Underrated players entering the 2013 season

[katstrapper]

You guys are mentioning a lot of breakout players but who had a great year last year and somehow was underrated and will be a top player who finally gets the credit this year?

I'll toss out a couple breakout and overrated players for you guys.

BREAKOUT
QB Andy Vailas, UNH
QB Michael Birdsong, JMU
RB John Crockett, NDSU
FB Donovan Johnson, Wofford
WR Zach Walker, GSU
WR Grant Gellatly, Cornell
WR Tyler McDonald, SC State
CB Dante Blackmon, App State
TE Matt Lengel, EKU
TE Kevin Vaadeland, NDSU
OT Javarius Leamon, SC State
OT Kendall Lamm, App State
OG Travon Carter, EKU
OG Donald Jackson, SHSU
DE Kyle Emanuel, NDSU
DE Iosua Siliva, Austin Peay
DE Michael Yules, Brown
DE Shawn Shupperd, EKU
DE Anthony Grady, Missouri State
DT Jerry Mathis, Samford
DT Jordan Stanton, JMU
DT David Carter, EKU
LB Joe Thomas, SC State
LB Jonathan Spain, Elon- He was all-socon but he will be an All-American this year.
LB Bryan Presume, SIU
CB Ivan Toomer, Gardner-Webb
CB Todd Washington, SLU
CB Lavelle Westbrooks, GSU
DE Shaquille Riddick, Gardner-Webb
LB Brandon Denmark, FAMU

OVERRATED
These players are good but have a little too much hype on them. They aren't heavily liked by the next level right now or they just did not pop out to me like their accolades might make you think.

OT Bryan Witzmann, SDSU
DE Colton Underwood, Illinois State
OL Malcolm Boyd, Liberty
RB Andrew Pierce, Delaware

I think many people have them just a little higher than they should be. None of those names are draftable players and the very best players in FCS, the truly best players that is, will play in the NFL. I don't know if any of those names are more than just really solid college players who won't make it at the next level unless it's a secondary league.

Good pick on Jackson to have a breakout season. This kid started as a true freshman last year and had a solid year playing RG next to All-Conference RT Kaleb Hopson. Jackson is very versitle in that he can play various positions across the front. When Hopson got hurt in the EWU playoff game, he moved out to RT and filled in there.

One player for SHSU that I think is a little underrated is QB Brian Bell. You dont hear much about him or see him on many preseason lists but all the kid had done is break records and WIN!! Oh and not to mention has been to back to back Natl Championship games in Frisco.

Bell's career stats as QB at SHSU

Bearkats’ all-time “winningest” quarterback, leading team to 30 victories in 38 starts the past three seasons ... Sam Houston’s career leader in both passing yards (6,165), passing TDs (52) and total offense (7,980) ... two-time second team All-Southland selection

[BisonFan02]

Good pick on Jackson to have a breakout season. This kid started as a true freshman last year and had a solid year playing RG next to All-Conference RT Kaleb Hopson. Jackson is very versitle in that he can play various positions across the front. When Hopson got hurt in the EWU playoff game, he moved out to RT and filled in there.

One player for SHSU that I think is a little underrated is QB Brian Bell. You dont hear much about him or see him on many preseason lists but all the kid had done is break records and WIN!! Oh and not to mention has been to back to back Natl Championship games in Frisco.

Bell's career stats as QB at SHSU

Bearkats’ all-time “winningest” quarterback, leading team to 30 victories in 38 starts the past three seasons ... Sam Houston’s career leader in both passing yards (6,165), passing TDs (52) and total offense (7,980) ... two-time second team All-Southland selection

Bell will have a tough time making any list when he performs like he does in back to back chips....might not be fair, but I think that has something to do with it.

[RowdyRedhawk]

Kyle Snyder-SEMO QB
Transferred in last year from Ohio, then blew out his knee.
wowed everyone last season in the spring and fall camp before getting hurt.
had a huge spring. kid is on another level out there,6'2 230 extremly fast and athletic dont even get me started on his huge arm.
he will have a huge year for us

[Bisonator]

Bell will have a tough time making any list when he performs like he does in back to back chips....might not be fair, but I think that has something to do with it.

He sure took a beating in those 2 games!

[lionsrking2]

Kyle Snyder-SEMO QB
Transferred in last year from Ohio, then blew out his knee.
wowed everyone last season in the spring and fall camp before getting hurt.
had a huge spring. kid is on another level out there,6'2 230 extremly fast and athletic dont even get me started on his huge arm.
he will have a huge year for us

We'll see him up close in game one ... sounds like he'll be a handful.

[Houndawg]

More for SIU Salukis:

Brandon Minor--not overly underrated (2-3 star) but rather under reported since he signed with a mere 6-5 team. The 6'3" 235 ILB already benches over 400 pounds and may see some action as true frosh
Kitray Solomon---6'2" 240 DE from Garden City CC--came out of Spring and will be fighting for starting position.

Tay Willis--5'8" 170 RB/ KOR was not highly recruited because of size but has run consistently under 4.4 sec in forty, benches 340 and squats over 400--was surprisingly hard to bring down in spring drills--when tacklers were able to catch him---one former SIU coach I talked to feels he may eventually end up a starter.

Marcus Miller--under recruited S from Fayette Academy in Somerville Tenn. 6'1" 170 also was a RB his senior year (1426 yds/ 9ypc) was relative unknown till he came to SIU summer camp last year and ran an electronic timed 4.37 second forty. Saluki coaches were so astonished they thought it was an error but Miller stepped right up 20 minutes later and ran the exact same time again! May be red-shirted but may also get time on special teams as a KR.

I don't think it is a good idea to redshirt 4.37. Can he play WR?

[chattownmocs]

In the SOCON you have to start with some of UTCs defenders. Derrick Lott is one of the best DTs in the nation. Wes Forward is as solid as they come at MLB in the nation. DJ Key should be an all american at S. GSU has some devastating ball carriers. App has the receivers. Wofford has the oline.

[clenz]

So....

UTC should be a top 10 team this year, no question, right?

[smallcollegefbfan]

So....

UTC should be a top 10 team this year, no question, right?

Please don't get into an argument with him over this because when you bring facts to the table he just ignores and lets the subject go.

[blueballs]

So....

UTC should be a top 10 team this year, no question, right?

From a talent standpoint it is certainly possible.

They'll have one of the best defenses in the division and the young QB is a special talent.