2022 College Fantasy Football Mock Draft

I know it is college fantasy football season when I begin the Vietnam War unit with my sophomores in U.S. History class. Now is the time to take a look at College Fantasy Football player values and sleepers with the ninth annual Summa Cum Laude Mock Draft.

It is incredible to witness the transformation, and growth, of the college fantasy football game and be a small part of our wonderful pastime. In fourteen years playing college fantasy football, I have never seen so many websites, Podcasts, YouTube shows, and Twitter accounts dedicated to our hobby. I tapped into the pool of CFF experts in order to assist our readers and assembled an All-American team for a mock draft.

Enjoy my fellow CFF diehards!

Summa Cum Laude Post-Draft Analysis

The CFF All-American Team

In addition to CFB Winning Edge player and coach ratings, depth charts, as well as preseason and single-game projections, I offer CFF player rankings and individual preseason stat projections for all 131 FBS teams at Patreon.com/CFBWinningEdge.

– Nicholas Ian Allen, @CFBWinningEdge

I’ve been writing and analyzing College Fantasy Football about as long as Taysom Hill was in college. Last year, I teamed up with theCFFSite.com where you can find our player rankings, season-long and weekly projections, conference write-ups, and plenty more to help you succeed in your college fantasy leagues. Our CFF Site Discord server is also a must with your subscription to stay up to date with player news, discuss CFB DFS lineups or prop bets, as well as interact daily with other college fantasy players.

– Mike Bainbridge, @MBainbridgeCFF

I am the Lead CFF Analyst at FantasyPoints.com. We are kicking off a brand new CFB package in June of this year for the upcoming season that will include: CFB DFS, CFB Betting, CFB Player Props, Devy Rankings, CFF Preseason Content, CFF Weekly Rankings, and CFF Weekly WW Articles.

– Josh Chevalier, @CFFguys

Eric Froton is the co-commissioner of the 50-team College Football Championship league and has been involved in CFF since drafting BYU All-American Luke Staley with the fifth-overall selection of the 2001 NCFF draft. He works at NBCSportsEdge.com where he writes about CFF, the NFL Draft and college football prop betting where he hit 73% of his recommended plays in 2021. Eric also co-hosts the In This League CFF Podcast with John Laub and Scott Bogman.

– Eric Froton, @CFFroton

A college football fanatic since 1978 when QB Rick Leach led Michigan to the Big Ten Championship and Rose Bowl, I started playing college fantasy football in 2008, drafting Michael Crabtree, Tim Tebow, and LeSean McCoy with my top three picks…I have been addicted ever since. Six years ago, I joined the Fantrax team as a CFF writer and am the Senior CFF Analyst, providing player profiles and rankings, weekly Waiver Wire Gemstones and sleepers for diehards like myself. Last year, I commissioned the first CFF King’s Classic league at the Fantasy Football Expo in Canton, OH and am a proud UConn season ticket holder for the past decade. I look forward to another twenty years of college fantasy football success.

– John Laub, @GridironSchol91

Hello, from the Aceholes. Surrounded by these great fantasy professionals makes me feel like Bobby Jones in the 1929 U.S. Open at Winged Foot with Gene Sarazen, Tommy Armour, Walter Hagen and all of the other “pros” getting bested by amateur Jones. Jones didn’t collect a check that day or any day, but that didn’t make him any less of a golfer. So, while I have no fantasy sites to plug, you can always get advice or a spirited debate at @aceholesrule on Twitter.

– Mitch Hardt, @aceholesrule

Twitterverse on Fire!

Among Group 5 quarterbacks, who are you interested in drafting in college fantasy football leagues?

Frank Harris, UTSA: 25%

Jake Haener, Fresno State: 48%

Clay Millen, Colorado State: 13%

Logan Bonner, Utah State: 14%

“I have to go with some Fresno State love.”

@DFS_CFBGuru

“I mean…the right answer is Jake Haener.”

@sharpereview

“I’ll take the guy who threw for 33 touchdowns and 4,000 yards last season, Jake Haener.”

@NinoBrown_T2T

“Quarterback is so deep this year that I’d be happy with any of those guys.”

@CFF_Jared

“At their current ADP, Clay Millen is giving you the best value.”

@Lepp_O

“Surprised at how few votes Clay Millen got. He will take over for Carson Strong in that Jay Norvell system. There are several offensive pieces that have followed from Nevada to Colorado State. Millen is about to put up massive numbers this season.”

@Fantatics_Rich

I am a College Fantasy Football writer at Campus2Canton.com. I am also a frequent podcast guest on “Chasing the Natty” hosted by Jared Palmgren. I am often on Twitter discussing CFF and college football in general.

– Nate Marchese, @CFFNate

I am one of the founders of the Chasing the Natty CFF Podcast, a weekly, year round, show dedicated mostly to CFF redraft discussion and strategy, with CFF Dynasty and Campus2Canton mixed in. I am the Senior CFF Analyst for Campus2Canton.com, where I lead an incredible team of CFF analysts to provide ample content of your CFF needs, including articles, podcasts, rankings, CFF ADP, tools and more to come. I am the commissioner of “Redshirt” leagues dedicated to first-time players of CFF redraft. If you want to dip your toes into CFF and play against other CFF first-timers, reach out to me. This summer we’ll be releasing a CFF Guide which includes breakdowns for all 131 FBS teams, the top players at each position and much more.

– Jared Palmgren, @CFF_Jared

My writing and work is at DynastyNerds.com and Campus2Canton.com, and my rankings are found there. I am the man behind the scenes. I do a lot of editing and consuming information. My podcast “The Daily Draft Report” is an early spring pod and leads up to the draft!

– Dwight Peebles, @FFPeeblesChamp

There’s a near 100% chance I’m either devouring college football content or creating it myself on any given day. It’s a sick obsession we all have, but please just let us be. I’d like to give a shoutout here to Mr. Laub—you bringing me on for last year’s version of Fantrax’s CFF Waiver Wire Gemstones was a terrific experience. I’m pleased to announce that I will be joining the Devy Watch team for the 2022 college football season, where I’ll be tackling offseason and in-season CFF (DFS & season-long) and CFB betting content. This upcoming season will mark year three of my YouTube show where I provide breakdowns for CFB DFS, which can be found on my channel YonkersCFB as well as the Daily Bread Media YouTube channel. In addition, the wonderful folks at Fantasy Points have something exceptional in the works for their new college football package (coming mid-June, details to come!) to which I will contribute.

– JD Yonke, @YonkersCFB

Burning the Redshirt is a college fantasy football podcast hosted and presented to you by Chris Kay, @RealestChrisKay, Andrew Katz, @Andrewpkatz and Zach Tow, @zrtow_cff. We use our 10-plus years of CFF experience, and immense success, to give only the best opinions regarding relevant (and not so relevant) topics throughout the year. You can find us streaming live via our YouTube channel and on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

– Burning The Redshirt, @BTR_Pod

CFFInsiders.com is currently servicing the College Fantasy Football community exclusively through our website and twitter page. Our site provides weekly waiver wire updates throughout the season with frequently updated Player Rankings all throughout the offseason beginning immediately after bowl season. Our twitter account is one of the best for transfer portal news and analysis on recent CFF related happenings.

– CFFInsiders, @InsiderCff

Summa Cum Laude Mock Draft Rules

Starting Lineup:

2 Quarterbacks, 2 Running Backs, 3 Wide Receivers, 1 Tight End, 1 Flex and 1 Team Defense

Scoring:

6 points for passing, rushing and receiving touchdowns

½ point per reception

Rushing and receiving yards: .10 point per yard

Passing yards: .04 point per yard

Full Mock Draft Results

Sort through each round of the draft using the arrows at the bottom of the table.

2022 CFF Summa Cum Laude Mock Draft Analysis

1. Identify your top sleeper candidate this season.

As of this draft, my favorite deep sleeper is UTSA running back Brendan Brady. The Roadrunners lost Sincere McCormick early to the NFL Draft, and it initially looked like his top backups Brady (308 rushing yards, 4 touchdowns in 2021) and B.J. Daniels were both set to begin their post-college football lives as well. However, after sitting out spring practice, Brady opted to utilize the extra year of eligibility he was awarded in 2020 and has returned to the roster.

Junior college transfer Tye Edwards is an exciting prospect, and he carried a heavy workload in the spring. There’s a great chance Edwards, who is listed at 6’2” and 232 pounds, will be the top ball carrier for the Roadrunners in an offense that gave 299 carries to a single running back last season. Plus, quarterback Frank Harris returns as both a running threat (504 yards and 6 touchdowns last year) and an improving passer with a trio of proven wideouts. However, I believe Brady was brought back because he has a chance to compete for the top spot on the depth chart.

– Nicholas Ian Allen

One of the most tried-and-true systems for college fantasy running backs is not settled just yet with last year’s leading returnee Jalen Mitchell battling upstart sophomore Trevion Cooley and Tennessee transfer Tiyon Evans. But coming out of spring, it appears Cooley has a leg up on his competitors, as confirmed by multiple Louisville publications, despite the strong performances in the final scrimmage by both Mitchell and Evans. Running back No. 1s under Scott Satterfield have averaged over 1,200 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns over the last eight years, so Louisville settling on one guy as the starter would be extremely noteworthy, and I feel strongly that, as of late May, it will be Cooley coming out on top.

– Mike Bainbridge

There are so many good CFF analysts, websites and Podcasts now that it’s hard to truly identify sleepers these days. However, a running back I’ve found consistently goes later than he should is former redshirt freshman and USC runner Brandon Campbell, who recently transferred to Houston after Alton McCaskill tore his ACL. Campbell is a talented 5’11” and 210-pound ball carrier, who ran a verified 4.58 40-yard dash and 4.07 short shuttle out of high school, showing off both strong speed and elite agility. A 4-star prospect according to 247Sports, he would have been the highest-rated running back to ever commit to Houston if he had signed out of high school.

With Alton McCaskill presumably out for the year (he was just cleared to start walking recently), Campbell’s biggest competition for carries is 5’7” and 170-pound Ta’Zhawn Henry, who is really more of a change-of-pace back than workhorse. Campbell has both the talent and opportunity, typically great ingredients for CFF success.

– Josh Chevalier

Ever since 4-star RB Peny Boone transferred to Toledo in the offseason, it has seemingly been a given that he would beat out last year’s backup Micah Kelly for the lead back role for the Rockets. Whoever holds the keys to the Toledo starting RB spot is in position for every week CFF starting duty once MAC play begins, as 2021 starter Bryant Koback rolled up 209 carries for 1,415 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground to go with 29 receptions on 35 targets for 334 yards and two touchdowns in the air. 

Last year Kelly carried 59 times for 5.3 YPC, 314 yards and three touchdowns while earning a very strong 82.8 run grade according to PFF College. Kelly rushed for 10-plus yards on 20% of his carries while averaging 3.6 yards after contact. Conversely, Boone checks in at 6’1” and 245-pounds and lacked explosiveness in his opportunities at Maryland, rushing 39 times for 172 yards, 4.4 YPC and two touchdowns with a 60.2 offensive grade from PFF College. I’m extremely skeptical that Boone is anything more than a change of pace, quasi-H-Back at the collegiate level, who is too plodding for an every down role. 

– Eric Froton

The sleeper candidate that likely will not be under the radar much longer is RB Tye Edwards of UTSA. A big back standing at 6’2” and 232-pounds, Edwards’ bruising style should fit well in the backfield of the Roadrunners. It took Edwards a lot of time to get to the big stage and all that hard work is about to pay off. His ADP is beginning to creep up, but even selecting him in the 6th to 8th rounds will make him a solid value with huge upside.

– Mitch Hardt

There obviously are a lot of sharps in this mock, so not many guys were slept on with this specific draft. In general, some guys that I feel are undervalued are Chris Smith of UL-L, Clay Millen of CSU, and Joshua Simon of WKU.

I got Smith in the 6th round, but I probably could have waited even later based on other drafts. Many seem to have written him off after a down year in 2021, but he’s clearly the lead back after the departures of Montrell Johnson and Emani Bailey. The offensive coordinator was promoted to head coach and the schedule is very favorable.

Millen follows Norvell and his “Air Raid” system to Colorado State and he has a lot of pieces to work with in his first year as starter. Simon is an uber-athletic tight end and could be poised for a big season with all the vacant targets at WKU should he stay healthy.

– Nate Marchese

Many of my sleepers have seen their stock rise this offseason (Michael Trigg, Brian Cobbs, Jirehl Brock, Tye Edwards, etc), so I’ll have to dig deep once again. However, I believe we’re drafting the wrong wide receiver for Maryland. I’m staking my flag on Florida transfer Jacob Copeland.

Copeland is a former 4-star recruit and has always struck me as the kind of receiver you’d build in a lab. Unfortunately, he was hurt in his final year at Florida by coach Dan Mullen losing control of the program. I’ve never believed in the value of Rakim Jarrett, as he had his chance last year and Dontay Demus’ recovery hasn’t been inspiring. I think we see Copeland take the next step and continue building off a strong spring to become Taulia Tagovailoa’s favorite target.

– Jared Palmgren

Twitterverse on Fire!

In the middle rounds of College Fantasy Football drafts, who are you targeting among the following running backs

Keaton Mitchell, ECU: 21%

Jirehl Brock, Iowa State: 26%

Raheim Sanders, Arkansas: 40%

Montrell Johnson, Florida: 13%

“I love me some Rocket (Raheim Sanders) but his pure production is going to be iffy compared to guys like Keaton Mitchell or Jirehl Brock. I am too worried about the rotation at Florida.”

@FF_Guitarist

“There are a lotta DEVY/C2C players answering Raheim Sanders, I’d have him ranked fourth.”

@ChrisMoxley19

“I have to go with Jirehl Brock based on projected volume alone.”

@DFS_CFBGuru

“I like Jirehl Brock and Raheim Sanders, but Keaton Mitchell is the only one who had 1,000 yards last year. We’ve seen East Carolina lean on him. I’ll probably sit him against NC State, BYU, and Cincinnati, but otherwise, he also has by far the best schedule.”

@copieps

“I’ll take Raheim ‘Rocket’ Sanders.”

@NinoBrown_T2T

I’ll go a little deeper with mine. I love Joshua Simon, the tight end from Western Kentucky. I love to wait until the later rounds to grab my tight end, and Simon has TE No. 1 potential in the Hilltoppers’ offense.

Bailey Zappe and his 39,000 yards (I’m not an analytics guy, I know it was a lot) are gone and the offense also lost its offensive coordinator. Mitchell Tinsley and Jerreth Sterns, top two receivers from 2021, are also gone. The offense will still be high octane, and Simon is a veteran presence. 

The last time Simon had significant playing time was in 2020. He caught 33 passes for 370 yards and scored three times. A knee injury derailed him in 2021, but he’ll be back with a vengeance in 2022. Simon is my favorite tight end target late in CFF drafts. 

– Dwight Peebles

I am always seeking an undervalued player as my third quarterback in CFF drafts. Looking at early ADP, there is no question that I will be selecting a ton of Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland. In 2021, he set single-season marks for passing yards (3,860) and completions (328) and established a program record with seven 300-yard passing games. The Terrapins finished thirteen in the nation in passing yards per game and scored 29.3 points per game. Maryland returns four starting offensive linemen, and Tagovailoa has a tempting ceiling in coach Mike Locksley’s system.

I placed Tagovailoa in the queue and targeted him with my selection at the end of the 13th round. Unfortunately, Jared Palmgren plucked him off the draft board as his third quarterback. Despite my disappointment in this draft, I will be happy to acquire the Maryland signal caller as my top backup on CFF rosters as long as his ADP remains so low.

– John Laub

Damien Martinez, freshman running back for Oregon State. I’m not sure if this qualifies as cheating or not. Not selected in the Summa Cum Laude Mock Draft, Martinez is more of a deep sleeper at this point and can be had virtually cost-free in standard CFF formats.

Martinez, a three-star recruit from Lewisville, Texas, brings plenty of size to the position at 5’10” and 220-pounds. He looks college-ready from the jump. I expect him to be a contributor from Day 1. The Beavers have one of the most underrated offenses in the country year after year under Jonathan Smith, and have fostered CFF stars like Jermar Jefferson and B.J. Baylor, the latter of whom rushed for 1,337 yards and 13 touchdowns a year ago.

Baylor is gone and there’s a vacancy in the backfield. Beat writers have said that if a workhorse back is on this roster, it’s the true freshman Martinez, who has received rave reviews throughout spring. He’s no guarantee to win the job. Yet. He has the opportunity to pay huge rewards for your pennies-worth of investment for a team that rushed for 214.3 yards per game a season ago.

– JD Yonke

Besides Bru McCoy, our biggest sleeper is Jake Bobo, the receiver from UCLA. The Duke import sneakily caught 74 passes for nearly 800 yards and one touchdown last year in an anemic Duke offense (237 passing yards per game, 9 touchdowns & 9 interceptions). With Kyle Philips and Greg Dulcich both in the NFL, the WR No. 1 spot is wide open in what should be a continuously improving offense at UCLA. With no other threats out wide, Dorian Thompson-Robinson to Bobo is a connection we believe we’ll be seeing a lot of in 2022.

– Burning The Redshirt

The player we are currently loving is Chandler Rogers from UL-Monroe. Rogers stepped up in the absence of Rhett Rodriguez last season for the WarHawks. After a hard debut against Coastal Carolina, Rogers averaged 200-plus passing yards and two scores with 40-plus yards rushing in his other four starts. The WarHawks return offensive coordinator Matt Kubik, who served as the play-caller during the Caleb Evans campaigns. Rogers appears to be the guy for them going into the season. A lot of upside for a quarterback that is universally undrafted.

– CCFInsiders

2. After the eighth round, who is the player that will become a weekly starter who is currently under the radar?

I believe Purdue receiver Broc Thompson (13th round selection) has a great chance to become a CFF starter in 2022, and potentially an outright star. Thompson (30 receptions, 457 yards, 4 touchdowns in 2021) flew under the radar most of the spring. Many fans and analysts expected Milton Wright to replace David Bell as the Boilermakers’ most productive wideout. With Wright out of spring practice due to academics, most of the reports and discussion surrounding Purdue’s receivers focused on Iowa transfer Tyrone Tracy, Jr. and the potential he would play a hybrid role a la Deebo Samuel for Jeff Brohm.

Tracy is a potential breakout player. With the news this month that Wright will be ineligible for the 2022 season, he probably has the inside track to be Aidan O’Connell’s favorite target this year. However, Thompson and O’Connell have more history, including an incredible performance in the bowl game last season in which Thompson caught seven passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns. With Milton out of the picture, and Tracy potentially often lining up in the backfield, Thompson should see plenty of targets in an offense that averaged 44 pass attempts per game in 2021.

– Nicholas Ian Allen

Kris Thornton’s 83 receptions set a new single-season record last year at James Madison, as he was one of two receivers–Antwane Wells being the other–to top the 1,000-yard mark. With Wells now at South Carolina, and former Boston College transfer Kobay White no longer transferring to JMU, Thornton is certain to be the focal point of the passing offense where the WR No. 1 accounts for around 35% of the team’s receiving yards over the last three seasons. Thornton’s receptions for 1,097 yards and 13 touchdowns stat-line last season would have put him at WR No. 19 in CFF, and he could see a higher target share in 2022 with the second and third receiver spots up for grabs on the depth chart.

– Mike Bainbridge

This should surprise none of our friends in the CFF industry as it has become the expectation I’d draft the wide receiver from my alma mater, James Madison. However, I didn’t select him in this mock to see where he would fall. My good friend, Mike Bainbridge, decided to pick Kris Thorton in the 10th round as his wide receiver No. 3, and I think he got exceptional value.

Thornton is a player who had 83 catches for 1,097 yards and 13 touchdowns on 102 targets in 2021. He accumulated those stats next to FCS All-American receiver Antwane Wells, who logged 75 catches for 1,138 yards and 13 scores on 115 targets. Wells transferred to South Carolina this offseason, leaving behind a ton of vacated production. Thornton has the opportunity to match or eclipse last year’s production as the new No. 1 wide out for James Madison.

– Josh Chevalier

Since this draft utilized a six-point, per-passing touchdown format, I am going to say that 13th round Colorado State quarterback Clay Millen has the best chance to be a weekly starter. With coach Jay Norvell leaving Nevada for Colorado State, he brought along receivers Tory Horton and Melquan Stovall in addition to the borderline 4-star recruit Millen who served as Carson Strong’s understudy last season and now has the keys to offensive coordinator Matt Mumme’s “Air Raid” offense. 

Mumme’s aerial assault accounted for 44 passes (5th most nationally), 347 passing yards (6th) and 36 points per game (17th) last year and has plenty of weapons at Colorado State to make a seamless transition production-wise. With Millen going off the board in the 13th round at QB No. 33, he is a substantial value relative to where I have him ranked at QB No. 23 in six-point passing leagues. 

– Eric Froton

For a later-round sleeper candidate, the Aceholes are targeting QB Casey Thompson of Nebraska. Last season with the Longhorns, Thompson had two games over 40 points and another over 30. While his inconsistency is maddening, it is hard to ignore his potential.

With a super-easy schedule to begin the season, Thompson is a great late-round selection for any quarterback that starts off with a tough schedule. Or a signal-caller that you might be able to flip for a small school running back that has a brutal opening month slate. The reason for the flip talk is that Thompson and the Huskers conclude the 2022 campaign with Michigan, Wisconsin, and Iowa during the fantasy playoffs.

– Mitch Hardt

A couple of guys taken in the second half of this draft that really stood out to me and could become every week starters. I took Tyler Shough in the 13th round. It appears he has the inside track to start at QB for Texas Tech. Can he secure the job in fall camp and hang on to it throughout the season? Certainly some risk, but some big upside if he can.

I also like the selection of Cam Peoples in round 12. He doesn’t give you much in the passing game but I’m bullish on the App State backfield with the hiring of Kevin Barbay as offensive coordinator from Central Michigan. He helped turn Lew Nichols and Kobe Lewis into bonafide CFF studs. Barbay could do the same for Peoples and Noel at App State.

– Nate Marchese

QB Jarret Doege was drafted at the tail end of the 12th round, and that’s simply a mistake. While Doege isn’t exactly the most inspiring quarterback when it comes to talent, it seems he is set to be the heir apparent to the Western Kentucky QB position that threw 686 times last year.

Kittley may be gone to Texas Tech, but coach Tyson Helton’s future at the program depends on him recreating the magic the team experienced with Bailey Zappe last season. That’s why he’s hired Ben Arbuckle as their new offensive coordinator, who was the offensive quality analyst for Kittley at both Houston Baptist and WKU. Make no mistake, that system is still alive and well in Bowling Green, KY, and a signal-caller with that expected volume will be a weekly starter on someone’s squad in every league.

– Jared Palmgren

Twitterverse on Fire!

After Michael Mayer, Brock Bowers and Michael Trigg, there is a drop-off at tight end in college fantasy football: Who Ya Got as the No. 4 tight end in CFF Drafts?

Benjamin Yurosek, Stanford: 29%

Jaheim Bell, South Carolina: 54%

Marshon Ford, Louisville: 6%

Brant Kuithe, Utah: 11%

“Other: Zach Kuntz.”

@ChrisMoxley19

“Ja’Tavion Sanders could emerge as the guy.”

@allpurposescout

Lorenzo Styles, Jr. is getting no love: I got him in the 16th round of this mock and it’s borderline criminal. Why do you ask? Notre Dame finally has a passer who can push the ball downfield, and Michael Mayer isn’t the only target source. I love Styles’ size and overall skillset–he can work the sideline, but is also lethal catching the ball short and breaking off huge gains after. He’s physical with great hands, and we saw a glimpse of what he can do in the 2021 bowl game. Styles had eight grabs for 136 yards and a score against Oklahoma State, displaying the ability to be the Irish’s WR No. 1.

– Dwight Peebles

Systems dominate the college fantasy football landscape. In Kansas, coach Lance Leipold prefers to run the rock and will establish a physical ground game in his second season. At 5’11” and 208-pounds, Devin Neal rambled for 707 yards on 158 carries and scored eight times as a freshman in 2021.

A dual-sport athlete, Neal also plays baseball for the Jayhawks and successfully juggled both in the spring. “It definitely was one of those challenges trying to figure out mentally and physically, but just having both coaches communicate as well as making sure I am doing good mentally and physically, I am just super proud of that aspect,” Neal stated (si.com). Ky Thomas transferred from Minnesota to Kansas, which concerns some CFF managers. It does not trouble me. Leipold’s run scheme will provide enough carriers for both players. Neal will eclipse 1,000 yards rushing and double-digit touchdowns as a sophomore.

– John Laub

Scholar’s CFF All-Undrafted Team

QB Cameron Rising, Utah

QB Darren Grainger, Georgia State

RB Jo’quavious Marks, Mississippi State

RB Tyjae Spears, Tulane

WR Jaden Whalley, Mississippi State

WR Jake Bobo, UCLA

WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton, West Virginia

TE Isaac Rex, BYU

Defense Notre Dame

I’m a big Logan Bonner fan. The Utah State quarterback made the move to Logan, Utah, along with his former head coach at Arkansas State: Blake Anderson. Bonner saw immediate success (3,628 yards, 36 touchdowns) in the Mountain West under Anderson’s pass-heavy offense which is a delight for CFF purposes.

Most people seem out on Bonner because he loses his top three receivers from a year ago, including the diminutive CFF star Deven Thompkins (102 receptions, 1,704 yards, 10 touchdowns in 2021). I’ll admit that’s a concern, but I think Bonner’s price has plummeted too much in reaction. Anderson’s offense routinely churns out prolific passing numbers, so it’s a great system to play in.

Bonner is a more talented passer than he gets credit for—just turn on the tape and watch him slice and dice a dominant San Diego State defense in a 46-13 Utah State win in the Mountain West Championship game. The Aggies bring in a slew of wide receiver transfers, and I believe a few of them will stick as Bonner remains a CFF starter in 2022. Mike Bainbridge selected him in the 15th round, which I believe to be a solid value.

– JD Yonke

Tayvion Robinson is one of our favorite later-round players who we think could easily turn into a top five-round performer. He was used all over the field at Virginia Tech as a returner and receiver, who also has 29 career rushing attempts. Now, he goes to an offense with better quarterback play and a scheme that is designed to highlight a player with Robinson’s skillset.

– Burning The Redshirt

Of all the players drafted in the rounds, we are leaning towards Chris Tyree, Notre Dame. Tyree served predominantly as a pass-catching back for the Irish opposite Kyren Williams last season. While Logan Diggs may have out-touched him in the bowl game, the junior has seen much praise throughout the spring for being a locker room leader. He is just far too explosive with the ball in his hands for Notre Dame to lean on someone else. If his health holds up, Tyree will be a name that we look back and wonder why nobody had him ranked higher going into this mock draft.

– CFFInsiders

Scholars’ Draft Results and Strategy

When the randomizer assigned me the 12th pick overall, I immediately decided that I would double dip at a position. What one would it be? My opponents would dictate value on the board. Among the first 11 picks, five running backs, four receivers, and two quarterbacks were selected. My decision was easy: Draft two signal-callers to corner the market on uber-productive passers. Mission accomplished with Bryce Young, Alabama, and Hendon Hooker, Tennessee.

Obviously, I would play catch-up to build my backfield and wide receiver corps the rest of the evening. I could not believe that Kayshon Boutte, LSU remained available with the 36th selection. Of course, the negative rumors and injuries have suppressed his CFF value. Nevertheless, the Tigers’ sleek playmaker could be the top-scoring CFF receiver in 2022. I’ll embrace the risk-reward ratio for a potential star.

Rounding out the receivers, I plucked Zay Flowers, Boston College (6th), Puka Nacua, BYU (10th), and Rakim Jarrett, Maryland (11th) as my pass-catchers. If two of the three wideouts become weekly starters–a likely outcome in my analysis–my WR locker room will be strong. Finally, I acquired Sam Pinckney in the 13th round.

Usually, I have been a running back hoarder and even selected three to open last year’s CFF King’s Classic League. It did not work out and the team failed to reach expectations. In this draft, I selected Texas A&M home run hitter Devon Achane, who is my No. 14 ranked CFF runner. Afterward, I took a big chance and acquired freshman playmaker Nicholas Singleton, Penn State. I might have taken him too early but I did not think he would be available twenty-two picks later.

Not comfortable with my backfield, I targeted two runners in the 7th and 8th rounds. Two highly-ranked ball carriers remained, adding Raheim Sanders, Arkansas and Mohamed Ibrahim, Minnesota to my roster. Both have sneaky starter appeal with the potential to surpass 1,100 yards rushing and double-digit touchdowns. My final two backfield mates were Devin Neal, Kansas (my sleeper profile above) and Montrell Johnson, Florida.

I rounded out my roster selecting tight end Marshon Ford, Louisville (9th), quarterback Phil Jurkovec, Boston College (15th), and team defense Iowa Hawkeyes (14th). Clearly, the strength of my team is the quarterbacks, who have 70-point upside each week. If Boutte is a top-five wide receiver, the team poses many problems for opponents.

I like the outcome after opening the draft with back-to-back quarterbacks. The strategy can work with astute selections in the later rounds.