tampa, CB Iowa State: 6’2” 200 lb receiver built like Brents. Definitely a Covet-2/3 zone corner. Can tackle and hit as well. 

Coleman transferred from Michigan State.  Agree he has showed strong hands making several tough catches in traffic and has impressive speed for his size.  Not sure we need another WR-Z like Alec Pierce who is signed until 2025. 

 

Some other players have been interested in are:

 

RG Justin Osborne, SMU – best in zone, gap or man schemes – PFF early honorable mention before the season for the ACC.  Earned 2023 PFF TOW 1 honors.

 

LG Wesley Ndago, Air Force – PFF TOW 1 and 4 – 2023.

 

TE Benjamin Yurosek, Stanford - Displayed athletic ability making several tough catches. 

 

SS Tyler Nubin, Minnesota - Got two top traits, football IQ and impressive ball production.  Versus Nebraska he had 2 picks earning PFF TOW 1 honors in 2023.

 

Edge Kaimon Rucker, North Carolina Tar Heels – 2022 PFF TOW 0 honors.  Rucker became first Tar Heel in 10-years to be named the Walker Camp Defensive Player of the Week.  Versus South Carolina he had 5.5 TFLs and 2 sacks. 

 

LCB Josh Newton (TCU) - solid QB passer ratings, 56.4 in 2022 and 86.2 in 2021 

LCB D.J. James (Auburn) - solid QB passer ratings, 61.3 in 2022 and 64.9 in 2021 

[OhioColt]

I think it's the sophomore class that I am really following this year and see how well these young men continue to grow. 

 

DI: Mason Graham, Michigan (Sophomore) highest-graded true freshman IDL in the country in 2022 with an 80.3 grade.  2023 PFF TOW 2 honors

 

SS: Jaden Hicks, Washington State (Sophomore) – 2023 PFF TOW 2 honors

 

RB Quinshon Judkins (Ole Miss) Sophomore 2022 PFF TOW 9 honors had 14 broken tackles against Texas A&M, 5 breakaway runs of 15+ yards in company with likes of Derick Henry, Alvin Kamara and Chuba Hubbard.  Judkins came to Ole Miss as just a three-star recruit but, like Will Johnson at No. 21, dominated in Year 1.  He ranked in the top 10 in college football in rushing yards (1,567), rushing touchdowns (16), yards after contact (929) and forced missed tackles (76). Judkins also moved the chains on 91 of his attempts last year, placing fourth among FBS running backs.

 

WR Tetairoa McMillian (Arizona) Sophomore led all true freshman in 2022 with 702 receiving yards and 8 TDs.

 

RG Jonah Savaiinaea (Arizona) Sophomore ranked 2nd among all true freshman guards with a 76.0 pass-blocking grade.

 

LT Kelvin Banks Jr (Texas) Sophomore – managed to hold his own vs Will Anderson Jr entering 2023 NFL draft as the top player in the draft.  Banks dominated as a pass protector only allowing 3.5% pressure rate and 98.4 pass-block.  had a 80.8 PB and 89.3 RB grades in a zone-run scheme.  Week 7 allowed zero pressures and only 8 pressures all season (weeks 0-6). Has a 74.6 RB grade and an 88.0 PB grade week 7.  To-date has an 83.5 PB grade 5th best among Power 5 tackle.  2022 PFF TOW 4 offensive POW and earned TOW 6 and 7 honors

 

NT/IDL Deone Walker (Kentucky) Sophomore – in 2022 as a true freshman finished 3rd among SEC IDL with an 80.9 pass-rushing grade.  6’6” 330 LB at 19 yo beat O’Cyrus Torrence.

 

Edge Mykel Williams (Georgia) Sophomore 5th best returning edge defenders in college football.  Williams has a 75.9 run-defense grade ranked 4th among SEC edge defenders and led all FBS true freshman edge defenders.  His 6 sacks tied for the most among all true freshman in the country while his 33 pressures were tied for 2nd most.  Williams is a future first round pick.

 

WLB Abdul Carter (PSU) Sophomore freshman 56 tot, 6.5 sacks, 2 FF and 4 PDs

 

LCB Will Johnson (Michigan) Sophomore – as a true freshman led all corners in the Power 5 with a 91.1 grade in man coverage.  Johnson’s 2 INTs in man tied 5th same group in 2022.

 

IDL Dontay Corleone (Cincy) Sophomore – mid-way through 2022 he was 4th nationally with a 91.5 PFF grade making Ivan Pace Jr job on the field easier.  After 10 weeks Corleone has 41 TOT, 3 sacks, 1 FF, and 1 FR.  Freshman 93.9 DEF, 94.8 RDEF, 82.5 PRUSH, 61.8 COV.  led all FBS defenders with a 93.8 grade. His 94.7 run-defense grade was also the best mark by a front-seven defender since Micah Parsons in 2019 and recorded the 6th most run-stop (27) in 2022.  As a pass-rusher placed 8th among all defensive tackles in the country with a 15.6% pass-rush win rate.

 

MLB Harold Perkins Jr. (LSU) Sophomore - a 2022 top-10 recruit as an OLB, off-ball LB/SCB only allowed 4 yards in coverage in Week 11 (2022) vs Arkansas with 2 FF, had 7 pressures on 13 pass-rush reps 6 of which were a sack or hit on QB earning 93.8 grade.

 

CB Benjamin Morrison (ND) Sophomore – PFF Week 10 honors in 2022 – in Week 10 seen 13 targets in coverage allowing 3 first downs with an 2INT/1TD-Pick 6 vs Clemson earning a 90.5 coverage grade.  earned PFF Week 12 (2022) Defensive POW for second time in three weeks.  Picking off 3 passes and allowed 1 catch in shutout win over BC.  Saw 6 targets and gave up one for a 32-yard gain while earning a 91.9 PFF grade in press-man coverage.

 

RB Jaydn Ott – (Cal) Sophomore -As a freshman in 2022 after first 4 weeks owns the highest rushing grade in FBS 94.4 – 8.1 yards PA.  Ott finished off 2022 season with 897 rushing yards averaging 5.3 yards per carry and 8 rushing touchdowns.  He also caught 46 passes for 321 yards and added 3 more touchdowns as a receiver.  After first two games this season Ott already has 270 rushing yards and 3 rushing touchdowns.

 

CB Malaki Starks (Georgia) Sophomore – Former top-10 recruit.  As a freshman 2022-2023 after 2-3 weeks PFF graded 87.8 DEF, 81.1 RDEF, 65.9 PRUSH, 87.3 COV.  Finished with a 72.1 run-defense grade and was 3rd among true freshman safeties in the Power 5.  Starks recorded 8 combined INTs and * tied for 5th among SEC safeties in 2022. 

 

 

[Defjamz26]

Laiatu Latu, Edge UCLA: 6’5” 265 lbs who was originally at Washington but was medically disqualified after the 2019 season. Came back to UCLA in 2022 and had 10.5 sacks. Currently has 4 this season.

 

Another Sophomore for you

Roman Hemby, RB Maryland- 6 ft 200 lbs guy who is a bruiser with burst. Pretty shifty for a bigger back. I think he’ll be RB1 in his class.

 
 

 

Adonai Mitchell, WR Texas: 6’3” 200 lbs Georgia transfer. Hasn’t be super productive but he’s got all the tools that Ballard likes and appears to have basic route running skills. Violent RAC guy as well

 

Leonard Taylor III, DT Miami: 6’4” 305 lbs who can stop the run and offers some pass rush. Have to eventually start thinking about D-line rotation and life after Buckner.

[OhioColt]

15 hours ago, Defjamz26 said:

Laiatu Latu, Edge UCLA: 6’5” 265 lbs who was originally at Washington but was medically disqualified after the 2019 season. Came back to UCLA in 2022 and had 10.5 sacks. Currently has 4 this season.

 

Another Sophomore for you

 

RB Maryland- 6 ft 200 lbs guy who is a bruiser with burst. Pretty shifty for a bigger back. I think he’ll be RB1 in his class.

 
 

 

Adonai Mitchell, WR Texas: 6’3” 200 lbs Georgia transfer. Hasn’t be super productive but he’s got all the tools that Ballard likes and appears to have basic route running skills. Violent RAC guy as well

 

Leonard Taylor III, DT Miami: 6’4” 305 lbs who can stop the run and offers some pass rush. Have to eventually start thinking about D-line rotation and life after Buckner.

Do have edge Laiatu Latu (UCLA) as a senior where in Week 1 he had an impressive outing with 3 sacks, 3 hits and 4 hurries to earn 93.9 PFF pass-rushing grade earning 2023 PFF TOW 1 honors.  DL Leonard Taylor III, Miami Hurricanes, Sophomore was another player deeper on my watch list that I left off who earned 2022 PFF TOW 8 honors.

 

Good find on Roman Hembry of Maryland.  Averaging over 5 yards per carry and 9+ yards per catching.  Impressive stat line from 2022 and seems to be repeating for 2023.   

 

WR-Z Adonai Mitchell (Texas), Junior.  Missed 9 games in 2022 due to an ankle injury.  Impressive one-handed catch in the National Championship game where he played for Georgia in 2022.  Risk/reward potential as could see his draft stock rise if he remains healthy.  Will he declare for the draft or risk another injury?  

 

[Defjamz26]

Another guy to add to the list is Xavier Leggett from South Carolina. 6’3” 227 lbs. The comp I heard on the NFL stock exchange was DK Metcalf. I’m going to watch him today, but he currently leads the country (all of CFB if I’m not mistaken) in receiving yards (606). Averaging almost 19 yards a catch.

 
So far the guys I like the most for the Colts in this offense are Coleman and Odunze. Need guys that can consistently separate.