2018 Watch List

[*ochocincos*]

It's the lull period before football really gets underway, but that hasn't stopped me from already researching prospects.
Obviously, players will rise and fall (some dramatically) between now and the draft, but never hurts to start researching earlier.

I thought it would be a good idea to start a watch list of some perhaps under-the-radar players so that everyone on the boards can start learning more about them and tracking them throughout the 2018 CFB season and leading up to the draft.

I'll start:

A player I'm really intrigued about is Arizona St RB Kalen Ballage.

He's a bigger RB (6'2", listed at 230 lbs but played last year in the upper teens due to getting mono), but he's got speed to boot.
He scored eight TDs last year against Texas Tech, which broke a school and PAC-12 record, and also tied the NCAA record.
He did this with 15 touches from scrimmage.

In 2015, he amassed 653 rush yards on 125 touches with 4 TDs.
In 2016, he had 536 yards on 126 touches, but had 14 rushing TDs (eight in one game mentioned above). He grew exponentially as a receiver, adding 44 receptions for 469 receiving yards and another TD.
The reason he has so few touches is because he's split time with Demario Richard, forming a very strong running attack at ASU.

I've watched two videos (links below) and came away impressed with his vision, patience, speed, and unwillingness to go down on first contact.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54xVcK8dAJU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRMos7zxOL4

Ballage is someone I could see replacing Hill and backing up Mixon/Bernard. He has the size to survive at RB in the NFL and he can catch out of the backfield. He also doesn't have a lot of tread since he's been in a committee at ASU.

Right now, he's being mentioned as a mid-late round pick, but I could see him possibly boosting his stock a round or two if he gets more touches and/or thrives in pre-draft workouts.

What are some under-the-radar prospects on your watch list this coming season?