For the rest of the college football regular season we’ll be breaking down the best prospects by position in each of the major conferences. This week we’ll be taking a look at the American Athletic Conference (formerly the Big East). Due to the lack of teams and the poor level of talent in the conference we’re consolidating the more talented FBS Independents, Notre Dame and Brigham Young, into this feature.
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QB: Teddy Bridgewater,* Louisville
Easily the best prospect in conference, and a Heisman contender, Bridgewater currently grades out as the top quarterback prospect I’ve evaluated. He possesses a golden arm, a franchise-caliber approach to the game, and better athleticism than most QBs in the NFL. Outside of Andrew Luck, he is the best QB prospect in the past five years. And yes, that includes RG3.
RB: Michael Dyer,* Louisville
Despite being small in stature, Dyer can run the ball inside and outside with good speed. Of course his off the field issues severely hurt his draft stock, as well as the fact that he’s in a stable of backs at Louisville right now and hasn’t had a chance to shine as a feature back since he was at Auburn.
WR: Brandon Coleman,* Rutgers
When evaluating Coleman I can’t help but be disappointed. He’s a colossal receiver but he doesn’t play up to his size. He doesn’t release off the line of scrimmage like a player his size should and his hands can be inconsistent. That being said, Coleman is an early round pick based on his size-speed package.
WR: Devante Parker, Louisville
Parker possesses very good speed and hands, with the tools to become a starting wideout in the NFL. However, he needs to improve his routes and understanding of the finer aspects of the game if he’s going to reach his potential.
TE: Kaneakua Friel, BYU
It took some homework to find a player worthy of mention for this spot, but Friel was the best there was. He’ll be over-aged for a rookie having served an LDS mission, but has some potential as a blocker and a receiver.
OT: Zack Martin, Notre Dame
Martin is a strong, versatile lineman who is in his fourth year as a starter for the Irish. He has a very head on his shoulders on the field and plays a tough, but not nasty game. NFL line coaches will probably want to work on his technique.
OT: Jimmy Bennett, UConn
Bennett is a great size prospect, listed at 6’8” but has struggled to stay on the gridiron, with recurring injuries to both knees and his shoulder. But as we’ve seen in the past teams will gamble on big guys who barely saw the field (Nic Richmond).
OG: Chris Watt, Notre Dame
Watt plays a much meaner brand of football than his teammate Martin, but is not as talented and can only play on the interior. His strength and demeanor will give him a chance in the later rounds.
OG: Antwan Lowery, Rutgers
A smart player who lacks athleticism, Lowery has an NFL anchor. It’s been a rough season for the fifth-year senior, but he stands a chance of being selected on Day Three.
OG: Austen Bujnoch, Cincinnati
Taller and lankier than most guard prospects, Bujnoch possesses good mobility and athleticism on the inside. He’s been productive and experienced, and would fit best on a zone-blocking team.
Missed the cut:
WR: T.J. Jones, Notre Dame
OG: Ty Cloud, Houston
OG: Steve Greene, UConn
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