With the draft nigh upon us, time is running short to learn more about this year's class of prospects. Given the extended pre-draft season this year, I'm sure most are just fine with that. But I'm going to take one last look at some players. After all, there are over 1000 draftable players and even the voluminous quantity of draft-related articles, fan posts, and comments on BtB hasn't covered them all. And why should they? Only a quarter of those players will be drafted.
But let's put those players aside. Let's pretend the draft is over. Dallas has used its 11 picks to great effect. Now it's time for the mad UDFA scramble. Learning of the UDFAs that Dallas signs each year is like dumping out your stocking after all the other Christmas presents have been opened. It's like a ‘second free agency' period, and given the number of quality players the team has acquired as post-draft UDFA and the overall Cowboys mystique, it seems Dallas has some advantages in recruiting these players.
Recently, I looked at some lower-ranked draft prospects who were very highly rated coming out of high school. Now, I want to look at some lower ranked draft prospects who were very highly rated coming off their final college season.
Huh? How's that?
To be more precise, I want to look at some players who the media has assigned a low draft ranking but who another set of evaluators felt warranted special recognition for exemplary play. That other set of evaluators are the head coaches of the FBS.
Talent evaluation is a key ability for successful coaches, especially at the college level where coaches play a large role in the recruitment process. Coaches have a deep understanding of the game, of player roles and responsibilities, schemes and assignments. They are among the best candidates to assess performance and identify top talent.
Recognizing the unique insight of their coaches, collegiate football conferences often involve them in various polls and award processes. Among these are the selection of the all-conference teams that follow each season. Now, undoubtedly there is some politicking that accompanies the selection of all-conference teams, but while there may be some quibbles they are generally a pretty good picture of the top performers in a conference for a given season.
I've looked at the all-conference teams, as selected by the coaches, for all 11 FBS conferences (including the independents). Then I identified which of the all-conference players were draft eligible and listed them in order of their current ranking on the CBS Big Board (as of today).
Of course, this list includes many of the top prospects familiar to us all and many with whom the Cowboys have already met. But, then I trimmed the list to only those players who were ranked 257th or lower, i.e. players that if the draft conformed to that ranking would go undrafted.
I was a bit surprised by the results. Of the 167 players who were 1st Team All-Conference selections, 64 (38.3%) of them were ranked 257th or lower. I suppose I was expecting even more of the 1st teamers to be given a draftable ranking.
Wait. Let me guess. This is a list of C-USA and Sun Belt players, right?
Yes, the list is more heavily populated by players from conferences outside the BCS 6, but there are still players from big-time programs such as Florida State, Notre Dame, Stanford, Nebraska, Michigan State, Miami (FL), and others.
Wait. Let me guess. There are 11 conferences, so there are probably like 11 kickers and 11 punters in the list, right?
Surprisingly, no! There were only 2 kickers and 2 punters in the ‘Forgotten 64.' The most common positions among the group of 64 players were inside linebacker (6), wide receiver (6), center (5), strong safety (5), defensive tackle (5), and outside linebacker (5). The least common was quarterback (1).
OK, but were there any actual IMPACT players?
Dallas wants front seven pressure players, right? The nation's 7th leading sack producer (a player who tallied 12 sacks for the year) is among these players.
That's one. Any more?
Check this out: there are FIVE (5) conference Offensive or Defensive Players of the Year in that group. Again, these are FBS conferences. And these are five players who the coaches of their conference decided were the best overall player on their side of the ball.
Could you put together a team with these guys?
Given the positional breakdown of those 64 players, you could form nearly TWO complete teams of 1st Team All-Conference players that might not be drafted.
Ladies and gentlemen, your 2013 All-Conference Afterthoughts!
Player |
School |
CBS |
Conference |
Position. |
Jordan Lynch |
Northern Illinois |
475 |
MAC |
QB |
David Fluellen |
Toledo |
276 |
MAC |
RB |
Antonio Andrews |
WKU |
304 |
SUN |
RB |
Albert Wilson |
Georgia State |
269 |
SUN |
WR |
Tevin Reese |
Baylor |
327 |
Big 12 |
WR |
Gator Hoskins |
Marshall |
283 |
C-USA |
TE |
Bryan Stork |
FSU |
264 |
ACC |
C |
Parker Graham |
OK State |
306 |
Big 12 |
OT |
Evan Finkenberg |
Arizona State |
315 |
PAC-12 |
OT |
Ryan Groy |
Wisconsin |
319 |
Big 10 |
OG |
Chris Watt |
Notre Dame |
292 |
IND |
OG |
Ben Gardner |
Stanford |
278 |
PAC-12 |
DE |
IK Enemkpali |
Louisiana Tech |
396 |
C-USA |
DE |
Eathyn Manumaleuna |
BYU |
286 |
IND |
DT |
Ryan Carrethers |
Arkansas State |
267 |
SUN |
DT |
Shaquil Barrett |
Colorado State |
355 |
MWC |
OLB |
Shawn Jackson |
Tulane |
821 |
C-USA |
ILB |
Xavius Boyd |
WKU |
451 |
SUN |
OLB |
Bene Benwikere |
San Jose State |
329 |
MWC |
CB |
Ciante Evans |
Nebraska |
367 |
Big 10 |
CB |
Ty Zimmerman |
K-State |
284 |
Big 12 |
FS |
Isaiah Lewis |
Michigan St. |
295 |
Big 10 |
SS |
Cairo Santos |
Tulane |
277 |
C-USA |
K |
Pat O'Donnell |
Miami (FL) |
260 |
ACC |
P |
Trevor Gillette |
Rice |
368 |
C-USA |
LS |
Brelan Chancellor |
North Texas |
562 |
C-USA |
KR |
Bolded players were the Offensive or Defensive Player of the Year for their respective conferences.
You mentioned 5 defensive tackles earlier. Dallas could use some of them. Who are they?
Ryan Carrethers, Arkansas State, CBS 267
Eathyn Manumaleuna, BYU, CBS 286
Calvin Barnett, Oklahoma State, CBS 372
Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe, Boise State, CBS 599
Jordan Stepp, Cincinnati, CBS 876
You mentioned a player with 12 sacks. Who is it?
The MWC Defensive Player of the Year and 1st team outside linebacker, Shaquil Barrett, currently the 355th ranked player on the CBS board.
Who is the lowest ranked 1st Team All-Conference player in the draft?
That would be Nate Richards, Rice, the 1st team C-USA center. Talk about no respect!
Any of these guys have a chance to wear the Star?
Who knows (outside of Valley Ranch)? Over the past couple of months there have been some rumors here and there about Dallas' interest in players like Eathyn Manumaleuna (DT), IK Enempkali (DE), Xavius Boyd (OLB), and Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe (DT). Personally, of those, I like Boyd the best.
OK. You might as well give the whole list.
Player |
School |
CBS |
Conference |
Position. |
Pat O'Donnell |
Miami (FL) |
260 |
ACC |
P |
Bryan Stork |
FSU |
264 |
ACC |
C |
Ryan Carrethers |
Arkansas State |
267 |
SUN |
DT |
Albert Wilson |
Georgia State |
269 |
SUN |
WR |
Tyler Larsen |
Utah State |
275 |
MWC |
C |
David Fluellen |
Toledo |
276 |
MAC |
RB |
Cairo Santos |
Tulane |
277 |
C-USA |
K |
Ben Gardner |
Stanford |
278 |
PAC-12 |
DE |
Gator Hoskins |
Marshall |
283 |
C-USA |
TE |
Ty Zimmerman |
K-State |
284 |
Big 12 |
FS |
Eathyn Manumaleuna |
BYU |
286 |
IND |
DT |
Chris Watt |
Notre Dame |
292 |
IND |
OG |
Isaiah Lewis |
Michigan St. |
295 |
Big 10 |
SS |
Jonathan Newsome |
Ball State |
299 |
MAC |
OLB |
Antonio Andrews |
WKU |
304 |
SUN |
RB |
Parker Graham |
OK State |
306 |
Big 12 |
OT |
Nat Berhe |
San Diego State |
307 |
MWC |
SS |
Evan Finkenberg |
Arizona State |
315 |
PAC-12 |
OT |
Ryan Groy |
Wisconsin |
319 |
Big 10 |
OG |
Robert Nelson |
Arizona State |
320 |
PAC-12 |
FS |
Austin Wentworth |
Fresno State |
324 |
MWC |
OT |
Tevin Reese |
Baylor |
327 |
Big 12 |
WR |
Bene Benwikere |
San Jose State |
329 |
MWC |
CB |
Jeff Budzien |
Northwestern |
337 |
Big 10 |
K |
Alden Darby |
Arizona State |
341 |
PAC-12 |
SS |
BooBoo Gates |
Bowling Green |
353 |
MAC |
SS |
Shaquil Barrett |
Colorado State |
355 |
MWC |
OLB |
Willie Snead |
Ball State |
361 |
MAC |
WR |
Dan Fox |
Notre Dame |
362 |
IND |
ILB |
Ciante Evans |
Nebraska |
367 |
Big 10 |
CB |
Trevor Gillette |
Rice |
368 |
C-USA |
LS |
Calvin Barnett |
OK State |
372 |
Big 12 |
DT |
Isaiah Newsome |
UL-Monroe |
382 |
SUN |
FS |
Hakeem Smith |
Louisville |
386 |
AAC |
SS |
Cody Webster |
Purdue |
390 |
Big 10 |
P |
IK Enemkpali |
Louisiana Tech |
396 |
C-USA |
DE |
Jayrone Elliott |
Toledo |
403 |
MAC |
DE |
Chris Coyle |
Arizona State |
408 |
PAC-12 |
TE |
Camren Hudson |
Troy |
434 |
SUN |
FS |
Roosevelt Nix |
Kent State |
446 |
MAC |
ILB |
Alex Neutz |
Buffalo |
448 |
MAC |
WR |
Xavius Boyd |
WKU |
451 |
SUN |
OLB |
UL-Lafayette |
468 |
SUN |
ILB |
|
Jordan Lynch |
Northern Illinois |
475 |
MAC |
QB |
Kapri Bibbs |
Colorado State |
476 |
MWC |
RB |
Najja Johnson |
Buffalo |
497 |
MAC |
CB |
Branden Oliver |
Buffalo |
502 |
MAC |
RB |
Eric Thomas |
Troy |
546 |
SUN |
WR |
Josh Allen |
UL-Monroe |
550 |
SUN |
C |
Trey Watts |
Tulsa |
555 |
C-USA |
RB |
Brelan Chancellor |
North Texas |
562 |
C-USA |
KR |
Uani 'Unga |
BYU |
572 |
IND |
ILB |
Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe |
Boise State |
599 |
MWC |
DT |
Shaun Lewis |
OK State |
616 |
Big 12 |
OLB |
Darryl Surgent |
UL-Lafayette |
662 |
SUN |
KR |
Chief Kekuewa |
Bowling Green |
704 |
MAC |
C |
Eddie Lackey |
Baylor |
705 |
Big 12 |
OLB |
Dayonne Nunley |
Miami (OH) |
745 |
MAC |
CB |
Chris McAllister |
Baylor |
754 |
Big 12 |
DE |
San Jose State |
768 |
MWC |
ILB |
|
Shawn Jackson |
Tulane |
821 |
C-USA |
ILB |
Zane Fakes |
Ball State |
830 |
MAC |
TE |
Jordan Stepp |
Cincinnati |
876 |
AAC |
DT |
Nate Richards |
Rice |
945 |
C-USA |
C |
Unlike the former highly rated high school players whose stars have dimmed, these guys just put together a season that earned the respect of the coaches they played for and against. See anyone in this list you have an interest in?