Welcome back to Part IX of the series, where I will highlight guys that should be added to your supplemental draft queues. Today’s theme: Y/PRR
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, but in most cases, it’s hard to consider any real Devy implications for deeper names. 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 can no longer tell which players are under 5% of rosters; Fantrax has rolled over the database to the next year.
WR Hudson Clement, WVU
- 6’1″ / 199 lbs.
- Entering 3rd Year
- NFL Projection: Potential Late Day 3
- Supplemental Draft Range: 10+
- Y/PRR: 3.08
Clement walked on to WVU despite being one of the top players in the state in the 2021 recruiting cycle. A successful two-way player in high school, Clement amassed 87 catches for 1,709 yards and 23 touchdowns to go along with four rushing TDS. On the other side of the ball, he had 65 tackles, four interceptions, and three fumble recoveries. He redshirted his true freshmen season with some scout team reps.
In 2023, Clement received a surprise start in WVU’s Week 2 matchup against Duquesne and responded with a 5-177-3 receiving line. Although he started in eight games this year, he only saw serious playing time (20+ routes) in five games.
- Week 2 v. Duquesne 5/7-177-3
- Week 5 v. TCU 3/5-43-0
- Week 7 v. Houston 2/3-59-1
- Week 13 v. Baylor 4/4-80-0
- Bowl Game v. UNC 5/5-89-0
Sporadic production, but efficient. Clement wins with speed; his footwork is not that of a route-running technician. But he knows how to get upfield and find open space with reliable hands. There’s not a ton of raw talent at WVU, but there is clearly an opportunity to build off the end-of-year production to be the WR1 for a Power 5 program in WVU. Add him to the queue.
WR Rashod Owens, Oklahoma State
- 6’2″ / 219 lbs.
- Entering 5th year
- NFL Projection: Day 3
- Supplemental Draft Range: Round 7-8+
- Y/PRR: 2.23
Owens came to OK State as an ATH, playing primarily RB in high school and a dual sport athlete playing basketball. Owens also won the Texas state title in the triple jump. In 2023, he became the full-time starter in the OK State offense by Week 6. Through the final ten games of the season (including a conference championship and Bowl Game), Owens posted a 59/93-858-4 line with explosive performances against Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M.
Owens is a contested catch specialist who makes his money winning the 50/50 ball. Given the full season of opportunity and the very light 2024 schedule, I think it’s easy to project him as a 1,000-yard WR. As of today, I don’t find his skillset is translatable to fantasy success in the NFL, you an profit off a single year of production, and trade him whenever off-season hype gets a bit wild. Add him to the queue.
WR Jayden Higgins, Iowa State
- 6’4″ / 210 lbs.
- Entering 4th year
- NFL Projection: Day 3
- Supplemental Draft Range: Round 7-8+
- Y/PRR: 3.00
Higgins started his career off at Eastern Kentucky University until his transfer to Iowa State for the 2023 season. Higgins was splitting his time between the slot/wide position until Week 7, and he saw increased usage on the outside.
Higgins is a straight-line mover with a massive frame. He’s a jump ball specialist who’s also got some toughness to him as a runner after the catch. Iowa State has a type: Hakeem Butler, Allen Lazard, Xavier Hutchinson, and now Higgins. I do believe he falls on that spectrum of player, but the toughness after the catch gives him a plus as a YAC threat. I wouldn’t expect much on the NFL side, but we saw Higgins’ best production in the final weeks, and Iowa State has figured out how to best use him. Add him to the queue.
