Welcome back to Part V of the series, where I will highlight guys that should be added to your supplemental draft queues. Today’s theme: Bowl Game Heroes, part one.
I will try to lay out some expectations and roughly where I would target the player in the supplemental draft (assuming it’s the standard 15 rounds). As a devy analyst, I will try to give an honest perspective on their NFL aspirations. It would be best if you, the reader, kept in mind when these articles are written that the players who are partially driven by opportunity could quickly lose that variable with a transfer portal addition. I am changing the rostership percentage from 25% to 5% or under in Fantrax leagues to qualify for this article. I have discovered that only 260 players are over 10% rostered in Fantrax; under 5% is the new number to beat. I know some of these guys will be obvious, but I hope to give you some deeper names.
I need to make a statement first about Bowl Games. This is the equivalent of pre-season football on the NFL level. Numerous players are in the portal, and the NFL draft quality players are sitting out to preserve their health. There is generally nothing to gain from playing in the bowl game. It’s deeper players on the roster getting their shot and trying to their stock for playing time next year. Bowl Game Performances should be taken with a grain of salt because of the lack of talent that’s usually left on the field.
RB Rickey Hunt, Ohio
- 5’11” / 203 lbs
- Entering 2nd year
- NFL Projection: None
- Rostered: 0%
- Supplemental Draft Range: Rounds 10+
A true freshman, Hunt erupted at the Myrtle Beach Bowl, going 17-115-4 on the ground and another TD through an 18-yard reception (on a poor, underthrown pass) in his debut for the Ohio Bobcats. Those five TDs tied a NCAA record for most TDs scored in a bowl game.
Ohio’s line certainly dominated the day, making it easier for Hunt, but I thought Hunt showed good footwork, excellent vision at the second level, and really good patience. That’s not really a trait I use to describe G5 RBs or freshmen on their debut. Honestly, he might be too patient, but I can see him process what’s in front of him. In the future, I will look for him to get more decisive as a runner when the experience comes.
Ohio loses RB1 Sieh Bangura and RB2 O’Shaan Allison to the portal, and this leaves the room wide open. Ohio is also losing its starting QB, so this is a rebranding period for the offense, with the lone bright spot currently being Hunt.
It was a down year for the MAC across the board, but it’s the MAC, a conference known for defense being optional. Hunt’s current value is the POSSIBILITY of having a starting MAC RB for the next three seasons. You, the manager, will be running the risk of Ohio adding a name late in the portal cycle or Hunt being so successful he hits the portal for a P4 program and stressing if he can translate well to the next level. Hunt took advantage of that with his monstrous performance; now you need to take advantage of his upside. Add him to the queue.
QB Caden Veltkamp, WKU
- 6’6″ / 235 lbs
- Entering 3rd year
- NFL Projection: None
- Rostered: 0%
- Supplemental Draft Range: Rounds 5+
WKU had a down year, and on a scale of knowledge on WKU, I am not as versatile as some of the other contributors at the site. The slower season, from my less informed mind, is largely due to losing key pieces in the transfer portal. Even a slow season for WKU still produces a high-octane offense. Speaking of which, Veltkamp played this game while having his name in the transfer portal. The WKU coaching staff, prior to this game, had asked Veltkamp to convert to TE, to which his response was a portal entry. Veltkamp had a night and proved he deserved a shot at starting QB.
In the Famous Toastery Bowl, Veltkamp had an abysmal first quarter. Honestly, I wanted to do a quick Google search to find a more negative word. It was that bad. The second quarter had fewer mistakes. In the second half, he was looking comfortable and definitely cleaned up the mistakes.
As a player, he has excellent pocket passer size, and he throws lofty balls. His ball placement is inconsistent, and he was bailed out by WRs often. Regardless, Veltkamp, with a 40/52-383-5/1 passing day, led his team to 24 straight unanswered points in the 4th/OT for the win against ODU after he put them in that position.
This was his first performance and seeing him settle in as time progressed made me feel better about his future. His pocket presence improved over the game. I’m chalking up the first-half mistakes to mostly first-time jitters. We did get 19 rushing attempts with a very fluky 28-yard run. I would not expect 19 rushing attempts or 53 yards rushing in the future. We’re chasing the system here with Valtkamp, and this starting QB position looks secured. As of today, I don’t see the NFL tools, and would just be excited to get a WKU starting QB on my roster. Add him to the queue.
QB Gio Lopez, South Alabama
- 6’1″ / 223 lbs
- Entering 2nd Year
- NFL Projection: None
- Rostered: 0%
- Supplemental Draft Range: Rounds 8-10
South Alabama Jaguars gobbled up EMU in their bowl game and did it by rotating between two QBs. This could be a true positional battle between the second-year Lopez and potential seventh-year QB Desmond Trotter. Eligibility seems to be a myth these days, so Trotter should be done and found some extra years somewhere.
Lopez was given the Week 10 start against Troy, while Trotter was granted the Week 12 and 13 start. The South Alabama coaching staff has been cooking on offense, and they are giving us an early look at the future starter.
Lopez is the future of this offense, and playing roughly half the snaps, he tallied passing stats of 14/19 -192-3> He added six rushing attempts for 88 yards and a TD. Lopez is a great athlete, showcases mobility in the pocket, and is able to keep his eyes downfield. I love his pocket presence, and how he handled the pressure as a true freshman was beyond expectations.
It is Eastern Michigan, one of the worst Group of 5 teams, and I still find this a very impressive day for the true freshmen. Lopez’s future looks bright, and I would love for it to come sooner rather than later. Keep an eye out for any QB news. Trotter and Bradley should be out of eligibility, and South Alabama may add a name from the portal. I would consider him before Round 10, knowing that I have a starting QB for the next 3-4 years with rushing upside in a Group of 5 conference. Add him to the queue.
