MISSOURI VALLEY
This should be another good class for the league with a couple draftable players and plenty of free agent types.
Illinois State
There are three potential free agents led by FS #24 KELVYN HEMPHILL (6000, 189) is a two-time All-MVFC selection with good length and adequate speed but is a bit of a project.
LT #76 CHRIS RILEY (6050, 301) has adequate foot quickness and good size but is not dominant. Riley is a project who displays some talent but is raw and needs to get strong.
Last on the list is DT #53 XZAVIER STEWART (6010, 323) but he is more of a tryout player than a priority free agent like Riley and Hemphill and could be.
Missouri State
RG #77 DAVID ARKIN (6045, 296) has been consistent throughout this career. He is a real legit mid-late round type prospect but while some have him closer to the 5th round we believe he is a borderline draftable player who needs to bulk up and could see his stock drop some from playing a new position (LT) this year.
ILB #50 ANTOINE WILKINSON (6014, 230) is a productive player who stepped in nicely in his first year and has good size but displays marginal speed making him a tryout type player only at this point.
North Dakota State
NDSU has two potential tryout type prospects in LT #52 MICHAEL ARNDT (6065, 317) and DT #70 MATTHEW GRATZEK (6025, 288). Arndt needs to get stronger and is a project but has decent feet. Gratzek is too small to make it but is able to push the pocket well and could be a decent camp body.
Northern Iowa
TE #87 SCHUYLAR OORDT (6053, 242) has good size and is a solid pass catching threat but needs to get stronger and improve as a blocker. Oordt is a developmental project with a lot of work needed.
South Dakota State
The Jack Rabbits had a good class last year but lacks the star power of that group this year with the top prospect being TE #87 COLIN COCHART (6036, 246) but he needs a lot of work and lacks ideal physical tools.
OLB #39 DEREK DOMINO (6025, 226) is a productive kid but is thin hipped and despite adequate speed he is a project.
RB #30 KYLE MINETT (5094, 214) has the size I like in a running back but he is too slow (4.7) and just doesn’t flash or pick up the real tough yards you hope for in a running back.
SS #18 CONRAD KJERSTAD (5107, 193) is a try hard player who does not time well but runs well on tape. Likely just a tryout type player but will more than likely end up in the CFL or AFL.
Southern Illinois
Last year SIU had two solid prospects in a punter who went to the combine and a running back who was taken in the 6th round. This year the team has a potential 3rd-5th round type prospect in CB #21 KOREY LINDSEY-WOODS (5104, 183). Woods plays faster than his 4.53 40 time from the spring and while he lacks ideal size he is a good athlete with great ball skills, good range, and fluid hips. This two-time All-American is one heck of a player.
Quarterback is a tough position to find these days with few playing in a pro style offense that have ideal tools. #5 CHRIS DIEKER (6050, 228) has good arm strength and size but has a weird throwing motion and is streaky. He lacks the skills right now to make it but is a solid priority free agent on the radar.
ILB #47 STEPHEN FRANKLIN (5116, 237) runs very well but does not play as fast and gets lost in plays. He appears to be a tryout player at best.
Western Illinois
WIU has had a solid prospect each of the last two years but they have two fringe players at best in WR #1 LITO SENATUS (6021, 211) and OG #65 MICHAEL LAMPHEAR (6040, 277). Senatus actually made a nice play last year against Lindsey on a double move but is not flashy lacking ideal speed. He is likely a camp body only. Lamphear plays tackle but is a likely guard convert as he lacks the feet and at 277 is just too light to latch on to a roster.
Youngstown State
Their top prospect is CB #27 BRANDIAN ROSS (5116, 193) whose size and speed alone make him one to watch and his play has been solid the last two years.
Others to watch include OLB #11 NA’EEM OUTLER (6016, 247) who makes some plays but has marginal speed, FS #2 ANDRE ELLIOTT (6013, 197) whose size makes him worth evaluating. Last it WR #29 DOMINIQUE BARNES (5093, 181) who lacks ideal size but is a quick, shifty player with decent speed that makes plays for the Penguins.
